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Issue 232 POLICEPROFESSIONAL November 25, 2010

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Contents

Inside this week

News p5-12 Deployment and efficiency central to funding cuts; Labour says officer numbers linked to crime; Job cuts at West Midlands and Northumbria; Operation Trident may be scrapped in spending cuts; New review for East Midlands; Prime Minister insists police will have resources they need; Cadet scheme aims to help ease financial pressure; Police in West Midlands will be ‘unfairly hit’ by cuts; Drop in recorded incidents of Cover story domestic abuse; Commitment to maintain 1,000 extra police officers; PC HMIC goes to ‘gave information to suspect’; Central Scotland appoints new deputy Millbank – chief; Quarter of GMP’s workforce to be lost; Leicestershire looks to ‘co- Criticism of the locate’ neighbourhood teams; Officer cleared of assaulting female Metropolitan Police prisoner; Improvements at Notts and GMP praised by HMIC; Mutual aid A fallacy of terminology – p20 Service’s handling of for PSNI ‘no longer needed’; Controversial ‘equality rules’ axed; Officer student protests has led some to call new arrested after woman’s death; Survey shows confidence in policing has public order tactics increased; Reduction in reoffending a result of more cautions. to be rescinded in favour of force. A need for clinical governance p13 While guidance on safe detention provides valuable information for police forces, custody sergeants and managers, there is little to govern or set standards for medical provision in custody. Speaking to Police Professional, Gary Green from G4S Forensic Medical Services champions the cause of clinical governance. HMIC Goes to Millbank p14-17 Criticism of the Metropolitan Police Service’s handling of student protests has led some to call new public order tactics to be rescinded in Trying to sustain frontline services – p21 favour of force. Dr Clifford Stott, Dr Hugo Gorringe and Dr Michael Rosie maintain scientific evidence points to non-confrontational tactics as providing the legitimacy needed in such demonstrations. A fallacy of terminology p20 Miranda Carruthers-Watt, Chief Executive of Lancashire Police Authority, considers the vital, but often invisible, layers of the frontline. Sustaining frontline services p21-24 The Leading Powerful Partnerships programme tackled major issues of importance to leaders of public sector organisations. In this second in a series of essays, participants were given the task of answering a vital question in anticipation of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Avatar officers police virtual march – p27 Technology p25 Dorset rolls out mobile technology on the beat; BTP deploys new covert intelligence software. Bright ideas p26-27 Professional Residents issued with scratch and sniff cannabis cards; Promoting safety of vulnerable children; Motorbike amnesty helps reduce anti- Services social behaviour; Avatar officers police anti-bullying march; Leicestershire pilots ‘alcohol-awareness’ courses; Webchat engages Spotlight on POLICE public with concerns over drug abuse. leading suppliers PROFESSIONAL Staff Officer Stitchley p30 See p28 SUBSCRIBE Irreverent jottings from Stitch. TODAY TURN TO PAGE 4 Recruitment and training – see page 28-29

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From the editor

POLICEPROFESSIONAL The simple truth is published by Verdant Media here has been considerable and better procurement while Sir Midshires House contemplation of the David Normington – the most senior Smeaton Close Timplications of the Spending civil servant at the Home Office – has Aylesbury Review over the past week with the identified better deployment and use Bucks HP19 8HL Tel: 0845 057 0514 Prime Minister questioned on how of resources as the way forward. Fax: 01296 394245 crime levels can be kept low when so The truth is, no one solution will ISSN 2041-8809 many forces are planning to reduce provide the answer and the danger is the number of police officers they too many programmes will leave employ. His response was to place the forces simply slicing every budget Managing Editor Paul Lander justification for the cuts squarely on rather than seeking innovation and [email protected] the shoulders of Sara Thornton, new ways of working. The size and Reporters Thames Valley’s chief constable who timing of cuts do not allow the time Dilwar Hussain apparently sought him out at a to invest in the projects and changes [email protected] constituency surgery to inform him that will realise the greatest savings. Charlotte Clark [email protected] that cutting by 15 per cent of funding The cuts are about to undo a great was ‘manageable’. deal of progress and reform of the Sub-Editor Paul Jacques Mr Cameron was extremely relaxed past few years as police officers will [email protected] as he explained how the cuts would be taken off frontline duties to do the Contributors be made - by cutting paperwork, jobs that police staff have been Paul Lander, Dilwar Hussain, Paul Jacques, officers’ allowances and a pay freeze. employed to do. The least the Prime Charlotte Clark, Dr Hugo Gorringe, Dr Clifford Stott, Dr Michael Rosie, I doubt his relaxation is matched Minister should do is recognise that Miranda Carruthers-Watt among senior officer teams across the impact and stop pretending cutting country, nor within staff canteens, as bureaucracy will be such a major Editorial the posts that will be axed are contributor to savings. Tel: 0845 057 0514 identified. Advertising Meanwhile, the Policing Minister is Andrew Stevens stressing the need for collaboration Paul Lander [email protected] Tel: 0845 057 0514 Subscriptions Police Professional Subscriptions Freepost PE211 West Street Bourne PE10 9BR Tel: 01778 392037 Email: [email protected] POLICEPROFESSIONAL Subscription Rates Subscription £115 per annum UK & Ireland Please return to: Police Professional Subscriptions, Freepost PE211, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9BR £144 Europe YOUR DETAILS £195 Rest of World Title Forename Surname ...... While every effort is made to check for accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the Address ...... content, errors or omissions inadvertently pub- lished in advertisements in Police Professional...... Postcode ...... Views expressed by contributors are not necessar- We would like to let you know about our latest offers ily those of the proprietors. No responsibility for loss If you do not wish to receive direct mail from the publishers please tick here ☐ If you do not wish to receive direct email from selected third parties please tick here ☐ occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from acting, as a result of material in this publication can Email ...... be accepted. I am happy to receive special offers via email from: ☐ The publisher ☐ Selected third parties © Verdant Media Telephone (Please include area code) ...... I am happy to receive special offers via telephone from: ☐ The publisher ☐ Selected third parties All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any ☐ I would like to take out an annual subscription to 50 issues of Police Professional means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or be stored in any retrieval system of any for only £115 (UK & Ireland) by cheque/credit card nature, without written permission of the copyright holder and the Publisher, application for which ☐ I enclose a cheque for £115 made payable to Verdant Media should be made to the Publisher. Please debit £115 from my ☐☐☐ Card number ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ ☐☐☐ (Maestro only)

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News

Deployment and efficiency central to funding cuts

n inquiry into the Comprehensive He said the Government does not ASpending Review has heard that expect crime to rise as a result of deploying police officers and using funding cuts, but could not “guarantee” resources more effectively will be the that this would be the case. key to meeting funding cuts. Members of the committee pressed Sir Sir David Normington, Permanent David to provide the evidence which Secretary at the Home Office, was suggests that effective deployment will giving evidence to the Home Affairs be one of the fundamental ways in Sir David Normington Select Committee on November 23, in which police forces could save money – which he revealed that Home Office he is expected to deliver the evidence in but he said the Home Office and “the research shows that deploying force the near future. chief constables are trying to make sure resources effectively will save money. Deploying resources on a limited we can make these reductions without He said that extensive research was budget will pose some risks, however, having an impact on crime”. done prior to deciding how much the budget cuts would be, and all the Home Office cuts 9,000 but pays consultants £160m evidence suggests that the huge deficit can be reduced if forces across the The Home Office will continue to reduce “These cuts are extremely difficult. country shared assets such as IT, as well staffing by a further 6,500 people over the There will be areas where we will be as “redesign” back office setups. next four years but fees paid to under pressure as a result of them and It is also expected that forces will save consultants were defended this week. our job is to minimise that impact.” around £350 million through freezing Speaking to the Home Affairs Select Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary police pay in the first two years, Committee this week, Sir David criticised Sir David’s revelation. beginning in September 2011. Normington said 6,500 jobs will go over Ed Balls said: “On the day that the “One of the possibilities [to make the next four years on top of 2,500 Government is already in retreat over its savings] is how we deploy our police already lost this year. immigration cap, the revelation that numbers and forces. There is a lot of He revealed the cuts in staffing, mostly thousands of border agency staff will be research, but it does not tell us the exact at the UK Border Agency, come despite lost is an embarrassment for the numbers. the department spending more than £160 coalition. Sir David added to the debate on crime million on consultants’ fees. Sir David “The speed and scale of these job and police numbers by saying there is a said this was necessary to conduct losses is a real cause for concern. The complex relationship between them. research on technical programmes. Home Secretary needs to explain “We will be looking at whether we can “I want to say that sometimes we can’t whether she is confident she has the get more data about how we can deploy manage without consultants because that resources to implement her migration more police numbers and how the crime is the only way we can,” he said. policy and keep our borders secure.” [level] is,” he told the committee. Police actions Labour says officer numbers linked to crime did not he Government has come under tackling crime. It is no coincidence that respectable academic would make a alienate Tcriticism for failing to recognise the under Labour, police numbers rose and simple link between the increase in the the crowd link between the low level of crime in crime fell, even during a recession. numbers of police officers and what has recent years and the increased number “It’s astonishing to hear a happened to crime. There is no such nor of police officers. Conservative Policing Minister claim link,” he said. motivate The Shadow Minister for policing that there is no link at all between police Shadow Home Secretary Ed Balls said described the Government’s view that officer numbers and the level of crime.” the spending review will hit frontline the mass crime and officer numbers are not Policing Minister Nick Herbert policing hard. Around 6,000 police of connected as “astonishing”. accepted there has been an increase in officers retire or resign each year, but if Vernon Coaker said: “Cutting police the number of police officers under the deep cuts mean they can’t be replaced onlookers funding by 20 per cent will mean fewer previous government while crime levels with new recruits then he fears the “thin to join in police officers and police community fell and that the total number of police blue line stretched to breaking point. support officers (PCSOs) and undermine officers is likely to fall as forces make “The Home Secretary’s claims that the with the the fight against crime and anti-social cuts to budgets. cuts will not affect frontline policing are criminal behaviour in all our communities. However, he said officers’ visibility becoming more laughable by the day. “Of course, the level of crime is and availability are low and that the With the biggest cuts being demanded damage affected by lots of things, but it is message to be taken is that it is what by the Government in the first two of the absurd to pretend that the number of police officers are doing and how years, forces are finding they cannot building. police officers doesn’t make a efficient they are that really matters. protect frontline policing by making significant difference in preventing and “I don’t think that anyone and no long-term efficiency savings.” see p14

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Europol Job cuts at West sex trade Operation Trident may be Midlands and initiative scrapped in spending cuts Europol has Northumbria launched a new he Metropolitan Police Service communities to prevent and investigate Northumbria Police and West initiative to protect T(MPS) has revealed that it has no shootings and is reviewing all options on Midlands Police have announced job victims of sexual immediate plans to close the command how it can deliver a better service to cuts in response to reductions in exploitation, some as that tackles gun crime in London’s Londoners at a time of reducing central government funding. young as six years African-Caribbean communities, budgets. However, at this stage, no Northumbria Police said it will old. although no department was decisions have been made on any future lose £34 million from central Project HAVEN – “sacrosanct” as it awaits its final budget. structuring of Trident.” government funding and will have to Halting Europeans Reports emerged this week suggesting Any decision to disband Trident would cut back on 450 posts. Abusing Victims in the Trident command of the MPS could be a cause for concern, according to The force revealed the figures on Every Nation – aims be disbanded and merge with other Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister. November 22 and said that it is to detect and disrupt squads to cut costs, but a spokesperson Vernon Coaker said: “The identifying ways to improve services, sex offenders who for the force denied that a decision had Metropolitan Police is being put in an cut bureaucracy, reduce duplication travel throughout been made. impossible position by the coalition and deliver efficiencies. Europe to exploit Trident is responsible for the government. Staff were told that more than 400 children. prevention and investigation of “As I know from my own time as posts will go, but police officers will Europol will seek shootings in London, as well as all gun Policing Minister, Operation Trident be unaffected. A recruitment freeze to coordinate related murders within London’s black does a vital job tackling gun crime in the is in place and the force also aims to international communities and has played a central capital. I’d be very concerned if it was reduce the workforce as much as operations run by EU role in tackling the issue since its disbanded or its important work was possible through natural turnover. law enforcement inception, but concerns have been raised undermined. Temporary Chief Constable Sue authorities and to over its future as police forces look for “The Home Secretary is imposing 20 Sim said: “I am absolutely support the project ways to save money. per cent cuts, with the biggest cuts in the committed to maintaining frontline through awareness Although the MPS has said that there first two years. This is precisely the sort policing and the services we offer to events to discourage are “no plans to disband the Trident of specialist work which will suffer with our communities. I will protect as far potential child sex command”, it will not know exactly cuts on this scale. By cutting so deeply as possible the number of offenders. what impact the cuts will have on and so quickly, the Government is taking neighbourhood and response officers specific departments until a budget has big risks with the safety of our who work direct with the public.” Officer been finalised – which is not due until communities.” West Midlands Police is to lose ‘misused’ early next year. However, the MPS said that it is facing around 2,200 police officer and staff A spokesperson for the MPS said: “We “very challenging times”, but despite the positions as part of its savings plan, database don’t yet know the full impact the budget reduction in its budget, it is committed which is higher than initial estimates. A Strathclyde Police cuts will have on the MPS and we are to maintaining and building on Chief Constable Chris Sims said officer is in court unlikely to know our final budget for successes such as Trident. that based on current estimates, the accused of misusing several months due to the complexity of “We remain committed to continuing force will lose around 15 per cent of a police database to our funding structures. to deliver a better policing service for its workforce; previously it was protect his “We are going through the figures very less by streamlining our business thought the losses would amount to boyfriend. carefully with the police authority to support and making best use of our around 2,000, but the exact figure PC Steven Smith assess their full impact. As part of this operational assets. will not be known until next month searched for his process, all commands within the MPS “The Trident Independent Advisory when police forces across the boyfriend using the will be scrutinised to ensure that they Group has been, and will continue to be, country will be told how much they Scottish Intelligence deliver their services as effectively and consulted on how Trident can prevent will have to save. Database, a Glasgow as efficiently as possible. shootings and bring those responsible to Government claims about court heard. “It has been made clear to all within justice. We will work with them and the protecting the front line have been His boyfriend was the MPS that no organisational communities we serve as we consider criticised by the Shadow Home being investigated in structures are sacrosanct. It remains any possible changes,” added the Secretary, particularly after Greater relation to a robbery. committed to working with London spokesperson. Manchester Police announced it is to PC Smith apparently cut around a quarter of its force over sent an email to a the same period. colleague telling her New review team for East Midlands Ed Balls said: “This is now the that he had new regional unit set up to the first unit of its type and will be second police force in the country interviewed his Ainvestigate domestic murders, headed by former Detective since the spending review to confirm boyfriend and found stranger rapes and cold case murders Superintendent Jack Russell. the impact of the Government’s cuts that he knew has been created, saving Derbyshire. In addition, the unit will look to on local policing. David Cameron nothing about it. Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, review undetected homicides, murders and Theresa May’s claims that police Northamptonshire and of vulnerable people, non-stop fatal road funding can be cut by 20 per cent Nottinghamshire £287,000 a year. traffic collisions and cold case rapes. without hitting frontline policing is The regional centre will have three The unit is currently working on six becoming increasingly laughable.” hubs based in Nottinghamshire, reviews including cold case murders Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. It is and a missing person.

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Prime Minister insists police will have resources they need

he Prime Minister has argued that The Prime Minister said that the Tpolice budgets would be looked at to reduced budget would lead to more ensure forces have the resources they resources being put into frontline need to carry out their duties, if crime policing. rises. He also said that more needs to be David Cameron – budgets would be revisited David Cameron gave evidence at the done to reduce the number of police in an “ongoing process”. House of Commons Liaison Committee staff and pointed to Greater Manchester on November 18 in London and said that Police (GMP), which in recent weeks “difficult decisions”, but ones that will police forces should be asked how they said its force will cut back around a mean it is still possible to have an will cut costs from back office roles. quarter of its employee numbers, as an effective police service. However, when questioned over the example. The Government expects forces across possibility of crime levels rising, he “The total number of police officers in the UK to deliver reductions by freezing said the budgets would be revisited in Greater Manchester is 8,000, and there police pay for two years, reviewing an “ongoing process”. is a total police staff of 4,200. allowances and rationalising “some of He was also adamant that the cuts, “As politicians, leaders and the rest of them”, and reducing paperwork, in although challenging, can be met it, the question is to work out whether addition to recommendations made by through processes such as pay freezes, we can try and get more for less. I don’t Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of changes to police pay and conditions want to single out Greater Manchester, Constabulary (HMIC). and reduced paperwork. but when you look at 4,000 staff as The Prime Minister also hinted at He said: “This government will have opposed to 8,000 officers, and when you increased collaborative work between an ongoing process of looking at how look at 187 people in human resources, support functions such as procuring well we are doing, how money is being we have to do better than that,” he said. vehicles, sharing assets and combining spent, whether we are getting value for Mr Cameron said the focus must be on diver teams. money and the rest of it, but I think we visible policing while at the same time He indicated that there are should start from the proposition that trying to cut back on “back office that is opportunities to make significant we have got to try to get more value for there to support that”. savings in these areas and that they less from the police.” He said the Government had to take “have hardly scratched the surface”. What decisions do Cadet scheme aims to help ease financial pressure authorities A cadet scheme is set to re-launch to ease financial pressures and available to a number of young people in the Highlands and invest in future policing, Northern Constabulary has announced. Islands. There are some real financial pressures on us, but it is take when The scheme gives youngsters between 16 and 17-and-a-half important to invest in the long-term future of policing in the faced with years of age a taste of policing and then, upon successful Highlands and Islands.” completion, the chance to embark on a career with the force. Cadets will also undertake a number of placements within the local The scheme was announced on November 15 and places will be force operations centre. clamour for available to ten youngsters. Recruits will be subject to regular assessment and during the Chief Constable Ian Latimer said: “I am delighted to announce term of their cadetship, they will be paid a pro-rata salary of retention of that the force is once again making this excellent opportunity between £7,000 and £8,000. ‘visible’ well-liked officers Police in West Midlands will be ‘unfairly hit’ by cuts against the

Ps have claimed that the West police for assistance. police officers meeting with the retention of MMidlands will be unfairly hit by West Midlands Police is expecting to community, who could possibly make ‘invisible’ the policing cuts. cut £123 million and 2,000 jobs by 2014. the difference between success or less During a Commons debate, Labour Mr Ainsworth said: “The cuts have success.” financial MP Bob Ainsworth said that high crime been structured in such a way that the Minister of State for Policing, Nick investigators areas such as the West Midlands would high crime areas, with the West Herbert, maintained that police be worst affected by the cuts announced Midlands being one of them but by no numbers did not necessarily correlate who target as part of the Comprehensive Spending means the only one, [are] with crime levels. and disrupt Review. disproportionately hit. I thought we He said: “I have mentioned before the Arguing that cuts would have a were all in this together?” example of the New York Police organised damaging effect on neighbouring police Richard Burden, MP for Northfield, Department which saw cuts in the total crime forces as well, Jim Cunningham, MP for said: “Something is going to have to go. size of the police workforce of ten per groups? Coventry South, said that Warwickshire It’s going to be frontline services or the cent in the last decade. Crime fell by Police relies on the West Midlands specialist work or it’s going to be the over a third in the same period.” see p20

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Sussex Drop in recorded officer Commitment to maintain incidents of jailed 1,000 extra police officers A former female domestic abuse Sussex Police officer ne thousand extra police officers confirms our feeling that the politicians The number of domestic abuse has been jailed for Owill be maintained in Scotland listened to our plea, shared our incidents reported to the police has 14 months after despite the budget cuts, but real concerns and have responded fallen for the first time in ten years, being found guilty of challenges still remain in policing, accordingly. We now call upon local the Scottish government has misconduct in public according to the Scottish Police authorities to step up to the mark and announced. office. Federation (SPF). match the government’s commitment,” Official figures were published on Grania Hale told a Finance Secretary John Swinney said Mr Steele. November 17 which showed a drop suspect that a announced Scotland’s draft budget for Concerns were also raised at a Justice of four per cent in reported domestic search warrant was 2011/12 on November 17. Committee meeting on November 23 abuse cases over the last year. likely to be executed. He told Members of the Scottish over the future of other departments. In 2009/10, 51,926 incidents were She pleaded guilty Parliament (MSP) that jobs, frontline There were fears that protecting police recorded by the police – more than last month and services and economic recovery will be officer jobs could lead to 2,000 less than in the previous year. resigned from the protected. disproportionate cuts in other areas – The report also revealed that in force soon after she The news was welcomed by the 341 support staff have already lost their 2009/10, 68 per cent of incidents was charged. general secretary of the SPF, although jobs since April this year. involving a crime were reported to Detective concerns still remain around the effects However, although the government the procurator fiscal by the police - Superintendent of inflation. has announced that there is to be 1,000 up from 64 per cent in 2008/09. Steve Fowler, Calum Steele said: “Today’s extra officers in place by next year, the Alex Neil, Housing and Professional [November 17] announcement Association of Chief Police Officers in Communities Minister, said: Standards represents a 2.6 per cent cut in police Scotland (ACPOS) has said that “Scotland is leading the way in Department, said budgets for 2011/12. Even discounting question marks still remain over how it tackling domestic abuse. that Hale’s sentence the effects of inflation this will create will be funded. “Our hard-hitting campaigns broke reflected the real challenges for the police service in A spokesperson for ACPOS said: “We taboos, got the message out that this seriousness of the Scotland. won’t have any definite numbers until behaviour is totally unacceptable offence she “However, given the current economic the New Year, but the work is well under and created awareness of the wide committed. climate and the serious issues faced by way by Scottish forces. range of help and support for victims. the Scottish government, the SPF is “I suppose the challenge now is how “It is encouraging to see that Peerage pleased the government has committed this [extra officers] will be funded.” reported domestic abuse incidents for Tory to maintaining the 1,000 extra police The government was also criticised are now on the decrease and police officers which will help ensure the for only producing a single year’s forces are cracking down on this adviser continued safety of the public across the budget. A one-year budget has been despicable behaviour. A former senior country.” described as “problematic” and that if “We’re also pleased that more men adviser to previous Presenting the draft budget, Mr the same cuts are to be placed for are finding the courage to come Conservative Swinney said that, despite cuts of £1.3 following years, then the challenge may forward and our confidential Men’s governments and to billion from Westminster, the Scottish become impossible. It could also mean Advice Line stands ready to support US police government had been able to deliver a that forces will lose people in the short men experiencing abuse. commissioners has balanced budget which reflected the term, who might be needed again in the “Preventing domestic abuse and been appointed a priorities of people across Scotland. long term. offering practical and emotional Conservative peer. “We felt it was right to engage with An election is due in 2011, and it is support for victims to get their lives Gordon Wasserman each of the main political parties and feared that bigger reductions in back on track is a key priority.” is one of 54 new outline in detail our serious concerns spending will be sought by whichever It was also revealed that there were working peers about the earlier projected budget cuts, party forms the next Scottish 8,600 incidents reported by male appointed to the which could have resulted in a loss of government. victims of female abusers. This now House of Lords last 2,808 police officers. An agreement was struck with the accounts for 15 per cent of cases, week. “Today’s decision to maintain existing Convention of Scottish Local which has increased from eight per He was previously levels of frontline police numbers Authorities to maintain police numbers. cent in 2000/01. the Economic Adviser However, despite the drop, to the Home Office concerns were still expressed over and in 1973 he was PC ‘gave information to suspect’ the current figures and calls were the head of the Urban made to continue working to reduce Deprivation Unit in Tayside Police officer is facing trial being watched by detectives who asked the number of domestic incidents. the British Civil Afor perverting the course of justice her to monitor the vehicle. Labour Shadow Justice Secretary Service. after she allegedly passed on It is alleged that PC Low passed on Richard Baker said: “The figures are confidential information. information about the ongoing still worryingly high and stand as PC Margaret Low informed drug investigation to her partner who then yet another reminder that there offence suspect– Callum Menzies – that passed it to Mr Menzies Snr. must be no room for complacency on his car was being watched. PC Low is also accused of passing on domestic abuse.” PC Low was working in a CCTV unit information about a police drugs when she was informed that the car was operation to her partner in 2007.

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Central Scotland appoints new deputy chief Central Scotland Police has appointed a new from Central Scotland Police, from Grampian and deputy chief constable. Derek Penman will succeed from the national work that he has progressed on Iain MacLeod who is retiring. behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Mr Penman is currently assistant chief constable Scotland (ACPOS).” and joined Central Scotland Police as a cadet in Mr Penman said: “I am delighted to be returning to 1985. He has remained with the force throughout his work with Central Scotland Police, following my time career apart from 18 months at Grampian Police. in Grampian Police which I have enjoyed immensely. Chief Constable Kevin Smith said: “I am delighted I am looking forward to working with the senior that Derek Penman is returning to Central Scotland management team at Central Scotland and everyone Police at what is a challenging time. I look forward to involved in the delivery of a high-quality policing Derek Penman –new working with him. He brings a wealth of experience, service to the communities of the Forth Valley.” deputy chief constable.

Quarter of GMP’s workforce to be lost olice staff at Greater Manchester four categories: bracket could be affected by the “legal PPolice (GMP) gathered at two mass • In the first group, posts will be loophole”. meetings to hear how the cuts will affect unaffected; Mr Balls said: “People are rightly them. • The second is made up of concerned that 20 per cent funding cuts A quarter of GMP’s police force will departments which will be merged; being demanded by the Government be lost to the cuts, which amounts to • The third will be where posts are will see fewer police officers and around 12,000 staff including frontline reduced and staff may have to reapply undermine the fight against crime. officers, according to the Greater for their own jobs; and “But it is very worrying that the scale Manchester Police Authority (GMPA). • The fourth group will be posts which and pace of the coalition’s cuts mean The meetings were held at Bolton’s will disappear. that we could lose thousands of the Reebok Stadium, in which 1,900 The Chancellor’s announcement last most experienced officers in the members of staff were told that a total month means that GMP has to find country. of 1,387 officers and 1,557 police staff savings of around £134 million over the “This would be madness, but the jobs could go. Comprehensive Spending Review period. Government is putting police forces in Chief Constable Peter Fahy said that One way in which it is hoped some an impossible position. A number of 750 civilian employees and 309 officers savings will be made is through a forces have already said they may have would go by 2012, and that by 2014/15, recruitment freeze, natural wastage, to take this drastic action, but with big there would be a 23 per cent reduction in and forced retirements for officers with cuts on the way I fear this could be just employee numbers. more than 30 years’ service. the tip of the iceberg.” Meetings have been arranged between However, the forced retirement plans According to Mr Balls, Home Office staff and their managers to discuss have come under attack from Shadow figures show that 3,260 police officers what the announcement means for their Home Secretary Ed Balls. have more than 30 years’ service and future prospects. He warned that more than 3,000 police could therefore be affected by part A19 The jobs have been divided up into officers nationwide who fall into this of the Police Pensions Regulations.

Leicestershire looks to ‘co-locate’ neighbourhood teams In all cases, eicestershire Constabulary is asking buildings has proved popular and that buildings we currently use are no L the public to help it find new they were committed to increasing the longer suitable or are not located in the there is a buildings in which to base its accessibility and visibility of the right position to provide a modern-day clear desire neighbourhood policing teams. neighbourhood policing teams in policing service and we are therefore Twelve buildings which are currently communities. looking to sell or terminate our leases to improve used have been specified for closure and Assistant Chief Constable Steph on these buildings in the coming months. both will be sold or have their contracts Morgan said that as a result of officers “This does not mean that we will be terminated in the near future. having better access to technology, such removing officers from the community – quality and The buildings which are due to close as mobile data terminals and quite the opposite. This forms part of efficiency are not generally open to the public. BlackBerrys, a more flexible policing our ongoing work to maintain and, The force currently uses over 40 style could now be used. This means where possible, improve the service we of service different locations for its neighbourhood that officers could work from various provide to the public and we are seeking while officers and police community support places in the community while still opportunities to find alternative officers (PCSOs) to work from. The sites remaining visible and accessible. premises which are better placed in the gaining are shared with other organisations She said: “Our desire is to have more community – places which the public value for such as schools and businesses. officers co-located in shared premises frequent every day. Current buildings money. Leicestershire Police Authority said based in the heart of local communities. will not be vacated until suitable that basing police officers in shared Due to changes in demand, some of the alternative premises are found.” see p21

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Detective Officer cleared jailed for Improvements of assaulting 7/7 fraud at Notts and A former female prisoner Metropolitan Police Oxford Crown Court has cleared a Service (MPS) officer GMP praised Wiltshire Police officer of assaulting has been jailed for Leading improvement – chief constables a female prisoner. three years after by HMIC Julia Hodson and Peter Fahy. Sergeant Mark Andrews was found being convicted of guilty of actual bodily harm and conspiracy to mprovements made by achievements in reducing crime and jailed for six months in September. defraud. INottinghamshire Police and Greater risk to local people. He served six days before being Detective Manchester Police (GMP) have been “Both the force and the police bailed pending an appeal. Constable Daren praised after they were scrutinised by authority acknowledge this is a journey CCTV footage showed Sgt Andrews Pooley was deployed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of that has only just begun, but they have dragging Pamela Somerville through to Leeds in 2006 to Constabulary (HMIC). put the building blocks in place and are the police station and appearing to take part in the The announcement was made last making solid improvements, providing throw her onto the cell floor. She investigation into the week (November 17) after both forces a better policing service for stands after a minute and blood is July 7 bombings. He were monitored using the ladder of Nottinghamshire.” visibly seen on the floor. was found to have intervention and support programme – GMP also enjoyed a great deal of Sgt Andrews said that he did not overcharged the MPS a framework for monitoring police success in the last year; it is the sixth think he had done anything wrong for the apartment he performance – on behalf of their most improved force in England and and that Ms Somerville was the most was staying in, residents. Wales, with all crime falling by 12.5 per unpredictable prisoner he had ever claiming £1,950 In 2009, Nottinghamshire was cent in the 12 months to September. come across. despite paying only identified as the only force in the The number of crimes solved has also Following the appeal he said: £650 in rent. country to be performing poorly in the improved over the past year, with “Obviously I’m extremely happy that three key areas of police activity – local vehicle crime showing the largest the result has found in my favour. I’m Terrorist policing, protecting people from serious improvement – 46 per cent higher than extremely sorry to Ms Somerville, activity harm and public confidence in the the previous year. who received injuries while in my police. Her Majesty’s Inspector Roger Baker care. That was never my intention.” concerns However, the HMIC review has now said: “The force has worked to improve When Sgt Andrews was convicted, Police officers are found that the city has experienced the systems around handling calls from the Wiltshire Police assistant chief still investigating highest reduction in crime across public, incident management, crime constable, Patrick Geenty, said he possible terrorist England and Wales last year. management and public protection. was a disgrace to the force and that activity in Scotland The reduction of 16 per cent was more “The chief constable and police there was no place in Wiltshire following reports of than double the national average of authority continue to invest Police for an officer like him. an explosion last seven per cent. appropriately in wider policing Following the quashed conviction, week. Offenders are also more likely to get responses to major incidents, planned Mr Geenty said: “The public will Anti-terrorism caught thanks to the force moving from events and partnership working. understand that the environment officers and bomb 33rd position to 15th, out of a total of 43 “A new Forensic Tasking Unit has within custody centres can be very disposal units are forces, for crimes solved. been introduced to provide a difficult with hostility, conflict and working in the south Zoë Billingham, Her Majesty’s coordinated approach to getting crime violence towards staff often of Loch Lomond to Inspector for Nottinghamshire, said: scene investigators to incidents in a occurring. While these conditions discover what “This time last year, Nottinghamshire’s speedier and more efficient way. can never excuse or condone any happened. performance was a real concern. In the “There is now a real focus at chief form of unacceptable behaviour by Chief last 12 months, the force and authority officer level to drive the improvements police officers or police staff, it is Superintendent have made really impressive sought. important to put this difficult job and Calum Murray, of improvements and are making good “The new policing model, the service this isolated incident into context. Strathclyde Police, progress in addressing the concerns promise and work to reduce “When dealing with prisoners who said: “By its very identified by HMIC. bureaucracy are all starting to make a are non-compliant or suffering from nature, this type of “Crime is now coming down faster difference.” the effects of alcohol or drugs, there assessment and than in recent years and performance in The inspection also found that is often a need within the law to use investigation is the key areas of concern, protecting detection rates for serious sexual reasonable and proportionate force. complex and does local people from serious harm such as offences have also improved by 17.7 per Our staff have to make quick take time. I can violent crime, and local policing is now cent, taking GMP above similar forces, decisions there and then without the confirm that we are improving.” and from the bottom quarter nationally benefit of hindsight.” currently being The authority also has a new chair to the top quarter. He said that the use of excessive assisted by agencies and a new team in the force which has It added that the force is also force by Wiltshire Police would not from across the UK.” given added drive and focus, added Ms improving in protection from serious be tolerated and that an independent Billingham. harm, including major crimes such as force will hold an internal conduct She said: “Both have shown strong murder and serious sexual assaults. hearing next month to examine the leadership with a determination to GMP achieved the third highest conduct of Sgt Andrews. improve and I have been impressed by reduction nationally in the three their change in approach and their months to August 2010.

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News

Mutual aid for PSNI ‘no longer needed’

he Police Service of Northern 500-600 posts expected to be lost in the who have retired under the severance TIreland (PSNI) has revealed that it near future. scheme or as a means of supporting us does not need any help through mutual “Recruits to the PSNI have to acquire in our normal day-to-day policing aid agreement arrangements with specialist skills and 24-hour awareness environment. forces in England to deal with dissident built up among PSNI officers through “We have not sought assistance in threats, despite UK police federations decades of terrorist conflict; this relation to public order to date.” saying it will no longer be “feasible to alertness is essential for survival. However, the Association of Chief deploy police officers from mainland UK “The PSNI should be properly Police Officers (ACPO) has criticised the to frontline duties” in the troubled area. resourced at all times and have federations’ statement. In a joint statement on mutual aid contingencies that are fit for purpose. Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, issued on on November 17, the Police “We are insistent that the deployment ACPO’s lead on uniformed operations, Federation of England and Wales, the of officers in support of our Northern said: “Historically, mainland officers Police Federation of Northern Ireland Ireland colleagues cannot be used as a extensively supported PSNI colleagues and the Scottish Police Federation said replacement or substitution of PSNI in a wide variety of areas with great that they would no longer be able to officers who continue to be severed from success. The limited steps we have taken support assistance in frontline duties in the service.” to date have not exposed mainland Northern Ireland. Despite the federations’ decision and officers to significant risk, particularly The statement read: “We are keen to the reduction in officer numbers, the when they are so well coordinated by support our colleagues in Northern PSNI said that it does not need support the PSNI. Ireland and already do so in many in the running of its day-to-day policing, “The federations’ statement specialist areas of work. which includes dealing with dissident completely misses the point that officers “However, it is the shared view of the threats. supporting colleagues in Northern UK federations that it is not feasible to A spokesperson for the force said: Ireland would be there for a short period deploy police officers from mainland UK “The aim of this programme [mutual of time and in response to specific to frontline duties in Northern Ireland aid] is to enhance skills in all circumstances. under the guise of mutual aid or participating police services; to give “It also fundamentally misses the interoperability because of the very police officers experience in other point that this is a two-way process and volatile and demanding circumstances policing disciplines, both to further as we strive to deliver better value for that characterise that policing their career development and to enable money and a more professional service environment.” them to use those skills in their own across the whole of the UK, it is counter- The PSNI has already seen recent cuts geographical areas should the need ever productive to preclude our PSNI to its officer numbers – from 12,500 arise. colleagues from playing a role in other officers to around 7,500 – with a further “It is not a tool for replacing officers parts of the UK.”

Controversial ‘equality rules’ axed Officer arrested after

ontroversial rules that would have engineering,” said Ms May. woman’s death This new Cforced all public bodies to focus “Just look at the socio-economic duty. A serving Metropolitan Police Service initiative spending and services on poorer areas At its worst, it might have meant badly- officer arrested in connection with the at the expense of better-off needed services directed away from death of a woman in Hillingdon last helps communities were scrapped last week. some areas and directed towards others week has been released on bail. strengthen Home Secretary Theresa May, who is regardless of practical need. At its best The 34-year-old officer, who works in our also Minister for Women and Equality, it would have been just another Central Operations, was arrested on announced on November 17 that the bureaucratic box to tick, more time November 17 on suspicion of response in socio-economic duty, which was created filling in forms and less time focusing manslaughter at his place of work and dealing as part of the 2010 Equality Act, will be on policies that will make a real is currently in custody at a south scrapped. Ms May outlined a radical difference to people’s life chances.” London police station. with the new approach to equalities that rejects She added that the legislation, which The arrest follows an altercation that potential political correctness and social was introduced under Labour, was occurred in Snowden Avenue, engineering. “ridiculous”. “They thought they could Hillingdon on November 16, after which harm The Government said it will tackle make people’s lives better by simply a 64-year-old woman died. The incident alcohol inequality by treating people as passing a law saying that they should be occurred while the officer was off duty. individuals rather than labelling them made better.” A post-mortem examination on the misuse in groups, ending the top-down Under the legislation public bodies woman is due to take place today causes to approach that saw Whitehall trying to would have had to check whether they (November 25). impose equality from above. were addressing inequalities caused by The Directorate of Professional the city’s “Equality has become a dirty word class factors. Standards has informed the night-time because it has come to be associated The new rules are expected to put Independent Police Complaints economy. with the worst aspects of pointless “architecture” in place to support Commission (IPCC). political correctness and social business and the wider society. see p27

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News

New rape Survey shows centre for Reduction in reoffending a confidence in Borders result of more cautions A new rape crisis policing has centre is to open in he apparent reduction in probation services locally is largely the Borders region of Treoffending may not be as clear cut limited to one of persuasion; cajoling, increased Scotland. as first thought, a report by an influencing and attempting to engage The proportion of members of the It will be opened influential think tank has said. other departments and local agencies in public who believe that the police by the Solicitor The reoffending rate should be the reducing reoffending agenda. But as and local council are dealing with General for Scotland, considered unsafe and there needs to be there is no real policy lever to compel issues of anti-social behaviour and Frank Mulholland QC a radical shake up of the criminal this collaboration, the efforts have crime has increased, a new British and Detective Chief justice system, according to Policy failed.” Crime Survey (BCS) has found. Inspector Linda Exchange, which develops and promotes NOMS has been reshuffled too many The Public perceptions of policing, Ormiston of Lothian new policy ideas. times which has led to low staff morale. engagement with the police and and Borders Police It suggests that the reduction in To exacerbate the problems, the lack victimisation: Findings from the said that the reoffending rates comes as a result of of political will in creating a 2009/10 British Crime Survey, was specialist response decisions to caution instead of competitive environment for the service published on November 18 and service would be convicting people when crimes are to operate in is apparent. revealed that members of the public invaluable. committed. Reoffending has fallen by The report recommends that the who thought that anti-social The Borders area 15.9 per cent since 2000 while there has reoffending rate should include the behaviour and crime are being dealt was considered to been a 15.6 per cent increase in the number of cautions given and that the with increased from 45 per cent in be the last with a proportion of cautions issued by the Ministry of Justice should dismantle 2007/08 to 51 per cent in 2009/10. considerable police which are excluded from adult the regional structure of NOMS and It also showed that the overall population in reoffending statistics. encourage a local commissioning percentage of people who had Scotland that was The report criticises the National structure so that cooperation with confidence in the police increased by without a centre. Offenders Management Service (NOMS) national criminal justice agencies can 14 per cent – from 55 per cent in for being too narrow and having a top be best achieved. 2004/05 to 69 per cent in 2009/10. Complaint down approach. It concedes that there It also recommends that the Ministry The BCS included a number of handling have been recent proposals which seem of Justice designs ways to offer direct questions about people’s attitudes to have addressed these problems but financial incentives for the reduction of towards the police since its review that the Government should focus on reoffending. These could include the inception in 1982. Scotland’s Police public sector reform and concentrate on option of running large contracts with They covered a range of topics Complaints financial incentives to cut reoffending. private and voluntary sector providers. from the general – an overall rating Commissioner is Max Chambers, author of the report, These contracts may be signed by the of local police – to very specific seeking the views of said: “Giving more offenders cautions Ministry of Justice with single areas of how police are working the Scottish public might save the cost of a trial and reduce providers who would sub-contract to with others. on how the police the headline reconviction rate, but it smaller providers. The report also asked questions handle complaints. does nothing to reduce crime or help The report suggests that other models about visible policing and found that It follows his build public confidence. may also be viable, which include the more than half of those asked – 54 comments made last “The previous government failed to public sector as well as private and per cent – said they saw police month in which he reduce reoffending, so the coalition’s voluntary sectors. “The ideal incentive officers or police community called for a change bold plan to pay new providers by results model would incentivise the public support officers (PCSOs) on foot in the way cases are is the right approach. But ministers sector to change practices and integrate patrol on a regular basis, with 38 per dealt with after have to decide what the reform is for: is their services – but with concrete cent seeing them at least once a witnessing a 19 per it about cutting costs or cutting the financial benefits in return. One option week. Nineteen per cent said that cent increase in the crime on our streets? If payment-by- could be a ‘gain-share’ model. This they saw officers on foot patrol less number of people results is going to work to cut crime, we would involve the public sector being than once a month and around a asking him to review need a credible measure of reoffending able to share in the benefits of reduced quarter said that they never saw their cases. which includes cautions.” reoffending and criminal justice costs officers on foot patrol in their local Professor John NOMS is considered as ineffective in with the Ministry of Justice.” area. McNeill said that the that more than half of the services The report also highlights that: “With The report revealed that the long- focus should be on needed to reduce reoffending are not the right financial incentives, the fusing term trend showed a nine education and controlled by NOMS or the criminal of the best parts of the concepts of percentage point increase in the improvement. justice system. integrated offender management and proportion of people who thought Mr Chambers added: “Reducing payment by results might be possible. their local police force did a good or reoffending means issues such as “Financial incentives to reduce excellent job between 2003/04 and accommodation; health and social care; reoffending could be introduced and a 2009/10. finance, benefit and debt; education, mix of public sector professionals could In general, it was also found that 84 training and employment; children and come together with private providers, per cent of people thought the police families; attitude, thinking and the voluntary sector and social treated them with respect and 65 per behaviour; and drugs and alcohol enterprises to form a public-private cent said they were treated fairly. rehabilitation. The role of NOMS and partnership, or a ‘reducing reoffending employees within the prisons and mutual’.”

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Outsourcing

While guidance on safe detention provides valuable information for police forces, custody sergeants and managers, there is little to govern or set standards for medical provision in custody. Speaking to Police Professional, Gary Green from G4S Forensic Medical Services, champions the cause of clinical governance.

Gary Green Emma Pearson A need for clinical governance

he Association of Chief Police to board level is what is missing in this doctor from the PCT and operational staff. Officers’ (ACPO) Guidance on The market. Through the implementation of The panel meets every six weeks and Safer Detention & Handling of clinical governance, the quality of patient examines clinical issues, such as how drugs Persons in Police Custody confers a care can be made consistent. are stored, disciplinary issues managed and statutory responsibility on chief “Why should patient care in custody be any training and legislation dealt with. officersT to ensure that detainees have access different to the NHS or prisons? It shouldn’t It has two sub-committees examining risk- to appropriate healthcare in a timely and be,” said G4S’ Emma Pearson. management, dealing with all clinical effective manner. G4S provides medical staff and facilities to incidents and positive interventions, and The Guidance states: “Forces should prisons, patient transport and facilities medicines management, to ensure all determine the most appropriate model of management to the NHS and 11 police forces medications are safeguarded according to healthcare provision, taking account of across the country. When the company began legislation and best practice. quality of service provision and best value.” providing medical services into the custody A regular ‘Learning the Lessons’ document However, it fails to define what those environment, it attempted to establish a is produced, in agreement with the standards should be. cross-supplier governance arrangement but Independent Police Complaints Commission The Care Quality Commission – the body when that failed due to competitive (IPCC), to document and review clinical responsible for auditing NHS Trusts – does pressures, a consistent and robust incidents or positive interventions and is not have a remit for custody, Gary Green, arrangement was sought to ensure all its sent to all forces, customers and medical Business Director for G4S Forensic Medical processes and procedures focused on safety staff – a 3600 review to ensure transparency Services, believes it is time this changed to and best practice. within the market.Recent contracts have ensure all suppliers invest in standards to the involved providing a rota of suitably-skilled same level. Clinical Governance Panel physicians to deal with sexual assault cases “There is a need for clear standards to G4S recognised the need to implement its and G4S is pioneering forensic medical ensure the safety of everyone in custody and own system to manage how all its medical provision in this area. With the advent of to maintain public confidence in the police. practitioners operate; ensuring safety of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), “Value for money is important but priority detainees, how to dispense drugs, administer G4S now provides both forensic medical must always be the safety of detainees. treatment, ensure accurate reporting in services to the police and operates self- However, nationally, regulation of medical fulfilling their medical duties. referral call centres independent of the services in police custody doesn’t exist.” Led by medical staff, G4S’ processes and police. The clinical competence of healthcare procedures are now clearly defined and Call handlers are trained as crisis workers, professionals remains the domain of bodies audited by external physicians and clinicians accepting calls from victims and are able to such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council and, overseeing these, a governance panel led ensure their safety and obtain evidence. and the General Medical Council, but G4S by the Academic Dean of the Faculty of Mr Green said: “Involvement in sexual sees clinical governance in custody as Forensic and Legal Medicine, Dr Margaret assaults involves a greater commitment but unregulated; relying on a referral to a Stark, ensures they are the most effective and is an area in which the company is extremely governing body after an event is closing the make use of the latest best practices. proud to play a part. stable door after the horse has bolted. G4S’ The panel consists of a lead physician, “Clinical governance is now the backbone clinical governance panel ensures systems paramedic, nurse, pharmacist, independent of how we now operate,” said Mr Green. used in the NHS are replicated into this environment to avoid negative incidents in Guidance on Safer Detention and Handling of appropriate re-validation. the first place, says Mr Green. People in Custody sets basic criteria for “A ‘health care professional’ means a clinically For instance, maintaining records is a core medical provision. It states: qualified person working within the scope of component of medical provision in custody “The agencies and individuals providing this practice as determined by their relevant and audits are conducted regularly by G4S to service must have the legal authority, professional body. Whether a health care ensure paperwork is completed to required qualifications, experience, capability and professional is ‘appropriate’ depends on the standards. The company maintains its own capacity to deliver a continuous quality service, circumstances of the duties they carry out at safes within custody suites to hold within set timeframes. Records must be kept, the time.” medication and confidential medical notes, for audit purposes, which detail each G4S provides mandatory training and secure from the police, in line with patient healthcare professional’s qualifications, their job development to ensure all medical staff maintain confidentiality legislation. description and role profile. Relevant medical accreditation to core competences, whether a “Sharing of information and accountability professionals must provide evidence of doctor, nurse, paramedic or SARC crisis worker. PP

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Executive feature

Criticism of the Metropolitan Police Service’s handling of student protests has led some to call for new public order tactics to be rescinded in favour of force. Dr Clifford Stott, Dr Hugo Gorringe and Dr Michael Rosie maintain scientific evidence points to non-confrontational tactics as providing the legitimacy needed in such demonstrations.

Dr Hugo Gorringe is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Edinburgh. He is the HMIC goes to Millbank author of various articles on public order policing, protest violence and ovember 2010 saw a protest in London against these events, the reports on Adapting to Protest by Sir Denis identity politics. proposed cuts to the funding of further and – if embraced more fully – not only better enable police to higher education. While, for the most part, the handle ‘violent’ protests but do so while increasing police 50,000-strong march passed off without inci- capacity to facilitate the rights to peaceful demonstration. dent, a small group of protestors managed to Indeed, the central tenets of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Noccupy and cause substantial damage to the Conservative Constabulary’s (HMIC) report, Adapting to Protest, are not party headquarters at Millbank House. simplistically about a “softly, softly approach” – instead, the Almost immediately the Metropolitan Police Service recommendations allow for a far more nuanced and flexible (MPS) came under criticism for being ill-prepared and for way of policing crowds that does not preclude robust Dr Clifford Stott is a not reacting more robustly at Millbank. Even as the occupa- responses where appropriate. Here we outline the back- senior lecturer in the tion unfolded, The Daily Telegraph argued that the overly ground to those reports, argue against what might well be a Department of Risk, “passive police operation”, had been: “… the first real test nascent and misguided backlash against them, and draw Security and of the Metropolitan Police’s new strategy for dealing with some preliminary lessons from the Millbank events. Decision Making at street protests. After last year’s demonstrations in the capi- the University of tal during the G20, the MPS faced widespread – and, we Liverpool. He has The 2009 G20 and its lessons published research believe, totally misguided – criticism for being heavy- In dealing with the security challenge of the 2009 G20 sum- on crowd dynamics, handed. In truth, it dealt firmly and effectively with a seri- mit in London, the MPS undertook one of its largest ever public order policing ous threat to public order. Yet a critical report by Sir Denis operations. A key challenge revolved around a series of and football O’Connor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, concluded demonstrations involving some ‘direct action’ protest hooliganism. that the police could be seen as having been ‘aggressive and groups openly seeking non-violent disruption. As events unfair’ during the demonstrations. Yesterday, we saw the unfolded, police utilised the relatively common tactic of fruits of the softly, softly approach proposed by Sir Denis: ‘containment’ on the large protest crowd (containing a wide the besieging of a political party’s headquarters, a baleful mixture of protest groups) gathered outside the Bank of first for this country. No doubt the police will now face criti- England. After six to seven hours, tactics shifted from con- cism for getting it wrong once again. Damned if they do, tainment to dispersal and it was at this time that Ian Tom- damned if they don’t, they have every reason to feel hard linson – a local man on his normal route home from work – done by.” collapsed and died. Dr Michael Rosie is Police did, indeed, face widespread criticism, not least the It subsequently emerged that Mr Tomlinson’s death a lecturer in sociology accusation that they were unprepared for the scale of both occurred shortly after an altercation with officers involved at the University of the march and of the direct action protests. The Daily Mail, in the dispersal. While the media initially largely ignored Liverpool. He is for example, described the MPS’s “woeful preparation for Tomlinson’s death, the events surrounding it rapidly grew author of several riot”, but also argued that officers “were also said to be fear- into one of the most serious critical incidents faced by the articles on public ful of taking action against protesters following the outcry MPS since the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. A order policing, over the policing of the G20 demonstration”. series of major inquiries scrutinised policing in the wake protest, Scottish society and politics. We argue that far from leaving police ill-equipped for of the G20 operation. Reports by the House of Commons

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Home Affairs Select Committee and the Adapting to Protest and opposes police action, thus contributing to an escala- reports,along with hard-hitting documentary programmes tion of conflict. The second body of research (Holgersson & – notably Channel 4’s Dispatches – cast a critical spotlight Knutsson, 2010) relates to Scandinavian police practices of onto public order policing throughout England and Wales. engaging in dialogue as a means of facilitating protestor In particular, the Adapting to Protest reports made a objectives and generating ‘real-time’ information to series of recommendations to ensure that UK policing of enhance command decision-making and mutual under- protests was brought into line with the European Conven- standing between protestors and police. Both areas of work tion of Human Rights. In responding to these recommenda- advocate the need for flexible, reflexive and pre-emptive tions, Meredydd Hughes, chief constable of South and/or preventative approaches to public order policing. Yorkshire and the Association of Chief Police Officers’ The central point of these theoretical and practical (ACPO) lead for uniformed operations, predicted that its insights, that are already widely adopted across Europe, is recommendations would “shape the future of national pub- that perceptions of police illegitimacy within the crowd lic order policing. It will drive changes in our preparation can be the central driver for an escalation of conflict. In for protest and our relationships with those involved”. The such circumstances, even participants harbouring no prior recommendations have subsequently underpinned updates intention of engaging in confrontation may become hostile to the Manual of Guidance on Keeping the Peace and the toward the police as a means of reasserting their perceived National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) and the rights. National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies This approach has been successfully applied in the man- (NCALT) led developments in public order training. agement of football-related disorder and has contributed to Throughout late 2009 and into 2010, the authors have also the successful policing of major international sporting observed a series of high-profile protest events across tournaments (Stott and Pearson 2007, Stott et al. 2008). It Britain: climate camps; anti-NATO protests; ‘Wave’ demon- provides the explanatory basis from which some of the strations; ‘Defence League’ rallies and counter-rallies; and guidelines for effective public order policing within the ‘Right to Work’ protests at the Conservative Party Confer- HMIC reports have been derived. If anything, the events of ence. All featured a willingness by police to innovate strate- November 10 reinforce the insights and utility of the scien- gically and tactically in line with the O’Connor reports. tific literature and underscore the necessity to revisit how Central to these innovations have been attempts to facili- tate peaceful protest, to avoid (deliberate or unwitting) Perceptions of police illegitimacy within provocation, and to engage proactively with protestors. the crowd can be the central driver for an But in the wake of the recent student demonstration against funding cuts, we discern a potential backlash escalation of conflict... even participants against the core recommendations of the HMIC. None of harbouring no prior intention of engaging the authors were present on the march and it is, therefore, difficult to comment on precise details of the policing oper- in confrontation may become hostile ation or the protest. But our primary concern here are sug- toward the police. gestions that the crowd actions on November 10 were a direct outcome of new approaches to the policing of public order events are policed. How, then, do these models crowds – or, as the The Daily Telegraph claimed on Novem- explain the events of November 10 – where it was seem- ber 11, that “police have now gone too far in a ‘softly softly’ ingly the absence of police that led to disorder – and what approach”. In particular, we are concerned to show that lessons can be learnt from this? In the following analysis we the backlash in the popular press misrepresents the HMIC focus on three key points: the policing of the march itself; reports and the science that contributed to them. Indeed, security arrangements at Tory HQ; and policing at Mill- the theoretical models of crowd processes that underpin bank after the fact. the HMIC reports are, if anything, strengthened by recent events. The key is not to return to ‘escalated force’ methods The Battle of Millbank. of policing – based upon a discredited model of crowd One point easily lost in the focus on Millbank is that the processes – but to roll out the recommendations of the vast majority of the 50,000 protestors marched through reports more systematically. To this end we will briefly out- London following pre-agreed routes and codes of conduct. line the key principles of the HMIC reports, examine them Given the extensive discussions between organisers, stew- in relation to the education demonstration and then draw ards and police, combined with the lack of student radical- some preliminary conclusions. ism over the past decade, it was entirely appropriate and ‘intelligence-led’ to police the march in a low-key way. Adapting to Protest Indeed, it would have been counter-productive to line the The HMIC’s review potentially heralds a new and innova- route with substantial numbers of police officers. ‘Low-key’ tive approach. But we must stress that it emphatically is not policing meant that most demonstrators – who were posing about ‘anything-goes’ or ‘softly-softly’ policing. In addition no threat to public order – are likely to have perceived to others, the review drew upon two key areas of academic police actions as legitimate and this may be why more did research. The first is the Elaborated Social Identity Model not join the crowd outside Millbank. (ESIM) of crowd behaviour, which offers a theoretical basis Theory and evidence would suggest that deploying offi- for understanding the relationship between public order cers in ‘riot gear’ from the outset would, at the very least, policing and crowd dynamics (Reicher et al, 2004, 2007). The have sent a negative message to even the most law-abiding evidence supporting the theory demonstrates how some of protestors – and could have aggravated the situation and public order tactics may inadvertently serve to unify a pre- turned a substantial section of the largely peaceful crowd viously disparate and mixed crowd into one that mistrusts hostile, as was the case during the last major student

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demonstration in central London in 1988 (Reicher, 1996). “one senior serving officer” who apparently told the Daily The MPS Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, openly con- Mail that: “What happened today was as a result of lack of cedes that there was a failure of police planning in that proper police forward intelligence.” This evidence seems to they did not anticipate the scale of the march. But a large suggest that that the MPS has some way to go in developing march in itself does not spell trouble (think of the Anti- its capability and competencies to interact with crowd War demonstrations in 2003 or the Make Poverty History members over extended periods to validate and evolve its march in 2005, which were both significantly larger and risk assessments during the event itself. This is precisely largely trouble-free). Whatever the size of a crowd, the key the capability delivered by the Swedish model of ‘Dialogue’ issue is that a crowd is dynamic and the problems posed for policing recommended as a model of good practice by the police can shift from one moment to the next. Therefore, a HMIC. As Holgersson & Knutsson (2010; p19) point out: key recommendation made to the post-G20 review team was “Since the [Dialogue] officers often follow actions of a based upon the idea that police need to increase the links group of demonstrators closely during an extended period, between their tactical responses and a continuous it is easier for them to interpret an action by the protestors, ‘dynamic risk assessment’. This recommendation goes compared to someone who, unprepared, enters into a situa- hand-in-hand with developing a graded tactical capability tion and is able to observe only a short sequence.” to enable a proportionate response (including the use of Establishing such capacity is crucial to an effective force) tied directly to these ‘real-time’ risk assessments. Not approach to public order policing and, in this case, may having a heavy presence of frontline officers lining the even have prevented some of the scenes witnessed at Mill- route does not mean a lack of proactive engagement with bank. the crowd or the absence of additional capability close by The other critical point that we take from this event was ready to be deployed if required. that for all the altercations, protestor aggression and provo- Newspaper reports suggest that there was a cordon out- cation, police actions did not alienate the crowd nor moti- side the Liberal Democrat HQ and other venues, suggesting vate the mass of onlookers to join in with the criminal some information or some anticipation of potential prob- damage of the building. Despite banner headlines to the lems at these locations. But the Daily Mail asked “why contrary, there is substantial evidence of a general norm of police and organisers seemed to have overlooked the possi- non-violence in the crowd. There was a good deal of push- bility that Tory HQ might become the focal point of student ing against police lines, injuries resulting from these anger”. It goes on to argue that officers were also ham- aggressive surges and substantial damage to property. But strung by nervousness, created after G20-related “political both BBC and Channel 4 have footage of protestors backlash”. However, for us what is key here is an apparent involved in the occupation of the roof which shows them failure to properly anticipate the need for, and the need to walking past or ignoring outnumbered officers when there resource, rapid and dynamic police deployments. It evi- were clear opportunities to engage in confrontation. dently took some considerable time for the officers at Mill- There is no evidence of collective acts of violence against bank to be reinforced by colleagues in the appropriate the police that reflect those witnessed at other major riots protective gear. Precisely how long is unclear: The in London, such as the 1990 ‘anti-poll tax riot’ (Stott & Guardian suggests an hour, The Times two hours, with the Drury, 2000). The key incident of a fire extinguisher thrown BBC in between. Whatever the precise details, video footage and student accounts suggest that protestors walked into For all the altercations, protestor an essentially ‘unguarded’ building. While MPS officers aggression and provocation, police actions may well be sensitive to using batons and shields in the post-G20 environment, such sensitivity cannot explain the did not alienate the crowd nor motivate failure to proactively deploy a cordon outside Millbank the mass of onlookers to join in with the Tower, nor the apparently slow nature response subsequent to the initial occupation. criminal damage of the building. In fact, the evidence tends to support the view that the problems escalated because the MPS had not developed a from the roof was an appalling act that posed a threat to life full and proper capability for the dynamic risk assessment among police and protesters. But we should not lose sight and dynamic tactical response that is so central to the of the fact that this was the act of an individual and video HMIC recommendations (HMIC 2009b, p90). footage shows that there was widespread anger and deri- While it is true that student protests in the UK have been sion among the crowd against protestors on the roof follow- muted in the recent past, it is equally true that among those ing this incident. For example, immediately after the who are radicalised, the tactic of ‘occupation’ is central to extinguisher hit the floor, hundreds of those within the student protest identity (see, for instance, the occupations crowd outside Millbank started to scream, boo and chant to in solidarity with Gaza in early 2009). On the day of the those on the roof to “stop throwing shit”. Nowhere were the march, The Guardian reported awareness in the crowd that insights of the Elaborated Social Identity Model more an action was going to take place as early as 1.15pm. As the clearly illustrated than in this example. Here, we can see Evening Standard noted: “The MPS should have been able the differentiated nature of the crowd and the refusal of the to communicate better among its ranks during the demon- majority to be swayed into accepting violent actions they stration, to pass on the information that the mood was perceived to be illegitimate. changing and that more riot police were needed. If journal- From this perspective, there were opportunities for the ists and photographers could detect that parts of the police to engage with the crowd to de-escalate the situation. protest were turning bad, so too could the police.” The Times editorial on November 11 argued that the sort of This press criticism regarding a lack of capability for communications technology that the police have available dynamic risk assessment was reinforced by a quote from to them could not have been deployed because the area was

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Executive feature

so densely crowded. Technology, however, is only part of welcome the HMIC’s rejection of these models. Our view is the package. The issue is exemplified in the use of Twitter that the accusations of ‘irresponsibility’ actually lie with to ask people to come down from the roof. However, what is sections of the popular press for their perpetuation of important here is not the means but the content of the com- these dangerous myths about the crowd, precisely because munication. The tenor of the messages was hardly calcu- such understandings map so readily onto the forceful lated to inspire compliance or interact with the dynamics modes of policing known to precipitate and escalate violent of legitimacy. As the new manual of guidance points out: confrontation (Stott & Reicher, 1998; Hoggett & Stott, 2010). “In cases where the most influential voice is that of a radi- What is widely understood about crowd dynamics in the cal and negative viewpoint, it may be possible to change 21st century is that public order policing should be closely perceptions by introducing strong messages that disprove informed by the circumstances so as to avoid where possi- the radical viewpoint by clearly illustrating the legitimacy ble forceful interventions directed at crowds in general. of police actions.” (ACPO, 2010, p.87). The use of force must be targeted only at those who have The first tweet – subsequently ridiculed on Have I Got brought about an incident and who have adopted aggres- News For You – simply read: “Anyone who engages in crime sive and violent attitudes and behaviours. Force should not will be arrested.” An hour later, a second read: “For the be exercised on a presumption that crowds in themselves safety of themselves and others, we advise anyone on the threaten public order when only a handful of participants roof to come down.” These messages – while innovative – confirm to us that there is need for more training in these Force should not be exercised on a softer skills of communication and dialogue and more presumption that crowds in themselves thought as to how such messages might be communicated, to who, and by whom (ACPO, 2010; Reicher et al 2007; Hol- threaten public order when only a handful gersson & Knuttson, 2010). of participants actually pose a risk. Despite these limitations police should resist the Daily Mail’s call for a return to a hard-line and undifferentiated actually pose a risk. Crucially, the scientific evidence shows response: “Although the Millbank pictures were dramatic, that facilitating the peaceful intentions of crowds, avoiding the trouble was confined to one building. That still doesn’t the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force, and excuse the pathetic police response. For instance, who adopting a ‘graded’ tactical approach are effective (Stott, thought it was a good idea to send a Twitter appeal to 2009). To a large degree the available evidence suggests that demonstrators on the roof of the tower? Who was running the MPS achieved this kind of approach in the policing of the operation – Stephen Fry? When did the iPhone replace the protest in London on November 10. Had it not done so, the loudhailer? Whatever happened to: ‘You are surrounded we could well have been looking at a situation that was by armed b*****s. Come out with your hands up’?” much worse in terms of the scale and intensity of violence and injury. Tentative conclusions There is, thus, room for improvement in terms of develop- The HMIC recommendations are only beginning to feed ing the range of non-confrontational tactical options open into policing practice and there is a very real danger that to the police prior to the deployment of coercive force. knee-jerk reactions to events of this nature could under- Developing techniques of dialogue and communication mine that process. with radicalised groups within the crowd allows police to Any attempt to discredit or dilute the reports emerging move from the reactive controlling of ‘public disorder’ to out of the G20 do not only fly in the face of the scientific the proactive management and maintenance of the dynam- evidence, but also represent a threat to some of the most ics of power and legitimacy during events. Evidence shows progressive developments to the policing of public order in that maintaining the perceived legitimacy of the relation- the UK since the 1980s. Lest it be forgotten, the reports ships between police and crowd participants helps to create emerged out of a G20 policing operation that relied upon and maintain bonds of psychological identification. This the tried and tested tactics of containment and dispersal can promote crowd ‘self-regulation’ (as seen in the fire and these tactics did not prevent disorder. Moreover, to see extinguisher incident) and undermine or marginalise the death of Mr Tomlinson as an aberration in an other- those seeking ‘violent disorder’ both during and beyond the wise successful policing operation is to ignore repeated event itself. concerns by academics and protestors that such an eventu- There can be no sense in which the HMIC recommenda- ality was waiting to happen (Rosie & Gorringe 2009). tions can or should be seen as some panacea that removes Many of the arguments in the popular press condemning the potential for disorder from society as a whole. It is also the MPS as ‘irresponsible’ are underpinned by discredited important to remember that police operate within wider 19th century models of crowd psychology; models roundly socio-political contexts and that context shapes the degree rejected by both the scientific community and the HMIC. to which their actions are seen as legitimate or not We therefore reject as a distortion the descriptions in The (Waddington & King, 2005). Daily Telegraph of a “lone voice” that “crackled through a Where the actions of a government are widely perceived loud hailer” moments before “peaceful protest turned into to be exceeding their mandate, then there can be knock-on a snarling violent attack”. As experts in the field, we also effects for how the police are perceived. At such times, more dispute fundamentally The Times’ assertions that the than ever, a retreat to the discredited escalated force model crowd outside Millbank demonstrated that “there is no of policing would be disastrous. We contend, therefore, that telling what sort of stupid act an individual will engage in the ‘public disorder’ surrounding the student demonstra- surrounded by others doing the same thing”. tion in November was not a failure of the HMIC report but Such accounts, resorting as they do to notions of ‘the a compelling case for its recommendations to be more fully madding crowd’, fly in the face of the evidence. As such, we implemented. PP

November 25, 2010 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM 17 PUBLIC SECTOR Advertisement Feature A Journey to Excellence

Following CSR2010 and the announcement The options of “Insourcing”, “Outsourcing” and that Police Forces across the UK are faced “Partnersourcing” are not mutually exclusive with a renewed challenge; saving at least and one can naturally lead to the next in varying 4% per year over the next 4 years – the formats or sequences, depending on the current inevitable focus has been on the need shape and the ultimate goal. The correct model to maintain the front line and meet the for one Force will be different for another and it primary objective of policing, fighting crime. may be that taking a function back in-house that Emphasis has been placed squarely on value has been transformed by Partnersourcing may for money and achieving an operational be the most cost effective solution. return from any future investments including Information Technology. It is in a Force’s best interest to ensure that its processes are at their most efficient (through Transformation of IT estate costs and capabilities Insource or Partnersource transformation can be achieved via three strategies; strategies) before any thought is given to outsourcing that function. ■ “Insource” transformation, using a mixture of staff and external consultants to transform To make a real difference a Force needs more the current processes and the enterprise than just an IT contractor. It must select an agile, architecture, flexible and culturally thoughtful partner, build ■ “Outsource” the operation to a third party an open and honest working relationship and supplier who will sweat resources to give ensure that key outcomes are delivered. some economies of scale, or In 2005, SunGard Public Sector signed an ■ “Partnersource” where the third party innovative contract with Devon and Cornwall supplier takes operational responsibility for Constabulary (DCC). Five years on, the contract IT operations but works in partnership with has been hailed a great success, one that has the force to deliver efficiencies and benefits enabled DCC to focus on its core business over an agreed period. and one which delivers transparent, fixed and predictable costs. “Insource” transformation puts a great deal of pressure on internal capabilities making delivery SunGard’s focus continues to be on business difficult and “Outsourcing” an inefficient IT change and business process improvement operation only delivers modest economies. through the provision of highly experienced and “Partnersourcing”, however, puts the IT dedicated consultancy teams fully integrated estate into the hands of skilled professionals into the programme. These teams ensure that and establishes a working transformational programmes are business and benefits driven partnership that delivers significant throughout the term. improvement over a set timetable. It is this transformation that has formed the basis The outsourcing of IT is not new; Local of SunGard’s approach to innovation and change Government has been doing it successfully for in IT service development. In addition, SunGard many years. However it is rare in the Police has committed to share efficiency savings with Service and, with the exception of some niche the Force over the length of the contract and services, the outsourcing of the whole IT has completed a number of projects which have function has only been implemented in a handful enabled the Force to recognise significant cost of forces. savings. Public Sector

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Voice of Authority

Miranda Carruthers-Watt, Chief Executive of Lancashire Police Authority, considers the vital, but often invisible, layers of the front line. A fallacy of terminology

n true Jane Austen fashion, it is a truth ten years. We expect that many of its The authority’s role is to ensure the universally acknowledged that protecting principles will look the same. We are, and delivery of an effective and efficient police frontline policing from budget reductions expect to remain, a high performing force. force, but ‘effective and efficient’ doesn’t at a time of ever-decreasing spend must be We have good detection rates, based on necessarily mean ‘cheapest’. a good thing. However, there is something detecting real crime. We have trained and We clearly must take a hard look at back Iless than universal agreement on what that experienced specialists enabling the office staff. Some of them like, HR, finance, front line actually includes. constabulary to tackle some of our special payroll and ICT, lend themselves to joint The populist viewpoint seems to indicate challenges and to support our colleagues in working with other forces and with shared that ‘front line’ means a walking, talking other forces. services in local authorities. Then there are uniform, preferably at the end of every We welcome national initiatives which will other areas referred to as back office for street. In reality, these officers, whose help us to work better, cheaper and faster, which we really need another name. contribution should never be such as the recently announced National What decisions do authorities take when underestimated, are the tip of the iceberg. Police Air Service. The authority will be faced with local clamour for the retention of Frontline officers respond to incidents, work driving collaboration and joint working with visible, well-liked neighbourhood officers, undercover, investigate crime, protect other parts of policing UK – not just in real against the retention of invisible, financial vulnerable people and seek out organised back office functions like the 14-force investigators who target and disrupt criminal gangs – they include a veritable forensic procurement agreement and our organised crime groups? Do we decide to cut plethora of people whose very job it is to own regional procurement hub, but also surveillance teams and those working remain unseen. Policing and keeping people operationally around a range of joint undercover to lance the boil of open drug safe without them would be untenable. regional and national options. What is clear markets, or close a Victorian police station In what may be another inconvenient fact, is that this must be done against a used mainly for briefing and tasking? What but in order to do their job, these officers background of reduction in resources. has priority – work to prevent the sexual need support, often from staff with specialist The authority, in deciding what is effective exploitation of children or tackling domestic training – but at what point does that and efficient will, like all its public sector violence? support become a ‘back office’ function, partners, have difficult decisions to make. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary deemed expendable by those who know not Sometimes, this means choosing between (HMIC) has set out its view of the inspection what they do? those things which the media tell us the process and the challenges facing police In Lancashire, a clear definition helps the public want and those things which, authorities. It has said that it will maintain police authority and the constabulary however secret and hidden they must an overview of the effectiveness of police identify and scrutinise the work of the wide remain, are critical to providing effective authorities in taking difficult decisions. As variety of frontline officers to ensure responses to the increasingly sophisticated chief executive, I am fortunate that the performance outcomes continue to improve. world of the career criminal. members of Lancashire Police Authority – Lancashire is a large, diverse and complex We know how important the front line is, both elected and independent – clearly see county. From a policing perspective it could but in setting the strategic direction for their role as determining what direction the certainly not be described as a ‘typical’ shire policing in the county and planning for the police take and stepping up to take hard county. As well as whippets, flat caps and first of the two remaining budgets the decisions. When these decisions need to be allotments, we have one of the largest calls authority must set, we also need to consider taken, members will not be using globalised in the country on the Counter-Terrorism those services which allow the front line to terminology like “front line” and “back hub, a homicide rate that would not look out operate. office”. They will make their decisions of place in Midsummer, as well as road, rail carefully, alongside the chief constable, to set and sea networks that put us at the heart of policing priorities mindful of the threat, risk issues around travelling criminality. We have and harm that the county faces. They close neighbours who are net exporters of understand that the scale of the financial criminality – both in its commission and its position requires a full scale review of the aftermath in prisons – when intelligence-led constabulary and its functions. But they also policing proves its mettle. understand that they are custodians who The authority has been working even more must focus on the need to preserve the closely with the constabulary since the performance and the outcomes to which financial crisis occurred, to make sure we every member of the constabulary, both have a realistic vision for what policing in police officers and police staff, has Lancashire will look like over the next five to Miranda Carruthers-Watt – preserving the front line. contributed. PP

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Powerful partnerships

The Leading Powerful Partnerships programme tackled major issues of importance to leaders of public sector organisations. In this second in a series of essays, participants were given the task of answering a vital question in anticipation of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Chief Supt Brian Kelly, Humberside Police. How do you sustain

frontline services with Chief Supt Ian Pilling, Merseyside 15-20 per cent budget cuts? Police.

ith the continued ramifications of the The public services represented included the following: recent global economic crisis, public serv- • Police service ice provision within the UK has never • Prison service Chief Supt faced such challenges. The coalition gov- • Fire service Nicholas Baker, ernment has been clear that the entire • Local authority Staffordshire Police. publicW sector will face significant budget reductions. This is • Home Office coupled with a distinct change in public scrutiny and dis- • Voluntary sector quiet into the pay and conditions of public service staff. • Probation service Media headlines indicate ‘cataclysmic’ job losses. • Health service These conditions set immense challenges for the entire Through this group, we sought to define a collective iden- leadership of the public services. It has to consider the tification of ‘frontline service’. political requirement of continued service delivery to a The syndicate recognises that the limitations of available sceptical public, by a vulnerable workforce. research time has impacted on the depth and detail of the Tracy Harsley, While some may argue that public service provision may response. It also recognises that the data provided is basic Head of Citysafe, have been effective in service delivery, considering the and does not include any form of customer/community Hull City Council. investment it has received for the past 13 years it has been consultation. The syndicate strongly feels that the research far from efficient. does provide a platform for discussion. Traditional economic management may have been tested The syndicate, in answering its question, has considered by efficiency requirements but its usual methodology was its findings against the wider impact of the following; to save to reinvest in its current structures. • Public confidence It is recognised now, however, that public service leader- • Community engagement and cohesion ship finds itself in completely new territory, one that will • Protected characteristic groups require radical thinking. • Cultural change Supt Julian This syndicate of the Leading Powerful Partnerships’ • Performance Knight, Gwent task has been to respond to the following strategic question: • The value and ethics of the public services. Police. ‘How do you sustain frontline services with 15-20 per cent budget cuts?’ Literature review As a syndicate, while we accepted this as being a challeng- This literature review has attempted to look at a range of ing concept, we felt that we needed a more positive and considerations from both public and private sector posi- focused response and have therefore interpreted our ques- tions to assist in understanding the challenges of the next tion as: ‘How do you sustain frontline services with 80 per era in delivering public services. cent of the current budget levels?’ The various papers provide insight and models to help While appearing subtle, it does provide a refocus in how shape a process of sustaining frontline services in a reduc- Chief Supt Helen we articulate the challenge. ing resource environment. Some seek to focus on cost reduc- Jebb, For the research, the syndicate also sought to define the tion while others challenge the premise of merely sharing Nottinghamshire delivery organisations of ‘frontline service’ as those agen- services without consultation with customers and a full Police. cies present on our Independent Command Course. While understanding of demand and flow. In all cases, there is a not totally representative of all possible public services clear desire to improve both quality and efficiency of serv- there was a significant range and variance of role which ice while gaining value for money. The diverse approaches provided a reliable quorum for research and analysis. merely emphasise the complexity of the problem and the

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Powerful partnerships

range of often opposed solutions that have been attempted. made continuous reference to the fact that the days of big KPMG: Cost Reduction – Protecting your margins in a government were over and that top-down control had failed. turbulent economic environment (Feb 2009). There is a bold move to make services local and to remove This paper highlights that initiatives to rapidly reduce the constraints from agencies to allow them to deliver, with costs, particularly operating expenses, are a priority for the immediate removal of performance regimes and top- many organisations today, despite the structural issues that down targets and indicators. rapid reductions may cause in the medium to long-term. In the short term, these rapid cost-reduction measures impact Method operationally and may hamper service delivery and quality. The group decided that in order to produce a piece of qual- The reality of the current environment means that the ity research, it would be beneficial to seek the views of a option to invest in process improvements to reduce costs wider group on the key issues. As outlined in the introduc- may not be available. Organisations need to balance short- tion, there were several key issues to be developed: term concerns against long-term objectives to demonstrate • What services constitute front line? that they can be self sufficient and deliver ‘value for money’. • Which services could be cut? KPMG: Adapt, Survive and Thrive in Turbulent Times • What services should be kept? – The Aero Space and Defence Industry’s Response to • Where could collaboration take place? the Economic Down Turn (April 2009). The initial views of the group were that the remaining This paper outlines how companies should develop a bal- course members should be the research cohort as they were anced approach to financial and operational strategies that readily available and accessible. The aim was to collate the enable them to “prepare for the best – plan for the worst”. views of as many of this group as possible on each of the Properly designed and implemented, these strategies can issues mentioned above and analyse the results. help them adapt, survive and thrive in today’s turbulent The potential methods available for this research were times, utilising restructuring, cost optimisation, new sup- discussed by the group. The primary available options plier agreements, entering new or complementary markets, included focus groups, questionnaire or interview. As programme management and preparation for less funding. already stated, the group was keen to consult with as many Professor John Seddon: Shared Services: A Commen- individuals as possible in order that the analysis could be tary on the CIPFA/PWC report (June 2008). as meaningful as possible. Given the likely sample size and Seddon claims that sharing services is a flawed ideology. It the timescales available, it was considered that any face-to- is something that is not easily undone and that mistakes create costs over the long term. We already have more In all cases, there is a clear desire to examples of folly than improvement, which result in worse improve both quality and efficiency of public services and higher costs. He challenges the concept of front and back office and the efficiencies built into this service while gaining value for money. separation of service in which solutions embed waste. Alex Sotiropoulos: Making Time: Freeing Up Frontline face interactions would not be possible and a structured Policing (2008). questionnaire was considered to be the most appropriate The report explores the various underlying social, political method of research. The initial draft of this document was and organisational currents that have driven police reform then designed by the group to cover the necessary points, over the past decade. Optimisation of time has itself been a which will be discussed later. driver of change, supported by trends in centralisation, One significant issue encountered was that the sample rationalisation, collaboration in administration, perform- size for police officers was significantly larger than that for ance management and reform of police powers, asset partners, due to the make-up of the course. In order to bal- renewal, technology and the need to deliver more for less. ance this, representatives from other agencies were specifi- In assessing how forces have embraced new approaches to cally approached in order to provide a more service delivery, directed at increasing the effectiveness and proportionately representative group. efficiency of frontline policing, the document has created a The questionnaire design produced certain challenges. As catalogue of best practice in ‘making time’. the intention was to leave the questionnaire to be com- Colin Barrow, Stephen Greenhalgh and Edward Lis- pleted unsupervised, it was vital that it should be made as ter: A Magna Carta for Localism – Three Practical clear as possible as to what was required. Following discus- Steps to make localism real (Mar 2010). sions between the groups, a simple matrix was devised This paper highlights that the UK is one of the most cen- which would allow a yes/no response to a list of services tralised states in the developed world. Post-devolution cen- under the four categories outlined above. Prior to distribut- tral government still accounts for nearly 70 per cent of ing the questionnaire, it was trialled on a small sample spending in the UK. The authors claim that when two or group who were asked for feedback. This resulted in some more public authorities both have responsibility for the minor redesign to provide some additional clarity. It was same issue, inefficiency is the result. Each consults the also proved that the questionnaire could be completed prop- other about its strategic and tactical decisions. Each needs erly in less than five minutes. layers of managers to handle budgets, governance and pol- In order to encourage completion, a group member spoke icy. This, it is claimed, detracts from frontline work. with the rest of the course collectively to encourage partici- The Coalition: Our programme for government – Free- pation. During this presentation, the key points were dom, Fairness and Responsibility (May 2010). explained, with an emphasis on the meaning of each ques- In the first few weeks following the election of the new gov- tion to alleviate any confusion. It was also clarified that the ernment in 2010, a document was produced that set out the response was to be from the perspective of the respondent’s programme for partnership government. The document organisation.

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Powerful partnerships

In planning the research, consideration was given to the finance, human resources and IT as non front line. important issue of ethics. The first point discussed was The next question to be considered was what would be cut that of protecting the identity of the research subject. It or reduced. Not surprisingly, perhaps, there was correla- was therefore decided that only the organisation repre- tion between what wasn’t seen as a frontline service and sented by the individual would be asked for, rather than the what should be cut in size. For police officers, the most name. Even with this safeguard, it was realised that some prevalent services for cuts were procurement, finance, agencies would only have one representative and care human resources, fleet management, legal support, crime would have to be taken in the representation of the data to prevention, health education and youth services. Over 70 deal with this properly. In particular, the respondent groups per cent of respondents considered that these services would be referred to simply as ‘police’ and ‘non-police’ to should be cut. prevent any identification of individual responses. The data for non-police agencies in response to this ques- Other ethical issues considered were those of privacy; tion shows some similarities and there is broad agreement safeguarding of data. To deal with this issue, a system was that services such as IT, procurement, finance, human introduced whereby completed questionnaires were num- resources, fleet management and legal services, should be bered and secured. The de-personalised, raw data, was cut. However, there is less support for cutting youth serv- taken from them at an early stage and only this data was ices, with most respondents opposed to any cuts, and much used in this dissertation. The completed questionnaires less support for cutting crime prevention and health educa- were then destroyed as confidential waste. tion. Overall, police officers were willing to cut 11 of the 18 The feedback ratios for the questionnaire were better categories of service mentioned and non-police officers than expected with 17 out of 20 police officers and eight out eight of the categories. of eight non-police officers responding. The response rate Turning to the question of what to keep, there was again to questions was also good with over 95 per cent of the ques- the expected correlation between services defined as front tions answered. line and those which should be kept. Consideration was given to the issues of non-respondents For the police respondents, there was support of over 90 and whether anyone who chose not to respond was likely to per cent to retain contact centre and control rooms, emer- have particular views which could cause mis-representa- gency response and non-emergency response, and very tion of the data. It was considered that this would be strong support to also retain dealing with offenders, visible unlikely and indeed, the high return rate very much patrol and response to anti-social behaviour. removed this risk. There was much less support for health education, youth services and supporting older people. Interestingly, Findings although not regarded as front line and susceptibility to This section of the report will consider the findings from cuts, departments such as finance, human resources, pro- the research section. Each of the original four questions curement and IT were supported for retention by most will be considered in turn. police officers. With regard to the definition of frontline services, per- The responses from non-police officers to this question haps not surprisingly the police respondents considered showed some differences and there was some repeat of the emergency response as the most relevant service, with 100 patterns in the previous question. Contact centres and per cent of respondents considering that this was the case. emergency response were seen as being most important for This was followed by contact centre/control room and retention as with the police respondents. However, the sup- major incident response, which 82 per cent considered a port departments, such as finance, human resources, pro- frontline service. curement and IT, which the police group had preferred to Services least considered to be front line by the police offi- retain, were favoured for removal. As with the previous cer respondents were procurement and finance, with no question, the key difference between the police and non- respondents considering them front line, and human police response was the latter groups wish to retain health resources and IT, with less than ten per cent of respondents education, youth services and supporting older people. considering them to be front line. The non-police responses Overall, the police group favoured keeping 14 of the 18 proved to be very similar in identifying the services meet- services and non-police 13. ing the front line definition. As with police officers, the con- Finally, on the question of collaboration, the police group tact centre and emergency response scored the highest, were most strongly in favour of collaborating on control with 88 per cent and 100 per cent respectively considering rooms, dealing with vulnerable people and offenders, major these areas as front line services. incident response and the support departments such as IT, However, there were some interesting findings in some procurement, fleet services and legal. There was reduced other services which were considered front line by a large support for collaboration in emergency response and proportion of non-police staff compared to police officers. neighbourhood patrol, but it is of note that in every service For example, over 87 per cent of non-police respondents area, there was support for collaboration. considered youth services, supporting older people and With regard to the non-police group, there was again a neighbourhood management as frontline services. In each vote in favour of collaboration for every service area and to of these categories, the police officers were much less likely a more overwhelming extent than with the police group. In to see these services as front line. Only 53 per cent saw every single service area, over 80 per cent of respondents neighbourhood management as front line and less than 30 were in favour of collaboration. per cent saw youth services and supporting old people as front line. Conclusion There were also similarities in defining the non-frontline The literature review brought out several key points functions, with over 88 per cent identifying procurement, regarding the cuts to public services which were reflected

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Powerful partnerships

in the results from the survey. of big government were over and that top-down control had The KPMG Cost-reduction paper, Protecting your margins failed. There is a bold move to make services local and to in a turbulent economic environment (Feb 2009), for example, remove the constraints from agencies to allow them to talks about an inclination of the public sector in general to deliver with the immediate removal of performance be reluctant to address the real issues when considering regimes and top-down targets and indicators. However, cost reduction. When the all-important question was asked whether or not this provides the necessary incentive to regarding what services would be cut completely, the police make significant savings through collaboration remains to group identified only four out of 18 services which could be be seen. done away, with and the non-police group just five services. One of the primary difficulties faced by the public sector There was a much greater wish to collaborate services, is that these are unusual, perhaps unique, times and there rather than simply do away with them, but the real ques- is no ‘manual of instructions’ to follow and little mature tion here is once the capital costs of such a move have been best practice. It is important, however, that we still attempt considered, will this produce savings which are radical to learn where we can and Alex Sotiropoulos – in Making enough? Time: Freeing Up Frontline Policing. (2008) – provides some This is precisely the point made by Professor John Sed- useful guidance. The report explores the various underly- don in Shared Services: A Commentary on the CIPFA/PWC ing social, political and organisational currents that have report (June 2008). Mr Seddon claims that sharing services driven police reform over the past decade. Optimisation of is a flawed ideology and that it is something that is not eas- time as itself has been a driver of change supported by ily undone – and that mistakes create costs over the long trends in centralisation, rationalisation, collaboration in term. administration, performance management, reform of In providing something of a counter-view, it is useful to police powers, asset renewal, technology and the need to consider the different views in the survey regarding provi- deliver more for less. In assessing how forces have sion such as youth services, crime prevention and care for embraced new approaches to service delivery, directed at older people. These services tended to be dismissed by increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of frontline police officers but supported by non-police officers, which policing, the document has created a catalogue of best prac- perhaps reflects current service provision and the way in tice in ‘making time’. which it is silo-based. This is subject to comment by Colin It is perhaps appropriate that we look to the KPMG paper, Barrow, Stephen Greenhalgh and Edward Lister in A Adapt, Survive and Thrive in Turbulent Times – The Aero Magna Carta for Localism – Three Practical Steps to make Space and Defence Industry’s Response to the Economic localism real (Mar 2010). Down Turn (April 2009), which outlines how companies The authors claim that when two or more public authori- should develop a balanced approach to financial and opera- ties both have responsibility for the same issue, ineffi- tional strategies that enable them to “prepare for the best – ciency is the result. Each consults the other about its plan for the worst. A mantra we may have to come to accept strategic and tactical decisions. Each needs layers of man- for some years to come. agers to handle budgets, governance and policy. This, it is Turning to the recommendations, it must be recognised claimed, detracts from frontline work and recognises that that, although this has been an enlightening process, it rep- more joined-up service provision at local level can bring resents a restricted snapshot and has focussed on the views benefits if it is properly considered. of public sector employees. In properly defining what con- Of course, any collaboration or partnership working in stitutes frontline services, this must surely be a question future may be made more challenging by the removal of for the public to answer and an urgent debate is required. partnership frameworks. The Coalition: our programme for A second recommendation is that agencies and the public government – Freedom, Fairness and Responsibility (May need to fully understand the level of cuts which are likely, 2010) makes continuous reference to the fact that the days and the potential impact. Again, the view of the public should be key in deciding which services should be retained, cut or reduced, and the very difficult, but real, choices which exist must be expressed clearly. We need to be honest about the choices. Finally, we need to completely overhaul our views on what collaboration may mean. There is still a feeling among some that sharing a helicopter or finance department will solve the issues. The only way in which collaboration can resolve the issues is to completely alter our mindset about the way public services are delivered and that there may be no room in the future for public services operating under separate structures. A draft operating model (left) takes you through a series of required stages to allow organisations to be prepared and capable of sharing services and con- tributing effectively to a collaboration within and across sectors. Above all else, the syndicate recommends the philosophy in line with the re-interpretation of the original question into a more positive context to reflect the opportunities rather than just the threats. Public services need to funda- mentally change their approach to service delivery. PP

24 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM November 25, 2010 p25_PP251110:Layout 1 23/11/10 19:14 Page 25

Technology

BTP deploys new covert intelligence software

British Transport Police (BTP) has awarded a effectively manage confidential informants, Grewcock, explained: “By incorporating ABM’s five-year contract for abmpegasus™ Source delivering better value for the force. Source Management module into the force’s Management, a covert human intelligence Following formal training in December, the existing infrastructure, it will assist the BTP in source (CHIS) management solution from Source Management implementation is maximising accountability whilst enhancing the criminal intelligence, investigation and criminal expected to follow in the new year. productivity of each source. justice software solutions specialist, ABM. BTP’s 2,835 police officers and 1,455 support “The module also offers enhanced profiling to Already used by 80 per cent of the UK’s staff provide a service to rail operators, their match CHIS to problem areas and even help police services, the software offers the next- staff and passengers across the country. improve financial monitoring and control of generation of covert policing technology to ABM’s professional services director, Sue payments and rewards to informants.” Dorset rolls out mobile technology on the beat

orset Police has begun the roll-out of 400 Greater Manchester Police has just issued 67 BlackBerry BlackBerry smartphones, with 50 of the devices to its neighbourhood policing teams across Wigan devices being issued to police officers and borough. police community support officers (PCSOs) in Inspector Anne Scott of the Hindley neighbourhood an initial pilot. policing team said: “We always try to use technology if it DThe mobile technology will allow officers to search police improves the service we give the public and these handsets systems for information about a person, vehicle or enable us to perform certain duties more quickly. This location, as well as information on incidents and crimes. gives us extra time to carry out high-profile patrols to The BlackBerrys also enable them to manage their reassure communities and deter criminals. In addition, the administration including emails and diary appointments. handsets came at no cost to us as they were provided by the Chief Superintendent David Griffith of Dorset Police, NPIA funding. This should reassure the public that we are said: “It is well documented that the public expect to see not spending money unnecessarily in these difficult times.” police officers and PCSOs patrolling the streets. If we can The funding for mobile technology forms part of the increase the time they have to do this by issuing them with broader programme of the NPIA’s work to bring together these devices, as well as giving them access to useful police IT, which will better support the development and information, it can only benefit the communities they serve. use of information systems in policing and improvements “While Dorset is not the largest county, it encompasses in service for frontline officers and citizens. large rural areas and busy towns and, as a result, our Research in Motion (RIM) claims its BlackBerry officers spend a lot of time travelling or going back to smartphone devices have collectively saved UK police stations to access police systems, when the purpose of forces £112 million. The company, which has worked with Chief Supt David their role is to be out on the streets making Dorset safer British forces for the past four years, claims the savings Griffith – can only and feel safer. In short, these devices will ensure that our have been made by police officers using BlackBerrys and a benefit the officers are as effective and efficient as possible.” variety of bespoke apps that “enable them to improve communities. Funding for the BlackBerrys and the applications came efficiency, from accessing and updating records on the from a National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) grant move to taking photos as an instant record of a crime in December 2009. The only investment Dorset Police has scene or suspect”. One in six officers in the UK now carries made is to provide staff to prepare the BlackBerrys for use a BlackBerry on the beat. and train officers to use them. Chief Supt Griffith added: “Throughout any spending South Yorkshire Police’s BlackBerry devices within the organisation. cuts past or future, we are committed to keeping officers on smartphone deployment programme Sergeant Simon Davies, project the streets to provide a first-class service to our has been named as a finalist in the manager at South Yorkshire Police, communities – this technology will help us to do that.” 2010 e-Government National Awards. estimates there will be 2,500 to 3,000 “We have been very lucky to get some funding from the South Yorkshire has been nominated in BlackBerry devices across the force NPIA to pilot over 400 Blackberrys on the streets of Dorset the ‘Innovation in strategy at a local when the deployment is complete. and these will be a great benefit to our officers.” level’ category. The force is also pioneering the use The funding is part of the Government’s multi-million The force began deploying the of two ‘on the beat’ apps for the pound investment announced in May 2008 to put thousands devices among its 400-strong senior smartphone – ID a Person and ID a of mobile devices in the hands of police to help reduce management team last year. It has now Vehicle, giving police officers an paperwork and give officers on-the-spot access to started a full-scale frontline deployment immediate history of a vehicle or information when on patrol. The NPIA has been managing to officers on the beat and has 1,400 person via their smartphone. the distribution of funds. PP

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Bright ideas

Residents issued with scratch and sniff cannabis cards Drugs detection dogs could become a thing of the past following a police A spokesperson said: “Citizens must be alerted to the dangers they initiative that gives residents the chance to sniff out substances themselves. face as a result of these plantations and if they become aware of suspect Households in the Netherlands are being handed special ‘scratch and situations they must report them.” sniff’ cannabis cards to help them recognise the smell of drugs which The special card features the message ‘assist in combating cannabis could be being grown by their neighbours. plantations’ and when scratched, it gives off a scent. It also includes a While Dutch authorities turn a blind eye to people growing up to five telephone number for the police. marijuana plants for their personal use, they want to crack down on the Dutch authorities claim the plantations are a fire hazard because of the 40,000 bulk plantations they believe to be hidden away in attics, cables and lamps that are needed to maintain a cultivation temperature of apartments and warehouses. nearly 30C. Promoting safety of vulnerable children

iltshire Police has been “This initiative helps highlight the great “The opportunity to work in partnership on helping to drive a special work being done by police, children’s this pilot project with our colleagues from initiative to promote the services and the youth offending team on a the police and other agencies, including the safety and well-being of daily basis to help keep children safe, children services north locality team to youngsters during the address any problems or issues at as early a make a positive early intervention, is very winterW months. The Community Safety stage as possible and also remind parents of exciting. Partnership in Swindon spearheaded the their responsibilities.” “We hope to engage with young people who scheme and offered advice and support to The parents and guardians of children who are not currently known to our agencies so children and young people out on the streets were found out late at night and identified as that we can work with them and their late at night and in a vulnerable position. vulnerable were visited, where possible, by a families to agree a positive support plan in Wiltshire Police officers patrolled the streets range of professional staff from different order to prevent any risks becoming in the north of the town on Bonfire Night agencies offering support depending on their unmanageable. and young people out late and identified as particular needs. “These plans could consist of very simple being at risk, unsafe or vulnerable, were These include members of the Youth ‘sign posting’, to comprehensive multi- taken to a local place of safety. Offending Team (YOT), parenting support agency plans in cooperation with the young Peter Chamberlain, north sector inspector, staff, youth services, people who can offer person and their family, with the objective of said: “We are looking to build on the success specialist advice on drugs and alcohol and a making a positive difference.” from the first evening we ran this initiative nurse. Information about local education and [in August] where we saw positive David Renard, lead member for children’s leisure opportunities was also provided by engagement from young people. services at Swindon Borough Council, said: staff from Connexions and leisure services.

Motorbike amnesty helps reduce anti-social behaviour Nuisance motorcycle and quad bike owners ensure that this early success can be built upon were targeted by South Wales Police in a further and a number of enforcement and special scheme that led to a 60 per cent awareness-raising tactics will continue.” reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB). The scheme saw eight bikes traded-in during South Wales Police and Communities First in the week-long amnesty, with the community Trowbridge teamed up with the local Halfords coming together to tackle a long-term Police store to tackle the problem of ‘mini-motorcycle’ and Communities Together (PACT) priority. annoyance and ASB during August and It resulted in the number of calls made to September this year – and the results showed a police about motorcycle annoyance reduced huge reduction in the problem. by 60 per cent – compared to the same period The partnership project involved Halfords in 2009 – with glowing feedbacks from the local giving scooter owners the option to trade in community. their bikes for a cycle, including accessories “The results to date show the difference that worth up to £250. partnership working can make to the quality of PC Leane Caddick, neighbourhood beat life of local residents. It also represents team manager, said: “The amnesty has made a work between our neighbourhood significant impact on the problem of management partners and the business world, motorcycle annoyance, but we are not with help from our local Halfords store,” added complacent. Operations will be ongoing to Pedal power – PCSO Barry Simpson. Ms Caddick.

26 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM November 25, 2010 p26-27_PP251110:Layout 1 23/11/10 19:12 Page 27

Bright ideas

Avatar officers police anti-bullying march

Avatar police officers from the Metropolitan The march culminated at the Downing Street Police Service’s (MPS) e-crime unit policed the website where the marchers’ message was world’s first virtual march as part of an initiative formally presented to Number 10. to mark Anti-Bullying week. Charlie McMurdie, head of the Police Central The scheme, launched on November 15, saw e-Crime Unit (PCeU), said: “The MPS is tens of thousands of children, teachers and committed to supporting children and teachers celebrities – each with their own avatar – march in the prevention of bullying. Most schools in across the screens of more than 50 websites, London have an assigned safer schools officer the classroom or playground. New technology carrying a petition asking the Government for whose job includes helping teachers prevent can involve new risks if used to embarrass, help to protect children from bullying, violence bullying in their schools. harass or threaten peers through cyber-bullying, and harassment. “However, bullying does not just happen in Internet harassment and Internet bullying.” Leicestershire pilot for ‘alcohol-awareness’

runken troublemakers who would normally searching for sustainable solutions to the abuse of alcohol face on-the-spot fines will be offered alcohol- and its consequences.” awareness classes as part of a new pilot scheme The scheme is part of a joint strategy to tackle health and in Leicester. Currently, the police can hand out social problems of alcohol abuse and reduce the potential £80 fines to people for low-level anti-social for alcohol-fuelled problems in the city, particularly during Dbehaviour, but under the new scheme, people will be the night. offered the chance to avoid a fine by taking part in sessions The sessions cover topics such as how alcohol affects the highlighting the dangers of excessive alcohol use. body and mind and common myths around alcohol and The pilot scheme is similar to that already used by police information on alcohol units. Cllr Wayne Naylor to tackle drivers exceeding the speed limit. Participants will also explore their own drinking – strengthens our The initiative is being run by the Safer Leicester behaviour and learn how to address the problems response in dealing Partnership, in collaboration with Leicestershire associated with their alcohol use. with the potential Constabulary, Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust Councillor Wayne Naylor, the city’s cabinet member for harm alcohol misuse and NHS Leicester City, and came into effect on (Monday) community safety, said: “I welcome this new initiative, causes. November 22. which helps strengthen our response in dealing with the Superintendent Phil Whiteley, the operational potential harm alcohol misuse causes to the city’s night- commander for Leicester, said: “Our sole intention is to time economy. ensure Leicester is a vibrant, safe place to enjoy a night “We want to ensure that citizens of Leicester who choose out. As a partnership, we will continue to deal robustly to drink alcohol can enjoy doing so safely and responsibly, with those who choose to commit criminal acts under the as part of a confident, vibrant, diverse and prosperous city. influence of alcohol. This scheme will help us achieve that aim.” “However, we also recognise that there are some who Every year more than 1,000 fixed-penalty notices are would benefit from a scheme such as this with the result issued for alcohol-related offences in the city, and current that fewer people abuse alcohol and commit alcohol-related figures show that one in five people across Leicestershire offences. This scheme demonstrates the Safer Leicester drink to harmful levels, with alcohol-related crime Partnership’s commitment to problem-solving and accounting for 65 per cent of crime in the city. Webchat engages public with concerns over drug abuse Residents across Bradford were given the Mr Minton said: “As a partnership, we are people in the community, we hope to put chance to join an hour-long webchat about dedicated to tackling drugs in Bradford and more pressure on those who pedal misery on drugs and their effects in a special this was a great opportunity to engage with our streets.” collaboration between police and the the public about matters which concern He added that drugs had a direct link to council. them the most. We are always looking at new crime and anti-social behaviour. Residents West Yorkshire Police, Bradford ways to deliver advice and information who logged on were told how local Metropolitan District Council and health around drugs and their consequences. This authorities are addressing the issue. professionals went online on November 18 to is another way for us to do that. “We welcomed this opportunity to discuss answer questions from the public as part of “The panel consisted of experts that work how we tackle drugs in the district,” said Tackling Drugs Week. in different arenas to address drugs Hugh Bryson of Young Person’s Drug and Neighbourhood policing team inspector, problems in the district. Any question could Alcohol Service. “Our service aims to Darren Minton of Bradford South Police, therefore be answered by the person with the prevent drug misuse by going out into the joined the panel which offered advice and appropriate knowledge and with the relevant community and educating young people information on the topic. advice. By informing and empowering about the risks and harmful consequences.” PP

November 25, 2010 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM 27 p28-29_PP251110:IPJ masthead 23/11/10 18:14 Page 28

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28 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM November 25, 2010 p28-29_PP251110:IPJ masthead 23/11/10 18:15 Page 29

Recruitment & Training

Walker Morris wins the Home Office alcohol intensive

Paddy Whur – delighted support training programme to win contract.

awyers at Walker Morris have been identified high-risk licensed premises. They contract and the overall aim is to provide successful in winning the Home will provide mentoring of local officers in support to local areas in tackling alcohol- Office contract to conduct a national undertaking any necessary enforcement related crime and disorder. programme of intensive training action during premises inspections. This “We have enjoyed a strong working relating to tackling alcohol-related work will be undertaken on a national basis. relationship with the Home Office over the Lcrime, disorder and public nuisance. There will also be sessions for, and advice last two years, being short-listed for the ‘best The events will allow for the provision of to, local residents and community groups example of collaborative working with the expert advice and support tailored to empowering them to respond to local Home Office’ in the Supplier Value and individual Community Safety Partnerships licensing problems and effectively police Innovation Awards Programme 2010. in tackling alcohol-related crime and their own communities and the sharing of “We will continue to carry out this training disorder, with a focus on providing training good practice with input, where necessary, function in the partnership spirit of the seminars on the practical use of key from organisations such as Purple Flag, Best Licensing Act.” enforcement tools and powers and to include Bar None (BBN), Business Improvement any new licensing legislation or policy. Districts (BIDs), Proof of Age Standards I Community Safety Partnerships which are Walker Morris will also provide direct Scheme and Pubwatch. interested in hosting one of the events are support and mentoring of local enforcement Paddy Whur, Partner at Walker Morris, encouraged to contact Paddy Whur at officers during ‘live’ inspections of said: “We are delighted to have won this [email protected]

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November 25, 2010 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM 29 p30_PP251110:PP_1 23/11/10 20:53 Page 30

STAFF OFFICER STITCHLEY WRITES

That’s what I call mutual aid

The banter has been hot with football this week, the Premiership rivalry is Novembergetting 25 fiercer and even the Head of Performance Review, who is a Bolton fan, had the temer- ity to suggest his team will qualify for Europe. He’s so confident he has even booked leave to attend the matches at the end of the season, at the end of April.

The force’s Fed chairman, meanwhile, couldn’t help but regale us all with the compari- son with the likelihood of officers going on strike with the fact that referees and lines- men in Scotland are about to throw down their whistles and flags in protest. He reckoned postponement of an old firm derby is much more controversial, and danger- ous, than the police withdrawing labour. We’ll only go to prison but God forbid the Celtic fans getting hold of a ref in Tesco on a Saturday afternoon when they should have been playing Rangers at home.

The prospect has led to suggestions that the Scottish FA will draft in refs from overseas to officiate, let them try that with policing said the Fed!

He is already suggesting a date be set for protests next year. The spring is likely to see reviews finalised that will see pay and conditions radically altered if the government gets its way – the diary is already crammed.

As if it wasn’t difficult enough to plan a holiday next Easter, those who book ahead have already stuck their dots on the wall-planner, William and Kate have now made it almost impossible.

HR has sent an email flagging April as a problem as suddenly everyone is applying to take off the last week of April. We couldn’t understand why until the Prime Minister said there ought to be a bank holiday for the Royal Wedding and it wasn’t difficult to see that tag- ging three days leave between that and Easter will give you a ten day break.

Getting people to come to work is always a problem, ensuring the work when they’re here is another. So many rest rooms across the force have now got secret TVs that getting people out of stations when on nights will be a major problem as the Ashes start in Australia.

As we are watching what is going on the other side of the planet, there is some relief that the usual jaunt to Europe and employment in bars in UK cities has not been closed by immigra- tions caps.

The Home Office’s plans will be easy to get round as bars in Earls Court twin with those in WongaWonga and transfer their staff to the UK. Together with plumbers from Poland, bankers and consultants working for the Home Office, they are probably the only ones gaining employment with incomes over £40,000 these days.

Perhaps, when we all go on strike next year, we can make it at the end of April and the Gov- ernment can do like the refs in Scotland; transfer in replacements from another country. That’ll test the new immigration policy.

Yours

Stitch

30 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM November 25, 2010 p31_PP251110:Layout 1 23/11/10 16:39 Page 31

Unique seminars for chairs and report writers of domestic homicide reviews

Run by Sequeli, King’s College London and 1 Garden Court Family Law Chambers 19 January, 23 February and 23 March 2011 in London The first cross-boundary seminars on chairing and report writing Opening up new areas of work

Be the first to attend these cross-boundary seminars for independent chairs and report writers of domestic homicide reviews, children and vulnerable adults serious case reviews and mental health investigations. •Receive up-to-date information from the Home Office on national guidance and implementation of s9 Domestic Violence and Victims of Crime Act 2004 •Hear from the Metropolitan Police on management of domestic homicide reviews in the Metropolitan Police Service •Hear Barbara Stow, Vice-Chair of British-Irish Rights Watch and former Assistant Prisons Ombudsman, speak about her experience of chairing investigations into deaths in custody •Discover the similarity between all kinds of reviews and investigations in discussion with the Home Office, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and the National Patient Safety Agency THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR This packed programme of seminars will provide an exciting opportunity for cross- SHOOTING AND CONSERVATION boundary discussion between chairs and report writers from other areas. New and GUIDANCE NOTES FOR THE POLICE transferable skills will be acquired, extending the repertoire of chairing and report-writing possibilities. To help firearms licensing and operational staff BASC The seminars will be opened by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, Chairman has produced a raft of practical guides about sporting of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and until 2009 firearms and their uses. All are available on the BASC Chairman of the Healthcare Commission. Sir Ian chaired the Public web site or we can send you hard copies free of charge. Inquiry into paediatric cardiac surgery in Bristol. He is a consultant and author of Getting it Right for Children and Young People, 2010. BASC CODES OF Day 1 will focus on the core knowledge required by chairs and report writers, including systems analysis, the politics of investigation, the role of PRACTICE victims’ families and position of statutory inquiries. Day 2 will focus on core skills with emphasis Supported by ACPO on the management of reviews with discussion These provide a useful guide to of confidentiality, anonymity, the position best practice in all aspects of where there are ongoing legal proceedings, analysing information, writing reports and sporting shooting. Several are publication. endorsed by ACPO and are free Day 3 consists of four modules in each of the specialist areas, for you to distribute. providing updates on research, commissioning, service user issues and victim concerns. BASC TALKS AND SEMINARS Speakers and facilitators will be from all the specialist areas and, in addition to those below, include Action for Elder Abuse, Family Rights Staff from any of the BASC teams are always available Group, Southall Black Sisters, academic researchers and trainers. to arrange a talk or presentation to your firearms Individual speakers will include: licensing or operational staff. Julian Hendy, maker of the film Why Did You Kill My Dad? shown by BBC2 BASC - WORKING WITH ACPO, THE Professor Jill Manthorpe, King’s College London, author of The Age of the Inquiry: Learning and blaming in health and HOME OFFICE AND THE POLICE TO social care ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND EQUITY Frank Mullane, co-ordinator of the charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse IN THE FIREARMS LICENSING SYSTEM. Dr Mark Salter, consultant psychiatrist in Hackney, East London, writer and broadcaster Head Office, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HL Tel: 01244 573010 Fax: 01244 573013 To book a place, email [email protected] www.basc.org.uk There is an early bird discount. Go to www.sequeli.com for the full programme

November 25, 2010 WWW.POLICEPROFESSIONAL.COM 31 More time on the frontline Lancashire Constabulary has reliable access to critical data on the beat with Vodafone’s secure remote connectivity vodafone.co.uk/bluelight

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