Police forces receive anti-social behaviour funding boost; Air ambulance service announces plans for new base

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with the news that police forces in England and Wales are set to receive a minimum of £1m in funding to ramp up patrols, specifically aimed at addressing violence and disorder prevalent in areas marked by high levels of anti-social behaviour.

There’s also a story on Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance’s plans to relocate its headquarters to a site near Southampton Airport.

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Police forces in England and Wales receive funding boost to tackle anti-social behaviour

Each police force in England and Wales is set to receive a minimum of £1m to ramp up patrols, specifically aimed at addressing violence and disorder prevalent in areas marked by high levels of anti-social behaviour.

With a total funding allocation of £66m for England and Wales, this financial boost will allow each force to deploy uniformed patrols for up to 20,000 hours annually in identified ‘hotspot’ areas. More via Emergency Services Times

Berkshire fire service says 99% of automatic alarm calls false

More than 99% of alerts received from automatic fire alarms are false, a fire and rescue service has said.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said that an annual 2,300 calls from automatic alarms create significant disruption.

The service has now drawn up plans to change the way crews respond to these alerts. More via BBC News

Officers want pay sorted out ‘as matter of urgency’ – PFNI

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) says officers are looking forward to receiving a long-overdue pay rise and expect ratification of their award as a matter of urgency.

PFNI Chair Liam Kelly said: “The allocation of £75.3 million to the Department of Justice to deal with deficits and pay awards is heartening news.” More via PFNI

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance announces plans for new base

An air ambulance service has announced plans to relocate its headquarters.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has identified a site near Southampton Airport to set up its new base.

It is currently based across two locations, with operations near Andover, and the charity team in Southampton. More via BBC News

Hertfordshire Constabulary welcomes 16 new officers

Sixteen new officers were formally welcomed to Hertfordshire Constabulary by Deputy Chief Constable Bill Jephson at their passing out parade last week.

The new officers are starting their policing careers via the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) route. More via Hertfordshire Constabulary

Migrants found in lorry at UK ferry port amid large emergency service response

Two men have been arrested and six people have been taken to hospital after migrants were found in the back of a lorry at Newhaven ferry port, Sussex Police said.

Both the men are in custody, with one detained on suspicion of people smuggling and the other suspected of entering the UK illegally, the force said. More via Yahoo! News

Firefighters have ‘no confidence’ in new South Wales fire chief

Fire Brigade union members have passed a motion of no confidence in the man brought in to change the culture at crisis hit South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWF&RS).

At an extraordinary general meeting the South Wales Brigade members said they “feel profoundly and deeply let down” by Mr Millington’s appointment. More via Wales Online

Cambridgeshire fire service living ‘hand to mouth’

The fire service in Cambridgeshire is living “hand to mouth” the Chief Fire Officer Chris Strickland has said. The fire authority agreed to increase its share of the council tax bill this year, but issued warnings about the impact of any future cuts to the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service budget. More via Cambridgeshire Live