Dual G4S and Lincolnshire Police logos on uniforms

 The thin end of the wedge ! We have gone beyond the beginning of the end now, surely...What do you think ?

A uniform combining the name of a police force with a private company logo is being worn for what is thought to be the first time. The uniforms are being worn by about 200 staff who transferred from Lincolnshire Police to G4S (Group4Securicor), including front counter staff at police stations. The Police Federation said the uniforms - also worn by control room and custody staff - would confuse the public. However, Lincolnshire Police said the uniforms would not make a difference.

Chief Constable Neil Rhodes said: "I firmly believe that the community is more interested in cops out on the beat rather than a small additional logo on the epaulettes of inquiry office staff. "Staff in our inquiry offices and control room wear uniform. We've added the G4S logo to that uniform to identify them as partnership staff. "They are still very much part of the Lincolnshire Police family and it's important that the public are able to see them as such when they call in our inquiry offices." Uniform reflects partnership. About 550 civilian staff employed by Lincolnshire Police Authority - two-thirds of the total - transferred to G4S on 1 April. The security company said this was the first time it had formed a "strategic partnership" with a police force, and the new uniform reflected this. The uniforms are also worn by control room staff at the police headquarters. A G4S spokesperson said: "It is worn by employees working in departments such as the force control room and custody as well as by town inquiry officers. "There are no plans to introduce the dual logo elsewhere."

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, said the uniforms would "cause confusion in the public mind" and be less of a deterrent to criminals. "The people who we are trying to target will know the difference immediately," he said. "The deterrent effect of having warranted officers is lost." Government cuts. Other police forces and authorities are considering similar contracts with G4S and representatives from 38 attended a seminar at the Lincolnshire Police headquarters this week. Mr McKeever said he was concerned about an "explosion" in the number of police personnel who aren't directly accountable to the public. "I think all police forces are having to look at very radical ideas because of the low priority the government has given to police spending. "These are some of the consequences," he said. "G4S aren't doing anything wrong. They are doing what any private company would want to do, which is make profit and expand their organisation"

Low Morale in UK Police Service

Police Federation regional officers talk about the low morale amongst officers across England and Wales



What do you think ? You are invited to post your comments below. I would particularly welcome comments from serving warranted officers. Is morale as bad as portrayed by the Police Federation representatives ? If the current situation is as bad as asserted in the video then it is essential that all fair minded citizens, who value an efficient and effective police service which is widely admired throughout the world, urgently write to our Members of Parliament and demand that the Government listens to the opinions of grass root officers before implementing the full recommendations of the Winsor Report into the reform of police pay, pensions, terms and conditions of service.

A demoralised police service is extremely dangerous in a parliamentary democracy which depends on the rule of law and order as the cornerstone tenet of maintaining freedom for all irrespective of race, religion or political persuasion, etc. etc.

Divine Intervention ?

A lady goes to her priest one day and tells him, 'Father, I have a problem.

I have two female parrots, but they only know to say one thing.'

'What do they say?' the priest asked.

They say, 'Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?'

'That's obscene!' the priest exclaimed, then he thought for a moment.....

'You know,' he said, 'I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the Bible...

Bring your two parrots over to my house, and we'll put them in the cage with Francis and Peter.

My parrots can teach your parrots to pray and worship, and your parrots are sure to stop saying... that phrase... in no time.'

'Thank you,' the woman responded, 'this may very well be the solution.'

The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest's house.... as he ushered her in, she saw that his two male parrots were inside their cage holding rosary beads and praying...

Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them...

After a few minutes, the female parrots cried out in unison:

Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?'

There was stunned silence... Shocked, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and says,



'Put the beads away, Frank, our prayers have been answered!

Memorial Service For Tragic Officer

The life of Police Constable David Rathband will be celebrated at Newcastle Cathedral with friends, family and the public to pay tribute.

A Memorial service dedicated to the life of PC David Rathband is to be open to the public, it has been confirmed.

PC Rathband (44) was found hanged at his home in Blyth, Northumberland on February 29, his inquest heard.

A memorial service organised by his family is to be held in St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle on Saturday March 10 - open to “all who want to say farewell”, his brother Darren has said.

The Cathedral has prepared for as many as 800 people to attend the service at 12pm and outside seating will also be provided if necessary.

PC Rathband, who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat in 2010, will then be buried in his home town of Stafford on March 17.

The Very Reverend Christopher Dalliston, who is presiding, said friends of the family are to deliver eulogies, and the story of PC Rathband’s life was also set to be read out.

He said: “It is very public and a well known story – people have a large amount of respect and sympathy for David Rathband and I think we will have a lot of people turn up.”

He added that the service was being organised by PC Rathband’s brother, Darren and father, Keith.

Northumbria Police has also announced its own memorial service for PC Rathband at a date yet to be confirmed. It said: “On behalf of his widow Kath and their children, all his colleagues will be invited to attend.”

This is set to take place in the week beginning March 18.

Article Courtesy of - Nic Brunetti - www.PoliceOracle.Com

Addendum following today's Memorial Service:



Pc Rathband's children Mia, 13, and Ashley, 19, were at the cathedral, along with actor Tim Healy, Northumbria Police chief constable Sue Sim, police minister Nick Herbert, members of the emergency services, and hundreds of members of the North East public who took the Midlander to their hearts.

He was shot and blinded while unarmed in his patrol car in July 2010 by gunman Raoul Moat.

He was found hanging at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, on February 29.

Six pallbearers from the police, fire and ambulance service carried his coffin through the cathedral.

In a heart-breaking speech, his twin said: "I have lost half of me.

"You don't get over it, you just get through it.

"Every day grief puts on a new face.

"My brother said to me 'you're a good brother', I say to my brother 'you're a great brother'.

"It is time to take my brother home."

PC David Rathband's Blue Lamp Foundation was established by him to raise funds for those members of all the Emergency Services injured in the line of duty as a result of a criminal act.

David ran, together with his guide Steve White, in last year's London Marathon on the 17th April, 2011, in aid of his Foundation. He completed this arduous task in a magnificent 6 hours and 49minutes. A giant of a man!

Registered charity number 1138319. He set a target of £10,000 and money raised so far amounts to £18,541.97 (185%) . On JustGiving since Oct 2010.

You can still donate at www.justgiving.com/pc-david-rathband

See The Funniest Hospital Sign in the UK !

Well Done, Northampton!!! Where else but the National Health in the UK?

Thank you Dr. Jane Richards & my friend & former colleague Derek Fisher for sending me this little gem which made me smile and LOL !

The Best Golfing Story I Have Heard !

Toward the end of the Sunday service, the Minister asked,"How many of you have forgiven your enemies?" 80% held up their hands.

The Minister then repeated his question.All responded this time, except one man,an avid golfer named Walter Barnes, who attended church only when the weather was bad.

"Mr. Barnes, it's obviously not a good morning for golf. It's good to see you here today. Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"

"I don't have any," he replied gruffly. "Mr Barnes, that is very unusual. How old are you?"

"Ninety-eight," he replied. The congregation stood up and clapped their hands.

"Oh, Mr. Barnes, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?"

The old golfer tottered down the aisle, stopped in front of the pulpit, turned around, faced the congregation, and said simply,

"I outlived the bastards."

When Hunger and War will pass away

If you have never heard this little girl sing, you won’t believe your eyes and ears! Speakers on !!! Jackie Evancho sings "To Believe" NB. The video may not play on some interface sites. Simply click on the YouTube link to watch but please do come back to my blog after viewing. Nearly one million people worldwide have watched the clip so far.

Artist's Biography

Like Hayley Westenra, Charlotte Church, and Sarah Brightman, soprano Jackie Evancho operates in the classical crossover realm. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native (who also plays violin and piano) wowed both the judges and the audience during the fifth season of America's Got Talent. Evancho began taking vocal lessons in 2008 at the age of eight. By 2010, she had already breezed through a local singing contest, started her own YouTube channel, released an album, and held the record as the world's youngest opera singer. Her independent debut, Prelude to a Dream, was released in 2009, followed by the holiday EP/DVD O Holy Night, the latter of which arrived via Columbia Records. In spring 2011, Evancho released Dream with Me, her full-length (non-seasonal) debut, which was produced by David Foster and featured a mix of arias, show tunes, and pop classics. Jackie Evancho: Dream with Me in Concert, a live performance of the songs that first captured the hearts of her audiences, along with new classical crossover selections, followed that fall. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi