Tuesday 31 May 2016

We’ve seen the picture but now watch the video

The old HQ is virtually all demolished, the radio mast still stands waiting to be moved to its new ‘home’ in the grounds of the new HQ.

The video from the vaults of the BFI shows the mast being built in 1968, great to watch and have a look at the workmen's clothing !! (No Health & safety in those days)

Interesting to see it being dismantled and then rebuilt ?

From Britain on Film available at BFI Player

Sunday 29 May 2016

Every Picture Tells A Story !

Aykley HeadsSays it all really…..

Our ‘old’ Police HQ at Aykley Heads Durham.

Thursday 26 May 2016

‘Behind the Badge’ – Family Open Day

Durham
Saturday 18th June 2016 1pm to 4pm
We would love as many current and retired officers and staff and their families to join us for our annual open day. This year we are celebrating being rated as the only ‘outstanding’ force overall across England and Wales – why not come along and see some of our work and meet up with friends past and present!’
The format of the day will be as follows:
⦁    Open to you and your family, but you must arrive together for security purposes.
⦁    Displays and demonstrations will include demonstrations by the dog section, view the helicopter and meet the crew, history displays, firearms and several stalls showcasing ‘what we do as an organisation’ plus much more.
⦁    Bring the children to join in with fun activities and meet ‘Jet and Ben’ our two Labrador dogs who attend primary schools throughout County Durham and Darlington providing stranger danger and internet safety advice.
⦁    Entertainment will be provided by the Durham Constabulary Brass Band.
⦁    Staff from Human Resources will be in attendance to talk to your friends and family who might be interested in becoming a police officer – we will be recruiting soon!
⦁     Refreshments will be available to purchase on site.
⦁    Contact Ray Jones on 01388 663098 and Stuart Ingram on 01388 814768 should you wish to come and join us.  Deadline for requests will be 6th June 2016. Please state if you require disabled parking.
⦁    Tickets will be posted in the second week of June prior to the event and will be required for entry on the day for security purposes.
Please inform any fellow colleagues so that we can make this a day to remember!

Durham Peeler : Summer 2016

Please CLICK HERE to view the Summer 2016 Durham PeelerDurham Peeler editor Alan Watson has been keeping himself busy over the last few months to produce the Summer 2016 edition of the Durham Peeler.

To view this latest edition of the magazine online, please click on the image.

If you would like to view other editions of the Durham Peeler please Click Here

Tours exclusively for NARPO members

NARPO HQ have teamed up with SLT travel who are offering tours exclusively for NARPO members, they plan to arrange tours which only NARPO members, from all over the country can book.

So even if you travel alone or are a small group, you will know that the other travellers on your tour will be NARPO members from around the Country.

This is in my view a good opportunity for those who like travelling to travel with other NARPO members and may be something your Social Secretaries may wish to enquire about.

See more information on the website at: http://www.narpo.org/index.php/member-services/leisure-time.html

Regards

Steve Edwards

Is this the future ?

Supt Adam THompsonThe Yorkshire Post reported this recently “ Sorry I compared bobbies to binmen says Yorkshire police chief who didn’t want to pound the beat “

A FORMER RAF regiment squadron leader who became the first person to join a Yorkshire police force as superintendent without serving as a constable has apologised for comments that appeared to compare his lower-ranking colleagues to binmen.
Adam Thomson, who joined North Yorkshire Police in 2014 as part of the Government’s direct entry scheme, angered constables with remarks made in an academic journal.


Describing the 12 weeks patrolling that direct entry superintendents are required to do alongside constables and sergeants as part of their training, he is reported to have said: “If I was training to be the leader of the council, I wouldn’t be asked to do a few mornings with the bin lorry first.”

Though the comments were made anonymously, North Yorkshire Police confirmed they were made by Mr Thomson after a policing blog called for him to take responsibility for what he had said.
Mr Thomson said in a statement to The Yorkshire Post: “I have the utmost respect for police personnel at all levels, and any comments I made about how direct entrants are trained were certainly not intended to denigrate the important work that PCs do.
“Personally I found the PC rotation essential to understanding the work of a constable, and I’d like to thank the officers that were part of my rotation, and who provided a valuable insight that will help me in my command.
If the reporting of what I said caused offence to police constables, I apologise.
“The point I was trying to make was that in other sectors it is usual to enter the organisation at different levels and – with the right training and support – be successful. If the reporting of what I said caused offence to police constables, I apologise.”

Steve White, head of the Police Federation which represents 124,000 constables, sergeants and inspectors, told The Times that the comment had been received “like a fart in a spacesuit”.
Mike Stubbs, Chairman of North Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “The comments, if as reported, were unfortunate. None of our members have yet complained to us.
“Perhaps that is because, as police officers, they all know that their words and actions can be subject to the most intense scrutiny and criticism, even where they have acted with the very best of intentions.
“I hope this something that Superintendent Thomson and others will reflect on, when dealing with allegations against our members in the future.”

Prior to joining North Yorkshire Police, Mr Thomson served much of his career at 34th Squadron of The Royal Air Force Regiment, a ground fighting force based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.
After working as a flight commander and forward air controller at various points, and with tours of Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia, among others, under his belt, by the time he left the RAF Regiment in September 2013 he had risen to squadron leader in charge of soldiers responsible for protecting air bases from hostile forces.

Earlier this month, after an 18-month course, he became one of the country’s first direct-entry recruits at superintendent level. There are approximately 800 superintendents in England and Wales who have operational responsibilities for local divisions and major investigations.
First launched in 2014, the idea of direct entry at superintendent level is described as ending the point of principle established by Sir Robert Peel, the founder of modern British policing in 1829, that all officers began as constables.
The Government hopes to improve leadership standards by bringing in people with experience and skills from other areas.
The first direct entry group were interviewed at length between October 2014 and May last year for a University of Portsmouth research paper, which was released to coincide with their graduation.

It described how some of the superintendents believed that six-week patrols with constables and sergeants had “limited value” in their training.
Mr Thomson was named as the officer behind the comments on the Bosco’s Blog website, written by a retired Dorset police officer.

He wrote: “What’s been said cannot be unsaid. There are consequences for the author of those remarks. The severity of those consequences will increase exponentially with the time it takes for them to make reparation.
“So I say this to Supt Adam Thomson from North Yorkshire Police: Defy those who hold the belief that you are arrogant, out of touch, entitled, lacking in integrity and moral courage and come out from the shadows and make your peace.
“If nothing else, you owe this much to your cohort who have overcome so much to earn the trust and respect of others. Whether you will earn the trust and respect of those who serve in your force and beyond is only something you can control.”

A spokesman from North Yorkshire Police said: “Direct entrants are encouraged to be reflective and to bring a different perspective to policing, so it perhaps isn’t surprising that they expressed different views on the PC rotation that formed part of their training.
“At North Yorkshire Police we believe it is important that direct entrants are exposed to the grass-root business of policing as part of their training, but that is not the same as saying that a Superintendent needs to have worked through every rank before they take up command.
“As a service we recognise the need to be open to different approaches.”

Read more: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/sorry-i-compared-bobbies-to-binmen-says-yorkshire-police-chief-who-didn-t-want-to-pound-the-beat-1-7928915#ixzz49kjxRu9e

Saturday 14 May 2016

Copper Plate Light–Issue 3 : April 2016

CPL - 3

Copper Plate Light  : Issue 3 – April 2016

With a new name of Copper Plate Light & a bi-monthly issue to keep you up to date with all the latest news from across the force.

Many Thanks to the Media team at HQ for producing the paper once more.

If you have any items which could be of interest for the Copper Plate Light then please either ring the team at HQ on (0191) 3752157 or email at media@durham.pnn.police.uk.

To view the Copper Plate Light please click on the image or to view previously issued  Copper Plate magazines please visit the Copper Plate page on the website : http://www.durhamnarpo.org.uk/p/copperplate_17.html

The Police Mutual Foundation

PMAS

The Police Mutual Foundation has launched a pilot respite scheme, specifically aimed to support
the retired police community.
Since its launch in 2011, Police Mutual has been supporting the wellbeing of police officers and
staff by offering a range of services.

Police Mutual’s  Head of Police Service Engagement, Claire Long says;
“For some time now we have been working hard to improve the wellbeing of the police family.
It is only right that this support should extend to those who have retired from the service.
We also appreciate that the health and wellbeing demands in retirement increase and that they
become more complex.  By working with NARPO, RPOAS and NIRPOA we hope to significantly
increase our support to this community in a meaningful and manageable way.”
 
The respite pilot aims to help those retirees who are either suffering from or caring for
someone with dementia.  Police Mutual will be working with a number of specialist providers
to source a respite break.  The breaks will be planned based on the demands of the people who
are being supported.  There are up to 20 breaks available between now and the end of the year,
with a view to extending the programme in 2017.
 
Branch chairs and secretaries can make nominations so if you know of someone who would
benefit from some time away, you can contact either foundation@pmas.co.uk or
call  01543 305351 for an application form or more information.

Death of a retired Police Officer:PC 873 Ronald John Matthews

It is with regret that we have to advise you of the death of a retired Police Officer: PC 873 Ronald John Matthews who died on Wednesday 11th May 2016, aged 82 years.
Ronald retired from the Force on 24th October 1979 at the rank of Police Constable.
Ronald leaves no widow.
Funeral service is to be held at 12.00 noon on Tuesday 24th May 2016 at Durham Crematorium. The service is not private.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time.

Thursday 12 May 2016

Death of a retired Police Officer : Chief Superintendent 179 Lawrence Henry Heslop

It is with regret that we have to inform you of the death of a retired Police Officer : Chief Superintendent 179 Lawrence Henry Heslop who died on Monday 9th May 2016, aged 93 years.
Lawrence first joined Durham Constabulary on 1st March 1940 as a Clerical Assistant and served in this role until 16th September 1941.
During his time as Police Staff, Lawrence worked in many departments such as Control Room, Admin, Housing, Durham and HQ Personnel.
He was appointed as Police Officer on 17th September 1941. Lawrence served in many locations including Seaham Harbour, Felling, Blaydon, Castle Eden, Horden and Pelaw. Retiring in 1982 at the rank of Chief Superintendent.
Lawrence leaves no widow.
Funeral service is to be held at 9.40 am on Wednesday 18th May 2016 at Rawdon Crematorium in Leeds. The service is not private. The family have requested that instead of flowers, donations if so desired can be made to the RNLI Charity.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time.

Sunday 8 May 2016

Next Meeting of NARPO (Durham Branch) : Monday 9th May 2016

diary-plgThe next meeting of NARPO (Durham Branch) will be held on Monday 9th May at 7.30pm at Bishop Auckland Hospital Club.
All members or prospective members are invited to come along & enjoy


If you don't know where to go, Click On This Link and you'll see a map of the location and you can get driving directions to it.

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