Went to the Birmingham East Equality Forum last week

Birmingham East held a forum last week where staff from the LPU were invited to attend to discuss matters relating to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights and our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 which is now in force. I tend to shy away from public speaking and prefer being a keyboard warrior but decided to push myself.

In the past, forums such as these have existed and my reason for going was that historically staff from minority groups tended to stay away so I decided to go and see if I could make some kind of difference. We discussed issues such as how Ramadhan will affect staff who will be fasting this summer and the effects it’ll have on how we operate. I don’t think we’ll be impacted at all as I believe all of our officers are professional and hardworking. It’ll be a struggle though! No food or drink for 18 hours a day, that’s a challenge, especially for me as I love food!

We then discussed our action plan and how we were going to ensure we are complying with the legislation. It’s still work in progress. I know Human Rights, Equality and Diversity are always given a bad rep in the media and are usually reported in a negative light but we also need to recognise the benefits of having such legislation and how it does enrich our lifes and improve working conditions for all whether you are single parents with kids, pregnant at work, disabled or as previously mentioned fasting at work.

I’ve somehow ended up in charge of being in charge of communicating our work within the forum to both the public and internally with staff. I guess this post has ended up being my first formal attempt at that! But I’ve not really gone on about what the Equalities Act 2010, like most legislation it’s a pretty long read, here’s a link showing how it can improve someones way of life to give you an idea on what it’s all about… http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade+law/equality-act-2010.

I’m, sure there are plenty of other examples. I can recall stopping a young lad driving at excessive speeds several years ago. He was stopped and found to have Cannabis on him. The complication was that he couldn’t walk! He had some kind of adaption on his BMW that allowed him to operation the food pedals with his hands! It was pretty impressive. He did advise me that if I had to arrest him, I’d have to take him to a Police Station somewhere in the Black Country as it was the only one suitable for wheel chairs. Luckily he was dealt with by a street caution otherwise it would have been a 30 mile journey, but it looks like West Midlands Police caters for every eventuality.

Look out for more posts from me covering Equality, but it’s a two way process. The forum is keen to have involvement from residents of Birmingham East so feel free to message me with anything you want raising that you think may help Birmingham East provide a better service relating to Human Rights, Diversity and Equality.

How could new technology help me police better

Before joining the Police I studied Computer Science at University and was all set to enter into a career in IT somewhere until brainstorming in a computer lab a few months from graduation on what sort of job I’d want.

After a few minutes my best friend and decided we wanted to be Police Officers (train driver was second choice). 12 months later we were both Constables!

Back in 2003, technology was still seeping in slowly. The computers ran on Windows NT and there were separate computer systems for each task it seemed.

If you wanted to know something about someone in custody there was a system for that, if you wanted a PNC check on a car or person, you’d have to ask some in the control room and if you wanted to book some property in, you’d have to use a stand alone computer 3 miles away that ran a computer program that still ran on MS DOS (google it!).

Once you left the station, the only way to access information was a radio with someone at a computer terminal on the other end! None of those fancy in car computers you see on US cop shows!

Things have slowly changed over the years. The property system now runs on Windows, you don’t have to travel 3 miles to use it and the computers are Windows XP now!

The next part of this blog is my own opinion and thoughts and do not reflect anything that will happen in Policing or any plans in place. Just thoughts and ideas from an ordinary bobby with a bit of a technology background.

It’s Tuesday 22nd May 2020 and I’ve just entered the station. My warrant card has a Near Field Communication chip which unlocks the rear barrier so I can just drive in. I entered the station in a similar manner and up to the locker room to get changed as usual.

Before entering the parade room for briefing, I book out my duty tablet. This has replaced my radio and is an all in one unit where I get my incidents allocated and where I can talk to other colleagues as usual. I’ve got in at 0645hrs and the rest of the team have got in first and taken the all brand new iPad X models so I have to make do with an older model…it’s still good but a bit scratched and has seen better days! I’ll have to get in earlier tomorrow and make sure I get one of the new ones!

The tablet has a mobile Internet connection and has access to the PNC, intel systems, property system, logs and out internal intranet and email. We don’t have desk top computers and rarely need a pen to fill in any paper forms. Of course all this information needs to be secure! Before the tablet will work, I need to log in through the fingerprint scanner. It also checks my heart beat through a vitality sensor to make sure someone isn’t logging in with a finger that has been chopped off me!

Time for briefing! I meet the rest of the team and the sargeant gives us our postings as normal. These are then uploaded to the control room. We debrief in relation to the day before as well as review what’s occurred overnight through our tablets as discuss anything we need to add before loading up our cars. They’re activated through NFC as well so only a police officer can operate them. The dash as a dock for the tablet as well as a physical keyboard.

Just get my first job at 0705hrs. Someone reported an assault last night. The report is downloaded to my tablet and directions to the address also downloaded. I start driving to the address but on route, the ANPR camera on my car pings that there is a report on the car in front. Another officer needs the name of the driver of the car. I request that car to park up and then carry out a routine check of the driver and everything thing comes up all clear. I have viewed The drivers picture on the tablet and it matches so need need to check his finger prints which the tablet can also do. I update the information report and it’s sent to the officer requesting those details and I continue on my journey.

I arrived a few minutes later and the tablet updates the log to that effect and I speak to the victim and ascertain what’s occurred.

I load up the file build app and begin taking a witness statement. It’s all typed up in a set format so that the software can easily analyse the text and automatically create and populate a crime report. I upload the statement to the main crime database and take pictures of his injuries via the tablet and these are also uploaded. I issue the crime number and a web link so the victim can keep on touch via secure messaging as well keep themselves update. The victim authenticates the statement with their finger print.

The crime software has now fully analysed the statement I obtained and downloaded the details of the named offender, I can view his previous convictions, intelligence, reports he’s made etc. the software has also analysed the descriptions given of the other 3 offenders and cross referenced those with known associates of the named offender, locality and previous modus operendi and given me a number of suspects for further research. The report is then forwarded to my sergeant for further consideration of other enquiries. It has taken me 40 minutes to carry out this task. Today it would take me 90-180 minutes. There is no reason to return to the station and I decide to carry out some patrols.

I load up the visibility app and the gps chip has identified my location and informed me of the crimes in the surrounding area, wanted nominals and suspcious vehicles as well as suggestions on what streets to patrol.

Whilst on patrol, a member of the public hands me a found wallet. I load up the property app and take a photo of it. The software again analyses the photo and logs it in the system and I add the name of the person who found as where and when. The wallet’s then placed in a normal property bag and sealed. Somethings never change, it’s the same style bag I’ve been using since I joined, but its not broken, don’t fix it! I’ll book it in when I return to the station later.

I continue my patrol and turn the corner and who do I see? The named offender from the report I took earlier as well as two other guys who match the description of the other offenders. I shout up via the radio and request further officers and pass the crime number over. A number of officers volunteer to attend and the full details of the incident are downloaded to their tablets and everything is available to them including warning markers and any other relevant information.

The suspects are arrested and the crime system updated with their details and the fact that they have been arrested. The system then notifies the nearest available block and the custody sergeant has all the relevant information available for when they arrive including previous detection logs. When the suspects are booked in at the desk, they are asked their welfare questions and given their rights and the reason for their arrest given. The officer goes through the usual custody procedures and the custody record is updated. The crimes system sends a notification to the victim that the offenders have been arrested, of course in sensitive cases, these options can be disabled and the victim later updated.

Once they have been booked in, I complete my statement onto the crime system via my tablet and update the investigation log. If I need to carry out a search of an address, I will in the search section which is forwarded to the duty officer for their authority. Once returned, a search is executed and the system again updated with the results. I complete my arrest statement and the investigation unit take over from there and I’m back on the streets, well lunch time any way.

After lunch, I continue my patrols, the tablet keeps track of where I’ve been and I carry out a number of more stop checks and log them in the tablet, the system automatically geotags all the stops and the information is available in real time, one of the people stopped has an Interest marker and an alert is sent to the officer in charge so they are aware. The wireless printer in the car prints out a copy of the forms for the people stopped as searched.

It’s 1445hrs now and time to head back in. I book my tablet back in and it’s time to go home!

Obviously the above account is fantasy, but with the speed of technology development, much of the above may become a reality in the next few years and other areas of the criminal justice system will also be streamlined, hopefully with less red tape and speedier justice for all involved! Some of the technology such as in car ANPR is available but only to select departments but as technology gets cheaper, it filters down so who knows what we’ll be using next year!

Sorry for lack of updates

Hello everyone. I’ve not had updated my blog for yonks, or at least it feels that long.

The major change in my career since my last entry is that I’m now on the Birmingham Easy Investigation Team. I’m covering Hall Green now, an area I’ve not covered before and vastly different to what I’ve been used to for the last 9 years. It’s so green down here for a start!

First day, my docutrak, which has been empty for months was filled with 8 crimes investigate. 8 on your docutrak isn’t too bad as I remember the days of 15-20 whilst on response but starting 8 from scratch is demanding.

I’m on top of things now and getting through it all. I’ve not detected any crimes yet but fingers crossed that once I’m back in the flow of things, I’ll be detecting 5-8 crimes a month at least like in my earlier years!

Docutrak is a system that keeps track of all your crimes and is linked to 2 other systems called “crimes” and “crimescan” which in turn contain both computerised and scanned reports of crime (originally named).

Right now I’m investiging an arson with an offender on bail, several assaults, burglaries and a sexual assault. A varied lot.

On top of all this, I’ve arrested two people for separate serious woundings and another male for possession with intent to supply class a drugs and a several offensive weapons.

With all this going on, I’m sure you can see why there have been less updates but keep visiting for more updates.

Windsor report 2

Here is a list of recommendations from part two of The Windsor Report, an independent review of the Police Service. The full version has over 100 recommendations and this is a highlight:

• The abolition of the Police Negotiating Board and the Police Arbitration Tribunal to be replaced by a Pay Review Body. This will take away any ability for us to negotiate pay and conditions and any right of “appeal”. The Pay Review Body would meet to consider police pay every three years removing any opportunity for annual pay rises.

• Direct Entry into the police service at Superintendent Rank, enabling people with no policing experience to enter at a senior level and make operational policing decisions.

• Introduction of fitness testing with the threat of misconduct for any officer failing to reach the standard. This standard to be raised over subsequent years.

• Giving Chief Officers the ability to make police officers redundant, thereby eroding the office of constable and our role as Crown Servants.

• Introducing a scheme where officers on restricted duties are in the first instance subject to a pay cut of £2922 per annum and then either medically retired or are re-employed as police staff. There appears no allowance for those officers injured in the execution of duty.

• Winsor mentions the possibility of a new police pension scheme, but there is little in his report concerning police pensions. He does recommend raising the normal pension age for police officers from 55 to 60 years.

• Changes to the Constable pay scale introducing a lower starting point, but shortening the scale so officers reach the top level more quickly.

• The abolition of Competency Related Threshold Payments from April 2013.

• The removal of the first point on the sergeant’s pay scale widening the differential between constables and sergeants.

• Winsor acknowledges that police officers in London and the South East are worse off comparatively than officers in other parts of the country. He makes no recommendations about Regional pay other than to say the Pay Review Body should look at it in the future.

• The introduction of a new Annual Appraisal system, with the proviso that at least 10% of officers should be rated as less than satisfactory. Following this these officers should be subject to Unsatisfactory Performance Procedures, which can culminate in dismissal.

• Any officer with an unsatisfactory annual appraisal would not progress to the next increment point.

• Officers in the roles of Level 2 Public Order, Firearms, Safer Neighbourhoods and Investigation should be paid an allowance of £600 per annum (Winsor 1 recommended this should be £1200 per annum).

• A system of examinations for all ranks on issues of policing affecting that rank, passing such exams would enable officers to progress up the pay scale; any failure could result in stagnation on the scale and possibly movement down the scale. Such exams to be taken every three years.

• Introduction of an On Call allowance for officers volunteering to be placed on call.

War Stories – dramatic footchase

Policing isn’t constant excitement. You can go for days or weeks without anything really exciting happening to you. After nearly 9 years though, you pick up a lot of great war stories so every now and again, I’ll share some with you like Grandpa Simpson.

The first one starts on a normal weekday night shift in 2007. I was posted with PC Mark Lloyd, a man mountain of muscle and a bit of a ladies man. Or at least he fancies himself as such. I was still on response then. Team 4 based at Queens Road, now known as Aston Police Station which was the D1 OCU in those days covering Aston, Nechells, Alum Rock and Erdington. Outside of the city centre, it was one of the most challenging places to work in the West Midlands alongside the F3 which is now Handsworth Police Station.

Enough of the background scene setting, like I said it started as a normal week day night shift. At around 2330 hours, a call came in reporting a red Corsa had been stolen from Wheelwright Road in Erdington. The registration was passed and we made a note of it. Later that night, at around 0100 hours, another call came in. Three males had parked a red Corsa up in Wood Lane, Erdington and climbed over a fence. Wood Lane was in an industrial estate nearby. Something was up. Lloydy and I made the area and found the car nearby. Empty. Another officer, Sooty made the location as well. We hatched a plan, we would wait for the offenders to return and get them as they jumped back in the car. Some Traffic bobbies made the area as well as back up. Within minutes I saw three guys jump back over the fence next to the car, as soon as I saw them open the doors, I gave the signal and we pounced on them.

As we got out the car, the three looked startled before they came to their senses and ran for it. Three separate footchases occurred. Lloydy and I chased one, sooty and his student officer chase another while the third jumped over the fence again and a cordon was set to capture him.

I ran as fast as I could after mine. Lloydy was hot on my tail, it wasn’t just a footchase to capture an offender, it was a race to get the arrest! Both Lloydy and I were the top arresters on the team, he was edging me out slightly but my defence was that I had vastly more detections! Anyway, the offender was fast, but I was smarter. I could sense that the ground was loose gravel and slightly slippery as it had been raining. I consciously paced myself and concentrated on my balance as the danger in any footchase is losing your centre of gravity due to all the equipement we carry…nearly an extra 2 stone.

I kept pace with the offender with lloydy slightly behind. I knew the kid was going to fall at some stage as it was hard to keep traction and as predicted, after running about 100-200 metres, he fell face first. The next problem was me stopping with out falling as I was going to over shoot him. The timing was perfect, as I ran past the offender, he has nearly up again. I grabbed hold of his hood, using him as an anchor, and tackled him to the floor. I was
Impressed with myself, as was Lloydy who commented on the great take down, but it was all luck! Lloydy later changed his version of accounts to the team and told them I fell down as well, but he knows the truth!

A reconstruction of the actual incident

Meanwhile, Sooty had caught the 2nd offender. Both of the guys arrested so far were well known car criminals and classes as PPO or Priority Offenders, so well known. The 3rd was outstanding. He was eventually caught as well later that night once he surfaced. He was a PPO as well, he didn’t come quietly. He threatened the arresting officers with a concrete slab and fought them all the way to the station. He suffered some injuries on the way as he was struggling and fighting so hard, he was taken to hospital were he continued to fight. Those officers later got an Award while lloydy and I got nothing and it’s still a sore point to this day! We even had to all the paperwork!

All there were charged and remanded for theft of motor vehicle and theft of barrells of diesel. We all had to give evidence at Sutton Magistrates and all were convicted and sentenced to about a year from memory. So a good result.

The traffic bobbies weren’t too happy though. They wanted to know why we didn’t let them get in the car and let them stop it, out answer? It would have resulted in a car chase and a danger to the public. Plus we wouldn’t have got to arrest them!

I do miss the good old days. 2006-2008 is probably the most fun I’ve had in the Police. Response Team 4 was the best time of my career so far and probably the hardest i’ve ever worked.

More episodes to follow, thanks for reading, it’s been fun remembering.

Personality Tests

Last year I took a personality test as part of a leadership course. It was a bit of an eye opener as after filling in a questionnaire, I was presented with a a page of text that more or less described me, warts and all! I had a follow up course today which jogged my memory and prompted this post.

The test is called the Myers-Briggs personality type test. I came up as an INTP, also known as a thinker or more accurately an “absent minded” professor type which I found very accurate (as shown by my recent head injury!).

Here is a Wikipedia link to my type profile:

Miles-Briggs INTP

Have a read and see if you can take the test yourself to better know yourself. The letters stand for Introverted iNtuitive Thinker Perceptive. I did a google search of the letters and found an article that claimed that Albert Einstein was an INTP type.

I’d like to think I’m as smart as Einstein but I’m probably more Jerry Lewis in the film The Nutty Professor!

What do you guys think?

BILKINGS!

Most of you won’t know what the above means. If you run off without paying for something, for instance, food at a Restaurant or Petrol at a Forecourt, the Police call it a “Bilking”. Don’t ask me why, but it is. Legally, it’s called “Making Off Without Payment” under the Theft Act but I suppose that’s a bit of a mouth full?

They must run a 90mpg 1.3 Diesel...

Right now I’m putting together an Operation to deter such offences, particularily petrol theft. This type of offence is on the rise due to the price of petrol. Due to this it’s tempting for some to not pay their £75 to fill up a tank. The only flaw in the plan is CCTV and ANPR.

Due to this, most Bilker’s tend to also use false plates. However due to strict legislation and a crack down in recent years by the DVLA, this has presented another setback for budding Bilkers. The solution for most appears to be to steal existing car registration plates and stick them on their car while they fill up.

So each theft is in fact two thefts! One Bilking and one theft from a car. The owner of the car such as yourselves has to go out and buy a new set for £30 and spend time reporting it to the Police as well as the truma of wondering what you could get the blame for. It costs the Oil Industry boatloads of revenue!

By doing regular Operations at the various forecourts in Hodge Hill, it will hopefully deter people from stealing fuel and also stealing plates from innocent residents in the area who have to suffer their plates being stolen.

if you or your parents or friends own cars, offer them some advice. Make sure your car plates are stuck on with screws or security screws, they usually cost about £1-2 from most motoring shops. It’ll reduce the likelyhood of the plates going missing.

More bad parking, this one resulted in someone getting 3 points

From looking at my blog stats (I was bored), it looks like that the most popular post I’ve made is one about bad parking, so every now and again, I’ll post a photo of a real life offender!

For legal reasons the photos will be edited as I’m not here to embarrass anyone but to show the repercussions of inconsiderate parking.

This BMW was parked at an angle pointing into the road, next to some pedestrian lights and could have damaged the vehicle or another one driving past! A ticket for parking the vehicle in a dangerous position was issued.

Don’t do it!

First post of the year and the biggest cannabis plant I’ve seized yet

Happy new year everyone. Sorry it’s a week or two late.

The new year starts with a big bang, a Cannabis factory was discovered in Shard End following a report of a stabbing at an address. It turned out to be a false report and instead was someone trying to break into a house that turned out to be a cannabis factory!

Not a large one, this one was an upstairs flat with half the bed room taken up by a very sophisticated hydroponic setup! There were 6 plants in total…but they were huge, measuring approx 5’5″ in height and very very bushy! The roots were a hassle getting out of the pots as well! Here’s some shots.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

99% of the country is off today, some of us working in the Emergency Services are in today making sure the Country is safe. I’m the only one on duty from my team this morning. Don’t worry, there is a team of Response Officers on duty as well to take care of any emergencies.

I volunteered for overtime and the only post available on our team is on Diary car, attending reports of crime by appointment. Unfortunantely an extremely small minory will still go out and commit crime on xmas day. I just have two appointments and nothing complicated at all.

As you can imagine, working Christmas day isn’t as popular as other Bank Holidays so there is plenty of over time going spare. I remember one year, an Officer on another team did an earlies, lates and nights shift! That’s dedication to the cause! I’ll be working over at Kings Heath on lates today but I don’t think I have the stamina to do a night shift as well!

I’m back in tomorrow on more overtime, this time covering the whole of Birmingham East helping with Domestic Incidents with the Public Protection Unit.

I feel like a Mercenary!