NEWS:     OPERATION COBALT: GUNMAN FOUND GUILTY OF RAYLEIGH STATION SHOOTING

NEWS:     CHAIR OF BPTA CONGRATULATES LN ON POLICING PLAN TARGETS

Operation Cobalt: Gunman found guilty of Rayleigh station shooting

Detective Superintendent Michael Field would like to thank all officers and staff for their efforts on Operation Cobalt – the investigation into the Rayleigh station shooting and conspiracy to commit robberies in London and Essex.

On Wednesday, Brian Wall, 62, was convicted of the shooting of 26-year-old Adam Mapleson at Rayleigh railway station on 25 May, 2007.

Wall was also found guilty of conspiracy to rob between September 2006 and April 2008 and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to commit robberies at Beckton, Witham, Rayleigh, Pitsea, Basildon, Chadwell St Mary and Vange.

The jury was unable to reach verdicts on Wall's co-defendants, Lenny Smith and Terry Smith. Both were in court following charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to commit robberies between September 2006 and April 2008.

A retrial is scheduled to take place early in the New Year.

Det Supt Field said: “The investigation into the Rayleigh shooting uncovered a string of other offences in Essex and East London, which were investigated with the assistance of colleagues from both the Metropolitan Police and Essex Police.

“On behalf of the whole team I would like to thank everyone who has been involved. Uniform officers, CID and police staff have all worked together, along with other agencies, to bring Wall to justice for his crimes. Now we must prepare for the retrial of Terry and Lenny Smith, which is likely to begin in January.”

Det Supt Field also paid tribute to Adam Mapleson.

“Adam is a hero in the truest sense of the word. He went to help a female security guard and ended up being shot. He’s gone through a lot in his recovery and we were determined to get a conviction for him as much as anything else.”

In a statement Adam Mapleson said: “Although I am pleased with the outcome, nothing can alter everything that my family and I have been through during the past two years.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the British Transport Police for their support during this ordeal.”

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Chair of BPTA congratulates LN on Policing Plan targets

Millie Banerjee, chair of the BTPA, has written a letter congratulating the Area for the successful delivery of the 2008-09 policing plan targets.

In a letter to Area Commander Mark Newton, Ms Banerjee praised the Area’s hard work and dedication in reducing crime for a fifth consecutive year. In addition, she commended the Area’s intensive operations to tackle criminal activity on the railways.

Ms Banerjee added: “The challenge for BTP in this coming year is to continue the downward trend in crime while sustaining the ‘Frontline-first’ efficiency drive to save costs. The Police Authority and I have every confidence that you will be successful.”

Area Commander Mark Newton said: “I am pleased to see that our officers and staff have been recognised and praised for their hard work over 2008-09 by the Chair of the BPTA. 

“I hope that we will continue to work hard in this new policing year and maintain our high standards so that 2009-10 will be as successful as 2008-09.”

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BTP and Hertfordshire police work together on Operation Fern

On Tuesday 19 May the London North Area Tasking (LNATT) team conducted Operation Fern at Cheshunt Railway Station in conjunction with Hertfordshire Police.

Operation Fern, which took place at the station from 4pm to 8pm – deployed drugs dogs to target drugs-related offences on the railway network and provided a highly-visible policing presence at the station.

In addition, the operation aimed to identify gangs that were entering Cheshunt with weapons.

The operation was prompted after LNATT patrols in the Cheshunt area of Hertfordshire. When visiting Cheshunt police station, Hertfordshire constabulary told LNATT officers that they had experienced problems with drugs being brought into Cheshunt town via the railway network.

In addition, they had noticed an increased number of stolen goods being transported from London into Cheshunt.

This led to the LNATT setting-up Operation Fern – a joint intelligence pro-active operation with assistance from the parks police, Hertfordshire officers, BTP’s PC Lee Cripps, a plain clothes dog handler and revenue officers from National Express East Anglia (NXEA), based at Liverpool Street.

In addition, Sgt Sende from Operation Globe and Sgt Nick Cladd, sergeant for the LNATT – were also present.

The Operation was a great success with a number of arrests being made. For example, the Revenue Inspection team gave out 79 penalty fares and 14 summonses to court

Officers boarded trains to target those who commit crime on trains while in transit, while plain-clothes officers at the station spotted passengers turning back after disembarking the train and getting back on board when they saw the police officers and revenue team. Eleven arrests were made in total, for a range of offences including weapons and drugs.

Chief Inspector Rob Noddings said: “Operation Fern was a great success – which produced not only positive results but that also allowed BTP and Hertfordshire Police to share intelligence and establish a good working relationship.

“Hopefully we will be able to work on more joint operations with Hertfordshire Police and our industry colleagues – in order to create a safer railway network.”

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Job opportunity: Police Sergeant, OIC Ebbsfleet (CTRL)

An opportunity has arisen for a Police Sergeant to join the Ebbsfleet (CTRL) Team.

The candidate will be required to develop and co-ordinate all operational activities within the police station, in line with Force and Area objectives. The successful candidate will also manage the deployment of officers, the formulation of initiatives and ensure the delivery of a high quality policing service to customers and stakeholders.

Applications are invited from Officers holding the rank of substantive Sergeant. Essential criteria that the selection panel will consider includes: demonstrating a victim-centred approach to policing, driving performance, motivating and managing teams and engaging with local Train Operating Companies.

CTRL Sector Commander, Chief Inspector Theresa Ferguson, said: “Ebbsfleet is a busy station and this post is an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic substantive sergeant.

“We welcome dynamic and motivated officers who want to work for one of the best units on London North.”

Applications should be made on the standard police officer application form through your line manager.

The selection process will consist of an interview that focuses on your ability to address the behavioural competencies and technical skills defined within the role profile/job description

Click here for an application form.

Click here for a job description.

Email completed applications to LN HR email

Closing date: Monday 1^st June 2009

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St Pancras hosts management day

On Tuesday 19 May, Inspector Julian Dixon, Officer-in-Charge at St Pancras International Station, hosted a Management Day at BTP’s St Pancras offices.

The event allowed sergeants the opportunity to present what their 2009-2010 objectives are and to explain how they intend to achieve them by the end of the policing year.

A number of BTP guest speakers were present at the event including Supt Dave Roney, who discussed strategic policing, Insp Jackie Savage, who spoke about Ebbsfleet International and Sgt Lyn Clifford, who talked about the SOLAP process.

Sgt Sue Jack spoke about the Olympics Planning Team, Sgt Des O'Brien discussed crime and victim management, while DI Andy Rose gave a talk about crime scene management.

Zubair Mahmood from the Department for Transport TRANSEC department was also present – and gave an insight into the role and responsibility of TRANSEC. He also gave the opportunity for officers to give feedback on how BTP can work together with TRANSEC locally to ensure the station remains safe and secure.

In addition, Steve Birchall, Eurostar’s Head of Security was present and gave his perspective on the relationship between BTP and Eurostar. Encouragingly, BTP is well-received by Eurostar and they hope that the close working relationship that has been established should continue to achieve future successes.

Steve Birchall's input was invaluable as it allowed all the team sergeants to appreciate how important a sound customer focus is and that effective stakeholder relations are necessary to ensure BTP delivers an effective policing service.

Insp Dixon said: “The Management Day was a great success and I was very pleased with the input given from senior BTP officers, our guest speakers and officers who attended.

”There were lots of interesting discussions and our sergeants gained an insight into how they can help each other in achieving their personal objectives.”

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Using CCTV for appeals

The rail industry 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 on of the best way of exploiting that,” says 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 with CCTV that are more than a few days 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 potentially invite questions about BTP’s competence.”

Witness appeals should be put out through Area Media and Marketing 0207 391 8279, or though the national Pressdesk (020 7918 3354 or 0678 43354).  CCTV images should not be released without the requisite level of authority.

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BTP Officers praised for considerate policing

In recent weeks LN officers have been praised for their dedicated and caring approach in dealing with people who have been victims of crime.

In the first case, an email of thanks was written to PC Michael Richman in praise of our officers. The respondent had been a victim of car theft, at Walthamstow, and was responding to PC Richman who informed her, via email, of the crime reference number and an update of the latest situation on the theft.

The lady in question wrote in the email: “I'd also like to say how impressed I've been with the manner in which you and your BTP colleagues have dealt with the matter.

“Efficient, courteous and very reassuring to a member of the public such as me who has been a victim of crime.”

In the second example, a man who witnessed an incident of racial abuse and reported it to two officers at Liverpool Street Station – sent an email of thanks to OIC Inspector Chris Bragg.

The email commended the officers for their ‘calmness and professionalism’ and said: “The constables maintained a very polite and dignified demeanour, they treated the offender with calm respect and diffused the situation beautifully”

Insp Bragg said: “I am very proud of my officers for their hard work and professional approach in dealing with those who are unfortunately the victims of crime.

“Officers do not always get the recognition they deserve, and so receiving letters such as this is very welcome indeed.”

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Notice: London North Area Tasking Team wants to help you

The London North Area Tasking Team (LNATT) is based at Area HQ and consists of one sergeant and six PCs.

The team use unmarked vehicles and usually work in plain-clothes for their operations across the area.

All officers are trained to carry out counter-terrorism searches and can be utilised at short notice for POLSA-led searches, early morning entries, proactive patrols and the provision of plain clothes and/or uniformed assistance if needed to assist on operations.

If your team or area would like to arrange anything with London North Area Tasking Team, please contact Sgt Nicholas Cladd via email.

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LN Weekly distribution list

Please can line managers check and make sure that all their officers, PCSOs or members of staff are receiving LN Weekly.

LN Weekly is an effective communications tool for the benefit of all BTP employees and everyone should be receiving the weekly notification.

Please send contact information to Steven Fifer so that he can update the mailing list.

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