Portishead
Headquarters Becomes Focal Point for World's Police
Portishead police headquarters became the focal
point for world policing for three days.
Officers drawn from forces from across the globe took part in the fact-finding
trip to the nerve centre of Avon and Somerset police.
The
officers travelled to the south west from the Bramshill Police Staff College
at Hook near Basingstoke in Hampshire.
The officers drawn from the Middle East, Far East, the African and American
continents were guests of Chief Constable Colin Port and hosted during
their visit by Assistant Chief Constable Steve Mortimore.
After welcoming the guests to the police headquarters on the first day,
ACC Mortimore gave them a potted history of British policing with emphasis
on Avon and Somerset Constabulary.
He also spoke about the introduction of 'Neighbourhood Policing' and how
it is re-shaping the way the police work and engage with their local communities.
Presentations on armed response vehicles and the force armoury were provided
to the group and then a demonstration was given of the HYDRA simulation
suite and how it prepares officers for major incidents.
On day two, the visitors were given a presentation on community policing.
This was followed by further talks on scientific investigations, call-handling
and recruitment of officers and police staff.
The tactical crime unit and police helicopter put on special demonstrations
for the visitors.
Day three saw the visitors viewing the Communications centre in action.
There was also a display provided by the dog and mounted section at its
Bower Ashton base.
A visit to the recently-opened Kenneth Steele House in Bristol saw the
visitors briefed about Bristol CID and its operations, plus a presentation
on the highly successful Atrium team. The visitors also met officers working
in major incident and murder teams.
The increasing involvement of the police at Bristol International Airport
also formed part of the day’s activities, which concluded with a
visit to Trinity Road Police station in the city centre.
Staff officer Police Sergeant Guy Morgan, who organised the trip said:
'Our guests seemed to enjoy the range of visits we were able to cover
during the three days spent with us.
'They were particularly interested in our approach to community policing,
policing by consent and the idea of restorative justice which, for some
of the officers, was a totally alien concept!
'This visit was part of a 10-week international senior commanders’
course during which, the visiting police officials will view different
forces in the UK and abroad and compare them with how how they run their
own respective operations.'
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Mortimore said 'The interaction between
the foreign officers and our own was fascinating. I would like to thank
all those officers and staff who contributed to the visit - some at very
short notice. Initially we were only expecting seven officers but this
doubled when the group was let down at the last minute by another force.
This alone shows that Avon and Somerset is a can-do organisation.'
The
VIP group that visited Portishead police headquarters consisted of: Major
Khalid Salim Ali Al Hamadani of the Royal Oman Police; Brigadier Hazza
Al Otaibi Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia); Major Elsadig Helal of
the Sudan Police Force; Chief Inspectors Anthony Mouchette and Tracey
Adams both of the Bermuda Police service; Superintendent Robertson Rouse
of the York Regional Police (Canada); Major Isa Hasan Mohammed from Bahrain
Police service; Superintendent Haji Mohammed Don of the Royal Brunei Police
Force; Major Ali Al Khalifa of the Bahrain Special Security Directive;
Assistant Insp. General Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury and Additional Superintendent
Farida Yeasmin of Bangladesh Police; Superintendent Sarah Tshokolo Gabathuse,
Superintendent Solomon Sedumedi and Senior Superintendent Phodiso Balekanye
of Botswana Local Police.
Caption: The visiting officers from the Middle East, Far East, Africa
and America.
