Wednesday 18 June 2014

The Police Mutual Wellbeing Zone

Message from NARPO HQ
The Police Mutual Wellbeing Zone has now gone mobile see attached and below for Instructions on how to install.
Mobile App
Great news! The Wellbeing Zone is now available as a Mobile App – on iOS, Android and Blackberry platforms.
In partnership with PMAS, we have now completed the work which means your Wellbeing Zone site is now accessible via the PMF Wellbeing App.
We have updated your website so there is now a ‘Call to Action’ banner on your Landing Page with links to the private store pages, where your users can install the app. We have also put the details on the attached Login Flyer for you, and summarised below.
All your members need to do is visit the relevant Store Page link from their smartphone and follow the instructions to install the app –their site username and password will then allow them to login to the App.
They need to use the Store Page links, as distribution is not via the public app stores, because the ‘PMF Wellbeing App’ is a private, bespoke business B2B application.
Installation details:
iPhone:
·         Install only available directly via policemutualfoundation.wellbeingzone.co.uk/appstore/iphone
Android:
·         Install directly via policemutualfoundation.wellbeingzone.co.uk/appstore/android
·         User can also search on 'PMF Wellbeing Zone' in Google Play Store and install directly from there.
Blackberry:
·         Install only available directly via policemutualfoundation.wellbeingzone.co.uk/appstore/blackberry
Please circulate to members

National Police Training Centres Reunion

Members will have seen the recent notice regarding a reunion for past trainers at Pannal Ash, Central Planning Unit, Newby Wiske, Dishforth and Durham Police Training Centres.  The response has been very good and a large attendance will take  place at the Holiday Inn, Harrogate on Wednesday 8th October 2014.
Overnight accommodation, dinner and entertainment  at special prices , including drinks, make this an attractive event.
The organisers have received several requests from former trainers from other training centres and because the venue is sufficiently large, we have now decided to open the occasion to ALL former trainers at Ryton, Bruche, Chantmarle, Ashford and Cwmbran.  Tables will be arranged to ensure that everyone will be with former colleagues.  Spouses and partners are most welcome.
It should be a unique reunion of those responsible for initial training of police officers in the 60's,70's and 80's and a good night is guaranteed.
A reduced two night package at the hotel is available making it even more attractive for those travelling long distances.
Please contact either
Dave Tingle :  dave@tinglefamily.net  tel 01909772713  or
Brendan Lally :  bplally146@sky.com
for detailed information of cost etc

Death of a retired Police Officer :Chief Superintendent William (Bill) Hills

Bill Hills2It is with regret that we have to announce the death of retired Chief Superintendent William (Bill) HILLS , who died on 15th June 2014, aged 77 years.
Mr Hills joined Durham Constabulary 13.11.1956 and served at HQ Training, Darlington, Birtley, Motor Patrols, HQ Research Department, as the Chief Constable’s driver, and as an Instructor at Harperley Hall, before returning to Motor Patrols.  In 1969 he was promoted to the rank of Inspector and went on secondment to the No 2 District PTC as an Instructor, returning to force in 1971 in HQ Admin.  In 1972 he returned to Darlington,  then undertook roles in Training and the role of Deputy Sub-Divisional Commander at Sedgefield.  In 1982 he was appointed Superintendent and headed the Community Relations Department moving on to be Deputy Divisional Commander at Bishop Auckland from 1984.  In 1989 he was promoted to Chief Superintendent and headed the Uniform Operations Department until his retirement in March 1992.
He leaves a widow Pat and two adult sons.
The funeral will take place at 13:30hrs on Wednesday 25th June 2014 at Elm Ridge Methodist Church, Darlington. This service is not private but is to be followed by a private cremation.
Family flowers only by request please.  Donations in lieu of flowers, if so desired, can be made to Parkinsons UK – a plate will be available in church.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Brazilian Police gear up for the World Cup

With the World Cup ‘kicking off’ this next week the Brazilian Motorcycle Police have been having a busy time preparing for one or two escorts !!

Brazil 1 Brazil 7 Brazil 5
Brazil 4 Brazil 6
Click on pictures to enlarge
Brazil 2

FIFA world cup 2014 Brazil
There are approximately 600 motor officers of the Brazilian Federal Highway patrol in all Brazil, the number may vary in states depending on the displacement of games and selections.

Groups of motor officers will be escorting the teams and chiefs of state and other representative figures, other groups of motor officers (that are called MOTOPOL) will reinforce security in critical areas nearby the stadiums and highways and also give support to the escorts. Groups can be remobilized , according to demands.

At 600 units in service it is believed that the Brazilian Federal Highway Patrol may be the largest single agency employing Harley-Davidson Police Model Motorcycles

Many Thanks to Officers : Emerson Luiz & Allan Oliveira for the information & pictures

Brazil 3

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Two-week opportunity for UK to reduce threat from powerful computer attack

NCAThe NCA is today urging members of the public to protect themselves against powerful malicious software (malware), which may be costing UK computer users millions of pounds.

Action taken by the NCA to combat the threat will give the UK public a unique, two-week opportunity to rid and safeguard themselves from two distinct but associated forms of malware known as GOZeuS and CryptoLocker.
Members of the public can protect themselves by making sure security software is installed and updated, by running scans and checking that computer operating systems and applications are up to date.
The NCA’s alert is part of one of the largest industry and law enforcement collaborations attempted to date. Activity in several countries, led by the FBI in the US, has weakened the global network of infected computers, meaning that action taken now to strengthen online safety can be particularly effective.
GOZeuS (also known as P2PZeuS) has been assessed as being responsible for the fraudulent transfer of hundreds of millions of pounds globally. Recent intelligence has suggested that more than 15,500 computers in the UK are currently infected, with many more potentially at risk.
By disrupting the system used by the infected computers to communicate with each other, and the criminals controlling them, this activity aims to significantly reduce the malware’s effectiveness.
Individuals in the UK may receive notifications from their Internet Service Providers that they are a victim of this malware and are advised to back up all important information – such as files, photography and videos. Businesses should also test their incident responses and business resilience protocols and work with their IT departments or suppliers to educate employees on the potential threat.
Get Safe Online is providing advice, guidance and tools on its website at www.getsafeonline.org/nca to help internet users understand more about the malicious software and how to protect themselves and their computers from attacks. A number of cyber security companies have supplied remediation tools, which can be accessed via Get Safe Online, to help clean up infected machines.
Andy Archibald, Deputy Director of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Nobody wants their personal financial details, business information or photographs of loved ones to be stolen or held to ransom by criminals. By making use of this two-week window, huge numbers of people in the UK can stop that from happening to them.
“Whether you find online security complicated or confusing, or simply haven’t thought about keeping your personal or office computers safe for a while, now is the time to take action. Our message is simple: update your operating system and make this a regular occurrence, update your security software and use it and, think twice before clicking on links or attachments in unsolicited emails.”
“Those committing cyber crime impacting the UK are often highly-skilled and operating from abroad. To respond to this threat, the NCA is working closely with law enforcement colleagues all over the world, and developing important relationships with the private sector.”
GOZeuS and CryptoLocker
Users are typically infected by clicking on attachments or links in emails which may look like they have been sent by genuine contacts and may purport to carry invoices, voicemail messages, or any file made to look innocuous. These emails are generated by other victims’ computers, who do not realise they are infected, and are used to send mass emails creating more victims.
If the file or link is clicked on an unprotected computer, GOZeuS is downloaded and installed and it will then link the victim’s computer to a network of already-infected machines, known as a BotNet.
The malware waits silently, monitoring the user’s activity until the opportunity arises to capture banking or other private information, which is then transmitted back to the criminals via the BotNet infrastructure.
Where a computer infected with GOZeuS turns out not to offer a significant financial reward, it can ‘call in’ CryptoLocker, to give the criminal controllers a second opportunity to acquire funds from the victim.
CryptoLocker works unseen in the background, encrypting the user’s files. Once that process is complete, the victim is presented with a pop-up telling them what has happened and a timer appears on their screen, which starts counting down. That is the time the victim has in order to pay a ‘discounted’ ransom, currently one Bitcoin (£200-£300 approximately) for UK users.
The NCA has been working with international law enforcement partners including the FBI and Europol, as well as partners from the banking, internet security and ISP sectors.
Information on ensuring security software is up to date can be found at Get Safe Online and Cyber Streetwise
Members of the public who think they have lost money through malware such as P2PZeus and Cryptolocker should report it to Action Fraud.

Death of a retired Police Officer : PC 566 Harry Victor Parish

It is with regret that we have to inform you of the death of a retired Police Officer :  PC 566 Harry Victor Parish who died on the 27th May 2014 aged 87 years.
Mr Parish retired in 1983 having served at Barnard Castle.
Further details are not known regarding Mr Parish's service details.
Mr Parish does not leave a widow but leaves a son Jonathan and a daughter Janet.
The funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Newgate, Barnard Castle on Thursday, 5th June at 12.15pm.
The service is not private.
Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.

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