UK Policing News

Sir Paul Stephenson is to become the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, BBC News understands. Sir Paul, who was deputy to the previous chief Sir Ian Blair, was chosen ahead of Sir Hugh Orde, the Chief Constable for Northern Ireland. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made the decision but conducted interviews with London Mayor Boris Johnson, whose backing the new chief requires. Sir Ian quit as Met chief, saying he did not have the mayor's support. His tenure, which began in February 2005, had seen a number of controversies including the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, mistaken for a suicide bomber. Sir Paul, 55, who had been deputy for four years, took o…

Four candidates have been shortlisted for the job of Metropolitan Police Commissioner, it is understood. They are : Sir Paul Stephenson, acting Commissioner, Sir Hugh Orde, Northern Ireland's police chief Sir Paul Scott-Lee, from the West Midlands. The fourth is believed to be Bernard Hogan-Howe, Merseyside's police chief, according to the BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw. Sir Paul Stephenson has taken temporary charge of the force while the vetting process, expected to take several months, is under way I'd wager Sir Hugh! Source

A senior police officer was forced to resign after pretending to be on jury service to take time off work. Det Insp Nav Riaz of Greater Manchester Police was called as a juror for a two-week trial early last year. He was not selected as one of the 12 members of the jury but told his employers he would be serving on the panel and did not return to work. He resigned from the force on 19 January, after admitting misconduct at a tribunal. He admitted two counts of misconduct - that he had failed to behave with honesty and integrity and that he failed in the performance of his duties as a police officer. Mr Riaz, who worked in the Didsbury, Withington and Chorlton ar…

Source: The Bolton News Source: The Bolton News

News story on BBC News Surely the credit crunch is a crappy excuse for endangering other people's lives by speeding. If it were a first offence I might have been sympathetic, but with previous motoring convictions, one of them being drink driving, surely he should be banned. your thoughts?

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/Drug-a...il/article.html Tough on crime...tough on the causes of crime....MY BACKSIDE!!!! Drug addict smashed up 999 vehicle PARANOID drug addict Lance Thiim hijacked an ambulance, caused serious damage inside and threatened two paramedics while suffering hallucinations. He grabbed an oxygen cylinder, used it to smash a window and police later had to stun him with a Taser gun, a court heard. Thiim (31), of Cromwell Road, Grimsby, admitted interfering with an ambulance, damaging its window, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and damaging a car on September 7. Teresa Rae, prosecuting at Grimsby Magistrates' C…

Hampshire Constabulary is the country's most gay-friendly public sector employer, according to an annual study. The Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2009 ranked the force in second place in Britain's top 100 employers for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people. Banking giant Lloyds TSB came top with Brighton & Hove City Council third. Hampshire Constabulary set up its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender resource group seven years ago to support its staff. Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: "A huge effort has gone into this organisation in recent years to make sure people feel comfortable and valued. "For a police force, such recognition is hugely important. …

Source: http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/resources/images/791474.jpg/ She did a good job of that. Hope she is ok.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7852038.stm

Rookie policeman's miracle escape A rookie policeman had a miracle escape after being speared through the eye with a six-inch tree branch while making his first arrest. Pc John Nash, 25, was just six days into his job with Greater Manchester Police when he tackled the suspect and bravely carried on the pursuit despite suffering the horrific injury after stumbling head-first into a bush. It was only when the suspect turned to him and said: "Mate, you've got to go to hospital," that Pc Nash realised how serious his injury was. Source - MSN News Well, that's one way to definitely remember your first arrest!

A mugger who failed in his bid to rob a determined 81-year-old woman of her handbag in Renfrewshire has been jailed for five years and four months. Patrick Wallace admitted the attack on Margaret Somerville at Paisley Canal Street railway station in July 2008. The High Court in Aberdeen heard how the pensioner hung on to her bag despite being dragged along the ground. Judge Lord Bracadale also told 32-year-old Wallace that he would be monitored for three years on his release. The court heard Wallace, whose address was given as Greenock Prison, tried to grab hold of Mrs Somerville's handbag from behind. But she held on tight and struck Wallace on the side of her he…

Ack. Usually I post a story that's already been posted, but I think I checked everywhere and could not see it elsewhere. So anyway, I recall this pilot being announced ages ago, so here are the 'results' I suppose!

Thames Valley Police are looking for "mystery shoppers" to help them improve their customer service. Members of the public are trained and given scenarios to act out in their local police station. They will then mark the officers on how well they dealt with the crime, as well as giving their view of the overall service they have received. Previously, police staff and partner organisations took part in the scheme. Now the public's opinion is wanted. Kelly Axtell, Force Counter Service Manager, said: "Mystery shopping is a good way of making sure our front counter staff and volunteers offer professional and consistent service." Thames Valley police are looking for…

Hampshire Constabulary has announced it will axe 200 jobs - 100 of them police officer posts - by the end of the year. The reduction in officers will be achieved by removing some of them from non-operational roles rather than from the frontline, a spokesman said. Redundancies have not been ruled out. The proposals will be submitted to Hampshire Police Authority in February. Chief Constable Alex Marshall said the target may be met "through natural staff turnover before the end of 2009". A current recruitment freeze - which began on 1 April last year - on police officers "means the constabulary is set to achieve the reduction in police officer posts by April", a for…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7848099.stm Our thoughts go out to his family. :smiley_notworthy: