Category Archives: Who Put ACPO in Charge

I Told You So…!

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So, do you feel taken for granted and lied to? I do. Finally an ACPO idiot has broken ranks to show exactly what ACPO think about the men and women under their command who risk their lives day in and day out for the benefit of the public. That’s right, ACPO don’t give a toss!

How proud South Yorkshire chief constable David Crompton must feel about his latest missive to replace police officers patrolling the street with personnel with limited powers and often limited ability. Despite there being some very good PCSO’s around, people prefer police officers . It must have taken all of his 10 days or so in office to come up with this bolleaux. It would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. ACPO want to effectively break up and rebuild the principle and model of policing. Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the idiots in charge. I have warned you regularly but clearly you are not listening. It is about time you sat up and took notice. 

Should we worry. Yes we should!

If idiots like this get their way then the police will become a storm trooper force, simply bashing down doors and responding to fights, arresting and penalising. They will not be policing by consent but would just be enforcers of the law. No police officer joined to perform that role. It tires me when I hear the crap often trotted out by uninformed senior officers that many of the tasks performed by officers could be performed by someone who is not warranted. What they fail to recognise is that most of the thing cops do is all part of the service, it is visible and provides reassurance to the public and a deterrent to errant miscreants.

If Cops werem only tasked to respond in a shock and awe fashion then the police would be feared, disrespected and the consent they need to exist would be removed. David Crompton looks old enough to have been instructed that the first duty of every cop is:

“The protection of life and property. The prevention and detection of crime”

Note the order the duties come in. Pseudo cops like Crompton should be admonished for the abandonment and dereliction of the duties of officers. They are so far removed from the real principles of real policing, seeking comfort in balance sheets over and above the safety of the general population. He should be fighting for more constables not banishing them out of view.

Mark my words, this is the thin end of the wedge. That is until the next idiot comes up with replacing police functions by using security firms. Hang on a minute…….!!!!!!!

It’s all About the Timing.

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Is it me or is the timing of a recent newspaper article very suspicious? I refer to a Manchester Evening News article which first appeared on the 28th March 2012 which was then picked up by the national papers and published to allow those with issues to make something more serious out of a stupid prank. The sinister aspect of this newspaper story will become apparent. It is yet another Neal Keeling story which has got to be leaked from within the Greater Manchester Police unProfessional Standards Department, first reported here on this very blog following a tip-off by a concerned citizen. Neal Keeling at the Manchester Evening News must have some black on someone at GMP to keep coming up with these exclusives. Maybe Manchester should have their own Leveson type inquiry into press and police relations.

Stupidity in a Uniform!

This is a story about two firearms officers who have allowed themselves to be photographed by a firearms trainer apparently, in a stupid and infantile situation. It is insensitive because of the recent history of the GMP firearms department. What interests me, having also read in the recent past, is the fact that, quietly tucked away was the report in this and other papers, GMP are to face prosecution of the death of Ian Terry who was shot by a colleague in a training exercise. The prosecution is to be brought under Health and Safety legislation. The prosecution means that some senior officers may face significant consequences with the vicarious liability lying firmly with Peter Fahy, the Chief Constable. I can just see them all now lubricating their epaulettes to left shoulder the blame from them to their junior ranks. So, how fortunate to have an ace in the bag, so to speak, in the form of this photograph.

I may be cynical but this photograph was found on the computer of another firearms officer investigated for a drugs matter. The computer being seized by the uPSD as part of the enquiry when the officer was arrested. The photograph has been in the possession of the uPSD for something like 10 months but has only just materialised. How strange!?! Surely a breach of security like this may affect any proceedings in the drugs matter. How can we trust the integrity of the evidence? If this evidence has not been leaked by the uPSD then how has it got to the public domain?

Surely a photograph as sensitive and embarrassing as this to GMP would have been kept in a secure cabinet with limited access to a limited number of officers, wouldn’t it? Here is a scenario for you to consider. GMP will need a defence to the Health and Safety prosecution. What better to insist that the policies and procedures in respect of firearms training are robust and fit for purpose and then display the photograph as an example of the lack of discipline and horseplay in a training environment which is so evident in this stupid prank? This breach of GMP’s security stinks to high heaven. Am I the only one who can smell it? Watch this space.

The Consequence of Privatisation

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The privatisation of the police has to stop. If it doesn’t then there will be more examples of outright criminal incompetence by these private consortiums without the safeguards that are in place when the task remains with the police. Last week Peter Fahy provided an ACPO press release attempting to justify the tendering of police duties out to private industry. For those of you who are unaware, ACPO is actually a misrepresentation as they recruit non police officers into their ranks. The stupidity of the task is that it involves spending billions of pounds on policing the public without police officers! And that, somehow, makes the service better.

ACPO President

However, Peter Fahy has been strangely quiet following an example of what the public can expect when we outsource policing duties and ancillary functions namely the total and utter failure of the service. Take a look at the Manchester Evening News report into Adam Scott, 19 years, who was falsely accused of rape following the contamination of a DNA sample by LGC Forensics who just happen to be a privately run forensic service. Not content with cocking up the DNA sample, they are unable to immediately identify where the contamination has occurred. How does that fit in with disclosure and continuity of exhibits?

Setting Standards? Just don't step in it!

Adam Scott from Cornwall somehow gets charged with a rape in a park in Manchester despite him never having been there and then gets remanded in Strangeways Prison for 4 months before the incompetent buffoons actually realise they’ve ballsed it up. The whole integrity of DNA as an investigative tool is now being called into question. That’s privatisation for you. If this is not resisted now then more and more unaccountable firms will enter the fray and the whole integrity of the criminal justice system will cease to exist, being replaced by profit margins and the wishes of shareholders.

Ever since 1829, the police have been a great success justified by showing that policing by consent still exists as we remain one of the few unarmed police services in the world. What we don’t need are university academics and butterfly senior police officers creating a private security industry that they could then retire to an executive position. Now there’s a thought…. but, of course, I’m a cynic!

You Learn Something New Every Day.

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In view of the fact the ACPO are currently selling out police services in a back door conspiracy with Police Authorities I am resurrecting this post which I had abandoned not so long ago. In this post I have to thank Mr Derek Smith, formerly of the West Midlands Police, for not being able to keep it in his trousers, allegedly, for providing me with today’s new “learn something new every day” fact. In fact Mr Smith’s alleged indiscretion has meant that I have learned 2 things.

The first thing I have learned is that if a cop is caught shagging on duty then he is invariably charged with the criminal offence of misconduct in a public office. You don’t realise just how many times I check that I have put an ‘L’ in public. Yet when a civilian finance director for West Midlands Police is caught with his pants down, so to speak, he is allowed to retire from a job paying £121,000. Surely, if a civilian member of staff is doing a police job then they are in a public office.

Secondly, despite never having ever been a police officer, he was a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers, that well known business organisation which represents their own interests and not any of the general public. On their website they have the following headline:

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) brings together the expertise and experience of chief police officers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing a professional forum to share ideas and best practice, co-ordinate resources and help deliver effective policing which keeps the public safe.

Their membership page states further:

There are presently 334 members of ACPO. Collectively, the 334 leading police executives provide a critical and an informed understanding of the complexity of policing at local, regional and national levels. Chief officers’ work through ACPO is ‘on top of the day job’ and attracts no additional remuneration.

The question I ask is whether ACPO policy is affected or influenced by persons who are not police officers? Mr Smith may be the best counter of cash in the world but what does he know about policing? It appears that his best efforts have been to resist the payment of legitimately incurred expenses, so it seems only natural that he should be able to advise on ACPO policy. Are there others like him similarly providing an “informed” understanding by sub contracting police duties to the highest bidder?

These people are running the police forces of this country. Take a look at the official press release from ACPO. Should we be worried? Dead right we should!

Get A Grip!?!

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Has anyone been shocked by the level of collusion between some senior officers in the Metropolitan Police and journalists from the News of the World? I have been astounded by the double dealing in the application of standards throughout my police service never more highlighted than when senior officers get in the mire. Only on this occasion, they have no-one else to blame other than themselves.

However, the difficulty I have with the scenarios that I have seen throughout the press and media relating to our old favourites Andy Hayman and John Yates is how a Federated Rank would be dealt with in a similar situation. I am certain that there would have been criminal enquiries into the conduct of an officer facing such allegations but, it seems that officers of this rank simply cast it aside with a flippant flick of their wrist or phrase.

The evidence against John Yates includes the press seemingly wishing to call in favours or bottles of champagne as they call them. The evidence that meals and drinks were paid for on Police credit cards is offensive to my integrity and when I feel that something is wrong, it normally is. Even if he paid the money back. The fact that he wined and dined journalists at super expensive restaurants is highly unprofessional.

The public need to know that the police is at serious risk of being fatally undermined by managers like these. In the latest news it seems that at least 2 police forces are seeking to outsource crime investigation and street patrols in a multi-billion pound package. Money which would be better spent by ACPO Ltd and the Police Authorities on real police. Otherwise, make sure you have your credit card handy when you want to report a crime!!!

Is it any wonder when the calibre of Senior ACPO rank feel that it is in order to consort with the press? The mere fact that they chose to do so, should be investigated in the same way I would be. When will someone get a grip?

Police? Could You……..?

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Could you live for a day with no pay? How about a week or perhaps a month? What impact would it have upon your life, on your family, on your well being or on your sanity to have absolutely no income for any length of time because of something you did in performing a police duty? What’s the likelihood of being subject of a criminal investigation and facing a lengthy court hearing. Very, very easy, as it happens. Don’t think any of those hypocrites wearing highly polished buttons and insignia will care. Of course, if you are a regular police officer then you have no worries on this account. This is because you are entitled to pay when you work and also under Regulation 10 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008 you are entitled to pay when you are suspended. However, if you are a Special Constable then you are not similarly protected.

Shame!

This issue has come to the fore following a recent small claims court matter in Greater Manchester where a Special Constable was REFUSED expenses namely subsistence and loss of earnings whilst defending himself at court. It did not matter that he was with two regular officers who were paid their salary and received their allowances for the same period and performing the same duties. Furthermore, don’t think this is an issue involving guilt or innocence. Quite simply, if you are a Special Police Officer then you face a significant financial jeopardy every time you pull on a police uniform. The stupidity of the decision is that if a regular Officer, Special, PCSO, Detention Officer and Civilian Staff member all attended an incident together, everyone would be paid during the investigation and court case EXCEPT the Special! Don’t believe me then ask your Chief Officer of Specials to get in touch with his namesake at GMP!!

It has caused so much angst and anxiety amongst Specials in Greater Manchester that they have been holding meetings in the previous week as they recognise the precarious nature of their duties. The scenario they now face, as do potentially all Specials in this country, is that should they be subject to a complaint of a criminal nature then they would have to defend themselves in their own time or rely upon a benevolent employer to foot the bill in respect of salary or earnings for the Special, entirely due to the fact that the job won’t pay you. So concerned are many that they are considering resigning because of the disadvantage it presents to them when facing ever increasing calls on their time. It is likely that the cost of solicitors and barristers would still be met by the local police authority but attendance at interviews, solicitor and barrister appointments and any attendance at court would not attract any loss of earnings placing the Special at a serious and significant detriment and certainly at odds to the payment of salary to their regular colleagues.

Significantly disadvantaged and in real financial jeopardy

The jeopardy is apparent for Specials, put on your police uniform and you may lose your access to your livelihood for performing exactly the same duties as your regular colleagues. It is up to you whether you believe this or not. Just make sure that you don’t do anything that could possibly mean you end up defending yourself through the criminal or misconduct process because you WON’T be paid loss of earnings whilst everyone else will. At least, if it happens to you, you cannot say you weren’t warned. Special Constables work for nothing and have no representative body to address these potentially life changing financial imbalances as they are not members of the Police Federation. As a Special Constable said to me, “Any Special who goes out performing any duty in this country in uniform thinking he will be protected by the job in the event of an allegation being made must be crazy.”

Beyond Credibility

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At the outset of this blog I have to express my thanks to……….. well, you know who you are, for this invaluable Nugget of information. As always I am indebted to those who seek to blow the whistle on senior officer idiocy, corruption and downright incompetence and provide relevant information through the email portal of noblecausecorruption@hotmail.co.uk. Now, after hopefully whetting your appetite, I shall begin.

Money to Burn

It has come to the attention of NCC that the senior management of Greater Manchester Police have approved and set up a course at their Sedgley Park training school which provides advice to relatively new recruits on how to spot someone who they should then question and search (hereafter called “turn over”). If this is true then surely Greater Manchester Police, who need to save over £100 Million off their budget, must be wasting thousands of pounds in this pointless exercise. Please tell me that it isn’t true….somebody!

Friend or Foe?

Apparently, the course involves theory based and practical work spotting someone who is suspicious and deserves to be turned over. I can only shudder to think how they set these practical lessons up. Perhaps they have a stock of striped t-shirts and swag bags to assist the profiling. When I was a raw recruity we actually did this at the initial training course and laughed wholeheartedly when it went t*ts up and the poor recruit ended up not knowing his arse from his elbow. I am amazed at the failure of senior command if we have to train people to recognise a criminal or even approach people who aren’t suspicious and actually speak to them….God Forbid!

It would be seriously funny if it wasn’t just a few days ago that GMP tried to convince their police authority to “sack” (the other name for A19) its experienced officers who have qualified for a pension. Clearly their financial managers need to check their budgets because if they can waste money on an escapade like this then they have savings to make elsewhere, other than cutting police numbers.

On a final note totally aside from the boll*cks by GMP, many will have noticed the slight change to the Noble Cause Corruption blog. The adverts are a way to finance my investment into the website and to keep this blog running. Everybody’s happy!

Thanks for your continued support and input.