UK Policing News

The force's mounted officers regularly police large events such as football matches Merseyside Police has abandoned plans to lose hundreds of community support officers and its mounted section. The force said it was considering making the cuts as part of plans to slash up to £70m over the next four years. However, Ch Con Sir Jon Murphy said the cuts were no longer necessary following the chancellor's Comprehensive Spending Review. The force will also be able to recruit new officers in 2016, Sir Jon added. "It now appears that we may not have to cut as deeply, or as quickly, as we had first anticipated," he said. "But there will still be a requirement to make signif…

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/09/reform-of-police-funding-formula-stopped-after-incorrect-data-farce http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34770792 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34752952 The Home Office hasn't exactly covered itself in glory with this latest farce but at least a small amount of sense has been seen meaning that the new formula won't be used until 2016/17, not that this will make much difference to forces as we will be facing a 25% plus cut before then. Why did the HO use the wrong date and why wasn't the mistake noticed until almost the last minute. Also what is Mike Penning's role in this farce? He has been working on reform of th…

From BBC News: Belfast shooting: Heavy calibre gun used in police car attack 1 hour ago From the sectionNorthern Ireland Image captionTwo police officers escaped injury after shots were fired at their car A heavy calibre gun was used in an attack on a police patrol car in west Belfast, police have said. Up to eight shots struck the passenger side of the car parked at Rossnareen Avenue, at about 18:50 GMT on Thursday. Two male officers who were in the car were not injured but were said to have been badly shaken. Police described it as a "mindless, reckless attempt to kill officers". Dissid…

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2015/12/10/ee-wins-7-billion-emergency-services-contract/ Call me cynical but I'll be looking for this to come in behind schedule and over budget.

Amnesty: 25 weapons have so far been surrendered to police Metropolitan Police An AK47 assault rifle was among 25 weapons that have were handed over to police during the Met's latest gun amnesty. The two-week amnesty, which was announced in the wake of the Paris terror attacks and will run until 11pm on Sunday, means those in possession of real or imitation fire arms can give them up to police without fear of prosecution. The AK47, which police described as "incredibly rare", was handed in in Hammersmith and Fulham, and had been deactivated. The automatic weapon was among three shotguns, three imitation weapons, 13 air weapons, and six miscellaneous firearms that ha…

Insp Lee Lyons is due to face 21 allegations of breaching professional standards A senior police officer who contacted prostitutes while on duty has been sacked following a misconduct hearing. Inspector Lee Lyons, of Sussex Police, arranged a location and fee for one woman, "Natalie's", services for after his shift ended. He also used his personal phone at work to make 23 calls to 11 prostitutes in an hour on 23 July. Mr Lyons, accepted all 21 allegations against him, the disciplinary hearing was told. He did not attend the seven-minute hearing in front of Chief Constable Giles York at Sussex Police HQ in Lewes. Mr Lyons, 40, who was based in Hastings, was a critic…

Sussex Police said it was looking to reduce the number of police officers and PCSOs by March 2018 Sussex Police will "lose the trust of the public" over new roles for police community support officers (PCSOs), the union Unison says. "PCSOs will have an increased focus on prevention and problem solving, rather than predominantly on reassurance", a Sussex Police spokeswoman said. A consultation on the plans is to open later and the new roles will begin in July 2016, she said. The number of PCSOs is set to be cut by almost a third by March 2018. PCSOs 'will leave'Andy Stenning, from Unison - which represents PCSOs, said: "If we move away from community policing we will l…

Twickenham Riverside The machine gun seized by police this morning A "machine gun", drugs and cash were seized from two men who were arrested near Twickenham Riverside this morning. Officers from Kingston executed a drugs warrant in Seymour Gardens early this morning and found a “machine gun style weapon”, cannabis, white powder and two canisters of CS tear gas spray. The weapon is being examined to see if it is capable of firing, according to a police spokesman. A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, and a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs. A 49-year…

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Torr said it was clear Mrs Hallam had previously "provided excellent service to the public" A police inspector who lied about the severity of her back injuries after a car crash has been sacked after she was covertly filmed rowing a dinghy. Zoe Hallam was surveilled while she was on holiday after her Nottinghamshire Police colleagues became suspicious. She and her husband, also a police inspector, were arrested but the force said he was "completely exonerated". Mrs Hallam, 48, was dismissed after gross misconduct between December 2011 and November 2013 was proven. She was said to have exaggerated the severity of her injuries in order to…