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SECURIZINE ISSUE 104 31st October 2007
Met
Delays Implementation of Taser Expansion Pilot for Second Time
The
Metropolitan Police Authority has again refused to sanction Met participation
in the proposed Home Office pilot to rollout use of the Taser to non-firearms
trained police officers in London.
[More
on this Story]
Speeding
Rap for Top Traffic Cop
Britain's
top traffic officer is to be prosecuted after allegedly being clocked
doing 90mph in a 60mph zone.And Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes is
likely to receive a humiliating road ban if guilty.
[More
on this Story]
MPS
Officers Disciplined Over Racist Behaviour
A
Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has been required to resign
and another fined 13 days pay and reprimanded over an incident in
which a man was racially abused at a South London police station.
[More
on this Story]
'Sex
on the Job' Officer faces Misconduct Panel
A British Transport Police Inspector is to face a misconduct panel
after admitting he had sex whilst on duty. Inspector Masood Khan will
face three disciplinary charges under the Police Code of Conduct.
[More
on this Story]
Study
Praises Test Purchase Pilot
An independent study underlining the success of Fife Police's pioneering
alcohol test purchasing scheme has been welcomed by the force.
[More
on this Story]
Consultation
on Parliament Protestors Launched
The Home Office is asking people for their views on protesters outside
Parliament, including 'how close' they should be allowed to get.
[More
on this Story]
Free
Big Mac's to California Police
To support those impacted by the California fires, McDonald's restaurants
in all of Southern California are offering a free Extra Value Meal
to emergency workers and free Wi-Fi internet access to all customers.
[More
on this Story]
Searching
Advice Given After Custody Suicide
Words
of advice have been given to a Derbyshire police constable relating
to his failure to maintain the positive duty of care for a prisoner.
[More
on this Story]
New
Moves to Free up Police Resources
The Scottish Government is urging UK Ministers to change laws that
currently require police officers to accompany inspectors every
time they carry out a roadside vehicle check in Scotland.
[More
on this Story]
CPU
under Investigation
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is managing two investigations
into alleged irregularities at Lancashire Constabulary's Central
Processing Unit.
[More
on this Story]
Knife
Attacker is Detained
A man who stabbed a Police Community Support Officer in the neck
has today, Tuesday 30 October 2007, been given a hospital order
at Minshull Street Crown Court.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 103 24th October 2007
Officers
Pilot 'Live Feed' Video Cameras
Devon
and Cornwall officers will be piloting a new type of body worn video
camera, which enables a live feed to be transmitted back to a command
centre. This means the police command centre can see and hear exactly
what is going on as it happens.
[More
on this Story]
Met
DC 'Disappointed' with Evening Standard
MPS Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson has issued the following statement
in response to an article in today's (24/10) Evening Standard: 'I
am saddened and concerned by many of the comments in today's paper
about both Sir Ian Blair and the distorted impression it gives of
the management of the MPS.
[More
on this Story]
New
Young Offenders Scheme Brings Success
A new early intervention system for young offenders in Fife is providing
the individual support to prevent further crimes being committed.
Traditionally all young offenders were referred to the reporter, but
now Fife Police, Social Work, Education Services and the voluntary
sector meet to consider other methods of early intervention.
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on this Story]
Volunteers
Play their Role in Helping the Police
Lothian and Borders Police has recruited seven members of the public
as part of their new Volunteer Programme, the first of its kind in
Scotland. Many people are keen to support police and community safety,
both through the Special Constabulary and through community safety
partnership work.
[More
on this Story]
Night-time
Drinking Problems Tackled by Doorstaff
Northampton's
door supervisors will be attending a seminar on Tuesday 23rd October
to look at night safety in the town. The aim is for door staff to
have a chance to talk about Nightsafe issues, including violent crime
in the town centre. They will have the opportunity to interact with
thepolice and air any issues they have.
[More
on this Story]
New
Headquarters for North Tyneside
People
in North Tyneside are getting a preview of their new purpose-built
police station. A major public consultation exercise about the North
Tyneside Area Command headquarters is now underway, with architects'
drawings and leaflets touring local libraries.
[More
on this Story]
Wiltshire
Defends Police Station Closures
Wiltshire police has hit back at media coverage that has accused
it of closing its police stations. In a open letter from Stephen
Long, the Acting Chief Constable, he said he wanted to reassure
people stations were not closing.
[More
on this Story]
Divine
Intervention: Dorset Police get Seven Chaplains
Seven
police chaplains have been commissioned at a thanksgiving service
held by the Dorset and Bournemouth Branch of the National Association
of Retired Police Officers.
[More
on this Story]
Security
Guards Robbed
Detectives
in Bournemouth are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information
to come forward in confidence after two delivery security guards
were robbed of a quantity of cash in the town.
[More
on this Story]
Stolen
Vehicle Runs Officer Down
Senior
Officers within Cumbria Constabulary have paid tribute to PC Jon
Sherlock who is being treated in hospital after receiving serious
injuries whilst apprehending a stolen vehicle on the A66 this morning.
He remains in the intensive care unit of West Cumberland Hospital
this afternoon.
[More
on this Story]
Fraud
Funding Announced
The
City of London Police has welcomed the announcement that it is to
receive significant funding to enable it to lead the fight against
fraud in the UK.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 102 17th October 2007
Chief
Officers Argue over Drugs
The Association of Chief Police Officers says it
does not support a chief constable's call to legalise drugs and abolish
the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.In a statement, ACPO President said Mr
Brunstrom who is the chief constable of North Wales police was entitled
to his personal views, but his organisation said a repeal of the drugs
law would be a 'counsel of despair'.
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on this Story]
IPCC
Submits TVP Firearms Case File to CPS
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has concluded its
independent investigation of the discharge of a bullet at a firearms
awareness training session in which a member of police staff was wounded
in the torso.
[More
on this Story]
Man
Charged in PC's Death
A 20-year-old has been charged with death by dangerous driving following
a fatal road collision that resulted in the death of a West Yorkshire
officer. PC Ian Walker died following the incident which took place
at about 6.40am on Wednesday 10th October on Bolton Road in Bradford.
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on this Story]
Attempted
Murder Sentence Extended
On 11th May, Leon Russell from Brixton was found guilty of the attempted
murder of Tony Woodbridge. The offence occurred on 6th October 2006
in Daley Thompson Way, SW8. Mr Woodbridge received multiple gunshot
injuries and was extremely fortunate to survive.
[More
on this Story]
Gwent
Officers Top Exams Poll
Gwent
police officers have topped the charts in Wales & England, gaining
the highest pass rate in recent officer exams. Eighteen officers
from the force successfully completed the OSPRE Inspectors Part
1 exam in September 2007.
[More
on this Story]
Changes
in Criminal Justice Key to Cutting Paperwork
Met
Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has outlined how criminal justice
processes could be changed to reduce excessive bureaucracy in policing.
[More
on this Story]
Force
Launches Disability Association
Gloucestershire Constabulary has launched a new staff support association
aimed at disabled members of staff. Ability, the Gloucestershire
Constabulary Disability Association, has been formed to promote
disability equality in the workplace as well as the wider community.
[More
on this Story]
Ministers
Announce Wildlife Crime Review
The
prevention, investigation and prosecution of wildlife crime in Scotland
is to be reviewed, Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, announced
on 4th October.
[More
on this Story]
'Worst'
Force Takes Action to Boost Performance
Bedfordshire Police says it has already taken action to address
issues raised in a 'disappointing' Government report on the force.
The reassurance comes from Chief Constable Gillian Parker.
[More
on this Story]
Forty
years on: Drink Driving Still a Problem
As
the 40th anniversary of breathalyser testing is marked, the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Accidents says it was now time to
‘step up’ the campaign against drink driving to stop any
more needless deaths.
[More
on this Story]
Fife
Tops Closure List
Legislation designed to give communities a break from neighbours
from hell is being used more by Fife Constabulary than any other
Scottish force. The force this week secured its 11th closure order
removing a disruptive couple from their Glenrothes flat.
[More
on this Story]
Crackdown
on Illegal Workers in Soho
More
than 30 suspected illegal immigrants were detained in surprise raids
at five restaurants in London's Soho district this week.The arrested
workers were primarily Chinese and Malaysian, and all now face deportation.
Police also seized documents related to illegal work from some of
the restaurants.
[More
on this Story]
Latest
Technology Helps Police Tackle Drink-Related Violence
Sussex
Police is using the latest computer technology to tackle the problem
of alcohol-fuelled violence. The force has installed the InnKeeper
software system to streamline the administration of liquor licensing
and reduce paperwork and routine tasks.
[More
on this Story]
Lawrence
Officer 'Not Corrupt'
The
Independent Police Complaints Commission has found no evidence that
a corrupt relationship affected the original investigation into
the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.
[More
on this Story]
Merseyside
Police Passive Dogs Pass Out
Merseyside
Police has welcomed five new four-legged recruits to its dogs section.
The five Labrador dogs Max, Lily, Charlie, Barney and Jack and their
dog handlers successfully 'passed out' from an eight week passive
drug dog training course at Mather Avenue's dog section.
[More
on this Story]
London
2012 Games Preparation
London's
successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
has provided the Metropolitan Police Service with an unprecedented
opportunity to lead on the delivery of a safe and secure event.
[More
on this Story]
Missing
Children's TV
Missing
Children's TV has been launched at New Scotland Yard. The launch
took place in association with the Police National Missing Persons
Bureau, children's charity Parents and Abducted Children Together
and Electronic Health Media (EHM).
[More
on this Story]
New
Legislation Tackles Anti-social Behaviour
Police
in Peterborough are to be among the first in the country to use
new legislation aimed at tackling alcohol-related anti-social behaviour
and crime. The legislation, under Section 27 of the Violent Crime
Reduction Act 2006, allows officers to ban people over the age of
16 from specific areas for up to 48 hours.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 101 10th October 2007
ACPO
Attacks Performance Assessments Data
The Association of Chief Police Officers has strongly criticised the
way the Government measures a police force's performance. Following
the publication of the Police Performance Assessments 2006/07, President
of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Ken Jones, welcomed the
improvements in the police service.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Perform Better
Most
forces were graded excellent and good in this year's police performance
assessments 2006/7 published this week. Welcoming the news, Association
of Police Authorities (APA) Chairman, Bob Jones, said: ‘We are
pleased that locally selected indicators, which recognise forces work
to achieve local priorities set by the police authority, have been
assessed this year for the first time.
[More
on this Story]
Officers
to be Tested Randomly
Random testing for drug and alcohol misuse begins this month in Hampshire
Constabulary. Initially, testing will affect only officers in safety-critical
and vulnerable roles.
[More
on this Story]
Six
Men Jailed for Misconduct
Six
men have been sentenced in connection with one of the most extensive
investigations ever carried out by the Met's anti-corruption team.
[More
on this Story]
First
Police Misconduct Hearing to be Held in Public
The
IPCC has confirmed that it had for the first time used the powers
granted under the Police Reform Act 2002 to direct a force to hold
a misconduct hearing in public.
[More
on this Story]
Officers
to Resign over Stabbing Case
Two
Metropolitan police officers have been required to resign at a misconduct
hearing, following the Independent Police Complaints Commission
(IPCC) independent investigation into the police response to the
stabbing of Peter Woodhams in January 2006.
[More
on this Story]
Car
Drags Officer Twenty Metres
Surrey
Police is keen to trace a stolen Vauxhall Astra and the two male
occupants involved in an incident at Farnham which resulted in a
police officer being taken to hospital.
[More
on this Story]
Special
Killed in Car Accident
A Northamptonshire Special has died in a road
accident. He was Jason Brown, 31, from Highlands Avenue, Northampton,
who was a Special with the force.
[More
on this Story]
PSCOs
Demand the 'Right Kit for the Job'
UNISON
is demanding a standard uniform for police community support officers
to enable them to do their jobs properly.
[More
on this Story]
Police
Officers Injured
Nottinghamshire Detectives are investigating an incident in which
two police officers were injured as they attempted to detain a suspect.
It happened around 1.20pm on Wednesday 3rd October in Isandula Street,
New Basford, when an officer in a marked police car stopped a vehicle
for a routine check.
[More
on this Story]
Cashable
Gains Target to Double
The Association of Police Authorities says it's concerned the Government
is relying too heavily on efficiency savings to 'balance the books'
in policing. The comment comes after the Government announced that
the target for cashable gains would be doubled in the Comprehensive
Spending Review.
[More
on this Story]
First
Candidate for Multi Agency Offender Rehabilitation Programme
A
man who has admitted to committing a number of car crimes and thefts
is the first candidate to be successfully referred onto the Choices
and Consequences (C2) programme, which aims to steer prolific, acquisitive
criminals away from a life of crime. The project is the first of
its kind nationally.
[More
on this Story]
Lancashire
– Top of the Cops
Lancashire
Constabulary has clinched the top spot again and maintained its
position as a top performing police force in the latest round of
assessments carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies
(HMIC) and the Home Office.
[More
on this Story]
Force
Judged 'Excellent' in Neighbourhood Policing
For
the third year running, the leading role played by Leicestershire
Constabulary in developing neighbourhood policing has been recognised
with an ‘excellent' grade in the Police Performance Assessments
2006/07.
[More
on this Story]
Met
a Top Policing Performer
The
Metropolitan Police Service has been judged as one of the top performing
forces in the country in neighbourhood policing and addressing serious
crime according to the findings of a national performance assessment.
[More
on this Story]
Human
Traffickers Targeted in Second Operation
Pentameter
2 is a major operation stretching across the UK, and involving the
work of the police as well as numerous governmental agencies and
departments.
[More
on this Story]
Fraud
Prevention Advice
The UK's third National Identity Fraud Prevention Week began on
Monday 8th October. As new research reveals that 79% of us are still
being careless with our personal details, an unprecedented group
of public and private sector partners have come together to support
the UK's largest identity fraud awareness drive.
[More
on this Story]
Halloween
Crime Prevention Advice
While
Halloween can undoubtedly be a great deal of fun, it can also be
a particularly distressing time of year for some of the more vulnerable
members of our communities - especially the elderly.
[More
on this Story]
SECURIZINE ISSUE 100 3rd October 2007
City
Police to get Weapon Scanners
Birmingham was thrust into Gordon Brown's war on gun crime as it was
named among four 'hotspot' cities where police will get hand-held
weapon scanners. The
Prime Minister also said officers would be given portable computers
to cut down on paperwork so they can spend more time on the beat.
[More
on this Story]
New
Knife and Gun Crime Powers
A
range of new powers to fight gun and knife crime took effect on 1st
October. The new anti-crime measures tighten the rules on possessing
imitation guns and air rifles, and the sale of knives.
[More
on this Story]
MPA
puts Taser Expansion Pilot on Hold
A
pilot rollout of Tasers for use by police officers who are not trained
to carry firearms has been postponed following questions raised by
the Metropolitan Police Authority.
[More
on this Story]
New
Body Armour and Blunt Trauma Standards Published
HOSDB
Blunt Trauma Protector Standard for UK Police is a brand new test
standard, which has been developed by HOSDB at the request of the
ACPO Public Order Working Group.
[More
on this Story]
Force
Finances Under Threat in Funding Changes
North
Yorkshire Police Authority says it could lose up to £10 million
if the government changes the way the police grant is calculated.
The Authority received £73m in government formula grant towards
the cost of providing policing services in the area.
[More
on this Story]
New
Chief Calls for Fresh Debate on Collaboration
Chris
Sims, Staffordshire's new chief constable, has called for the debate
on regional collaboration to be re-opened. ‘There is no point
in four forces duplicating the resources they've got when they can
get much greater resilience by either pooling resources or, more
realistically, having in place processes that allow working together
in extreme circumstances.’
[More
on this Story]
Councils
and Police in Partnership
A
campaign has been launched by the Northumbria 101 service to encourage
early reporting of abandoned vehicles. Cars, vans and other vehicles
dumped by the roadside, in back lanes and on estates are not only
an eyesore but can be dangerous and a magnet for vandals.
[More
on this Story]
Advice
Given over 18-year-old’s Death
Three
police officers and two call handlers will receive advice as a result
of an Independent Police Complaints Commission managed investigation
into how Cheshire Constabulary dealt with two emergency calls relating
to Thomas Lunt.
[More
on this Story]
New
Funding for Victims of Sex Crimes
Grants
totalling £650,000 will be dedicated to helping victims of
sexual violence, the Home Office has announced. The new funding
will be use to open six new sexual assault referral centres (SARCs),
and to expand the services offered at existing centres.
[More
on this Story]
Incitement
of Religious Hatred Outlawed
Threatening people because of their religion is now an offence.
The Racial and Religious Hatred Act came into effect this week,
forbidding threats and other intimidating statements intended to
stir up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs.
[More
on this Story]
Force
Fights Fire
The
West Midlands has seen a massive fall in the number of arson fires
committed since the setting up of the West Midlands Arson Task Force
in 2002/3.
[More
on this Story]
Discriminatory
Behaviour Guidelines to be Drawn up
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun a
public consultation on its draft guidelines on investigating allegations
of discriminatory behaviour. The IPCC's guidelines will replace
the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) guidelines, Investigating
Allegations of Racially Discriminatory Behaviour.
[More
on this Story]
Community
Hit List will Combat Crime
Crime-fighting
agencies in Barrow have lined up a 10-point action plan to tackle
anti-social behaviour in the Walney area. They have pledged to work
with local people to drive out the anti-social behaviour that is
blighting their community.
[More
on this Story]
Chief
Defends PCSOs
Lancashire
Constabulary's Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan, says he is 'deeply
disappointed' at the recent media coverage about the role of Police
Community Support Officers (PCSOs). He called local newspaper reports
'ill-informed and unbalanced' in their coverage of PCSOs.
[More
on this Story]
AND
FINALLY...
Police! Someone’s Stolen our 2D PC
A
shoplifter managed to stride out of a supermarket with a life-size
local bobby tucked neatly under his arm. Until then, police say
the cardboard cut-out replica of PC Bob Molloy had done a great
job helping deter shoplifters in Derbyshire, by bemusing potential
offenders.
[More
on this Story]