Police chief calls out ‘bullying’ response to latest appointment; APCC responds to latest knife sentencing data

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with a story that highlights the misogyny that women in policing continue to face. Responding to a British Transport Police social media post announcing the appointment of a new assistant chief, CC Lucy D’Orsi said she was shocked to see the responses filled with ‘vile, nasty and homophobic messages.’

There’s also a response from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to newly released Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics.

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Police chief calls out ‘bullying’ response to latest appointment

Last week, British Transport Police announced the appointment of Karen Findlay as its new assistant chief, but online responses to her appointment led BTP’s Chief Constable to say she was ‘disgusted’ by the replies showing the misogyny that women in policing continue to face. More via Emergency Services Times

Victory for firefighters’ campaign as Avon fire authority halts cuts

Avon fire authority has proposed to halt cuts to 40 firefighter posts following a campaign led by firefighters.

This follows the fire authority’s decision made this Autumn to cut 40 wholetime (full time) firefighter posts and reduce fire engine crews from 5 firefighters to 4 across the service. More via Fire Brigades Union

Reductions in A&E admissions lead to extension of clinical hubs trial in Kent

Two clinical coordination hubs set up as trials by South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, (SECAmb), in partnership with NHS Trusts in Kent, have been extended having delivered positive early results.

The hubs, established in Autumn last year, involve multi-discipline teams from across the Kent healthcare system joining SECAmb paramedic practitioners to ensure 999 calls are receiving the most appropriate response. More via Emergency Services Times

College of Policing announces opening of 2024 College Bursary Scheme

The College of Policing has announced the opening of its 2024 bursary scheme, which will be open for applications on Monday 11 March until Thursday 4 April (subject to confirmation of funding).

The College of Policing bursary offers a maximum of £4,000 towards two years of course fees at higher education level – for example, studying for a BSc/BA, master’s degree or PhD. More via College of Policing

Opportunity for blue lights to contribute to new prevention research project

NHS Confederation has teamed up with academia and consultancy, Newton to launch a new research project to ‘unlock prevention’ within the Integrated Care System and is seeking volunteers to help understand barriers to collaboration.

The project, involving the University of Stirling and the University of Southampton will look at what barriers to preventative health and care in communities. More via Emergency Services Times

APCC responds to latest knife and offensive weapon sentencing data

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Criminal Justice Lead David Lloyd (Hertfordshire PCC) and deputy lead Emily Spurrell (Merseyside PCC) have responded to the latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data for Knife and Offensive Weapon Sentencing Statistics.

The pair said that “tackling the scourge of knife crime remains a top priority”, adding that no single agency alone can eradicate it. More via APCC

West Yorkshire Police has improved its custody services, but further changes needed – HMICFRS

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has said that, while West Yorkshire Police has made improvements to its custody services, progress in some areas has been limited since its last inspection.

Outlining its findings in a report published today, HMICFRS said that some concerns from the force’s previous inspection haven’t been addressed well enough, especially around the use of force. More via HMICFRS

Efforts to co-ordinate North Yorkshire emergency volunteers

The key role of hundreds of volunteers ready to help deal with emergencies is being co-ordinated across North Yorkshire to ensure the response can be even more effective.

North Yorkshire Council says teams of specially-trained volunteers are on hand to help with emergency responses to a wide variety of incidents, including road and rail crashes, extreme weather or major health crises such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic. More via Darlington and Stockton Times