Extra
Cash for Collaborating Forces
All
five East Midlands police forces and their Authorities welcomed the
news that the Home Office will be paying £142,000 towards ensuring
that the region can make the best use of specialist police officers
across the region, in areas such as firearms and search specialists.
This is the second successful bid for the region, making a total of
over £1/4m in additional funding this year.
The bid, made by all five forces working together, will seek to ensure
that each force delivers specialist resources to increase resilience
to the region as a whole. Steve Green, the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire
Police and the joint chair of the regional Collaboration Board commented,
‘This is excellent news for the region, and reinforces the reputation
our region is fast gaining for working together in a constructive and
productive manner’.
The project will focus on so called 'double-hatting', where police officers
have two or more roles and are often called away from one role in order
to perform another - especially around major inquiries and events such
as firearms incidents. The project will look to set a standard for specialist
training, increase the expertise of officers, and improve resilience
across the region.
A previous bid on Witness Protection was agreed in August this year,
and this additional bid further supports the region's vision of a region
committed to working together to achieve significant efficiency benefits
and performance improvement, particularly in serious and organised crime
and major crime.
Andy Ford, the regional Collaboration Programme Director said ‘This
funding will be used to explore opportunities to work collaboratively
in an important area of policing across the East Midlands. This will
also allow greater flexibility to use existing capacity and skills.’
The five forces are already working in this area, and the intention
is to have the increased capacity in place by next year, with detailed
evaluation undertaken over the next two years.
The Home Office 'demonstrator site' scheme will see the region and the
Home Office working in partnership to develop joint policies, processes
and procedures that can be tested and applied within the East Midlands
and could be the forerunner to rolling out this process nationally to
all 43 police forces.
This collaborative venture comes as a direct result of the failed police
force merger process that was stopped a year ago. The five forces have
maintained close working links and have identified a number of areas
where they can improve services and reduce costs. Other areas that are
being considered include procurement, serious and organised crime, managing
and responding to demand and improved information technology links.
Home Office Policing Minister, Tony McNulty said: ‘I am pleased
to announce that the bid for Home Office funding from Derbyshire, Leicestershire,
Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire for their Specialist
Operational Capacity and Capability Project has been successful. This
project has been awarded a place in the Protective Services Demonstrator
Sites programme through which we are now supporting 13 separate joint
working initiatives covering the police services that are focused on
protecting the public. This programme now includes participation from
34 forces in England and Wales, showing the importance that the police
service attaches to driving improvements in effectiveness and efficiency
by working together. All forces will be able to reap the rewards from
the lessons that these projects will generate’
Federation
'Disappointed' Over Pay Award
Officers
are set to receive 2.5% pay increase, following the independent Police
Arbitration Tribunal's decision on police pay.
Both the Official Side and Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board
(PNB) are bound by the decision, which consequently becomes a PNB agreement.
This is then referred to the respective UK Secretaries of State for
ratification or variation. In England and Wales we are waiting to hear
from the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP.
In response to the news, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation
of England and Wales, said: ‘When you consider the dangers police
officers face on a daily basis and the fact that we cannot take industrial
action, 2.5% is extremely disappointing. However, we entered the arbitration
process knowing we would be bound by its decision. We will be closely
examining the arbiters' views and conclusions and considering what future
action we need to take.
‘In effect this is a pay cut, which fails to recognise our unique
status as Officers of the Crown who cannot strike and have restrictions
on our public and private lives.
‘Police officers have been waiting for this increase since September,
so I am calling upon the Home Secretary to immediately ratify the arbitration
decision so that officers receive their pay rise as soon as possible.
They need your support Home Secretary, not another slap in the face.
‘The irony for the 140,000 officers I represent is that we hear
this news on the very day the Home Secretary stands up at a police conference
and announces so-called improvements to policing by further ring fencing
funding exclusively for PCSOs; police staff who can take strike action.’
Andy
Hayman, assistant commissioner of the Met police and head of ACPO's
Terrorism and Allied Matters business area has retired.
ACPO President Ken Jones said: 'On behalf of ACPO colleagues I would
like to pay tribute to Andy Hayman's tremendous contribution to policing
in general and the fight against terrorism in particular. As head of
ACPO's Terrorism and Allied Matters (TAM) business area Andy's drive
and leadership has resulted in the creation of a national counter-terrorism
force that is second to none. We are in no doubt that many people were
brought to justice and lives saved through his contribution. We were
very sad to hear of his retirement and wish him all the best for the
future. He will be missed.
'The business of protecting the public from terrorism continues. Considerable
expertise exists within ACPO. Andy's departure will not interrupt progress
or diminish our determination to confront the threat. I myself was chair
of ACPO TAM until last year, when I became President.
'With immediate effect, the ACPO TAM business area will be chaired by
AC Peter Clarke of the MPS. He will be supported by Chief Constable
of GMP, Mike Todd, Sir Paul Scott-Lee, Chief Constable of West Midlands,
and Sir Norman Bettison, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.'
The BBC news site reported that Mr Hayman has been the subject of a
whispering campaign following his involvement in the Stockwell inquiry.
Chief
Constable Banned from Driving
Med
Hughes, the former head of roads policing at the Association of Chief
Police Officers (Acpo) and chief constable of South Yorkshire police
has been banned from driving after being caught speeding at 90mph.
Mr Hughes was captured on camera on the A5 at Chirk near Wrexham in
May.
He was disqualified for 42 days and fined £350 by Wrexham magistrates.
The court heard the chief constable was caught driving at 90mph in his
Y-reg Audi at 8.17am on 28th May.
Mr Hughes stepped down from his roads policing role last month. Steve
Green, chief constable of Nottinghamshire police, has assumed the position.
IPCC
Instigated Disciplinary Proceedings against Met Officers Concluded
Disciplinary
proceedings against two Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers arising
from an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation
into their conduct during the arrest of 18 year old Mohammed Ali have
now been concluded.
PC
David Yates has resigned from the police before he was due to appear
before a misconduct panel to answer to breaches of conduct on politeness
and tolerance, honesty and integrity, as well as general conduct.
Another PC appeared before an MPS misconduct hearing on 21st and 22nd
November where allegations that he failed to prevent or to report PC
Yates' actions were found to be unproven.
The MPS agreed to the disciplinary proceedings following the IPCC's
independent investigation of the arrest in February 2005 of a youth
in West London for a public order offence.
Following his arrest, the youth was placed in a police carrier where
he later alleged he was racially abused by PC David Yates. The youth
recorded some of the verbal exchange on his mobile phone. He also reported
he was assaulted by PC Yates.
The
complaint was referred to the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards
(DPS) after the recording was aired during the youth's trial in May
2005 for the public order offence. Mohammed Ali (pictured left) was
acquitted of all charges.
The MPS referred the complaint to the IPCC which launched an independent
inquiry into the incident. The IPCC report was submitted to the Crown
Prosecution Service (CPS) which as a result charged PC Yates with racially
aggravated common assault. Following his trial at Southwark Crown Court
on 31st January 2007, PC Yates was acquitted of all charges.
Following the trial, the MPS agreed PC Yates should appear before a
misconduct panel to answer the conduct breaches during the incident.
IPCC Commissioner Deborah Glass said: 'The IPCC decided to investigate
the complaint independently. As a result of our investigation one officer
faced a crown court trial at which he was acquitted.
'Two MPS officers faced disciplinary proceedings with the result that
the matter in relation to one was not proved was not proved. PC David
Yates chose to resign from the police, as he is permitted to do so by
the regulations.'
The
identities of hundreds of people in witness protection programmes are
contained on the child benefit discs lost in the post by HM Revenue
and Customs, it has been claimed.
Up to 350 people who have been given new names and have been re-homed
after giving evidence against criminals are among the 25 million parents
on the child benefit register, The Daily Telegraph reported.
It said both the old and new identities were featured on the discs,
potentially putting their lives at risk and raising the prospect of
a costly exercise to hide them again.
Chancellor Alistair Darling revealed last month that the names, addresses,
birth dates, national insurance numbers and bank account details of
every child benefit claimant in the country had been lost.
The Tories said it would be 'alarming' if the details of witness protection
scheme members were among those lost.
'The Government owes an absolute duty to protect witnesses in major
criminal trials who are part of the witness protection scheme,' shadow
chancellor George Osborne added.
The Ministry of Justice referred questions to the Metropolitan Police,
which in turn directed inquiries to the Serious Organised Crime Agency
(SOCA). Nobody at Soca was available to comment.
On Tuesday, MPs heard that further cases of individuals' confidential
details being lost by official bodies have emerged in the wake of the
data loss fiasco.
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas said that a number of public
bodies and private companies had contacted him over the fortnight since
the HMRC incident was revealed to confess that they too had lost data.
None of the new admissions were on the scale of the 'shocking' incident
at HMRC, Mr Thomas told the House of Commons Justice Committee.
Luton
Law Reaches Crimebusters Down Under
A
Luton company which designs and manufactures video surveillance and
recording equipment has won its first order from a police force in Australia
following help from UK Trade & Investment.
David
Horn Communications, which employs 29 people at its base in Enterprise
Way, Luton has been supplying UK police, military and government agencies
since 1985. Last year it decided to set its sights on markets down under
and turned to East of England International, which delivers UK Trade
& Investment (UKTI) services in Bedfordshire, for advice and support.
Marketing Director, Jeff Horn used UKTI's Export Market Research Scheme
to help finance a visit to Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra in January
this year where he was able to meet with distributors and agents and
representatives from the police forces of New South Wales and Queensland.
'The Export Market Research Scheme proved to be the perfect aide for
this trip,' says Jeff. 'The market we were aiming at is very specialist
and I was able to ask the right kind of in-depth questions to get the
answers we needed. We were also able to meet UKTI's Commercial Officer
at the British Consulate-General in Sydney, another source of invaluable
advice and guidance.'
While he was in Australia that Jeff heard of a tender for video interview
surveillance equipment for New South Wales police - he submitted a proposal
- and won an order for 235 systems to be shipped by the end of May.
A further 22 systems have been shipped since making the order worth
a total of £700,000.
David Horn Communications has now appointed two distributors in Australia
is hopeful that more orders from police forces in other states will
follow.
'To say the EMRS was a good idea for us is a bit of an understatement!
It really couldn't have worked out any better!' he says.
Jeff has also signed up to UKTI's Passport to Export programme for new
and inexperienced exporters and attended a two day workshop in Cambridge
in June. He learnt how to get to get the best out of his new distributors,
and as well as other tips on supporting a market thousands of miles
away.
Anton Rudgalvis, one of EEI's Senior International Trade Advisors for
Bedfordshire, says 'DHC is a real export success story. From zero exports
to over £700,000 in the space of six months is a real achievement.
Well done to them - I hear that the United States is the next continent
they are targeting - I'll watch out for their products on CSI!'
More information about David Horn Communications and its products can
be found by clicking on http://www.davidhorncommunications.co.uk.
Scrapping
Police Authorities could Save Millions, says Report
A
new report has called on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to scrap police
authorities and return their powers to elected Council Leaders.
It claims that the changes would not only save millions of pounds which
could be pumped into front line policing, but also give local people
greater influence over local policing.
The future of police authorities has been uncertain following the announcement
by former Home Secretary John Reid that plans to merge police forces
across England and Wales had been dropped. The decision was proposed
after concern that smaller forces were failing to cope with high profile
investigations and counter-terrorism operations.
The report argues that Home Office targets for local police forces are
still to heavy-handed and can distort a concentration on local priorities
that may be different to the national focus.
'Your Police or Mine?' written by Anthony Brand, argues that central
control can leave some communities feeling that local police are not
dealing with their concerns and targeting the wrong areas.
The report does praise a number of Government proposals to bring local
citizens closer to police, including the introduction of Community Support
Officers and Community Safety Partnerships. However it argues that if
local political leaders have little control over policing policy, citizens
will continue to feel alienated from an unaccountable local police force.
It also rejects the recent Conservative Party proposal of introducing
elected police sheriffs arguing that it is better to coordinate local
policing strategy with other local service priorities with Council Leaders
visibly responsible, rather than have a separate free-standing elected
lead.
In the report, Anthony Brand argues:
‘The modern police force has become detached from society, bogged
down with bureaucracy and responsive to central policy rather than local
need. Central Government crime targets can distort priorities and have
little impact on altering the behaviour of policing on the ground’.
‘Rather than introduce a new layer of bureaucracy and potential
political conflict, we can use existing agencies and models of accountability
to strengthen the role of local authorities and local Leaders in policing’.
‘Leaders and local councils are directly accountable to their electorate
and so their performance (or lack of it) has a tangible outcome - re-election.
This ultimate accountability ensures that communities are consulted
and that policy responses meet local concerns, something that the public
feel is too often missing from the existing police structure’.
Consultation
Opens Over Ways to Modernise Police Facilities
The
Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and Metropolitan Police Service
(MPS) are undertaking a major improvement programme for the Metropolitan
Police estate.
An Asset Management Plan (AMP) for each borough will outline the local
strategy to improve facilities, including the provision of front counters,
patrol bases, custody centres, Safer Neighbourhoods team bases, and
office accommodation, as well as ensuring the buildings are fully accessible
in line with legislation. A significant feature of the AMPs, which aim
to explain the changes and how they will directly benefit policing,
will be a period of local consultation, actively seeking feedback form
the community.
Aneeta Prem, lead member for estates issues for the Metropolitan Police
Authority, said: ‘It is the first time this has been done in London
and is an exciting opportunity for Londoners to help us make the police
service better. We firmly believe we need to engage with Londoners to
explain the enormous benefits of the changes we propose and win their
support for a better, more effective police service for everyone across
the entire capital.’
Significant improvements to the estate have been made since the MPA
published 'Building Towards The Safest City' in 2003 setting out the
need for modernisation. However, many buildings pre-date 1940, are not
suitable for modern working practices, are expensive to run and inefficient.
Police numbers have also grown substantially in recent years, which
together with the roll out of the Safer Neighbourhoods initiative across
each of the 32 boroughs, has placed extra demands on space and facilities.
The estate must adapt to meet these and other emerging challenges to
ensure it is fit for use and provides the best possible environment
for police officers and staff to respond to Londoners' needs.
The Property for Policing Programme sets out to deliver more effective
policing by:
• Ensuring the public has accessible and friendly police facilities
in the heart of local communities, closer to crime hotspots and compliant
with the Disability Discrimination Act.
• More Safer Neighbourhoods' team bases will open within local
communities, bringing the police closer to the public.
• Providing a single Custody Centre in most boroughs. This will
create 30 to 40 custody cells in one place, with all the appropriate
facilities required on one site. This will provide safe and modern facilities
for employees and detainees and free up officers' time for front-line
duties.
Gun
and Gang Crackdown: Home Secretary Visits Manchester
One
hundred and eighteen people have been arrested and over 1300 real and
imitation firearms have been seized in Manchester, London, Liverpool
and Birmingham as part of a co-ordinated day of action involving over
1,000 police officers to target the supply of guns, increase visible
policing and reassure communities in those areas most affected by gun
crime.
The co-ordinated day of action, in conjunction with HM Revenue and Customs
(HMRC) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), forms a key part
of the Tackling Gangs Action Programme, which the Home Secretary launched
in September as the focus of renewed action to tackle gun crime and
serious violence amongst young people. The Tackling Gangs Action Programme
is overseen by a central Ministerial Taskforce on guns and gangs, chaired
by the Home Secretary, which met for the third time last week.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
'Getting guns off our streets is a top priority for the Government and
the Day of Action sends a strong message to criminals and the community
that weapons won't be tolerated. The Tackling Gangs Action Programme
has made good progress in working with police, their partners and local
authorities to support increased enforcement and community reassurance
in these areas.
'I and my colleagues from the Ministerial Taskforce were updated on
this work yesterday and I'd like to extend my thanks to all the police
forces and their partners involved in yesterday's operations.
'Yesterday's success proves that gun crime can be tackled and communities
can stand up against the intimidation of guns.'
The Tackling Gangs Action Programme will continue to look at future
action including:
* The use of covert operations and surveillance against targeted gang
members
* The use of civil orders to restrict gang members
* The provision of mediation services for gang members
* The supply of safe houses for victims, witnesses and those seeking
to leave gangs
Jon Murphy, Head of the Tackling Gangs Action Programme on behalf of
the Association of Chief Police Officers said:
'Tragedies involving young people have a profound effect on all neighbourhoods.
Chief Officers across the police service share the desire to work with
Government to address the causes of gun and gang-related violence in
the most affected areas over the long term.
'Neighbourhood policing is key to this success and can be highly effective
in delivering the sustainable solutions we require. Looking forward
the challenge is to develop an approach which combines local and strategic
policing to tackle and defeat this corrosive problem.'
Roy Clarke, HMRC Director of Criminal Investigations, said:
'HMRC undertake anti-gun smuggling operations to ensure lethal weapons
and replica firearms do not find their way on to the streets of our
towns and cities. Our work at UK frontiers is supported by good intelligence
and close co-operation with other law enforcement agencies both in the
UK and overseas in the US, Europe and Middle East; as such we are ready
to play our part in the Tackling Gangs Action Programme.
'These efforts have been effective and in the past year having led to
the seizure over 700 firearms, including replica guns, shotguns and
stun guns along with more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition. We have seen
successful prosecutions in the last year with prison sentences ranging
from three-and-a-half years to 12 years for the illegal shipment of
weapons ranging from handguns to assault rifles.'
The Home Secretary also met representatives from Greater Manchester
Police and the community for a full de-brief on the day of action in
the city. She then visited a local primary school assembly to see how
young people in the communities affected by gun crime are kept informed
and reassured.
She also visited a community centre in Tameside which has had success
in cutting crime and tackling anti-social behaviour, following a consultation
with local people, which resulted in better lighting, more CCTV and
a total re-landscaping of the area.
Protective
Services Demonstration Sites Announced
Tony
McNulty, Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and
Policing has announced three additional Demonstrator Sites, which will
address the demands of major crime, serious organised crime and other
threats to public safety by police forces and authorities working together
in a range of different collaborative projects.
In Yorkshire and the Humber the initiative will involve collaboration
between Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire
police forces.
In the East Midlands the initiative will involve collaboration between
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
The new initiatives were announced to Parliament in a Written Ministerial
Statement. A copy of this can be found at http://www.gnn.gov.uk
Police
Pilot Crime Reporting Scheme in Millbrook
Police
in Millbrook in Hampshire are piloting a new scheme to promote crime
reporting from the public.
From Saturday, December 1st residents can contact the police by filling
out a special form and posting it free of charge to their local safer
neighbourhoods team.
The scheme aims to encourage members of the public to report crime and
problems occurring in their neighbourhood so that resources can be targeted
towards issues affecting communities.
Forms can be obtained from local communal places and Shirley police
station. Information can be supplied either with contact details or
in confidence.
Forms will be given out to houses in hotspot areas with officers encouraging
residents to fill them out. All information will be treated confidentially.
Sergeant for Millbrook, Kerry Loveless said: 'The Millbrook team are
very enthusiastic about this scheme and are hopeful that our local residents
will use this facility to alert us to issues within the community. It
is only with their help that we can continue to make improvements to
the area.'
Local residents' opinions are essential in helping police deal effectively
with issues affecting their community.
Devon
and Cornwall Constabulary has launched a concerted campaign to reduce
the impact of its business on climate change.
The Force has pledged to work with its employees, partner agencies and
other south west businesses to curb its greenhouse gas emissions and
to become a more environmentally friendly organisation.
In May Prince Charles' 'Mayday' climate change summit urged UK businesses
to make a firm commitment to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over
the next 12 months.
The Force made the green pledge alongside more than 1,000 organisations
and is thought to be the first police force to sign up to the national
action plan.
Since then the organisation - with help from the Carbon Trust - has
started a programme to reduce its energy consumption and to establish
how it can grow in a sustainable way.
All aspects of the organisation are being looked at - from paper use
and recycling computer equipment to electricity bills and carbon emissions
from police vehicles.
A network of Green Ambassadors has been formed to harness the enthusiasm
of green-thinking employees who can champion energy-saving practices
in their workplace.
Force employees will be encouraged to adopt greener ways of working,
such as switching off lights and office equipment, recycling paper and
making a 'green' commute to work.
The network was officially launched at the Eden Project in Cornwall
on Friday 30th November where the ambassadors gathered to discuss the
actions they can take.
Some measures are already in operation, for example, a power-off policy
was introduced this year to automatically shut down computers at night
while cleaner fuels have already been adopted for the Force vehicle
fleet; car body parts are regularly recycled and lead-free paint used.
Employees are actively being encouraged to find alternative ways of
travelling to work other than by car and the Force is working with local
bus companies, car share services and cycle schemes.
A bicycle user group has been established at Middlemoor headquarters
and a large number of employees are now cycling into work, including
Chief Constable Stephen Otter, on a regular basis.
Wherever possible, renewable and sustainable materials are also being
used so that police stations and offices are run as efficiently as possible;
new builds such as Bodmin station are expected to become a blueprint
for environmentally friendly development.
Chief Constable Stephen Otter said: 'As a major employer in the south
west, it is our responsibility to help address concerns about climate
change and to make sure that we are playing our part.
'There is already a lot of good work being done across the organisation
to lessen our impact on the environment but we will be helping all of
our staff to understand ways in which we can become less wasteful and
more energy efficient aware.
'The future of the environment affects us all and we will be asking
everyone we work with to make a positive contribution.'
Constabulary
Launches New 'E Card'
Lancashire
Constabulary's launching a brand new Emergency Information Card which
could help people with a disability who may find themselves in some
kind of trouble.
The
'E Card' is being introduced after research found that people felt they'd
become a victim of crime solely because of their disability.
Research also showed that when some people have tried to talk to police
officers, or other members of the emergency services, about a crime
or an issue they've sometimes found it difficult to get across what's
wrong because of their disability.
The 'E Card' is the size of a credit card and comes with a self seal
laminating pouch. On it is a space for the person's name and photograph,
details of next of kin and a contact number, medical information, for
example I have a learning disability or I have diabetes, as well as
other useful information such as what that person might need to help
them in an emergency.
PCSO James Holland, from Lancashire Constabulary's Diversity Unit, said:
'This basic information could help locate that person's next of kin
who could provide other personal information, or give more details about
that person's medical information, which would help assist them better.
The card is completely free of charge and is incredibly easy to carry
around.'
PCSO Holland is responsible for Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment
(PDSI) as well as working within the Learning Disability and Mental
Health Field.
This is the first time Lancashire Constabulary has appointed a PSCO
for such a specialised role, which is jointly funded between the Constabulary
and Lancashire County Council (PDSI services).
PCSO Holland added: 'The aim of my role is about trying to improve the
quality of life, and the services, that Lancashire Constabulary provides
for people living with a disability across the county. It is about removing
the barriers and involving everyone.'
The 'E Card' has been produced in partnership with Lancashire County
Council (PDSI services) and Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC).
Home
Secretary Speech to the Association of Police Authorities Conference
The
Police Service must be just as good at tackling anti-social behaviour
as it is at tackling terrorism if it is to meet the challenge of leading
a world class police service, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said on 29th
November.
Speaking at the Association of Police Authorities conference in Warwickshire
the Home Secretary set out her vision for policing and emphasised the
importance of 'getting it right from the ground up' by tackling crime
at a local level as well as on a national and international level.
The Home Secretary emphasised the importance of the police working in
partnership across forces, as well as with local delivery partners and
the private and third sectors, to meet the challenges of modern policing.
The Home Secretary also announced the continuation of the £324
million Neighbourhood Policing Fund into 2008/2009 to ensure that the
excellent work already delivered by neighbourhood policing is maintained
and built upon.
Seventy-five percent of the population is now covered by neighbourhood
policing teams.
From next year a new performance framework, the 'Assessment of Policing
and Community Safety', will for the first time start to measure the
effectiveness of local community safety services together with the police
and encourage and recognise partnership working.
To support collaborative working between forces the Home Secretary announced
extra funding for three more protective services demonstrator sites,
in addition to the ten projects announced in July. These sites, in the
East Midlands, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside, will
involve all of the forces in those regions working together to improve
the delivery of protective services in their area and to develop best
practice for collaboration.
The Home Secretary has also written to Sir Ronnie Flanagan in response
to his interim report on his independent Review of Policing. The Government
has already made significant progress on a number of his recommendations
in the areas of reducing bureaucracy and neighbourhood policing, including:
* the development of a Neighbourhood Management Action Plan, to be published
at the end of this year;
* the creation of a £50 million Home Office fund to roll out 10,000
mobile data devices to police officers next year;
* new public service agreements focusing on tackling the most serious
offences; and
* developing further the use of virtual courts.
The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said:
'If we are to meet the challenges of modern policing and deliver a service
that the public rightly expect then we need to deal first and foremost
with the issues that the public are most concerned about.
'Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of this with neighbourhood policing
teams engaging with local communities and providing a visible and reassuring
presence. The policing family is also stronger and better able to serve
the public since the introduction of Police Community Support Officers.
'I am committed to ensuring that the valuable work already delivered
by Neighbourhood Policing is maintained and built upon and I am pleased
to announce continuation of the Neighbourhood Policing Fund until 2008/9.
'I am committed to implementing the recommendations from Sir Ronnie
Flanagan's interim report. We have already begun to make progress in
the areas of reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and on neighbourhood policing
and I look forward to his final report in the New Year.'
New
ANPR Vehicle for East Hampshire
Police
in East Hampshire have taken ownership of a new Volvo XC70 fast response
vehicle equipped with Automated Number Plate Recognition technology
(ANPR).
The
ANPR system will be used daily to combat crime and criminals using the
road networks within East Hampshire. Many known and cross border criminals
travel by car and the ANPR system can immediately identify vehicles
associated with criminals or stolen vehicles.
Front and rear facing cameras within the police vehicle read the number
plates of other cars on the road and immediately flag offences of no
insurance, MOT and road tax offences to officers.
The vehicle will be deployed to cover the main access routes into Alton
,Whitehill and Petersfield reading thousands of number plates. The roads
in the rural areas will also be covered to provide reassurance and to
target offenders who use less well known routes.
Vehicles can then be stopped and drivers prosecuted. Under new laws,
where certain offences are committed, vehicles can be seized at the
roadside and taken for destruction.
East Hampshire district commander, Chief Inspector Phil Kedge, said:
'By restricting the use of our roads to criminals, it significantly
reduces the opportunity to commit crime. Any active criminal using the
roads within East Hampshire will be aggressively targeted by East Hampshire
officers.
'The residents and visitors to East Hampshire can be assured that we
are using the very best of modern technology to keep our communities
safe.
'Officers will target those who enter our town centres and rural areas
in vehicles that should not be on the road and will target criminals
to deny them access within East Hampshire.
'If any drivers fit into these two categories, then it is time to think
again. A robust prosecution and vehicle seizure policy is now in place.'
West
End Crime Prevention Operation
Westminster-based
officers have launched anti-crime operations in the West End to target
criminals and anti-social behaviour in the run-up to Christmas.
Approximately one million people travel through Westminster every day,
with this number swelling in December as visitors are attracted to the
many shops, bars and restaurants.
Officers will be working in partnership with Westminster City Council
and the British Transport Police to ensure the safety of those who come
to the West End.
Operation Holly - led by police officers from Marylebone - is an initiative
to combat bag and mobile phone thefts, pick pocketing, retail crime,
robbery and other offences in the Oxford Street area.
Police officers will be working closely with the New West End Company
and local retailers to promote crime prevention advice and raise awareness
of the perils of pick pockets.
The Met is also co-ordinating an initiative where plain clothes officers
are invited to work out of retail premises to assist security staff
with the apprehension of shoplifters and distraction thieves who take
advantage of shoppers.
Operation Christmas Party - led by police officers from Charing Cross
and West End Central - will focus attention on the Leicester Square
area, which is popular with both office workers and tourists for its
colourful nightlife.
Additional patrols in Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and the Strand
will also be a feature of the operation. The Met is keen to ensure that
a safe environment is maintained for everyone who visits the area so
that they can have an enjoyable time, but will crackdown on anyone whose
anti-social behaviour mars the festivities.
Westminster Borough Commander Steve Allen said:
'The West End remains a very safe place for people to visit and I would
encourage everyone to enjoy the festivities at this time of year. However,
criminals are known to take advantage of the large crowds and I would
like to remind people to remain vigilant.'