UK Policing News

29 September 2016 UK Close up of British Police officer wearing a shoulder mounted camera Police body cameras can dramatically reduce the number of complaints against officers, research suggests. The Cambridge University study showed complaints by members of the public against officers fell by 93% over 12 months compared with the year before. Almost 2,000 officers across four UK forces and two US police departments were monitored for the project. Dr Barak Ariel, who led the research, said no other policing measure had led to such "radical" changes. The study aimed to find out if the use of cameras, whi…

Proposals to increase use of electronic tags in Scotland By Lucy Adams Political correspondent, BBC Scotland 04 October 2016 Scotland politics electronic tag The Scottish government is proposing a radical extension of the ways electronic tags can be used on offenders, BBC Scotland has learned. Sobriety tags, GPS tracking and tagging as an alternative to remand would be used in Scotland for the first time. Sobriety tags, which respond to the ethanol levels in a person's sweat, are among the pilots to be announced. They would be used as an alternative to prison for those who offend under the influence of alc…

The raid took place in Coggeshall in Essex in the early hours of the morning Balaclava-clad thieves were forced to leave a cash point machine in the road in a village after they were interrupted by police. The gang struck at Coggeshall, near Braintree in Essex, at about 03:10 BST and used chains to rip the ATM out of the wall of McColls in Church Street. The five-men fled in a blue Land Rover and silver Jeep when police arrived. They headed towards Tiptree pursued by police but later abandoned their vehicles in a field. An extensive search for the suspects was conducted but they were not found. The men were described as white and aged in their 20s. The incident w…

A Metropolitan Police officer was injured when a car was driven at him following a pursuit. Officers in a marked police van had attempted to stop a car near Sandringham Road, Hackney, east London at about 21:00 BST on Sunday. Police followed the car, a white Toyota Prius, before it came to a halt in Pembury Road. As one officer got out of the van to apprehend the driver, the car drove towards him and struck him. The Toyota was recovered a short time later, the Met said. Enquiries continue to trace the driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle. The male officer, who is in his 30s and based in Hackney, sustained injuries to his legs and torso. He was taken to…

A plan to pilot the use of spit hoods by the Met Police has been abandoned after London's mayor voiced concerns. The mesh fabric hoods are placed over the heads of suspects to protect police officers from being spat at or bitten. The restraining device was to be trialled at 32 custody suites across the capital from October. Mayor Sadiq Khan responded after human rights groups including Liberty, Amnesty and Inquest said the hoods belonged in "horror stories". A City Hall spokesman told the BBC the mayor asked the Met to pause the pilot scheme to give him an opportunity to look at the detail and to consult with the wider public as well as the police themselves. 'Spit…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3817057/Lesbian-couple-murdered-toddler-Liam-Fee-spotted-sharing-kiss-let-day-release-time-just-five-months-20-year-sentences.html I know it is the DM so facts may be in doubt but, somehow, it doesn't seem right to me that a pair of murderers, only five months after being sentenced to a minimum of 23 / 24 years in prison, should be allowed out for personal meetings at which they can meet. The "severity" of their sentence is such that they should be spending a hell of a long time banged-up and not getting any privileges etc. Still, maybe it's their human right

A police officer could face the sack after video footage emerged of a man being struck repeatedly with a baton during an arrest at St Pancras station. PC Peter Crofts was filmed hitting Anthony Yeboah across the legs with a baton during an incident at the station in March this year The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched an investigation after being contacted about the footage, which was watched by thousands of people on social media. During the video, Mr Yeboah, who was released from bail with no further action following a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service, repeatedly asks why he is being arrested and shouts: “I am not a criminal.” PC Cr…

Manchester's Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe suspended for spat with colleague | Daily Mail Online A senior policewoman has been suspended over extraordinary claims of a hotel bar row with a colleague – at an event designed to enhance the 'profile and perception' of female officers. Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe is said to have had a late-night argument with Superintendent Sarah Jackson about whose breasts were the most attractive. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3590898/What-bust-Assistant-Chief-Constable-suspended-spat-Superintendent-bar-session-size-breasts.html I have to admit this made me giggle, however it also …

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is to retire after five years as the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the force has announced. Sir Bernard, who was appointed to the role in September 2011, will remain in post until February to allow for his successor to be appointed. During his time in charge, he oversaw policing of the London riots and the Olympic Games. Sir Bernard said he believed it was "the right time to move on". He said he had "loved my time in the role" but it was "a good chance to make this change now" after the appointments of a new London mayor and home secretary. "It also allows a decent amount of time to select my successor," he said. A…

This is the moment a knife-wielding thug was brought down after a terrifying road rage attack. A father-of-four was confronted by the knifeman as he drove his young children in Smethwick, West Midlands. Smethwick knife-wielding thug pinned down by police after road rage attack | Daily Mail Online http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3811320/Knife-wielding-thug-pinned-police-road-rage-attack.html Another great job, well done, glad all officers safe and well.