News

This section is no longer updated... please refer to the News section of the forum for latest news stories (and you can post your own there too!).  You can view archived news items below.

September 2002

17/9/02 BBC - Police could get "street bail" powers
In an attempt to cut bureaucracy for police David Blunkett has suggested police officers may be able to able to instruct suspects to appear at a station at a later date.

13/9/02 The Telegraph - Police bring street crime under control... or do they?
The Prime Minister's pledge to bring street crime under control by September has been met, or missed - depending on whose statistics you believe.

7/9/02 BBC - Specials to make 9/11 memorial visit
Three Special Constables from south Wales are travelling to New York to take part in services to remember those killed on 11th September 2001.

August 2002

30/8/02 Annanova - First "Smart" Police Car
City of London police are the UK's first force to use the tiny "Smart" car.

15/8/02 BBC - Street crime falls in London...
Street crime in London has fallen by a third since the start of the year, according to the latest police figures.

15/8/02 BBC - ...but violent crime jumps in Scotland
Violent crime in Scotland's largest police force area has jumped by almost 15% compared with a year ago.

15/8/02 The Independent - Two PCs killed by speeding van
Leicestershire police have begun a murder enquiry after two of their officers were killed as they tried to stop a van being chased by colleagues.

13/8/02 The Guardian - Police to issue on-the-spot fines
From today officers in three pilot areas can give fixed penalties for a number of offences, instead of arresting and processing the offender in the usual way.

13/8/02 BBC - New anti-gun campaign
"Guns ruin lives" says the new police advertising designed to help stem the rising tide of crime in London's black communities.

11/8/02 The Guardian - Rookies fight crime
Increasing problems of recruitment and retention in some forces mean that in some areas the majority of patrols are being carried out by probationer officers.

7/8/02 BBC - Police dog sacked for being too soft
Jake, a former police dog, is now enjoying a new life as a family pet after he was sacked for being too soft on criminals.

July 2002

18/7/02 BBC - Are new police radios safe?
The Government goes on a charm offensive to convince worried police officers that the new digital radio system is safe.

4/7/02 PoliceSpecials.com is born!
SC Stuff gets a revamp and a name change... find out why!

2/7/02 Surrey Police refutes allegations about Milly enquiry
Surrey Police has issued a robust rebuttal to recent allegations in the Sunday Mirror newspaper that called the enquiry into Amanda Dowler's disappearance "chaotic and rudderless".

June 2002

14/6/02 BBC - Police Officers honoured in Birthday List
A number of police officers, including a number of Special Constables, have been awarded honours in the Queen's birthday honours list.

May 2002

9/5/02 BBC - Police Agree Pay Deal
After long negotiations between the Government and the Police Federation, a pay deal is announced which cuts overtime but increases police salaries.

April 2002

16/4/02 The Independent - Lords Defeat for Police Reform Bill
The Home Secretary's plans for police reform were set back when the House of Lords rejected his proposals to give the Government powers to intervene in failing forces.

February 2002

26/2/02 Strathclyde Police - New uniform launched
Strathclyde Police launch a new style uniform which is more suited to the demands of modern policing. It is the first major change in the police uniform in more than two hundred years and heralds the change to a new, national police uniform.

22/2/02 BBC - Police Officers reject pay deal
An unprecedented ballot of police officers has resulted in a "massive" rejection of a new pay and conditions package. Officers in England and Wales voted against Home Secretary David Blunkett's proposals by a majority of 10-1, the Police Federation announced.

January 2002

30/1/02 SC Stuff - I get promoted!
Indulge me for a moment if you will... today I sat my interview board for Section Officer and I'm delighted to say I have subsequently been promoted. Now the hard work starts!

29/1/02 BBC - Police Poet
Humberside Police is - I think - the first force ever to have it's own resident poet. Ian McMillan will accompany officers on patrols in Hull city centre on a Friday night, observing police at work so that he can describe in verse their life on the beat.

27/1/02 Surrey Police - Surrey Police introduces new style of policing
By targeting activity at persistent offenders and increasing the visible presence of officers, Surrey Police aims not only to remain one of the safest counties but also for the people of Surrey to feel safe. At the same time, Surrey officers will cease being deployed to many types of call.

25/1/02 BBC - Police Reform Bill unveiled
The Government's proposed police reform Bill, published today, marks the most radical proposals for changing the way the police work for many decades. The Bill proposes the creation of civilian wardens to free up highly trained and better-paid officers (regulars and specials) to work on more serious crime. The Bill also gives the home secretary new powers to remove chief constables of underperforming police forces

7/1/02 SC Stuff - New Specials Recruitment Campaign
The Home Office has launched a new recruitment campaign for Special Constables. Costing around £500m, the campaign is part of plans to reverse the steady decline in the number of Special Constables. Currently there are around 12,000 Specials in England and Wales - the Government has said it wants that number to reach 30,000 eventually.

December 2001

4/12/01 SC Stuff - U-turn on Jubilee Medals
In a change of heart, the Government has announced that the front-line emergency services (those contacted by dialling 999 in the UK) are to receive the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

September 2001

4/9/01 BBC - BBC profiles the Specials
In a story about the possibility of paying the Specials, BBC news online profiled the Special Constabulary and very kindly (and without my even asking!) linked to SC Stuff. The site had about 5 times the usual number of hits that week!

August 2001

9/8/01 Staffordshire Police - Specials do response driving
Four volunteer police officers have passed Staffordshire Police’s standard driving course, after two months of weekend and evening lessons taught by two force driving instructors who are also Specials.