PCC press briefing 2013/27

22nd August 2013

graphicThis 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]

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]