Monthly Archives: December 2010

Police will fight decision to block detention centre

  By surreywebmaster | 31/12/2010 - 14:05 | Policing - Surrey
Comments Off

A CONTROVERSIAL plan for a police custody suite has resurfaced despite the county council rejecting it earlier this year. 

Residents are opposed to the proposal to install 24 cells on the Salbrook Road Industrial Estate in Salfords, saying they fear an increase in crime and traffic.

Surrey County Council refused to grant planning permission for the facility at unit 1 of the Salbrook Road Industrial Estate, but police are appealing against the decision.

And the groups who fought the original application said on Thursday that they were preparing for battle again.

Tony Craig, of Lodge Lane, said: “We see it is going to bring quite a threat to the area, from people released or possibly participating in a last criminal act before they go inside.

“There isn’t a huge police presence here either, we don’t see police here often.”

A traffic “nightmare” is also among residents’ primary concerns. They say traffic to all over Surrey would be trying to exit from the estate onto the A23.

Mr Craig added: “There would be large numbers of cars needing to be parked near the main road.

“At the moment we’re a rural area and this would contaminate it so we don’t want it thank you. It just seems such a strange thing to do, is it that advantageous to have it here?”

But police say they re-examined the proposal before appealing, and have reduced the proposed number of cells from 30 to 24 after taking into account residents’ views.

They claim after considering all options, the Salbrook Road estate is the best option to replace the 12-cell suite at Reigate Police station.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Ray Blythe said: “I want to reassure the local community that we do understand their concerns and this decision to appeal has been given very careful consideration and has not been taken lightly.”

But Alison Bolus, Salfords Against Custody Suite representative, said the community had delivered an “overwhelming verdict” against the plan earlier this year, and were still unconvinced by the proposal.

However, they believe a public inquiry will help their case.

She added: “Surrey Police have requested that the appeal be dealt with at a public inquiry, which means that residents can once again have their voices heard.

“The impact that this could have on the rest of the estate must not be underestimated. SACS remains completely committed to ensuring there is a fair and just outcome for the people of Salfords.”

http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/news/Police-fight-decision-block-detention-centre/article-3047868-detail/article.html

GD Star Rating
loading...

Worried About Savings?

  By Bob Bartlett | 31/12/2010 - 13:52 | Pensions finance etc
Comments Off

The whiff of panic over the collapse of Northern Rock, B&B, Icelandic banks and others may seem distant memories, yet every sensible saver needs to remember the lessons and ask “Are my savings safe?”

This is a regularly updated account-by-account savings safety-check up, showing what protection you have if the worst happens and how to maximise your savings.

The Five Facts Everyone Should Know

Before we get to the nitty-gritty, if you only remember five things about this, make it…

Number 1Every UK REGULATED account gets £85,000 protection.

All UK regulated current or savings accounts and cash ISAs in banks, building societies and credit unions are covered by the government-backed Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). So if the bank fails, you’d get back up to £85,000 per person per financial institution, usually within a couple of months.

Number 2Not all UK savings are UK regulated.

Most banks including foreign-owned ones like Spain’s Santander are UK regulated. Yet a few EU-owned banks opt for a ‘passport scheme’ where you rely on protection primarily from their HOME government.

This includes ING Direct, Anglo-Irish, Triodos & more. See foreign banks list for full details.

Number 3The amount’s double in joint accounts.

Cash in joint accounts counts as half each, so together you’ve £170,000 protection.

If you’ve an individual account with the same bank, half the joint savings count for your total exposure and any amount over £85,000 isn’t protected (for more info see the joint accounts protection below).

Number 4An institution is NOT the same as a bank.

The protection’s per institution not account, so four accounts with one bank still only get £85,000. The definition of ‘institution’ depends on a bank’s licence and giant banking conglomerates make it complex.

E.g. Halifax and Bank of Scotland (sister banks) accounts are only covered up to £85k combined. RBS and NatWest are also sisters but the £85k limits are SEPARATE. See What counts as a bank? tool.

Number 5Spread savings to keep ‘em safe.

For perfect safety, save no more than £83,000 per institution (the extra £2,000 gives room for interest). Spreading can be worth it even if you’ve under £85,000; if your bank went bust the money may be inaccessible while you get it back. Using two accounts mitigates the risk.

For a full list of top accounts see best-buy savings guide, or for how to save safely inc. dealing with very big amounts see 100% safety guide.

Read Much More at - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/safe-savings

GD Star Rating
loading...

‘a truly nice bloke’ …

  By surreywebmaster | 31/12/2010 - 10:00 | In The News
1 Comment
Alistair Bell was jailed for nine-and-a-half years in 1997 for his part in a ruthless drugs business.

Bell, 42, shot an unarmed 29-year-old officer, who escaped with severe bruising near to his kidney area after a bullet lodged in his body armour, during the incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Bell later fired a number of shots during the stand-off before he was killed. A nearby resident has claimed three bullets hit his house.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has said forensic tests were delayed at Bell’s home in Huddersfield, because of fears that the premises contained explosives.

Several floral tributes have been laid outside the property in Cockley Hill Lane, Kirkheaton. One of them referred to him as a “truly nice bloke”.

Yesterday police officers remained outside the home as the inquiry, which is expected to take up to six months, continued.

Questions have now also been asked as to why unarmed officers were sent to the address given Bell’s violent history which included a conviction for possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Police-face-questions-over-response.6675927.jp

GD Star Rating
loading...

London Metropolitan Police helicopter crew never tires of catching bad guys:

  By surreywebmaster | 30/12/2010 - 16:16 | Policing - General
Comments Off

The Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit (ASU) has been providing cover to London for almost 25 years.

The unit has three Eurocopter EC145, which are the first aircraft of their type to be used by any UK air support unit, although they are already widely used in Europe.

The team is made up of 18 police constables, three police sergeants and is supervised on a local level by a police inspector.

It also employs police staff including pilots, operations room staff, engineers and an intelligence officer.

Each aircraft is crewed by a pilot and two police officers, called observers.

Each observer has a different role in the aircraft, and between them and the pilot, an effective level of support is provided to police ground units.

Julia Kennard finds out more about the Met’s high-flying crime fighters…

Fighting crime from 10,000 feet is a job London’s Met police helicopter crew never grow tired of.

“For me it is the most exciting and interesting job you can do”, says Sergeant Richard Brandon, 42, originally from Durham.

“Very few people get to see London from the skies everyday and get paid for it.”

The team, based at Lippitts Hill, Loughton, have covered every major public event in the capital from escorting Diana’s funeral cortege, to assisting ground crews in the 7/7 bombings, to capturing live footage at the recent student protests.

But despite playing a key role in history, the team get more reward from tasks that tap into a more basic human instinct.

“There is nothing more satisfying that finding a criminal in someone’s back garden, who might else have got away with it,” says Sgt Brandon.

Captain Lee Tooze added: “It’s finding missing people that is a real boost.

“Nine out of ten times we won’t find anything, but when we do – like a finding a missing three year old who might otherwise have died from hypothermia – it’s very rewarding.”

Most of the team’s work is spent using their powerful cameras, thermal imaging and searchlights to search for suspects or missing people, pursue vehicles, track armed suspects, help keep public order and counter-terrorism.

At Christmas and New Year the team are unfortunately called to an increased amount of suicides.

But whatever the job the team can be scrambled into action within seconds, arriving anywhere in London within 15 minutes – Sutton takes just ten minutes and Kingston 12 minutes.

Inside the helicopter the police officers work with teams on the ground to relay vital 360 degree information on a large crime scene within seconds.

But it is the pilots, who often have RAF or Royal Navy backgrounds, who have to deal with the delicate task of negotiating tower blocks while listening to six radio stations and various instructions.

Pilot Gary Sweeting says: “It’s real pat your head and rub your stomach business. You have to be very on the ball. ”

“I put my life in his hands whenever we go out,” says PC Gould.

One of the main factors preventing the team from doing their job is the weather: a severely foggy day can ground the crew due to poor visibility.

But it is humans who can pose the most threat to their safety.

PC Chris Gould says laser pens, which are often used by teenagers who don’t realise their dangerous consequences, can ruin a pilot’s night vision.

She says: “If a laser pen is shone at a helicopter it can be really dazzling. It could blind the pilot momentarily.”

As Insp Andy Brittain, of Sutton Police, explains : “We will always take a robust approach to anyone using laser lights in a dangerous way – and people will be prosecuted for doing so.”

Overall there 32,532 police officers in the Met of which 21 are in the air support unit.

That makes for a close-knit team who are always watching each others back.

But despite the team’s solidarity and the privilege of flying over London everyday, it is fighting crime that keeps the crew happy in their job.

As PC Terry White says: “I’m still a police officer catching the bad guys.”

Case studies…

Croydon: In Croydon on November 7, the air team helped local police arrest two people believed to be involved in a burglary. The helicopter team contained the premises so that ground units could move in and make the arrests.

Sutton: In Sutton on October 24, the air team helped local police who were hunting for a person believed to be hiding in back gardens.

The helicopter crew located the person and directed officers so an arrest could be made.

Earlier in the year while police helicopter – India 99 – was hovering over St Helier Hospital on a call about a potential suicide, the aircrew became a target of a green laser light being shone from the ground near the hospital.

Officers on the ground were directed by the helicopter to the skateboard park near the hospital and much a 16-year-old male was arrested for endangering the safety of an aircraft.

He was later bailed for two weeks to attend a youth restorative justice clinic.

Kingston: In Kingston on November 9, the air team helped local police hunt for a person wanted over a burglary and believed to be hiding in back gardens.

The person was located by the helicopter crew and caught by officers on the ground. The helicopter crew were also used in the Madingley tower block blaze on July 12, which left 100 people homeless.

Richmond: On November 9, the air team helped local police find a suspected criminal in Richmond Park.

The people were located by the helicopter crew who also helped direct officers on the ground so arrests could be made.

Merton: In Merton on November 24, the air team helped local police hunt for a person believed to be involved in an armed robbery.

The helicopter crew enabled the officers on the ground to arrest the person.

Wandsworth: In Wandsworth on November 10, the air support team helped local police hunt for a person believed to be involved in a burglary.

The helicopter crew located the person on a roof and directed officers on the ground so an arrest could be made.

Hammersmith and Fulham: In Hammersmith and Fulham on October 24, the air support team helped local police search for an injured person after a car was found in a river.

http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/8760174.Cop_helicopter_crew_never_tires_of_catching_bad_guys/

GD Star Rating
loading...

Police chief proud of legacy but she will always regret PC Henry’s death:

  By surreywebmaster | 30/12/2010 - 16:11 | In The News
Comments Off

OUTGOING Chief Constable Gillian Parker says she is “proud” of her legacy as she leaves Bedfordshire Police after five-and-a-half years – but she will always regret the death of PC Jon Henry.

Mrs Parker leaves the post this week after serving 30 years as a policewoman. She will be replaced in January by incoming chief Alf Hitchcock.

She said she had many positive memories of her time with the force, but singled out the fatal stabbing of Luton officer PC Henry in 2007 as her greatest regret.

Mrs Parker said: “Jon’s death was the worst moment of the whole of my policing career. I took it very personally.

“I have always taken the role of chief constable very seriously, and feel personally responsible for everyone in Beds Police.

“We continue to support Jon’s family, who have dealt with Jon’s death remarkably well. Mary Henry is an incredible woman.”

In recent years the biggest on-going issue facing Beds Police has been proposals to merge the force with Herts Police.

Those were shelved in July after members of Herts Police Authority said they wanted to consider other options.

Mrs Parker said: “As things stand at the moment there is no appetite for merging Beds and Herts.

“However there is an agreement between Beds, Herts and Cambs forces that virtually any areas that can be collaborated will be collaborated.

“There wasn’t the political will for it from some politicians perhaps. But the general public aren’t interested in the who’s and why’s – they simply want the best policing for the best value for money.”

A number of functions of Beds and Herts Police have been and are continuing to be merged or collaborated on, including the joint major crime unit, firearms, pensions, and procurement.

Mrs Parker said: “I am very proud of the fact that we, and Herts Police, have led the way for the rest of the country.”

Mrs Parker said the biggest challenge in her time had been financial, as the county receives less than it ought to for its size and population under the government’s funding rules.

And she confessed that this meant the force could not always do everything it wanted to do to the standards she would hope for.

She said: “The changes to funding coincided with my arrival in Bedfordshire, so it has been a constant throughout my time.

“In short, over the last five years we have received around £19million less than we should have done in total. This year our budget was just over £100million, and an extra £19million would have made a huge difference to what we could do.”

And what next for Mrs Parker?

She will take some time out, but she ruled out the possibility of becoming one of the elected police commissioners that the government may introduce to replace police authorities.

“I have no interest in standing for that role,” she said, “And whatever I do it won’t be a high-profile public position.

“I like to sleep easily in my bed at night, so I try to ensure that everything I have done has been ethical, and that I have acted with integrity.

“After 30 years with the police I have really enjoyed it, but I have enjoyed my time in Bedfordshire most of all.”

Gillian Parker on…

Heading a police force:

“When I first joined as a police constable I had no ambition, and I could never have envisaged I would become a chief constable.

“The buck stops with you, and whatever happens, for good or ill, you carry the ultimate responsibility. That is a brilliant thing to experience.

“And having this role in Bedfordshire in particular has been a privilege, because it has such an interesting and varied environment for policing.”

Changes she has made to the force:

“I have tried to encourage staff to take responsibility and solve problems themselves.

““It was quite an old-fashioned force when I arrived, and people tended to look upwards for decisions.

“The SOS Bus in Luton is a good example of that. It came from a sergeant coming up with an idea, getting other people on board, and making it happen.

“That has been very successful in helping to tackle crime and disorder.”

Beds Police being named the worst-performing force in England and Wales in 2007, in an unofficial league table based on Home Office ratings:

“The staff in my force didn’t deserve that label, but what it did was encourage everybody, myself included, to make sure that changes were made.

“As a result we saw improvements in our performance.”

Politicians:

“In my experience the majority of Bedfordshire’s MPs have been hard-working and community-centred, and in general my relationship with them has been very positive. I have been grateful for their support, particularly on funding matters.

“Sometimes I have a problem when high-profile people when they make misinformed statements. I may disagree with politicians, but if they are informed about the issues they can always state their opinions.”

Plans for a new police station in Bedford town centre:

“The situation has changed because there are now different plans for the town centre redevelopment, and there is no pressure on us to get out of Greyfriars.

“But it is an old building, and the custody cells in particular aren’t as good as we’d want them to be. The cells are the expensive part of creating a new station – in an ideal world we would build a brand-new justice centre, with the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts, and the cells all together.

“The future is a bit uncertain, and it will be something for the police authority and the new chief constable to decide upon.”

Bedfordshire’s ethnic mix:

“Both in Bedford and Luton there is relatively little trouble, but that is a reflection on the communities, not just the police.

“We make a contribution to communities working together, but it is primarily the people themselves.”

http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/today-s-choice/police_chief_proud_of_legacy_but_she_will_always_regret_pc_henry_s_death_1_2216472

GD Star Rating
loading...

Met Police involved in an average of twelve traffic accidents each day:

  By surreywebmaster | 30/12/2010 - 15:55 | In The News
2 Comments

Britain’s biggest police force has been involved in a staggering 12,649 scrapes and crashes in the past three years alone, new figures reveal today.

Extraordinarily, that’s almost 12 accidents every day.

Tragically, 22 people were killed on London’s roads as a result of the collisions involving Metropolitan Police officers.

Accident prone: The Metropolitan Police force has been involved in a staggering 12,649 scrapes and crashes, like this one in Chiswick, west London, in the past three years alone, according to new figures released today
Accident prone: The Metropolitan Police force has been involved in a staggering 12,649 scrapes and crashes, like this one in Chiswick, west London, in the past three years alone, according to new figures released today

Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show there were a total of 3,015 casualties.

Of these, 247 were pedestrians and 135 were cyclists. Of the 22 fatalities, one cyclist and five pedestrians were killed; the remaining 16 were motorists.

The figures cover all types of road accident, from fatal and serious injury through to bumps and minor scuffs caused by kerbing.

A Met spokesman said officers received the most professional training available and action would be taken against anybody who fell below the high standard expected.

Road safety charities today said the casualty figures were ‘too high’ and warned officers they ‘should not risk lives to safe a life’.

Ellen Booth, from road safety charity Brake, said: ‘Every crash and death on the road is preventable and the 22 deaths reported by the Met are 22 deaths too many.

‘One should not be risking lives in order to save a life.

‘Police deal with the consequences of road accidents all day every day and I expect them to be very aware of the dangers involved in driving.

‘In general, accidents on the roads are caused by all manner of things, including speeding, being distracted or using a mobile phone.

‘We are concerned that emergency vehicles are sometimes driven at speed when it is not necessary.

‘Anybody who drives an emergency vehicle above the speed limit should adequately assess the situation to ensure they are driving safely.

‘It has to be done with extreme caution and should not be done as a matter of course.

‘I know the police are concerned about safety and it is something they need to keep on top of.’

Police drivers report any collisions and damage to vehicles to the Met’s Traffic Management Information Unit, which keeps a log.

Word on the (very busy) street: A Met spokesman said officers received the most professional training available and action would be taken against anybody who fell below the high standard expected
Word on the (very busy) street: A Met spokesman said officers received the most professional training available and action would be taken against anybody who fell below the high standard expected

Met Police spokesman Steve Sherwood said: ‘We recognise that even one fatality is one too many and we are committed to reducing the number of police collisions.

‘Our figures show that police collisions are continuing to come down year on year.

‘We regularly review driver training procedures to ensure our staff receive the most professional and appropriate training available.

‘Officers are all trained to a high standard and are fully aware that action may be taken against any officer who falls below that standard.

‘This may involve retraining and, in some cases, removal from driving duties.

‘We ensure we teach our drivers to act in a professional and measured manner at all times.’

Metropolitan Police drivers cover 73 million miles and respond to about two million 999 calls each year.

Figures show the number of collisions was 4,635 in the financial year 2007/8, 4,128 in 2008/9 and 3,886 in 2009/10.

There were five fatalities in 2007/8, seven in 2008/9 and 10 in 2009/10.

Vehicles were not necessarily responding to emergency calls at the time of the accidents.

The figures also include ‘vicinity only collisions’, where the police car itself has not been hit but it is deemed other road users have had an accident as a result of the police presence.

Typically, this might be because they were being pursued or because they crashed while trying to make room for a police car to pass on its way to an emergency.

Jo Bullock, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: ‘The police, like any other employer, should be properly investigating accidents that involve their vehicles to establish the cause.

‘They should then use this information to identify ways of preventing similar accidents in the future.

‘Any fatal accidents are extremely tragic and there are strict procedures police have to go through to investigate these accidents, including referring them to the IPCC.

‘Any reduction in the number of accidents is welcome. That demonstrates lessons are being learned and we hope that trend will continue.’

Figures showing the number of officers disciplined following a collision were not available.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1342723/Met-police-traffic-accidents-day-Six-people-killed-years.html#ixzz19bvF2o6H

GD Star Rating
loading...

From Inspector Gadget ..

  By surreywebmaster | 29/12/2010 - 21:07 | Policing - General
Comments Off

POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG – 21st Dec.

A burglar who fronted a Greater Manchester Police campaign urging offenders to stay out of prison this Christmas has been sent back to jail and at the same time, provided me with my favourite Christmas story for 2010.

Earlier this month Tommy Rouse, 35, of Bury, posed holding Christmas cards which were sent to repeat offenders.

The force said the cards were a “timely warning” about what people risked by straying from the straight and narrow.

Rouse, a father of five, breached his bail conditions by testing positive for drugs and was sent back to jail.

‘Don’t be a pudding’

He had been convicted of a range of offences in the past 20 years, including burglary, car theft, assault and drug offences and has spent nine Christmases behind bars.

He had vowed to stay out of trouble this year so he could spend Christmas at home with his children.

The burglar was pictured in the police campaign holding Christmas cards with slogans such as “don’t be a pudding this Christmas” and “stay out of trouble to stay out of prison”.

Supt Mark Granby from Greater Manchester Police’s Bury division said: “Tommy Rouse was given the chance to go straight, make something of his life and undo some of the pain he had inflicted on himself, his family and society.

“After 18 weeks on bail he shattered the faith people had put in him by returning to drug use.

“This was despite the progress he had made in getting a flat, starting to take responsibility for his family and being supported to take up a painting and decorating course.”

Good old Supt Granby. Bless his heart and all that but come on, didn’t they realise that the likes of Tommy always see this kind of random act of kindness as a weakness to be exploited? Tommy was taking the pi**, and now he is taking it even more in his nice warm cell, free from the responsibility of trying to provide a nice family Christmas, and no doubt free to watch as much TV and eat as much turkey as the taxpayer can afford to give him.

You couldn’t make it up.

http://inspectorgadget.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/another-genius-smt-idea-goes-horribly-bent/

GD Star Rating
loading...