UK Policing News

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5014715.ece

If the concerns were there, could this not have been stopped by Cumbria Constabulary on saftey grounds?. The cost to the tax payer on an RAF Sea King call out must have hit the thousands, let alone the other emergency services in attendence. Organisers of a Lake District run had been warned about concerns over treacherous weather conditions before the event, a senior officer has said. Cumbria Police Supt Gary Slater told the BBC the organisers were experienced but he was "disappointed" the Original Mountain Marathon went ahead. A major rescue effort was mounted and all 2,500 participants were found safe. However, those connected with the event claimed the severity…

Whilst I wouldn't wish this kind of violence on anyone, my heart isn't exactly bleeding for the woman in this story.

Rebellion following Blair's resignation could see officers placing adverts urging ethnic minorities not to apply The crisis at Scotland Yard will worsen tomorrow as black officers begin a boycott of their own force. The Guardian understands the open rebellion could see black officers placing newspaper adverts urging ethnic minority people not to apply to join the Metropolitan police. Britain's biggest force is still reeling after its commissioner Sir Ian Blair was ousted from office by London Mayor Boris Johnson following a series of controversies. One of those was a bitter race row which has led to the suspension of the Met's two most senior ethnic minority officers.…

Police force faces officer cuts Scotland's smallest police force has said a reduction in its officer numbers is "likely" in order to cope with serious budget pressures. Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has already introduced a recruitment freeze in a bid to tackle the problem. A report to councillors highlighted that the force's fuel expenditure alone has risen by £140,000 in the last year. It concluded that in practical terms the easiest way to "manage down" costs would be a reduction in staff numbers. In his report, chief constable Pat Shearer said he was aware the move came against the background of Scottish Government efforts to fund more officers. 'Su…

An 18-year-old Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting an armed robbery in Reading. She was held after a 28-year-old man was robbed of two mobile phones at gunpoint in his van in Strathy Close on 25 September. A man, aged 22, was held on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and bailed. The PCSO from the Thames Valley Police force was also released on bail and suspended pending the investigation. Source

This may be the week when the Department for Transport learns about the risks of making a case for road safety based on figures that every expert in the field knows to be untrue. Swindon Council got a good old-fashioned clip around the ear on Thursday from David Ainsworth, Deputy Chief Constable of Wiltshire, who declared himself decidedly unamused at its announcement that it would remove funding from fixed speed cameras in the Swindon area. Responding to this decision, he said: "Wiltshire Police will not compromise on public safety. Together with other partners in the road safety partnership Wiltshire Police remain committed to the support of a variety of methods inclu…

A new chief constable has been appointed to lead Cheshire Police. David Whatton, currently Assistant Chief Constable at Greater Manchester Police (GMP), will take up the post. He has recently worked with Cheshire's former chief constable Peter Fahy, who moved to lead GMP in August after the death of Michael Todd. Peter Nurse, chairman of the Cheshire Police Authority, praised Mr Whatton for his "experience, energy and ambition". "I am delighted to have been appointed as Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary which has a long and proud tradition, based on serving the needs of the public," Mr Whatton said. "I will use my skills and previous experience to lead th…

Naked man found wedged in chimney A naked man found wedged in the chimney of a supermarket in Wigan has been arrested on suspicion of burglary. Police officers discovered him trapped in a chimney breast of a Tesco Express store on Ormskirk Road, Pemberton. Firefighters were called to rescue the man, who became trapped in the chimney as he tried to get out. Police said that because the man was naked he was taken to hospital as a precaution but was treated and discharged before being arrested. A GMP spokeswoman said: "It is believed some his clothes came off as a result of him struggling to get out of the chimney." A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of bu…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7685908.stm So the Police get blamed for this one? Or are the Police not playing with the government figures?

Police forces hire out officers to private firms to make millions http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Police...-out.4611244.jp Published Date: 21 October 2008 By MICHAEL HOWIE HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT A GROWING number of Scotland's police are being hired by private companies, hospitals, universities and other outside groups, raising fears that public service may be "corrupted" by the pursuit of money. Football clubs, film production companies and drinks producers are among the bodies that, combined, are paying Scotland's police forces millions of pounds every year for the use of officers and equipment. The Scotsman can reveal one force last year raked in more …

Menezes officer changed evidence Mr de Menezes was shot seven times by firearms officers An investigation has begun after a senior officer admitted changing evidence during the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. The Special Branch officer, named as Owen, said he deleted a line from computer notes which quoted Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it would investigate. Brazilian Mr de Menezes, 27, was killed by police who mistook him for one of the failed 21 July 2005 bombers. Owen, a surveillance officer, told the inquest the deleted line claimed Ms Dick had initially said the electrici…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7667052.stm The husband of a policewoman who died giving birth to twins has described the loss of his wife as "like standing at Ground Zero". Pc Sarah Underhill, 37, was in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford when she collapsed in week 39 of her pregnancy. Twins James and Hannah were delivered by Caesarean section but their mother died from massive blood loss. Her husband Sgt Richard Underhill said: "Looking forward makes me sad because we had so many plans." Sgt Underhill said the couple, who both worked for Thames Valley Police, has planned to explore the world together with their children. "When she died it really …

POLICE CONFUSED AT PUMPS Sarg, is this petrol or diesel? Essex Police have been given talking petrol caps to prevent the boys and girls in blue filling up with the wrong pump products. According to a Telegraph report, the Essex force has been forced to fork out for repairs an astonishing 222 times over the last five years after PCs have inadvertently filled diesel vehicles with petrol, or vice versa. As well as the new filler caps that remind drivers “this is a diesel vehicleâ€, patrol vehicles have also been fitted with large yellow flaps over the filler caps emblazoned with a warning message. As part of a real ‘belt and braces’ solution, additional devices are…

An 18-year-old police community support officer (pCSO) has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting an armed robbery. She was arrested on Friday, September 26, and has been suspended pending an investigation into the robbery in Strathy Close, West Reading. Two mobile phones were stolen at gunpoint from a man in his Vauxhall Astra van at 10.47pm. A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and bailed until October 29. The un-named officer has been bailed until November 6. Get Reading Edited by Mikeh2000 to rename link correctly