UK Policing News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11531307 I have always thought that this area of criminal law focused to heavily on the outcome of the assault and not on the circumstances or malice surrounding it. Now if we could find a way to insure that PPOs are handed appropriate sentences and not given legal aid as an automatic right then I might be able to curtail my involuntary cursing....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-11522994 Police in Derbyshire's Peak District reported 13 people for summons after an operation to target off-road riders. During the one-day crackdown in Pindale, officers stopped more than 70 drivers of 4x4s, quad bikes and off-road motorbikes. Ten riders were given notices after their bikes fell below legal standards to be on the road and another three had no tax, insurance or MOT. Pc Kevin Lowe from Derbyshire Police said it was vital to protect the area. "The Peak District National Park is here for everyone to enjoy. However many local residents have raised concerns at the regular meetings and have asked the police…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-11529352 A Liberal Democrat MP has been questioned by police after allegations of improper conduct towards a female constituent. Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth South, said he had gone voluntarily to the police station. In a statement on his website, he says he "cooperated fully and answered all questions that were asked". The move comes as Parliamentary Standards Commissioner John Lyon also received a complaint about the MP. Mr Hancock has denied any wrongdoing and insists he only offered "help and support" to the 36-year-old woman. On his website, Mr Hancock states: "I can confirm that I was questioned on Tuesday 12 October…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-11523521 Two former Lincolnshire Police officers arrested and bailed for misconduct will not face criminal charges, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. The officers were arrested in August over allegations property was found in their possession, Lincolnshire Police's Supt Paula Wood said. Both were suspended from duty, along with another officer and civilian member of staff. All four members of Lincolnshire Police resigned during the investigation. Supt Wood, head of Lincolnshire Police's professional standards' department, said: "It is likely that had they not resigned, the investigation into professional miscond…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11524732 Twenty-eight children have been placed in police protection after officers targeted a gang of suspected child traffickers based in east London. Police raided homes in Ilford in the borough of Redbridge and found children between three and 17 years old. The main aim was to safeguard potential victims of a Romanian-based Roma gang of child traffickers, police said. A boy, three, was taken to hospital with bruises and facial injuries and seven adults were arrested. Three of them were held on suspicion of assault and neglect of a child, two on suspicion of benefit fraud and two because they were wanted on warrants. In…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11521468 Hampshire and the Thames Valley police forces have announced plans to merge services in a bid to save £537,000. Both are facing government cuts of 25%, with Hampshire already planning to axe 1,400 posts to cut £70m from its budget over the next four years. The forces want to merge parts of their information services, including data protection, freedom of information and record management departments. A business plan will be drawn up to see how the idea would work in practice. Staff will be consulted on the plans before they are implemented. The forces already share parts of their Information and Communications Technolo…

Anyone else heard of this new training procedure – I think it’s being trialled in the Met. Basically, anyone wanting to join has to first pass a college course and then become a Special. Whilst in the Specials, they basically get all the training they would have got if they were with a tutor – but they have to show a degree of commitment by attending on a very regular basis. Now, I think this would put a lot of people off. Especially those who are already working and have a family. I think it’s a bit much to ask them to sacrifice their weekends to turn out in the specials so that they can eventually join up as a regular. It’s different at present as they …

A coroner has criticised police after they failed to spot a man had been murdered - until undertakers discovered a knife sticking out of his back, an inquest has heard. Antoine Denis, 66, was found slumped on his back in the bedroom of his flat in Chatham, Kent, in January this year. Detectives at the scene pronounced the father-of-four dead but found nothing that suggested a crime had been committed. It was only when undertakers arrived to remove the body that they found blood and a 12cm (4.7in) knife stuck up to its hilt in Mr Denis' back. One of the officers received a verbal warning following an internal police investigation into the handling of the as ye…

7 July London bombings inquests to begin Survivors of the 7 July London bombings will be among those giving evidence The inquests for the 52 people killed by four suicide bombers in the 7 July 2005 London attacks are due to start. The hearings were delayed because of criminal investigations and questions over what the inquests should cover. Lady Justice Hallett, the coroner, will preside over five months of hearings without a jury into the attacks on three Underground trains and a bus. She will look at whether MI5 could have stopped the bombers - but many victims' families still want a public inquiry. In addition to the 52 people killed, some 700 other people we…

There are so many Moat threads I wasn't sure if this needed merging or deserved to have a thread of its' own (which I believe it does as the ramifications of this are potentially very serious) If it needs moving/merging then please do so. Link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11512318 A motorcyclist has died during a police pursuit in north-west London. The man, thought to be aged in his 20s, came off the bike in Harrow Road, at the junction with Wakeman Road in Kensal Green, at about 0100 BST. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Harrow Road remains closed between Wakeman Road and Kilburn Lane. The Met's Professional Standards team has begun an investigation and the police watchdog has been informed.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11279932 Officers who shot dead a barrister at the end of a five-hour stand-off have been granted anonymity as they account for their actions at an inquest. Mark Saunders, 32, was hit at least five times after a siege at his home in Chelsea, west London, in May 2008. The 12 police officers had claimed if they were named, criminals would seek retribution against them. Prosecutors have already ruled there is insufficient evidence to charge the officers who fired 11 bullets. In a written ruling, coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: "The majority of these officers have expressed fears about possible retribution from violent criminals with wh…

A liar who pretended she had been robbed on Shepherd's Bush Green has been jailed for four months for perverting the course of justice. Gazelle Gilbert, 57, from Lorne Gardens, Holland Park, claimed she was robbed by a man on May 19, and subsequently identified him at Hammersmith Police Station. Police checked CCTV footage and found no such crime had taken place. The man was immediately released and Gilbert was arrested the next day. She was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on September 3. DC Chris Hockenhull said: "We will robustly investigate all allegations of robbery and theft made to us and fully support victim's of crime. Sadly we enco…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-11505927 More than 100 motorists were caught not wearing a seatbelt during a week-long speed enforcement campaign in Suffolk, it has been revealed. Between 13 and 19 September, Suffolk police were deployed across the county to clamp down on people not wearing a seatbelt. In total 102 fixed penalty notices were issued - an average of nearly 15 a day. Ch Insp Adrian Dawson said: "We are still finding people who are knowingly putting their lives at risk." He added: "It is such a simple task that should be part of the routine before starting up a vehicle. "It is disappointing that so many fixed penalty notices had to be handed …