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Media cover L
Area figures success
L Area’s
hard work in reducing crime on the Tube and DLR received positive media
coverage in The
figures, released on Wednesday, 20 May, showed overall crime was down on L
Area by 8% in 2008-09, the third year running that a reduction in crime
has been achieved. Announcing
the reduction in crime to BBC London News and ITV London Tonight, Deputy
Chief Constable Andrew Trotter attributed the good results to the
introduction of Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Neighbourhood Support
Teams: “Nearly a
year ago we launched a new style of policing by forming Neighbourhood
Policing Teams and Neighbourhood Support Teams across the entire Tube
network and these crime reductions are testament to the new way we do
business,” DCC Trotter told the gathering of reporters at Charing Cross
station. “The NPT
teams working on the Tube and DLR have been getting to know the policing
needs of their local communities and responding to those needs and as a
result we’ve achieved significant reductions in robbery and overall
crime.” Drugs
offences are significantly up right across The Tube
figures also show a 29% reduction in robbery, an 18% reduction in theft, a
4.5% reduction in public disorder and a 5% reduction in assaults against
staff. The figures
were well received by the media, with articles appearing in the Evening
Standard, London Lite, and
thelondonpaper on Wednesday, and the Metro on Thursday
morning. Articles
praising the reductions also appeared on the BBC News website (click here)
among others while Chief Superintendent Miles Flood announced L Area’s
figures during an interview with BBC London Radio’s Drive Time show on
Wednesday evening. “The
figures show that the Tube is undoubtedly safe, and getting safer, but we
know that for various reasons some people feel unsafe when they travel and
it’s this fear of crime that we want to tackle,” DCC Trotter
added. “Not only
are the Neighbourhood Policing Teams more visible to passengers than ever
by spending at least 85% of their time patrolling their nominated
stations, they are also ensuring they are more visible in London’s outer
areas later at night to help people feel safer on their way home and to
deter those who may be looking to commit
crime. “Fearing
crime is not just limited to passengers - assaults against LU staff are
down 5% and reducing this type of crime is something we will continue to
pour a lot of effort into as nobody should have to fear being spat at or
physically assaulted when they are simply doing their
job. Howard
Collins, Chief Operating Officer of London Underground said:
"It's
really encouraging to see the reduction in crimes on the Tube and DLR and
Londoners should be reassured by these statistics. British Transport
Police have done an excellent job policing our networks in partnership
with our staff and our most recent customer feedback shows that our
passengers feel safer than ever before on our trains and in our
stations.” Boris
Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: "These figures conclude a very good
year of policing on the Underground. The neighbourhood policing teams have
proved an effective deterrent to crime and provided a visible reassurance
for Londoners that we will not tolerate crime on the
tube." BTPA Chairman
congratulates L Area
Millie
Banerjee, Chairman of the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), has
congratulated L Area officers and staff following the announcement of the
area’s crime figures for 2008-2009. In a letter
to Chief Superintendent Miles Flood, Ms Banerjee said that the successive
reduction in crime levels was a “remarkable achievement”, particularly
because “the reduction is reflected in almost every category of
crime”. Ms Banerjee
said it was particularly encouraging that even in categories where levels
have risen significantly, such as drugs, the increase is because BTP has
carried out more intensive operations to tackle criminal
behaviour. “The
challenge for BTP in this coming year is to continue the downward trend in
crime while sustaining the FrontlineFirst efficiency drive to
save costs. The Police Authority and I have every confidence that you will
be successful,” Ms Banerjee added. “Please
pass on my sincere appreciation to the officers and staff in the London
Underground Area. It is thanks to their hard work that the rail network is
the safest it has ever been.” Timely use of CCTV
for witness appeals
The Tube
and rail network is a CCTV rich environment – and that can give BTP a big
advantage in investigating crime. “If there
is CCTV that can help your enquiries, you should be thinking very early of
the best way of exploiting that,’ said Deputy Chief Constable Andy
Trotter. “It is a
powerful investigative tool but the more you delay, the more you lose. If
you think you might want to put out a witness appeal, do it sooner rather
than later, unless there are good reasons not
to. “Putting
out appeals that are more than a few weeks old can make us look slow and
unprofessional. News is exactly that, something that is new, and the
media rarely carries stories that are more than a few days old. You
not only risk losing an investigative opportunity, but also inviting
questions about BTP’s competence.” Witness
appeals should be put out through the Media
and Marketing Department, based at Area Headquarters, or via the
national Pressdesk on
43354. CCTV images
should not be released without the requisite level of
authority. Poplar officers
scoop policing award
Poplar
officers won a prestigious award last week, scooping the ‘Best Policing
and Partnership’ award at the IFSEC Security Industry Awards in The
category was only introduced this year, making the Poplar team the first
ever winners of the award. The
team fought off stiff competition from security firms, other police forces
from across the country and a team from London North
Area. The
awards, which were handed out at a black-tie gala dinner at the Hilton
Birmingham Metropole on Monday, 11 May, acknowledge the people,
products and technological advancements that have played a big part in the
security industry over the past year. Inspector
Craig Withers, OIC at Poplar, said: “Our
award submission focused on the work that has been on going between Poplar
and the Travel Safe Officers from Carlisle Security, including
joint-working, patrols, operations, briefings and intelligence
sharing. “This
award is really something to build on and demonstrates the hard work
Poplar is dedicating towards partnership
working.” Chief
Superintendent Miles Flood, who attended the event,
said: “Congratulations
to Poplar, who have set an example for the rest of the area in the way
they have worked alongside DLR/Serco and Carlisle Security and have seen
their hard work recognised and rewarded by the panel of
judges.” Mock exams for
OSPRE sergeants to inspectors
Mock exams
for sergeants wanting to make the step to inspector will be conducted on
August 6 at FHQ. The exam is
designed to give individuals an opportunity to see what is expected in the
exam, identify areas they need to work on and experience in working
under the pressure of
exam conditions. Superintendent
Jeff Boothe said: "Too often
we see people who are operationally very prepared for the next level but
let themselves down in their exam results and I encourage anyone
wanting to progress to the Inspector level to take part in these
exams." The
mock exam will be of three hours duration and those wishing to sit
the exam have a choice of two slots as follows: 6
Aug 2009 FHQ
G1/G2
09:30 – 12:30 6
Aug 2009 FHQ
G1/G2
13:00 – 16:00 Candidates
will be expected to return to their place of duty after the
exam. Anyone
who wishes to book a place in the exams should email Force
Examinations Officer Karen
Seleman. Enrol now for
First Line Supervisors Course
The First
Line Supervisors Course - designed to enhance first line
supervisors' professionalism and performance - is being run
twice in June and enrolments are now
open. Acting
Training Manager Judith Williamson said: "The course
has been designed with input from supervisors about their needs, plus
talking to sergeants, inspectors and managers for what they believe are
important elements for all people who supervise others.
“The days
are highly interactive with guest speakers and chance to discuss relevant
issues that apply to day to day work. Last year the people who
completed it found it extremely beneficial and applicable to their
work. " The course
is being run by Annette Saunders who has more than 30 years operational
experience retiring at the rank of superintendent. She has also
tutored on the Senior Leadership programme for NPIA and now delivers
training in management and leadership. The courses
are being run on June 15-19 and June 22-26 at Parnell House and
the content includes:
Space on
the courses is limited so anyone interested should apply as soon as
possible by discussing with their line manager or OIC and sending an
application form (HR 5:12.2 – available on the intranet) to Dee Khaira or Amen Araya at the
ATU. Tunic
hire
Officers
can hire a
tunic for formal occasions by contacting the Facilities Department, based
at Area Headquarters. Tunics are
no longer a standard item of uniform but can be hired for special
occasions such as award and commendation
ceremonies. Officers
who wish to hire a tunic should contact Louis Mendez at least
two weeks prior to the
engagement. The
Facilities Department can also supply medal ribbons if
required.
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