More use of facial recognition technology to tackle retail crime; Bird confuses police officers by mimicking siren sound

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with news of a new Government plan to crack down on retail crime, which includes £55.5m of funding to boost the use of facial recognition technology.

There’s also a story on how a crow left police officers baffled thinking the siren on their car was faulty by mimicking its sound.

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More use of facial recognition technology under Government’s new retail crime crackdown plan

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a series of new measures to crackdown on retail crime across the UK, including increased use of facial recognition technology to help catch perpetrators and prevent shoplifting in the first place.

Part of the Government’s new Fighting retail crime: more action plan, £55.5m is being made available over the next four years so police can further roll out facial recognition technology. More via Emergency Services Times

IOPC file on Northants Chief Contable referred to CPS

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has completed its criminal investigation into allegations that the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire, Nick Adderley, has misrepresented his military service, and has referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) Regional Director Emily Barry said: “Following careful investigation, we have now submitted an evidential report to the Crown Prosecution Service. It will be for the CPS to consider whether to bring any criminal charge. More via IOPC

Air ambulance submits plans to relocate to Southampton Airport

A planning application has been submitted to Eastleigh Borough Council by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance for a proposed site for its airbase and charity operations at George Curl Way.

As previously revealed in the Daily Echo, the charity hopes to make changes to the site, including a helipad, parking spaces including electric vehicle charging points, landscaping improvements, and offices. More via Daily Echo

Avon and Somerset introduces new role to address internal culture around sexual misconduct

Avon and Somerset Police is introducing a new role, the Sexual Misconduct Liaison Officer (SMLO), as part of its work on improving its internal culture.

The SMLO’s role is to provide training to line managers of staff and officers on how to identify inappropriate behaviour and appropriately call out and report it, as well as introducing a support network for those who come forward and have experienced it. More via Emergency Services Times

E-bike charging caused house fire in Wakefield

A charging e-bike was the cause of a blaze which destroyed a house in Wakefield, the fire service said.

Six people inside the property all escaped but one man was taken to hospital seriously hurt while five others suffered minor injuries.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the cause of the blaze following an investigation. More via Yahoo! News

Coroner calls for improvements in ambulance response times

A Cornwall coroner has called for improvements in ambulance response times after hearing how waits of up to three hours 47 minutes may have contributed to the deaths of two pensioners.

Assistant Cornwall coroner Guy Davies has written to Health Secretary Victoria Atkins to raise concerns about the deaths of Patricia van der Eyken and 86-year-old Robert Prowse. More via The Packet

Bird confuses police officers by mimicking siren sound

Police officers were left “confused” by a bird when it convincingly mimicked the sound of the sirens on their cars.

Thames Valley Police said staff initially thought their vehicles had developed a fault after hearing the noise at a roads policing base in Bicester. More via MSN

WEL Medical launches new generation of defibrillator storage to protect AEDs

WEL Medical has announced the launch of the DefibSafe 3 (DS3), a new generation of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) storage with an IP66 weather protection rating.

The DS3 features a temperature management system that maintains the optimum performance of AEDs, managing its battery and pads effectively. More via Emergency Services Times