UK Policing News

Hi, For some time in the media, knife crime has dominated the headlines, sometimes I wonder how much is accurate, particularly regarding young people carrying knives and how much is sensational reporting. A few questions I would like to ask those of you who are serving officers. Do you feel, regarding your own experiences that possession of knives is increasing or decreasing and are more people actually using knives as weapons, than for instance 5 years ago. Joey

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/c...amp;attr=797084

Today's Evening Standard story claiming many police stations in London are to close entirely misrepresents the MPS and the Metropolitan Police Authority's plans for modernising our buildings. No police stations with front counters are being closed without another front counter service replacing it. Far from retreating from communities we are rolling out patrol bases to improve our service to the public The fact is that many of our officers and staff continue to be working from unsuitable and inadequate buildings that simply do not meet the needs of policing London in the 21st century or provide value in the use of resources. This is being improved by a rolling progra…

Police officers trying to arrest a man in Torquay harbour had to commandeer a rowing boat to apprehend him. The incident happened early on Sunday when officers on foot patrol were called to the alleged assault of a 19-year-old man in the Devon town. Police said a 30-year-old man entered the water and swam to a small boat on a mooring. Officers rowed out and arrested him. He has been charged with assault and is due to appear before magistrates later. Police were assisted in the operation by Torquay's harbour master and marina staff. Officers used a lifebuoy to pull the man, from the Liverpool area, to their boat. Once back on the quayside he was treated by ambu…

Nottingham Evening Post 09:06 - 09 June 2008 Firefighters were called to a house after reports of a dog stuck on a porch roof. But when they arrived at Kimberley Street, Sneinton, the dog had jumped back through an open window. No one was in the house during the incident, at around 11am on Sunday. Firefighters, who had been called by the RSPCA, taped up the window to stop the dog getting out again. "It keeps getting on to the roof - it could fall off," said a neighbour. Anyone else feel that some people have to much time on their hands.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...le-victims.html

A man who was driving on the wrong side of the road when he killed a policeman has been jailed for eight years. Traffic officer Pc Ian Walker, 50, died in October 2007 when Slovakian Jan Tokar's Nissan Almera collided with him as he rode his motorbike to work. Tokar, 21, of Sunningdale, Bradford, was overtaking a car on Bolton Road, Bradford, when the crash happened. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving at a previous hearing and was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court. Tokar, who came to Britain about 18 months before the incident, also admitted driving without insurance. It sends out a clear message that driving in a dangerous manner and driving witho…

Two officers who were required to resign following a misconduct hearing in connection with their response to the stabbing of Peter Woodhams, have had their sanctions varied and have been reinstated. The misconduct hearing followed an independent investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Both officers admitted to failings under Code 5 (performance in duties) at a tribunal in October 2007 and were required to resign with immediate effect. The Detective Sergeant and a Detective Constable (who transferred from the MPS to Derbyshire) exercised their right to seek a review by an Assistant Commissioner of the sanction imposed. Their appeal was consi…

The Yorkshire-based property millionaire stepped out of his Mayfair house on Wednesday morning and strolled down Park Lane to pick up some petty cash. Normally the procedure would be simple, if highly security-conscious. A few months ago he rented a safe deposit box at a business tucked away in a side street behind the Grosvenor House and Dorchester hotels. The service cost just over £300 a year. The box was little bigger than a laptop and inside was £40,000. He had provided ID, proof of his address and a palm recognition print for a hand-reading machine. In return he got two keys, two numbered codes and a swipe card that would finally give him access through the …

Police patrol car in arson attack A police car in North East Lincolnshire was doused in petrol and set on fire just after officers left the vehicle. Humberside Police said the Proton patrol car was "badly damaged" in the deliberate blaze at about 2130 BST on Tuesday on Cabourne Road, Grimsby. A police spokesman said the incident was being treated as an arson attack after a window was smashed and petrol poured into the car. Two officers had gone to the area to carry out inquiries about an assault. Firefighters attended the scene to extinguish the fire but nobody was injured. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7423417.stm At least it was a proton, unconf…

An Asian police officer who was twice paid compensation for racial discrimination has won another five-figure sum for more mistreatment. Detective Sergeant Gurpal Virdi has been awarded £70,400 after being passed over for promotion for having exposed racial discrimination at Scotland Yard. Today the 49-year-old Sikh called on Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to bring in tough new measures to stamp out discrimination because 'no amount of training appeared to be working'. Victory: Detective Sergeant Gurpal Virdi, who has won more than £300,000 in payouts The payout means he has received more than £300,000 from the Met in compensation for racial persecution. An in…

Full Story http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...lice-chief.html That's one brave Inspector, possibly soon-to-be Constable.