Archive for July, 2009

Central OCU covers an area including Winchester, Gosport and Fareham but NOT Portsmouth or Southampton. As a result of figues gained under Freedom of Information from Hampshire Police SPP Solutions can report the following knife and edged weapons crime took place in 2008-09.

In 2008 614 Edged Weapons Offences were recorded. From the 01st Jan to 01st July 2009 252 offences were recorded. With 7 months to go before the end of the statistical Year the prognosis is not good.

In 2008 406 people were charged under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, possession of a knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place. From the 01st Jan to 01st July 2009 164 people were charged. Again with 7 months of the statistical year to go the prognosis is not good.

In 2008 2 Females were arrested for posession. From the 01st Jan to 01 Jul 2009 5 Females have been arrested.

I hope this gives an overview of the extent of edged weapons crime in the Central OCU area. This is not the whole of Hampshire and it must be stressed Central OCU does not cover Portsmouth or Southampton. The main population centres are Havant, Fareham, Gosport, Winchester.

A security guard who was severely traumatised in an assault has received £180,000 in compensation. GMB member, James Maher, 56, from East London was attacked while working as a security guard for the London Borough of Waltham Forest at the Low Hall Depot in Walthamstow. He has been left unable to work as a result of the incident, which saw him hit repeatedly across the head by the partner of a council worker. He suffered bruising to his head and needed an operation on his knee. Although not seriously injured, he has been left with psychological trauma which at times means he cannot leave his home.

Mr Maher worked for the council for 18 years and was licensed by the police to work with the public but never returned to work following the assault. On the day of the incident a misunderstanding by a council workers partner led to the attack.

Mr Maher had warned his bosses on several occasions that the entrance to the security office should be made safer to prevent members of the public gaining access. He had also not been equipped with lone worker or customer care training.

The council admitted liability for the accident and settled for £180,000 just two days before the case was due to be heard in court. No criminal charges have been brought against the attacker.
Natalie Shelley from Thompsons Solicitors, representing Mr Maher, said:

“Had the council carried out a thorough risk assessment of staff security before the assault the assailant would not have been able to gain access to the premises. Employers should do all they can to provide their staff with a safe working environment”

A recent Unison survey highlighted concerns that lone council workers are increasingly vulnerable to assaults. The survey showed a 43% increase in assaults on council staff in Scotland in 2008.

Ethnic organisation’s and groups in Belfast have been given until the 12 July to move out or risk their buildings being “blown up” The letters outlining this have the Combat 18 logo on them and it is claimed they have been sent from a Loyalist Youth Wing. Letters have been sent to the Belfast Islamic Centre, the Polish Association NI and the Indian Community Centre. The PS NI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) said they will increase patrols around the areas that the buildings and organisation’s targeted are situated. Letters also stated that all “non-whites” are to leave and are not welcome in Northern Ireland. This comes after recent violence during which 100 Romanians were subject to attacks last month.

Figures are due out which show that the governments tough stance on knife crime is falling short of its intent. Figures due for release soon are set to show that knife crime is falling but serious knife offences are on the rise. Statistics are open to interpretation and many say policy is addressing the outcome and not the cause. Most people arrested for knife related crime escape gaol.

Sent via BlackBerry® from BT

The BBC have reported that a company is offering mobile phone numbers to anyone who wants them via the 118800 website. Its reported that at present there are some 15m numbers on the database. You can have your number moved to ex directory.

If you are concerned then follow the link below. Once directed to the 118800 site click Home and once on the home page click ex-directory and follow the instructions. It is quick and easy to do and could save unwanted calls in the future.

http://www.118800.co.uk/removeme/remove-me.html

The current UK Threat level is Severe.

The response to the threat is Heightened.

Terrorism can be far more than just physical attack – it can take the form of electronic attacks on vital information or communication systems. The US and UK Governments have both recently recognised the threat from electronic attack and plan to prepare accordingly. Both governments have also admitted they have the capability and resources to be able to conduct attacks on their enemies, electronically. If we can do it then so can a host of well motivated funded and resourced organisations and security agencies. Physical and electronic attacks can be carried out, directly or indirectly. Having your premises secure does not totally manage the risk and very often the weakest point in business is its electronic security. Its no good having the best physical security if a potential source of threat does not need to be anywhere near your premises, but in a Foreign Country. With absurd ease, Asperger’s victim Gary McKinnon hacked into Pentagon computers in a bid to prove the existence of little green men. The Americans are attempting extradition to the US to face charges of Cyber Terrorism. If found guilty he could face 60 years in Gaol. This case highlights how easy it can be to gain access to systems that you would assume are impregnable.

This is the first major change to the first aid training requirements in 25 years. The changes will take effect on Thursday 01st October 2009.

The current 4 Day First Aid at Work (FAAW) programme will be shortened to 3 Days. The reason for shortening the course is to reflect the simplification of techniques namely CPR and casualty movement therefore requiring less training time.

Due to skill fade over 3 year certificate currency the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) STRONGLY advise a 3 hour refresher package at the end of the first and second years of the qualification. Candidates will not need to do a refresher in the year they complete a re-qualification (Year 3)

A new qualification will be added which will be known as the Emergency First Aider in the Workplace (EFAW) and will involve candidates completing a one day training course.

The 2 day Re-qualification course will remain unchanged.

Both the new 3 Day FAAW and EFAW qualification MUST be delivered by HSE registered training providers. As an employer you must ensure your training provider is HSE registered.

Holders of current FAAW certificates will not need to do the new course until their current certificate expires and then they will only need to do the 3 Day course if they fall outside the time lines for being able to attend a 2 Day re-qualification course.

The First Aid provision for your workplace should be established after conducting a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk. The HSE give guidance on First Aid Provision in the Workplace in the Health and Safety First Aid at Work Regulations 1981.

Today, between 1600-1800hrs there will be a noisy demo outside EDO MBM Technology at Home Farm Business Park, Brighton. EDO are an American defence contractor who, amongst other things make bomb release mechanisms used on aircraft. These mechanisms have been used in recent conflicts namely Iraq and Afghanistan.