UK Policing News

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/06/p...ts-intelligence Police footage obtained by the Guardian has revealed the crude monitoring methods deployed across the country against protesters, thousands of whom have their personal details stored on criminal intelligence systems for up to seven years At 11:37am on August 8 last year, two police surveillance officers sat in a patrol car in Kent and switched on their Sony digital video camera.When the tape started to roll, they stated they were "evidence gatherer" surveillance officers and explained the purpose of the operation. A lead surveillance officer and his assistant, they were on duty to help police the Climat…

Gamekeepers to be 'rural' police Gamekeepers could be poached by the police in an attempt to fight crime in the countryside. They will be enlisted, along with stalkers, farm staff and landowners, to serve as special constables in the Tayside and Central Scotland regions. Recruitment will begin in the spring and the first 12 rural specials should be in place by the end of the year. The rural specials will help tackle crimes such as theft, poaching and vandalism. It is hoped their presence will build trust between police and rural communities. Tackle crime The pilot project was announced by Central Scotland Police Deputy Chief Constable Iain McLeod, who is…

Mother Jailed For 'Horrific' Cruelty To Son A young mother has been jailed for eight years following an "horrific" campaign of cruelty against her two-month-old son, who died hours after the final assault. In a case with similarities to the Baby "P" case, former crack addict Claire Biggs, 27, dodged a string of checks by health worker as she attacked baby Rhys. One of her children had already been deemed "at risk" and taken into care. Against a backdrop of missed opportunities by health agencies and a breakdown in information sharing, she was able to repeatedly crush the helpless child's chest with impunity, fracturing 17 ribs. As her convicted child sex abuser lov…

A former Lancashire police officer who abused his police powers to uncover his wife's affair has been sentenced to 150 hours' community service. Andrew Liptrot, 47, seized CCTV from two pubs where he suspected his wife had met another man, on the pretext he was investigating a crime. He was cleared of assault but admitted seven counts of misconduct in a public office in January. Liptrot, of Lostock Hall near Preston, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court. The defendant, a crime prevention officer based in Accrington, had been suspended from duty since June 2008 and had resigned from the force following an internal disciplinary hearing earlier this year. Liptrot g…

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?R...FromSearch=True Publishing the single national target for the police, Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith today challenged the police service to answer to the public - and not Government. From today the only national police target set from Whitehall is to increase public confidence by 15 percentage points so that the crime and anti-social behaviour issues that matter to them locally are being addressed. I heard a caller last night on Talksport, whittling along on this very subject. He was not satisfied with the Police in his area. He had called the Police out 212 times within the space of 1 year. They had not done what he asked them…

Source - BBC Why is this only aimed at female victims??

Really brings it home how important your PPE is. This is my beat and I wouldn't think twice about going out without my stabbie on and it's a good job the officer concerned didn't. So strange how a 'normal' day can turn much much worse at the drop of a hat.

Cole was arrested in the early hours of today for being D&D. However, I dont quite understand why the BBC's website [in all its self proclaimed inpartiality] has to mention Cole's charity work, along with that of his wife. As though to say "he is such a good lad really you know?" Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole has been arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. Mr Cole was held after swearing at police officers outside west London's The Collection bar and restaurant, BBC crime reporter Ben Ando said. Police said a 28-year-old man was held in Brompton Road, South Kensington, at about 0215 GMT. He was taken to a police station and given an Â…

Apologies if this story has already been posted elsewhere (i did look) An off duty Notts PC has apparently arrested a mechanic servicing his car on suspicion of theft when he failed to find his sunglasses. Another unit was called to assist and after the mechanin had been arrested and searched, the sunglasses were later located in the back of the vehicle. News like this makes my blood boil A fine example of abuse of powers, let alone a waste of police time and resources - no wonder there is so much negativity expressed towards the police service these days. If the idiot had taken the time to search his car properly in the first place....... http://www.thisisnotting…

Source: http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/41...ug_behind_bars/ A man who carried out a trio of “disgraceful†assaults in Wimbledon, one of which left a female police officer facing permanent damage to her sight, is behind bars. Trevor White, 40, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for the vicious attacks, on a 62-year-old man and two police officers, which took place on December 11 last year. Judge John Samuels QC told Croydon Crown Court White had “completely lost all self control†during an afternoon of rage-fuelled violence. The court heard White had got out of his van in Wimbledon at 3.30pm on the day of the attacks and accused John…

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wale...55578-23095817/ North Wales Police: "We need to get tougher on speeding" Mar 9 2009 by Owen R Hughes, Daily Post DRIVERS face a speeding crackdown after a “softer†approach by North Wales Police has seen serious injuries from road smashes soar. Deputy chief constable Clive Wolfendale revealed that police had taken the “foot off the pedal†in its targeting of motorists. The force increased the speed drivers could exceed the limit before they were hit with mandatory penalty points and a fine instead of being offered speed awareness courses. These changes have seen driving courses dished out to more than 30,000 of the …

"I was astonished that he could say that laughing might be an offence. What is the country coming to?" Supt Kevin Hagger of the Mersey Tunnels Police said: "I wouldn't want to make a comment as I don't know the full details. "There is no record of the incident in the system so it seems the gentleman was just spoken to by the officer and the matter not taken any further." A spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, Brian Gregory said: "This is a shocking example of the police harassing innocent motorists simply because they are an easy target. "To suggest that a driver could be prosecuted for laughing is ludicrous beyond belief." Source: Sky News :D Oh I …

Terror Laws due to be passed this autumn, could provide Police with a new and significant power to stop individuals taking photographs. This follows reassurances from Home secretary Jacqui Smith that there is "no legal restriction on taking photographs in public places", which is why she will shortly be issuing police with updated guidelines on ... how to enforce legal restrictions on photography. Our Jacqui hasn’t completely taken leave of her senses. The real question is whether this particular bit of bureaucratic madness represents an official lightening of the stance on photography – or a tightening up. To begin with, some restrictions do exist – most notably…

Source Here Awful tragic news. RIP.