Please click on the 'SECURIZINE ISSUE X' link to view the whole issue, or on [More on this Story] just to see that particular story:
SECURIZINE ISSUE 37 31st May 2006
‘Glimmer
of Hope' Over Merger Plans
The
Home Secretary has offered the police service 'a glimmer of hope' over
plans to merge a number of forces. Dr Tim Brain, chief constable of
Gloucestershire police, was responding to Home Secretary Dr John Reid’s
announcement at the ACPO/APA conference that he was committed to 'strategic
mergers' of forces.
[More
on this Story]
ACPO
Warns of Financial Difficulties
The
service is facing a cash crisis that is set to damage major Government
policing initiatives such as neighbourhood policing, ACPO has warned.
Dr Tim Brain delivered a paper at this year's ACPO conference, warning
of financial difficulties for the Police Service in the years ahead.
[More
on this Story]
Woman
Sought for Information on Stabbed Bedfordshire Police Officer
Detectives are appealing for a woman to come forward after a Bedfordshire
police officer was stabbed on the outskirts of Dunstable. The woman
flagged down the lone constable in a patrol car in Beech Road at 5.30pm
and said there was a man acting suspiciously in a nearby wood.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Federation Calls for Tougher Sentences for Knife Carriers
The Police Federation has called for stronger sentences for those carrying
knives and more research to tackle a 'knife-orientated' culture. The
call came during the Government's week long national Knife Amnesty which
ends June 1st.
[More
on this Story]
Gwent
Lodges Formal Objection to Merger Plans
Gwent Police Authority has lodged a formal objection to plans to merge
them with the other Welsh forces to create a national force for Wales.
At a meeting last week, Gwent Police Authority considered the latest
information it had on the restructuring proposals.
[More
on this Story]
ConflictPro
to Launch in September
A new organisation aimed at reducing violence in the workplace is set
to be launched later this year. ConflictPro will provide professional
development for those working in conflict resolution and will officially
launch at their conference in September.
[More
on this Story]
Two
Thirds of Bichard's Recommendations Implemented
Two thirds of Bichard's recommendations following the inquiry into the
handling of the Soham murders have now been implemented. The third report,
outlining progress in implementing the recommendations of the Bichard
Inquiry, has been published.
[More
on this Story]
More
Forces Buy COMPACT Software System
Merseyside,
Humberside and Bedfordshire police are the latest forces to purchase the
COMPACT software system which speeds up the process of investigating and
recording missing persons cases.
[More
on this Story]
First
Environmental Crime Officer Appointed in North Wales
The country's first Environmental Crime Officer has been appointed by
North Wales police. PC Eryl Lloyd last week took up his new position within
the Environmental Crime Team at the Environment Agency's office in Bangor.
[More
on this Story]
Taxi
'Marshalls' Return to Northumbria
Taxi 'marshalls' have returned to Northumbria's streets to reduce the
level of violence at ranks. The scheme was successfully piloted by the
force last year and is part of a campaign to tackle alcohol-related disorder.
They will be used in Newcastle and Sunderland.
[More
on this Story]
Skills
for Justice Teams Up with SOCA
Skills
for Justice will be working with the new Serious Organised Crime Agency
to help deliver a 'Professional People Management' system for the newly-created
organisation.
[More
on this Story]
IPCC
Investigates in Cumbria
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission is to manage an investigation
into an allegation of improper use of Cumbria Constabulary's e-mail system
by an officer.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 36 24th May 2006
ACPO
President Rubbishes Claims of Cut in Police Numbers
ACPO President Ken Jones has challenged
both the police service and the Government to ensure that there is no
compromise on delivering the level of excellence the public deserves,
despite facing an 'unprecedented era of change'.
[More
on this Story]
APA
Invites Home Secretary to Agree a Shared Vision for the Future of Policing
The
Association of Police Authorities this week urged new Home Secretary
John Reid to work with police authorities and forces to develop a shared
understanding of what is best for both the police service and communities
across England and Wales.
[More
on this Story]
Chief
Officers Plan Officer Job Cuts
Chief
officers are planning to scrap thousands of police officer’s jobs,
according to the Police Federation of England and Wales. In her speech
to the annual conference, Jan Berry, chairman of the Federation said:
‘We hear disturbing reports from chief officers that they think
they can police this country with 25,000 less police officers.
[More
on this Story]
Metal
Detectors Used to Tackle Knife Crime in Strathclyde
Strathclyde Police has become the first Scottish force to use metal
detectors to tackle knife crime. The miniature metal detectors were
introduced in the run-up to a five-week nationwide knife and weapons
amnesty which is part of a year-long anti-violence campaign, tackling
knives, alcohol and violence.
[More
on this Story]
Bureaucracy
Award Scheme Winners
The production of a penalty notice for disorder printed from a police
custody computer was just one of the winners of the bureaucracy award
scheme. John Clucas from Lancashire police came up with the idea because
90 per cent of PNDs are issued from a police custody office, after the
arrest is made.
[More
on this Story]
HMIC
to Conduct Inspection of RMP Special Investigations Branch
HMIC
has been commissioned by the MOD to conduct an inspection of the Royal
Military Police Special Investigations Branch. This inspection will
focus upon assessing processes and procedures of high level 3 investigations
dealing with major crime or serious and organised crime.
[More
on this Story]
TASER
doesn’t Trigger Heart Disorders says New Study
Electronic control devices do not trigger heart disorders, according to
a study published this week. A study by the Cleveland Clinic found a standard
electrical discharge from a TASER® brand device does not induce ventricular
fibrillation and that cocaine intoxication increases the safety margin
even further.
[More
on this Story]
Cambridgeshire
Police Praised for 'Dramatic Improvement' in Performance
The
Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire, Julie Spence, has praised her force's
'dramatic improvement' in performance over the past year. ‘By any
standards, the force has shown that it can compete with the biggest and
best in the country,’ said Mrs Spence.
[More
on this Story]
Mops
and Buckets for Drinkers 'Caught Short' in Leicester
Drunken
revellers who decide to use Leicester city centre pavements and shop doorways
as a toilet are from Saturday being handed a bucket and mop to clean up
their mess.
[More
on this Story]
RPSOs
Introduced to Target Motorists in Surrey
Roads
Police Support Officers are being introduced by Surrey Police to work
with traffic officers and neighbourhood policing teams to make Surrey's
roads safer and tackle anti-social driving behaviour.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 35 17th May 2006
Federation
Survey Reveals Police Safety Fears
Nearly half of officers believe their lives have been in danger in the
last two years, according to a national Police Federation survey. The
results, released at the Federation's annual conference this week, show
that of the 141,000 police officers in England and Wales nearly half
of those who responded believe their lives have been placed in serious
jeopardy on at least one occasion over the last two years.
[More
on this Story]
Senior
Officers Pay Tribute to Murdered Nisha
Senior
officers have paid tribute to Special Constable Nisha Patel-Nasri who
was murdered last Thursday outside her home. Nisha, a hairdresser, served
as a Special in Brent Borough in London.
[More
on this Story]
International
Police Expo: 'Quality Not Quantity'
Last
week's International Police Expo at Birmingham's NEC may have been dwarfed
by IFSEC, but it still managed to attract some impressive new police
products. Most exhibitors were talking quality, as opposed to quantity,
in terms of the number of visitors to their stands.
[More
on this Story]
Officer’s
Idea Saves £2 Million
A Greater Manchester Police officer has saved the force £2 million
by suggesting changes to the way CCTV custody suite images are stored.
Sergeant Matthew Moore, based at Stretford police station, submitted
an idea to the Force Suggestion Scheme to improve the process of storing
CCTV images.
[More
on this Story]
First
Crime Prevention Association for City of London
The City of London's first Crime Prevention Association was launched
this week. The new association brings together the separate Wood Street
and Bishopsgate associations and will reduce costs in terms of time
and money, as meetings will no longer be duplicated.
[More
on this Story]
Contractors
Short-Listed for Multi-Million Private Finance Initiative
Three contractors have been short-listed for a multi-million Private Finance
Initiative to build police investigation facilities across East Anglia.
The contractors, Justice Support Services, Serco and Three Counties Custody
Services, will now go to the next stage and be invited to negotiate for
the contract.
[More
on this Story]
Gloucestershire
Requests Mergers Meeting with John Reid
Gloucestershire
Constabulary's Chief Constable, Dr Tim Brain, and Michael Browne, the
Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority, have written to the new
Home Secretary asking for a meeting to discuss concerns over the future
of policing in Gloucestershire.
[More
on this Story]
Royals
Parks Constabulary Merges with Met
The
Royals Parks Constabulary has merged with the Met to become The Royal
Parks Operational Command Unit which will sit within Territorial Policing.
The 131 police officers, 42 PCSOs and 10 police staff have now joined
the Met.
[More
on this Story]
More
PCSOs for Derbyshire
Derbyshire Constabulary is to recruit up to 60 more Police Community Support
Officers. The new recruits will begin training in September and will be
out on the streets of Derbyshire before the end of the year.
[More
on this Story]
Glastonbury
Team Up for Public Servants of the Year Award
Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Mendip District Council are in the
running for a top national award for reducing crime at one of Europe's
biggest music festivals. The force and council are short-listed for the
Public Servants of the Year Award which will be held at a ceremony in
the Grosvenor House Hotel this evening.
[More
on this Story]
Kent
Tops National Fine Collection Table
Kent has topped the national table for the collection of fines, according
to the Kent Criminal Justice Board (KCJB). In the latest statistics -October
to December 2005 - Kent collected 130% of fines, 100% for the quarter
+ another 30% where time was given to pay from the previous quarter.
[More
on this Story]
PSNI
Outsources Cleaning Services to Aramark
The
Police Service of Northern Ireland has announced its decision to outsource
its cleaning to a private company Aramark, as part of recommendations
in the Patten report.
[More
on this Story]
South
Yorkshire Emergency Services Stage Events for Asylum Seekers
South
Yorkshire police, fire and ambulance services are staging a number of
events to reassure asylum seekers and help them understand the role of
the emergency services.
[More
on this Story]
Skills
for Justice Needs Practitioners for Working Group
Skills
for Justice is looking for police practitioners from Scotland, Northern
Ireland and non-Home Office forces to take part in a review of National
Occupational Standards for Policing and Law Enforcement due to begin in
June.
[More
on this Story]
Stansted
Airport Causes Potential Shortfall in Essex Police’s Budget
Essex
Police is facing a potential £2 million shortfall in its budget
due to the refusal by the airport operator, Stansted Airport Limited (STAL)
to pay for the full costs of policing the airport.
[More
on this Story]
MPA
Chair Supports Sir Ian over Policing Capital
Len
Duvall, Chair of the Metropolitan
Police Authority, has released a statement in support of Sir Ian Blair,
the Met Police Commisioner. After recent press claims that the Commisioner
does not have the confidence of some of his senior officers, Mr Duvall
said:
[More
on this Story]
And
Finally...
Dorchester Road Policing Unit Welcomes Birds in Blue
An outside metal cigarette bin fixed to the wall of the Dorchester Road
Policing Unit's office has become home to a pair of nesting Blue Tits.
This is the first time that the Blue Tits have made the cigarette bin
their home - but with the watchful eye of the police on them - they could
not have picked a safer spot.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 34 10th May 2006
Chief
Constables Criticise Merger Survey
Chief Constables in the North East have criticised a survey on police
mergers after receiving numerous complaints from local people. Residents
in Northumbria and Durham said calls asking them for their views on
the mergers were suspicious and left them 'distressed and upset'.
[More
on this Story]
Hazel
Blears Reveals Merger Costs
Former
police minister, Hazel Blears, has revealed the full cost of the police
mergers. In a written answer, Mrs Blears said the reorganisation of
North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside police
is currently estimated at £39 million with long term savings estimated
at £18 million a year.
[More
on this Story]
Survey
Finds Brits Most Anti-Social in Europe
Great
Britain has the worst anti-social behaviour problem in Europe according
to new research published this week. According to research commissioned
by ADT, European provider of electronic fire and security solutions,
83 per cent of Britons feel this country has a growing problem with
anti-social behaviour.
[More
on this Story]
Northamptonshire
Police Authority Renews Merger Funding Appeal
Northamptonshire
Police Authority has renewed its appeal to the Home Secretary to explain
how the proposed merger of the force with others in the East Midlands
region will be funded.
[More
on this Story]
Tayside
Police Achieves Fifth Consecutive Charter Mark
Tayside
Police has gained Charter Mark - the Government's UK-wide standard for
excellence in public service - for the fifth time in a row.
[More
on this Story]
Jack
McConnell Calls for Greater Use of Antisocial Behaviour Powers
Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell has called on Scotland's communities
to demand greater use of antisocial behaviour powers at a local level.
Mr McConnell told a conference that the area had led the way on the use
of antisocial behaviour powers and it was now time for others across Scotland
to follow their lead.
[More
on this Story]
PSNI
and Cumbria Constabulary Launch ‘Officer Swap’
The Police Service of Northern Ireland and Cumbria Constabulary have began
an officer-exchange scheme to share experiences in community policing.
A uniformed Cumbrian officer will be on duty acting as an observer with
Neighbourhood Police at Strandtown station in East Belfast.
[More
on this Story]
No
Action Taken Over Information Leak
No
action is to be taken against the senior Met officer accused of leaking
confidential information to a journalist, the Metropolitan Police Authority
has announced. In a statement the authority said: ‘Following further
preliminary enquiries carried out for the Authority, the MPA Professional
Standards Cases sub-committee met.
[More
on this Story]
'The
Party's Over' Campaign Up for CIPR Award
A Northumbria police campaign against booze-fuelled violence is in the
running for a prestigious award. 'The party's over', Northumbria's hard-hitting
campaign against drunkenness, violence and disorder has been short listed
for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Excellent Award 2006 after
beating off competition from hundreds of other entrants.
[More
on this Story]
IPCC
Praises Met Officers for Reporting Colleague
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has today praised the
courage of four Metropolitan Police Service Officers who came forward
to report the behaviour of a colleague following an incident in August
2005.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Sergeant Charged with Sexual Assault
A
47 year old serving Warwickshire Police officer has been charged with
sexual assault. Colin Jones, 47, a sergeant serving at Bedworth in the
Northern area, has been charged with three counts of sexual assault on
a woman which are alleged to have happened in Nuneaton between 1999 and
2003.
[More
on this Story]
TASER
Use Upheld in US Court
A US Court ruled in favour of police officers who used a TASER device
to subdue a person after carrying out its own risk management analysis
of non-lethal weapons. The court dismissed as a matter of law an excessive
use of force lawsuit against two deputy sheriffs.
[More
on this Story]
Dawkins
and Cratchit Go Out to Grass
Two gentle giants from Manchester have retired to The Home of Rest for
Horses in Buckinghamshire. Dawkins and Cratchit, two 18-year-old geldings
from the Greater Manchester Police Mounted Section were named after characters
from Charles Dickens novels.
[More
on this Story]
IPCC
Calls for Further Debate on Police Body Armour
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has called for further
debate about the wearing of body armour by police officers following the
conclusion of its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the
death of Rawtenstall man Stephen Hensby.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 33 3rd May 2006
IPCC
to Oversee Alleged Police Misconduct Investigation
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission will oversee the investigation
into alleged police misconduct filmed by an undercover TV reporter
for Channel 4's Dispatches programme.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Assessment Team Calls for Forces
The
Police Assessment Team, set up to support forces assessing police
programmes such the Initial Police Learning and Development programme,
wants to hear from a number of forces.
[More
on this Story]
City
of London Police has England’s Highest Crime Detection Rate
The City of London Police has the highest crime detection rate in
England, the force has announced. Forty two per cent of crimes were
detected for the year ending March 2006, an increase of 13 per cent
on last year's figures.
[More
on this Story]
'Serious
Debate' on Equality in the Police Service
The chairman of the Police Federation has called for a 'serious debate'
on equality in the police service. The Federation will meet on May
30th to discuss the line between positive discrimination and equal
opportunity in the service.
[More
on this Story]
Training
Lessons Learned from Reading Incident
A
lack of experience among front-line officers in public order situations
has been identified by investigation following the incident in Reading
town centre in January 2005.
[More
on this Story]
Glasgow
218 Centre Making Good Progress
A
Glasgow-based facility that aims to reduce the number of women offenders
ending up in jail is making good progress against all its objectives,
an evaluation study has found.
[More
on this Story]
Air
Guns Warning
A
senior police officer has issued a warning over air guns after armed
officers were called to nine incidents involving air weapons last weekend.
[More
on this Story]
Dean
Bath Caught on Camera Breaking into a Covert Car
A
27-year-old man from Avon and Somerset has been sentenced to eight months
imprisonment after being caught on camera breaking into a car and stealing
a Sat Nav system.
[More
on this Story]
Gloucestershire’s
Future Soon to be Decided
The
future of Gloucestershire Constabulary as a stand-alone force will be
decided within the next two weeks, it has been announced.
[More
on this Story]
IPCC
to Oversee Complaints Involving SOCA Staff
The
Home Secretary Charles Clarke has given the go-ahead for the IPCC to
oversee public complaints against members of the Serious and Organised
Crime Agency.
[More
on this Story]
New
Powers for Merseyside PCSOs
Merseyside
Chief Constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe has formally designated his Police
Community Support Officers with five new powers.
[More
on this Story]
Scottish
Convictions Rise
Figures
released today show that there were a total of 134,500 convictions in
Scottish courts in 2004-05, one per cent more than in 2003-04.
[More
on this Story]
Scottish
Police Conference Tackles Sectarianism
Sectarianism
topped the agenda at a conference at the Scottish Police College in
Tulliallan last week.
[More
on this Story]
Lawsuit
against TASER Dismissed
A lawsuit for wrongful death filed against TASER International has been
dismissed by a US court.
[More
on this Story]
Drugs
Tests for Anyone Arrested in Thames Valley
People
arrested in the Thames Valley will be tested for drugs under a pilot
project designed to identify people who turn to crime to fund their
drug habit.
[More
on this Story]
Thames
Valley to Increase PCSOs
Thames
Valley police is set to recruit up to 500 Police Community Support Officers
(PCSOs) over the next two financial years.
[More
on this Story]
CJS
Performance Figures Published
The
latest quarterly regional performance figures for the Criminal Justice
System have been published. The figures are for the year ending December
2005 and cover England and Wales.
[More
on this Story]