The Law the Newspaper of Essex Police Issue 309 July 1999
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The Law The newspaper of Essex Police Issue 309 July 1999 Planning Deployment policy means a .more even spread of skills the way forward for Essex STRIKING A AN intelligence-led, problem solving approach to policing is at the heart of proposals for implementing a consis- tent policing style for Essex. Following the Rural Policing Review, a policing style, based around commu- nity policing teams dedicated to a geographic area, is being BALANCE extended into urban areas. A NEW deployment "We have to ensure that we years ago to address concerns that Teams will be tasked with deploy and distribute our peo- officers could become narrow in understanding the needs of policy is bound to have by Norman Hicks the community, working with ple more effectively, ensuring outlook and skill if left in post too the community to achieve an inflated impact in that divisions and depart- long, making eventual redeploy- crime reduction and detec- its early stages, but the Head of Personnel John ment~have a balanced work- ment more difficult. tion, responding to calls for There have, however, been neg- assistance and tackling com- hope is that it will soon Rhymes, architect of the new force - in terms of experience munity safety problems. settle down, to provide policy, said: "The organisa- and skills - and that we are ative consequences of the tenure Co-ordinated tion has a decreasing budget, able to be more flexible and policy, such as excessive training a better increasing workloads and more responsive to the organi- costs and some loss of specialist Divisional and HQ-based skills and experience very challenging perform- satiods needs." skills and experience. services will be focused on supporting the community across the force. ance targets. Tenure was introduced some Continued on page 3 aolicintr teams. How to develop a co-ordi- nated approach, based on identifying problems, utilis- ing intelligence, and tasking community and divisional support teams to respond proactively, was the focus of a two-day senior managers' conference at Danbury last A COAST to coast bike ride Meanwhile, the Essex Air month. by Essex police officers is set Ambulance is also benefiting Chaired by Chief to boost the coffers of two from a gruelling canoe trek Constable David Stevens, the charities in the county. by Mick Barry, Divisional conference also looked at Members of the Admin Manager for the implementing the Underwater Search Team Force Information Room, Government's Best Value based at headquarters have and Mike Head, an engineer requirements, and other organised a different event for Alenia Marconi. issues likely to influence bi-annually for the last eight The 125 mile paddle from next year's Essex Policing years, and to date have Devizes to Westminster Plan, including the implica- raised about £10,000 for raised cash to the tune of tions of the Macpherson local causes. £770 for the Air Ambulance report, finance, IT and This year's exploits took and St Clare's Hospice. human resource issues. over 20 riders on a trek from The intrepid duo, both Whitehaven in Cumbria, to members of the Chelmsford Newcastle. Canoe Club, had a burning 2 Smart The riders were supported ambition to complete the by a back-up team driving famous trip and did so in vehicles on loan from Ford. just 23 hours, up against Other sponsors included BP, 'Oscar' more than 100 other pairs. who covered the cost of sup- 2 SMART 4 Drugs, Essex plying BP Greener Diesel to But it was no easy task. Police and Essex FM's the support vehicles. Mick Barry said: "It was ground breaking drugs edu- Proceeds from this year's an ambition in life and now cation roadshow, has scooped event are still being totted we can say we achieved it. a national award known as up and will be split between But I definitely have no wish the radio equivalent of an the Essex Air Ambulance to be able to say I did it Oscar. and Little Haven's Hospice. twice." For more details see page 3. 2 THE LAW, JULY 1999 I Campaign Discipline code Sgt DAVlD JONES, Chairman Joint Branch Board, continues his look at the new Police (Conduct) Regulations 1989, which came into effect in April. A MAJOR change in the ed at the hearing. for better regulations is the opportuni- The following punish- ty for a superintendent to ments can be given: sight of problems experienced ongoing issues and problems. administer a written warn- Dismissal - effective by minority groups in gener- To this end, a regional ing. This applies to non immediately meeting has been organised. complaint cases, where an Requirement to resign - albirstly the posters. This will take place at The officer has failed to meet the either immediately or after qu y Feedback has been mixed. Assembly Hall, Church required new standard set such other period as the tri- out in the code of conduct. bunal may specify IN April, following cers to use the posterstocon- Initiallv.", the concerns we House. Dean's Yard. the Macpherson front racism within the anticipated were displayed. Westminster, London SW~P A written warning can Reduction in rank - only be given where the offi- Report and the pub- ice as part of their cam- Some believed that they rein- 3NZ, on Friday, July 16, at effective immediately paigns to recruit more Offi- cer has admitted the failure lication forced negative stereotyping 10.30 for 11 a.m. Fine - of not more than Of cers from ethnic minority and were an insult. Admission is by warrant to meet standards. 13 day's pay recoverable M i n i S t e r i a l comunities~ Following a full explana- card. An officer can only have over a minimum of 13 weeks Priorities, the We wanted the posters tion, the motives are under- two written warnings Reprimand - which national Federation provoke debate; we knew stood and accepted. Few had recorded (they are valid for would be recorded in the offi- launched a campaign that some would uncom- alternative strategies for Update 12 months from the date cer's personal record fortable f hen confronting challenging racism through they are administered). Caution - which would to promote greater their own prejudices. negative stereotyping and Where an officer admits a not be recorded in the ofi- within the failure to meet standards We had no desire to rein- agreed that it was a factor cer's personal record. police service. force negative stereotypes, or both internally and external- on shift which would normally be We understood that there to affront colleagues or mem- ly. dealt with by way of written Review needed to be a debate about bers of black and Asian ori- ~h~ posterswere intended warning, but has two valid the unacceptable face of gin. to engender debate. They written warnings recorded, Another major difference system under the new procedures is racism both within the sew- At the Police Federation then the matter must be have certainly achieved this. THIS is now with the chief the Chief Constable's ice and within the wider Conference '99, a fringe ~h~~ were never intended to officers7G~~~~. referred to a formal hearing. community. One of the major changes Review. meeting was he1d which be the only solution to unfair- No decision was made at Any officer has the right to As part of the campaign, a sought to raise still further ness in the service. the Force Development of the new procedures is the series of posters were awareness of the negative 1, respect of racism, we Group meeting, as concerns standard of proof required to ask the Chief Constable to prove the misconduct. That review the decision of a designed to signpost our impact of racism in order to also need to be sure that we were being raised by some Misconduct Tribunal. That commitment to fighting promote a fairer and more appreciate all the issues. divisional commanders on standard is now based on racism. representative service. Dates are being arranged whether they could manage the balance of probabilities. review can relate to finding The Home Office guidance or punishment or both. The posters con- We need to review Our for the national Federation to an extended hour shiR sys- The Chief Constable will front negative stereotyping progress and consider f~rther meet with the National Black tem and implications on defines it as follows: and passive racism and to phases of the campaign. It ~~~~~~~~~~~~~i~ti~~on a reg- manpower, "In deciding matters of be asked to look at the deci- promote positive role mod- should be recognised that, ular basis. Once chief officers have fact the burden of proof lies sion of the Tribunal, he may agree with their decision, or els of black and Asian ofi- whilst this stage has concen- H~~~~~~,we need to set up looked at these concerns with the presenting officer, cers. and the tribunal must apply he may vary that decision. trated exclusively On our own apparatus to ensure hlly, they will make a rec- He can substitute a punish- We encouraged chief offi- racism, we should not lose that we are aware of the ommendation to the Force the standard of proof required in civil cases, i.e. ment but he cannot impose a Development Group which, harsher penalty. in turn, will have to support the balance of probabilities. The straightforward legal Where an officer has been I i the view of chief officers or dismissed, required to I not. definition of the civil stan- dard of proof is that the resign or reduced in rank Ballot adjudicator is convinced by and that decision has been endorsed by the Chief If they agree to the pro- the evidence that it is more likely or probable that some- Constable after a Chief posed system, a ballot of all Constable's Review, the offi- Federation members will thing occurred than that it did not occur.