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SECURIZINE ISSUE 108 28th November 2007
Taser
Pilot Goes Ahead in London
The
Metropolitan Police Authority has authorised the force’s participation
in the Taser expansion pilot, despite concerns. At the full Authority
meeting last week, members received a further paper to answer the
concerns they had raised on two previous occasions when the Met brought
the proposal to the table.
[More
on this Story]
Taser
Incurs the Wrath of the UN
The
makers of Taser have hit out at the UN, accusing it of being out of
touch with law enforcement across the world. The UN Committee against
Torture said last week: ‘The use of TaserX26 weapons, provoking
extreme pain, constituted a form of torture, and that in certain cases
it could also cause death, as shown by several reliable studies.
[More
on this Story]
Plumstead
Death in Custody: No Criminal Charges
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been notified
by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that no police officers will
face criminal charges following the death of Paul Coker.
[More
on this Story]
Officer
Jailed for Assault
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into allegations
that Dyfed-Powys police constable Paul Summers assaulted Michael Cann
on 1st May 2007 has resulted in a guilty verdict at Swansea Magistrates
Court.
[More
on this Story]
Commissioner
wins Authority Backing
In
an unprecedented public debate at an extraordinary meeting of the
Metropolitan Police Authority, a motion of no confidence in the Metropolitan
Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has been defeated.
[More
on this Story]
GMP
Officers ‘Not Associated’ with BNP
An
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) managed investigation
has found no evidence to support an allegation that Greater Manchester
Police officers or staff associated with British National Party members
on St George’s Day, 2007.
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on this Story]
Missing
Persons Bureau joins NPIA
The PNMPB will become a new service area within the National Policing
Improvement Agency (NPIA) based at Bramshill, Hampshire from next
April. The PNMPB acts as the centre for the exchange of information
connected with the search for missing persons nationally and internationally.
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on this Story]
MPA
to Scrutinise MPS Corporate Charge Card Procedures
At
the full Authority meeting on Thursday 22nd November 2007, Members
received a preliminary report which outlined new safeguards put in
place for the use of MPS corporate credit cards.
[More
on this Story]
Norfolk
Model for Policing Receives Unanimous Support
Norfolk’s
Chief Constable has formally presented proposals for structural
and cultural change to the Constabulary for endorsement by the Authority.
These proposals underscore the Chief Constable's desire to change
the way the Norfolk Constabulary does its business. The aim is to
significantly improve frontline service delivery and thus raise
levels of public satisfaction.
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on this Story]
Police
Community Support Officers' Role Boosted
The
Home Secretary has called for PCSOs to have more responsibilities,
and a more prominent role in neighbourhood policing. Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith has strongly defended Police Community Support Officers
(PCSOs), and called for their role in police forces to be expanded.
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on this Story]
SOCA
- Good Progress in the Regime to Tackle Criminal and Terrorist Finance
The
first Annual Report on the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) regime,
published yesterday (Tuesday 28th), highlights substantial progress
since Sir Stephen Lander's review of the regime of March 2006. The
regime is a central plank in the UK's efforts against money laundering
and terrorist financing. The publication of an annual report to
Ministers on its operation was a recommendation of Sir Stephen's
review.
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on this Story]
West
Yorkshire Officers Praised
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission has praised the actions
of four West Yorkshire Police officers following an investigation
into the circumstances surrounding the death of Allen Duffy.
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on this Story]
Too
Many Youngsters Getting Drunk, says Chief
A
significant number of people in Britain are drinking themselves
into oblivion, West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison
told a conference in Leeds this week. Sir Norman, who recently spent
a night on patrol in Leeds to get a first hand view of the situation,
told conference delegates.
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on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 107 22nd November 2007
Minister
Praises Former Police Chief
A
police chief constable who stepped down after he became the subject
of a criminal investigation for alleged financial irregularities,
was yesterday commended by Home Office minister Tony McNulty.
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on this Story]
Police
Hit by a CID Shortage
Police forces across Britain don't have enough detectives, a report
found, according to the Police Federation. Lack of CID cops means
untrained officers are now handling more serious crimes. One detective
said: 'Years ago you would have had four applicants for every vacancy.
[More
on this Story]
Detective
Constable Arrested
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission is managing an investigation
into serious criminal allegations made against a Devon and Cornwall
detective constable.
[More
on this Story]
PC
Not Guilty of Death by Dangerous Driving
A Greater Manchester Police officer has been found
not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving following an Independent
Police Complaints Commission managed investigation.
[More
on this Story]
Home
Office Pulls Funding for 101 Number
Forces have expressed their dismay that funding for the non-emergency
number has been cut by the Home Office. Hampshire and South Wales
police have been given three months notice that funding will cease.
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on this Story]
Fraudster
to Pay Back £40 Million
Thames
Valley Police, working in partnership with the Assets Recovery Agency
(ARA) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), has secured what is believed
to be the largest confiscation order secured under criminal proceedings
to date.
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on this Story]
HMRC
Data Loss Investigation
The
Met is investigating the loss of HM Revenue and Customs [HMRC] compact
discs containing personal data about child benefit that was being
sent from HMRC to the National Audit Office.
[More
on this Story]
Force Defends PCSOs
Senior
officers at Avon and Somerset Police have given their whole-hearted
backing to the force's Police Community Support Officers.
[More
on this Story]
Lancashire
Sets up Cold Case Team
Lancashire
Constabulary has established a Cold Case Review Team, reinvestigating
historical undetected cases of rape and serious sexual assault.
[More
on this Story]
TASER
'Did not Cause Death'
Taser
has released the following statement following a confrontation between
a man and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at Vancouver airport.
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on this Story]
Taser
Used On Man Outside Abacus Pub In Kettering
A
violent man was arrested after police deployed the Taser in Kettering
town centre during the early hours of Sunday morning (18th November).
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on this Story]
Night
Marshals Introduced to North Yorkshire
Night
Marshals are being introduced by Selby District Community Safety
Partnership and North Yorkshire Police, in a bid to further reduce
anti-social behaviour and night-time disorder.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 106 15th November 2007
Gwent
Pilots New Stops Form
Gwent Police is piloting a new stop and search form designed to reduce
paperwork while still gathering the necessary information. Until the
end of January, officers working in Pill, Maindee and in the Roads
Policing Unit whose powers include stop and search will only have
to fill in one form instead of four.
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on this Story]
Eastern
Forces Push Ahead with Collaboration
East
Midlands police forces, recognised nationally as setting the standard
for collaborative working, have met to discuss a programme of joint
initiatives to save money and improve police services to the public.
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on this Story]
Met
Police Inquiry into Unexplained £2m Expense Spending
The
Metropolitan police on Sunday night confirmed that it has launched
an investigation into reports that millions of pounds in police expenses
have gone missing.
[More
on this Story]
Neglect
of Duty and Incivility Top Police Complaints
Nearly
half of complaints against the police are allegations of neglect or
failure of duty and incivility, according to statistics published
by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) today (14th
November).
[More
on this Story]
Public
Hearing Officers Fined
An independent panel has found that two Warwickshire Police Officers
breached the Police Code of Conduct. The Panel found the alleged breaches
of the code of conduct to be proven against both PC Charlotte Hall
and PC Theresa Cottingham. Both officers have been fined five days
pay.
[More
on this Story]
‘State-of-the-art’
Custody Suite Opens
Four new cells, fitted with state-of-the-art life monitoring equipment,
are opening in Leicestershire following a major upgrade of the custody
suite. The new facilities have been built to comply with new Home
Office guidelines on the way the police handle people in custody which
all Force's will have to implement by 2010.
[More
on this Story]
Half
Yearly Results Show Significant Fall in Crime
Latest
figures reveal that crime in London is continuing to fall with a clear
reduction in robbery, violence and hate crime. Overall crime in London
is now at a ten year low and the number of crimes where an offender
is charged, cautioned or receives another penalty has reached its
highest level since 1998.
[More
on this Story]
Doorstaff
given Metal Detectors
North
Wales Police have given metal detecting wands to door staff at pubs
and clubs in Denbighshire to boost safety in the area.
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on this Story]
Illegal
Workers given Security Licences
Thousands
of illegal immigrants have been mistakenly cleared by the Security
Industry Authority to work in the industry, it has emerged.
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on this Story]
MAPPA
Report Published
An
annual report has been published updating how Multi-Agency Public
Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) work in London.
[More
on this Story]
Extraordinary
Meeting on Stockwell Outcome to be Held
An
extraordinary meeting of the full Metropolitan Police Authority
to discuss the implications of the guilty verdict in the Health
& Safety trial of the Crown Vs the Office of the Commissioner
will be held on Thursday 22nd November at 9 a.m.
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on this Story]
IPCC
Stockwell 1 - The Recommendations
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) made 16 recommendations
for change to the police service as a result of the Stockwell investigation.
These recommendations were addressed to HMIC, Home Office, ACPO
and the MPS.
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on this Story]
IPCC
Publication of Stockwell 1 Report: MPA Statement
Len
Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), welcoming
publication of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)
Stockwell 1 Report, said: 'The shooting dead of Jean Charles de
Menezes was a tragedy that should never have happened, whatever
the circumstances were at the time.
[More
on this Story]
Northants
Excels in Disability Issues
Northamptonshire
Police has excelled in a national assessment on how it deals with
disability issues. The Employer’s Forum on Disability, of which
Northamptonshire Police is a member, recently conducted the Disability
Standard 2007 Public Sector Benchmarking Exercise.
[More
on this Story]
Officer
Shot in Derry
A
43-year-old off-duty police officer has been injured following a
shooting incident in Bishop Street in Derry at around 8.30amon Thursday
8th November.
[More
on this Story]
Scottish
Police get an Extra £54 Million
The
Scottish Government has set out a range of measures to increase
the visible police presence on Scotland's streets.
[More
on this Story]
Man
Convicted of 1975 Child Murder
Ronald
Charles Edward Castree has been found guilty by a jury at Bradford
Crown Court of the murder of Lesley Molseed in 1975. He has received
life imprisonment.
[More
on this Story]
London
Safe Cycling Event
London's
commuter cyclists are being urged by the Metropolitan Police Service
to make sure other road users can see them, after statistics show
that 53% of all pedal cycle collisions happen during rush hours.
[More
on this Story]
New
Crime-fighting Measure for Buxton
Life-size
cardboard police officers will be placed at businesses across the
High Peak and Derbyshire Dales in a bid to deter shoplifters.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 105 8th November 2007
I'm
Not Quitting Met, says Sir Ian
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has restated his determination
to remain in his post until the end of his contract. His comments
came as he appeared before the London Assembly to answer questions
about the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes.
[More
on this Story]
Embattled
Chief Receives Top Level Backing
The
Government and ACPO have come out strongly in defence of Met Commissioner
Sir Ian Blair following last week’s verdict on the Stockwell
shooting. The force was found guilty of endangering the public over
the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes who officers
mistook for a suicide bomber on 22nd July 2005.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Misconduct Hearing Held in Public
The first ever police misconduct hearing in public has started. Two
Warwickshire police officers will face the hearing following the death
of Ms Colette Lynch and the subsequent IPCC independent investigation
into the actions of Warwickshire Police in the days leading up to
Colette's death.
[More
on this Story]
Plymouth
Says it Clearly with Bosch
Plymouth
City Centre has upped its ‘Respect’ agenda by combining
the best CCTV with loudspeakers from Bosch Security Systems to quite
literally speak to would-be lawbreakers and discourage anti-social
behaviour, sometimes before it even happens.
[More
on this Story]
PCSO
Knocked Down by Suspect in Car
A
police community support officer is recovering in hospital after being
run over by a suspect. The male officer, aged about 50, was investigating
a complaint about drug dealing in a car park in Plaistow, east London,
when he was hit by a Nissan Primera after attempting to talk to the
driver.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Told to Delete Old Criminal Conviction Records
The
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered four police
forces to delete old criminal convictions from the Police National
Computer (PNC). The ICO is concerned that the old conviction information
is held contrary to the principles of the Data Protection Act.
[More
on this Story]
Man
Charged after Officer Hit by Car
A
41-year-old man appeared in court this week charged with causing grievous
bodily harm with intent to West Midlands officer DC Catherine Corbett
who was hit by a car as she tried to detain a fraud suspect.
[More
on this Story]
Operation
BusTag’s 2,000th Arrest
The
Metropolitan Police Service Transport Operational Command Unit and
Transport for London have this month achieved a landmark 2,000 arrests
for criminal damage to London's buses - through the award winning
Operation BusTag.
[More
on this Story]
ACPO
Response to Queen's Speech – Counter Terrorism Bill
In
response to the Queen's Speech yesterday ACPO President Ken Jones
said:
'New measures set out today are designed to enable the police and
security services to protect the public and counter the real and
evolving threat to the UK.'
[More
on this Story]
Man
Charged with Officer’s Murder
Mustaf
Jama has appeared before Leeds Magistrates' Court charged with the
murder of West Yorkshire PC Sharon Beshenivsky.
[More
on this Story]
Man
Hit by Police Bike Dies
A pedestrian has died after being struck by a police motorbike in
east London. The man, who was believed to be in his 60s, was pronounced
dead at the scene after being struck by a marked police motorcycle
at around 11.00pm last Wednesday.
[More
on this Story]
Chief
Constable Launches Second DVD Annual Report
Building
on the success of last year's annual report, Merseyside Police's
Chief Constable, Bernard Hogan-Howe delivers his message to the
people of Merseyside in a new video called 'Spotlight on Crime'.
[More
on this Story]
Control
Order Curfew should be Reviewed
The
Law Lords have upheld the legality of control orders, but have said
the Government should review orders that include an 18-hour curfew.
[More
on this Story]
Serious
Crime Bill Receives Royal Assent
The
new Serious Crime Bill will help police tackle serious organised
crime, and stop those who profit from hurting others, according
to the Home Office.
[More
on this Story]
Increase
in Legal Aid Fees for Criminal Cases
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced a significant
increase in legal aid fees for solemn criminal cases. The increase
will be brought in alongside substantial reforms to the structure
of legal aid, and is the equivalent of a seven per cent increase
against the current fee levels.
[More
on this Story]
Lord
Advocate Opens Scottish Prosecution College
The
Lord Advocate the Right Honourable Elish Angiolini QC, on 2nd November
officially opened the Scottish Prosecution College in Legal House
at 101 Gorbals Street, Glasgow which will provide training to prosecutors
and prosecution staff across Scotland.
[More
on this Story]
Dozens
Arrested as Paedophile Ring Smashed
The
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has co-ordinated
the UK response in smashing a global child sex offender network.
[More
on this Story]