Herts beat - Hertfordshire Constabulary

Jeremy Alford:
“My enduring memory will be of the fun I have had”
Turn to page 7›
ISSUE 142 • NOVEMBER 2010
STUDENT HONOUR
CENTRE SPREAD
COURTING SUCCESS
Noreen puts
her finger
on how to
be a top
student!
Facing
up to the
difficult
challenges
ahead
He may be a
tennis ‘veteran’
but Richard’s
still a
champ!
See pages 4&5›
See page 8›
See page 6›
MOUNTED OFFICERS ARE A HIT WITH RURAL RESIDENTS
SPECIALS SADDLE
UP TO FIGHT CRIME
By Ailsa Roe
FOUR rural specials caused quite
a stir when they rode out in
Dacorum after taking part in a
competency assessment at the
Riding for the Disabled Centre
near Hemel Hempstead.
Neighbourhood Inspector
George Holland has worked
tirelessly to develop the role
of rural special constables
on horseback in Hertfordshire –
which was the first force
to introduce the role in
October 2009.
George said: “We had an
unbelievably positive response
from residents when we went out
on patrol after the assessment.
“People said the horses were
amazing and they were really
We had an unbelievably
positive response
from residents when
we went out on patrol.
People said the horses
were amazing
pleased to have officers using
their own horses and being a
highly visible presence in
the harder to reach rural parts
of the county.
“I would really like to thank the
trustees at the Riding for the
Disabled Centre for supporting
the Force with this unique
opportunity.”
The competency assessment was
to make sure that the officers had
the necessary riding skills and
that their horses were able to
assist them proficiently in
carrying out their special duties.
It was conducted by former
In the saddle: Michelle Gearing and Zoe Davis are two of the new mounted rural specials
mounted police officer and
instructor from the Metropolitan
Police, Nick White.
George now has his own horse
and is undergoing some
intensive training to improve his
riding skills so he can support
the specials with their patrols
on horseback.
He said: “We know this is what
rural residents want and it has
already increased confidence in
rural areas and the message has
spread to offenders.
“Last year in Three Rivers,
£75,000 worth of saddle and tack
was stolen – this year, there have
been no such offences.”
George added: “Arrests of
offenders committing crimes
in the rural areas of Hertfordshire
are on the increase as a
direct response of the
introduction of Rural
S p e c i a l C o n s t a b l e s . We
now need the officers to
concentrate on fly-tipping as
this is a real problem across the
county and we are determined
to stop it.”
The rural specials who took
part in the training were Kate
Solomon (Hertford villages),
Michelle Gearing, Natalie
Huttlova and SOCO Zoe Davies
(all North Herts).
George has worked closely with
PC Chris Jones and Inspector
Duncan Grieves, and they
recently attended the Herts Game
and Country Fair in Redbourn
with mounted rural special
constable Zoe Davies.
Zoe applied to become a
mounted rural special after
reading about the new initiative
in Herts Beat last year.
She said: “I didn’t know that
there was such a thing as a
rural special and I’d never
considered being a regular
Special, but this immediately
appealed to me.
“I enjoy engaging with people
and often an innocent comment
can be an important piece of
intelligence for us.
“My horse Max acts as a magnet
to the public, facilitating this
exchange of information.”
T/DCC Heather
Valentine is leading
the corporate
change programme
Our goal:
efficient,
quality
policing
LAST month saw the launch of
Programme 2015, the Constabulary’s
corporate plan to identify the
most effective way of making
considerable savings over the
coming years while still moving
forward and delivering a good
quality of policing service to our
communities.
On pages 4 and 5, you will find
an update on our current
financial position.
You’ll also find an overview of
a wide range of reviews that are
under way to revise our service
deliver y model so that the
Constabulary can sustain current
levels of performance in most
areas of our work in order to retain
the confidence of the public within
the county.
Savings targets
will mean that
we will have to be
very clear about
our priorities
Frank Whiteley – page 2
2
Herts beat
NEWS
Our focus is on service
TALKING FRANKLY: CHIEF CONSTABLE FRANK WHITELEY ON PROGRAMME 2015
THIS issue of Herts Beat
gives an outline of
Programme 2015 – our
initiative to take the force
forward during a period of
financial constraints and
pressures.
Hertfordshire Constabulary
has a good record of
delivering a high level of
policing service to our
communities, in an efficient
way. This programme of
change will be challenging
and difficult, but I am
determined that our focus
will be on maintaining the
best possible level of service
delivery across the county
while protecting both police
staff and police officer posts
wherever possible.
We are revising our service
delivery model, taking
account of the emerging
financial picture and
reviewing a number of
key areas to ensure that,
wherever possible, we
are able to achieve this.
Savings targets will mean
that we will have to be very
clear about our priorities
and that many of our services
We all have a responsibility to carry on
delivering the excellent service that has
seen us consistently recognised as one of
the best-performing forces in the country
will have to be delivered in
different ways in the future.
Despite the financial
challenges, we all have a
responsibility to continue to
act as ambassadors for the
Force and to carry on
delivering the excellent
service that has seen us
consistently recognised as
one of the best-performing
forces in the country.
ACHIEVE YOUR
FULL POTENTIAL
ACC Steve Devine, Pat Khambatta,
Dick Johnson and T/DCC John Fletcher, Beds
Scientific
Services Unit
achieves
quality award
AS a result of a three-day
external audit by the
independent assessment
body, ISOQAR, the Bedfordshire
and Hertfordshire Scientific
Services Unit is now certified
to a key international standard.
The unit has achieved
the International Standards
Organisation quality
management standard ISO
9001:2008 across all of its
key disciplines.
This demonstrates the unit
is committed to quality and a
willingness to improve efficiency
and effectiveness.
“This certification makes the
PROFESSIONAL AND THOROUGH
I AM writing further to a break-in
at my house. I was fortunate that
my neighbour noticed the damage
to the front door and, suspecting
that the culprits were still in the
house, called the police.
The police response was very
prompt, but regrettably the
burglars were not in the house.
When I got home, I was
reassured by the professionalism
and the sensitivity of the officer
on site, PC Stef Lowther.
He managed neighbours and
friends seeking information and
maintained the integrity of the
unit the very first collaborated
scientific services unit in the
country to obtain 9001 and
ensures we are well placed in
terms of national developments
around a single quality
standard,” explained Head
of the Scientific Services Unit,
Dick Johnson.
“I would like to thank all of the
staff who were involved in the
process, as well as those whose
efforts have ensured our
success over the audit period.
“I’ve been delighted with
the progress we’ve made in
evolving a joint scientific service
capability that is serving the
needs of the people of
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
“I am confident we will
continue to be at the vanguard
of developing good practice,
which can be shared with
counterparts across the
country.”
AS most people are
completing their mid-year
PDRs, officers and staff are
being encouraged to think
about their personal
development.
Amanda Johnson, of the
Fo r c e ’ s L e a r n i n g a n d
Development Department,
said: “Personal development is
an important way for a person
to develop in their career and
achieve their potential.
“But people can get stuck at
the first hurdle and not know
how to go about it, so we are
hoping these tips will give
them a good starting point.”
A personal
development plan
will help develop
your career
■ know what you want to
achieve in your career
■ be prepared to spend time
on it
■ identify specific tangible
goals to help you get there
and compile a plan
■ aspirations need to link
to organisational growth
and needs
based on their goals and
aspirations which should
be tracked in a PDR as a
development objective.
Amanda added: “For those
who already have a personal
development plan as a PDR
objective, there is a menu
of further development
opportunities.”
?
FIND OUT MORE
Go to ‘Personal
Development’ on
the intranet
New collaboration leaders
AS collaborative initiatives
continue to make progress with
generating efficiencies and
increased resilience for the
two forces, there’s a change of
strategic leaders for the
Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Joint
Collaboration Programme.
Temporary Deputy Chief
Constable John Fletcher takes
over as Bedfordshire’s Senior
Responsible Owner (SRO) for the
programme, picking up from
Martin Stuart, who has retired.
In Hertfordshire, Assistant Chief
Constable Chris Miller takes
over as SRO from Simon Parr,
Chris Miller
(left) and
John Fletcher
(right) have
senior roles
in the
Collaboration
Programme
who has become Chief Constable
of Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
John and Chris’s SRO roles
are to provide direction to the
Collaboration Programme in
terms of priorities and timescales,
to act as a liaison point for their
Chief Officer colleagues and
Police Authorities, and to ensure
that collaborative arrangements
deliver benefits for both forces.
Steve Ottaway continues as
Programme Director.
Implementation plans relating
PATIENCE AND KINDNESS
I AM writing to say what a fantastic
job Sergeant Greg O’Toole, PC
Knowles, PC Ailsa Turnbull and
everyone else in the Hatfield Team
have done over the past few
months investigating the assault
on me in early May.
I felt completely reassured by the
attitude of the entire team that my
crime was treated seriously and
that in spite of all of the difficulties
in apprehending the individual,
which included frequent liaison
with Bristol Police, they would
continue to strive for a result.
They were patient and kind, as
well as very processional in
listening to my concerns. I cannot
praise them all highly enough and
I would hope that my comments
are passed on to those concerned
as well as senior staff.
You do a difficult and demanding
job and I hope my gratitude and
heartfelt thanks show how much
it is appreciated.
FM Welwyn
Letters of appreciation
from the public
crime scene while awaiting the
forensic team, by not letting them
into the house.
My family and I were impressed
by PC Lowther’s professional
conduct, thoroughness and
follow-up actions.
I can say with confidence that all
of us, including our neighbour and
friends who were there to support
us during the rest of the day, felt
■ be prepared for breaks in
your plan, such as no current
opportunities for promotion,
and be flexible enough to
then change your plan
■ remember that success isn’t
always about promotion – it’s
about being successful and
satisfied. It could be having a
job and paying off your
mortgage
■ broadening your portfolio
to include things you enjoy
and spotting opportunities
can be a good way to develop.
Officers and staff can
put together a personal
development action plan
reassured by his conduct, the
forensic officer and by extension
the service of the Hertfordshire
Constabulary. Please convey our
commendation to PC Lowther and
thanks to all the officers who
attended the incident.
A big thank you to your force and
we look forward to your continued
great service.
PS Aldenham
to joint ICT and Pensions
Administration functions were
being finalised as Herts Beat went
to press, while a range of
collaborative work on areas
including Procurement and
Firearms Licensing is being
pursued in consultation with the
two Police Authorities, staff
associations and staff affected
by the proposed changes.
The Procurement proposal also
includes joint working with
Cambridgeshire Constabulary to
set up a Uniform Stores and
Contracts Department for the
three forces.
GET INH
TO U C
If you have a story
or want to get in
touch with Herts
Beat, email the
editor nikki.royall@
herts.pnn.police.uk
Herts beat
NEWS
3
Team swoops on organised criminals
THE new Eastern Region Special
Operations Unit (ERSOU) has only
been operational for four months,
but it has already managed to
make a huge impact by knocking
out nine organised crime groups.
Set up to tackle serious and
organised crime across six force
areas, it became operational on
July 1.
So far, it’s carried out nine
operations which have shut down
eight cocaine factories across
Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire,
and has taken out a crime
group believed to be responsible
for 22 night-time commercial
burglaries across Suffolk
and Essex.
Large quantities of cocaine,
SPECIAL OPS UNIT
SEES MAJOR
RESULTS IN JUST
FOUR MONTHS
mixing agents, mixers, balaclavas
and stolen property have been
seized, with a number of people
currently going through the
judicial process.
Detective Chief Superintendent
Jerry Tattersall, who heads up
ERSOU, said: “We’re here and
open for business and we want
to engage with every force at
every level.
“We want your intelligence
fed through – from ANPR units,
Safer Neighbourhood Teams,
Intervention, Road Policing Units
and so on.
“If you want to know more, just
pick up the phone and give us a
ring. We don’t want officers and
staff to think we’re a secretive,
stand-alone unit.”
ERSOU was formed to increase
and improve operational capability
in dealing with cross-border
criminals, and is resourced by
Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire,
Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge and
Essex forces.
Its remit includes Witness
Protection, Confidential Unit,
Technical Support Unit, Covert
Method Entry, Undercover and
Telephone Data recovery.
A valuable addition to the unit
will be an in-house Regional Assets
Recovery Team (RART) – which
can assist in money laundering
investigations and undertake
confiscation, forfeiture and restraint
with the aid of the Proceeds of
Crime legislation.The RART will be
fully live in November.
Deputy Head of ERSOU
Detective Chief Inspector Mark
Lay added: “The last few
months have been particularly
challenging in pulling ERSOU
together, but I am really pleased
that in this short time, we have
managed to pull off some
really significant results by
working as a team.
“This is just the beginning.”
RESIDENTS GET
THE MESSAGE!
A greener
way to bin
your waste
By Laurel Smithson
A NEW system for the
collection and disposal of
general waste will be
introduced across the
Constabulary in January.
Individual desk bins will be
removed and instead larger
general and recycling bins
will be positioned at central
locations across the Force.
This new system for
general waste forms part of
the Constabulary’s Waste
Policy contained within
the Environmental
Sustainability Strategy.
Amanda Grosse,
Deputy Head of
Estates and Facilities,
said: “Introducing
this system for
general waste with
one waste supplier,
and segregating the
waste into general
and recycling, will enable us
to build up a true picture of
our waste streams.
“It will help us report on the
percentage of recycling and
the percentage reduction to
landfill and cost efficiencies
on a regular basis.”
Road shows will take place
at Headquarters, Hatfield,
Stevenage and Watford Police
Stations in the week beginning
January 10 2011. The scheme
goes live on January 17 2011.
General waste includes food,
food wrappers, glass bottles,
polystyrene, contaminated
food containers, crisp packets
and chocolate wrappers.
Recycling will include
plastics such as cups and
bottles, aluminium cans,
card, non-confidential paper
and cardboard sandwich
containers. Confidential
waste will still be disposed of
in the same way.
Signs will advertise where
the general bins and recycling
facilities for workspaces can
be found.
Amanda added: “Fewer bins
will also free up cleaners and
allow them to spend more
time in other areas of
their cleaning contract.
“This is a really
positive initiative
and I hope officers
and staff will
support it too, as we
look to cut our costs
in this area and become
‘greener’ as a force.”
More information will
follow about road show dates
and how the new scheme
will be rolled out.
For more on the Force’s
policy on environmental
sustainability, see the relevant
section on the intranet.
C h e c k t h e FAQ s e c t i o n
before contacting “Get in
Touch” on the Environmental
Sustainability website.
AN internet-based
messaging system now
enables residents and
businesses to sign up to
receive instant news and
information from their
local police service.
Community Messaging
uses the award-winning
Online Watch Link (OWL)
to send information direct
from the Constabulary –
and it won’t cost them
a penny.
Assistant Chief Constable
Chris Miller said: “We’re
expanding to the whole
county a nationally
recognised system that’s
been really successful
in communicating
w i t h Ne i g h b o u r h o o d
Watch members.
“ We s e e C o m m u n i t y
Online system keeps communities
up to date with news from the Force
Messaging as a fast,
straightforward and
accurate way to give people
direct information about
how we are policing the
county and about
policing in their own
neighbourhoods.”
Leaflets have been
made available to
neighbourhood teams to
deliver the message to
local people and encourage
them to sign up to
Community Messaging.
ACC Miller added:
“People may not feel the
need for more information
about policing because
they are in such a safe
county, but they may be
interested to hear about
a local issue that’s been
dealt with, such as reducing
dangerous driving near a
local school, or about
offensive graffiti that’s
been cleared up or even to
We see Community Messaging as
a fast, straightforward and accurate
way to give people direct information
hear about opportunities
in their area to meet
and chat to one of their
neighbourhood officers.
“Please encourage anyone
you have contact with to
sign up to Community
Messaging.”
Recipients receive one or
two messages a fortnight
after signing up, which
can be done online at
‘Community Messaging’ on
www.herts.police.uk
Most messages are
emailed but urgent alerts
can be sent on SMS text.
If anyone currently
receives OWL messages as
part of a Neighbourhood
Wa t c h t h e y w i l l
automatically receive
Community Messaging
and do not need to register.
Campaign increases burglary detections
REDUCING and preventing
home burglary in the run up to
Christmas is the aim of the latest
Operation Guardian campaign,
h e a d e d u p b y Te m p o r a r y
Assistant Chief Constable Alison
Roome Gifford.
“In real terms, the figures we
are currently achieving mean
fewer victims of this dreadful
crime and more burglars brought
to justice,” explained Alison.
“There is undoubtedly an
improvement in the quality of
our arrests and in the quality
of the evidence in support of these
Thank you for the
really hard work
you’ve put in
so far this year
OPERATION GUARDIAN HAS SEEN SO FAR:
■ a 94 per cent increase in the number of burglary suspects
charged since April 2010
■ a 36 per cent increase in the number of suspects charged
at first disposal
■ a 50 per cent reduction in the number of suspects “no
further actioned” at first disposal
■ the sanction detection rate for burglary sits well above
target, showing an increase of more than 6 per cent on the
same period last year.
investigations, leading to fewer
people being released without
charge. This demonstrates that
we’re targeting the right – as well
as the most prolific – people.”
She added:“The Force is already
seeing some excellent results –
dwelling burglary has dropped by
nearly 8 per cent compared to the
same period last year – and this
year’s Operation Guardian aims to
keep it that way.”
CSP plans are already well
under way, with crime reduction
?
activity such as road shows
and doorstep patrols to issue
advice to residents, work with
second-hand retailers to ensure
they follow proper checking
procedures and promoting
Neighbourhood Watch and
www.immobilise.com – along
with enforcement measures to
catch those responsible.
Alison concluded: “Thank you
for the really hard work you’ve put
in so far this year – and I know I
can rely on your continued focus
and efforts over the winter
months to keep people who live
in Hertfordshire even safer.”
FIND OUT MORE
For more information on Operation Guardian, please contact
DCI Trevor Rodenhurst on ext. 6902
4
Herts beat
Herts beat
NEWS
CUTTING COSTS BUT NOT CORNERS
WITH BUDGET CUTS HITTING THE PUBLIC SECTOR, WE ARE WORKING TO MEET THESE NEW CONSTRAINTS AND DELIVER A QUALITY POLICE SERVICE
“PROGRAMME 2015 is a far-reaching
programme of work which will change the
way we operate as a service and will ensure
that we can work effectively with our new
reduced budgets.
“As a Chief Officer team, we are acutely
aware that the scope of the initiatives being
considered as part of Programme 2015 will,
to some extent, affect every officer and
member of staff across the Constabulary.
“We will need to work differently in the
future – the significant reduction in our
budgets will dictate this.
“But we have already proven that we are a
high-performing Constabulary with a creative
and innovative workforce and know that, with
your commitment and teamwork, we will
do all we can to maintain that good quality
of service.
“Thank you for your continued
commitment, hard work and your tenacity
through this continuing time of change. Your
contribution to what we are achieving as a
service is valued and appreciated.”
T/DCC Heather Valentine
THE Twenty-Ten Programme, and a number
of other internal change projects that have
been undertaken, will go some way to
addressing the budget shortfalls.
The Constabulary is continuing to build on
the collaborative working arrangements
we already have with Bedfordshire Police,
such as the joint Dog Unit. The latest
venture, a joint ICT Department, will go live
at the start of December.
It is also assessing opportunities for
working with other forces in the Eastern
Region and beyond, and other partner
agencies, to make savings and find ways
to deliver our services in a more resilient
and efficient way wherever possible.
The Constabulary has also suspended
police officer, PCSO and other police
staff recruitment.
The 30+ PLUS scheme has been
suspended for the foreseeable future
alongside a process of stricter vacancy
management for police staff posts in
recent months.
£6.7m
Road Policing
£97.3m
Territorial
Operations
£86m
Local
Policing
Command
Progress
already made
OU
DID YW
?
KNO
All of these steps, and the wide range of
other areas now under review as part of
Programme 2015, will all contribute to the
wider savings programme.
£1.3m
B&H
Dog Unit
£39.4m
Protective
Services
£1.3m
County
Community
Safety Unit
£0.8m
Corporate
Budgets
£18.2m
Citizen
Focus
£12.5m
Corporate
Services
£0.86m
Corporate
Communication
£1.1m
Police Authority
£1.8m
B&H
Professional
Standards
£14m
Crime
Management
£12.3m
Contact
Management
tion
lementa
Post Imps are being
Review to look at the
d
s
scheduleimplemented a
s
n
change the Twenty-Te
part of Management
Change gramme
Pro
£5.3m
B&H
Scientific
Services
How our money is spent
£11.1m
Criminal
Justice
Department
£6.2m
HR
£3.7m
Citizen Focus
£5.4m
B&H
MCU
£22.8m
Support
Services
£2.75m
OIDD
£0.6m
Collaboration
Programme
£2.7m
B&H
Firearms
Support Unit
£8.84m
ICT
£1.46m
Finance
Department
£1.3m
Procurement
& Supplies
£8.9m
Estates &
Facilities
£0.87m
Legal Services
INTERVENTION TEAMS
Chief Superintendent Julia Wortley
is looking at proposals to combine the
Intervention Teams in Three Rivers
and Watford to create economies of
scale and allow for more joint sharing
of accommodation with Three Rivers
District Council.
LOCALLY BASED POLICING SERVICES
Resourcing of Safer Neighbourhood
Teams – led by Chief Superintendent
Andy Shrives and T/ACC Chris
Miller – is reviewing the distribution
of officers and staff within Safer
Neighbourhood Teams and looking
at ways we can have a more efficient
spread of resources across the county
based more closely on demand.
COMMUNITY SAFETY UNIT REVIEW
A review of the delivery of
community safety across the county
was presented to staff on November
4. The review, which includes Mobile
Police Stations, ASB, Licensing,
NHW and Crime Prevention, has
made recommendations designed
to continue to build on our strong
working relationships with partners
as well as developing sustainable
communities in order to reduce
crime and the fear of crime.
FRONT ENQUIRY OFFICE PROVISION
This review is looking at the
most effective way of providing
enquiry office services to the public.
This piece of work is being led by
T/ACC Alison Roome Gifford,
supported by colleagues from the
Local Policing Command and Force
Control Room.
CASE MANAGEMENT AND CASE
INVESTIGATION TEAMS
This review, which is nearing
completion, is being undertaken
jointly by colleagues within the
Change Management Team, Local
Policing Command and Criminal
Justice senior managers, led by
T/ACC Alison Roome Gifford. It is
looking to remove duplication and
unnecessary work from the system
and coincides with the return of a
further range of cases to the police
to make charging decisions. This
also follows progress in case
management in the courts that has
DIRECTOR of Resources, James Hurley,
below, gave Herts Beat this update
regarding the current financial position.
“As you will be aware from the
extensive media coverage, on October 20
the Government published its
Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR),
detailing a cut of an average of four per
cent in funding for the police service
each year until 2015,” he said.
“It is too early to say what that review
means for the Constabulary as spending
projections need to be updated in
response to the CSR announcement and
to the Constabulary’s grant settlement for
policing year 2011/12, which is due to
be announced at the end of November.
“However, we have been estimating a
budget shortfall of between £36m and
£40m for the Constabulary over the next
four years, along with
the loss of about
£4m to £5m in
partnership
funding and
grants, which
represents a
20 per cent
reduction in
real terms
over the next
four years.”
(NB these are the original budget book figures as set earlier this year - savings have already been made on some of these budget headings in this year. Budgets have been rounded up and not all smaller units are listed)
Programme 2015: the main areas for review
PROGRAMME 2015 has a wide
variety of projects within it, all
designed to look for more costeffective ways of delivering our
services. Staff Associations and
personnel will be kept fully briefed
about developments and consulted
about proposals that affect them.
Current
financial
position
seen a 50 per cent fall in the number
of officers being warned to attend
Magistrates Courts. The plans have
been agreed in principle and work is
now underway to develop proposals
and start to consult with staff.
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
PROTECTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE
T/ACC Chris Miller and Chief
LEADING THE WAY: LEADING
THROUGH CHANGE WORKSHOPS
A series of bespoke workshops aimed at
providing managers and supervisors with the
skills to help support their teams through the
2015 change programme are due to start soon.
The workshops replace the leadership
development days and include sessions on
managing change, how people react to change
and feature practical case studies.
The sessions, which will be opened by a Chief
Officer, will also respond to the themes of the
recent force staff and employee engagement
survey.
T/Assistant Chief Constable Alison Roome
Gifford, the force champion for leadership
Superintendent Andy Shrives are
leading a review of the provision for
managing young offenders, youth
engagement and youth crime
reduction. A review is also considering
the resourcing of the units dedicated
to protecting vulnerable people.
TRAINING AND HR RELATED ISSUES
Lesley Pritchard, Head of Learning
development, said: “The sessions have been
designed to equip our leaders to deal with the
issues that change inevitably creates.
“We know that this investment in our leaders
is crucial if we are to continue to sustain our
performance success as an organisation and
continue to deliver quality services to the public
of Hertfordshire.”
KEEPING YOU UPDATED
A series of face-to-face briefings along the same
line as the roadshows that ran for the TwentyTen Programme will be held in November and
December, when greater certainty around the
exact level of budget reductions the
Constabulary is facing is expected.
and Development, is overseeing
a review of the way in which
training is delivered across the
force to find more effective ways
of delivering the right type of
training to the right people.
She is also leading a review of the
way in which probationary officers
will be supported in the future.
Chief Inspector Richard Harbon is
These sessions will provide you with
the opportunity to put questions to Chief
Officers and other colleagues who are
contributing to the various aspects of
Programme 2015.
If you want to raise any questions or check out
anything you may have heard “on the
grapevine”, please use the Rumour Mill facility
on the Programme 2015 intranet site.
Also, if you any suggestions about how the
force can save money, please submit these
through the Herts and Minds section of
the intranet.
Herts Beat will continue to feature regular
updates detailing progress being made with
Programme 2015.
reviewing the way in which we
undertake initial training for
student officers, looking at ways in
which we can get new recruits fit for
independent patrol more quickly.
A new annual appraisal process
which takes account of new
national developments, including a
new professional Performance
Framework for both police officers
and police staff, is being developed
by HR with plans to introduce it in
time for the new financial year.
RESPONSE TO SPECIALIST CRIME
ACC Steve Devine is leading a
number of reviews with the aim of
securing future savings in our Force
Intelligence Bureau structure, our
response to cheque and credit card
fraud and high-tech crime.
He is also, together with colleagues
from Bedfordshire, reviewing what
future savings can be made in
coming years from Collaborated
Protective Services as well as
reviewing regional arrangements
for serious and organised crime
through Eastern Region Special
Operations Unit (ERSOU).
REVIEW OF ESTATES
The Constabulary’s estates are being
reviewed by Ian Potter, with the
intention of reducing running costs
and ensuring, where feasible, that we
work with partner organisations to
share accommodation.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
FOR OFFICERS AND STAFF
Consultation has commenced with
police staff colleagues to review their
terms and conditions. UNISON has
confirmed that, following a ballot of
their members, the Branch Officers
have received a mandate to enter
negotiations with the Constabulary.
A review of the level and scope of
Special Priority Payments (SPP) and
on-call allowances is under way.
SPPs will be retained but will be
reduced next year. A review of
working arrangements for Bank
Holidays has been undertaken and
a new risk based approach adopted
and a review of overtime is also
under way with a specific focus on
double time overtime.
“During the Twenty-Ten changes,
UNISON has been working
closely with the Change Team
to ensure that any proposed
changes take into account the
effect on employees.
“Members will receive full
representation at any briefings
and our stewards are available
for individual one to ones.
“We will offer assistance
when submitting counter
proposals, striving to represent
our members needs.
“Following the outstanding
support at the EGM, we will
endeavour to negotiate the
best possible outcome for our
members in ongoing talks in
relation to Police Staff Terms
and Conditions.
“We know that the recent
changes have caused worry
and upset to staff and that this
is likely to continue.
“We will keep members
informed as proposals are
moved ahead and we share
the commitment of the T/DCC
in finding a way through
these challenging times.”
Steph Raddings and Liz Davidson,
UNISON Herts Police Branch
5
6
Herts beat
Disability
workshop
challenges
perceptions
STAFF from across the
organisation attended a
thought-provoking one-day
event in September, which
focused on disability and
how to build a disability
confident business.
The participants were
led through a challenging
range of scenarios and
discussion topics by guest
speaker Rick Williams, who is
from the Employers’ Forum
on Disability.
The event was designed to
build on the work already
undertaken by the Force
relating to disability under the
Equality Act.
It aimed to identify potential
priority areas for further
action and explore the
current practices, policies
and procedures and consider
them from a disabled
person’s viewpoint.
Diversity and Equality
Manager Julie Foster said:
“The event was a great
success and one delegate
even told me that it had
changed everything for him
– he had never thought about
One delegate
told me he
would be
changing his
attitude in
the future
things in this way before and
would be changing his
attitude in the future.”
Superintendent Rob Henry,
the Force lead for disability,
added: “We will be using
the feedback from the
development day to shape
objectives and actions on
disability for the coming three
to four years.
“Rick introduced us to a
methodology of barrier
analysis and we intend to
use this to inform our
decision making.”
He added: “Understanding
the ‘customer journey’ from a
disabled person’s perspective
is critical if we are to make
the desired improvements to
our service.”
NEWS
SNAKES
ALIVE!
MEET OUR
UNUSUAL
VISITOR
IT’S one thing to feel an
affinity with all things
creepy crawly, but it’s quite
another to come into work
and find a snake curled up
in your inbox!
However, Sergeant Jamie
Bartlett didn’t bat an eyelid
when he found the rateating reptile on his desk.
It’s all in a day’s work
for the Force’s first-ever
dedicated Rural, Wildlife
& Environmental Crimes
Co-ordinator.
It transpired that the nonvenomous snake had been
found on a doorstep in
Cheshunt and brought into
the police station in a sealed
A DEVELOPMENTAL day
organised by the women’s
support network Engage was
attended by more than 100
female officers and staff from
across the Constabulary.
Colleagues from
Bedfordshire Police and the
multi-agency County
Community Safety Unit
box. A helpful officer had
decided the best place for it
was Jamie’s desk, but it
somehow escaped.
“I was actually in a
meeting that day and
received a call to say there
was a snake on my desk
and it kept going for
anyone who was trying to
put work in my inbox,”
explained Jamie.
“Needless to say, I left the
meeting in a hurry and
there it was – a Trans Pecos
Ratsnake – similar to a corn
snake but of a snappier
disposition! Luckily, it was
completely harmless and
we were able to rehome it
as a nice pet.”
Jamie, who has 23 years’
service with Hertfordshire,
I was in a meeting and received a call
to say there was a snake on my desk
and it kept going for anyone who
was trying to put work in my inbox
has recently taken on the
full-time mantle of Rural,
Wildlife & Environmental
Crimes Co-ordinator.
Hertfordshire has always
had a number of officers
who deal with wildlife and
environmental matters –
but usually as an add-on to
their day job.
H o w e v e r, n a t i o n a l
recommendations from
ACPO and a growing focus
on rural and environmental
crime has led the Force
to appoint a dedicated
officer who will oversee
the strategic and
partnership work, as well as
training issues.
Rural and wildlife officers
get involved in all kinds
of cases, from hare coursing
and theft of farming
equipment, to fly-tipping
and importation of
endangered species.
A Wildlife Crimes officer
since 1989, Jamie said:
“I am passionate about
policing, especially rural
policing and wildlife, and
can’t wait to get on with
my new role.”
Student wins top
honours on course
A MEMBER of the
Bedfordshire and
Hertfordshire Scientific
Services Unit has been
selected as the Most
Meritorious Fingerprint
Course Student of the
Year 2009/10.
Noreen Cattle was chosen
for the award by the
National Policing
Improvement Agency.
In the opinion of the
instructional staff, she
had attained outstanding
levels of both personal
Noreen, right,
receives her
award
Network members
take a Step Forward
By Cath Shepherd
Jamie with the
rat snake,
which has
now found a
new home!
Wildlife officer has a surprise guest
also took part in the Step
Forward event.
Step Forward focused on
inspirational leadership
and assessed how women
across the organisation can
get the best out of themselves
and colleagues, irrespective
of ranks and grades.
The day was opened by
Chair of Engage, Chief
Inspector Julie Wheatley,
who provided an overview of
the main objectives that the
network aims to achieve.
These include removing
barriers that prevent women
from progressing through
the ranks or in their chosen
specialism and ensuring that
female colleagues can enjoy
a rewarding career.
Among those delivering
presentations were Charlotte
Madison, author and former
army fighter pilot, who
offered an interesting insight
into her career path and
how she coped in a maledominated environment.
Temporary Assistant Chief
Constable Alison Roome
Gifford gave an overview of
recent research into the close
links between excellent
leadership and the success
and productivity of an
organisation, while
Bedfordshire’s Assistant
Chief Constable Kath Govier
delivered a session on
professional resilience.
There were also sessions on
coaching skills and personal
development, and the day
ended with an opportunity
to raise questions with the
panel, which comprised
and academic achievement.
Noreen said: “It was a
huge honour to have been
selected for the award – an
honour which is testament
to the patience and
professionalism of the
colleagues and instructors
who mentored and guided
me through my training.
“The setting for the
ceremony within the
grounds of Durham Castle
was spectacular and it was
a lovely, sunny day – a day
I shall never forget.”
Alison Roome Gifford, Julie
Wheatley, Deputy Chair of
Engage Inspector Hannah
Mann and Amanda Johnson
of Learning & Development.
Julie explained: “The day
provided a tremendous
opportunity for us to
focus on developmental
opportunities during a
financially challenging
climate and also how we can
demonstrate leadership and
coaching skills at all levels of
the organisation.”
Engage sponsors places
on the Positive Action
Leadership Programme
In introducing Noreen’s
a w a r d , Pe t e r Wa l t o n ,
Head of Academic
Programmes, said: “The
successful student gained
this award for the
application to her own
learning and contribution
she made to all courses
she attended, including to
other students’ development,
and their determination
to succeed.
“These are all essential
qualities looked for in a
fingerprint expert.”
Above: Former fighter pilot Charlotte
Madison spoke at the event
courses run by the National
Policing Improvement
Agency. To register interest
in a place, email ‘R Engage’.
Herts beat
NEWS
A better future for vulnerable people
THINK FAMILY is a national
approach to secure better
outcomes for vulnerable
children, young people and
adults, through a co-ordinated,
“whole family” approach.
In Hertfordshire, a new
way of working is currently
being developed under the
Think Family umbrella
called the Scaffold Project.
Made up of four teams of
professionals from a number
of key agencies, including
the police, Adult Care
Services (ACS), Children
Schools and Families (CSF)
and health, the three-year
project is already under way
in four key areas: South
Oxhey (Three Rivers),
Bedwell (Stevenage), Cowley
Hill (Hertsmere) and
Holbrook (Broxbourne).
Each area has a dedicated
team leader and the project is
co-ordinated by Detective
Chief Inspector Julia Wright.
If you’d like to find out
more about the Scaffold
Project, you can contact
Julia on 07584 150747, or
Beverley Dover on 07747
564760. Alternatively, for
more about other Think
Family projects, including
the police-led East Herts
Family Intervention Project,
search for Think Family at
www.hertsdirect.org
A ‘BRILLIANT’ AND
FULFILLING CAREER
By Cath Shepherd
“WHILE I wouldn’t describe
every day of my 30 years’
service as ‘unbridled joy’,
overall it’s been a brilliant
experience and a great
career,” said Detective Chief
Superintendent Jeremy
Alford as he retired from the
Constabulary in September.
Jeremy’s service began in
the Metropolitan Police
Service in 1980 and he
describes the ensuing years as
a significant time for British
policing, in terms of public
demonstrations and unrest
and the continuation of the
IRA bombing campaign on
the mainland.
He was Duty Inspector
when the IRA bombed
Downing Street in 1991
and was on duty and caught
on television on the day
Margaret Thatcher resigned
as Prime Minister.
He remembers more
fondly his posting as the
Neighbourhood Inspector
to St John’s Wood, which
he describes as a ‘very
interesting place’ to police,
As Jeremy Alford
hangs up his hat,
he looks back over
the last 30 years
not least as it is home to
Lord’s Cricket Ground and
offered the odd respite from
the hurly burly of policing
Central London.
During his 18 years with
the Met, Jeremy worked
alongside Ian Blair, who
was later to become
Commissioner, as well as
John Yates and Cressida
Dick who, in their senior
commanding roles for a
number of key inquiries and
operations, have each been in
the national media spotlight
over recent years.
After a two-year spell with
Bedfordshire Police as a
Detective Superintendent,
Jeremy transferred to
Hertfordshire in 2000 and
spent five years as Head of
Crime Management.
Du ring that tim e, h e
oversaw the Constabulary’s
involvement in the multi-
force hunt for serial rapist
Antoni Imiela, who attacked
a teenage girl in Stevenage,
and the successful
prosecution of the gang
responsible for the drive-by
Kalashnikov shooting of
David King in Hoddesdon.
At the end of this posting,
Jeremy travelled to Sri Lanka
for three weeks to help with
a redevelopment programme
in the wake of the tsunami
and has continued his links
with the Stillwaters charity,
visiting again in June of
this year.
In 2005, he took over as
Western Area Commander,
which he describes as his
“most interesting and
enjoyable” posting with the
Constabulary, where he had
the privilege of working with
superb officers and a great
team of support staff.
Full of praise for those who
made up his command team
over the five years that he
was there, Jeremy said: “Our
results in terms of public
satisfaction, crime reduction
and detection were great and
I am really proud of what we
achieved on the West.”
He was awarded a Chief
Constable’s commendation
It’s been a brilliant experience.
My enduring memory will be of
the fun I have had and the fantastic
people I have worked with
CAPTIONcompetition
We have
a winner…
■ “David Cameron – ‘Lend us a tenner mate,
we’re a bit strapped.’” Jason Baxter,
Service Improvement
■ “David Cameron couldn’t resist feeling TDCI
Channer’s biceps!” Jon Alder, CJD, Hatfield
■ Ladies behind – “Does Glen realise he is
about to book the PM?” Sultana Pasha,
Beds and Herts Collaboration Team
Newsbeats>>
With great
sadness…
■ EX-POLICE officer Ian
Crawley passed away on
7 September. Ian will be
remembered as the
“Professor” who was
famous for assisting
pathologists at post
mortems. Recently he had
been working part-time as a
coroner’s officer at Hatfield.
Moving on…
■ 299 Detective Constable
James Rudd, Economic
Crime Unit, Crime
Management, Headquarters,
from August 31
■ 8544 Angela Clark,
Business Administrator,
Neighbourhood Watch,
Stevenage from
September 6
■ 2001 Detective Chief
Superintendent Jeremy
Alford, Collaborative
Command, from
September 19
■ 945 Constable
Don Carter, Force
Communications Room,
Headquarters, from
October 5
■ 452 Constable Nicholas
Pringle, Neighbourhood
Team, Dacorum CSP,
Hemel Hempstead, from
October 6
■ 7723 Jacqueline
Hockey, Health & Safety
Co-ordinator, Facilities
Support, Local Policing
Command, from October 14
■ 7594 Sherrell Harrington,
Business Support
Administrator, Local
Policing Command, Watford
Sunflower Centre, from
October 17
■ 952 Detective Sergeant
Thomas Smith, Public
Protection Unit, Community
Safety Unit, Headquarters,
from October 19
■ 8309 Ann Roullier,
Station Reception Officer,
Hoddesdon Police Station,
from October 20
■ 1835 Constable Stephen
Nappin, PDU, Hatfield Police
Station, Local Policing
Command, from October 25
■ 7677 Hilary Jeffries,
IT Training Officer, IT
Training Team, Human
Resources Department,
from October 31
September
Lottery
wins…
CONGRATULATIONS go to Ian Noble from
the B&HMCU, who receives a £10 voucher
for his winning entry. The picture featured
TDCI Glen Channer with Prime Minister
David Cameron.
“From Hertfordshire, are you? Got any
tips on successful collaboration?”
Honourable
mentions go to…
for his work with the multiagency Recovery Group as
the Constabulary tackled
the aftermath of the
Buncefield Oil Depot
explosion, overseeing the
support given to local
communities affected by
the disaster, in close liaison
with other statutory and
voluntary partners.
Over the past few months,
he has led the Bedfordshire &
Hertfordshire Collaborated
Protective Services portfolio,
a new post overseeing the
joint units that have
been established for the
two forces.
He now moves on to a new
role with the Greater London
Authority working in the
field of Community Safety.
Jeremy commented: “My
policing career has offered up
a wide variety of challenging
and interesting experiences.
“I have worked in every
rank as both a uniformed
officer and a detective but,
above all, my enduring
memory will be of the fun I
have had and the fantastic
people I have worked with.”
7
AND now for this month’s competition. This time we are
featuring a picture of PCSO Stephen Mould, right.
Send your ideas to Nikki Royall, Herts Beat Editor,
Corporate Communication, Headquarters, or via
email (nikki.royall@herts.pnn.police.uk)
The winning entry will be printed in the next
issue – the closing date is November 27. The
editor’s decision is final! Next month we will be
offering a special mystery Corp Comm prize.
Do you have any photographs that might suit this
competition? If so, please get in contact with Nikki
Royall as above, or on ext 4588.
US
SENDEN
TRY
R
U
YO captions to Nikki
or,
ur
Send yo , Herts Beat Edittion,
Royall Communica
il
te
Corpora uarters, or ema
q
d
Hea
all@
nikki.royolice.uk
n.p
herts.pn
■ 1st – £3,198.00 Mark
Montgomery, Stevenage
■ 2nd – £799.50 Declared
VOID (will be redrawn in the
October 2010 draw)
■ 3rd – £799.50 Lorraine
Moir, Letchworth
■ 4th – £399.75 Nadine
Ledger, Hertford
■ 5th – £399.75 Stephen
Beard, Borehamwood
■ 6th-10th – £79.95
Richard Allen, retired police
officer; Tracey Parsons,
Headquarters; David
Gilmore, Hatfield;
Christopher Wing,
Hitchin; Rachel Cowell,
Headquarters
8
Herts beat
SPORT AND SOCIAL
Charity footballers achieve their goal by raising thousands of pounds to buy wheelchair for their injured colleague
TEAM EFFORT FOR MATT
MORE than £4,000 was
raised following a special
football match between the
Force football team and
‘Matt’s friends 11’ to buy a
wheelchair for Matt
Hignett from the Hi-Tech
Crime Unit.
Signed football shirts and
snooker equipment were
auctioned off following the
match in Welwyn Garden
City in September, which
the police team lost 3-1.
“I blame the bad weather!”
said team captain, PC Dean
Perrett, who organised the
event. “It was a good game,
though and it was very
competitive.
“I’d like to thank the
players and supporters and
everyone who helped –
Above: Matt Hignett
amazingly, we raised more
than £4,000, which will
help Matt adapt and make
his life as comfortable as
possible,” added Dean.
Richard defeated opponents
20 years younger to take the
tennis championship title
MATCH OF THE DAY: Matt’s friends and players from the Force raised £4,000
Picture courtesy of Welwyn & Hatfield Review
birthday, and he is now
participating in a
rehabilitation programme.
Players paid £10 to play,
Players and supporters
were then able to dance the
night away at a disco at the
grounds afterwards.
Dean added: “I’d also like
to thank the police officers
and police staff for their
generous donations made
following a force-wide
email – Matt is very grateful
for the amazing support.”
with all of the money going
towards the wheelchair, and
supporters were charged £5
to watch the game.
I’d like to thank everyone who helped.
We raised more than £4,000 which
will help Matt adapt and make his
life as comfortable as possible
GOSH – what an
achievement…
Net result for
the ‘old boy’!
AFTER four gruelling
rounds of tennis in two days,
PC Richard Staff was
crowned National Men’s
Singles Champion for 2010.
The Police Sport UK Tennis
Tournament was hosted at
Boston Tennis Club in
Lincolnshire in September
in difficult windy conditions.
Richard has been a British
Police Tennis Team player for
almost 10 years. Now aged 44
and having last won the
British Police singles title in
2006, his chance of victory
seemed based more on hope
than expectation!
On the first day, Richard’s
opponents were both 20
years younger, but still came
off second best. On day two,
Richard faced a potential
In May this year, Matt, 27,
was on his way to work very
early in the morning on his
motorbike when he slipped.
He suffered a serious
spinal cord injury, leaving
him permanently paralysed
from the chest down. Due
to this being a non-fault
accident, no compensation
can be claimed.
No neurological recovery
is expected and Matt will be
a wheelchair user for the
rest of his life.
He was admitted to the
Spinal Cord Injuries Unit
at the Royal National
Orthopaedic Hospital in
Stanmore and was there
until September 2010,
undergoing four major
operations around his
four matches, having also
successfully partnered
Borehamwood’s Steve Hunt
to the doubles semi final.
He started with a semifinal against another British
Police player and won a
close-fought three-set match,
followed by a win over
Suffolk in the doubles.
The singles final was against
an opponent from the Met
Police whom Richard had
never beaten, but he went on
to claim the championship in
a tie break – the bad news
was he still had the doubles
final to play!
Unfortunately, the doubles
proved a match too far and
the Herts pair were beaten by
Greater Manchester Police,
the defending champions.
A PCSO from Redbourn
took her fundraising for a
children’s hospital to new
heights, when she climbed
Mount Kilimanjaro in
Tanzania in October.
Alli Dewar, who is part of
the neighbourhood team
in Redbourn, made the
climb in aid of Great
Ormond Street Hospital
(GOSH).
She has already climbed
Ben Nevis in Scotland and
Jebal Toubkal in North
Africa – all in memory of
her godson Harrison
Martin, who was treated
for cancer at GOSH but
sadly died in 2007.
Alli said: “Harrison was
such a beautiful little boy
and was just 18 months
old when he lost his
battle with cancer.
Throughout his illness
and after, the staff at
GOSH were amazing –
Harrison wasn’t just a
OU
DID YW
?
KNO njaro
ilima
Mount K nia is the
in Tanza mountain
highest frica
in A
Alli’s godson Harrison was just
18 months old when he died
Judo team
is looking
for new
members
PCSO Alli took on the
challenge of climbing Mount
Kilimanjaro to raise funds for
Great Ormond Street Hospital
patient to them –
he was a child.
His family and I
will forever feel
indebted to them
for their care, so I
want to support
them in his
memory.”
Alli’s trek was
organised
through a
company
and lasted
seven days.
She covered
the cost of the
trip herself so
that all of her
sponsorship money
went directly to the
hospital.
So far, Alli has
raised more than
£1,000. She
added: “I wanted to take it
to the next level with this
challenge, as well as raising
money for a great place.”
?
DONATE
To donate to the
cause just go to:
www.justgiving.co.uk/
alli-dewar
Written and produced by Corporate Communication. Designed and edited by Connect Communications, tel: 0141 561 0300, visit: www.connectcommunications.co.uk, email: info@connectcommunications.co.uk
IT’S been a busy time
recently for the Force judo
team. Early in September,
officers from the newly
formed Herts Police Judo
Club were honoured to
have a training session
with the Bedford Judo Club
in preparation for the
upcoming Police Sport UK
team event in Wales.
The visitors included
Bedfordshire police officers
and staff, in particular Steve
Sweetlove, who works in the
Joint Public Order Planning
Team and is well known in
the judo world. There was
also another surprise visitor
– Michael Holden, a former
world judoka and jiu jitsu
champion.
Later in September, the
team attended the Police
Sport UK team event in
Wales. After two hours of
Randori sparring on the
Friday evening, the team
and the combined forces
competed against the Welsh
National Team on the
Saturday, losing 5-6.
The team is always on the
lookout for new members
and anyone interested in
training or joining them
should get in touch with
Dave Chastell or Detective
Sergeant Laurie Rush.