UK Policing News

Alistair Leiper was a police constable for the Met A former Met police officer has been jailed for asking a 14-year-old girl to perform a sex act during a Skype call. Alistair Leiper, of Tooting, had a series of online video chats with two teenagers between December 2013 and April 2014, the court heard. The 37 year old admitted three counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was jailed for two years. Judge Alistair McCreath said Leiper's actions had "stained" his otherwise "exemplary" reputation. Southwark Crown Court heard th…

Reality Check: Did the government protect police funding? 1 hour ago From the section UK Share The claim: Failing police forces have "no excuse" because their budgets have been protected. Reality Check verdict: Overall the police budget in England and Wales has been protected in real terms, but not every individual force will feel the benefit because the money is being targeted at specialist areas of policing. This relatively small funding boost comes off the back of five years of deep cuts. In 2015, the government announced that overall police budgets would be protected. This meant the amount of money the police receive from the gover…

A new two-shot Taser has been given the green light for use by police in England and Wales. The Taser X2 is said to be more accurate and features a second cartridge for back-up if the first shot fails. The new device has been approved by the Home Office following calls from police to replace the current model. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/new-twoshot-taser-approved-for-police-use-in-england-and-wales-a3480426.html

copyright PA Image caption PC Gavin Smith died in February aged 34 from cancer The funeral of a police officer who appeared in a TV documentary series has been held at Durham Cathedral. PC Gavin Smith, who appeared on Channel 5's Police Interceptors, died from cancer aged 34 on 15 February. Mr Smith, who lived in Bishop Auckland with his wife Kezi and daughter Tilly, four, joined Durham Police in 2004. Officers formed a guard of honour to accompany his cortege from Durham Market Square to the cathedral. Image copyright PA Image caption PC Gavin Smith's cortege was given a police guard of honour Insp Ed Turner of the roads policing unit sai…

The crash did not involve a train, police said Three teenagers from South Yorkshire have been arrested after a "suspected stolen car" crashed into a railway level crossing. The car smashed into barriers in Langworth, Lincolnshire, on Thursday after failing to stop for police. The car's driver was airlifted to hospital, with what police described as serious injuries. An 18-year-old man, and two women, aged 18 and 19, said to be passengers in the car, were arrested. Image caption Police said they suspected the crashed car was stolen Lincolnshire Police said a 16-year-old boy remains in a serious condition at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham…

The claim: Failing police forces have "no excuse" because their budgets have been protected. Reality Check verdict: Overall the police budget in England and Wales has been protected in real terms, but not every individual force will feel the benefit because the money is being targeted at specialist areas of policing. This relatively small funding boost comes off the back of five years of deep cuts. In 2015, the government announced that overall police budgets would be protected. This meant the amount of money the police receive from the government would increase each year in line with inflation for the following five years. The Minister for Policing, Brand…

The claim: Failing police forces have "no excuse" because their budgets have been protected. Reality Check verdict: Overall the police budget in England and Wales has been protected in real terms, but not every individual force will feel the benefit because the money is being targeted at specialist areas of policing. This relatively small funding boost comes off the back of five years of deep cuts. In 2015, the government announced that overall police budgets would be protected. This meant the amount of money the police receive from the government would increase each year in line with inflation for the following five years. The Minister for Policing, Brand…

The claim: Failing police forces have "no excuse" because their budgets have been protected. Reality Check verdict: Overall the police budget in England and Wales has been protected in real terms, but not every individual force will feel the benefit because the money is being targeted at specialist areas of policing. This relatively small funding boost comes off the back of five years of deep cuts. In 2015, the government announced that overall police budgets would be protected. This meant the amount of money the police receive from the government would increase each year in line with inflation for the following five years. The Minister for Policing, Brand…

Bedfordshire Police is the worst-rated force in England according to an official report out today. It's the only one in England rated "inadequate". The study on police effectiveness was carried out by HMIC raises warning flag as forces strive to cope with increased demand The majority of police forces do a good job in keeping members of the public safe, with two thirds of forces being graded as either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in a report into police effectiveness published today. Get the report PEEL: police effectiveness 2016 – National overview This year’s wide-ranging inspection …

Londoners are already falling foul of huge new fines on motorists who use their mobile phones while at the wheel – while road safety campaigners warned the measures do not go far enough. Scores of London motorists have already been pulled-up for the offence, as the Met began a week-long enforcement campaign. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-drivers-shamed-for-using-phone-behind-the-wheel-a-day-after-new-fines-launched-a3480161.html

A police dog handler has been left critically injured after his van was involved in a crash with a car on the A90 in Aberdeenshire. The crash happened on the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road at Auchiries, Longhaven, near Peterhead. The 46-year-old officer was in a critical condition while the 58-year-old male car driver was stable. Police Scotland said two police dogs in the van survived. One was uninjured, the other was being assessed. The accident happened at about 23:50 on Tuesday. Both drivers were freed from their vehicles before being taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment. Police van …

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/15/senior-policewoman-suspended-after-spat-with-female-colleague-ov/ Senior policewoman suspended after spat with female colleague over 'who has the best breasts' It's good to see that these high flying ladies are demonstrating professionalism and setting standards for their subordinates, isn't it? You have to wonder how people who act like this get to these positions. As to the question at hand, perhaps they should sell their story to The Sun and let the public decide!

Police Scotland has outlined plans to cut officer numbers by 400 as part of its 10-year policing plan. Chief Constable Phil Gormley said recruitment levels would remain unchanged in the current year, but would begin to slow between 2018-20. He said resources would be re-directed to frontline operations, amid big financial challenges. Last December, the spending watchdog said Scotland's police service was facing a £188m funding gap by 2020-21. Mr Gormley said officer numbers had been at historic highs but said some staff had been used for corporate, rather than community roles. As part of a new strategy, Policing 2026, he said police officers would…