Met remembers PC Sandhu, UK's first female Asian and Sikh officer

The Met is holding a virtual event to remember her life and legacy and mark her “unique contribution to policing”. She served for two years from 1971 to 1973 when she was killed by her husband who was against her joining the Met. PC Sandhu was born to a Sikh… Today (1 February) marks 50 years since PC Karpal Kaur Sandhu joined the Metropolitan Police as the first female Asian officer in the UK, "a true pioneer and ahead of her time"....

Government meets 6,000 Uplift target two months early

Statistics from the Home Office revealed the government has passed its target to recruit 6,000 new officers two months early. Since the Uplift campaign was launched in March an additional 6,620 officers have joined forces across England and Wales. Also released were figures for the entire police workforce across England… At 6,250 new recruits, the Home Office has exceeded its target for signing up new police officers....

Merseyside PCC begins search for new chief constable

PCC Jane Kennedy has until April to appoint a new chief constable for Merseyside Police. This means that three forces in the north west of England are now looking to replace chief officers who have left or are leaving.  The closing date for applications is 5pm on 19 February, with… Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner has decided not to appoint an interim chief but to find a long term replacement for Andy Cooke within eight weeks ...

Police sport fundraising body secures £348k from National Lottery

In partnership with Sport England, and with £348k of funding from the National Lottery, TeamPolice has launched a pilot programme in four forces to hold a series of activities and sporting events for officers and their families designed to improve their fitness and wellbeing.   Using police internal systems participants will… Funds will be used for pilot scheme in four forces to hold series of activities for officers and their families ...

Dyfed-Powys chief to become Commissioner of Virgin Islands force

Mark Collins is set to take over as the new Commissioner of the Royal Virgin Islands Police in April. Mr Collins was due to retire after four years as the Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police but surprised colleagues with the announcement that he is to take on the job of… The retiring Chief of Dyfed-Powys will head up the islands' police force and help tackle the growth in serious organised crime....

Merseyside's chief constable Andy Cooke to retire

He will leave the force in April 2021 and is to take up a new appointment. PCC Jane Kennedy paid tribute to him for his "exemplary" service to Merseyside and to the police service here for more than 35 years, having joined Merseyside Police in 1985. CC Cooke has been… Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner has announced today that Andy Cooke has declined her offer to extend his contract and will retire as chief constable of Merseyside Police....

Joint training packages for RASSO investigators part of action plan

A series of training packages for police investigators and Crown Prosecutors tasked with improving the attrition rate for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) coming before the courts after being reported by victims will be delivered as part of a joint plan agreed by the NPCC and CPS. DCC Sarah… Plan includes developing a Knowledge Hub to share best practice with CPS staff and investigators and launch of national conference ...

'High threshold' for officers to be removed from barred list

Officers who have been dismissed for gross incompetence and gross misconduct and placed on the Barred List will be able to apply to have their names removed from it after three or five years. In a change to the system announced by the College of Policing which will apply from… College says officers dismissed for gross misconduct or incompetence can apply to have their details wiped after minimum terms ...

Met direct entry scheme proves popular with women and BAME

Since 2017 recruits have been able to join the Met as a detective constable without first having to work their way up from uniform policing. The total number of direct entry detectives in 2020 was 354 and 52 per cent were female. In addition, 30 per cent of the applications… Half of the Metropolitan Police’s new direct-entry detective constables from last year are women....

BTP: fast tracking diversity

BTP is unique in that its community is entirely transient and the force  cannot measure its workforce against local demographics.. The 2011 Census estimates the UK's BAME population at 14 per cent, although the force said they were aware this was likely to have increased significantly and this presented a… Last year the British Transport Police began making strides to be a force that reflects the public it serves - not an easy task given that it covers the whole of the country ...