40 years of National Volunteers’ Week | Met Police chief speaks about capacity challenges

National Volunteers’ Week, services celebrate the contributions of volunteers with South Western Ambulance and Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire service both showing the breadth of activity they undertake every day. And Sir Mark Rowley told London politicians that it has to be more targeted and prioritise ‘over sensible timelines’ if it is to succeed as he shared how the current budget was not enough to fund the level of reform required by the Met.

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40 years of National Volunteers’ Week

Emergency services celebrate volunteers this week as part of a national week of recognition – now in its 40th year – with South Western Ambulance highlighting the work of its 600+ community first responders and 35 British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) Doctors. More via: Emergency Services Times

Force celebrates five year partnership with charity to promote early prostate cancer testing

North Wales Police and prostate cancer awareness charity, the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, marked a significant milestone in their partnership that over the last five years has seen 12 lives saved in the force through early testing of staff who did not actually display any symptoms of the disease. More via: Emergency Services Times

Met Police chief speaks about capacity challenges

Sir Mark Rowley told London politicians that it has to be more targeted and prioritise ‘over sensible timelines’ if it is to succeed. The London Policing Board, chaired by the Mayor of London, heard from the Commissioner who said that ‘capacity is a real challenge’ at a time where the Met had experienced a 35 per cent increase in 999 calls. More via: The Standard

PSNI chief responds to reports about surveillance of journalists

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has made a statement about recent reports relating to police operations where he says that journalists have wrongly interpreted terminology. He has appointed Angus McCullough, a special advocate, to carry out an ‘independent review of what he calls ‘matters of concern’ following disclosures that police had used surveillance powers in an attempt to identify journalists confidential sources. More via: Computer Weekly

Hampshire fire service shows the variety of roles available to volunteers

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is using National Volunteers’ Week to share how members of its community are helping in different ways – and in different places – to keep people safe. More via: Emergency Services Times