Plans for PCC's to oversee fire services 'dangerous'

Picture courtesy of the Press Association.

Plans to allow fire and rescue services in England to be overseen by police and crime commissioners have been called "dangerous" by the Fire Brigades Union. The Home Office is due to take control of fire and rescue policy in 2016, with the government consulting on emergency services working together more closely. Ministers argue it could lead to large savings and benefits to the public. But the FBU said PCCs governing fire and rescue services would cause the "fragmentation" of emergency services.

'Threaten' public trust

Currently fire and rescue services are overseen by bodies made up of local councillors. The government has said it wants to see a more joined-up approach in the way police and fire services work together.

As well as proposing to make PCCs responsible for some fire services, it has also said that fire chiefs could become chief constables and run both police and fire services under a PCC. But the FBU said associations with the police could damage the trust firefighters have built in their communities.

In a statement on its website, the union said PCCs did not "bring any skills or expertise to the the fire and rescue service", with some having an "unfortunate record for ill-judged interference in operational matters". It added: "Enabling PCCs to govern fire and rescue services will neither deliver economic, efficient or effective emergency services, nor optimise public safety.

'Half baked suggestion'

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack described the proposal as a "half baked suggestion" and accused "one or two" PCCs supporting the plan of "empire building". He told the BBC: "There's very little evidence, there's no research been carried out, there's no support for it among firefighters and there's no support for it among police officers, there's no support among local communities and yet the government seems to be intent on forcing it though." But Surrey PCC Kevin Hurley said: "There are many similarities in the way in which fire services and police services work, the way they are trained, the way they acquire their equipment and so on."

Mr Hurley said it would be better for the services to work together to support merging "back office functions" and "make the best of this in the public interest", rather than trying to block the proposals.

"Money is always going to be an issue in terms of what the fire service or police can put out into the field, and there are all sorts of opportunities to take cost out and put that money back into the front line," he added.

Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "determined" to improve efficiency in fire and rescue services. She said fire services had poor procurement, IT systems and buildings management and indicated plans to introduce an independent inspectorate as well as ordering routine performance data to be published. Mrs May said: "I look at the fire and rescue service and I see the need for many of the same reforms that I started in policing five years ago. "Better local accountability, more transparency and a relentless focus on efficiency. "So, while I continue to finish the job of reform in policing, I am also determined to properly kick start the job of reform in fire."

She added that allowing PCCs to take over fire and rescue authorities would "provide direct, democratic accountability in fire as we now have in policing".

The FBU said the plans were a "smokescreen for the government's cost-cutting" and would negatively affect polices forces, too.

Article courtesy of the BBC.

Christmas greetings to bloggers everywhere

I send my warmest Christmas greetings to all my blogger friends and hope that you and your families will be blessed with much joy, love and peace as we celebrate the reason for the Season:->

The Holy Family Mary, Joseph and the infant child Jesus

May the New Year bring you the blessing of great happiness and good health. I am very mindful that I have neglected my postings in recent months for which I apoligize to my regular readers, especially my most loyal blogger Annette. I will try my best to rectify that situation in 2016.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Heartfelt congratulations to our beloved Queen Elizabeth on becoming, last week, the longest ever serving Sovereign of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, surpassing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years and 226 days.

A remarkable achievement and one served with outstanding loyalty and dedication to all of her subjects both at home and throughout the Commonwealth of Nations.

Long may she continue to reign over us and may God bless her with good health and wise counsel.

Since the age of 8 Her Majesty has been my Queen. I still proudly possess the silver Coronation spoon presented to me at our local Coronation sports day. Many years later I was on uniformed police duty when she visited Plymouth during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977.

I also thank God for the whole Royal Family and HRH Prince Philip in particular for his constant love and support of Her Majesty throughout her extremely long reign.

True friends are priceless

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT . DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE. THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND , 'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE'. THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH. THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: 'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'. THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM WHY? HE REPLIED, 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE. THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN , AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM !

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Lose with dignity. Win with humility

Car with toy Llama strapped to roof stopped by Police

The interestingly decorated hatchback has been driving around Sussex with music blaring and the boot open !

Courtesy of Scott Docherty - www.policeoracle.com Picture credit: Sussex West RPU/Twitter

Spotted on the beach !

Two priests went off to Ibiza on holiday and decided that they would make this a real vacation by not wearing anything that would identify them as members of the clergy.

As soon as the plane landed, they headed straight to a clothes shop and bought some really outrageous shorts and shirts, sandals and sunglasses,etc.

The next morning, they went to the beach, dressed in their "tourist garb" and were sitting on beach beds, enjoying a drink, the sunshine and the scenery when a beautiful blonde in a tiny bikini came walking straight towards them. They could not help but stare and when she passed them she turned to them, smiled and said, "Good morning Father, good morning Father," nodding and addressing each of them individually, then passed on by.They were both stunned - how in the world did she recognize them as priests ?

The next day they went back to the clothes store, bought even more outrageous outfits - these were so loud, you could hear them before you even saw them ! And again they settled on the beach in their sunbeds to enjoy the sunshine, etc.

After a while the same gorgeous blonde, wearing a string bikini this time, came walking towards them again. (They were glad they had their sunglasses on because their eyes were about to pop out of their heads).

Again, she approached them and greeted them individually: "Good morning Father, good morning Father," and started to walk away.

One of the priests could not stand it any longer and said, "Just a minute young lady. Yes, we are priests, and proud of it, but I have to know, how in the world did YOU know?"

She replied, "Oh Father, don't you recognize me,..............I'm Sister Immaculata !"

Postscript: Lord, Give me a sense of humour. Give me the ability to appreciate a clean joke.

St. George Patron Saint of England

Thursday, 23rd April, 2015

St. George was an extremely fine Roman soldier who, apart from the myth of slaying the dragon; was, according to many academic scholars, tortured and executed by beheading in 303.AD by Emperor Diocletian for refusing to relinquish his Christian faith. He did however, bequeath his wealth to the poor before paying the ultimate sacrifice, hence his subsequent elevation to Sainthood.

The Plantagenet King Edward III of England (1327 - 1377) adopted St. George as his hero and took the red cross of St. George as his military banner into several victorious battles. Following the battle of Agincourt in 1415 the former King decreed that St. George would become a national feast day and it has remained so ever since.

In the present day when we are seeing so many Christians being persecuted and executed by extreme religious fundamentalists in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, it is more important than ever that we commemorate our Patron Saint. We must stand together and be proud to be patriotic to our beloved country.

"God for Elizabeth, England and St George"!

Happy St. George's Day to all English folk everywhere

Better than a flu' jab !

Miss Beatrice, the church organist,was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness and kindness to all.

One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea...

As he sat facing her old Hammond organ, the young minister noticed a cut glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water, and in the water floated of all things, a condom!

When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist.

'Miss Beatrice', he said, 'I wonder if you would tell me about this? pointing to the bowl. 'Oh, yes,' she replied, "Isn't it wonderful?

I was walking through the park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven't had the flu all winter."

Police Officer buys food for shoplifter's baby son

US officer shows the 'human behind the badge" as he pays for milk that a hard-up father was accused of stealing.

An alleged shoplifter has been released without charge after an officer bought the powdered milk he was accused of stealing for his young son.

Officer Justin Roby (pictured), from Kentucky refused to detain the man on the grounds that it wouldn't "have done any good for him".

The London Police Department officer is also a father himself and said that the incident illustrated some of the ethical decisions police are faced with in their duty to uphold the law.

He said: "I think when [people] look at us, they see the uniform and the car, the tools we have on our belt.

"But behind the uniform, I'm a human being and I'm a person out in this community just like any of them. I have a little boy. I'm a father just like that gentleman was.

"We're not robots, there's a human behind the badge."

When called to the supermarket to deal with the incident on January 17, he was faced with the single dad and decided to pay for the item he was accused of stealing for his six-month-old son.

He then referred the man, who had fallen upon hard times, to social welfare organisations, including his own police force to try and give him a helping hand.

Officer Roby told WKYT: "He's already short on money, can't afford formula, so me making him appear in court he's still not going to have any food for that baby.

"As a police officer, it's not black and white for us, there's a lot of grey and you have to cipher through everything and you really need to figure out the whole story."

Article courtesy of Scott Docherty - www.policeoracle.com

Cuts have consequences !

As the nation gears up for the General Election in May, Royston Martis of www.policeoracle.com, examines how those in policing are increasingly speaking out about the devastating impact cuts are having.

You cannot cut £2.5 billion from the policing budget in England and Wales – as has happened during this Parliament - without there being consequences.

The main consequence to date has been a huge fall in police numbers. In March 2010, there were 244,497 people working in policing. There are now 209,362, down more than 35,135.

As we know, there are 16,000 fewer police officers.

Another consequence has been the detrimental changes to police officer pay and conditions for those that have remained in the job.

As we start a General Election year - what is next when it comes to policing?

Just before Christmas, we heard that the policing budget was going to be slashed by another £300 million in 2015/16 with the promise of more cuts to come.

With predictions from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary that the service will have to save the same again – so another £2.5 billion – between now and 2019 there is going to be much more pain.

This time the public – as well as police officers – will feel it.

Will police officers be able to deal with mental health issues? Cyber-crime and reports of child sexual exploitation? Human trafficking?

The list could go on.

Representatives from the Police Federation of England and Wales across the country have long been trying to get this message across.

The efforts of Essex Police Federation and their #CutsHaveConsequences campaign – of which I must declare an interest – will hopefully make a difference and raise public awareness of the devastating cuts to policing.

Helping this will be the fact chief officers have now vocally joined the debate.

ACPO has estimated that 34,000 police jobs will disappear over the next three years. “The deepest cuts to policing I have ever known,” said Sir Hugh Orde, outgoing president of the organisation.

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe wrote in the Guardian: “There’s a bigger risk to public safety if we don’t take radical action.

“We’ve saved hundreds of millions already, but from 2016 onwards it will be much harder.”

Lynne Owens, Chief Constable of Surrey Police, also added her voice to the growing chorus by questioning what functions policing would have to abandon with continuing cuts in an interview with a national newspaper.

"It’s inevitable that cuts will have operational consequences,” she said.

Sadly, as has often been stated, the current government has long displayed no desire to listen to policing professionals. But MPs of all colours will listen to the public.

Particularly in a General Election year when they are relying on people to vote for them.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld said: “The public is not being asked whether policing should be run down to the dangerous level that is currently planned. It is high time it was.”

Let’s hope the public start listening - and then let politicians of all parties know how they feel on policing.

And that they all realise that cuts have consequences.

Article courtesy of Royston Martis - www.policeoracle.com

Police expect increase in Drone offences

Recipients of this years' must-have Christmas gift are warned that the misuse of a UAV constitutes a criminal offence.

Police are anticipating a rise in offences committed by drone operators as the device soars in popularity.

It has been estimated that the number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the UK has approached 50,000, after it was named one of this years "must have" Christmas gifts.

Concerns for safety, as well as privacy, have been made as the accessibility of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles has risen in recent months.

Police now want to ensure that the thousands of new users are aware of existing legislation governing their use.

Drones were described as last years' must have Christmas gift and can be purchased for as little as £30 online.

There is also increased regulation on drones that are equipped with video recording facilities.

Users of drones with cameras are banned from flying them within 150 metres of a congested area or a large gathering of people.

Flying one within 50 metres of a "vessel, vehicle or structure" that is not owned by the operator, or close to sensitive areas such as airports and military bases is also prohibited.

So far the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has had two successful prosecutions resulting from drone misuse and have another five investigations pending.

The first successful prosecution happened last year against a man in Cumbria who flew one over a nuclear testing facility in Barrow-in-Furness.

Recently, a senior Met officer warned that to fly the devices in central London would constitute a criminal offence.

Chief Inspector Nick Aldworth from the Met's Specialist Operations unit said: "I compare them to cars. They are perfectly legal to own, but it is very easy to break laws when you are driving."

He added: "One of the challenges is to get people to realise what is legitimate and what is stretching the boundaries of law. The message is do not bring these machines into Central London, if you do you will be committing an offence."

Only last month a passenger jet at Heathrow Airport was involved in a "near miss" with a drone has prompted the CAA to remind owners of existing regulation.

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said the breaching of specific drone regulations is illegal under the Air Navigation Order, but if a member of the public was harmed as a result of irresponsible flying - it would solely be a police matter.

Article courtesy of Scott Docherty - www.policeoracle.com