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Position creates career path for PCSOs to progress into investigation roles

Police vehicle collided with driver after he attempted to flee on foot.

There are renewed calls for a public inquiry into the treatment of a former sergeant prosecuted over an alleged incident in custody 28 years after it supposedly happened.

At its peak Operation Manilla used 75-100 officers per day.

Chiefs agree that introducing capability is 'crucial' and say it is being worked on.

The group will decide on values and mission itself.

Northern Irish officers escaped serious injury on Easter Monday despite being pelted with bricks and fire bombs.

Charity says a search warrant should be obtained before using tool to extract information from the phones of suspects, witnesses and victims.

Unique look was developed by sergeant.

 


Another force has introduced spit guards to boost officers' safety – but Leicestershire Police has developed its own kit which does not cover a detainee's entire head.

More than half of forces in England and Wales have brought in the devices to help officers in recent years.

Chief officers at Leicestershire Police say they wanted an alternative to the common full-face hood.

Sergeant Mel Thomas from Leicestershire Police skills training came up with the new design.

He said: “We had concerns about the full head spit hoods as it is much harder to see a person’s eyes and monitor their reactions.

“Also taken into consideration was the public perception of placing a full hood over a person’s head.

“This design serves the purpose of protecting officers, is less restrictive for the person wearing it and by only masking the lower face we hope it will be less alarming for the general public.”

The guard is made of breathable nylon.

ACC Jason Masters said: “We take the health and safety of our officers extremely seriously and spitting at them is not acceptable.

“The spit guard being introduced to all front line operational police officers has been developed by taking best practice from across the country, and incorporating it into an item that provides protection for the officer without generating panic in the person wearing it.”

Tiff Lynch, chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation said: “As a force, it is essential that we provide officers and staff the best protective equipment we can. Spit guards are now an essential part of that protective kit.

“I have heard people criticise the police for using spit guards but to me it’s quite simple: if you don’t want to wear a spit guard then don’t spit at a police officer.”

Police Oracle revealed last year that a judicial review against the use of spit guards has been launched.

Solicitors say their use should have been curtailed after a review criticised the hooding and leg restraints placed on a disabled 11-year-old girl by Sussex Police.

View On Police Oracle

 

Bonuses are already helping force retain personnel, Surrey Police believe.

Former chief officers group open to all volunteer officers.

Taser trained officers are now permitted to go out single crewed following Fed consultation.

Watchdog calls for 'coherent strategies' online.

Personnel are skipping rest days to keep operation afloat.

AC Helen Ball called his actions 'extremely sad'.

'We hope this will reduce sickness and improve levels of resilience across the organisation'.

HMICFRS also warns again about response and detective problems at many forces.

The attacker's own family came to the PC's rescue.

Public helped detain suspect after he attacked superintendent.

Hi all
 
I'm debating whether to transfer to COLP but given the small area I'm not sure whether it will be busy enough.
 
Can anyone advise me on what's it's like to work there? Are there long periods where nothing happens and your left twiddling your thumbs?
 
Is it busy enough during the night to be proactive?
 
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Scheme has been hailed as way to tackle under-resourcing of investigation teams.


A trainee hired under the Met Police’s flagship direct entry detective programme was dismissed at a privately held misconduct hearing, Police Oracle can reveal.

The trainee DC traveled without a valid ticket on a train and gave misleading accounts of the situation.

The officer had also not passed the national investigators exam (NIE) after two attempts, Police Oracle understands. This meant he could not re-take the test for another 18 months despite being recruited as a detective.

His travel took place just days after the scheme – which is also known as pathfinder for detective constable pathway – got underway last summer.

It sees officers who have not previously walked the beat become warranted officer detectives after intensive investigation training. The first cohort of 20 were all experienced special constables. The programme is unconnected to direct entry to specific ranks.

At a recent special case hearing Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball ordered the former special out of the force. The Met said this was held in private in order to “prevent the disclosure of non-relevant personal information”.

Another officer in the same cohort also failed the NIE twice. She is now in training to become a uniformed PC.

Seventeen of the pathfinder detectives from the first cohort have passed out and are on boroughs being trained by experienced coaches, including retired detectives.

Around another 50, not recruited from the special constabulary, have joined the Met and are undergoing initial training.

In January Commander Richard Smith hailed the scheme as an example of what the force is doing to tackle problems with resources for detectives.

At a press conference on a plan to tackle disclosure failings he told Police Oracle: "The wider issues of detective recruitment are being addressed within the Met and you'll be aware of some of the [initiatives] we...

 



 

I've been a Special for eight years.  It was meant to be a stepping stone to joining the regulars.  See if I like it before applying etc.  

Safe to say I love it.  I do well above the hours I need to.  Last year it was 1,500+ the year before was 1,400+.  I've had some fantastic opportunities over the years from driver training to TV shows.  I still look forward to going on duty.  

My plan had always been to join the regulars.  The last year or so I'm not too sure if I want to do it.  I've got my assessment day in May, but I'm tempted to withdraw from it.  I've started looking at a new career (driving instructor if anyone is interested) and staying as a Special.  

I think its down to loving being a Special too much.  I work on an amazing team.  I've had some fantastic training over the last year or two (drug wipe, FIT, PNC, standard driving).  Part of me doesn't want to leave the team.  I would want to get back on it ASAP, but its going to be years down the line.  I also love the flexibility I have.  I can text my SGT on the day and I'm always welcome, and if need be I can cancel on the day and it isn't a problem (I don't like doing this mind you!).  

Has anyone else decided to stay being a Special rather than applying for the regulars?  

12 March 2018
Following lobbying from PFEW at the police pension schemes' governance body, the Scheme Advisory Board, the Home Office has now issued a pension calculator for members of the police pension schemes.
 
The calculator allows members to get an idea of their projected pension at retirement, to help them plan for the future. The calculator can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-pensions-calculator
 
Members can use their annual pension statements to help them input information into the calculator.
The calculator provides Members with an estimate of their pensions only and it is recommended that they seek independent financial advice before making any financial decisions.
Andy Fittes said: "We have been lobbying the Home Office to provide a calculator for some time now and we are pleased that it has now been issued. The calculator will provide assistance to members in making important decisions when planning for their financial future."
Currently, different pension administrators are used by police forces to run the schemes, so there is a lack of consistency in the format and standard of the pension benefit statements being provided to members across England and Wales. That consistency is now provided by the Pension Calculator.
Following continued lobbying by PFEW the Home Office last June agreed to provide a police pension calculator for officers. The calculator now provided allows officers in all three police pension schemes to be able to obtain illustrations of the benefits they are likely to receive when they retire.
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The chief constable has refused to make promises about the unit's future.


Caeser retired from TVP after ten years of service in 2016

A mounted police unit is hoping to save itself from being disbanded through private sponsorships and by training Special Constables.

The announcement Thames Valley Police is considering cutting its mounted section altogether in the face of budget cuts provoked an outcry earlier this year.

A cull of its dog and roads policing units are also on the table.

But the specialist teams were granted a temporary reprieve at the eleventh hour in January as Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld postponed his decision.

According to Thames Valley Police Federation the mounted unit is now trying to raise £500,000 in sponsorship to replace two transport vehicles and is in talks with Chief Constable Francis Habgood about a longer term business case for their survival.

Craig O’Leary, Thames Valley Police Federation Chairman, said: “The future of the mounted branch was not brought up in the most recent Police and Crime Commissioner budget meeting and it wasn’t put forward as a cut.

“But we have a situation with our mounted section where we have two transport vehicles that need replacing, and that’s to the cost of £500,000.

“In today’s current climate that’s an awful lot of money. The chief has met with the officers on the mounted section and I think they’ve had a very good discussion, and there are plans afoot to try to secure funding for that department that’s outside the police budget that’s given to them."

Mr O’Leary added: “There are some very real challenges that Thames Valley Police are facing over the next three years. There will be a commencement of department by department review on what service they’re providing and how can that be improved, and whether we working as smart as we can be.

“If we can work smarter and realise some efficiency savings then I think that’s certainly the route that the...

Its not entirely uncommon to find a driver is using their vehicle for business purposes and then to find they do not have the corresponding cover on their insurance.  The end result being they are driving without insurance - vehicle seized, driver prosecuted and disqualified.  For this topic we assume the person is not self employed.
So, the scenario question is, a driver is found to be driving without insurance for business purposes, do or should further enquiries be made with the employer to ascertain that the driver was actually driving for business and if so, could, would or should the employer be dealt with for an associated offence?  Perhaps even, does the employer's overarching fleet insurance cover this driver.  After all, the driver is supposedly acting for or in the course of the employer's business. There are lots of permutations but as a starter:
Smith is an employee of Potter-Jones Printers Ltd.  During the day, Smith lets it be known that after office hours  s/he will be travelling to Birmingham. The print manager hears this and asks Smith if s/he would make a slight detour and deliver 5 boxes of printed material to a client and in doing so, the company will pay a mileage allowance equivalent to 15 pence per mile to the client's address and back.  Alas Smith gets stopped by police enroute, Smith produces a car insurance certificate which shows cover for the usual social, domestic & pleasure and commuting.  All the elements appear to be present for Smith to be prosecuted for driving without insurance.  
So how often, if at all, would enquiries be made of the employer in this or any other driving for business without insurance incidents.