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SECURIZINE ISSUE 28 29th March 2006
Notts
Cut Record Processing Time
Nottinghamshire
police have dramatically cut the time taken to process crime records
after introducing an automated data capture system, a conference on
police bureaucracy was told. PS
Rob Gilchrist from Nottinghamshire told delegates that since the force
implemented DRS’ Intelligent Character Recognition software crime
reports no longer sat in people’s in trays days on end.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Staff on Strike
Thousands of police staff were expected to strike
on Tuesday 28 March in protest to changes in their pensions, as Securizine
went to press. Police staff workers are members of UNISON who called
on nearly a million workers to down tools in protest over their pensions.
Many forces were expected to put in place contingency plans to deal
with the one-day strike action.
[More
on this Story]
Sixteen
More Mergers Announced
The
Home Secretary has announced the merger of sixteen more police forces.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Charles Clarke said he now had
'the professional policing and financial assessments' to identify the
best options for the east midlands, south-east and eastern.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Authorities may Struggle to Fund Extra PCSOs
Government plans to recruit thousands of community support officers
could be scuppered because police authorities cannot afford to fund
the extra officers.The Association of Police Authorities welcomed the
Government's plans to increase Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
to 16,000 by April 2007, but warned that many police authorities could
have difficulty finding the 25% match funding the Government deemed
necessary for the initiative.
[More
on this Story]
Maths
Plays Key Role in Crime Detection says Professor Budd
The use of mathematics in catching criminals and bringing them to justice
is the subject of a lecture by Professor Christopher Budd from the University
of Bath this week. Describing the mathematical techniques used in investigating
everything from tracing the culprit in water pollution to what or who
killed Tutankhamen, Professor Budd will suggest that mathematics has
a key role to play in modern-day crime detection.
[More
on this Story]
Bankstone
Sponsors Unmarked Vehicles for Met's Family Liaison Officers
Five
unmarked vehicles have been donated to the Met's Family Liaison Officers
by an insurance company to help protect the privacy of car crash victims'
families. The unmarked Toyota Corolla Versos, sponsored by insurance claims
handling organisation Bankstone, will allow the officers to visit families
discreetly to reduce any potential stress or stigma of having a marked
police vehicle outside their home or work place.
[More
on this Story]
New
Met Directorate Targets Violent Crime
The Met's new Violent Crime Directorate has officially begun work targeting
those who specifically commit violent offences. The new unit will investigate
rape and sexual offences, domestic violence, hate crime and the management
of dangerous offenders in the community and missing persons. The Racial
and Violent Crime Task Force pro-active team will target violent offenders.
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on this Story]
15
Satellite Navigation Systems Stolen a Day in Greater Manchester
Thieves are making off with 15 satellite navigation systems a day from
vehicles in Greater Manchester, according to figures released by the force.
In just under three months 1,250 satellite navigation systems were taken
from cars - an average of 15 per day.
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on this Story]
Study
Reveals that Taser does not Adversely Affect the Heart
Taser does not adversely affect a person's heart, according to a medical
study. Doctors from the Hennepin County Medical Centre in Minneapolis
exposed 66 people to a five second exposure to the TASER X26 to test the
cardiovascular and physiologic effects.
[More
on this Story]
Neighbourhood
Policing Budget Windfall Could have Adverse Effects
The Police Federation has warned that the Government's neighbourhood policing
plans could have an adverse effect on other areas of policing. In his
budget, the Chancellor announced £100 million for every area in
England and Wales to implement neighbourhood policing by April 2007, a
year ahead of the plan announced in the 2004 Spending Review.
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on this Story]
West
Midlands Drug Operation Wins Award
A
West Midlands drug operation that led to dozens of arrests and the recovery
of a substantial haul of Class A drugs has picked up a top police award
at the annual Tackling Drug Supply Conference in Brighton last week. Operation
Greenbay, a Street Level Up Approach (SLUP) to tackle Class A drug dealing
in Coventry, picked up the award for tackling street dealing. The operation
involved test purchases and parallel financial investigations and led
to 62 level I and 12 level II arrests with 17 kilos of Class A drugs seized.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 27 22nd March 2006
GMP
Downsizes Dog Unit
Greater
Manchester Police is to drastically reduce its dog unit. Thirty five dogs
and twenty-six handlers will go in a bid to balance the force's books.
The force says it is £14 million short of what it needs and has
done its best with limited resources to protect frontline policing, but
could not meet the high costs of running the dog unit at its current strength.
[More
on this Story]
Cozart
Appoints Elitech Group as French Distributor
Cozart has appointed Elitech Group to act as its
distributor for France through its subsidiary Elitech France SAS ('Elitech').
Elitech will sell Cozart's broad range of drugs of abuse testing products,
including the Cozart® RapiScan oral fluid on-site drug testing system,
the Cozart® microplate Elisa drug testing kits, and point-of-care
urine drug kits to the police, laboratories and other markets.
[More
on this Story]
Child
Rescue Alert System Launched in Six Forces
A rapid response scheme to rescue abducted children
was launched in six forces this week. The Child Rescue Alert system is
based on an agreement between forces and the local regional broadcast
media organisations, appealing to the public for any information about
abducted children.
[More
on this Story]
New
CRB Measures Introduced
New measures to protect vulnerable people will
come into effect from April. The new regulations will extend entitlement
to enhanced CRB checks for all staff working in schools and introduce
a new streamlined registered body network.
[More
on this Story]
Dorset
Team Wins 'Diversity in Action' Award
A team made up of Dorset Police, North Dorset
District Council and Dorset County Council has won the Dorset Police
'Diversity in Action' award for its work during the Great Dorset Steam
Fair in August 2005. The award, presented for the first time this year,
was for the policing of gypsy travellers who set up unauthorised sites
in and around the Blandford area before and during the Great Dorset
Steam Fair.
[More
on this Story]
Essex
Police Motorcycle Unit Reinstated
Essex Police has re-established its motorcycle unit,
following a police authority decision in December 2005. Essex Police has
reinstated an additional six motorcycles across the county, to work alongside
the two motorcycles already used by Essex Police in its education and
training scheme Bikesafe.
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on this Story]
Hampshire
Officers Head for World Cup
Two
Hampshire officers will be amongst the 100 officers travelling to Germany
to help police the World Cup 2006. PC Ian Parish and PS Gary Cable will
leave for Germany on March 31st.
[More
on this Story]
Kent
Launches Force’s First IAG for Minority Groups
Kent
Police and Kent Police Authority has launched the force's first Independent
Advisory Group (IAG) for minority groups such as black, gay, lesbian,
transgender and transsexual people, and those with disabilities.
This is the first time members of the community will be able to hold the
force to account on fair police policies and practices for minority communities
as an independent group.
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on this Story]
New
Norfolk Police Stations
Two new police stations have been opened in Norfolk.
Harleston and Long Stratton police stations were officially opened by
the Deputy Chairman of the Police Authority, Mrs Maria Temple and Chief
Constable Carole Howlett last week, although they have been operational
since October.
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on this Story]
Scottish
Survey Backs Knife Licensing Scheme by Small Majority
Just over half of respondents to a Scottish survey
on knives have backed a licensing scheme for non-domestic knives. The
survey is part of the Scottish Executive's consultation on restricting
the sale of knives and swords in Scotland.
[More
on this Story]
New
Pensions Legislation May Extend to Current Widows and Widowers
The
Home Office is considering extending the new pensions legislation to include
current widows and widowers, it has been revealed. Under current regulations,
widows and widowers lose their police pension if they cohabit or remarry.
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on this Story]
Charles
Clarke Calls for Surrey to Merge with Sussex
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has asked Surrey's
Chief Constable Bob Quick and Police Authority Chair Liz Campbell to agree
to a merger with Sussex Police to create a single strategic crime-fighting
force. Surrey Police Authority had asked for Surrey to remain a stand-alone
force, and called for better central funding from the Home Office to close
the force's accumulating funding gap.
[More
on this Story]
Thames
Valley Police Not to be Merged with Hampshire
The
Home Office has announced that Thames Valley Police will not be merging
with Hampshire Constabulary. The decision has been welcomed by the Police
Authority who expressed a strong preference for the Force to 'stand alone.'
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 26 15th March 2006
Scottish
Report Highlights Blood-borne
Risk to Officers
A
Scottish report has called for more to be done to protect officers from
suspects carrying blood-borne diseases, but has fallen short of recommending
compulsory blood testing. The report rejected calls to introduce mandatory
blood tests for suspects, but said: ‘More needs to be done to standardise
and improve occupational and NHS care for police officers and others
who have been exposed to bodily fluids through an assault.’
[More
on this Story]
101
Could Reduce Misuse of 999 says ACPO
The
new non-emergency number could reduce the misuse of the 999 number by
callers, according to chief officers. ACPO has backed the introduction
of the 101 number. Mike Goodwin, ACPO lead on Anti-Social Behaviour
issues and Assistant Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary,
said: ‘Misuse of the current 999 service can seriously detract
Police resources away from tackling genuine emergencies such as where
there is a crime in progress or there a life in danger.
[More
on this Story]
10-day
Mandatory Standstill Period for Public Contracts
The
mandatory 10-day standstill requirement has been incorporated into the
new procurement regulations which came into force in January, the Office
of Government Commerce has announced.
[More
on this Story]
Tayside
Police Plays Host to German Counterparts
Tayside
Police is playing host to two police officers from Germany this month
in a secondment arrangement that will provide the visiting officers with
a unique insight into Scottish Policing. Since arriving on Friday, Andreas
Zwetsche and Marlen Knauer have already attended the National Special
Constables Conference at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan and
attended a sergeants' training programme.
[More
on this Story]
37
Seconds to Connect to an Interpreter in Thames Valley
Non-English
speaking callers to Thames Valley can be connected to an interpreter in
less than a minute, the force has revealed. Last year, control room staff
made 3000 calls to the National Interpreting Service (NIS) which was introduced
a year ago. On average it takes just 37 seconds to connect with an interpreter.
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on this Story]
‘Dirty
Money’ Donation for Wiltshire Air Ambulance
The
Wiltshire Air Ambulance has received a donation of an unusual nature and
from a rather unusual source.
Three buckets crammed full of coins were recently
delivered to the Air Ops Unit at Police HQ - which is not uncommon, as
money has been delivered in all sorts of containers, including carrier
bags before now!
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on this Story]
PIPS
Technology Wins Award for PAGIS System
PIPS Technology has picked up a top policing award
for its in-car mobile ANPR system. The company won the 2006 APPSS Equipment
and Technology Innovation Award at this year's HOSDB exhibition for its
PAGIS system in partnership with Hertfordshire Constabulary.
[More
on this Story]
Dorset
Police Praised by Prince Charles during 150th Anniversary Visit
Dorset
police has been praised by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, during
a visit to police headquarters to mark the force's 150th anniversary.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were greeted by police
officers and police staff as well as their families.
[More
on this Story]
New
Landrover Donated to Sheringham Officers
Norfolk
officers at Sheringham were given a brand new Landrover for use exclusively
in the Sheringham Beat Area this week. The vehicle was donated to the
Constabulary by a Sheringham businessman in what the force believes is
the first time a vehicle has been bought as the result of a private donation.
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on this Story]
Standardisation
for Selecting and Training Firearms Officers Called For
A
review of police policy on suicide terrorists has called for better national
standardisation for selecting and training firearms officers.Overall the
review said the guidelines, drawn up in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to
deal with suicide terrorists, were 'fit for purpose'.
[More
on this Story]
Aims
Solutions to Create Computerised Reconstruction of Philip Marsden Shooting
A
'virtual' reconstruction of the events leading to a fatal shooting by
Staffordshire officers is to be created to assist the investigation, the
Independent Police Complaints Commission has announced.
[More
on this Story]
Unmarried
Partners to get New Pension Benefits
Unmarried
partners will receive pension benefits for the first time under the new
police pension scheme, in the first major overhaul of police pensions
in over 80 years.
[More
on this Story]
Uniformed
Officers Deployed for World Cup Duty
Dozens
of uniformed officers and four CPS prosecutors are to be deployed during
the World Cup in Germany this year, as part of a range of measures to
prevent trouble, announced by the Home Office this week.
[More
on this Story]
Met
Receives IPCC Report on Jean Charles de Menezes Shooting
The
Met has received the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report
outlining recommendations and lessons to be learned following the fatal
shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. A statement from the force said the
terrorist attacks and fatal shooting of the Brazilian last July provided
the MPS with 'both unique challenges and unparalleled learning opportunities'.
[More
on this Story]
South
East Forces to Discuss Force Restructuring with Home Secretary
Surrey
Chief Constable Bob Quick and Surrey Police Authority Chair Liz Campbell
will meet the Home Secretary next week alongside other south east forces
to discuss force restructuring. Liz Campbell, Chair of Surrey Police Authority,
said: ‘The Chief Constable and I would like a constructive discussion
with the Home Secretary to resolve some of our outstanding issues.
[More
on this Story]
And
Finally....
Grampian
Police has asked members of the public to 'call off the dogs' after being
swamped with potential recruits following a recent Scotland-wide media
appeal for dogs. Over 100 prized pooches were offered, and the Force's
Dog Handling Section has been overwhelmed with the volume of offers and
the generosity shown by the public.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 25 8th March 2006
Avon
and Somerset Police Contravenes Recruitment Rules
Two
hundred applications from white men to Avon and Somerset police are
to be reconsidered after the force contravened rules by removing them
from the recruitment process.
[More
on this Story]
New
NPIA Could Give Home Secretary Too Much Power Warns ACPO
ACPO
has warned that proposals for the new National Police Improvement Agency
could give the Home Secretary too much power. The NPIA, the brainchild
of ACPO, is expected to become operational in April 2007 and will be
headed by Peter Neyroud, former chief constable of Thames Valley police.
[More
on this Story]
Charles
Clarke Orders Forces to Merge
The Home Secretary has ordered a number of forces
to merge after they failed to meet the deadline for voluntary amalgamation.
In an update to the Commons, Charles Clarke announced the mergers of 13
forces which missed the February 24th deadline.
[More
on this Story]
Man
Charged with Attempted Murder of Officer
A
53-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following an incident
where an officer was stabbed. Mark Longa, from Sycamore Road, Whitley,
has been remanded in custody and will appear before Reading Magistrates'
tomorrow.
[More
on this Story]
Officers
Join Forces to Help Airport Staff Fight Crime
Officers
in Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are teaming up for the
first time to help employees at Nottingham East Midlands Airport fight
crime.
[More
on this Story]
Atkins
Wins EMRA Car Parking Review Contract
Atkins
has been selected by the East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) to review
regional car parking standards in the region.
[More
on this Story]
International
Police Commanders Visit Gloucestershire
Seven
senior police officers from around the world are visiting Gloucestershire
as part of a training programme in international policing practices.
[More
on this Story]
Dorset
Third Best Performing Force
New
figures released by the Government show Dorset Police is the third best
performing force in England and Wales for public satisfaction over the
quality of its service to crime and road traffic collision victims.
[More
on this Story]
Abbots
Langley Community Office Progressing Well
Building
work has officially started on a new station in Hertfordshire. Abbots
Langley police station, which forms part of Hertfordshire Constabulary's
Police Access and Visibility Strategy, will be fitted with an information
desk, interview room and office space for the Community Team officers
and PCSOs.
[More
on this Story]
Scottish
Gangs Caught on Camera
Police
in Glasgow North and East Dunbartonshire Division are tackling gang culture
by capturing gang members on camera.Video cameras were introduced by the
force after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in a gang fight in Cadder.
[More
on this Story]
Skills
for Justice Announces Changes to ICF version 8
Skills for Justice has announced a number of changes
to the Police Integrated Competency Framework Version 8. In its latest
e-briefing, the organisation said it has agreed to make a few improvements.
[More
on this Story]
PSNI
Review Team to Help with Securitas Robbery Investigation
Kent
police have asked the Police Service of Northern Ireland to review their
progress in the Securitas robbery investigation.
[More
on this Story]
True
Vision Campaign Launched
Merseyside
Police has signed up with 37 forces nationally to take part in an initiative
to combat hate crime. The True Vision campaign was launched at the Tate
Liverpool, Albert Dock, last week. It complements the work already being
undertaken by Merseyside Police to give victims of hate crime a voice
that will be heard.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 24 1st March 2006
Lancs
and Cumbria to Merge Voluntarily
Lancashire
and Cumbria Police Authorities are to voluntarily merge, paving the
way for a new strategic authority and constabulary covering the two
counties.
[More
on this Story]
Central
Scotland Police ‘in Extremely Good Health’
The Chief Constable of Central Scotland Police
has welcomed the publication of a follow up inspection report of the
Force. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary carried out a Primary Inspection
of Central Scotland Police in 2003, but the follow up review has just
been published.
[More
on this Story]
TDS
Enables Police to Overcome Language Barriers
A
system that allows officers to overcome language barriers when policing
European roads is set to go live. The Traffic Documentation System (TDS)
will give police access to a database of documents relating to vehicles,
drivers and the movement of goods by road within those countries that
have agreed to take part.
[More
on this Story]
No
Voluntary Merger for Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Police Authority will not merge voluntarily with neighbouring forces,
but insists it is committed to a single regional force for the West
Midlands.
[More
on this Story]
Days
Off Sick Drop in West Yorkshire
The number of days lost due to sickness in West
Yorkshire police has dropped by nearly a half in the last six years.
According to the force, employees take, on average, just over seven
days off sick a year.
[More
on this Story]
ACPO
Welcomes Anti Electoral Fraud Guide
A
guide to help police officers and local authorities prevent and reduce
electoral fraud has been welcomed by ACPO.
[More
on this Story]
Gwent
Police Get Royal Recognition
Gwent
Police has received royal recognition for its work on the tsunami disaster
at a special reception at Buckingham Palace.
[More
on this Story]
IPCC
Concludes Allegation of Racially Motivated Harassment against GMP
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission has concluded a managed investigation
in relation to an allegation of racially motivated harassment against
Greater Manchester Police.
[More
on this Story]
New
Code of Professional Standards
The
Code of Professional Standards, which will replace the existing outdated
Code of Conduct, will form an integral part of the new police discipline
system currently being developed by the Home Office in consultation
with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association
of Police Authorities, police staff associations and the conciliation
service ACAS.
[More
on this Story]
Kent
to Increase PCSOs by 400%
Kent
Constabulary is set to increase the number of Police Community Support
Officers (PCSOs) by 400 per cent. The force is looking to recruit over
450 to supplement the 109 PSCOs they already have as part of its ‘citizen-focused
police service’.
[More
on this Story]