Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Paperwork

As any officer knows, paperwork is a big thing with the police service.
There are forms for everything, and i mean EVERYTHING.
Need a new clip on tie as yours is broken then its a STO7 form, in duplicate and passed to the business unit. You will wait 4 weeks and eventually it will arrive.
Going out in a car?? then there is the car book to be completed, with every defect / damage listed. Fuel amounts entered, mileage entered.
The bulk of the paperwork is court files and you would not believe the amount of duplication involved!
There are a few differnt kinds of file, we have fast track guilty, where the offender has fully admitted the offence on tape. Fast Track not guilty, where the offender denies the offence but there is overwhelming evidence to say they did comit the offence.
Then we have full files where the offender is pleading not guilty at court.

From memory, a fast track guilty will contain the following:
TQ2 Anticipated Guilty Fast Track File Front Sheet
MG1 File front sheet.
MG3 CPS Advice - if it was saught.
MG4 Charge Sheet.
MG5 Case Summary.
MG6 Information to prosecutor ie compensation details.
MG11 Key Witness statements.
MG18 TIC form if any.
CID 1& 2 Crime reports.

A fast track not guilty will have the following:
MG1,
MG2 Initial witness assessment form.
MG3,
MG4,
MG5,
MG6,
MG10C Witness avaliability dates.
MG11 All statements.
CID 1 & 2

A full file will have the following.
CTS1
MG1
MG2
MG3
MG4 Bail Sheets
MG4 Charge Sheets
MG5
MG6
MG6 B, C, D and E Disclosure information for CPS
MG9 Witness List
MG10C
MG11
MG12 Exhibit lists.
MG15 Record of taped interview (A transcript of the taped interview)
MG18 if any TIC's
CID 1 & 2.

Alot of the information we input into the forms is duplicated, and quite time consuming as we deal with the paperwork inbetween responding to jobs comming in. Some files will take longer than others depending on the numbers of witnesses, the amount of exhibits such as cctv tapes. The disclosure paperwork (this has to be sorted into misc, confidential, and non confidential) takes a fair amount of time as it has to be right or the file goes nowhere.

All this inbetween being Proactive, Reducing crime, Arresting offenders, Providing a visible presence, and responding to calls.

Its surprising that there are any police out on the streets really.

But then we actually arn't alowed to be seen to be doing paperwork according to the shift Sgt. I sit down to do a file and get pounced on.
SGT "What are you doing"
Me "I'm doing a full file sarge"
SGT "Is that a proactive use of your time?"
Me "No, but it has to be done for the courts"
SGT "Can you justify your time doing paperwork"
Me "I'd prefer to be out, but this needs to be done"
SGT "Humpf" and walks off no doubt to write in his little book that i am in the station not being proactive.

One thing for sure, it's going to get interesting over the next few weeks with our 2 brand spanking new SGT's, both of which with no managment experiance. Both of which have not been working reactive shifts for at least 3 years each and seem to have the ideals reimplanted into their heads, of what a shift should run like, not what it does run like!

Monday, January 10, 2005

Pursuits

Well spent most of the night in custody following a very short pursuit and decamp (where the offenders run away)

Spotted a car that was parked up and had 3 blokes inside, so we decided to turn around to have a chat. The subject car (note the term subject not suspect!) decided to drive away with no lights on, nowt too dodgey really so my driver put on the blues so it could be stopped. The driver decided not to stop and try a dodgey overtake without sucess and was forced to pull back in directly infront of our car. Now he couldent really get past the 2 cars in front so turned a corner and stopped.

The driver got out of the car and walked towards the driver side of the panda, then ran away.

I gave chase shouting the obligatory, STOP WHERE YOU ARE. He carried on running and turned into a cul de sac. I shouted again saying STOP WHERE YOU ARE OR IM GOING TO BATON YOU! he tried to climb a fence where i took the oportunity to inform the man that he was nicked for theft of motor vehicle (wasn't shown as stolen on PNC but the keeper may not know its stolen yet). He decided to aggressivly move towards me prompting me to inform him not to be so silly and i racked my baton. He stupidly said "if you hit me ill hit you back" quite how he was going to get off the floor after being whacked by a big metal stick i dont know.

He then tried to find another route of escape.

I had enough of this so drew my CS gas and told him if he didnt come with me i would gas him. Which had the desired effect. I followed him back towards my crew mate who had chased the 2 passengers as they had made off too. He was cuffed and cautioned and gave the token "im going to fuckin nut you" reply. He was doubled up, lobbed into the rear of the panda with a bit of force and then escorted to the nick.

He then spent the evening swearing at me and arguing even though he was 3 times the drink drive limit.

He was still locked up when i left as he didnt want a duty solicitor and demanded to see his own, whose name he didnt know nor the phone number!

What a dickhead!

There was a second pursuit too that evening with another crew chasing, nicked motor.. Unfortuneately they got away and burnt the car out in a nearby field. Its not often we get persuits in our area seems like tonight we were targeting the right cars to stop, which will mean we will target anything that draws my attention for the foreseable future as you realise how many motors you drive past that may be nicked or a drunk, disqual or uninsured drivers we dont pull in.

But it baffles me why some people dont stop and try to get away as to be honest alot of peeps could talk their way out of trouble. As the reason we wanted to speak with this driver was because:
A) 3 males in an old car in a expensive area.
B) Driver advoids eye contact with us.
C) Parked up where cars are not usually parked up.

All we wanted to do was see what they were up to.

Guy's inteligence obvioulsy skipt an inbread generation as per his "Ill hit you back" comments and trying to escape when in handcuffs and 2 officers holding both arms.

If you have ever felt the weight of a baton you would know it will hurt and at the end of the day why fight when your opponent has a big metal stick and you have nothing.

Needless to say he was woken up by custody staff for regular checks in the cells. And stupidly told the SGT that he was going to spain the next day... I think the term "REFUSED BAIL" comes to mind... he was also wanted on locate trace in another area for an assault which means obtain current details!

I think he will be in custody for a while.
Then taken to the next avaliable court and banned,
Then fined for the public order offences and fail to stop.
Probably bailed for the Theft.

A cracking night and result for me.
A real shit night for the inbread chav scum that plagues the streets nicking motors, disqual driving, driving uninsured and a host of other offences.

I am now going to bed, in my own bed, in my own house after a can of beer and a bacon sarnie.
He is still in a cell. With all the lights on, Possible get an allday breakfast.

I love my job.
What i joined up for, to chase the bad guys and get em in the nick!

Saturday, January 08, 2005

Crew Oscar - Nights.

Well, 1st night shift crewed by myslef as a proactive unit in an unmarked car.

This turned out to be a bit of a pain as there were cars i would like to have stopped but were unnable to as i did not have any blue lights, so i had to resort to folowing them untill they stopped somewhere which was interesting.

Luckily managed to follow 1 vehicle into a petrol station forecourt as he had previously overtaken me down the high street and was driving like a nutter, No tax so has been reported for that, advice and producer given.

Had a chat with a few dodgey peeps that were stop checked and there was 1 guy that i would have liked to arrest but the lack of a working TETRA radio network meant i did not have any way of calling up for another unit to aid in the arrest and transport.

Assisted in several area searches ranging from groups of youths fighting to a cow in the road. And assisted a dog unit in making arrests following a fight where the door staff had been CS gassed.

Not a bad night but would have been improved with the following:

1) A working radio system so i could PNC cars and people and call for assistance.
2) A marked car to aid in stopping cars.
3) A crewmate bearing in mind that i was in a dodgey area where groups of people were congrigating and have no hesitation in giving a good kicking to officers who are either special police officers or single crewed.

So for the night i did the following in summary:

1) Covered 135 miles on patrol over 8 hrs driving and 1 hr rest stop.
2) Assisted in arrest of 2 males following a fight with CS gas. ( Good result)
3) Issued a producer (HORT/1) to an errant driver. (Silly boy shouldent have overtaken me at speed in a high street)
4) Reported a driver for driving with no road tax. (As a result of 3)
5) Area search for group of youths who reportedly were abusive to a homeowner. (No Trace)
6) Area search for a suspect vehicle carrying a male who had assulted someone. (No Trace)
7) Area search for a possible DIC (Drunk in charge) Driver after a Crash. (1 arrested)
8) Area search for a cow. (Moo Moo kind) (No Trace)
9) Assisted in a report of a fight. 1 person stop checked. (She didnt apreciate it too much as it was cold and windy!)
10) Stop checked 2 males, following them possibly tampering with a phone box who shuffled off when they saw the yellow jacket. (Was a knobend who needed arresting, no doubt we will meet again! you can be sure of that!)
11) Helped a drunken person into a taxi. (Almost appreciated but the boyfriend was a bit gobby)
12) Ate a cinamon whirl and a twix with a cup of tea. (Nice but tesco did not have anything else)
13) Be totally unappreciated by the general public. (Pretty much the norm)
14) Advoided alot of fallen down trees. (Because i didnt want to crash and try and expain it away!)

We shall see what the next night brings as im off to bed, luckily im comming in early to deal with outstanding paperwork and get it all up to date, then go back reactive for the funny hours, Hopefully with a working Radio!

Friday, January 07, 2005

Another 0630 Job + Nutters

Not as bad as the other night, but there were more weirdos calling up for our help.

1 male was being chased by 2 males in balaclavas when we arrived there was no sign of any suspects and the aggrieved was pissed up and had taken drugs, he was in a bit of a state to be honest but there were no actual crimes being commited. The aggd had previously reported to us the night before that he had been beated up and punched in the throat by a known suspect and ran to the police station whislt being chased by the suspect.

When he was spoken to it transpired he had no injuries, and arrived at the police station by car!?!?!

We also had a burglary in progress which we attended and saw a male that INITIALLY matched the description, height, clothing and build. This male had a wallet that he said was not his, great we thought we got ourselves a burglar.

Later transpired that he was the wrong colour as we had an asian male and the suspect was white. Our male also had mental problems so he panicked when he saw us and panicked when we asked questions which lead to his arrest.

So we were about to release him when another call comes in saying a male with a knife had been causing problems at a train station. This male exactly matched the description of the male we had. He was searched and no knife found, after some messing about we really had no grounds to hold him and due to his condition we decided to give him a lift home. But the male then tells us he lives some 50 miles away in another force area! Great, an hour and a half later we returned to the force area.

At 0620 ish we were back at the nick and thinking nah lets not empty the car just in case, and sure as night is black a call comes in.... "A vehicle has left the road and is in a ditch" great off we trott only to be redeployed to an immediate alot further away. "A tree has totally blocked a road" so we redeploy, get to the scene and there is no tree.

What a night! And now its a friday night when its been quiet the past few weeks so something is bound to go off!.

A 0630am job

Why when i am on nights do people decide to get hurt, have fights etc half hour before im due off duty??

We had a slow night with not a great deal happening, lots of procative patroling as its called by the powers that be. So slow in fact my crewmate felt too tired to drive (i am a non driver) so we decided to go back to the nick so my crewmate could have a hot drink and wake up a bit incase of any immediates that came in.
The early turn had just started to arrive for work so we began unloading the cars and writing off any jobs we had delt with when the dreaded call comes in

"Any unit avaliable for an immediate, male being chased by people carrying samari swords, he has escaped from a location where his 2 friends are currently being held and robbed at knife point, a gun has been seen"

So off the shift goes, all units call up and make on immediate.

Few mins later an ARV is dispatched along with a dog unit and the helicopter is called (well tried to but they didnt answer the phone!) And we all pile in to an address to see 2 males with injuries consistant with a good pasting and knife cuts.

The homeowner tell us that these males had tried to rob his house holding the occupants and knife point but they were over powered. the 2 males were arrested but were really glad to see us! Aparently a 3rd male had escaped from the address.

The 3rd male was the one that called the police! and he was subsiquently arrested by armed police!

And to top it all off, the third male had driven to the scene with the other 2 for a party in a nicked motor.

Try working that one out!

Seems a bit of vigalanti style justice was being administered as the 2 suspects were being robbed in return for them trying to rob the home owners!

Who knows, i got off late and couldent sleep with thanks to the people living above me playing loud music during the day. Which was swiftly resolved by switching the power off to their flat!



Mad Day

Work was interesting, my list of things achieved this shift:

1) Woman claims husband beat her up, called police to remove him... real story .... he locked himself in bedroom after a barney and she wanted to use that bed to sleep thus called the police so she could sleep in the bed, not the sofa. (this happened sunday am) . Not exactly in line with DVU policy who pretty much state arrest him as she is obviuosly the victim and we must take positive action. Luckily for him common sense prevailed on this occasion.

2) Suspected burglary, defered for 3 days due to "victim" not being avaliable... Victim was still not avaliable today.

3) Took a victim statement for one of my old jobs just so i could get rid of the job as its a non starter. No CCTV, No witnesses, still been crimed and will be filed as undetected. Gone are the days when it was down to the officer to make a judgement call now we have to jump through hoops to get a job filed even when there is no chance of getting on offender caught!

4) Went to find a Misper from the mental "care" unit at the hospital, she had already done a runner once today and been returned, then she leaves 45 mins after her first return. Go to her house, find said woman who wont let us in, i run round back to no avalil. crewmate gets in, i run back round front and get let in. Nutter woman wont return to hospital, spend time on fone to supervisor etc to see if we have a power to use force. wait for reply..... in mean time said woman goes into a bedroom. i go into bedroom to see if said woman is still alive. Find woman with a large kitchen knife to her throat. crewmate thinks o shit she had the knife concealed on her all the time he was alone with her. I think o shit either a) fight ensues as she slits her throat, b) she goes mental and tries to do one of us or after a bit of talking by me she drops said knife, knife is removed from her range. Eventually take her back to hospital where staff says they cant use force to detain, i suggest locking the doors to prevent nutters escaping, they say they have not enuff staff, said nutter walks off, out through the secure doors and offski down the corridor closely followed by a bemused me. she is detained again. she gets sedated. Job done and a good result till she runs tomorow. This happens quite frequently from this "Care Unit" with a pretty much open door policy!

5) Deal with gobby shit who needs a slap, and thinks he knows the law (i am on my own) his mates come around giving it the gob. Said mates get lobbed into a wall by me because they got too close. male i was speaking to tried to run, male gets lobbed into said wall. Crewmate returns all get warned re their conduct, we then keep trying to wind up males so we can nick em. The joys of Section 5!

6) Close off a road due to water main bursting and idiots keep saying can we go through please... no fuck off road closed and loadsa water cant you see, as well as trying to drive around me, then around a roadblock and a police car. before getting an unimpressed me waving my arms around like a loony. By now i was at the end of the shift, cold, wet and hungry and just needed to get off duty!

Not bad for an early shift!

Welcome

Hello,
I have just started this blog so bear with me while i get some items posted. Ill do my best and any comments appreciated.