22nd August 2013
This week’s briefing covers stories from 16 police areas in England and Wales across the following BTP regions:
London North (2): Hertfordshire, Thames Valley;
London South (4): Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex;
North East (3): Humberside, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire;
North West (3) : Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire;
Wales & Western (4): Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, West Mercia.
In this issue:
National stories this week
Elected police and crime commissioners should be given the power to hire and fire prison governors and probation chiefs, a think tank has recommended. [BBC News]
- The [Daily Telegraph] also has the story.
A code of practice on the use of surveillance cameras by bodies such as local authorities and police forces has come into effect in England and Wales. [BBC News]
A poll commissioned by the body examining the case for devolving more powers to the Welsh government from Westminster has reported significant public support for moving policing powers to Cardiff. [Police Professional]
Complaints
Greater Manchester has criticised the IPCC for refusing to hold an investigation into a row over spying at the Stephen Lawrence inquiry. [The Independent]
Wiltshire‘s PCC has appointed an independent adjudicator of complaints to look at complaints made against the police force. [Swindon Advertiser]
Restructuring and inter-force collaboration
Talks are taking place about a possible merger between Warwickshire and West Mercia Police, a chief constable has said. [BBC News]
- Humberside Police meanwhile could be “redesigned” as the force battles to save a further £30m. [Scunthorpe Telegraph]
Thames Valley Police has signed a landmark £37.4m deal with BT alongside Hampshire and Surrey Police for data sharing. [Newbury Today]
- Surrey‘s PCC also welcomed the partnership. [ThisIsLocal]
Dorset’s new shared police helicopter has been called to deal with 101 incidents in the county since the switchover to the National Police Air Service last month. [Daily Echo]
A private firm might be used in the future to run some parts of the police force in Avon and Somerset. [Bristol Post]
By region
London North
Hertfordshire‘s PCC says the country’s burglary-free day on 2 August is an encouraging developent. [JackFM]
London South
Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill is to recruit an outreach worker to tackle the illegal sex trade. [BBC News]
Steve Waight has announced he will stand down as Sussex Deputy PCC. [Press release]
North East
North Yorkshire‘s PCC has been criticised for spendingmore than £10,000 on branding when her force needs to find savings of £16m. [ITV Calendar]
New police officers in West Yorkshire will all be paid the maximum allowed by their force despite radical Government reforms which have seen starting salaries cut by £4,000. [Yorkshire Post]
North West
Policing charges for community events in Staffordshire have been scrapped. [BBC News]
Greater Manchester PCC Tony Lloyd has vowed to bill the BBC for the cost of a bomb alert sparked by a suspicious package posted by one Panorama journalist to another. [Daily Telegraph]
Cheshire‘s PCC John Dwyer has welcomed new Government guidance on firearm and shotgun licences. [Knutsford Guardian]
Wales and Western
Police officers who are fired or resign over misconduct should be named and shamed, says Avon and Somerset‘s PCC Sue Mountstevens. [Bristol Post]
Gloucestershire‘s PCC has said police and special constables could act as tour guides at the former Gloucester prison. [BBC News]
Warwickshire’s PCC’s new chief executive is a policeman who rose through the force’s ranks from constable to chief superintendent. [Stratford Observer]