UK Policing News

The police workforce data tables have just been released, drops in numbers across the board with the headcount of Specials now below 15,000 nationwide, biggest drop appears to be the MSC loosing 464 in the year. Big 10% drop in PCSOs too. Haven't had chance to dig through the stats properly yet but there are here; https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2016

A teenage moped rider has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder a policeman in north London. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/man-arrested-on-suspicion-of-attempted-murder-of-police-officer-a3449936.html

Four Bedfordshire police officers have been dismissed for gross misconduct for showing "disrespect" to a young female victim of crime. Bedfordshire PCs Robin Denton, Matthew Neild, Todd Mills and Deanna Waite were found to have "discussed a sensitive allegation", breaching professional standards. PC Neild was also found to have breached confidentiality standards. The breaches were upheld after a two-day hearing in Newport Pagnell, Bucks. Chief constable Jon Boutcher said further details regarding their wrongdoing were restricted because of an ongoing legal case. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38752195

Aware there is already another topic on here in relation to Martin Finney of the NCA being awarded the George Medal but two other officers are also to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Well done to all involved!

Ten London motorcyclists were condemned as “suicidal” today after being caught by police riding their machines while using mobile phones. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-motorcyclists-condemned-as-suicidal-for-using-mobiles-while-riding-a3448001.html

Wilsher rammed a police car that tried to stop him near Junction 43 at 90 mph, injuring a police officer A drink driver who had to be rammed off the M4 motorway after a 20 mile high-speed police chase, has been jailed. Kristian Wilsher, 43, from Cardiff, reached 110 mph on flat tyres before police forced his Audi into a central reservation near Port Talbot. He admitted to dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop for a police officer, and was jailed for 12 months at Swansea Crown Court. The judge said it was "pure luck" no-one was killed or injured. The court heard Wilsher was spotted weaving on the road near St Clears, Carmarthenshire,…

A 15-year-old boy has been stabbed to death in the street in London. The victim was found injured in Doyle Gardens, Kensal Green, just before 15:30 GMT on Monday. Ambulance crews treated the boy at the scene and took him to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Metropolitan Police detectives have yet to release his identity but said his next of kin had been informed. No arrests have been made but witnesses are being sought. Capital City Academy in Willesden has confirmed the stabbed teenager was a pupil at the school. A friend of the victim, who did not want to be named, told BBC London Radio: "He was one of the most loved peopl…

Greater Manchester Police used incapacitating CS gas grenades for five years without permission from the home secretary, a public inquiry has heard. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jan/22/manchester-police-used-dangerous-cs-gas-without-permission-court-told

A van driver eating breakfast cereal on the M27 and an HGV driver shaving behind the wheel on the M4 were spotted by police in a crackdown on distracted motorists. Of 151 drivers stopped by Thames Valley Police, 137 were using their phone. The operation was carried out in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire. An unmarked lorry was used to spot offending motorists during a five-day period in 2016. Police said they were disappointed with the figures. Image copyright European Traffic Police Network Image caption Officers used the extra height of the HGV unit to get a better view of drivers "Sadly we have seen many examples over the last 12 months of…

Dozens of new beat officers are being deployed in London in a major shake-up of policing in the capital. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/dozens-of-new-beat-police-for-london-after-sadiq-khan-pledge-a3447061.html

A brick was thrown through a window of a home on Hillside Gardens, Edgware A number of anti-Semitic hate crimes reported to police in north London are being investigated to see if they are linked. On Friday, police were called to Daws Lane, Mill Hill, when offensive graffiti was found on a recycling bin. The next day, a brick with anti-Semitic comments written on it was thrown through a window of a home in Edgware. Several hours later, a swastika was drawn in condensation on a window in Watford Way, Mill Hill. Officers are examining footage from CCTV cameras as part of their investigations. Image copyright @shomrimlondon Image cap…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4143976/Paul-free-peace-Wife-mourns-policeman-husband.html Sadly Paul Briggs has passed away peacefully in a Hospice on the Wirral. Paul was a coma victim whose wife won a heart-breaking legal battle for the right to let him die passed away peacefully in a hospice. Paul Briggs, a 43-year-old policeman from the Wirral, had been in a coma since being knocked off his motorbike 18 months ago. R.I.P.Paul.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38712776