UK Policing News

On line news article An inquiry has convened to investigate the circumstances of this mans death in 2005, but I am not sure why this was necessary, when there are established procedures which should have made inquiries sooner. The coroners court was convened but was unable to reach a verdict because so much information was redacted from police evidence. The IPCC investigated - and passed the file onto the CPS - who decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed. It seems to me that because of the need to protect sources, the true story behind these events will not become known, and the public will have to rely on the opinion of individuals. In a thread in Ro…

http://www.bbc.co.uk...rshire-11487926 Two police officers from Gloucestershire have won an award for helping save the force more than £300,000. Adrian Stratton and John Loveridge examined 1,643 mobile phones and 177 sim cards, producing forensic evidence for use in court. Previously the cards and phones had to be sent away to be scrutinised. The Richard Somers Award is presented annually to officers who give extra value for money to the force. A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said the pair had been carrying out most of the force's phone examinations, alongside their normal duties, for the past 16 months. "Analysis of mobile phone data is now a key part of evid…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11484434 Ten people have been arrested this year as part of the investigation into the murder of Metropolitan Police Pc Keith Blakelock in north London 25 years ago. The officer was hacked to death during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham. Three men were convicted of the killing in 1987 but cleared four years later. Those arrested this year are on bail. Pc Blakelock's widow and sons and Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson attended a service in Muswell Hill to mark the anniversary of his death. Officers from Haringey and members of the public also attended the wreath-laying ceremony held at his memorial stone. Elizabeth …

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-11479535 Officers in Cambridgeshire have warned of the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt after 152 people were fined for flouting the law. Casualty reduction officers said they found an average of 20 offenders a day during a week-long crackdown. Of the 152 given a £60 fine, four had a child unrestrained in their vehicle. PC Tony Barrios said: "Buckling up should be part of your routine as it can mean the difference between life and death."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-11482487 An £800 breathalyser was one of 35 items stolen from police stations in Shropshire between 2005 and 2009, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. West Mercia Police said mobile phones and earpieces were some of the other things which were taken. Some of the items were later recovered and, in a few instances, police employees were found guilty of theft. The Shropshire division said four people were prosecuted for theft. Telford division said it had not prosecuted anyone for theft, even though a total of seven items were taken by two individuals in 2009. Both people, one of whom was working with police a…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11479594 Two police officers were injured after a car bomb exploded in Londonderry on Monday night. The Real IRA has admitted responsibility for the device which was left close to the Ulster Bank on the Culmore Road. The police said the bomb was more than 200lb, bigger than the car bomb attack on the city in August. The officers received neck and ear injuries when they were knocked to the ground. The details were revealed by the police commander for the area, Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin, at a news conference on Tuesday. He said that police believe the Ulster Bank and the local hotel were not the intended targets an…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-11474498 Cleveland Police has turned to the internet in a bid to reunite people with stolen or lost property. Valuable goods which have been seized from criminals or handed in to police stations will be showcased. Any items that remain unclaimed after a set period of time will be sold off with proceeds going to local charities and community projects. The website is needed because the store at headquarters has become full and securing new premises would be costly. First to be shown are two unclaimed specialist mountain bikes valued at more than £1,000 each. Computers, DVD players, TVs and other recovered items will feature in…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wear-11470361 Four Durham police officers are to be interviewed under caution following the collapse of an attempted murder trial. The trial involved the 2007 shooting of Joe Clarke at his Consett home. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) started an inquiry after the case against five people was thrown out and they were cleared. The IPCC said as part of its inquiry into how police dealt with the case, the four officers would be interviewed. Following the collapse of the trial in July 2009, the IPCC said it would consider whether police illegally obtained evidence. One man faced a charge of attempted murder, while …

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11482532 An inquiry into the death of a man shot dead by police as he sat in a car in north London has been adjourned. Azelle Rodney, 24, died when police opened fire in Edgware in April 2005. The officer said he thought Mr Rodney was reaching for a gun. A coroner had said sensitive evidence made an inquest impossible, but his mother accused police of a cover-up. The inquiry was opened on Wednesday morning then adjourned until a date that has yet to be fixed. The decision to hold an inquiry into the death was announced in March by the then Justice Secretary Jack Straw. The inquiry will take the place of an inquest as polic…

Prisoners in England and Wales should work a 40-hour week, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke is expected to say http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11470289 No Shi% Sherlock. Cant think of anything better. They could make money to pay for their keep and to pay back victims. If i was a victim and i knew that the criminal responsible had 200 hours of work ahead of them and i was going to get all their wages, i might feel like a bit of justice had been done. Of course it will be interesting to see what happens if they dont work.

Rioting football thugs brought bedlam to the streets of Shepherd's Bush on a night of shameful violence on Tuesday. There were reports of major disorder both before, during and after the match between QPR and Millwall, with rival fans engaging in violent clashes along Wood Lane, Uxbridge Road and near Westfield Shopping Centre. There are as yet unconfirmed reports that a supporter was stabbed in a pub prior to the match, which finished 0-0. By 11pm police had confirmed they had arrested 11 people for a variety of offences including possessing an offensive weapon, common assault, assaulting police and affray. They could not confirm how many from each each cl…

Read More Here>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/30/police-surveillance-muslims-no-regard-law Meh? 3million pounds on all this?? Seriously I have to say that was a waste of money big time......

Sir Robert Mark, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner who famously tackled police corruption, has died aged 93. Current commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said Sir Robert was a man of the highest integrity and remained a role model to police officers. Sir Robert's crackdown from 1972 saw 450 Scotland Yard officers leave over disciplinary proceedings. He pioneered closer media relations and increased debate about policing. When Sir Robert took over, morale in the force was low. At one stage Sir Robert, who lived in Esher, Surrey, threatened to put all 3,200 officers in the CID back into uniform and start again from scratch unless they conformed to his stan…

// TWO of the region's largest police forces could merge in new plans outlined by a North East police chief. Speaking exclusively to The Journal, Jon Stoddart, Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, has revealed talks are under way with Northumbria Police about a possible merger. The discussions were prompted by the recent Government announcement of drastic public spending cuts, which will see the Durham force having to make savings of £1.5m. //The Chief Constable said that, unlike proposals made in 2006 for a North East superforce, the new merger talks were arranged voluntarily and do not involve Cleveland Police. Mr Stoddart said Northumbria and Durham already …