January 2007
Welcome to 2007 and the second edition of the • CO20 TSG 20 year anniversary – Central Operations Newsletter. commencing 4th January • CO Coordination and Tasking Office The good news from CO for this edition of the newsletter has been o Fully staffed – end of January 2007 overflowing and contributions have been received from most OCU’s in the business group. o Fully operational – end of March 2007
• CO12 Olympic OCU moving to Cam Road, th This edition highlights just a few of those operations and excellent work East London on 15 January 2007. being done. We hope you enjoy reading about them. • The following boroughs are joining Central Communications Command; If you have any feedback or comments about this newsletter or maybe o Merton – 9th January 2007 there is something you would like to see more of, please email o Croydon – 23rd January 2007 [email protected] • LGBT History Month – February 2007 • CO15 Traffic Open Day – 19th January 2007 Some of the highlights in this edition are: th - being held on the 27 Floor at ESB, between • Operation Foist and BusTag results 11-5pm • Details of the Assistant Commissioner’s Commendations • CO11 Dog Support Unit – Open Day at rd th • CO19 – Could you be an armed police officer? Along with Keston – 3 & 4 March 2007 (details inside) details of the upcoming recruitment process. • What’s happening in CO12 Olympic OCU? Dear Colleague
Welcome to the second edition of the Central Operations newsletter and to 2007. The festive season has now passed and I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank you for all your hard work during 2006.
Looking back over the last 12 months, I am extremely proud of all we have achieved. No one can question the contribution that you have all made to keeping safe our Capital City.
2007 will see some changes for the Business Group as colleagues from the Diplomatic Protection Group (SO16), Palace of Westminster (SO17) and Heathrow OCU (SO18) join us.
I welcome the addition of these units to CO as it brings together under one roof all of the specialist uniformed policing functions, who play a vital role in policing the capital. It will allow us to work in a more joined up and integrated way, across a range of activities including transport, operations and security.
The work ongoing in Central Operations that enforces and strengthens this approach, along with the community engagement projects being carried out across the business group, continues to amaze me.
I hope this newsletter, just a taster of everything that is happening, is able to provide all of you a clear picture of the excellent work our officers and staff are doing to keep our capital city safe.
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Death of Alexander Litvinenko – CO3 handles the Central Communications consequences Command
Following the death of the former Delivering Good Service to the Public Russian spy, Alexander Litvinenko and the discovery of the presence of Central Communications Command (CCC) The CCC programme will start in January radioactive material, Polonium 210, is the first Police Command Unit in the country 2007 with approximately 40 participants Operation Whimbrel was formed. to sign up to the Institute of Customer from all roles across the OCU. There will be Service Awards Programme. As the first an opportunity for a further group to join the There were two main strands to this point of contact for many members of the programme in Summer 2007 and additional operation, namely Investigation and public, this is an excellent opportunity for the opportunities in 2008. Consequence Management. CO3 OCU to support the MPS’s objective of ‘Citizen Emergency Preparedness coordinated Focus’, which is about delivering the service Further details can be obtained via e-mail the Consequence Management strand people need, as well as recognising and from [email protected] with CO11 planning and resourcing the rewarding the work of staff and officers within uniformed response. Commander Bob the OCU. Broadhurst as Gold (Strategic response) and Chief Superintendent Simon Lewis The CSA Programme encourages all customer as Silver (Tactical response) service professionals to work towards a professionally recognised award. There are 3 CO3 worked with all partner agencies to levels of awards (Communications, Solutions assist in the return to normality as quickly and Innovations) that take into account the as possible. Several scenes were under role, grade and rank of the individual. SO15 (Counter Terrorism Command) Participants commit time each week to record AC Tarique Ghaffur is presented with the ICS control. As they were released, a multi evidence of work they do or have done that certificate by Peter Osorio (ICS Membership agency Consequence supports the 4 key areas. Director) Management/Recovery Group, chaired • You and your customer by a Local Authority Executive, took on • You and your organisation responsibility for ensuring a safe clean • You and your colleagues up operation and hand back to the • You and your development owners.
Carried on over page p. 2
leadership and professionalism, innovation, Death of Alexander Central Operations – ACs Commendations perseverance and planning for the G8 Summit in Litvenenko (contd) July 2005.
On Friday 24th November, AC Tarique Ghaffur PS David Hine from CO11 Public Order was commended officers and staff from Central The partners involved included: Health commended for leadership, planning and Operations, paying tribute to their outstanding Protection Agency, Foreign and organisational skills on the policing response to bravery, professionalism and dedication to Commonwealth Office, Atomic Weapons the World Cup 2006. their job. Establishment, Home Office, the
Environment Agency, Department for Det Sgt Kevin Bennett from CO4 Disclosure A total of 38 staff were presented with awards Transport, NHS, London Resilience Service was commended for professionalism for their extraordinary work at the Victoria Park Team, Occupational Health Risk and determination in developing the capacity of Plaza Hotel, Vauxhall Bridge Road. Assessors and Directorate of Public the MPS to identify those who pose a threat to
Affairs to name but a few. children and vulnerable persons. PCs Lee Simons, Patrick Sullivan and Sean
Kelly along with six other officers from CO19 Whilst the investigation continues, there Financial Investigation officer Ken Hopkins Specialist Firearms Unit were commended are now no venues being policed by from CO14 Clubs & Vice was commended for their professionalism, teamwork and uniform officers. leadership and investigative ability in a complex restraint in the safe resolution of a firearm vice enquiry. incident. CO3 continue to liase with the Local
Authority Recovery Group. AC Ghaffur presented the awards saying: Sgt Rob Hepper and seven officers from
CO19 Specialist Firearms Unit were We will keep you informed of any “Commendation ceremonies are an important commended for bravery, restraint and updated via the front page of the intranet opportunity to pay tribute to officers and staff for professionalism in rescuing hostages and and in future newsletters. their various acts of outstanding bravery, safely detaining a dangerous suspect. investigative ability, leadership and
professionalism. It also provides the Police Insp Yvonne McLaughlin, Insp Christopher Service with an opportunity to say thank you to Broome, PS’s Jon Bailey and Trevor all the families, partners and friends and enable Jenner and PC Matt Stone from CO11 them to share in those achievements.” Public Order Branch were commended for Please see page 12 for photos from the event
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CO1 – Introducing the Green Operation BusTAG Result Paper The following day officers awaited his arrival at Operation BusTag is the MPS’s Closed his usual destination and after arresting and Ekow Sam, Environment Champion for CO1 is Circuit Investigation Unit, set up in November searching him found the suspect to be implementing a Business Support initiative 2004 by CO17 Transport OCU and funded by concealing several medical blades. It was due dealing with such issues as the recycling Transport for London. This unit tackles to this overwhelming evidence in good quality waste paper in the office. criminal damage being committed on buses. In CCTV images against the Salcedo that he just 2 years the unit has achieved some 1,200 pleaded guilty in court. It is now widely recognised by most experts arrests, tripling the arrest rates for offences that we have an environmental crisis brewing such as graffiti, window etching, arson and Chief Superintendent Michael Humphrey, and must look at our behaviours now in order seat and window damage. In addition they Transport OCU said: have achieved a conviction rate of more than to limit the effects of this crisis. “ We are methodically analysing CCTV 90 percent. evidence to build compelling cases for How we each deal with this is a personal prosecution before the courts. We are getting responsibility but as an organisation we can As a result of the excellent work of this unit a 46 year-old man Luis Salcedo has recently better at discovering the identities of offenders. start acting responsibly and looking at our Results such as this are encouraging our work habits and what difference we can make been convicted of five counts of criminal damage to five buses and two counts of being efforts” there. in possession of a bladed article. He was fined Chief Supt Michael Humphrey, Commander of Transport OCU £400 in compensation and £75 in prosecution and Steve Burton, Deputy Director of Transport for London’s As an organisation we print enormous Transport Policing and Enforcement Directorate. amounts of documents every day, not all of costs as well as having to complete 80 hours which are needed and very often end up in the community services, 12 months community confidential waste bag or general waste bins in punishment order and banned from travelling our offices. on the bus route concerned for six months.
From CCTV images extracted from the buses, officers were able to capture evidence of Salcedo causing the damage and were also able to work out his travelling habits on the bus. Carried on over page p. 4
The Green Paper (contd)
Some of the key things that we can do CO16 – Safety Camera Operations everyday are: • To consider if printing a document is at Marlowe House really necessary every time and if it is then consider printing on both sides of The MPS is a member of the London Safety Some recent initiatives, developed by the team the paper. Camera Partnership (LSCP), which is to deal with offenders, includes an extension • To switch all PCs off at the end of the responsible for the management of speed and of the use of conditional offers of fixed day, including shutting them down, not red light cameras in London. The object of the penalties (including offences of failing to just turning off the monitor. LCSP is to reduce casualties and collisions by furnish driver details) as a means of disposal • To switch off all office lights at the end promoting safer driving through enforcing of a case. These target those who try to ignore of the working day. speed limits and compliance with traffic lights. correspondence from the MPS in the hope that • To recycle all toners and cartridges. their impending penalty may magically • Reuse all files and folders that are still Safety Camera Operations handles the MPS’s disappear. This acts to reduce paperwork and in good condition. responsibilities in this area, with the base at demand on court space. • Switch all portable fans off at the end the Traffic Criminal Justice OCU (CO16) at of the day. Marlowe House. There are also four Along with this the LSCP are looking at the • When considering the ordering of operational bases in the MPS, which are possibility of linking ANPR (Automatic Number stationary and supplies, think about if staffed by police officers with traffic experience Plate Readers) to the new digital cameras in they are really necessary. and police staff. These officers and staff order to gather any available intelligence that • To consider the amount of water you perform several roles, such as: can be gleaned from vehicles tagged on the are using when boiling a kettle. • Operating high visibility vans to detect PNC. COHQ are particularly interested in any other people who speed between cameras initiatives that are currently going on within the • Consulting with partners such as TfL, Keep your eyes open for further updates on Business Group so that we can spread the BOCUs and Safer Neighbourhood these two initiatives in future editions of the good ideas. Please contact Ekow Sam on Teams newsletter. 67132 or email [email protected] with • Loading and unloading the fixed your initiatives camera sites • Tracing/Investigation of multiple For further information and advice try the offenders and people evading Mayor of London’s site, offering further details prosecution. on how we can be green at www.london.gov.uk/london-life
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CO19 – Armed Policing – Could You?
Why do we need armed police officers On 23rd November, this newly created officers, and also asked that time was and what does it take to become one? ‘Armed Policing- Could You?’ presentation invested to further the appreciation of was delivered to the Chairs of Community journalists and community groups around the CO19 Specialist Firearms Command have Police Consultative Groups after their bi- need for an armed policing response in the been providing presentations to internal and annual meeting. The presentation, 21st Century. They also articulated the external stakeholders over the last few designed to be thought provoking, recognition of the potential impact of such months. The aim of these presentations is to incorporated the use of a Judgement presentations on young people involved in, increase understanding of the role of an Range and the playing of interactive video or on the periphery of, gun crime. authorised firearms officer, and all that goes scenarios. These allowed participants to with it. A number of BOCU SMT, Safer achieve an appreciation of some of the Future presentations are being given to: Neighbourhood Teams, Community groups, challenges and considerations faced by an • Independent Advisory Group Chairs, school & youth groups, the Judiciary & armed officer, including:: • Muslim Safety Forum, journalists have received the presentations. • the good judgement required of • Kratos Community Reference Group, To assist with the cross flow of armed officers, • Metropolitan Police Authority All- understanding, each BOCU has a link ARV • the effects of stress and perceptual Party Parliamentary Group on Inspector who can assist with arranging the distortion, Policing, presentations. • the post-shooting support for • Greater London Authority.
CO19 have two new corporate presentation officers, packages: • the statistics on the rarity of • Devised by the CO19 Training and shootings compared to armed calls Development Unit and CO19 • deployment of units. practioners. This package can be tailored to suit all of the current As a result of the presentations, all those audiences. who provided feedback agreed that they • Informed by practitioners and had a better understanding of armed instructional staff, the second policing as a result. The audience were package, 'Armed Policing-Could you' quick to stress their support for armed is designed for delivery to influential and strategic stakeholders.
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Operation Foist- working in partnership
An operation to target uninsured and CO15 are also looking to support BOCUs in As a result of Foist, the arrests also resulted unlicensed vehicles has been run on reducing robbery and auto crime allegations. in: Hackney, Haringey and Newham Boroughs. • £12k cash seizure under PoCA th th Between 30 October and 26 November The outcomes will be ready in a few weeks but (Proceeds of Crime Act) and ½ kg CO15 Traffic officers worked in partnership there have been some very obvious immediate heroin with Transport for London (TfL) and DVLA, results. • 2 new Porsche, a BMW Z4 and a along with the MPS’s Vehicle Recovery • 1806 vehicle seizures – 48% from drivers Hummer (value£210k) seized Examination Service (VRES), Territorial with previous convictions • Rape suspect Support Group, host BOCUs and Stoke • 212 arrests • Numerous robbery suspect arrests Newington Independent Advisory Group to 91 crime arrests/121 non-crime • Numerous auto crime arrests carry out Operation Foist. 95 ANPR Intercept arrests.