All systems go behind the CT firewall

The digital world is both the biggest opportunity and the biggest threat in policing. As a result, the need for staff with specialist IT expertise is huge – and by their very nature they rarely come from the traditional policing route. Counter Terrorism Policing HQ is hosted by the Metropolitan… With machine reading, AI and the online world rapidly expanding, the demand for IT workers in counter terrorism has never been greater. As part of our CT insight series, an IT staff officer reveals what life is like....

Superintendents' lead says policing needs to be more flexible

Kent Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham told the Sunday Telegraph that a degree of flexibility is needed within the job in order for policing to remain an attractive career choice. He said: “There's no escaping the fact that we can't compete in many ways with the private sector when it comes… Paul Fotheringham, President of Police Superintendents' Association, has said that the way officers and staff complete desk-based work needs to change ...

New Deputy Chief for Warwickshire

DCC Franklin-Smith began his policing career in 2002 with Surrey before he transferred to Warwickshire in 2007. A year later, in 2008, he joined the National High Potential Development Scheme and worked in various uniform and detective roles up to the rank of Superintendent. In 2012 he was seconded to… Former Assistant Chief Constable, Alex Franklin-Smith, has been appointed as the force’s new Deputy Chief Constable. ...

Hertfordshire cancels PEQF courses “to process additional applications”

The force told Police Oracle that “students on the next two intakes through the PEQF route will now be starting on intakes in May.” When asked the reason for the delay, a Hertfordshire spokesperson said: “Having reviewed our annual training calendar, it was decided to cancel two training courses, one… The force has cancelled their next two training courses, one due to start in late March and the second in early April. ...

CT policing: drawing on the talents of seconded officers and staff

The work of officers tackling the most dangerous offenders active in the UK is closed off to the public and most of policing itself. Awareness of activity comes after a major incident such as the failed bomb attack in Liverpool last year. But the need for CT officers is increasing… With a national recruitment campaign under way, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing reveals why he isn’t looking for the usual suspects....

Hampshire appoints two new ACCs

The pair officially started in their new roles yesterday. ACC Catherine Akehurst, who began her policing career with Greater Manchester in 2003, will oversee the force’s Joint Operations Unit, encompassing Roads Policing and Contact Management across Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Thames Valley. The new ACC has moved to Hampshire… Hampshire has appointed two new Assistant Chief Constables, ACC Catherine Akehurst and ACC Robert France. ...

GMP welcomes new ACC

In her new role as ACC, Sarah Jackson will have the responsibility of the Crime portfolio, including Serious and Organised Crime, Public Protection and Forensic Services. She had previously worked with GMP before transferring to Cumbria in 2017 where she worked as Head of Professional Standards and the Commander of… New Assistant Chief Constable, Sarah Jackson, has returned to her old force in a move from Cumbria ...

City of London add two commanders to senior management team

City of London Police has appointed two new commanders following the announcement of the new Commissioner and Assistant Commissioners earlier this year. Umer Khan will take over as Commander for Policing Operations and Security, supporting Assistant Commissioner Paul Betts. Commander Khan joins the force after nearly 27 years with Greater… One will head up operations and the other economic and cyber crime ...

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to remain in post until 2025

At a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday, the Irish Government approved an extension to the term of office for Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Mr Harris, a former deputy chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), took up the role in 2018. His term in office had been… Former DCC of PSNI has contract extended for two years ...

Met lifts residency criteria for Uplift

The Metropolitan Police is lifting is residency restriction in a bid to meet its Uplift targets. It needs to recruit an additional 1,800 officers by March 2023 but can’t find enough candidates in London despite a huge media campaign. Police Oracle understands the force needs around 400 applications a month… The force needs around 400 applications a month to achieve its recruitment target ...