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SECURIZINE ISSUE 12 30th November 2005
Midlands
Forces Confront Minister About Mergers
The Chairs of the five Police Authorities in the
East Midlands region have raised their concerns about the speed of the
force mergers in a face to face meeting with minister Hazel Blears at
the APA’s annual conference.
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on this Story]
RAC
Becomes Extra Eyes and Ears in Northants
The
RAC has agreed to act as 'extra eyes and ears' for Northants police in
the fight against vehicle crime. RAC patrols will park their high visibility
orange vehicles in recent car crime hotspots.
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on this Story]
Northants
Restructures into Two Command Areas
Northamptonshire Police is to re-structure its four
territorial policing areas into two new commands to improve police performance
and put it in a stronger operational position in force mergers.
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on this Story]
Met
to Save £70m in Latest Budget Round
The Metropolitan Police Authority says its latest
draft budget will save the force nearly £70 million. The authority
has agreed its draft 2006/7 budget for submission to the mayor. The final
budget will be set in February.
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on this Story]
Tide
of Opposition Against 'Superforce Agenda'
A Tide of opposition is rising against a 'superforce
agenda', according to a local police authority chief. Councillor Dave
McLuckie, chair of Cleveland police authority, says he is being inundated
with calls.
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on this Story]
BT
Tracking System Proves its Worth
The product manager involved in BT’s latest
vehicle tracking system was able to put it to test when his car was stolen
from outside his house.
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on this Story]
Thames
Valley Rolls Out New Major Incident Response Vehicles
Thames
Valley Police have demonstrated its new major incident response vehicles
fitted with the latest computer and communications technology for major
and critical incidents.
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on this Story]
Northern
Ireland Bill an 'Insult to Natural Justice' say Scots
The Scottish Police Federation has labelled the
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill currently going through Parliament' an
'insult to natural justice’.
In a letter to Scottish MPs, Norrie Flowers, Federation
chairman, asked them to re-consider the issue.
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on this Story]
Arrests
Will Increase Following New Licensing Hours
The Police Federation of England and Wales are anticipating
a large increase in alcohol related arrests following the implementation
of new licensing laws.
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on this Story]
GMP
Chief Fires Complaint at PCC About Replica Gun Story
The chief constable of Greater Manchester Police
is to complain to the Press Complaints Commission because of the way an
article handled his comments about giving toys guns as Christmas presents.
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on this Story]
BTP
Gets Post-7/7 Funding Boost
British Transport Police is to get a £3.6M
funding boost to help cover the cost of policing the London bombings in
July, the Department of Transport has announced.
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on this Story]
Home
Office Creates Biometric Centre
A national biometric centre is to be created within
Home Office’s Scientific Development Branch. The move is part of
the department’s three year strategy on science and innovation, published
last week and reflects the increasing use of fingerprints and DNA.
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on this Story]
Information
Transfer Develops Learning Programme
A Cambridgeshire consultancy has developed an e-learning
programme on ANPR, to be used by UK police forces free of charge thanks
to an initiative by ACPO.
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on this Story]
Home
Office Arrestee Programme to use Cozart®
Cozart®’s Rapiscan oral fluid drug testing
system will be the exclusive test procedure for the Home Office’s
new Arrestee programme, the company has announced.
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on this Story]
Surrey
Contact Centre Wins Excellence Award
Surrey police's Contact Centre has won ‘Best
in Public Sector’ at the Call Centre Association (CCA) Excellence
Awards ceremony sponsored by Scottish Gas.
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on this Story]
Sussex
Brings in Statutory Charging
Sussex police is the latest area to introduce statutory
charging in a bid to cut the number of cases getting thrown out of court.
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on this Story]
Essex
Increases Motorcycle Fleet
Police motorcyclists could become a more frequent
sight on Essex's roads after the force announced plans to buy six motorbikes.
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on this Story]
GMP
Unit Wins European Award
Greater Manchester Police’s Armed Crime Unit
has scooped a top award for running the best vehicle crime operation in
Europe.
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on this Story]
BTP
to Use Northgate Enforcement Solution
Northgate
Information Solutions has announced that its penalty notice enforcement
solution will be used by the British Transport Police (BTP).
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on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 11 23rd November 2005
Police
Federation Again Calls for More Armed Officers
The
Police Federation has repeated its call for more authorised firearms officers
across the country following the shooting of PC Sharon Beshenivsky.
Jan Berry, chairman of the Federation, said the service wants more officers
to be given firearms training as they face increasing danger on the streets
of Britain.
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on this Story]
APA Welcomes National Community Safety Plan
The
Association of Police Authorities has welcomed the launch of the National
Community Safety Plan which sets out the Government's key priorities for
improving the safety of our communities in the next three years.
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on this Story]
Changes
in Recording Practices Blamed for Deaths in Custody Increase
ACPO has backed the IPCC's findings that the increase in deaths in custody
is attributable to changes in recording practices. The association released
a statement following the IPCC's report on deaths during or following
police contact which recorded 106 deaths during or following police contact
last year which represents an increase from 82 deaths in 2003/04.
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on this Story]
APA
Pays Tribute to Lawrence Steering Group
The Association of Police Authorities (APA) has paid tribute to the work
of the Lawrence Steering Group and welcomed confirmation that work will
continue through a series of projects. Commenting on the publication of
the final annual report of the Group, Bob Jones, APA Chairman said:
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on this Story]
£2.5
Million Alcohol Crackdown
The
Home Office has pledged £2.5 m in what it describes as its toughest
ever crackdown on alcohol-fuelled disorder and rogue pub landlords. Measures
include fixed penalty notices for alcohol related disorder, cracking down
on those who sell alcohol to anyone under age, using CCTV footage to stop
incidents escalating and closing premises using new powers in the Licensing
Act 2003.
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on this Story]
Cozart
to Run Crack Cocaine Workshops
The increased use of Crack Cocaine and the impact on treatment agencies
is the subject of a series of special workshops run by Cozart. The regional
workshops are free of charge and are open to all interested parties with
the aim of providing an excellent opportunity to discuss the treatment
of crack cocaine abuse with other organisations.
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on this Story]
Cumbria
Wins Communication Award
Cumbria
Constabulary has scooped the GSL/APPRO excellence award for its handling
of the communication to the public and media during the storms of 2005.
The award is presented to the best handling of the communication of a
major incident or enquiry during the year.
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on this Story]
Strike
Action Threat Over Proposed Pension Changes
Police staff could strike if changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme
go ahead after their union confirmed that members would be balloted over
strike action. UNISON, which represents police staff, has confirmed that
the Police Staff SGE has agreed to ballot police staff members in England
and Wales for industrial action.
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on this Story]
More
Resources Needed to Police Roads
Chief
officers must commit more resources to police the country's roads or face
the consequences was the message at the Police Federation's first annual
roads policing conference.
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on this Story]
PITO
IT System Wins SAP Quality Award
The
Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has won a Quality Award
for its corporate IT system. The integrated software solution supports
PITO's HR, Finance, Procurement and Project Management functions to streamline
business processes and enhance efficiency.
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on this Story]
SmartWater
Technology 'Highly Commended' at National Business Awards
SmartWater Technology has been presented with a 'Highly Commended' certification
at this year's National Business Awards ceremony in London, it was announced.
The Telford-based firm picked up the accreditation in the category of
AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year, after impressing judges.
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on this Story]
TASER
Saves Thousands
Thousands of deaths and serious injuries have been avoided following the
introduction of TASER. Taser International said that incidents where TASER
had prevented possible death or serious injury has topped 9000.
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on this Story]
57
US Police Officers Killed in Line of Duty Last Year
The
FBI released figures this week which reveal 57 police officers were killed
in the United States last year in the line of duty. The report, Law Enforcement
Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2004, shows officers were killed in 22
states, most often by firearms.
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on this Story]
Stag
Arms Donates Rifles to US Police SWAT Team
A
US gun company has donated a number of rifles to a police SWAT team in
Connecticut. The rifles, commonly referred to as the AR-15 are the civilian
cousin to the current United States military rifle the M-16 and have been
given to the city of New Britain's Special Weapons and Tactics which deals
with terrorist threats and hostage situations.
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on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 10 16th November 2005
First
Time in UK for IBE’s ‘Counter Terror World’
The continued fight against international terrorism is the subject of
IBE’s latest conference and exhibition to be held at London’s
Olympia next month. It is first time ‘Counter Terror World’
has been staged in the UK. Already, nearly two thousand people are set
to take part in what is expected to become an annual event.
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on this Story]
Allen-Vanguard Calls for Detailed CBRNE Strategy
EOD and IEDD teams should review the suitability of their equipment and
training in the event of a CBRN attack, a global security expert has warned.
Allen-Vanguard, makers of CBRN products, say a detailed CBRNE strategy
is needed that places particular emphasis on the mitigation and containment
phase.
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on this Story]
Skills
for Justice Seeks PDR Feedback
Forces swamped by the bureaucracy surrounding Performance and Development
Reviews are being asked to contact Skills for Justice. The organisation
wants to hear from forces having problems with PDRs after it received
Home Office funding to help forces implement them effectively.
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on this Story]
Terry
Spence Calls for Electronic Tagging and Curfews in Northern Ireland
Electronic tagging and curfews should be introduced in Northern Ireland
to quell rioting, the secretary of the Police Federation for Northern
Ireland told a Eurocop conference. Terry Spence was speaking at the European
Confederation of Police conference in London this month.
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on this Story]
Premier
Electronics Wins PITO Biometrics Contract
A
contract to install real time 3D facial recognition technology has been
awarded to Premier Electronics, in alliance with A4 Vision and Global
Securities. The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) selected
the system to control access to its Biometrics Demonstration Laboratory
at the organisation's headquarters.
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on this Story]
Home
Office Response to ‘Stand Alone’ Proposal Disappoints Hampshire
Police
Hampshire
police authority says it is disappointed at the Home Office’s response
to its proposal to remain as a ‘stand alone’ force. Mike Attenborough-Cox,
chairman of Hampshire police authority said: ‘If the Home Office
is not going to take our submission seriously then it may as well have
given us the answer it wanted and asked us to find the question.’
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on this Story]
PSNI
Meets Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The
Northern Ireland Policing Board has had a private meeting with the Secretary
of State for Northern Ireland to discuss concerns over restorative justice
plans. In what was described as 'a positive and constructive' meeting,
the Board re-iterated its concerns to Minister Peter Hain, including involving
PSNI in any discussions on potential restorative justice systems for the
area.
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on this Story]
New
£400,000 Command Centre at Belfast International Airport
The
Police Service of Northern Ireland has opened its new £400,000 Command
Centre at Belfast International Airport. The Command Centre will provide
an on-site facility to allow police to manage any emergency incident with
the most advanced technology available.
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on this Story]
Hampshire’s
Roads Policing Unit Ranked One of Top Five in the Country
Government
inspectors have ranked Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit
as one of the top five in the country. The force’s Baseline assessment,
released by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIC), graded
the RPU as Excellent.
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on this Story]
Thousands
of Northern Ireland Officers Claim Damages
Thousands
of serving and former RUC and PSNI officers have begun legal action in
the Northern Ireland High Court to claim damages for psychological injury
sustained during their service. Up to 5000 serving and former police officers
are claiming damages for alleged negligence by their employer in the wake
of psychiatric injury connected to their horrific experiences in the RUC/PSNI.
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on this Story]
Northamptonshire
Officers on Inca Trail
Two Northamptonshire Police Officers are preparing to hike the Inca trail
in Peru for charity. Youth and Schools Liaison Officer for the Western
Police Area, PC Liz Thomas, and Incident Management Centre Inspector Carol
Fullerton, have signed up for the 45km hike over rough terrain and at
high altitude next May, to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Relief.
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on this Story]
Met
Officers Fight with ‘Guns ‘n’ Hoses’
Two
Met officers took to the ring last week in a charity boxing match against
two US firefighters at the Kansas City Memorial Hall. The ‘Guns ‘n’
Hoses’ event was sponsored by ICOP, providers of in-car video systems,
and is in aid of Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund
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on this Story]
Victim
Ethnicity Recording Increased by Thames Valley
Thames
Valley Police will increase their recording of victim ethnicity in response
to demands for more information. Crime victims dealt with by the Police
Enquiry Centre (PEC) will be asked to define their perceived ethnicity
on the 16+1 system, which lists 16 definable ethnicities plus an ‘other’
category.
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on this Story]
Smiths
Detection Sabre 4000 Tested on New York Subway
The
New York police department tested portable explosive detection devices
at two New York subway stops during rush hour this week. Anti-terrorist
officers randomly stopped commuters to swab their bags for explosives
with most searches taking less than 30 seconds to complete.
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on this Story]
Handheld
Devices Tested by NYPD
Three handheld devices will be pitted against each other as New York officers
put them through their paces over the next six months. A total of 200
devices from three different companies will be distributed among officers
to test them for ruggedness and reliability.
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on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 9 9th November 2005
Police
Excellence in Procurement Service Launched
The
new Police Excellence in Procurement Service will deliver a more streamlined
and standardised procurement service. Paul Davies, the new PEPS’
director (pictured), said: 'Working on more common approaches to documentation
and procurement processes will help collaboration and save time and effort
for forces.
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on this Story]
PITO
Awards NFS Contract to 02 Airwave
A new back up service for the Airwave network will reduce the time the
system is down from hours to minutes. PITO has awarded 02 Airwave the
contract to deliver a National Fallback Service (NFS) to improve resilience
to the Airwave network.
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on this Story]
Regeneration
Plans Don’t Take Account of Impact on Crime and Policing
East of England police forces will tell an independent panel that the
region's regeneration plans have failed to take account of the impact
on crime and policing. Research undertaken by the region suggests that
developments not built using principles of 'Secured by Design', the police
guidelines for estate development supported by the Home Office and ODPM,
could double crime levels compared to developments built using these principles.
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on this Story]
PSNI
Fed Chairman Calls for Noise Level Assessment
The
Police Federation of Northern Ireland has called on the Chief Constable,
Sir Huge Orde, to carry out an assessment on the levels of noise experienced
by police officers during the course of duty.
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on this Story]
New
Joint Emergency Police and Fire Station Opens at Market Rasen
A new joint emergency police and fire station has opened for business
in Lincolnshire. The new station at Market Rasen will house officers and
firefighters under one roof. It has a Parade Room for shift briefings
and an Interview Room to speak more confidentially with members of the
public while fire fighters will benefit from a Watch Room, Communications
Room, Workshop and a Training Tower.
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on this Story]
ACPO
Hits Back at Substandard Training Claims
ACPO
has rejected claims made by a right-wing think tank that the quality of
police recruits and training is substandard. Bob Quick, ACPO lead on the
Workforce Modernisation Programme, and Chief Constable of Surrey Police,
called the report from Politeia 'behind the times' because its recommendations,
publicised in the media, have already been identified and signed up to
by ACPO.
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on this Story]
Duke
of York Visits Cozart
The Duke of York paid a visit to Cozart on Milton Park, Abingdon. As UK
Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, the Duke
was able to see first hand how the drug testing systems developed by Cozart
are assisting criminal justice agencies, clinicians, drug treatment and
occupational health providers world wide with the identification and monitoring
of drug users.
[More
on this Story]
Kent
Police Team to Run New York Marathon
Four Kent Police officers are to take part in the New York Marathon in
November. The team, led by DI Chewter with DI Martin Lyddon, Inspector
Lee Whitehead from Canterbury and DC Andy Grove, hope to raise as much
money as possible and are eagerly seeking sponsorship.
[More
on this Story]
Sepura
to Open New UK Office
Sepura
is to open a new UK office in Thames Valley in response to business forecasts
that demand for TETRA will increase dramatically in the next five years.
Malcolm Quelch, development director for Sepura said: ‘While Cambridge
is a high technology area with a number of very vibrant businesses like
ours, it does not have a sufficiently large pool of potential employees
in the skill areas we require’.
[More
on this Story]
Merseyside
Police Signs Microbus Deal with Transcomm
Merseyside officers will be able to access the PNC from their patrol cars
after the force signed a deal to install mobile data terminals in police
vehicles. Using Microbus' devices in patrol vehicles which operate over
Transcomm's Mobitex network, officers will be able to check vehicles that
may be stolen or un-licensed, as well as wanted and missing person profiles
faster and more efficiently.
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on this Story]
Hertfordshire
Constabulary Extends use of BroadSkill System
Hertfordshire
constabulary is extending its use of a computerised stop and search system
following successful trials. The force adopted a system developed by BroadSkill
following a visit to Merseyside police who also trialed the software.
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on this Story]
Spaniels
Ben and Rip Sniff Out Staffordshire’s Cash Caches
Staffordshire police has become the second force to use dogs specially
trained to sniff out large caches of money. The springer spaniels - Ben
and Rip - sniff out paper money, especially sterling and Euros.
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on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 8 2nd November 2005
50
VIP Tickets For APTS Europe Show Available
There
is less than one week until APTS, Europe's leading border and transport
security show, opens its doors. Now in its 4th year, APTS provides law
enforcement professionals with the opportunity to experience for themselves
the latest security products, services and solutions available.
[More
on this Story]
Cozart
Wins Contract to Supply Drug Testing System
The
Home Office has extended a contract with Cozart to supply Cozart®
RapiScan oral fluid drug testing system to dozens of police custody suites
until April 2007. Cozart® RapiScan oral fluid drug testing system
is used in 173 selected police custody sites across England and Wales
to identify Class A drug users as part of the Home Office’s Drug
Interventions programme.
[More
on this Story]
PITO
Launches In-House Procurement Training Programme
The
Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has launched an in-house
procurement training programme for employees looking to gain the Certificate
of Competency in Purchasing & Supply (CiPS) qualification.
[More
on this Story]
Single
Strategic Force Only Way Ahead for North East
Northumbria Police Authority says a single strategic force consisting
of Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland is the only way ahead for policing
in the North East. At a monthly meeting of the authority, it was agreed
that an amalgamation of the three forces was the best option for the region
and its communities.
[More
on this Story]
Secret
Talks Anger Northern Ireland Policing Board
Secret
talks to extend restorative justice schemes across Northern Ireland have
angered the Northern Ireland Policing Board which has demanded an urgent
meeting with the Home Secretary.
[More
on this Story]
Talks
Could Lead to London Police Merger
London's three police forces have begun talks that could lead to a merger
of services, the Commission on London Governance has heard. Metropolitan
Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair told members of the Commission that
he has held discussions with both the City of London Police and British
Transport Police.
[More
on this Story]
Old
Street Sold
Old
Street Police Station in London is to be sold off following a competitive
bidding process on the open market, the Metropolitan Police Authority
has announced.
[More
on this Story]
Lancashire
Police Authority Suspends Search for New Chief Constable
Plans
to recruit a new chief constable for Lancahsire have been suspended by
the authority in the face of mounting uncertainty regarding the force's
future. Lancashire Police Authority announced that it is suspending its
search for a new chief constable until proposals for restructuring police
forces across the country become clear following a full authority meeting
last month.
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on this Story]
East
Midlands Forces Complain about Restructure Deadline
East Midlands forces are to complain to the Home Secretary about the lack
of time they have been given to submit proposals to restructure their
forces. A Strategic Board of chiefs and police authority chairs in Derbyshire,
Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire have
all expressed concerns.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Performance Assessments Should be Seen in Context Says Chris Fox
Police Performance Assessments have revealed an improvement among police
forces, but should be seen in context, according to the ACPO president.
Following the Home Office's publication of the Police Performance Assessments
2004/5, Chris Fox, said:
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on this Story]
LASD
to Study TigerLight® Non-Lethal Defense System
Los
Angeles Sheriff's department is set to launch a six-month study on TigerLight®
Non-Lethal Defense System. TigerLight, Inc. is planning to donate 500
TigerLight® Non-Lethal Defense Systems to deputies at the Los Angeles
Sheriff's Department for a study on the use of force.
[More
on this Story]