South Wales Police

Thursday 17th May 2012 is IDAHO, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The day aims to encourage improvements in society and create and sustain a positive quality of life for LGBT communities.

To celebrate, Superintendent Liane Bartlett delivered a speech on the steps of the main building in Headquarters to raise awareness of IDAHO. 

The Rainbow Flag has also been raised across the South Wales Police estate.

Superintendent Liane Bartlett said:

“Here at South Wales Police, our values are to be proud, professional and positive. We can all make a difference and contribute to ensuring that improvements are made to the quality of life of LGBT people within our workplace and communities.

“The flags symbolise our pledge to our communities that we will tackle all crime, including any homophobic hate crime and would encourage residents to report any issues to us.”

A poster campaign has also been launched in force in support of the day.

ENDS

South Wales, Gwent and Dyfed Powys Police Forces launch a Joint Firearms Training Unit.

The Unit will bring together Firearms Training Specialists at one location; Waterton in Bridgend. Twenty four officers and members of staff from the three forces involved, will make up the Unit. They will deliver firearms training to command, specialist and Armed Response Vehicle officers from the three forces.

This collaboration project will provide resilience and increased access to resources and expertise. It will also ensure that training, policy and procedures, are standardised to the highest level across all three Force areas.

The project is expected to create potential savings in terms of training delivery and shared equipment costs.

Leading the collaboration, Gwent Police DCC, Jeff Farrar said:

"The Joint Firearms Training Unit is a fine example of neighbouring Forces combining resources and expertise to ensure that our local communities continue to receive a first class service which can be efficient, effective and resilient in years to come.

"This collaboration project will deliver a number of benefits. All three Forces will have access to a larger and more resilient pool of firearms experts, a single centre of excellence, and the best training facilities available."

Joint Director of Human Resources for Gwent and South Wales Police, Mark Milton, said:

"The joint training team and advanced facility is part of a learning environment dedicated to the professionalism of Officers and Staff. Working jointly is not only efficient but will enable us to make use of the best skills and knowledge from three forces”.

The facilities at the Waterton Site include a 50 metre and 180 degree live firing range with a laser video system, utilised for tactical, judgemental and requalification shoots. An outside tactical area including a skills house and method of entry rig where tactics, including abseil, can be refined and practiced, along with classrooms for lectures and office space for the daily running of the Unit.

Initial Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) training is made up of an 8-10 week course. Once qualified, AFOs are required to attend refresher training three to four times a year. These officers then have the opportunity to specialise in further roles, such as rifle, protection and hostage release which can be delivered locally at the Joint Firearms Training Unit.

This move follows the establishment of a number of other collaborative ventures including Legal Services (South Wales Police and Gwent Police) and the Joint Scientific Investigations Unit (South Wales Police and Gwent Police).

A bobby is making a visit to every Police HQ for the Commando999 charity.

PC Mark Robinson from Grampian Police arrived at South Wales Police HQ on Thursday 19th April 2012 as part of his 3300 mile ‘Going The Extra Mile 2012’ fundraising motorcycle ride; visiting the HQ of every police force in Wales, Scotland and England.

He started the challenge on Tuesday 17th April and it will take 10 days to complete; with the ride ending at the Metropolitan Police New Scotland Yard building. There he will be met by Lorraine Kelly who is an ambassador for the Commando999 charity in aid of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

On arrival at South Wales Police, PC Robinson was met by Acting Deputy Chief Constable Julian Kirby who presented a force plaque to mark the visit and help with the fundraising. Each force is giving a plaque which will later be auctioned off to raise funds for the charity.

Acting Deputy Chief Constable Julian Kirby said “We are very pleased to support the charity motorcycle ride which will help raise funds and increase awareness about the work of the Commando999 charity. It was great to welcome Mark to South Wales Police HQ and we all wish him the very best for the remainder of the ride.”

The photograph features PC Mark Robinson and his Kawasaki Police Demonstrator motorcycle with Acting Deputy Chief Constable Julian Kirby at South Wales Police HQ.   

Further information on the Commando 999 charity can be found at www.commando999.com

The latest crime figures released today (April 19th) show the streets of South Wales are still getting safer with a 6,6% drop in crime across the region in 2011.

The figures, released by the Home Office (for the 12 month period to December 2011) reveal that overall, crime in the South Wales Police area has fallen by 6.6%.

This is equivalent to 6,354 fewer victims of crime or more than 17 fewer victims every day, marking South Wales Police as having the fifth biggest reduction in crime overall of the 43 forces in England and Wales.

Criminal damage has dropped significantly by 15.9% - the highest reduction in England and Wales.

The number of homes burgled reduced by 6.6% and robberies fell by 11.6%.

Assistant Chief Constable Julian Kirby said: “The reality of these figures is that fewer people are becoming victims of crime.

“6,354 fewer people became a victim of crime over the period and I commend our staff who have worked hard to deliver this fantastic performance.

“This has been another challenging year for the organisation due to the budget cuts, but we have never been more focused on the job in hand. We are changing the organisation for the better to ensure we work smarter and faster, there when the public needs us and arresting criminals to go before the courts.

“This includes making changes to our staff structures so officers are in the best place to deal with incidents and investigate them. Today’s figures also show more crimes are being solved.

“We will not stop targeting people who drive up crime by repeatedly committing offences and behaving anti-socially. They should know that we will not leave them alone and there is always a space in our cells for them, but we are working with our partners and the probation service to help them find another path away from crime.

“We will carry on trying to prevent incidents before they happen through education and raising awareness, but we can’t do it alone.

“We hope the public will continue to support us by calling 101 to pass on information they have about crime, suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour in their area.”

Additional Information:

Recorded crime down 6.6% (5th biggest reduction)

Latest figures reveal there were 6,354 fewer victims of crime

Robbery down 11.6% (11th biggest reduction)

Dwelling burglaries down 6.6% (18th biggest reduction)

Vehicle crime down 14.2% (6th biggest reduction)

Criminal damage down 15.9% (*Highest reduction in the country)

Assault with injury down 11.2% (11th biggest reduction)

Sanction detection rate up by 0.8%, from 31.4% to 33.1%

Almost 2000 drivers and passengers were stopped for not wearing a seatbelt during a two week awareness campaign across Wales.

Launched at the Airbus in the UK plant in Flintshire on March 12 with the support of Welsh emergency services, councils and road safety groups, police forces across Wales found that 1,917 motorists and passengers were travelling while not wearing their seatbelts.

Officers carried out targeted patrols to stop and if appropriate, fine drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts.

The results reveal that hundreds of motorists continue to break the law and ignore a simple safety measure. 

•        North Wales force area:  563

•        South Wales force area: 230

•        Dyfed Powys force area: 843

•        Gwent force area: 281

It is estimated that every year more than 1,000 lives are saved in the UK as a direct result of wearing a seatbelt.

A similar all Wales campaign last year caught 2163 breaking the seat belt law and the latest campaign reveals that the level of non-compliance is still high.

South Wales Police Road Safety Officer Wayne Tucker said: “It is disappointing that 230 seatbelt offences were detected in the South Wales force area during this campaign.

"We want to encourage both drivers and passengers to recognise the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt , and these results show there are still people across Wales who are unnecessarily jeopardising their safety.

"We are also finding that some people are choosing to wear seatbelts under their arms rather than across their bodies. By not wearing a seatbelt in the correct manner, people are still putting themselves at risk of life-changing injuries if they’re involved in a collision.

“The consequences of not belting up can be fatal, and we are determined to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”

This year’s campaign was led by North Wales Police.

North Wales Police Deputy Chief Constable Ian Shannon said: “There is evidence that people are less likely to use seatbelts on short or familiar journeys, but even on short, familiar journeys and at low speeds this puts them at serious risk of injury or death in a crash.

“Always wear a seatbelt. In a crash you are far more likely to die if you don’t. We are determined to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

“We will continue to be robust to ensure all drivers and passengers wear seatbelts and pursue an active approach, all year round, to educate motorists and enforce seatbelt laws.”

Motorists and passengers who choose to risk their lives by not wearing a seatbelt could receive a £60 Fixed Penalty Notice or a court imposed fine up to £500.

Every year police throughout Wales along with partners run a number of road safety campaigns based around the ‘Fatal 5’ – the five main contributory factors in fatal road traffic collisions.

•        driving without a seatbelt

•        drink and drug driving

•        driving while using a mobile phone

•        speeding

•        careless and dangerous driving

This year’s campaign will be followed by campaigns focusing on these contributory factors during the year.

ENDS

Primary and Junior school pupils from across South Wales have been very busy in helping to raise awareness about internet safety.

As part of Safer Internet Day 2012 a poster competition was launched by the Public Protection Department. It was targeted at pupils aged 11 and under. The overall winning poster was designed by Joel Screen, aged 7, from Morriston Primary School in Swansea.

Joel’s poster featured the message ‘never share your address details online’. It got the judges’ attention with some brilliant colouring, clear messaging, and a very nasty green monster.

Other winners included a large pull out poster by Caira Rossiter, aged 11 from Tai Education Centre in Rhondda Cynon Taff, and a colourful poster by Ton Pentre Junior School Year 6 pupil, Lilly Lewis.

Detective Chief Inspector Sue Hurley and the judging panel had a very tough time picking the winner from the hundreds of entries received.

Sue Hurley said “The competition has generated a record -breaking response and it has helped us to engage with the pupils of South Wales and share important internet safety messages. This type of initiative is so important in raising awareness about the need to keep safe online.”

Each school that took part in the poster competition will be issued with a well deserved certificate in recognition of their support to Safer Internet Day.

Joel, Caira and Lilly will be awarded with winner certificates along with a VIP visit to police HQ. Their posters will also be made into large banners. The overall winner Joel will receive a police Lego set.

A big thanks to all the schools and pupils who took part.

For further information on keeping safe online please visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Two members of South Wales Police named as ‘torchbearers’

Inspector Simon Merrick and Web Manager Mike Shears will be carrying the Olympic Torch when it arrives in Wales in just 50 days time.

Both Simon and Mike are among 8000 people who will be taking part in the torch relay and were nominated for their work in the community.

Mike Shears said “I was nominated and accepted for my charity work in the community. My family are very proud and excited. I feel incredibly honoured to have this opportunity and will be running 300 metres in the Treorchy area. I will be running in memory of my mother, brother and godmother. I cannot wait for the day to arrive.”

Inspector Simon Merrick said “I was nominated because of my career in athletics and my involvement in running football teams for young people. I felt such immense pride when I found out that I would be carrying the torch. It’s something that all sports fans would want to be involved with and it’s a dream come true.”

For further information on the Olympic Torch Relay route around Wales please visit http://goo.gl/jDZGD 

Home Office Publish Anti-Social Behaviour Report

The Home Office have published an Anti-Social Behaviour Report today which summarises the findings of eight police forces which trialled new approaches to handling calls from the public.

The police forces which volunteered for the trials included South Wales Police, Avon and Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Metropolitan, Sussex and West Mercia. These forces designed their own projects and have reported some encouraging initial results.

These included better working relationships with other agencies, an improved service to the victim and the start of a shift in culture, with call handlers responding to the needs of the victim, rather than just ticking boxes.

The report is called: 'Focus on the victim: Summary report on the ASB call handling trials’ and explains how the changing attitudes of police and partners is the key to tackling anti-social behaviour, in addition to focusing on the victims.

Lord Henley Minister for Crime Prevention and Anti-social Behaviour Reduction said: 'The trials show some encouraging results and the difference, a shift-in-attitude, can make.

'The starting point must be the impact that behaviour is having on victims.  But there is much more still to do, which is why we are overhauling the whole system to put the needs of victims at the heart of our work to tackle this issue.'

The report also features detailed information about the individual projects to encourage other forces to consider introducing them in their local areas.

The call handling trials are just one element of the wider reforms of anti-social behaviour.

To view the report please visit http://goo.gl/7W8Pl 

South Wales Police and Gwent Police have come together to produce the Joint Scientific Investigation Unit, which will save millions of pounds in public money and provide a better service to victims of crime.

As a single Centre of Excellence working towards ISO accreditation, the new Unit, consisting of staff from both forces will be located in Bridgend at the South Wales Police Headquarters site and also at Rumney Police Station in Cardiff.