Category: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

The work has been carried out by the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) Network

Policing leads have praised the country’s specialist organised crime units for significantly increasing their seizures of class A drugs and dangerous weapons in the last three years.

Both NPCC lead for Serious and Organised Crime, Chief Constable Chris Haward and Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst, NPCC lead for the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) Network have praised staff and officers for their continued fight against the threat posed by criminal gangs. 

Since 2021, the ROCU network, which specialises in tackling cross-border criminality involving drugs, exploitation, and serious violence has seen heroin seizures increase by 1293%, and cocaine seizures increase by 502%.

During the same time period, firearms seizures increased by 421% and the number of adults safeguarded rose by 145%.

One of those investigations which contributed greatly to the increase in firearms seizures was Operation Hurricane, led by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU). 

Three men were jailed having purchased a large number of top venting blank firearms. More than 70 prohibited handguns have been seized since last October. A selection of those seized were tested and confirmed as having been converted into viable firearms.

Officers also found a large amount of blank ammunition, some of which had been converted into live ammunition along with various parts of firearms such as slides, magazines and cleaning kits.

The three defendants were jailed for more than 32 years in connection with the conspiracy and a further off-shoot operation launched in the Eastern Region, known as Op Cyclone.

This investigation saw a further 35 handguns seized, along with hundreds of rounds of converted ammunition and 60KG of Class A Drugs.

So far eight people have been charged, and four defendants pleaded guilty and await sentence.

Praising the work NPCC Lead for Serious and Organised Crime (SOC), Chief Constable Chris Haward said: “This type of criminality is corrosive and complex and once it takes hold in a community, it can be incredibly difficult to remove.

“All too often we see these gangs start to make money and then use violence, exploitation and other abhorrent tactics to ensure they remain unchallenged. This is why it’s so important as police, we are relentless in our pursuit of offenders, and in disrupting their networks and supply chain.

“These figures show that between 2021 and 2023, officers and staff from across the ROCU network did just that and the increases are significant. I have no doubt that this front-foot action to take harmful substances and dangerous weapons out of circulation has saved lives and helped to re-build communities.”

Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst, NPCC Lead for the ROCU Network added: “These figures speak for themselves and show what can be achieved when dedicated officers and staff from across the network, do what they do best.

“Both Op Hurricane and Op Cyclone show the danger these groups present our communities and cannot be complacent.

“As our capabilities improve, so do the tactics deployed by these organised crime groups, so law enforcement cannot stand still and we must continue to work closely with forces and partners like the National Crime Agency to identify, disrupt and tackle the complex threat posed.

“I’d like to thank our officers and staff for their commitment, professionalism and dedication. It’s only by working together we can make a difference.”

You can read more about the ROCU network and regional operations here: Regional Organised Crime Units (rocu.police.uk)

Football related offences prosecution policy published.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are committed to keeping football safe and inclusive to play and watch.

The NPCC and CPS will deal robustly with football-related violence, disorder and other offending, including racist, homophobic, otherwise discriminatory chanting or abuse and other types of hate crime. Where criminal conduct is demonstrated we will also take action against so called “tragedy chanting”

The NPCC and CPS recognise that;

• Football supporters have the right to attend matches free from the fear of violence, disorder, abuse and other crime, and the substantial majority of supporters do not engage in such behaviour.
• Those whose homes are close to football grounds have the right not to have their lives disrupted by such behaviour.
• Those who work in and around football grounds and those who provide transport services for supporters have the right to carry out their work without the fear of such behaviour; and,
• Those who are professionally involved in football, whether as team members, pitchside staff, officials, club officers or journalists, have the right not to be subject to such behaviour, including abuse online or otherwise away from football matches.

The NPCC and CPS will seek to protect these rights, including through the application of this policy.

Prosecutors will apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors to alleged football related criminality. A prosecution will usually take place where there is sufficient evidence of football related offending, unless there are public interest factors tending against and which outweigh those in favour. In some cases, particularly involving young people, education and diversionary intervention may be the most appropriate action. Guidance will be provided to football related organisations to promote early consideration of when diversionary activity may be more appropriate than a prosecution.

Football Banning Orders (FBOs) are a key part of tackling football-related offending and can have a powerful deterrent effect on those who may engage in such offending. Accordingly, prosecutors will remind the courts that when an offender is convicted of a relevant offence, the court must make a FBO unless the court considers that there are particular circumstances relating to the offence or the offender which would make it unjust to do so.  Relevant offences do not relate solely to violent behaviour at matches, they include for example, ticket touting, and engaging in online discriminatory abuse of players and others professionally involved in football.

Any person subject to a FBO may be required to surrender their passport before overseas matches and tournaments, and any person subject to a FBO at the time of the EURO 2024 tournament in Germany or the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be prevented from travelling to support their team. FBOs have a minimum duration of three years, and so this will apply to any person made subject to a FBO during the 2023-4 domestic season.

The NPCC and the CPS work closely together to tackle football-related offending and will be alert to, and to respond to, emerging challenges associated with football-related offending. The NPCC and the CPS will also continue to work with the Home Office and other government departments to combat football-related offending, as well as with colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland to provide consistency across all jurisdictions in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Opal will play key role in collating intel to bring down organised crime groups.

A new team within Opal, national policing’s intelligence unit for serious and organised acquisitive crime, will soon begin the process of gathering, scoping and analysing information about organised retail crime groups referred from a number of different sources.

The team, funded by the Pegasus partnership launched in 2023 by PCC Katy Bourne, is rolling out training to retailers and police forces to support them in understanding Opal’s role and how to refer intelligence which can then be analysed and explored on a national scale.

The virtual sessions will take place through April and will explain the thresholds and requirements for referrals, demonstrating how the team will work with forces, retailers, businesses and organisations to gather information. This will be instrumental in identifying and tackling the organised crime groups responsible for a large proportion of retail crime.

Stephanie Coombes is Head of Intelligence at Opal. She said:

“Opal has been carrying out this role for other crime types for a number of years and we have seen significant successes from having a national overview of what’s happening in the organised crime world.

“You may have for example, an organised crime group targeting a chain of convenience stores in one region who are also using the same tactics in several different areas. Without a national team to bring together that information, we could have several police forces each looking into the same group so Opal’s role is to centralise that intelligence, build a strong evidence package and then work with the relevant force/s to deal with these high harm offenders.

“We know that many retailers have intelligence built up through their own systems and processes and the training sessions aim to demonstrate how they can work with us to share that information so action can be taken.

“We need to stress that Opal’s service does not replace reporting incidents to your local police force, it is a route for sharing information and intelligence packages and one of the key requirements for making a referral is having a crime number for the related incident/s.

“We want to make it clear and straightforward for retailers, businesses, organisations and police forces to share information with us and the training sessions are an important element in achieving this.”

Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman is the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Acquisitive Crime. She said:

“Partnership working is essential in tackling many different crime types, a fact emphasised by the Retail Crime Action Plan which we launched last year and which is showing positive results through greater collaboration between forces and retailers.

“Opal has provided a vital service to police forces for a number of years and will significantly boost the response to retail crime, showing these organised crime groups that there is quite simply nowhere to hide.”

The training is open to all retailers, businesses and organisations representing retailers. The virtual sessions can be booked here Opal – Organised Retail Crime (office365.com) and take place:

• Wednesday 10 April 10am-11am and 2pm – 3pm
• Thursday 11 April 10am – 11am and 2pm – 3pm
• Monday 15 April 9am – 10am and 1pm – 2pm
• Tuesday 16 April 9am – 10am and 1pm – 2pm

The event heard from different forces about the great work they have going on in their area.

Nearly 70 leaders working on the Police Race Action Plan in forces across the country have come together to share the work going on to make policing anti-racist.

The conference at the College of Policing on Wednesday (27 March) brought together those leading work locally on the flagship national plan to address racism and bias in the service.

Jacob Henry, the co-founder of youth group Vibe Youth who also sits on the panel scrutinising the Welsh government’s anti-racism plan, was the event’s keynote speaker as he spoke about his experiences with the police and how he felt policing could fulfil its ambition of becoming anti-racist.

The event also heard from different forces about the great work they have going on in their area.

Neil Bennett, director of communications and engagement at Avon and Somerset Police, spoke about his force’s bold approach to community engagement as part of its Race Matters programme.

Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray from Thames Valley Police explained the strategy and governance his force has put in place to deliver the progress envisioned through the plan, including a major overhaul of how the force structures its independent scrutiny.

Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan from Essex Police and Andy Harding from British Transport Police both spoke about the work they are doing around key areas of police powers like stop and search and use of taser respectively to address things like disproportionately.

It marks the latest event delivered by the Police Race Action Plan in recent weeks to get people engaged in its work and get their feedback on a refresh of the plan due to be delivered this summer.

This includes the plan launching its National Community Reference Group for experts and community leaders, running an event for stakeholders as well as a specific session for young people from across the country.

Further sessions on the plan are being planned with schools in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham to discuss the plan with young people and get their thoughts.

T/Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dr Alison Heydari, programme director of the Police Race Action Plan, said: “It was great to see everyone in person and hear more about work going on across different forces, as well as getting a sense of the collective sense of purpose and passion there is across policing to deliver on the plan and turn its objectives into reality.

“The past few weeks feel like they have given the plan fresh impetus and energy as we take the plan’s important messages and progress out across the country.

“The Police Race Action Plan remains vitally important for all of us to implement and buy into. We are lucky to have so many passionate individuals driving this work in our forces across the country and we will be doing everything we can moving forward to support this work and ensure this brings in long term cultural change for the better.”

You can read more about the Police Race Action Plan on the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s website.

Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray believes AI will make policing more efficient 

The first-ever policing lead for Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been appointed by the National Police Chiefs Council.

Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray, who also leads West Mercia Police, took up the ground-breaking role earlier this month.

During his long-running career in the West Midlands, London and West Mercia, T/Chief Constable Murray has developed initiatives to tackle violent crime, worked in neighbourhood policing as well as Counter Terrorism. 

The senior officer has always been an advocate for data driven policing and evidence-based practice and wants to ensure the benefits of AI are maximised, whilst ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place.

Speaking about his new role within the NPCC, and the importance of technological advancements in policing he said:

“Artificial Intelligence is here, and it is developing fast. 

“The police is at the forefront of protecting communities by bringing justice and preventing crime in the first place. Our remit is huge, from tackling online child abuse, organised crime through to preventing burglary and reassuring the public.  In all these areas AI can make us more effective – it can be a tool for good.

“In addition, it can allow policing, which is ultimately paid for by the public, to be more efficient and productive.”

He added: “I understand there are many fears and misconceptions around AI and my role is to make sure policing, our partners and our communities are well informed and kept up to date about the systems and digital technologies we are investing in. 

“Trust and confidence are central to successful policing so it’s important we are open and transparent about what we are piloting and testing and as well as being honest about how AI works.  Policing has a covenant for the use of AI that places transparency and fairness at the heart of AI development.

“We will continue to work closely with partners, including the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, and take advice from academia, industry and remain receptive and open to criticism.

“Policing is in a challenging period and AI presents opportunities for forces to test new ideas, be creative and seek innovative solutions to help boost productivity and be more effective in tackling crime.

“The police can choose to ignore developments and be left behind or embrace innovation and better protect the public. UK Policing is choosing to lead in this area.”

Groups of young people from across the country came together to give their views on policing and what the plan should focus on.

Dozens of young people have had their say on the flagship plan to tackle racism and discrimination in policing as part of a major programme of work by the Police Race Action Plan.

Groups of young people from across the country came together in Birmingham this weekend to give their views on policing and what the plan should focus on.

The event at Birmingham City Football Club is just one part of an unprecedented period of outreach work by the programme to reach young people from Black communities.

The Police Race Action Plan has partnered with community groups such as Elevated Minds and Mainzworld to run sessions in schools in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham to discuss the plan with young people and get their thoughts.

A discussion on the plan was also featured on a 90s Baby Show YouTube live stream last week.

Feedback from all these sessions will be used to shape a refresh of the Police Race Action Plan this summer.

This is all in addition to work in individual forces across the country to speak to young people and get their views on the ongoing commitment to make policing anti-racist.

Police in Cambridgeshire and Northumbria have run their scrutiny panels on police powers like stop and search in local schools and colleges, while many forces such as Dorset and Hertfordshire are looking to introduce specialist independent advisory groups made up of young people.

T/Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dr Alison Heydari, programme director of the Police Race Action Plan, said: “We are working extraordinarily hard to ensure the voice of young people is heard in our unrelenting efforts to drive out racism and discrimination from policing.

“I am heartened to see such a wealth of activity going on nationally but also among local communities by individual forces.

“Policing has not always got this right in terms of working with and speaking to Black communities, and especially to young people.

“I am determined to ensure this programme can help address that and bring more young Black people in to take part in the conversation and shape policing for the better.”

Workstream three of the Police Race Action Plan aims to ensure Black people and communities are routinely involved in the governance of policing.

For more information about the plan visit the plan’s homepage on our website.

Policing to take forward all recommendations in Part 1 Report.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, responds to the recommendations in the Angiolini Inquiry: Part 1 Report. He said:

“The Angiolini Inquiry made for shocking and sombre reading, a view which I know is shared across policing.

“We must ensure there is nowhere to hide in policing for wrongdoers, that we lead a police service which the public, and especially women and girls, can trust to protect them and that we are uncompromising on the high standards our communities deserve.

“We have reviewed the findings and recommendations in detail and accept them all.   We have a number of ongoing national improvement plans and we are assessing how these will be updated and added to in light of the Inquiry findings.   

“Along with my colleagues and fellow police leaders we recognise this as an urgent call for action and we are committed to bringing lasting, impactful change for future generations.”

Changes welcomed but further swift action needed.

Today, the Home Secretary released a statement announcing a range of both legislative and non-legislative proposals which he intends to take forward to address the pressing concerns raised by officers about the police accountability system.
 
Chief Constable Charlie Hall is Head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council Operations Coordination Committee. He said:

“While we acknowledge and welcome the progress with changes inserted into the Criminal Justice Bill, we do not yet believe these go far enough or act quickly enough to reassure officers that they will be treated fairly when carrying out their roles protecting the public.
 
“Officers should rightly be held to account for our actions, but we have consistently heard of the devastating and disproportionate impact the existing processes and timelines have had on them, their families and police careers. 
 
“The accountability mechanism must be swift, balanced and fair, giving our officers confidence to act and the public confidence in their professionalism and decision making.
 
“We also welcome the recommendations made in the Fairfield Review of the IOPC which underline the damage that has been done to officer and community confidence and further demonstrate the need for real and significant change.
 
“We look forward to working with the new IOPC Director General and the Home Office in achieving much-needed fairness for our officers.”

Police forces have been targeting resources to ramp up activity in the night-time economy as part of the first national week of action to tackle spiking, which began on Monday 18 March, and will end on Sunday 24 March.

Statistics released in December revealed that on average, police receive 561 reports of spiking per month. However, it is believed that spiking is under-reported, in part due to harmful myths and stereotypes which can prevent victims from coming forward.

The week of action aims to improve police investigations into spiking, which is often a complex and challenging offence to investigate because drugs pass through the system quickly and there is often limited evidence to identify offenders.

Early reporting and police forensic testing is key, which is why forces have been working with licensed venues to train bar staff in how to handle spiking in their premises. Neighbourhood officers have also visited town centres and universities to encourage people enjoying nights out to be vigilant to the symptoms of spiking and report it to police straightaway, should it happen to them or a friend.

All forces in England and Wales have taken part in the week of action, with a number of forces receiving dedicated funding from the Home Office to further boost operational activity, including:

• Leicestershire Police, where increased patrols are taking place in busy town centres and licensed venues.
• Humberside Police, where plain clothed officers will patrol the night-time economy to gather intelligence on potential suspects and offenders.
• West Mercia Police, where a targeted campaign is encouraging people to report information about individuals suspected of being involved in spiking.

Assistant Chief Constable Samantha Millar, National Police Chiefs’ Council Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Programme Director, said: “Spiking can have a significant, traumatic impact on victims and feelings of safety in the night-time economy, particularly for women and girls.

“Spiking is a complex offence to investigate, which is why quick reporting and early evidence gathering is key, particularly police forensic testing. It’s really important that young people in particular are aware of the symptoms of spiking and feel confident in reporting it to the police, should it happen to them or someone they know.

“I hope that the policing response to protect women and girls in the night-time economy shows how committed we are to making our streets safer and sends a message to perpetrators that there is nowhere for them to hide.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Spiking is an abhorrent crime that undermines the public’s right to feel safe in their communities. That’s why we are funding police forces across the country to intensify their operations to tackle this sickening crime using new tactics to pursue offenders and protect victims.

“But we aren’t stopping there. We are changing the law to make it crystal clear spiking is illegal. We’re funding research into rapid testing kits. We’re training night-time venue staff to respond better to incidents, collect evidence and safeguard their customers.

“This government will do what is necessary to keep women and girls safe.”

Mark Morgan, Licensing SAVI Lead, said: “Spiking is a horrendous crime.  I’ve seen first-hand and more recently in speaking to victims and their families, the significant impact caused. 

“However, with our combined efforts, we can make a real difference against this threat and send a clear message to those intent on perpetrating harm.  We have been working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to support venues in tackling spiking and have written good practice guides for licensed venues and customers.

“Alongside this, we have worked with behavioural scientists from the National Crime Agency to develop offender-focused posters and digital screen displays, targeting those most likely to cause harm and moving away from ‘victim blaming’ campaigns. We’ve also collaborated with the Night Time Industries Association to promote awareness of how staff at licensed premises can support victims and prevent spiking.”

What should I do if I think I’ve been spiked?

Call 999 or 101 to report it to the police. We need to know about every possible spiking so we can investigate, even if no other crime has taken place. If you are out in a bar or club, you can report to a member of staff, who will be able to help and support you.

If you are injured or have symptoms you are worried about after being spiked, call NHS 111.

If you think you’ve been sexually assaulted, you can go to your nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for specialist care and support. At a SARC you can receive a medical or forensic examination (whether or not you decide to report to the police).

If you’ve been affected by crime and you need confidential support or information, you can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111.

What happens when I am tested?

If police feel it’s appropriate, they will take a non-invasive urine sample. Some drugs leave the body in a very short time (within 12 hours), so it’s important to test as soon as possible. Other drugs remain in the body longer, so testing will be considered up to seven days after the incident. The test the police use is the most effective way of finding out whether you have been spiked.

If you are tested in a hospital or by your GP, you will need to also have a police test, as this is what can be used as evidence to support charges or convictions.

If you tell the police how much you have drunk and whether you have voluntarily taken drugs, we will be able to provide a more accurate result. It is not a crime to have illegal drugs in your system (unless you are driving), so please don’t let this stop you reporting spiking.

The test results will come back in three weeks and will be discussed with you.

Police leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to modernising the service and improving outcomes for victims

Last week (Wednesday 13 March 2024) key figures including Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Police Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Paul Taylor, signed the pioneering UK Police Industry Charter, during the Security and Policing Conference at Farnborough International exhibition and conference centre.

The agreement sets out five key principles for how industry and policing should work together and tackles issues such as transparency, ethics, and sustainability.

Leaders hope the Charter will promote greater collaboration and inspire innovation within policing.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said:

“Technology presents tremendous opportunities for policing, and we owe it to our communities to explore them.

“Policing must adapt and embrace technology or risk being left behind. New technology will help us tackle a broad range of crime, re-allocate officers and staff to the frontlines, and ultimately give the public a better service.

“But to do this, we must use the right tools effectively, ethically and with support from industry partners.

“By creating and fostering these mutually beneficial relationships, we are ensuring Forces will have access to the right suppliers, products and technical support, so they can deliver the excellent service the public deserves for generations to come.

“The Charter sets out clear foundational principles for these collaborative relationships and we look forward to seeing what the future brings.”

Another signatory of the Charter, Police Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Paul Taylor said: 

“The NPCC science and technology strategy recognises the essential contributions of industry to policing’s mission. For our partnerships to be effective, policing must be clear on what suppliers can expect from us and what we seek in return.

“The Police Industry Charter sets out five principles that policing commits to going forward. They reflect high level priorities that will shape the nature of our partnerships, be they with new innovators or global companies. As such, the Charter is a cornerstone in our wider efforts to make it easier for industry to contribute to public safety in the UK.”

PCC Donna Jones, Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said: “Police and Crime Commissioners are elected to oversee an effective and efficient police service in their areas. To achieve that in the 21^st century, the sector must embrace the development and use of new technology to fight crime in all its forms at local and national levels.

Other signatories of the Charter include Sir Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office, Dame Julie Kenny, Chair of the UK’s Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers Community, Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, Chair, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and Lianne Deeming, CEO of BlueLight Commercial. 

Visit BlueLight Commercial or science.police.uk to view the Charter and for more information on how to sign up.