UK Policing News

The new Home Secretary, Theresa May, has given her first speech since taking office to the annual conference of the Police Federation of England and Wales in Bournemouth. This was the first opportunity that rank and file police officers had to hear what lies in store for them under the new government. After years of Labour home secretaries, endless policing initiatives and thousands of new laws, many police officers were hoping for a quieter life. Paul McKeever, Police Federation chairman, said: "For the last 20 years we have had nothing but change. We have reached initiative fatigue. We want to be left as professionals to get on with the job that we do." And alth…

Kent Police Authority has appointed Ian Learmonth as the new Chief Constable of Kent Police. Ian Learmonth, aged 52 from Ellingham, Norfolk, is Deputy Chief Constable for Norfolk Police. Ian has been a serving police officer since 1976 and has served at two other UK police forces before joining Norfolk Constabulary. Ian's career He began his career at Essex Police and spent 28 years in various roles including being posted to Stanstead Airport. After a 28-year career with Essex Police, Ian joined Strathclyde Police in May 2005. In his role as Assistant Chief Constable he had responsibility for support services, roads policing, emergencies planning and most of the major…

A three-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after suffering devastating injuries in a hit-and-run accident. Lewis Ruddock was dragged under a speeding car and left for dead in front of his hysterical mother Jayne Day, who pleaded with the driver to stop. The toddler suffered multiple broken bones, a fractured leg, a smashed pelvis, a gashed head and internal injuries. Three-year-old Lewis Ruddock was left fighting for his life after suffering horrific injuries in a hit-and-run accident outside his grandmother's house Ms Day, 23, and the child's father Dave Ruddock, 25, have kept a 24-hour vigil by his bedside in intensive care since the shocking incident o…

A police officer has been stabbed in the stomach during a robbery at a bookmakers in Berkshire. The incident happened at the Coral bookmakers in Liscombe, in the Birch Hill area, at about 1200 BST. The officer, who was in plain clothes, was carrying out inquiries with a colleague at the bookmakers when the raid happened. He remains in hospital. Thames Valley Police said a man was arrested at about 1340 BST following a search involving dogs and a helicopter. Police said a man in his late 20s has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and attempted murder. Ch Insp Simon Bowden, of Thames Valley Police, said: "This is a serious incident in which one of my local detectives …

Police to get more powers over charging crime suspects A review said current procedures for charging were complex and inefficient Police officers in England and Wales will be given more discretion to decide when crime suspects should be charged. The announcement is expected to be made by new Home Secretary Theresa May when she addresses the Police Federation conference in Bournemouth later. Officers will have powers to charge an increased number of minor offenders without consulting prosecutors. The Crown Prosecution Service has been responsible for making decisions in all but the most minor and simple cases. Offences which could fall under the control of unifor…

Sad, sad story. Can't see it covered anywhere else but may be wrong! I know its technically an ongoing case, but thought i'd post it up. Mother has killed her two children in a Spanish Hotel bedroom after her on the run husband was arrested and brought back to England. He is to face charges of sexual abuse against minors. Apparently the family have been hunted by both Cumbrian and Staffordshire Police. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1279624/Lianne-Smith-suffocated-children-Spanish-hotel-partner-arrested-child-rape.html

The Police have defended their run as top of the service lacrosse tournament. Beating the army, raf, and navy for the second year running, in an unbeaten run! Just been reading englishlacrosse.co.uk quarterly mag, im in work so will copy the full article later

Police to create 'ring of steel’ to curb Newquay teenage invasion Police are to create a “ring of steel†around Newquay to try to reduce drunken and anti-social behaviour among the thousands of school-leavers who congregate in the Cornish surf resort each summer. By Richard Savill Published: 2:01PM BST 16 May 2010 About 3,000 16-to-18-year-olds turn up in Newquay during the first three weeks of July Operation Brunel will target trains and planes arriving in the town, and visitors’ cars will be monitored. Plainclothes police will patrol trains, key flights will be met at Newquay airport, and a sniffer dog will be deployed at the railway station as officer…

The head of Surrey Police mounted a strident defence today of his decision to employ more civilian staff than warranted officers. Chief Constable Mark Rowley said he had been able to achieve "more for less" by building teams of staff around police constables. He said the approach means officers can make the most of their skill, experience and powers and has delivered results. The south of England force tested changing the mix of officers and staff in small areas before rolling it out across the board. Senior officers also considered an independent report by consultants commissioned by the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA). Mr Rowley, who is the Association o…

London police officer on child sex charge A Metropolitan Police constable has been charged with sexual activity with a child. Pc Robert Nicholson, 27, who is based at Limehouse Police Station in east London, was charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He has been bailed to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 2 June. The charge follows an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). An investigation began in December 2009 following allegations that a 14-year-old girl was in an officer's company during a period that she was reported missing. The officer was arrested on 18 December and the matter was then referred …

I think the local NPT officer needs to visit and have a word about crime prevention here!! http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2010/0...15875-22272072/

Police unveil pedal-powered patrol car Published: 7:30AM BST 20 May 2010 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law...patrol-car.html Officers believe building their new five-gear vehicle, which has a top speed of 20 miles per hour, will help combat anti-social behaviour. The white car cost over £1,000, has full Hampshire Constabulary livery and a roll bar to protect the driver in the event of a crash. However, police admit that even if they are pedalling furiously they are unlikely to be able to apprehend anyone other than "those with a zimmer frame". The car will be entered into the British Pedal Car Grand Prix on July 11 in Ringwood, Hants. PC Keith Waller, w…

http://www.telegraph...patrol-car.html Already done here.

The abolition of police authorities and the creation of directly elected commissioners will be the policy of the new coalition government, it has been revealed. Speaking to this website at the Police Federation Conference, new Tory policing minister Nick Herbert ((pictured) confirmed that the future direction had now been agreed and an imminent announcement was expected from the Home Secretary. Herbert said: “There is not too much difference between us and the Liberal Democrats, who were advocating the creation of fully elected police authorities.†The minister, who maintained that the move would bring greater accountability to the police, was speaking after a livel…