In the Public EyeTWO serving Cheshire

police officers have been recognised nationally for services to policing throughout their careers.

Deputy Chief Constable Janette McCormick and Detective Inspector Helen Spooner were both awarded Queens Police Medals in the 2015 New Year’s Honours list.

Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: “The Queens Police Medal is awarded to those officers who can show a lasting and consistent commitment to delivering effective policing services to the public.

“Janette McCormick and Helen Spooner are thoroughly deserving of this recognition. Over their careers, they have managed a range of highly complex issues, putting the public and victims of crime at the heart of everything they have done.

“It is fitting that, as we celebrate nationally the 100th anniversary of women in policing, the contribution of two of Cheshire’s finest officers are recognised by Her Majesty in the 2015 Honours.”

Meanwhile, three Cheshire officers were honoured at the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) Awards 2014.

Sgt Kelly Rooke, Insp Sue Frank and Sgt Gareth Wrigley were all recognised for their achievements at a ceremony in Stratford-upon-Avon in November last year.

Budget proposals gain support from the publicRESIDENTS in Cheshire have said they would be prepared to pay more for policing following a consultation on plans to raise the police budget precept by just under 2%.

The Police & Crime Commissioner is in the process of setting the annual police budget. Since 2010, 20% of the budget (£38m) has been reduced to meet the Coalition Government’s reduced funding targets but there remains a further £8m savings to find in the next financial year.

Of the 1,060 residents who responded to an online survey, 70% said they would be agreeable to 1.99% rise in the precept - around £3 a year for a Band D household.

A root and branch review of policing instigated by the Mr Dwyer and carried out in 2014 has resulted in the development of a new policing model to be implemented in the coming year.

Collective consultation with staff will begin in February about the proposed changes which seek to deliver scalable, flexible and public facing policing.

Mr Dwyer said: “In previous years, I’ve been able

to accept a ‘freeze’ grant from the Government and not increase the council tax paid for policing. If I were to do that again there would be a shortfall, and I would be forced to make cuts which would affect service delivery.”

The Home Secretary has given Police & Crime Commissioners the ability to raise council tax by up to 2%. The budget details are still being finalised and will be considered by the Police & Crime Panel on Friday, February 6.

Issue 9February

2015

CHESHIRE Constabulary recruited over 200 vetted volunteers last year as part of its drive to involve the public in day-to-day policing.

Volunteers play an integral part in community policing, and this demonstrates the public’s desire to work with the police and help keep our communities safe.

Police & Crime Commissioner John Dwyer pledged to increase

volunteer numbers within the organisation, and remains committed to increasing officer visibility to ensure the Constabulary is here for you when you need us.

Mr Dwyer said: “Volunteers make a great commitment to the services we provide in Cheshire, supporting officers and staff across the force.

“They undoubtedly play a vital

role within the policing family and their commitment does not go unrecognised.”

The Constabulary offers a number of voluntary roles, including Special Constables, police support volunteers and cadets. It remains committed to recruiting further volunteers throughout 2015.

For further details visit www.cheshire.police.uk

Value of police volunteers does not go unnoticed

CHESHIRE police officers and staff completed another successful operation that rounded up scores of the county’s offenders evading justice.

Operation Hatay Three led to 190 arrests countywide in just one week, running from December 17-24, and formed part of the wider Operation Blue Christmas campaign over the festive period.

During Operation Hatay, teams from Neighbourhood Policing Units, the Major Investigation Team and others within the force operations department worked together to locate outstanding offenders with the help of those in the criminal justice department.

And the third Hatay operation was given a festive twist with harbouring letters featuring inside the Constabulary’s Christmas cards.

This was a reminder that offenders need to hand themselves in and, if their family know where they are, the trouble they could be in if they don’t tell police of their whereabouts.

The Constabulary has previously run two similar operations, targeting those who have failed to turn up at court, those who are circulated as wanted by investigating officers, those who are named suspects in ongoing investigations.

December’s operation brings the total number of wanted people arrested this year

to 542.Superintendent Pete Crowcroft said:

“Hatay was not just for Christmas - it’s our approach year round because for every wanted person there is a victim, a family or a community that is still suffering because that person has not faced justice.

“The Operation has seen a significant number of serious offenders arrested as a result of the combined effort and focus from all the staff involved.

“There is no doubt that a clear message has been sent to those who have offended in Cheshire and we have had several instances of offenders handing themselves in as a result of the continued pressure applied.”

Drop in drink driving over Christmas period WORK by officers under Operation Blue Christmas – Cheshire Constabulary’s Christmas campaign – saw an encouraging reduction in the number of drink drive arrests over the festive season.

A total of 134 motorists were arrested on suspicion of drink driving between December 1 and January 1 – a 25% drop from the 179 offenders arrested over the same period a year earlier. Officers conducted nearly 4,000 breath tests during the month across the county.

Superintendent Bev Raistrick said: “It is extremely pleasing to see that the majority or motorists have heeded the warnings we have issued around the dangers of drink driving.

“However, it is also disappointing to see that, despite repeated warnings, there are still a small number of motorist who believe that it is acceptable to drive whilst under the

influence of alcohol.” Of the 134 arrested this year, 108 were

men and 26 were women. The oldest was an 87-year-old woman who was arrested in Runcorn after failing to provide a breath sample. The youngest was a 17-year-old man, arrested in Northwich on suspicion of drink driving.

Officers also arrested eight people for drug driving – a 25% increase on 2013.

Supt Raistrick added: “My officers have to deal with the devastating aftermath that drink drivers leave behind on a daily basis. Not only are they responding to collisions, but they are also working with the families of innocent victims, who have been killed as a result of drink driving.

“Although this operation has now finished, I want to reassure the public that drink driving is an issue that we will continue to target 365 days a year.”

Anyone who suspects a driver is driving

under the influence of alcohol or drugs is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or through the ‘Report Online’ forms that can be found in the ‘Contact Us’ section of the Cheshire Police website.

Alternatively information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

More wanted offenders swept up in operation

THE number of burglaries across Cheshire dropped by almost a fifth this Christmas, compared to last year.

Figures reveal that the Eastern area experienced a 29% fall, the Western area an 11% decrease and Warrington an impressive 40% drop. Only Halton saw a slight rise (9%), though this equates to just three more burglaries while the area has seen a 23% fall from April to December, compared to 2013.

But officers warn that home security is as important as ever at this time of year, criminals are well aware that many homes

will have expensive new additions in the way of electrical items, jewellery, bicycles, tablets and mobile phones.

Superintendent Martin Cleworth said: “Thankfully Cheshire is a safe place to live, but crime still happens here as it does anywhere. The best way to avoid being one of the unlucky ones is to make sure your home and property is not seen as an easy target.

“It’s not about being paranoid and covering up everything - we just want people to think about general security and lowering the risk of becoming a victim of crime.”

Residents more vigilant as burglary figures fall

Western news

Eastern news

Northern news

• A stir was caused on social media when Cheshire police officers posted a picture of a car that had rolled off a raised car park and crashed into the wall of Frodsham police station. The driver provided a positive breath test and was promptly arrested for drink-driving.

• A woman from Holywell was sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of death by careless driving whist over the prescribed alcohol limit. Samantha Roberts, 25, was found guilty of causing the death of David Dutton, 51, who was walking with his son Gavin in Eaton, near Tarporley, on May 18 2013. Both were struck by a green Nissan Micra, driven by Roberts. Both David and his son were transported to hospital for treatment, where sadly David died as a result of his injuries.

• Cheshire police officers launched a campaign over the Christmas period targeted at warning car owners in Ellesmere Port to be vigilant amid a spike in thefts of high-value vehicles in the area. Officers believe it to be an organised, systematic operation by criminals possibly travelling into the area from other locations. The vehicles are being stolen from people’s driveways by criminals who are obtaining the keys and simply driving them away - often taken from unlocked homes.

• Eastern area Superintendent Luke McDonnell spent the night sleeping rough in Crewe to gain an insight into the trauma, fear and uncertainty that many homeless teenagers and young people face every night. He was joined by Youth Ambassador for Cheshire Dominic Rogers, and representatives from Cheshire East, the Children’s Society, and the Cheshire East Safeguarding Children Board. Supt McDonnell said: “Clearly, homeless people suffer high levels of distress, isolation and uncertainty from their lack of control over their living environment. These living circumstances could impact their behaviour and it is important that we as Police do all we can to support these young people and deter them from turning to crime.”

• Over two hundred tweets were sent by local police during a ‘tweetathon’ in Crewe and Nantwich in December. Local cops updated their e-communities about every incident they were called to attend in a 24-hour period, starting from 6am on Friday, December 5. PC Shelley Woods, of Crewe NPU who co-ordinated the event, said: “We are appreciative of the overwhelming show of support and positive feedback we received from the public. It is clear that many of our followers were surprised by both the scale of the demand on their local police, and the complex range of issues we face on an average day.”

• Officers in Alsager have been provided with a small room from which to work at St Mary’s Church. The room has a computer linked to the force network, and an area for refreshment breaks. It means they do not always have to return to Sandbach to update records use the facilities, and allows them,to be more visible in the local area.

• A Warrington town centre bar has been given strict licensing conditions in addition to the three-month closure order it received following a serious fight on the premises. Fusion Bar and Grill, on Bridge Street, was issued with the order using new powers from the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The conditions include reduced opening hours, the removal of the current premises supervisor, and additional door staff. It is hoped these will significantly alter the way the premise operates and shows how Cheshire Police work in partnership to help make Warrington a safe and enjoyable place.

• A teenager has been charged with attempted murder after a man was shot in the leg and abdomen. Ryan Duggan, 19, of Widnes is awaiting trial for the incident, that occurred on October 15 last year. Further charges include possession of a shotgun and possession of a firearm with intent in relation to the incident. Meanwhile, another man, 22-year-old Jordan Grimes, has been charged with assisting an offender. A further four men have been arrested in connection with the incident, but all have been released on bail.

• Warrington Cultural Quarter officially launched as the latest area in Cheshire with ArcAngel accredited premises. The launch saw six premises from the Cultural Quarter awarded the prestigious title of being a ArcAngel protected premises, receiving individual certificates to confirm their commitment to making Warrington a safer place to enjoy a night out. The title recognises the work done by licensees to encourage responsible drinking in their premise and in the community, as well as discouraging drinking in public and alcohol-related, anti-social behaviour.

Future initiatives

In the dock

• A man has been found guilty of killing his former girlfriend in her own home. David Hoyle, from Bradford, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years during a hearing at Chester Crown Court on December 10. The 39-year-old was found guilty of the murder of Rebecca Bamber at her home in Mersey Road, Widnes, after a seven-day trial. Hoyle had brutally attacked Rebecca, who was 43, in June last year.

• Runcorn company Pyranha Mouldings Ltd has been found guilty of corporate manslaughter. A jury returned the verdict after a six-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The company was also found guilty of two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 while managing director Peter Mackereth was also found guilty of a further two charges under the same act. The charges relate to the death of Alan Caterall, who burned to death in one of the ovens on the site. Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date.

• Three men were jailed for a total 32 years for conspiracy to supply nearly £1m worth of heroin. Tariq Khaliq, 44, of Handforth was sentenced to 16 years and Imran Malik, 39, of Warrington received 10 years in prison. A third man, Gameal Adawee, 44, also of Warrington, pleaded guilty to the offence prior to the trial and was sentenced to six years in prison.

• A campaign aimed at raising awareness of cannabis cultivation in residential properties and increasing intelligence provided by members of the public has been launched. Operation Gigantic will run until mid-February and is being run in partnership with Crimestoppers.

• An operation encouraging the use of forensic marking products will be rolled out in March. Operation Shield adopts SelectaDNA - an invisible liquid that shows up on property or criminals themselves when placed under ultraviolet light.

Young people now have an active say on Stop & Search procedures. Every three months, a working group of young people will work with Dominic Rogers and Inspector Gareth Woods to find areas of learning for officers.

Dominic said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to have their say on the use of Stop & Search procedures. We will look at 20 random cases and see if, and where, improvements can be made. This information will be used by the Constabulary to improve its processes for young people.”

Work has also progressed to make sure the needs of young people with parents in prison are being met. The first multi-agency task and finish group focused on identifying and supporting these young people has taken place.

Dominic added: “A cross-agency approach is essential in tackling this issue and it has been encouraging to see commitment from a range of agencies across Cheshire who have provided representatives to work on the issue.”

A video has been launched in partnership with charity, Fixers, and a young Cheshire resident who has experienced parental imprisonment - visit http://www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/Youth-Ambassador/Talk-About/Projects.aspx

Video to offer support for D/deaf detainees A VIDEO filmed using British Sign Language (BSL) will soon be available in the custody suites to support profoundly deaf detainees until a trained interpreter arrives to support them.

The project was initiated by Police & Crime Commissioner John Dwyer, who said: “I have been taking on board the views and concerns of the D/deaf community in partnership with the Deafness Support Network about how barriers to engaging with the police can be removed.

“An area of concern for D/deaf people was police custody. For anyone, this can be a worrying environment and even more so when English is not your first language. BSL is a language in its own right and some Deaf people do not understand the spoken word as we do.

“It’s important detainees understand their rights and entitlements when in custody. Something as simple as a search can feel very invasive to someone with hearing loss. This video has been filmed to offer reassurance and make sure everyone is treated equitably.

“Before I arranged for the film to be made, I tried to find out whether there was one we could use from anywhere else and it appears that Cheshire is the first to offer this service. Officers and staff in custody, who become aware that the detainee is having difficulty hearing will be able to log on and show the video via the on-desk screen.

“Even if the video is used seldom, each time it is used will make a big difference.”

Meanwhile, a major summit has been held to discuss how all agencies in Cheshire can continue strengthening partnership working arrangements to tackle child sexual exploitation.

The summit, hosted by Mr Dwyer, brought together the Chief Constable, council leaders and leaders from the health service and Crown Prosecution Service to receive the outcomes of a joint review of safeguarding arrangements, undertaken in response to the shock findings of CSE in Rotherham.

Mr Dwyer said: “I welcome the outcomes of the joint review and the commitment of our partner agencies to establish multi-agency specialist child sexual exploitation teams.”

Youth Ambassador’s Update