UK Policing News

Homes have been evacuated in south-west London after a hand grenade was discovered during a police raid. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/homes-evacuated-in-new-malden-after-hand-grenade-is-found-during-police-raid-a3440236.html

Police closed the roads around the area of the crash Two men have been bailed after an elderly man was hit and killed by a car being pursued by police. The 78-year-old pedestrian died near the Palace Pier in Brighton on Tuesday night after the vehicle failed to stop for a marked car. Two men from the town, aged 33 and 35, had handed themselves into police. They were held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving, failing to stop for police and failing to report an accident. The pair were released on bail until 27 February. Police said they were trying to trace the victim's next-of-kin. The Independent P…

Police tweeted results of the breath test A taxi driver was found to be almost five times above the drink-drive limit when he was told to pull over on a motorway by a concerned passenger. The passenger called police when he asked the driver to stop on the hard shoulder of the A1(M) near Stevenage at about 17:30 GMT on Thursday. A breath test recorded 171mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. The driver, from Cambridge, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. Police said the 42-year-old man remains in custody in Hertfordshire. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38607899

There has been some excitement about the news that Leicestershire police have raised more than £1.5m by selling seized criminal assets on eBay since 2009. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/shortcuts/2017/jan/10/louboutins-bmws-and-designer-handbags-what-the-police-sell-on-ebay LOL at the place mats. Anyone got any good bargains from this or the other police auction sites?

Drivers caught offending on so-called smart motorways in England could be offered re-education courses by police. Smart motorways operate variable speed limits and can open the hard shoulder to traffic to reduce congestion. Police chiefs said the new road rules were confusing motorists and more awareness was needed. Figures obtained by BBC Radio 5live suggest an 18% rise in the number of people caught using the hard shoulder illegally between 2014-15 and 2015-16. In the last financial year there were 1,014 tickets issued by the 38 forces that responded to a freedom of information request, compared with 859 for the previous year. Among the excuses given were drivers w…

An interesting perspective from the Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4093184/Pray-4-Badboy-PortaShrines-99-99-RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-says-usual-suspects-jumping-bandwagon-shooting-drug-dealer-M62.html

All members of the Metropolitan Police Federation will be asked if they would be willing to carry a gun or a Taser. Thousands of Met Police officers are to be asked if they want to be routinely armed with a gun or Taser. A survey by the Metropolitan Police Federation will consult all its members on their views about equipping officers with weapons. An extra 600 firearms officers in London have been pledged following the Paris terrorist attacks. Scotland Yard said it did not support the routine arming of officers. Does the presence of armed police reassure people? Ken Marsh, chairman of the Federation, which represents 32,000 office…

#Awkward Kingston Police burglary letter gets mixed response A police force's open letter to a suspected burglar - which included emojis and hashtags - has met with a mixed response online. Kingston Police tweeted the note addressed to Tracey Dyke, who is suspected of multiple burglaries, accusing her of "blanking" them. Some users applauded the "novel" social media appeal, while others accused the Met of "public shaming". Police said Ms Dyke was a suspect in crimes involving "vulnerable victims". Officers posted the appeal, featuring a photograph of Ms Dyke, and the caption: "Please stop ignoring us Tracey". 'Hip school teacher' In a two-page letter appealing for …

Not seen a full list of those who form part of the policing family so thought I'd compile one. I used Excel to do it and think I've got all of them but if I've missed anybody then I'd be grateful if the details could be posted so I can amend it. As said, any errors or omissions then let me know. Congratulations to all those listed.