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.
'While I don’t think we will be trying to introduce any national
mega-procurement systems, we need to develop some sort of common view
on where technology and eProcurement in particular are going in the service
– again, building on existing good work.'
Mr Davies said one of the aims of the organisation would be to help forces
achieve value for money targets following the Gershon Efficiency Review.
'PEPS will work with the forces to help them achieve those targets, through
development and use of national and regional contracts, spreading best
practice, improving procurement skills and standardising requirements.'
Mr Davies said the organisation would also be looking at training and
development of procurement staff across the service.
Mr Davies trained as an electrical engineers before moving to procurement
and logistics roles in Pepsico and the Rank Group. He was Head of Procurement
for National Air Traffic Services and worked in procurement consultancy
for the Home Office.
PEPS is funded by ACPO, the APA and the Home Office.
(See here for our special
feature for the full story on PEPS).
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.
The new contract will deliver a dedicated stand-by duplicate switch network
that fully replicates the existing Airwave switch network.
This, says the company, will be an unparalleled feature in the delivery
of public safety communications anywhere in the world.
02 Airwave currently has stand-by infrastructure securely located that
can be brought swiftly into service should part of or even a whole existing
switch be lost.
With NFS, service restoration will take only minutes as opposed to a few
hours - reflecting the critical importance of communications in reducing
response times, critical in the event of national disasters and threats
to global security.
The latest contract brings the total value of 02's business this financial
year to £750 million.
Pete Richardson, managing director of 02 Airwave, said: ‘The Airwave
objective is to provide a highly resilient service that can be relied
upon to provide true interoperability between all organisations involved
in public safety and protection should they need to work together in day
to day operations or at the scene of major or minor incidents.’
Airwave is used by more than 130,000 officers across England, Wales and
Scotland, as well as the British Transport Police.
Up to 177 Public Safety Organisations have already signed up to the service,
meaning the potential number of UK users is now well in excess of a quarter
of a million.
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.
There is also concern that the police service has not been effectively
engaged in consultation at a strategic level, and that insufficient regard
for community safety will impact on the number of officers required to
maintain an appropriate policing service.
Essex Police Deputy Chief Constable Charles Clark will be leading a regional
representation over two days recommending changes to the East of England
Plan, which outlines development in the region in the next 20 years.
Police funding should also be reviewed as it currently provides insufficient
funding for predicted growth in population, according to Essex police.
Projections suggests that the region needs an extra 2,150 police officers
and 1,325 police staff over the next 15 years to meet the demand created
by growth.
Mr Clark said: ‘The police service has never felt the need to seek
representation at such planning forums. However, given the enormity of
proposed developments for the Eastern region, chief constables feel that
their voices need to be heard.
‘We want to ensure that policing matters, including infrastructure
and funding, are given due consideration at an early stage so that we
can ensure that we build safe communities for the future.’
Chairman of Essex Police Authority Robert Chambers added: ‘We feel
it is only right and just that we are allowed to put our case forward
as part of this examination in public.
‘We know the repercussions this planned regeneration will have on
policing and all we want to do is lobby for the funding we will need to
deliver an efficient and effective police service to residents.’
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.
Speaking at the start of a health and safety conference recently, Irwin
Montgomery, PFNI Chairman said:
‘We need to help employers and workers understand the risks of noise
exposure. A healthy workforce is also good for productivity and staff
morale can receive a real boost from an employer taking the well being
of employees seriously.
‘For police officers who are exposed to high levels of noise often
through random events in the course of their duties we must provide training
and ensure that the proper hearing protection safeguards are in place.
Once your hearing goes it is gone forever. There is no magic solution
to bring it back.
Mr Montgomery said the force had to look at practical measures to eliminate
excessive noise.
‘Employers have to reduce risk of damage to employees' hearing and
take specific actions where the noise exposure of their employees is likely
to cause damage. This is why the Federation is calling for a noise assessment
in order to reduce potential hearing damage among police officers,’
Said Irwin Montgomery.
Research estimates that nine million people in the United Kingdom suffer
deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions. Within Northern Ireland the
figure is 216,000.
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.
Both emergency services can make use of the conference facilities. One
fire engine and four police patrol cars will operate from the facility.
Chief Superintendent Elaine Hill, Divisional Commander of West Division
said the facility was one of just a handful of fully operational joint
police and fire stations in the country.
‘Police officers will no longer face being tied up for hours taking
a prisoner to another police station. New state-of-the-art detention facilities
mean most prisoners can be dealt with here at Market Rasen. The time we've
saved means that officers can spend more time out on patrol in the community
- which is where the public want us to be,’ said Ch Supt Hill.
Mike Thomas, Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said:
‘This new fire station really will be a great improvement for us
and the people we serve in the Market Rasen area.’
A review of Lincolnshire Police's estates revealed only a third of the
former Market Rasen Police Station was fit for operational use and prisoners
usually had be taken to Lincoln or Gainsborough Police Station.
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.
Mr
Quick also hit back at criticisms of police recruits, which he said were
‘offensive to many dedicated, hard working and professional police
officers.’
In a statement, Mr Quick said that ACPO had already identified that the
employment structure needs significant reform.
A blueprint has been put to the government which includes fast tracking
the most capable recruits through the service and the introduction of
a new advanced constable grade.
‘The proposals would do away with the progression based on time served
and introduce rewards based on qualifications and achievements,’
said Mr Quick.
Direct entry is also part of the proposals and will allow the service
to recruit pre-qualified professionals with key skills that the police
service needs and overall the service will decrease its reliance on young,
untried and untested recruits.
‘ACPO recognises the changing role of the police officer who needs
the highest level of technical and procedural knowledge, complex problem
solving skills, the ability to use coercive powers responsibly and high
levels of integrity.
‘In order to attract the right skills and quality the ACPO Workforce
Modernisation blueprint proposes radical changes to pay, conditions and
rewards in an accredited framework to target quality recruits,’ added
Mr Quick.
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.
The Duke was greeted by Cozart’s Managing Director, Dr Chris Hand,
and Finance and Commercial Director, Mr Philip Hand. His Royal Highness
then received a full tour of Cozart’s laboratories and manufacturing
facilities where Cozart’s range of drug testing systems are developed
and produced.
Demonstrations
of the drug testing systems developed by Cozart were given and plans for
the company to develop internationally discussed. The tour also included
visits to departments within the facility including the purpose built
Analytical Laboratories, Research and Development, Production, Manufacturing
and Engineering. The Duke of York then officially opened the building
in a ceremony where a plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled.
During His Royal Highness’s visit, Dr Chris Hand highlighted the
important role that the drug testing systems are playing in their various
applications, including the Cozart® RapiScan which is used in 173
police stations by the UK Home office as a part of the Drugs Intervention
Programme (DIP).
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.
The officers are taking part in the 26-mile run to raise money for the
charity Cancer Research UK and to raise awareness of bowel cancer in memory
of Lesley Chewter, wife of Canterbury DI Dave Chewter.
Lesley had been diagnosed with bowel cancer just eight weeks prior to
her death last November. She was only 38-years-old.
DI Chewter, said, ‘What happened to my wife was a tragedy. I want
to do something positive to both raise awareness of the disease and to
help fund research into how bowel cancer can be tackled in the future.
We have been training hard for months and we can't wait to take part in
one of the world's biggest sporting events.’
The team is being sponsored by CopShopUK Ltd, one of the UK's leading
online suppliers of police and security equipment.
To sponsor the officers, log on to http://www.copshopuk.com
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’.
Mr Quelch added: ‘We continue to recruit aggressively in the Cambridge
area and have been able to secure some excellent staff, but we have decided
to tackle this potential bottleneck to our growth by opening a new office
in the Thames Valley’.
The new office will house an extension of Sepura's software team based
in Cambridge with the local manager reporting in to Tim Woodruff, Sepura's
Deputy Development Director. Tim recently joined Sepura from NEC where
he headed up an international team of software engineers focussed on developing
software for 3G phones.
Sepura designs, develops and supplies digital (TETRA) radios for the public
safety market including the police.
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.
This system will replace traditional police radio for voice calls, and
as the information arrives in text form, removing ambiguity.
The ability to file incident reports remotely will be included as part
of the final phase of the project, further improving police productivity
and cutting time spent at stations.
Kevin McNulty, Transcomm's CEO, said: ‘There is a tremendous opportunity
with systems like the one we are deploying at Merseyside to help police
forces improve efficiency and response times in the community.
‘It allows many routines to become automated helping the Police Officer
in field and aiding crime detection rates,’ said Kevin McNulty, CEO
of Transcomm.
‘This initiative demonstrates how BT Transcomm offers mobile solutions
that deliver benefits through its own highly-resilient and secure network.
This is why our wireless solutions and services are used by the emergency
services across the UK.’
Merseyside Police already use Transcomm's communications network to track
the location of police patrol vehicles.
This latest initiative will enable the force to improve overall incident
response by streamlining the hundreds of routine checks made each month,
providing an improved command and control service to the Merseyside region.
The system will be implemented in two phases, beginning with 135 vehicles
in the Wirral area and Merseyside's Operational Support Unit in October
2005, and extending to the rest of the force's 450 patrol vehicles during
2006 and 2007.
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.
It is simple to use and includes links to gazetteer technology that locates
stops geographically, as well as aids for central ticketing to help monitor
the subsequent production of documents for stopped vehicles, such as a
driving licence.
The BroadSkill application is built on standard SQLServer technology and
uses a web interface to provide a comprehensive search facility. The data
can also be accessed using either database tools or through specific reports.
Vincent Blacklock, the force's business analyst, said: ‘Hertfordshire
Constabulary selected BroadSkill Ltd as the supplier for a stop and search
database solution late in 2004.
‘Hertfordshire required the Broadskill STOPs database to be web enabled
and several new data items to be included in the new web forms.
‘A challenging deadline of ready for service by 1st April 2005 was
set. Over the following months, a very good working relationship was established
and this played no small part in achieving the service launch on the due
date.’
The system has a user-friendly interface and data input and output mirrors
the design of the stop and search form.
It also has the ability to identify groups of Stops or isolate a specific
Stop that might hold key intelligence on the whereabouts of an individual,
the company said.
Mr Blacklock added: ‘Since going live a number of enhancements to
data input and reporting have been requested and these have all been delivered
to tight timescales and with continuing great co-operation between the
two organisations. We would be happy to work with BroadSkill again on
future developments.’
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.
Inspector Steve Doncaster of the tactical support team, said: ‘These
notes have a strong, distinctive smell for these dogs, allowing them to
find money that has been very well concealed.’
The spaniels will support the work of the economic crime unit, which has
been very successful in recovering cash and assets and making sure criminals
don't profit from their crimes.
Detective Sergeant Nick Jones said: ‘Since the Proceeds of Crime
Act 2003 was introduced, the force has made over £1m in cash seizures
- money which can be used to enhance Staffordshire's capability to fight
crime and reassure the public.
‘Cash seizures are currently running at two a month and these dogs
will increase our ability to take money out of crime.’