The proposal was being discussed at a time when forces face 20 per cent spending cuts. The biggest-ever police privatisation programme ran into difficulties yesterday when two forces at the centre of the £1.5bn scheme delayed the project in the face of stiff opposition. The private sector had been given carte blanche to come up [...]
18
May 2012
Police forces put £1.5bn privatisation plan on hold
May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
26
Apr 2012
Madeleine McCann: Unfinished business
April 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Five years after she vanished in Portugal, Scotland Yard insist that the hunt for Madeleine McCann is far from over. But is there really any hope? It is, said the detective, like a school photo that any parent or grandparent would put up at home for everyone to see. With her shoulder-length hair and gentle [...]
23
Apr 2012
‘Atmosphere of mistrust’ created by CRB regime: case studies
April 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Campaigners believe that mass vetting through Criminal Records Bureau checks has created an “atmosphere of mistrust” that leaves children at greater risk. Here are two cases that back up their claims. :: A bricklayer saw a toddler walking alone in a village just before she drowned in a pond, but did not stop to help [...]
03
Mar 2012
Private companies could soon be responsible for investigating crimes, patrolling neighbourhoods and detaining suspects under a scheme proposed by two of the countries largest police forces. West Midlands Police and Surrey have invited bids from private security companies to take over delivery of a wide range of services currently carried out by police officers. The [...]
02
Mar 2012
A News of the World editor should be investigated by a public inquiry into the notorious unsolved murder of a private detective who had allegedly sold him a story about police corruption, the victim’s family and campaigners said yesterday. As the 25th anniversary of the death of Daniel Morgan looms next week, the failure of [...]
17
Feb 2012
Closing the Forensic Science Service will make miscarriages of justice more likely
February 17, 2012 By
Why should we expect a part of the criminal justice system to make money? That’s a question being asked in relation to the growing concerns over the arrangements – or the lack of them – for the closure of the Forensic Science Service, which is due to take place next month. Just to recap, the FSS [...]
02
Feb 2012
Thousands wrongly labelled as criminals
February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
At least 20,000 people have been wrongly labelled as criminals or accused of more serious offences because of blunders by the police and the Criminal Records Bureau. The errors are contained in vetting checks meaning many may have been unfairly turned down for jobs or had their reputations shattered. In at least 3,000 cases the [...]
31
Jan 2012
Crime map website to reveal hotspots
January 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The number and type of crimes which take place at hotspots like nightclubs, subways and parks are to be revealed on a crime-mapping website from Tuesday. The site, which lets users in England and Wales see reported crimes in their street, now covers public places. Home Secretary Theresa May said revealing details of crime and [...]
27
Jan 2012
Vicars ‘presided over hundreds of sham marriages for immigrants’
January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Two Church of England vicars conducted “hundreds” of sham marriages to enable illegal immigrants to stay in Britain, a court was told yesterday. Rev Elwon John, 44, and Rev Brian Shipsides, 55, performed the ceremonies at All Saints Church in Forest Gate, east London, it is alleged. The weddings, mainly between Nigerian and European Union [...]
26
Jan 2012
‘Predictive policing’ could come to UK
January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A very interesting story in relation to a pioneering technique dubbed ‘predictive policing’ was reported in The Independent today. “The technique to predict crime before it happens could be imported from the United States to this country. Pilots of the scheme – under which officers are dispatched to crime hotspots identified by computer – have had [...]
