POLICE PRIORITIES

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I write regarding the Safety Camera Partnership and their committee meetings. They claimed that they had problems with motorcycles at some sites due to camera vehicles not being able to park. It was suggested that a motorcycle officer be deployed at these sites but was rejected. It was claimed that if this was operated then the public would have cause to complain they were being deprived of a frontline officer. For that reason, they could not allow this to take place. However, under the Freedom Of Information Act, it was stated that 3 out of 7 officers who operated camera vehicles were in fact frontline officers. In other words, they were generating finance for the partnership whereas the motorcycle officer would not and would have to be paid for by the authorities.

In 2004 it was decided to broadcast direct from camera vehicles via Peak Radio to the public on matters of road safety and ask questions on the subject. These officers were to be "provided with the answers" to the questions by Rebecca Hampson prior to these broadcasts. If the officers were operating these devious machines without knowing the answers, then what did they know in relation to traffic regulations and road safety? The SCP is now looking at applying information on driver NIPs on the web and the facility to pay online. How long before we have to have our credit card details applied to our number plates? I have received many unacceptable responses to points raised and which would reflect the very poor standard of officers and policing in Derbyshire. Alienated

The Metropolitan Police are routinely issuing cautions to muggers. The force handed out 329 cautions for street robbery last year, even though the offence carries up to five years in prison. New figures also show that in London last year, police issued a total of more than 14,000 cautions for serious crimes including assault, robbery, burglary, car crime and hard drug offences. In nearly every case there would have been sufficient grounds for a conviction because the suspect was caught and admitted guilt.

The Home Office describes a caution as 'a warning given to adults who admit they are guilty of first-time minor offences, such as vandalism or petty theft' but information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show police frequently resort to using cautions when dealing with much more serious crimes.

Blair Gibbs, spokesman for the TaxPayers' Alliance, which obtained the figures, said, "No wonder violent crime is out of control when criminals know there's often no punishment at all. We can't hope to have safer streets when the police are refusing to charge criminals for serious offences, even when they manage to catch them. Taxpayers and victims of crime deserve better."

A police spokeswoman said, "Every case is considered on an individual basis and the overriding factors are whether a caution is appropriate to the offence and the offender and whether a caution is likely to be effective in the circumstances. The aims of the caution are to deal quickly and simply with less serious offences, to divert offenders where appropriate from appearing in the criminal courts and to reduce the likelihood of re-offending." (Source: Mail on Sunday, Jan/07)

Police dogs are being muzzled to stop them biting and injuring suspected criminals. The policy, devised by North Wales Police, comes as a result of increased compensation claims from members of the public who have been bitten by police dogs. Officers say the tactic provides a safer way to tackle unco-operative offenders, and it may soon be adopted by dog squads across the country.

Rather than biting suspects, the dogs have instead been trained to disable their targets by leaping at them and delivering a flying 'head-butt'. The officer that pioneered the technique, Sgt Gareth Crowe, says the flying head charge is the equivalent of a baton blow if the dog has a full run-up. The technique has been deemed so successful that muzzled dogs are also being used for crowd control at football games. (Source: Mail on Sunday, Oct/06)

Life-size cardboard cutout police officers are on duty in stores and petrol stations in an attempt to deter shoplifters and thieves who drive off without paying for fuel. Each of the model officers costs around £100 but this price would decrease if they were ordered in bulk. On entering the store, people can read signs pointing to the officers, although some shops have signs reading: "Plain clothes officers are operating in the area, can you see them?" This is not the first time police forces have used diversionary tactics to foil criminals. Some forces, including Derbyshire, have been known to leave decommissioned patrol cars in crime hotspots to deter lawbreakers. It had to happen. A cardboard cut-out of PC Bob Molloy was stolen from a shop doorway. Detectives eventually got it back after raiding a house full of stolen goods. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)

It was interesting to read that there had been an increase of 162 police officers in Derbyshire this year. David Coleman, Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police said, "The people of Derbyshire and Derby Police Authority have given us tremendous support to allow us to increase the size of the county's police force, and this would not have been possible without the increase of 2l.5 per cent in the police precept paid by residents as part of their council tax." Excuse me, Chief Constable. Far from giving you tremendous support, I don't think we were given any choice but to pay this exorbitant increase from our council tax payments.

Where have these extra offices been deployed? They certainly are not patrolling the streets on foot where they are needed. Perhaps they are operating the increasing numbers of safety cameras, carrying out traffic census duties, or checking tax discs? They are not even to be found in our new state-of-the-art police station at Chester Green. On the only occasion I have needed to use this facility to report a serious incident, I asked the civilian who was manning the front desk, if I could speak to a uniformed officer. I was told that there were none available and I would need to report the details to another civilian in a side office.

While doing this, I happened to see a senior uniformed officer storm angrily into the front reception area to stop a member of the public smoking in the non-smoking reception area. Police officers out solving crime! It has been reported that Derbyshire is opting out of the scheme of introducing the new Community Support Officers that are taking to the streets elsewhere in the country. As a council taxpayer, this is certainly where I would like to see any extra money being spent. I believe many others would too. At least we would be able to see their presence on the streets, helping to combat some of the incidents that are a real concern to us. But, it doesn't look as though we will see any extra law enforcement on our streets in the near future.

Except, of course, unless you live in Normanton and Pear Tree. Here residents enjoy the benefit of four neighbourhood wardens. Regardless of what fancy name our law enforcement officers have - beat officers, patrol officers, or community officers - we need more visual presence out on our streets doing what they are paid to do. They should be out keeping the streets safe for the citizens who pay their salaries. It is our right. We should insist on this, rather than accept these constant promises that never materialise. Dennis H. Lockley

Police say they may not be able to cope with Derby's expanding pub and club scene because of a lack of officers. The force claims its limited resources means it has to focus mainly on just one part of the city on busy nights. This is despite acknowledging that violent crime in the city centre is growing. As a result, the constabulary systematically opposes applications from clubs outside its own crime "hotspot" area - around Becket Well Lane. But the city council ignored police objections to a Derby nightclub's plans to open later, because the force's staffing levels was not deemed to be a "valid reason" for standing in the way of business. Police also argued it would set a precedent, with more venues seeking later opening times.

Licensing manager PC Clive Needham said, "The more pubs and clubs that turn up, the greater drain on resources we'll have. If the officers we have are being deployed over more areas, then the presence we can provide will diminish in others. Once we set a precedent, we'll not be able to control it. This city's got an increasing problem of violent crime. Our main focus has to be on the Becket Well Lane area, because that is the main place for crime and disorder in the city." Derby is set for a massive expansion in its bar trade with the £83m Riverlights project, which will see the banks of the River Derwent transformed into a social haven with new bars and restaurants.

Plans are also in place to transform Pride Park's historic Roundhouse into an entertainments venue plus apartments. Derby currently has 172 pubs and bars for a population of around 221,700 people or one pub for every 1,289 people. A police source said there was an average of 30 officers on duty on Friday and Saturday nights in Derby, but they also have to deal with incidents in surrounding areas such as Mackworth, Chaddesden, and Spondon. Derby City Council's licensing sub-committee rejected police calls to prevent dance club Supanova, Babington Lane, from staying open for an extra hour until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The owners had argued they were losing trade to other clubs which have later closing times. The decision was backed by council leaders, who said venues had the right to compete on a fair basis. Councillor Paul West, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said, "We want to support our local police, but we don't want to put anybody out of business."