SECURIZINE ISSUE 115  30th January 2007

Dedicated Micros CCTV Images Play Key Role in £53m Security Depot Robbery Convictions
CCTV evidence from Dedicated Micros - part of AD Group - has helped to secure the conviction of five men at the Old Bailey who were involved in the high profile £53 million raid on a security depot in Tonbridge, Kent, in February 2006.
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BCS Crime Stable while Total Recorded Crime Continues to Fall
Crime in England and Wales remains stable according to the British Crime Survey (BCS) and has fallen by nine per cent according to the police recorded crime statistics, published in the quarterly update on 24th January.
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ACPO Response to Crime Stats
Ian Johnston, ACPO lead on Crime and Chief Constable of British Transport Police said on 24th January. 'The crime statistics published today show a reduction in recorded crime in some key priority areas such as robbery, burglary and violent crime.
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Push for New Stop and Search Laws
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is planning to give police the power to stop and search people without giving a reason, sources have told the BBC. Mr Brown said the Flanagan Report on the issue will be published next week.
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New Powers to Tackle Terrorism Introduced in Counter Terror Bill
Tough new measures to protect the public from terrorism were introduced on 24th January as the Home Office published the Counter Terrorism Bill 2008.
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ACPO Comment on Publication of Counter Terror Bill
ACPO President Ken Jones said on 24th January: 'The proposed legislation set out today is designed to enable the police and security services to counter the evolving challenges facing the UK through terrorism.
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Police Operation in Slough    
At approx 6.30am on 24th January, officers from the Borough of Westminster, Metropolitan Police Service, working alongside colleagues from Thames Valley Police, British Transport Police, and Slough Borough Council carried out search warrants at 17 addresses in Slough.
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Revenue & Customs Stop Suspected Organised Crime Syndicate
Four people from Staffordshire, one from Manchester and one from Cheshire have been arrested following a series of early morning raids by HM Revenue & Customs officers investigating a suspected £1.5 million VAT and money laundering fraud.
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GMP Hosts Conference on Protecting Security Guards
Greater Manchester Police and representatives from the security industries joined forces at a one-day conference this Tuesday (29th January) to agree strategies and tactics to reduce armed commercial and cash-in-transit robberies.
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Raytec Creates CCTV Lighting 'Centre of Excellence'
Following another year of increased demand of its energy-efficient IR and White-Light CCTV lighting solutions, Raytec has opened a new production and technology site in Wansbeck, Northumberland.
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Beware of Bogus Police Officers
Police across the North Yorkshire are warning the public to be on their guard following a series of incidents involving bogus callers pretending to be police officers.
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BNP Mayoral Candidate at Police Federation March:
The Police Federation of England and Wales did not invite the BNP London mayoral candidate to our march on 23rd January 2008.
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IPCC Concludes Luton Airport Death Investigation
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has completed its independent investigation into the death of Marek Krzysztof Pasich at Luton Airport on 17th January 2007.
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Northumbria 101 Service
Northumbria 101 Partnership has expressed disappointment at the end of the 101 non-emergency number service within the Northumbria area.
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Emergency Services Show Raises £5,000 for Local Charities
Following the success of last year's Emergency Services Show held at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire, £5,000 has been donated to seven local charities.
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Police Chief puts Charity Mascot behind Bars
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution appealed to the public to help them raise enough ‘bail’ to release its charity mascot, following his detainment by South Wales’ Police Chief Constable.
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Cable Theft National Day of Action
Officers from British Transport Police have made a series of arrests as part of a national day of action targeting metal theft. Officers from BTP in the North East arrested four men.
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Forces Giving 'CCTV Doorbell' to Victims of Crime
A 'CCTV doorbell' that lets people check who is at the door from the comfort of their sofa is being given to victims of crime by police forces in the UK.
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Multi-agency Training Day to Combat Wildlife Crime
Northern Constabulary recently hosted Scotland’s first ever multi-agency training day for all those organisations responsible for investigating and combating wildlife crime.
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‘Operation Cinnamon' Day
Success was on the cards yet again for the Gwersyllt policing team when it held a special day of advice, reassurance and fun for local residents.
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Cadets Learn About Scenes of Crime
Cadets of the 1232 (Dundee) Squadron Air Training Corps were treated to a presentation by members of the Scottish Police Services Authority's Scene Examination Unit at the ATC's base in Craigiebarn Road recently.
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Four Campus Cops for South Ayrshire
Strathclyde Police has introduced campus police officers to four secondary schools in South Ayrshire, following the success of campus cops in North and East Ayrshire.
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SECURIZINE ISSUE 114  23rd January 2007

Police Joins Forces at New Essex Garrison Police Station
Community policing has taken on a new meaning in Colchester as three different police forces have moved in together, for what is believed to be, the first time in the country.
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Police in Protest Rally over Pay
An estimated 22,500 police officers are marching in central London in a protest over pay. Officers are angry that a 2.5% pay rise has been backdated to only 1st December for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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Devon & Cornwall Police Federation Officers Cycle To London
Ten members of the Devon & Cornwall Police Federation are cycling from Police Headquarters in Exeter to Westminster, London to highlight the current pay dispute with the Home Secretary.
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Partnership Working Makes its Mark on Cash-in-Transit Attacks
Figures released on 16th January by the British Security Industry Association show a 28% drop in cash-in-transit attacks since the implementation of a proactive partnership initiative between the Police, the GMB trade union, and the banking, retail and security industries
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Mobile Surveillance makes Tayside Police a Force to Reckoned With
Tayside Police has had a new vehicle fitted out with the latest CCTV products for the provision of policing services throughout the Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross council areas.
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Stabbed Wiltshire PC Praises Hero Dog
A police officer stabbed in an incident in Liden, Swindon, has spoken of his ordeal for the first time. PC Neil Sampson praised the bravery of his loyal police dog Anya and told how he believed her actions may have saved his life.
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IPCC Will Not Investigate Bedford Death: Death not Result of Taser
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has decided that the death of Justin Petty who died of knife wounds is suitable for investigation by Bedfordshire Police.
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IPCC Concludes Managed Investigation into Manchester RTI
An Independent Police Complaints Commission managed investigation has determined that Greater Manchester Police officers acted correctly in their attempts to arrest a man prior to him being seriously injured in a road traffic incident.
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IPCC Concludes Investigation in Southampton Case
The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into the death of Ali Farah Bullaleh in Southampton has concluded that the Hampshire Constabulary officers and local ambulance staff who dealt with Mr Bullaleh acted correctly.
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New 'One Stop' Police Station Opens its Doors
A new 'one stop' facility police station, the first of its kind in Sussex, opened its doors to the public on Wednesday January 2nd. The new police station at Seaford also houses (as well as Seaford Police) Seaford Town Council, Seaford Tourist Information Centre and Seaford Citizens Advice Bureau.
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Officers in Stevenage Told to Get on their Bikes
Police officers from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team in Stevenage have been told to get on their bikes – literally as they have been given 16 new bikes for patrols.
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Lollipops to Tackle Late Night Anti-Social Behaviour in Leicester
Police are unveiling a new tool to help prevent late night trouble in Leicester city centre - free lollipops. From Friday January 18th lollipops are being handed out to people as they leave pubs and clubs in the city at weekends in an effort to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour.
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Merseyside's Total Policing Operation Nets 3500 Arrests
Merseyside Police has netted more than 3,500 arrests as a result of targeted operations supporting the Total War on Crime since July 2007.
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First of its Kind Public Protection Unit in Notts
Victims of sexual offences and domestic violence are to benefit from a new Public Protection Unit created by Nottinghamshire Police on Bassetlaw, Newark & Sherwood Division.
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Surrey Faces ‘Exceptional’ Criminal Threat
More than half of Surrey’s criminal threats will soon come from outside the county, a problem never before faced by a police force, reveals a report presented to Surrey County Council MPs by Chief Constable Bob Quick.
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PCSO Chris takes up Kenyan Bike Challenge
Staffordshire Police Community Support Officer Chris Blanksby is planning to put his pedal power to the test in the searing heat of Africa – raising much needed cash for charities.
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Crime Success in Cambridge City Shops
Shoplifting patrols conducted as part of work by the CAMBAC (Cambridge Business Against Crime) group are proving a success.
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MPA Seeks Young People's Views on Policing in London
The Metropolitan Police Authority wants to hear directly from young Londoners about their experiences of policing. The results of the MPA Youth Survey will help the Authority to make recommendations that will improve the service the Met provides to young people.
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Road Safety Messages on the Move across Thames Valley    
A new vehicle aimed at reducing road traffic collisions by educating motorists across Thames Valley took to the roads for the first time this Tuesday (22/1).
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Armed Bank Robbers Sentenced
Two men were sentenced on 21st January 2008, to seven years' and life imprisonment for a series of armed robberies in southeast London.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Explosives Charges
A man previously arrested after police uncovered ammunition and plastic explosives at his home address in West London pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of explosive and one count of possession of ammunition at Southwark Crown Court on Friday 18th January.
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Man Ordered to Pay £160,000 Following Confiscation Hearing
A 44-year-old man who is currently serving a five year prison sentence for fraud offences has been ordered to pay £160,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002).
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Drink Driving Campaign Shows More Arrests
Police forces throughout England and Wales breath tested in excess of 155,000 drivers during December 2007, according to results of the Christmas crackdown on drink driving.
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SECURIZINE ISSUE 113  16th January 2007

Police Officer Dies in Crash
A police officer responding to an emergency call died from injuries sustained in a road accident in Manchester this weekend. PC Christopher Hart, 40, was driving a police van when it collided with a Volkswagen Polo at the junction between Pottery Lane and Ashton Old Road in Openshaw.
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Community Support Officer Killed
West Mercia police are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision in which a Community Support Officer was killed. James Price was certified dead at the scene of the crash in Habberley Road in Bewdley at 9am on Saturday, 12th January.
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No Action Over Police who Hit Woman During Arrest
No action is to be taken against any police officers as a result of the controversial arrest of a young woman outside a Sheffield nightclub which was captured on CCTV. The decision was greeted with dismay by the woman and her legal team, who said it would 'fuel public concern' about the use of force by the police.
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Thousands Plan to March in Pay Protest
Up to 15,000 police officers from across England and Wales will join a march in central London next week to protest over their pay. The rally, organised by the Police Federation, will march through the heart of political Westminster and allow officers and their families to demonstrate their anger and frustration at the government's recent u-turn over pay.
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Federation Reaction to Teachers Pay Award
Reacting to news of the teachers pay award of 2.45%, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says: 'This announcement blows out of the water the government's own spin that public sector pay awards above 2% will fuel inflation'.
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Anti-Swipe Wipes to Wipe Out Sat Nav Thefts
Hundreds of purpose-made anti-swipes will be dished out to motorists in Norwich and South Norfolk over the next few weeks in an effort to reduce satellite navigation systems being swiped from parked vehicles.
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Clothing Recognition Tech Nabs Armed Robber
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has secured the conviction of an armed robber by using enhanced CCTV footage of his crimes.
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Herts' New Custody Image Capture System
Hertfordshire Constabulary is the first UK force to buy the Digital Image Booth custody image capture system in its newest form, with an in-built, touch-screen PC.
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Multi-Million Pound Facility to Support Neighbourhood Policing
Safer, Stronger Neighbourhood (SSN) police in Bridgwater are to receive a boost thanks to a new £6.25 million building. Police and Police Community Support Officers from the Victoria Ward SSN team now have a home in the Victoria Park Community Centre.
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Atherstone-on-Stour Investigation
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with Warwickshire Police which is leading the ongoing criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths of the four fire fighters in the warehouse fire at Atherstone-on-Stour in November last year.
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IPCC Investigates Essex and BTP Missing Person Inquiry
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an Independent investigation into the conduct of a missing person's inquiry by Essex Police and British Transport Police (BTP) which led to the discovery of the body of a teenage girl 14 days after her parents reported her missing.
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IPCC Concludes its Investigation into Portsmouth Man's DeathThe Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has concluded its investigation into police activity around the death of Frank James McDougall, age 46.
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Land for Justice Centre Purchased
Northamptonshire Police Authority has bought a plot of land on the Brackmills industrial estate at Northampton as a potential site for the new Criminal Justice Centre planned for Northampton and the west side of the county.
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MPA Chair Welcomes Latest Crime Figures
Len Duvall, MPA Chair, commenting on the latest London crime statistics released today, said: 'These figures show crime is going down in London. But even with this fall in figures we accept that Londoners are very concerned about crime in the capital and we must work harder to bring crime down further still.
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£4.4 Million Seized from Criminals to Boost Policing
Police forces across England and Wales are to receive a £4.4 million cash boost from assets seized from criminals between July and September 2007, Home Office Minister for Crime Reduction Vernon Coaker has announced.
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Call to Ban Deactivated Guns
The Home Secretary is aiming to ban sales of deactivated guns this year.
Police estimate that 120,000 firearms once altered so that they could not fire bullets are in circulation in the UK.
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Cost of Policing Major Events should be Borne by Organisers
The Metropolitan Police Authority has said that the bill for policing money-making events, including football matches, pop concerts and Olympic 2012 'warm-up' events other than community events should be met by the organisers, not London taxpayers.
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Sitz! Handlers Bark German Orders
Police dog-handlers in Derbyshire are learning a smattering of German to help them train new Alsatian recruits. Three German shepherds have been brought into the force as a result of a shortage of highly-trained dogs.
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Hampshire One of the UK's Top Gay-Friendly Force
Hampshire Constabulary has been honoured as the joint-first gay-friendly police force in the UK for employees. It has come in the top three overall in the 'Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2008.
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Sepura Wins Two Major Contracts in the Netherlands
In a nationwide contract success, Sepura has been named one of three approved suppliers to the Dutch police and certain fire, ambulance and customs services by vtsPN, the Police’s information communication technology organisation, following an open European Tender Process.
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SECURIZINE ISSUE 112  9th January 2007

Three-Year Pay Deals Leave Service Unimpressed
Police staff associations have given a lukewarm response to the government's proposals to introduce three-year pay deals, saying they could further demoralise the workforce. The service is currently locked into a row after the Government refused to backdate last year's 2.5% pay increase to September.
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Norfolk and Suffolk become 'Preferred Partners'
Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies have signalled their intention to establish a closer working partnership to boost frontline resources. The decision has been formally announced to officers and staff by Norfolk Chief Constable Ian McPherson, and Suffolk's Chief Constable Simon Ash, following ratification from both Police Authorities.
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Soaring Use of Police Cells to Ease Overcrowding
The number of prisoners held in police cells to alleviate pressure on Britain's overcrowded jails increased 13-fold last year, it has emerged. Prisoners were held overnight in police cells on 60,953 occasions in 2007, compared with just 4,617 occasions the previous year.
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Police Show 'Significant Improvement' in Financial Performance
Four out of five police authorities are performing well or strongly in their use of resources, demonstrating a significant improvement from less than two-thirds in the last financial year. An independent report released last week by the Audit Commission and Wales Audit Office reveals that, for the first time, no police authorities have been assessed as performing inadequately, or below minimum standards.
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Sale of UK Government and Commercial Software Businesses for £2.5m
Petards, the AIM listed developer of advanced surveillance systems, has announced that it has completed the disposal of its UK Government and Commercial software business ('the UK Software Business') to BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Limited ('BAE') for a total cash consideration of £2.5m.
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Officer Dismissed in Sex Scandal
British Transport Police Inspector Masood Khan has been dismissed at a misconduct hearing this week. Inspector Khan had pleaded guilty to one charge relating to a breach of the Police Code of Conduct.
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No Charges Brought in Training Incident
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has decided that a Thames Valley Police officer will not face assault charges over the wounding of a police staff worker by a bullet discharged during a firearms awareness training session.
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Officers and Police Dog Injured
Two Wiltshire officers and a police dog were all injured when they were attacked by a man armed with a knife last Thursday afternoon. Police officers were called to an address in Swindon following reports of a serious assault and were confronted by a man wielding a knife. As they tried to arrest the man, two officers as well as Anya, a police dog, were injured.
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