Policing - new material (90)
01 April 2010
Less is more, Gary Mason. Police Product Review Issue 36 (February / March) 2010, pp. 39-44. This “product survey” examines “the range and use of mainstream weapons in police forces as an alternative to conventional firearms and how they may develop.” It considers baton and multi-shot baton guns, the chemical options and conducted energy devices. It also includes a brief entry on human rights concerns.
Commissioner's Report: Independent Investigation into the death of Nadeem Khan. Independent Police Complaints Commission May 2010, pp. 13. This report presents the Commission's findings from its investigation into the death of Nadeem "Dean" Khan while in the custody of Lancashire Constabulary. Available as a free download: http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/commissioners_report_nadeem_khan.pdf
German police clean up with new cannon. Police Product Review Issue 36 (February / March) 2010, p 5. This short article is on the WaWa 10, a new water cannon being tested by German police forces to replace the earlier model. Built by Austrian company Rosenbauer, this joystick controlled vehicle carries a crew of five, has a 10,000 litre capacity and three video cameras, a voice recorder and an external loud speaker.
Race and Faith Inquiry Report. Metropolitan Police Authority, July 2010, pp. 88. This inquiry began after a senior Asian police officer, Tarique Ghaffur, began employment tribunal proceedings against the Metropolitan police in 2008. The inquiry heard: “sad and disturbing accounts from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) officers and staff of differential treatment which have led us to conclude that excellence and innovation in some areas sit uncomfortably with the differential experiences of BME officers and staff in others.” It adds “People from a BME background or faith in the MPS feel unfairly treated and marginalised”. The report makes nine recommendations for improvement. See: http://www.mpa.gov.uk/scrutinies/racefaith
Police and Roma and Sinti: good practices in building trust and understanding, The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). SPMU Publication Series Vol. 9 (Vienna) April 2010 (ISBN 978-92-9234-509-9), pp. 143. The preface to this report says: “Roma and Sinti are often targets of racially motivated discrimination and violence. They need to be able to fully rely on the police for protection against – and the full investigation of – hate motivated crimes. At the same time, the police face the challenge of effectively policing Roma and Sinti communities that often view such efforts with suspicion and mistrust, fed by a long history of abuse and discrimination at the hands of various state authorities. See: http://www.osce.org/publications/odihr/2010/04/43671_1452_en.pdf
Ideas to Prevent, Steve Roberts. Police Review 9.7.10, pp.22-25. Roberts discusses one element of the government’s Prevent programme, Operation Channel, which claims to “support people at risk of being manipulated into participating in terrorism”. He argues against threatened cuts to the budget of this intrusive and profiling operation.
Toll and Troubles, Sarah Bebbington, Police Review, 18 June 2010, pp.22-23 In this piece, Bebbington interviews ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer Alan Simpson about his time within the force, and the resulting post-traumatic stress syndrome he now suffers from which led to his early retirement. He reflects on key events during his career as head of Belfast regional CID, such as the CID’s inadequacies when faced with the Omagh bombing and the murder of republican lawyer Pat Finucane. He also discusses the inadequacies he perceives in the RUC’s treatment of officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.