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Upbeat, November 2012 - Essex Police

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InsIde thIs Issue: Michael meets his rescuers<br />

Page 8<br />

SOC vehicles will be liveried with crime prevention<br />

advice specifically aimed at householders who have<br />

uPVC doors. The advice shows them how to ensure<br />

their doors are correctly secured.<br />

Operation Nemesis was launched in August<br />

and specifically targeted the areas of Colchester,<br />

Southend, Epping and Brentwood and Harlow, which<br />

were seeing a greater number of burglaries being<br />

committed than were other areas in the county.<br />

Chief Insp Jason Scrivener says: “The operation<br />

is all about improving the information flow across<br />

all commands and ensuring those responsible for<br />

burglary are dealt with quickly and efficiently.”<br />

There is particular focus on circulating the details<br />

of our Top Ten wanted people and a dedicated team<br />

within the Operational Support Group (OSG), based at<br />

Boreham, is providing support to assist with arrests.<br />

This team will move through the county to arrest<br />

suspects and disrupt criminal activity where possible.<br />

Suspects are left under no illusions that <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong><br />

Meet your new <strong>Police</strong> and Crime Commissioner<br />

Page 7<br />

<strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />

Socking it to the burglars<br />

The force’s burglary drive – Operation Nemesis – is now mobile, with<br />

scenes of crime vehicles being used to deliver crime prevention advice<br />

takes their conduct seriously and will deal with them<br />

positively.<br />

CID officers will also ‘adopt’ burglary suspects and<br />

their associates, or nominals, employing tactics that<br />

deal with them in the most appropriate way.<br />

Officers will deal with these nominals for any<br />

offence they have committed, however minor<br />

they may seem, thus helping to ‘build’ our overall<br />

investigation into burglaries.<br />

Photographs of wanted people have also been<br />

issued in the media, circulated on the <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong><br />

website and featured on Twitter and Facebook. In<br />

addition brightshadow tactics have been used to<br />

monitor people of interest and those suspected to be<br />

involved in burglary.<br />

Moving forward in to the winter months the<br />

operation will look towards offering residents further<br />

crime prevention advice on what they can do to<br />

prevent themselves from becoming a victim. The<br />

overall focus however continues to be reducing the<br />

numbers of offences and bringing<br />

people to justice.<br />

Internally officers are being<br />

encouraged to continue to submit<br />

intelligence reports about burglars<br />

or those with connections to<br />

acquisitive crime.


News 2<br />

In memory of Ian<br />

Players from the Clacton and Colchester<br />

police rugby teams united to play the force<br />

rugby team in a memorial match for Pc Ian<br />

Dibell<br />

And last month’s match raised £2,447.55 for the Ian<br />

Dibell Memorial Account.<br />

Pc Dibell, 41, was shot dead after intervening in an<br />

incident in Clacton near his home on July 9.<br />

His suspected killer, Peter Reeve, 64, shot himself dead<br />

in a churchyard in Writtle the next day.<br />

The force team beat the Clacton and Colchester team<br />

55-24 in the match at Clacton RFC.<br />

Afterwards, Tendring district commander Chief<br />

Insp Cat Barrie said the day had been very poignant,<br />

particularly since the match had taken place the same<br />

day as the funeral of Pc Nicola Hughes, of Greater<br />

Manchester <strong>Police</strong>, “and so soon after the death of our<br />

dear friend and colleague, Pc Ian Dibell.”<br />

She added: “The match was played in a very good<br />

spirit and was typically competitive but ultimately the<br />

occasion was about remembering Ian and celebrating<br />

his life.”<br />

The memorial match was played name was read out<br />

during the annual National <strong>Police</strong> Memorial three days<br />

after Pc Dibell’s Day service to remembers all fallen<br />

officers.<br />

Afterwards, ACPO president Sir Hugh Orde: “National<br />

<strong>Police</strong> Memorial Day provides an opportunity for<br />

the whole police family to come together and<br />

remember police officers who have died protecting the<br />

communities they served.<br />

“Today is particularly poignant as the losses of Pcs<br />

Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes in Greater Manchester<br />

and Pc Ian Dibell in <strong>Essex</strong> are still so raw.<br />

“The tributes to these officers have shown policing<br />

was a true vocation for them. We have heard that it<br />

was a job Fiona and Nicola loved; and Ian showed his<br />

commitment to protecting others even when off-duty,<br />

as so many police officers routinely do.<br />

“We commemorate them and their contribution to<br />

policing, along with those the police family has lost in<br />

the past. Our thoughts are with their families, friends<br />

and colleagues.”<br />

This year’s service, in York Minster on September 30,<br />

was attended by Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle,<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Federation secretary Roy Scanes and rep<br />

Andrew Hastings, together with Mrs Dodd, widow<br />

of Pc Sidney Dodd; Sue Bishop, widow of acting Sgt<br />

Bill Bishop; and Ron and Jean Jennings, parents of Pc<br />

Jo-Ann Jennings.<br />

A memorial service for Pc Dibell in August was<br />

attended by police officers and staff of all ranks from<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> and many other UK forces.<br />

Home Secretary Theresa May, the Lord Lieutenant of<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> Lord Petre and the Bishop of Colchester the Rt<br />

Rev Christopher Morgan, joined the hundreds packing<br />

St James’ Church, Clacton, to honour and celebrate Pc<br />

Dibell’s life.<br />

Among the tributes were eulogies from his family, his<br />

partner PCSO Louise Lilley and Mr Barker-McCardle.<br />

The memorial service followed a private funeral<br />

service on July 31 at Weeley Crematorium, near Clacton.<br />

Action from the memorial<br />

rugby match for Pc Ian Dibell<br />

between <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> (in<br />

red and blue) and the joint<br />

Clacton and Colchester<br />

police team<br />

Picture courtesy of Archant<br />

Suffolk<br />

DEATH IN<br />

SERVICE<br />

Sadly, the following<br />

police officer has died<br />

while serving <strong>Essex</strong><br />

<strong>Police</strong>.<br />

The force sends its<br />

condolences to his<br />

family, friends and<br />

colleagues.<br />

August 31, <strong>2012</strong><br />

Insp Tony Rustman,<br />

of LPA West<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 3<br />

We’re out to Imprez<br />

Did you know the force has a Subaru Impreza<br />

WRX which is used as a driving simulator?<br />

It was one of the force’s interceptors – as seen on<br />

Channel 5’s <strong>Police</strong> Interceptors.<br />

The vehicle was converted into a simulator by staff<br />

in Transport Services’ new build workshop – most of<br />

it in their own time.<br />

Now we take the simulator into schools and<br />

colleges throughout the year to give the students a<br />

simulated police drive. It is also used at road safety<br />

events around the county.<br />

And in the summer it appeared at a Help for Heroes<br />

fund-raising event at the Prodrive/Kenilworth Circuit<br />

in Warwickshire.<br />

If you know of an event in your neighbourhood<br />

at which the driving simulator could make an<br />

appearance, contact community engagement officer<br />

Pc Paul Barber in Operational Policing Command on<br />

101 ext 481121 or via email with details<br />

<strong>Essex</strong><br />

<strong>Police</strong>’s<br />

Subaru Impreza<br />

WRX driving<br />

simulator is<br />

available for<br />

community and<br />

road safety events<br />

Picture by Paul Barber<br />

Social media attracts a following<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> now has more than 25,000 followers on Twitter<br />

The force’s official page @essexpoliceuk has been<br />

steadily attracting followers since it was launched in<br />

May 2010 as another method of communicating with<br />

the public.<br />

The page is used to keep residents up to date with<br />

policing activities – including arrests, charges and<br />

court sentences – as well as to ask the public for help<br />

to identify suspects caught on camera and trace<br />

vulnerable missing people.<br />

We also currently have seven police officers with<br />

official <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Twitter accounts as well a page<br />

dedicated to the activity of our helicopter.<br />

The page, @qh99heli, which was launched in<br />

conjunction with Kent <strong>Police</strong>, has recently been<br />

re-named @NPAS_Boreham following the launch of<br />

the National <strong>Police</strong> Air Service last month.<br />

But Twitter is just one of a growing number of social<br />

media channels <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> uses to reach residents<br />

of <strong>Essex</strong> and beyond.<br />

Audioboo and Facebook pages are already up and<br />

running at www.audioboo.fm/essexpoliceuk<br />

and www.facebook.com/essexpoliceuk and last<br />

month we launched Flickr to coincide with the<br />

results of a Hallowe’en poster competition for<br />

young people.<br />

Children aged five to 11 were asked to help us<br />

spread safety messages in the run-up to Hallowe’en<br />

and Bonfire Night.<br />

Around 500 entries were received and everyone<br />

who entered was able to see their design on show<br />

on an online poster gallery on our Flickr page<br />

www.flickr.com/essexpoliceuk<br />

And our YouTube channel hosts more than 150<br />

short videos and CCTV clips which have been<br />

watched more than a million times.<br />

The channel www.youtube.com/essexpoliceuk<br />

features two- to three-minute videos which are<br />

created in-house by the TV and Internet units and<br />

show police officers, police staff and police animals<br />

in action across the county.<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 4<br />

Special day of action sees 10 arrests Remembrance Day<br />

October 20 was a day of action for<br />

Specials across the force<br />

It focused on the execution of warrants alongside<br />

a number of roadchecks, supported by ANPR<br />

(automatic number plate recognition), which were set<br />

up to detect and disrupt criminals using our roads.<br />

Supported by regular officers attached to the<br />

Casualty Reduction Unit (CRU), 33 Specials ran<br />

roadchecks in Basildon, Harlow and Lakeside during<br />

the day, and more than 15,000 vehicles were scanned.<br />

Of these, 273 were stopped and checked, resulting<br />

in five arrests, seven vehicles being seized and the<br />

following fixed penalty notices being issued: 119 for<br />

having no MoT certificate; 110 for driving without a<br />

seatbelt; 22 for driving while using a mobile phone;<br />

five for driving without insurance; two for driving<br />

without a licence; and 32 ‘other’ offences, including<br />

four vehicles being over weight.<br />

Two cannabis warnings were also issued. Among<br />

the people arrested was a man wanted in connection<br />

with a £15,000 fraud and a shoplifter.<br />

SSupt Adam Pipe says: “Op Street Cred served to<br />

provide a high-visibility presence, reinforced by the<br />

public display of seized vehicles at each site, and also<br />

reminded the criminals that we are out in force.”<br />

Meanwhile, 18 Specials attached to the Operational<br />

Support Group and one Response Special took part<br />

in Operation Witchcraft, executing 24 warrants and<br />

arresting five people.<br />

Two people were subsequently charged – one with<br />

theft and one regarding a race-related matter – and<br />

several cannabis plants were seized.<br />

Several Specials were also deployed to Southend to<br />

assist with the search for a high-risk missing person.<br />

Specials were attached to a tactical unit – the OSG –<br />

for the first time in March this year.<br />

Since then, they have completed more than<br />

1650 duty hours,<br />

executed 254<br />

warrants and made<br />

73 arrests.<br />

SInsp Alex Ward<br />

says: “We have 26<br />

committed and<br />

passionate Specials<br />

at OSG carrying out<br />

a wide variety of<br />

taskings alongside<br />

our regular<br />

colleagues.”<br />

Operation Street Cred<br />

in Basildon and (inset)<br />

the Operation<br />

Witchcraft team are<br />

briefed by SSgt<br />

Hannah Carter prior to<br />

the execution<br />

of a warrant<br />

A group of Specials from across <strong>Essex</strong><br />

took part in one of the county’s biggest<br />

Remembrance parades in Chelmsford city<br />

centre on Sunday, <strong>November</strong> 11<br />

Eleven officers practised in the art of drill marched<br />

alongside the Territorial Army <strong>Essex</strong> Yeomanry, 3rd<br />

Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, veterans, the fire<br />

service and cadet forces in memory of those who<br />

have lost their lives in service.<br />

They marched from Market Square to the war<br />

memorial in Duke Street where they and hundreds of<br />

others joined Chelmsford Mayor Christopher Kingsley<br />

and the High Sheriff of <strong>Essex</strong> Christopher Palmer-<br />

Tomkinson to pay their respects.<br />

Among those laying wreaths was Specials’ Assistant<br />

Chief Officer Howard Rayner.<br />

Pictured are: SSgt David Thompson, Sc Perry<br />

Woolner, SSgt Tom Caton, Sc Spencer Worth,<br />

Sinsp Alexander Ward, Sc Shane Bartley, SSgt Gareth<br />

Ward, Sc Allen Stephens and Sc John Harrison. Attending<br />

but not pictured were Sc Jon King and Sc Bob King<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 5<br />

A river runs through it ...<br />

A BBC radio presenter gave his<br />

listeners a taste of high-speed policing<br />

when he joined an <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Marine<br />

Unit patrol on the River Thames<br />

Ray Clark, who presents the popular BBC <strong>Essex</strong> Breakfast<br />

programme, swapped the comfort of his Chelmsford<br />

studio for the speed and spray of a rigid inflatable boat<br />

(RIB) capable of speeds of more than 60mph.<br />

Kitted out in a drysuit and lifejacket, Ray joined<br />

Pc Shane Burke and Marine Unit reservist Sgt Jason<br />

Lane, from the HQ Driver Training School, for a brief<br />

taste of a patrol during the London <strong>2012</strong> Olympic<br />

Games when <strong>Essex</strong>, Kent and the Metropolitan <strong>Police</strong><br />

joined forces to monitor all ships and leisure boats<br />

Pc Shane<br />

Burke, Ray<br />

Clark and Sgt Jason<br />

Lane on Marine Unit<br />

RIB on the Thames near<br />

Tilbury Docks and (inset)<br />

Ray Clark describes the<br />

scene to radio listeners<br />

as the RIB reaches more<br />

than 50mph<br />

Pictures by Bill Stock<br />

using the Thames. Joining the boat at Tilbury landing<br />

stage, Ray recorded a running commentary as Jason<br />

and Shane showed how the marine units worked<br />

closely with the London port authorities to monitor<br />

the movements of a wide range of vessels, ranging<br />

from massive bulk carriers and cruise ships to small<br />

sailing yachts and motor boats.<br />

And as helmsman Jason eased forward the throttles<br />

of the RIB’s two 225hp outboard motors to quickly<br />

check the various ships moored between Tilbury and<br />

Purfleet, Ray continued to commentate above the<br />

roar of the engines and whistle of the slipstream.<br />

His fascinating report and his reminiscences of<br />

some of his slower ferry crossings of the Thames<br />

between Tilbury and Gravesend were broadcast the<br />

following day.<br />

A life on the ocean wave<br />

Four special constables joined the Marine Unit for the<br />

first time earlier this year and have since notched up<br />

more than 150 duties, totalling more than 1,300 hours<br />

They have already undertaken some basic marine<br />

training with the aim of becoming crew<br />

for all four main patrol vessels – three rigid<br />

inflatable boats (RIBs) and the 42ft launch<br />

Alert IV.<br />

As well as crewing general patrols and<br />

warship escorts, the Specials also helped the<br />

unit train for the London <strong>2012</strong> Olympic Games<br />

and played a part during the Queen’s Diamond<br />

Jubilee River Pageant on the Thames in June.<br />

But the work of a marine special constable is<br />

not only based on the water, they also patrol the<br />

marine community by road.<br />

These high-visibility patrols also help with<br />

intelligence-gathering for Project Kraken – which<br />

focuses on the reporting of unusual activity<br />

or behaviour within the maritime community<br />

believed or suspected of being linked to acts of<br />

terrorism or serious organised crime – and they<br />

offer specialist crime prevention advice.<br />

Acting Sgt Dawn Smith said: “The work of the Marine<br />

Unit Specials has already proven to be invaluable. They<br />

have already contributed a lot to daily tasking and<br />

general duties.”<br />

“Our commitment to patrol covers the coastal and<br />

inland waterways of the entire <strong>Essex</strong> coastline, from<br />

Crayford Ness and the Metropolitan <strong>Police</strong> border on<br />

the River Thames to Manningtree and the Suffolk <strong>Police</strong><br />

border on the River Stour, as well as 12 miles out to sea.<br />

“This covers roughly 400 miles of coastline just for<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> and, when you consider we are also part of the<br />

Joint Marine Unit with Kent <strong>Police</strong>, our patrol area<br />

could extend to nearly 700 miles. With this in mind our<br />

Specials are a fantastic asset to our growing roles.”<br />

HMS Ocean is escorted<br />

up the Thames, top<br />

A Marine Unit RIB<br />

patrols the Thames<br />

during the Queen’s<br />

Diamond Jubilee River<br />

Pageant, above<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 6<br />

Taking action over fraud Digging up the answers<br />

Action Fraud is changing the way the<br />

police deal with fraud investigations<br />

Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud-reporting<br />

centre, which acts as a central point of contact for all<br />

information about fraud and financially-motivated<br />

internet crime.<br />

From December 17, police will continue to crime these<br />

fraud and forgery offences:<br />

• Making or supplying articles for use in fraud<br />

• Possess / control article(s) for use in fraud<br />

• Possession of false documents<br />

• Making off without payment – fuel only<br />

• Forgery or use of drug prescription<br />

• Fraud, forgery etc associated with vehicle or<br />

driver records<br />

• Other forgery.<br />

But victims reporting other frauds will be directed to<br />

Action Fraud – they can either phone in their report<br />

or complete an online form. However, if the victim is<br />

perceived to be vulnerable, then a police officer will<br />

notify Action Fraud of the crime on behalf of the victim<br />

or assist them in reporting it to Action Fraud.<br />

Where a crime is established, it will be recorded and the<br />

victim provided with a national crime reference number.<br />

All crimes and information<br />

reports will be analysed and<br />

used to build up a picture of<br />

fraud nationally – leading to<br />

more targeted enforcement<br />

and preventative action –<br />

and crimes with viable lines<br />

of enquiry will be sent to<br />

the relevant force or agency<br />

as ‘packages’ to investigate<br />

further.<br />

DCI Keith Davies, head<br />

of the Serious Economic<br />

Crime Unit (SECU), says joining Action Fraud will<br />

provide an enhanced service to fraud victims.<br />

“It is clear that where the victim is reporting a crime<br />

in action, or is assessed to be vulnerable, we will<br />

continue to deal with the report as normal.<br />

“But for all other such reports, the victim will make<br />

contact with Action Fraud, which will pass them onto<br />

the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau for assessment.<br />

“<strong>Police</strong> forces will investigate cases which have either<br />

actionable intelligence or viable lines of enquiry.<br />

Clearly, such a system has the potential to save us<br />

hundreds of hours spent filling in reports and will<br />

mean that our time is spent conducting actionable<br />

pro-active investigations whilst protecting those<br />

vulnerable victims who are often targeted by<br />

fraudsters.”<br />

To report fraud and internet<br />

crime to Action Fraud, visit<br />

www.action.fraud.police.uk<br />

or ring 0300 123 2040. <strong>Police</strong> officers or staff<br />

with any query about an Action Fraud referral<br />

should contact the IMU – Crime Bureau on ext<br />

488888<br />

Detectives had to call on a little extra help when a human<br />

skeleton was found on the beach near Bradwell Power Station<br />

After ascertaining that the find was<br />

not a recent death, police officers<br />

contacted <strong>Essex</strong> County Council’s Historic<br />

Environment Branch (HEB) to find out<br />

more.<br />

Large amounts of beach in the Blackwater<br />

estuary were washed away during winter<br />

2009/10, particularly between Bradwell<br />

Creek and Weymarks Beach, where up to<br />

10ft may have been lost in places.<br />

This erosion exposed a skull, which was<br />

spotted by a member of the public, who reported<br />

it. Following an excavation by the police, an almost<br />

complete skeleton was revealed.<br />

Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift<br />

determined that the remains were those of a short,<br />

adult male. However, while the skull was damaged it<br />

was considered this was as a result of sea erosion and it<br />

was not possible to ascertain the cause of death.<br />

Radio-carbon dating placed the man’s death to<br />

most probably within the first few decades of the 11th<br />

century and that is when the HEB was consulted.<br />

After interviewing the officers and studying the site<br />

where the skeleton was found, together with their<br />

historical knowledge of the area, HEB staff were able to<br />

establish that the body appeared to have been buried<br />

in a shallow grave.<br />

The burial site was on what would have been a<br />

salt-marsh island in the estuary – this having been<br />

considerably wider in Saxon times – although the actual<br />

grave was not identified during excavation.<br />

The early 11th century was a turbulent time in <strong>Essex</strong><br />

and English history and was marked by numerous<br />

Viking incursions, including the Battle of Maldon in AD<br />

991, and the accession to the English throne by the<br />

Danish prince Canute in 1016.<br />

The skull in situ<br />

(police truncheon<br />

for scale)<br />

A full report can be found in<br />

The Transactions of the <strong>Essex</strong><br />

Society for Archaeology and<br />

History 2010<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 7<br />

Baby, you’re beautiful! Meet our new PCC<br />

A team of quick-thinking officers safely<br />

delivered baby Annie in Brightlingsea<br />

early one morning<br />

The officers had been dealing with a fight outside a<br />

block of flats at 1am on September 8 when they were<br />

flagged down by Ramon Hayward, 24.<br />

He said his partner, 20-year-old Chelsea Nolan,<br />

was about to give birth in the building’s communal<br />

hallway.<br />

Constables Kirsty Lucas and David Wren and Sgt<br />

Simon Tattersall found Chelsea in advanced labour.<br />

Pc Wren helped to deliver baby Annie while his<br />

colleagues offered verbal and practical support. Then<br />

paramedics whisked mother, father and child to<br />

Colchester General Hospital.<br />

The new <strong>Police</strong> and Crime Commissioner for <strong>Essex</strong><br />

takes office on <strong>November</strong> 22.<br />

On this date – <strong>November</strong> 22 – all members of police<br />

staff will have their employment transferred to the<br />

PCC.<br />

However, all terms and conditions of employment<br />

will remain otherwise unchanged and there will be<br />

no break in service for any statutory or contractual<br />

purpose and members of police staff will still be<br />

able to contribute to the Local Government Pension<br />

Scheme (LGPS) if appropriate.<br />

And they will remain under the direction and<br />

control of Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle,<br />

who will retain operational independence but be<br />

responsible to the public and accountable to the PCC<br />

Pc Kirsty Lucas and baby<br />

Annie with proud parents<br />

Ramon Hayward and Chelsea Nolan,<br />

Pc David Wren and Sgt Simon Tattersall<br />

for the<br />

Pc Wren said: “One minute we were dealing with a<br />

fight and the next we were delivering a baby.<br />

It was a surreal moment. After nearly ten years in<br />

the job, this is the first time I’ve delivered a baby<br />

on duty. It was a fabulous experience being the first<br />

to hold the baby as I passed her to mum, who was<br />

amazing throughout the whole incident.”<br />

Pc Lucas added: “I feel privileged to have been part<br />

of such a wonderful experience. I never imagined that<br />

during my tour of duty I would be delivering a baby<br />

with my colleagues. I recall telling Chelsea she had<br />

given birth to a little girl and the delight in her face<br />

was amazing. The experience will live with me forever.”<br />

The proud parents added: “We’re extremely proud of<br />

Annie and are extremely grateful to these officers<br />

who are our new best friends. We’re not sure what<br />

we would have done without them.”<br />

delivery of efficient and effective policing,<br />

management of resources and the force’s<br />

expenditure.<br />

In turn, the PCC, who will serve an initial four-year<br />

term, will be responsible for securing an efficient and<br />

effective police service in everything, from counterterrorism<br />

and serious & organised crime to local<br />

Neighbourhood Policing.<br />

And the PCC will be held to account by a <strong>Police</strong> and<br />

Crime Panel (PCP), responsible for scrutinising and<br />

supporting the Commissioner and providing a ‘check<br />

and balance’ mechanism.<br />

A shadow PCP met for the first time in mid-July.<br />

Membership comprises one councillor nominated<br />

by each district/borough council in <strong>Essex</strong> plus the<br />

Southend and Thurrock unitary authorities and <strong>Essex</strong><br />

County Council, with two independent members of<br />

the public also nominated/co-opted.<br />

In the weeks before any election, local authority<br />

and government officials enter a period known as<br />

The new <strong>Police</strong> and Crime Commissioner<br />

for <strong>Essex</strong> is Nick Alston, who was elected on<br />

after the count on <strong>November</strong> 16<br />

Mr Alston – our first PCC – is due to take office on<br />

<strong>November</strong> 22.<br />

A former Royal Naval officer, Mr Alston spent almost<br />

30 years in operational defence and security work.<br />

He then spent five years in the private sector as a<br />

security director for a major global corporation.<br />

Appointed a CBE in 1997, Mr Alston is a member of<br />

the Advisory Board of the Jill Dando Institute of Security and<br />

Crime Science and a non-executive director on the Mid-<strong>Essex</strong><br />

Hospitals NHS Trust Board.<br />

Mr Alston’s father served with <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> for 37 years and<br />

retired as DCC in 1971.<br />

On his website, Mr Alston says: “I intend now to use my<br />

experience and knowledge to help steer <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> through<br />

the major changes it is facing.<br />

“I will also bring policing in <strong>Essex</strong> closer to all of us who live<br />

and work in <strong>Essex</strong> and to make it genuinely accountable to<br />

the local communities it serves.”<br />

Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said: “I very much look<br />

forward to welcoming Nick Alston, the newly-elected <strong>Police</strong><br />

and Crime Commissioner, into office.<br />

“My priority is to ensure we continue to deliver the very best<br />

police service to our diverse communities in <strong>Essex</strong>. My focus<br />

remains firmly on this and on supporting the PCC in his new<br />

role.”<br />

On <strong>November</strong> 22 – all members of police staff will have their<br />

employment transferred to the PCC.<br />

However, all terms and<br />

conditions of employment<br />

will remain otherwise<br />

unchanged and there will<br />

be no break in service for<br />

any statutory or contractual<br />

purpose.<br />

Information about the office of PCC is<br />

available on the <strong>Police</strong> and Crime<br />

Commissioner intranet site – which can<br />

also be accessed via a link on the front page of<br />

the intranet, or by clicking here<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 8<br />

Michael meets his river rescuers Sea drama praise<br />

A man who came close to freezing to<br />

death in a river has been reunited with his<br />

rescuers – two <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> officers and a<br />

member of the public - who were drawn<br />

to the scene by his pet dog<br />

Michael Dabbs, 63, is thought to have been trapped<br />

in the river at Grays for more than two hours.<br />

His springer spaniel Smudge attracted the first<br />

rescuer, local resident Tony Paxton, who was walking<br />

across a bridge over the river and became suspicious<br />

at the dog’s behaviour. Mr Paxton then heard calls for<br />

help and phoned 999.<br />

Pcs Karen Pownall and Martin Swain quickly found<br />

Mr Dabbs about 20 yards away. He had fallen into the<br />

river while trying to rescue his other spaniel, Ben.<br />

After the two officers had rescued Mr Dabbs and<br />

Ben, a paramedic warned that Mr Dabbs’s body<br />

temperature was critically low and he was taken to<br />

Basildon Hospital.<br />

Mr Dabbs made a full recovery and earlier this<br />

month, he met three of his rescuers at Churchill Road,<br />

Grays, where the drama happened on October 26.<br />

Mr Paxton was crossing the bridge when a dog ran<br />

in front of him. He said: “I made a fuss of him because<br />

he seemed distressed. Because he had a lead on I<br />

was fearful that its owner might be in trouble. Then I<br />

heard Mr Dabbs’s weak calls from help.<br />

“He was lucky. This road is normally quiet and on<br />

that cold and dark Friday evening no-one else was<br />

about.”<br />

Pc Pownall was the first officer to arrive. She<br />

searched along the river and found Mr Dabbs at the<br />

bottom of an 8ft high sloping bank.<br />

“Pc Swain arrived soon afterwards and managed<br />

to get down the slope to grab Mr Dabbs, who was<br />

holding on to Ben,” she said.<br />

“Martin kept slipping so I grabbed hold of him. We<br />

both started losing our footing but luckily did not go<br />

into the water. All three of us were being stung by<br />

nettles. Then Martin and I counted to three, pulled as<br />

hard as we could and hauled Mr Dabbs and Ben to<br />

safety.”<br />

Pc Swain added: “Mr Dabbs was suffering from<br />

hypothermia so we put him in one of our coats<br />

and wrapped him in the survival foil we carry. But<br />

when the paramedic checked his temperature it was<br />

critically low at 28C and life-threatening. Normal<br />

temperature is 37C. We were relieved to hear that<br />

he quickly recovered.”<br />

East of England Ambulance Service spokesman<br />

Gary Sanderson said: “Both officers’ quick-thinking<br />

and rapid intervention has no doubt saved this man’s<br />

life. Well done to both of them.”<br />

Mr Dabbs, who spent about six hours in hospital,<br />

said: “The trouble started when Ben fell the river<br />

and couldn’t get out. I went after him and found I<br />

couldn’t get out. I didn’t realise at the time just how<br />

serious it was.<br />

“I am extremely grateful to everyone involved<br />

and reckon the police officers did a really good job.<br />

Smudge did a good job too. He could have run off<br />

but springers are clever dogs.”<br />

Michael<br />

Dabbs and<br />

Ben with, from right,<br />

Pc Karen Pownall and<br />

Smudge, Tony Paxton<br />

and Pc Martin Swain<br />

Picture by Bill Stock<br />

Pc Martin<br />

Knights with<br />

the young<br />

boy he rescued from<br />

the sea off Southend<br />

Picture by Ian Risdon<br />

A Southend police officer has been<br />

praised for rescuing a boy who got<br />

into difficulties in the sea<br />

As soon as Pc Martin Knights became aware of a<br />

13-year-old struggling in the water, he stripped off<br />

his uniform, jumped in and swam about 200m to<br />

rescue the boy.<br />

Pc Knights, 46, towed the boy back to shore, where<br />

he was checked over by paramedics before being<br />

reunited with his step-mother.<br />

Pc Knights had been on patrol with Sc Pete Baron<br />

near Adventure Island just before 3pm on August 1<br />

when they saw the boy waving.<br />

While Sc Baron radioed for CCTV coverage and<br />

further units, Pc Knights quickly stripped off, ran<br />

down the beach and into the water.<br />

“The boy’s step-mum was really grateful when I<br />

brought him back to shore. She hugged<br />

me afterwards. It’s nice when we, the<br />

police, are appreciated for our work,”<br />

said Pc Knights afterwards.<br />

Sgt Ash Holland, of Southend Central<br />

NPT, added: “I watched the whole<br />

incident on CCTV and have no doubt<br />

that, if it were not for the quick thinking<br />

and brave actions of Martin, then the<br />

boy may not be alive today.”<br />

The town’s CCTV<br />

operators<br />

followed the<br />

pair in the water<br />

to ensure they<br />

didn’t disappear<br />

in the estuary’s<br />

strong current.<br />

You can view<br />

the CCTV<br />

footage by clicking<br />

here. If you find<br />

access blocked by<br />

WebMarshal, click<br />

on Grant Temporary<br />

Access<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 9<br />

We’ve got an APP for that!<br />

Authorised Professional Practice (APP) streamlines more than<br />

600 pieces of existing policing guidance and knowledge<br />

products into a single, central, interactive, online source<br />

APP replaces many of the current guidance<br />

documents and will, ultimately, replace a lot of local<br />

force policies and procedures, significantly reducing<br />

bureaucracy, encouraging the use of professional<br />

discretion and bringing consistency to all authorised<br />

police practice.<br />

However, in practice, you will notice little difference<br />

as APP will be linked to relevant policy and procedure<br />

through the force’s Policy and Procedure Document<br />

Library.<br />

You should still visit this to look up particular<br />

policies and procedures but some information or<br />

links to other guidance documents will have been<br />

replaced by a link to the relevant information on APP.<br />

APP has been developed in an interactive format<br />

– information is interlinked and clearly signposted,<br />

allowing you to navigate easily around the site.<br />

You can either access APP direct – you can find links<br />

on the blue menu on the intranet front page and on<br />

the Site Directory’s Information menu – or via the<br />

Policy and Procedure links.<br />

APP has been tested by user groups across the force<br />

and their feedback has helped to shape it.<br />

APP comprises:<br />

Core practice: themes which cut across a wide range<br />

of policing activities:<br />

Investigation; Intelligence Management;<br />

Information Management; Operations; Engagement<br />

and Communications; Prosecution and Case<br />

Management; Detention and Custody; and Decision<br />

Making.<br />

Specific practice: areas which require additional<br />

national standards and/or practice for reasons of high<br />

risk, interoperability and partnership working:<br />

Armed Policing; CBRN; Civil Contingencies;<br />

Mobilisation; Organised Crime; and Public Order.<br />

The following areas of Specific practice are<br />

currently being developed and should come online<br />

through APP next year: Counter-Terrorism; Covert<br />

(technical surveillance, surveillance and undercover);<br />

Domestic Extremism; e-Crime; Financial<br />

Investigation; Forensics; Major Crime; Professional<br />

Standards; Protecting Vulnerable People; Roads<br />

Policing; and Stop and Search.<br />

If you have any questions, contact:<br />

Peter Hood or Tracy Ashford in the<br />

Policy Development Unit on ext<br />

150036 and ext 150036, respectively<br />

Largest drugs haul in <strong>Essex</strong><br />

Three men from south <strong>Essex</strong> have<br />

appeared in court after the force<br />

recovered our largest-ever cocaine haul<br />

A six-month-long investigation by officers from the Kent<br />

and <strong>Essex</strong> Serious Crime Directorate (SCD) resulted in<br />

two arrests on October 6 when a 29-year-old man was<br />

arrested near Ardleigh and a 30-year-old arrested in<br />

Bowers Gifford.<br />

Officers also recovered 16kgs of cocaine which, together<br />

with a further 8kgs they recovered the previous night in<br />

Beckton, east London, has an estimated street value of<br />

£5million.<br />

The two men arrested were each charged with one<br />

count of conspiring to supply a Class A drug.<br />

A 28-year-old man was arrested in Waltham Abbey<br />

early last month in connection with the same operation<br />

and £250,000 was recovered from an Epping house. He<br />

was charged with one count of being in possession of<br />

criminal property.<br />

All three have since appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’<br />

Court, prior to Crown Court committal proceedings.<br />

Capt Peel’s family museum visit<br />

The Peel family<br />

outside the Chief’s<br />

House at <strong>Essex</strong><br />

<strong>Police</strong> HQ<br />

The family of former <strong>Essex</strong> Chief Constable<br />

Captain Jonathan Peel visited HQ in the summer<br />

Sir Jonathan, as he later became, was youngest-ever<br />

Chief Constable when he took command of the Bath<br />

City force in 1931. Two years later, he became Chief<br />

Constable of <strong>Essex</strong>.<br />

His daughter Angela Marks and her family visited<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Museum – where Captain Peel’s uniform<br />

is displayed – and then DCC Derek Benson opened the<br />

Chief’s House for a guided tour.<br />

Mrs Marks’ husband Ian asked Captain Peel for her<br />

hand in marriage in the waiting room of the Chief’s<br />

House, which they knew as the smoking room.<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 10<br />

Fighting for wildlife<br />

Wildlife crime officer Pc Andy Long is getting<br />

his message across in a webfilm highlighting<br />

the illegal trade in wildlife products<br />

Wildlife crime officer Pc Andy Long is<br />

getting his message across in a webfilm<br />

highlighting the illegal trade in wildlife<br />

products.<br />

Pc Long was asked to feature in the<br />

webfilm, for the World Wide Fund for Nature<br />

(WWF), because of his work in <strong>Essex</strong>.<br />

The illegal wildlife trade is the fifth largest<br />

global illegal trade after drugs, counterfeiting,<br />

human trafficking and oil.<br />

Pc Long says: “Poaching in Africa and<br />

Asia is on the increase and we need to<br />

stop the trade in end-user countries so<br />

there isn’t a market for illegal wildlife<br />

goods.<br />

“We are the guardians of this planet and<br />

if we don’t work to stop this trade, then<br />

our grandchildren will only be able to see<br />

wild animals in zoos and, if they die out<br />

completely, they cannot be replaced.”<br />

In the past year, the force has seized<br />

more than 100 items of ivory being sold<br />

illegally online.<br />

And, as the force’s wildlife, heritage and<br />

environmental crime officer, Pc Long’s work involves a<br />

lot of unusual cases.<br />

His work also takes him to Stansted Airport where<br />

he deals with cases of animals smuggled into the UK,<br />

such as the seven endangered Hermann’s tortoises<br />

found in a couple’s suitcases after they returned from<br />

a holiday in Corfu in 2009. They were subsequently<br />

sentenced to carry out unpaid community work.<br />

To report a wildlife<br />

crime, contact Pc<br />

Long at wildlife@<br />

essex.pnn.police.uk<br />

or on 07890 513899<br />

– but dial 999 if it is<br />

an emergency<br />

First for online investigation team<br />

A Clacton man was jailed for two years after blackmailing a teenager online to obtain<br />

sexual images – the first successful conviction for this type of offence<br />

Late last year, a 16-year-old girl met Reece Moore online.<br />

They communicated with each other and Moore, 20,<br />

gained the teenager’s confidence.<br />

She had explained that she had significant mental<br />

health issues but Moore used her vulnerability to<br />

persuade her to part with indecent images of herself.<br />

He then used these images and the fear of posting<br />

them on the internet to force her to perform sexual acts<br />

on a webcam while he recorded them.<br />

Ds Lee Morton, from our <strong>Police</strong> Online Investigation<br />

Team (POLIT), says: “Reece Moore then moved to show<br />

his true sadistic nature by order her to cut his initials into<br />

Joining us all together<br />

Work on a new, integrated back-office IT<br />

system, commonly known as SAP, is well<br />

underway<br />

SAP, being introduced early next year, will replace the<br />

existing business, HR and finance systems. Because<br />

it’s a single system, you’ll get a better service and<br />

the force saves money on system maintenance and<br />

licenses.<br />

The first changes will see SAP replacing ORIGIN HR,<br />

through which you access Self Service. Everyone will<br />

use SAP to book on and off, access duties, log mileage<br />

and expenses, request annual leave and book on<br />

training courses – all in one place.<br />

In time we’ll use SAP to manage our finances and<br />

accounts, place orders and manage our stores and pay<br />

officers and staff. The system gives us opportunities<br />

like eRecruitment – making recruitment quicker and<br />

easier for managers and applicants.<br />

her inner thighs using a razor blade.”<br />

Moore was arrested in June and subsequently<br />

admitted making indecent photographs of a child<br />

and causing sexual activity with a mentally-disordered<br />

person by threat.<br />

Jailing him in September, the judge at Chelmsford<br />

Crown Court ruled that Moore’s recordings amounted<br />

to property gained for blackmail, despite there being no<br />

loss to the victim.<br />

It was the first successful conviction using this<br />

offence for this type of offending – the victim’s age had<br />

excluded her from the normal incitement offences used.<br />

Because SAP is integrated, it will improve some<br />

of our processes. For example, officers who do<br />

some planned overtime, booking on and off at the<br />

pre-approved times, won’t need to complete a claim<br />

form. All unplanned overtime will have<br />

to be approved – through<br />

a simple form which goes<br />

automatically<br />

to the right approver.<br />

Moving to SAP also means<br />

we’re using the same system<br />

as Kent – allowing better<br />

collaboration within the<br />

Kent and <strong>Essex</strong> Serious<br />

Crime Directorate (SCD) and<br />

between back office functions,<br />

such as HR, Financial Services<br />

and Procurement Services to<br />

work together.<br />

Find<br />

information<br />

about SAP<br />

on the<br />

Collaboration extranet<br />

– click on IT Directorate<br />

and look for SAP under<br />

the Programmes/<br />

projects heading or<br />

click here. Full<br />

guidance will be<br />

provided nearer the<br />

dates SAP goes live<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


Awards 11<br />

Recognising the best<br />

Head of vulnerable persons DCI Denise Morrissey has been<br />

recognised for her work in supporting victims and witnesses<br />

At the annual <strong>Police</strong> Bravery Awards she received<br />

Victim Support’s award for Outstanding Contribution<br />

to Supporting Victims and Witnesses.<br />

Afterwards, DCI Morrissey said: “I am proud and<br />

privileged to receive the award but it’s a team effort.<br />

I have a marvellous team supporting me and it’s nice<br />

for their work to be recognised by this award as well.”<br />

She was nominated by Victim Support <strong>Essex</strong> and<br />

Hertfordshire Division, who believed she “would<br />

be a most worthy recipient” of the award, made to<br />

recognise “a serving police officer who has made an<br />

outstanding contribution to supporting victims and<br />

witnesses of crime, ensuring that they are able to<br />

access justice and find the strength to overcome the<br />

effects of crime”.<br />

The award was presented for the first time this year<br />

at last month’s ceremony, organised by the <strong>Police</strong><br />

Federation of England and Wales, in partnership with<br />

<strong>Police</strong> Mutual.<br />

DCI Morrissey, of Crime & Public Protection<br />

Command, has worked hard throughout her 15-year<br />

police career to develop strong partnership links<br />

with other agencies – particularly Victim Support – in<br />

order to ensure the highest-quality support to crime<br />

victims and witnesses.<br />

Among her many achievements has been working<br />

alongside Victim Support to agree an operational<br />

Memorandum of Understanding that led to the<br />

introduction of a customer-centred service protocol<br />

that ensures early and efficient contact with victims<br />

of vulnerable category offences.<br />

Javed Khan, chief executive officer of Victim<br />

Support, says: “We all need to recognise and<br />

celebrate the great bravery of police officers in<br />

fighting crime and catching criminals. We must also,<br />

DCI Denise<br />

Morrissey<br />

receives her award<br />

from Victim Support<br />

chief executive officer<br />

Javed Khan<br />

though, commend the courage the police show, day<br />

in-day out, in supporting victims and witnesses in a<br />

dignified and sensitive way.”<br />

And Paul McKeever, chairman of the <strong>Police</strong><br />

Federation of England and Wales, adds: “The Victim<br />

Support award is a very worthy addition to the<br />

<strong>Police</strong> Bravery Awards. It is only right that the, often<br />

unrecognised, extended police officer support given<br />

to witnesses and victims of crime is recognised and<br />

we are grateful to Victim Support for sponsoring this<br />

award category.<br />

“DCI Morrissey is a commendable winner and a<br />

credit to the police service.”<br />

The contribution of Specials in <strong>Essex</strong> and across the<br />

eastern region towards mutual aid provision has been<br />

recognised nationally<br />

They won the Team Award for Mutual Aid at the<br />

National Special Constabulary and <strong>Police</strong> Service<br />

Volunteers Award ceremony last month.<br />

ACC Maurice Mason says: “The Special Constabulary<br />

is a hugely important part of our force and this award<br />

represents much-deserved recognition of their<br />

endeavours.<br />

“Here in <strong>Essex</strong>, the Specials played a crucial role in<br />

Operation Cabinet at Dale Farm last year and were a<br />

key part of our planning for the Olympic Games.<br />

“Specials from across the eastern region regularly<br />

provide mutual aid to partner forces and this is<br />

particularly crucial during major events, such as<br />

festivals or marches, and during key anti-crime<br />

initiatives.”<br />

Award organisers say the mutual aid support<br />

offered by Specials saved the region’s forces more<br />

than £223,000.<br />

CSI supervisor David Riches has been named<br />

‘best student’ by the National Policing<br />

Improvement Agency’s forensics centre<br />

David was presented with the Crime Scene<br />

Management Development Programme award at<br />

the NPIA’s Forensic Awards in August.<br />

After a two-week residential course, students<br />

undergo a two-year programme of continuous<br />

training and assessment.<br />

And David was judged top student from all those<br />

who took the course in the past two years.<br />

The Crime Scene Management Development<br />

Course is run by the NPIA.<br />

It entails both theoretical and practical aspects<br />

of managing a major crime scene, predominantly<br />

murder but also rape and other very serious crime.<br />

Above<br />

ACC Maurice Mason<br />

is delighted with the<br />

Specials’ help<br />

Below<br />

CSI supervisor David<br />

Riches is presented<br />

with his award by<br />

award sponsor Katie<br />

Melton, of forensic<br />

scenes of crime<br />

consumables supplier<br />

WA Products<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


Feature 12<br />

Collaboration<br />

is on the move<br />

When the Kent and <strong>Essex</strong> Transport Services department was<br />

created just over a year ago, it was given a clear mandate by both<br />

Chief Constables: to drive down costs while continuing to keep both<br />

forces on the road and maintaining vital support to front-line policing<br />

Now, as one of the biggest police transport<br />

operations in the UK, the department aims to set the<br />

standard nationwide for fleet collaboration.<br />

Putting the right vehicles into the right roles and<br />

consolidating policies across both forces have been<br />

important factors.<br />

Head of Transport John Gorton says: “Our focus is<br />

always operational and our aims and objectives are<br />

all about front-line policing.<br />

“The key to achieving our collaboration mandate is<br />

to standardise across both forces – buying standard<br />

vehicles and equipment from national contracts and<br />

achieving bigger discounts, as well as consolidating<br />

processes and policies across both forces.<br />

“In effect, doing it once and doing it well. We work<br />

closely with operational colleagues to ensure vehicles<br />

are matched to operational need, used effectively<br />

and made available to the people who need them.”<br />

Before collaborating, <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> and Kent <strong>Police</strong><br />

used different vehicles – an early challenge for the<br />

Transport Services team.<br />

However, in March 2011, legislation required all<br />

forces to buy standard vehicles from the national<br />

police vehicle contract.<br />

The new framework limits choice but enables UK forces to<br />

make significant savings through joined-up procurement.<br />

This represented a significant change for Kent<br />

<strong>Police</strong>, which traditionally used Skodas but is now<br />

moving to Fords, achieving significant savings in the<br />

process.<br />

Close collaborative working between the two forces<br />

has meant a phased transition is achieving the best<br />

from both forces.<br />

“But it has not been all one-way traffic,” says John.<br />

“The Skoda Octavia 4x4 and the BMW X5 will be<br />

making an appearance in some roles in <strong>Essex</strong>.”<br />

The new fleet line-up for both <strong>Essex</strong> and Kent:<br />

• Marked non-Response – Ford Fiesta<br />

• Marked Response – Ford Focus estate<br />

• Marked 4x4 – Ford Ranger<br />

• Station cell van – Ford Transit Connect<br />

• Unmarked (CID) – Ford Fiesta<br />

• Dog vehicle – Skoda Octavia 4x4 estate<br />

• Compact traffic – Skoda Octavia 4x4 estate<br />

• Traffic – BMW 530 estate<br />

• Traffic 4x4 – Land Rover Discovery or BMW X5<br />

• Armed response – BMW 530 or X5<br />

Head of<br />

Transport<br />

John Gorton and <strong>Essex</strong><br />

delivery managers<br />

Sandra Zagger and<br />

Rosanne Grandison<br />

Pictures by Matthew<br />

Benham<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


Feature 13<br />

In <strong>Essex</strong>, Transport Services is currently managing the<br />

installation of more than 200 mobile data terminals<br />

(MDTs) into our vehicle fleet.<br />

Engineering service manager Trevor Roper says:<br />

“Ideally MDTs will be installed as new vehicles are<br />

introduced but many will be retrospectively installed.<br />

“And we’ll need the patience and support of<br />

colleagues as vehicles are called into the workshops<br />

over the next couple of months for them to be fitted.”<br />

Ensuring installations are effective, safe and legally<br />

compliant has been a real challenge.<br />

John explains: “Cars were not designed to take this<br />

equipment and there can be no compromise on officer<br />

safety.”<br />

Another major challenge for the team was the<br />

Blueprint for policing <strong>Essex</strong>, which resulted in<br />

significant changes to fleet requirements.<br />

The Blueprint introduced borderless policing,<br />

changing how we respond to emergency calls. In<br />

turn, that has altered the demands on our fleet.<br />

“The new Blueprint represents some significant<br />

challenges for Transport Services – both in terms of<br />

the types of vehicles and the additional pressures<br />

they are under, requiring us to review our servicing<br />

regimes on key vehicles,” says John.<br />

“And, with changes to operational deployment<br />

“All our staff have been absolutely outstanding and have risen to the occasion”<br />

Head of Transport John Gorton<br />

practices, we have introduced full Battenberg<br />

livery on the new-model Response Ford Focus<br />

and upgraded the light bars to deal with fast road<br />

requirements.<br />

“We have also redistributed the fleet to ensure these<br />

higher-specification vehicles are prioritised to central<br />

Response. This matches the Kent approach and also<br />

enhances officer safety.”<br />

Collaboration has resulted in a new, leaner<br />

Transport Services structure with John being<br />

supported by delivery managers Sandra Zagger and<br />

Rosanne Grandison (job share) in <strong>Essex</strong> and Tony<br />

Petts in Kent.<br />

“However, our focus and dedication to supporting<br />

the front line is unchanged” says John.<br />

The team is working closely with Reform in <strong>Essex</strong><br />

and the Kent Policing Model (KPM), continuing to<br />

review fleet composition and consolidate policies<br />

and working practices.<br />

And it is driving further fleet efficiencies through<br />

effective use of vehicles.<br />

Sandra explains: “Improving how they are being<br />

used and utilised presents a real opportunity.<br />

“Reducing overall fleet mileage is key, as is ensuring<br />

available vehicles are used to their full potential,<br />

making them available to whoever needs them. “<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> officers and staff are required to provide<br />

on-line mileage returns and confirm that weekly<br />

vehicle safety checks have been completed.<br />

As well as helping to maintain the safety of those<br />

who drive our vehicles, other benefits include:<br />

• reduced corporate risks around vehicle use – a<br />

safer fleet<br />

• details of vehicle use – are the vehicles available<br />

to those who need them?<br />

• more accurate predictive service scheduling –<br />

less downtime, more availability<br />

• improved fleet-replacement programming<br />

• reduced administration – less paperwork.<br />

John says: “It’s been a challenging 16 months but<br />

all our staff have been absolutely outstanding and<br />

have risen to the occasion. Many have undertaken<br />

new challenges and responsibilities and shown real<br />

leadership at every level.<br />

“We have a clear way ahead now and a really good<br />

opportunity for the future.<br />

“Ultimately, our aim is to be the collaboration force<br />

by which others will be measured.”<br />

Visit the Transport<br />

Services extranet site for<br />

more information and to<br />

leave feedback:<br />

http://extranet.ecis.police.<br />

uk/support-services/depts/<br />

transport.html<br />

FACtFILE<br />

• The combined <strong>Essex</strong> and Kent transport fleet has more than 2,200 vehicles<br />

• A total of 33 million miles are travelled every year by the two forces<br />

• <strong>Essex</strong> and Kent each have 24 workshop technicians who help to keep the fleet<br />

on the road<br />

• The <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> transport garages carried out 14,000 vehicle jobs over the past<br />

12 months and used more than 3,000 tyres<br />

• More than 1,293,000 litres of fuel have been used by <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> so far this<br />

year<br />

• Last year, <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> spent £2.8million on fuel<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


Feature 14<br />

Surround A town results all add up<br />

Six men were arrested and 14<br />

vehicles seized during a major road<br />

safety and crime reduction operation<br />

in Basildon last month<br />

This latest Surround A Town involved more than 40<br />

police officers from the force’s Casualty Reduction<br />

Unit, Response and Patrol, Road Policing and <strong>Essex</strong><br />

<strong>Police</strong> Special Constabulary, who carried out roadside<br />

checks and mobile patrols.<br />

Also known as Operation Nash, it was part of <strong>Essex</strong><br />

County Council’s three-year No Excuse campaign to<br />

tackle motoring offences and point out to motorists<br />

that there is no excuse for such offences as speeding<br />

and driving while using a mobile phone, not wearing<br />

seatbelts or without insurance or valid driving<br />

documents.<br />

Certain towns have been selected for particular<br />

attention, based on their history of serious injury and<br />

fatal road crashes.<br />

The first Surround A Town took place in Chelmsford<br />

on May 15, subsequently followed by Colchester,<br />

Harlow and then Basildon. Further operations are<br />

planned through to March 2013.<br />

It’s a great example of partnership working – other<br />

agencies involved include HM Revenue and Customs,<br />

the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA),<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> County Fire and Rescue Service, Trading<br />

Standards and British Transport <strong>Police</strong>.<br />

Offenders are identified by officers patrolling in cars<br />

or on motorcycles or through automatic number plate<br />

recognition (ANPR) technology. Each operational day<br />

is followed up a fortnight later with a smaller one.<br />

In Basildon, check sites were set up at East Mayne<br />

and London Road, Vange.<br />

A 25-year-old man, from east London, arrested on<br />

suspicion of driving while disqualified and possessing<br />

cannabis was later charged with these two offences,<br />

as well as driving without insurance and appeared in<br />

court the following day.<br />

Four men arrested on suspicion of stealing clothing<br />

from a charity after a truck loaded with collection bags<br />

was stopped were later released without charge, as<br />

was a 25-year-old Basildon man arrested on suspicion<br />

of being involved in a domestic assault.<br />

More than 320 vehicles were stopped and checked –<br />

14 were seized for not being insured, 103 had expired<br />

MoTs, 102 people were not wearing seatbelts and 40<br />

drivers were seen using mobile phones. More than 30<br />

other motoring offences were<br />

discovered.<br />

County council road safety officers gave advice to<br />

more than 170 offending drivers and 70 motorists later<br />

took part in a road safety training course, instead of<br />

paying a £60 fixed penalty fine.<br />

Casualty reduction manager Adam Pipe says:<br />

“Uninsured vehicles have been taken off the roads but<br />

it is disappointing that every time we do these largescale<br />

operations we find that hundreds of people<br />

continue to flout motoring laws that are in place for<br />

road safety reasons.”<br />

Sgt Simon<br />

Willsher<br />

places a notice on a<br />

seized uninsured car<br />

(main picture)<br />

Cars seized during the<br />

Basildon operation are<br />

loaded on to a transporter<br />

(top)<br />

A sign explains why<br />

the operation is<br />

being carried out<br />

Pictures by Simon Willsher<br />

and Bill Stock<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


Feature 15<br />

Aiming to ‘scrap’ illegal metal yards<br />

Metal thefts in <strong>Essex</strong> have been<br />

reduced by more than 50 per cent in<br />

five months following the launch of a<br />

nationwide crackdown on the crime<br />

Operation Tornado, the codename for an on-going<br />

series of scrapyard visits, roadside stop checks and<br />

district patrols, was launched at the end of May, a<br />

month when 358 metal thefts were reported across<br />

the county.<br />

Figures for September showed the number of thefts<br />

reduced to 161. And, next month, for the first time,<br />

following the issue of a warrant, officers will be able to<br />

enter illegal scrap metal yards, inspecting any premises<br />

unregistered with a local authority.<br />

Currently, officers can only access registered<br />

scrapyards ‘at a reasonable time’ to inspect transaction<br />

books and material thought to be linked to metal<br />

theft.<br />

Last year, the rising value of metals led to a soaring<br />

number of thefts in <strong>Essex</strong>. In July 2011 the number of<br />

thefts peaked at 450, ranging from lead from church<br />

roofs and metal in catalytic convertersto hi-tech BT<br />

telephone cable and copper strip lightning conductors<br />

on National Grid pylons.<br />

Road signs, manhole covers and railway signalling<br />

and power cable was being taken.<br />

Following the advent of Operation Tornado, officers<br />

now routinely stop dozens of vehicles carrying scrap<br />

and also visit scrapyards to check sales records and<br />

stop and search the vehicles of yard customers.<br />

Road policing operations – such as Surround A<br />

Town – also involve the stopping and checking of<br />

vehicles carrying scrap metals and a number of people<br />

have been arrested after being found in possession of<br />

stolen metals.<br />

Chief Insp Jason Scrivener, who is leading Operation<br />

Tornado in <strong>Essex</strong>, says: “Metal theft is a crime that<br />

affects thousands of people in many different ways.<br />

“Churches, school and other public buildings<br />

have been closed as a result of theft from roofs, rail<br />

passengers have had journeys delayed, and whole<br />

towns have had their phones cut off after BT cable<br />

was stolen. It is a serious problem and has significant<br />

financial and social implications.<br />

“The number of metal thefts has<br />

reduced significantly over the last six<br />

months, some of which is attributable<br />

to increased focus and engagement<br />

with dealerships but significant work<br />

is still needed to ensure that we create<br />

a hostile environment for those that<br />

choose to break the law.<br />

“I am delighted with the take-up<br />

of the voluntary code of practice we<br />

introduced for scrapyards.<br />

“Designated officers have been<br />

working hard with scrap merchants to<br />

encourage participation in signing up<br />

to the Tornado scheme in advance of<br />

the legislation change.”<br />

From December 3, new legislation will<br />

make it an offence for scrap metal dealers to pay cash<br />

for scrap. Instead, they must pay by cheque or by<br />

electronic transfer of funds. Greater fines will also be<br />

introduced against offenders.<br />

Neighbourhood police officers are working closely<br />

with scrap dealers within their areas, regularly<br />

conducting spot checks and visits and organising local<br />

operations to disrupt and deter criminal offences.<br />

Officers from the our Commercial Vehicle and<br />

Casualty Reduction units are also involved in weekly<br />

operations to stop and check commercial vehicles on<br />

main highways through the county.<br />

At a commercial<br />

vehicle operation at<br />

Thurrock, 17 vehicles<br />

connected to the<br />

scrap trade were<br />

stopped and ten<br />

licensing offences and<br />

six roadworthiness<br />

offences detected<br />

Pictures by Simon Willsher<br />

For more information<br />

about next month’s<br />

changes, under the<br />

Legal Aid, Sentencing<br />

and Punishment of<br />

Offenders (LASPO)<br />

Act , visit the<br />

Neighbourhood<br />

Policing intranet site<br />

and click on Volume<br />

Crime and then<br />

Metal Theft for more<br />

information or click<br />

here<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


News 16<br />

Brave new world for custody suite<br />

A new custody suite has opened at<br />

Chelmsford police station following a<br />

complete refurbishment<br />

The £2million refurbishment is the third in a longterm<br />

programme of re-development across our<br />

custody suites and opened on <strong>November</strong> 12.<br />

The completion of the 18-month-long project sees<br />

cells increased from 11 to 15 and the introduction<br />

of Genesys – a one-stop computer system giving<br />

custody sergeants the ability to oversee and control<br />

activity across the suite from a single screen.<br />

A first for custody suites across <strong>Essex</strong>, Genesys gives<br />

users control over entry and exit to custody while<br />

alerting them to activated panic alarms and allowing<br />

detention officers to see and speak to detainees in<br />

their cells via intercom.<br />

Custody commander Chief Insp Joe Wrigley says:<br />

“We have a duty of care towards those who come<br />

into our custody and are governed by legislation and<br />

codes of practice around this issue.<br />

“Many of those who come into custody do so as<br />

a result of some kind of crisis and we need to make<br />

sure we are equipped to look after them while<br />

making sure they are answerable to the criminal<br />

justice process. We also have a duty of care to our<br />

staff and have made every effort to create a safe and<br />

appropriate environment for them to work in.”<br />

The suite has been designed in line with duty of<br />

care codes of practice to minimise opportunities<br />

for self-harm and the disposal of evidence. It also<br />

includes increased CCTV coverage, an observation<br />

cell, a disabled toilet and shower area, meal<br />

preparation room and exercise yard.<br />

Around 40,000 detainees are held in our custody<br />

suites every year.<br />

Chief Insp Wrigley adds: “Chelmsford is a city with<br />

one of the busiest night time economies across the<br />

ACC Julia Wortley<br />

hands the keys for the<br />

newly-refurbished Chelmsford<br />

custody suite to Sgt Ashley<br />

Stearn and detention officer<br />

Sally Rose-Horn<br />

county. Its custody suite is one of the most central<br />

and accessible in <strong>Essex</strong> so we needed to increase<br />

provision to meet demand.<br />

“The opening of the new suite means police officers<br />

can patrol the town in a more efficient way, returning<br />

to the streets more quickly after taking a detainee to<br />

a local suite rather than having to travel to another.<br />

“I am really pleased with the look of the facility<br />

and delighted we will have it back in the centre of<br />

Chelmsford.”<br />

Custody inspector<br />

Debbie Grafton checks<br />

on a detainee<br />

Above are views of the<br />

new custody suite<br />

Pictures by Kim Gregory &<br />

David White<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


Feature 17<br />

Book reviews<br />

German PoW Camp<br />

266 Langdon Hills<br />

by Ken Porter and Stephen Wynn<br />

Basildon officer Pc<br />

Stephen Wynn has<br />

teamed up with local<br />

historian Ken Porter to<br />

compile an historical<br />

account of what life<br />

was like for German<br />

prisoners of war in<br />

Camp 266 at Langdon<br />

Hills during the mid and late 1940s.<br />

Having both separately taken an interest in<br />

the subject, they teamed up and wrote the<br />

book together.<br />

The first PoWs arrived at Langdon Hills in<br />

April 1945 and the camp, which held up to<br />

800 prisoners, closed three years later. It<br />

also had satellite camps at places such as<br />

Tillingham and Purfleet.<br />

The book includes accounts from prisoners<br />

– about their lives before, during and after the<br />

camp – and local residents plus contemporary<br />

letters, newspaper articles and other<br />

documents.<br />

German POW CAMP 266 Langdon Hills costs<br />

£9.99 and is on sale at Waterstones in Basildon.<br />

It can also be ordered from Waterstones<br />

branches and on Amazon and is also available<br />

in e-book format<br />

Appointments<br />

by Martin Stallion<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Museum<br />

volunteer Martin<br />

Stallion has written<br />

a guide to police<br />

museums across the UK.<br />

Appointments<br />

lists around 60 force<br />

museums and other<br />

museums with<br />

significant collections of police material. The<br />

book also provides information about what is<br />

contained in each museum’s collection, their<br />

services and activities, such as research, talks<br />

programmes, document copying etc, facilities,<br />

visiting arrangements, location and contact<br />

details.<br />

Mr Stallion is a retired reference librarian<br />

and a member of the <strong>Police</strong> History Society.<br />

His previous publications include four<br />

bibliographies on police history and he is also<br />

the joint author of The British police: forces<br />

and chief officers 1829-<strong>2012</strong>, published by the<br />

<strong>Police</strong> History Society.<br />

Appointments costs £5 and is on sale at <strong>Essex</strong><br />

<strong>Police</strong> Museum at HQ.<br />

The museum is open to the public every<br />

Wednesday afternoon (1pm-4.30pm) and the<br />

1st Saturday each month (10.30am to 3pm)<br />

Our duty has been done: a record of<br />

Colchester Borough <strong>Police</strong> 1836-1947<br />

by Martin Stallion<br />

Colchester Borough<br />

<strong>Police</strong> was the last, and<br />

the largest, of the four<br />

new forces to be set<br />

up in <strong>Essex</strong> under the<br />

Municipal Corporations<br />

Act of 1835 and the last<br />

to disappear into the<br />

County Constabulary,<br />

having survived several previous takeover<br />

attempts.<br />

This book, written by <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong><br />

Museum volunteer Martin Stallion,<br />

provides a comprehensive account of<br />

the force’s 111 years in existence, based<br />

on extensive research into original<br />

documents held at the <strong>Essex</strong> Record<br />

Office and other sources.<br />

It deals with all aspects of the force’s<br />

history: organisation, the chief constables,<br />

pay and discipline, uniforms and equipment,<br />

crime, women police officers, life off duty<br />

and policing during both World Wars.<br />

Our duty has been done costs £18 and is on sale<br />

at Red Lion Books in Colchester or direct from<br />

the author at 68 High Garrett, Braintree CM7<br />

5NT, or ring 01376 551819.<br />

Mersea Mick<br />

by Veronique Eckstein,<br />

Illustrated by Tom Knight<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> graphic<br />

designer Tom Knight<br />

has illustrated this<br />

children’s story by<br />

Mersea Island author<br />

Veronique Eckstein.<br />

In 1988 a sharpeyed<br />

nine-year old boy found a glass jar<br />

sticking out of the cliffs at East Mersea. He<br />

handed the jar to Dougal Urquart, the local<br />

park ranger.<br />

The jar contained a faded envelope with a<br />

letter from a World War I pilot to his faithful<br />

fox terrier Mick. They turned out to<br />

be from the dog’s grave, which was sited in<br />

a bluebell wood on the cliff at Cudmore<br />

Grove, East Mersea, before the cliffs were<br />

eroded by the sea.<br />

These unique beach finds have been spun<br />

into a story involving two boys, a dog and<br />

a World War I pilot. The gripping story and<br />

delightful full-page illustrations make this a<br />

perfect Christmas present for children.<br />

Mersea Mick is available from selected book<br />

shops in Colchester and Mersea and is also<br />

available online at<br />

www.merseaislandtales.co.uk<br />

It costs £8.99 plus £1.20 p&p.<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong>


ISSUE NO. 8<br />

published <strong>November</strong> 16, <strong>2012</strong><br />

editor Heather Turner<br />

101 ext 155025<br />

upbeat@essex.pnn.police.uk<br />

graphic designer Tom Knight<br />

published by <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong><br />

Media Department, HQ,<br />

Chelmsford, <strong>Essex</strong><br />

July <strong>2012</strong><br />

£3,000<br />

Sc Laura Ellis, of Laindon<br />

£1,000<br />

Pc Thomas Hardingham,<br />

of Chigwell<br />

£500<br />

Ds Wayne Norcott,<br />

of Chelmsford<br />

August <strong>2012</strong><br />

£3,000<br />

Pc Trevor Abrahams,<br />

of Harwich<br />

£1,000<br />

Pc Andrew Gudgin,<br />

of Colchester<br />

£500<br />

James Graham,<br />

of Braintree<br />

CARTOON CORNER<br />

Your Honour, the next witness for the prosecution.” ...<br />

“CALL the Mobile Data Terminal!”<br />

September <strong>2012</strong><br />

Hyundai i20<br />

Sc Raymond Pritchard,<br />

of Southend<br />

£3,000<br />

Pc Julie Everall, of<br />

Chelmsford<br />

£1,000<br />

Pc Jon Holden, of the<br />

Force Control Room<br />

£500<br />

Pc Richard Logan, of<br />

<strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> College<br />

GONE<br />

7 For<br />

BUT NOT FORGOTTEN<br />

The <strong>Essex</strong> <strong>Police</strong> Memorial Trust<br />

commemorates those officers killed on<br />

duty since the establishment of police forces<br />

in <strong>Essex</strong> in 1840 – including officers from the<br />

Saffron Walden Borough, Southend on Sea County<br />

Borough and Colchester Borough forces and <strong>Essex</strong><br />

County Constabulary. In each issue of UpBeat, we<br />

will remember the anniversaries of those who died<br />

in the months since the previous issue:<br />

Pc Peter Wringe died July 4, 1982<br />

Pc Ian Dibell died July 9, <strong>2012</strong><br />

Sgt David Lewis died July 14, 1946<br />

Pc Henry Wright died August 1, 1899<br />

Pc Edward Raven died August 7, 1886<br />

Pc Stephen Greet died August 14, 1984<br />

Acting Sgt Brian Bishop died August 27, 1984<br />

UPBEAT <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />

18<br />

Pc Brian Rippingale died September 2, 1968<br />

Pc Joseph Watt died September 8, 1913<br />

Pc George Gutteridge died September 27, 1927<br />

more information, visit the <strong>Essex</strong><br />

<strong>Police</strong> Memorial Trust website at<br />

www.essex.police.uk/memorial

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