Changes to fire service pay review machinery are not needed; Former Met officer pleads guilty to misconduct in public office

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with the news that employers and unions have agreed that the National Joint Council should remain as the basis for collective bargaining for fire service pay and that changes are not needed.

There’s also a story on a former Met officer pleading guilty to misconduct in public office after he repeatedly made unlawful searches of personal information on policing systems.

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Changes to fire service pay review machinery are not needed

At this year’s Local Government Association Fire conference, Councillor, Nick Chard, and Fire Brigades Union General Secretary, Matt Wrack, agreed that the National Joint Council should remain as the basis for collective bargaining for pay. This comes ahead of a review of the NJC trailed in the government’s fire reform white paper. More via Emergency Services Times

Fire union warns government of Grenfell-style risk over weak high-rise evacuation policy

The union representing the overwhelming majority of firefighters has slammed new government guidance on building evacuation, saying that failings have left residents vulnerable to further Grenfell-style tragedies. More via Fire Brigades Union

PCCS and police forces jointly launch national Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service

Police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners are today jointly launching the new national Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service. It follows a successful roll-out at the Met Police.

The public can anonymously or confidentially report corruption and criminality within policing via the new service which is to be run by the independent charity Crimestoppers. More via Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

Former Met officer pleads guilty to misconduct in public office

A former Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer who repeatedly made unlawful searches of personal information on policing systems has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office (MIPO), following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Former Detective Constable Ishmael Donegan, 26, pleaded guilty to four counts of MIPO at a hearing at the Southwark Crown Court this week. More via IOPC

ACE to assist police in redacting sensitive information in media files

The Home Office has supported the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) in conducting a market review of existing multimedia redaction tools.

The initiative aims to expedite the development and widespread adoption of redaction technology on a national scale, enhancing user efficiency and enabling law enforcement to confidently share information with other entities as required. More via Emergency Services Times

Police chiefs adopt a counter-terror approach to tackling violence against women and girls

A revised national framework for England and Wales outlines how police forces will work to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The revised framework, which follows on from a national framework for delivery launched in December 2021, is the next step in ensuring policing is focused on outcomes that make a real difference to tackling the epidemic of VAWG. More via National Police Chiefs’ Council

Report reveals scale of domestic homicide and suicides by victims of domestic abuse

A report released today examining domestic abuse related deaths in England and Wales has shown the scale of domestic homicides, and for the first time has recorded an increase in suspected suicides by domestic abuse victims.

The third iteration of its kind, the report was produced by the national Domestic Homicide Project, a Home Office funded research project led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and delivered by the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP) in collaboration with the College of Policing. More via VKPP

Final report recommends closure of Welshpool air ambulance base

A final report released today into the future of the Wales Air Ambulance has recommended the closure of the Welshpool base.

The review, which was conducted by the Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner for Wales Stephen Harrhy, says that both Caernarfon and Welshpool bases should be closed and merged into one North Wales base. More via Brecon & Radnor Express

Ambulance staff afraid to speak out amid a culture of sexism, racism and bullying, report warns

NHS Ambulance service have a “fear of speaking up” amid pervasive “cliquey”, sexist, racist and homophobic cultures, a watchdog has warned.

A national guardian has warned of negative cultures in trusts preventing workers from raising concerns as she called for a “cultural review” of ambulance organisations. More via Brecon & Radnor Express