Wiltshire Police - Firstbeat Autumn 2019

Autumn 2019

SALA CASE:

Pair jailed over CCTV pics

www.wiltshire.police.uk

YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR NEWS

PCC UPDATE:

My vision for our estate

FEATURE ON FLOS: Guiding families through grief

www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk

LETTERS NEWS

Dear Chief Constable...

People helped by our officers and staff often write to thank the Chief for the great service they’ve received. Here’s a small selection of letters from grateful members of the public.

MCIT CIVILIAN

IN FOCUS

8

OVER AND ABOVE HIS CALL OF DUTY Compliments and praise to PC Christopher White who went over and above his call of duty when coming to an accident on the A419 near Swindon when a van went into the back of our car. The car was carrying my two children, one of whom was on oxygen as they were born prematurely. With the utmost professionalism, my wife, children and I were taken from the roadside and driven home.

Thank you for going above and beyond and our best wishes to Wiltshire Police for all doing the job that you do to keep us safe.

The Brockman family

CHARITY DOG SHOW

PCC NEWS

14

A couple of months ago one of your officers, driving an unmarked police car, decided that my driving could do with some improvement.

UPDATE ON OUR ESTATE

SGT ALVIS REFLECTS ON FOUR DECADES IN THE JOB

27

GRUELLING CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY

Anon, Calne

ACT OF KINDNESS AT TIME OF NEED I’m writing to thank two of your police officers who were very kind to me in Salisbury on Friday 26 July.

When I said that I was looking for St Osmund’s church for a funeral, they said they would give me a lift. Not only that but they ended up paying my parking fee as I had no change!

This was so much appreciated and I’d like to thank them both.

Jenny Adams, Twickenham, London

Anon

SMALL GESTURE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE A large group of police officers were searching along the footpath as I walked home from school with my children in Derry Hill. It was an unusual and somewhat intimidating sight for my five-yearold daughter who clung tightly to me and obviously looked uneasy

SH ILT IR

PO

Wiltshire and Swindon

E

SPORTS

24

Your officer was polite, pleasant and professional; long story short, he could have been difficult, but he wasn’t.

Now I believe that one good turn deserves another. Motoring penalties don’t come cheap; to this end, I’ve donated the money I’ve ‘saved’ to a good cause. I would like your officer to know that I don’t consider that I ‘got off light’ and I’ve taken note of his words of advice.

IN FOCUS

16

POLITE, PROFESSIONAL WORDS OF ADVICE

and scared. A female police officer at the back of the group noticed this and made a point of smiling at my daughter and saying hello and waving. This really helped me to reinforce to my daughter that the police are here to help and are not to be scared of. A small gesture made a huge difference. Thank you.

W

OP ZAGROS

IN FOCUS

5

LICE

Firstbeat team Editor: Scott McPherson News Editors: Katie Bond, Siobhan Stayt Sub Editors: Andy Grant, Ben Holloway, Emma Morton Designer: Natalie Hobman

Page 2 | Autumn 2019

Email: firstbeat@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk

NEWS

Fifty golden years for veteran volunteer SPECIAL Police Constable Richard Warren has been celebrating over 52 years of helping his local community.

supporting role - ensuring the safety of the public. That, of course, included the victim, the witness and the suspect!

“On one occasion I used my knowledge of British motorcycles to engage a particularly aggressive prisoner in conversation and calmly through custody to the cell.”

Richard and his wife at the Wiltshire Police Awards Ceremony in June 2019

The 75-year-old was made an MBE in 2016 for services to policing. Whilst Richard is modest about his efforts, he has provided a valuable service to policing and to the community.

Beginning his career as a Special in 1967 with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Richard did aspire to join the force full-time, but a family and a career in IT led him in a different direction.

However, policing remained a passion for Richard and when he moved to Malmesbury he continued his role as a Special, transferring to Wiltshire.

Richard is also an avid marathon runner. In the past five years he has run the London Marathon four times, raising money for charity, and has already secured his place for 2020.

Richard jumping for joy in 2012 when he was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch

Richard’s sense of community goes beyond policing and fundraising, as he takes direct hands-on action when it comes to cleaning up his community and can often be seen running with a bin bag to allow him to litter pick as he runs.

Richard takes an active role when it comes to inspiring others by helping the local cadet unit and supporting the recruitment of new special constables.

“I still enjoy my policing, and I know I can help in my small way with keeping things safe in Wiltshire,” he said.

He freely admits that enforcement is not his priority, as he is very much focused on engagement and crime prevention.

He added: “My message to anyone embarking on a career in policing is to stay as calm and relaxed as possible when dealing with anyone.

He said: “During my time as a Special I have almost always been in a

“The moment you show any reaction and get annoyed with someone

you end up in an emotional place no one wants to experience.

“That doesn’t mean you do nothing, but it gives you plenty of time to plan your next move!”

THREE DECADES OF DESIGN THE creative mind behind Firstbeat has celebrated 30 years with Wiltshire Police.

communicate with our staff and officers and the public.”

Natalie, who has designed all 58 issues of Firstbeat since it began in April 2006, marked her 30 years with a surprise afternoon tea with colleagues in Corporate Communications, which was attended by her husband and two children.

Natalie Hobman, the Force’s graphic and visual designer, started working here in July 1989.

Although the tools of her trade may have changed, from the humble pencil and drawing board to modern-day computer programmes, the role has stayed largely the same.

She said: “When I first started here as a teenager I never imagined I would still be here all these years later.

“I have seen a lot of change over the past three decades, but the main premise of my job has remained – helping the Force engage and

She was also presented with a long-service certificate by Chief Constable Kier Pritchard, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills and Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson.

Autumn 2019 | Page 3

NEWS

Jail for man who stabbed friend with Samurai sword WHO: Terence Ryan, 40, of Exeter Street, Swindon.

WHAT: Ryan stabbed a friend with a Samurai sword because he thought he was trying to steal his mother’s morphine. Although the victim suffered a collapsed lung, he was lucky not to be more seriously injured and went on to make a full recovery.

RESULT: Ryan was jailed for seven years and three months after being found guilty of GBH with intent.

Det Con Clare Sylvester-Wyness said: “The use of a weapon to inflict injury on another person is completely unacceptable behaviour – the sword used in this incident had the potential to cause devastating injuries.

“We will not tolerate this kind of violent behaviour and will thoroughly investigate to ensure offenders are put before the courts.”

Seven years for Christmas Eve burglary and GBH WHO: Billy O’Connor, 30, of Kingsdown Road, Trowbridge.

WHAT: O’Connor broke into a house in Broughton Gifford. While being restrained by the homeowner, O’Connor hit him with a bottle of aftershave, causing an injury to his neck.

RESULT: O’Connor was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to burglary and GBH. Det Con Steve Edwards said: “This burglary took place on the evening of Christmas Eve when the homeowners were getting ready to enjoy their Christmas the following day.

“As a result of O’Connor’s actions, they were unable to enjoy the festivities and have been made to feel frightened and nervous in their own home.

“No one should ever be made to feel that way and I do not underestimate the impact that this will have had on them.”

£13k of drugs seized during car stop WHO: Santiljano Dalti, also known as Simidov Yordanov, aged 24, of Meadlands, Corston.

WHAT: Dalti’s car was pulled over by police on the A4 between Chippenham and Bath after plain clothes officers spotted his vehicle involved in a possible drug deal. More than £2,000 in cash and 45 snap bags of cocaine were seized. Further drugs, a Taser and a knuckle duster were found at his home address.

RESULT: He was jailed for four years and eight months after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a firearm and possession of criminal property.

PC Tim Stevens said: “I am pleased we have been able to stop these drugs, which had an estimated street value of approximately £13,000, from reaching vulnerable individuals within our communities. I hope this case sends a clear message to the public that illegal drugs will not be tolerated and we will continue to pursue individuals involved in their supply.”

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NEWS

CCTV PAIR JAILED OVER GRAPHIC SALA PIC THE prevalence and dramatic growth in cybercrime led to the creation of Wiltshire Police’s Digital Investigations and Intelligence Unit (DIIU) last summer. Tasked with providing leadership and guidance for digital investigations, its team of specially-trained investigators focus on cyber-dependant and high-end cyber-enabled crime.

At the time it was envisaged that the bulk of the unit’s work would be giving assistance to cases led by other departments within the force, such as CID or PPD.

aware of the recent plane crash involving the footballer.

“He told me that autopsy images had been released on the internet, and that there were some enquiries Dorset had identified which needed to be carried out in our area.

“I agreed that it would be something that DIIU should take on due to the expertise held within the department.”

A warrant was executed at the company address in Chippenham, where it was quickly ascertained that the offence had taken place in Wiltshire. Over the following months the DIIU carried out a complex and detailed investigation, all while acutely aware the eyes of the world were watching them.

However, the DIIU quickly found itself at the centre of a global media storm as it took on the investigation into the illegally-accessed mortuary photos of the footballer Emiliano Sala who had died in a plane crash off the south coast in January whilst on his way to sign a contract with Cardiff City.

commend our team of specialist investigators for their hard work and dedication.

Shortly after Sala’s body was found, Dorset Police became aware of a graphic image circulating on social media, which had been taken from CCTV footage in the mortuary.

Det Insp Gemma Vinton, who heads up the DIIU, remembers the moment she got the call to say the suspicion was pointed towards a CCTV firm in Chippenham.

She said: “I was actually off duty, and had a call from the Detective Superintendent, asking me if I was

Detective Constable Tom Fenwick

Det Con Tom Fenwick was involved from the initial warrant through to the conclusion of the investigation.

DC Fenwick said: “We were able to secure important evidence from the scene, as well as from seized devices working closely with the Data Forensic Unit. This enabled us to build a compelling case to present to the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Earlier this summer the two defendants Sherry Bray and Christopher Ashford, who worked at the Chippenham CCTV firm, pleaded guilty to their involvement in the case, as well as Bray illegally accessing the pictures of the post-mortem of another man.

Detective Inspector Gemma Vinton

DI Vinton said: “This is the most high-profile investigation that we have carried out and I would like to

“The case attracted significant global media interest, and we had to make sure we had regular contact with a range of stakeholders and interested parties – not least the families of our two victims, with Sala’s family, who live in Argentina, being kept fully updated at all times.

“It has been a challenging and demanding year, but I believe this case has been able to show the DIIU in the best possible light and to demonstrate our skills, expertise and value to the Force.”

Sherry Bray, 49, of Charles Street, Corsham, pleaded guilty to three counts of computer misuse and perverting the course of justice.

Christopher Ashford, 62, of Page Close, Calne, pleaded guilty to three counts of computer misuse.

Bray was sentenced to 14 month’s imprisonment and Ashford was sentenced to five month’s imprisonment.

Autumn 2019 | Page 5

NEWS

Unmasking

BY KATIE BOND Media Officer

IT was a bright Friday afternoon in May when the tragic news of the death of popular teenager Ellie Gould started to filter through to the usually quiet community of Calne.

Seventeen-year-old horse-mad Ellie had been found dead at her home by her father when he returned home from

FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER: We can’t change the past, but we can support them in the weeks and months ahead LISA Coffey completed her family liaison course at 4pm on May 3.

Three hours later, she was called to assist Mel Carosi as the FLOs for the Gould family.

“FLO training does not teach you what you should say to a grieving family,” said Lisa.

“You need to draw on your life experiences. The family I was about to meet had experienced one of the worst tragedies imaginable.

When we met Ellie’s parents we introduced ourselves, and explained that we were there for them and would support them in the weeks and months ahead.

“It is a privileged role, to be there when families need you the most.”

Page 6 | Autumn 2019

Operation Mayfly, as it was to be named, saw local CPT officers, search and forensics officers, police staff and the Major Crime Investigation Team working together to swiftly identify, locate and arrest the suspect within a matter of hours.

COMMUNITY REASSURANCE: A difficult operation for all ACTING Inspector Don Pocock was tasked with leading the community reassurance response that was crucial in the days that followed the murder.

The Calne community had been left shaken by the news of such a violent attack in their otherwise peaceful town. Hundreds of young people at the school where Ellie studied, as well as the teaching staff, were distressed, confused and heartbroken at the news.

He said: “This was an extremely difficult operation, not only because of the

young age of those involved, but also the many connections those working on the investigation had with the local school and community. Ellie was evidently an extremely popular girl with many friends, all around the age of 16 and 17. Dealing with this kind of tragedy isn’t something anyone should ever have to go through, but it is especially difficult at such a young age and with the pressures of exams looming.

We worked closely with the headteacher at Hardenhuish School, who had a number of different support agencies brought in to school to help the students deal with their grief.

CASE OFFICER: Thirteen years in the police, but inciden you and that’s ok NATALIE George joined the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team just two months before Ellie’s murder. She had previously acted as a family liaison officer and detective constable within CID assisting MCIT, but this was her first experience as case officer for a murder investigation.

She said: “In the first few days of the investigation it was my responsibility to ensure that I reviewed all of the statements, witness

Ellie horse riding

work on May 3. As police officers and forensic teams descended on the scene, a murder investigation was quickly launched and local and national media outlets arrived at the scene.

at the beach

interviews, suspect interviews, officer reports, exhibits, transmissions and forensic evidence, to present all the information and evidence in the form of a detailed case summary to the CPS for a charging decision. The hard work continues long after the defendant is charged and put before the courts, including the constant review of all the statements and reports that were still being received by the Major Incident Room, and prioritising the items that needed to be forensically tested to obtain further evidence. I was in close contact with the National Crime Agency, pathologist, forensic service provider and imaging hub to establish how they could assist the investigation, as well as Hardenhuish School and

NEWS

a teenage killer He was charged with murder three days later and can now be named as 17-year-old Thomas Griffiths from Derry Hill, after a judge in Bristol Crown Court lifted reporting restrictions. He pleaded guilty to Ellie’s murder on August 29 and will be sentenced in November.

Here, we speak to those involved in putting Griffiths before the courts and securing justice for Ellie’s family.

l involved “We also ensured there was a visible police presence in the town for the seven days after the incident, with the mobile police station positioned in the town centre for local residents to come and share their concerns.

“I wrote a letter to neighbours of Ellie’s family as well as residents in the area in the aftermath as part of our reassurance strategy. When you are part of the police service, it is easy to forget how the sheer presence of police officers and vehicles can cause concern to members of the public who wouldn’t ordinarily have any dealings with the police.”

nts like this can still affect

SENIOR INVESTIGATING OFFICER: We deal with the horror of death daily, but we must always check our own welfare T/DET Chief Insp Jim Taylor was the senior investigating officer in this case, coordinating and directing the investigation, setting the key investigative strategy and ensuring the maximum amount of evidence was obtained to identify and charge the offender.

He said: “All murders are tragic, however, this case was particularly difficult for the investigation team. The involvement of two teenagers in a knife related murder in a rural Wiltshire town, with no apparent warning signs or pattern of behaviour, had a profound effect on the MCIT. A number of staff were affected, myself included.

“In the early stages of all murders, I will meet with the family to provide them with information about the size of the enquiry, resources involved and timescales. However, the Family Liaison Officers are the link between the investigation team and the family, and will deal with the day to day questions they may have. They are invaluable and a huge support to me.

Investigations of this scale are bound to impact on those directly involved as T/Det Chief Insp Taylor explains.

“This investigation entailed long hours, high levels of concentration and unwavering commitment. As the case develops and charges are laid, things slow down and it gives you a chance to reflect on the case and the scale and gravity of what has happened sinks in. Like many departments in the police service, the MCIT deal with the horror and drama of death on a daily basis. It is important to remember that incidents like this are not ‘normal’ and we shouldn’t shrug it off as a bad day at work. It’s essential we use the various mechanisms in place to check and test our own welfare. I certainly do.”

‘A KILLER UNMASKED’

partner agencies to discuss the impact of the incident on the students.

WHEN we announced the news that 17-year-old Thomas Griffiths had been charged with Ellie’s murder back in May, we were restricted in naming him by law, due to his age.

“As the case officer, I had very little involvement with the victim’s family but when I met them at court it added a very human element to the investigation. You see their upset, anger and sadness at their loss and it makes me feel determined to see justice done for them and their family.

“Despite being in the police service for 13 years, this investigation affected me and reminded me that we as investigators are not machines, and it is ok to let things affect you. It is a reminder that we are human and our job involves the loss of someone’s life in tragic circumstances.”

“This case was unique due to the age of the victim and offender, so I deployed a contact officer to Griffiths’ family. They were witnesses in the case, but as parents of a child in custody for murder, they needed information about what was happening to their son and it was appropriate for us to give them what information we could.”

Applications by the media were passed to the Judge in Bristol Crown Court on the day Griffiths pleaded guilty, and despite claims from his defence that lifting the restrictions would seriously impact on Griffiths’ mental health, Judge Peter Blair QC lifted the ban, saying it was ‘appropriate, reasonable and proportionate’ given the extremely grave crime he had committed.

THOMAS GRIFFITHS

The subsequent release of his custody shot attracted national media attention – Griffiths’ young age plain to see as his identity was revealed.

Autumn 2019 | Page 7

NEWS

SOLVING A MURDER - NOT JUST A JOB FOR COPS

BY KATIE BOND Media Officer

“I feel honoured and really grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity, as a police staff investigator, to be the case officer for a murder investigation.”

knew straight away that I wanted an investigative role.”

Louise was the first police staff investigator on the PIP2 (ICIDP) investigators course back in 2010.

In 2017, Louise also completed her Family Liaison Officer (FLO) training and Tier 3 Advanced Suspect Interview Course and is currently working towards completing her Tier 5 Interview Advisor Portfolio.

In recent years, Louise has held various roles during murder investigations led by MCIT, including the ‘one punch’ manslaughter of Greg Beyer in Swindon in 2017 and the murder of Alison Connolly in 2015 by sisters Amberstasia and Charice Gassman.

In 2018, she landed the role of case officer for an ongoing county lines murder investigation in Avon & Somerset, making her one of the first police staff investigators to head up such a high level case in the region.

Louise Kennelly

Louise Kennelly is paving the way for police staff investigators and is proving that a warrant card isn’t essential to investigating murders.

She joined the Force as an enquiry officer 15 years ago following several years in the Navy. She spent time in the Criminal Justice Unit, LCT and some time in CID to complete her portfolio for the ICIDP before moving to the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) in 2015.

“I wasn’t sure exactly what role I wanted when I first started working for Wiltshire Police but after spending a few days on the Criminal Justice Unit I

Page 8 | Autumn 2019

“I’m really humbled by the experiences I’ve been given and the trust that has been placed in me to investigate murders,” said Louise.

“It’s a huge piece of work and it has had its challenges, but I continue to learn a lot. I think the best thing I’ve learnt during my time as case officer is how much you rely on your team.

Teamwork and trusting those people around you, is key. You can’t do it alone.”

During her time with the Force, Louise has investigated almost every crime type imaginable from domestic violence to burglary, sexual offences and homicide, but says the role of a FLO is one of the most rewarding.

Sisters Amberstasia and Charice Gassman

“When you meet a family whose loved one has suddenly died, they have no idea of the coronial Marcin Koscielniak process that they are about to go through, and helping them through that process can be very rewarding,” she said. “You’re taking a small piece of the nightmare that they are currently experiencing, away from them.”

Looking back on how the Force has changed, Louise said she feels confident that the development pathways for police staff in Wiltshire Police are far superior to other forces.

“I think Wiltshire is leading the way in terms of investigative opportunities for police staff. There’s a place for police officers, detectives and police staff investigators in the modern day police force and I think Wiltshire has proven that all three can work in harmony with each other.

“There are some exciting opportunities out there if you are willing to work hard and prove yourself. There are many skills you can utilise in the investigating world, you don’t need to be a police officer to be able to investigate major crime.”

NEWS INSPECTOR MARK ANDREWS Wiltshire Police Federation Chair

Is the civilian/officer mix within the police service the right balance?

THE modern police service is more diverse than it’s ever been and here in Wiltshire our ratio of police officers to police staff is around 50:50.

We asked the PCC and members of the Force to give us their thoughts on civilianisation within policing and whether the workforce mix has struck the right balance…

ANGUS MACPHERSON Police and Crime Commissioner “Within our Force we have around 50 per cent of our staff who don’t carry a warrant card, but are essential and valued members of the policing community, adding their skills to the mix.

“I would like to hear the workforce’s views about the totality of policing; the support we give both staff and officers, the work we do in crime prevention, the balance and make up of our CPTs and understanding which work is better undertaken force-wide or regionally.”

KIER PRITCHARD Chief Constable “Wiltshire Police already enjoys a solid connection across officer and staff roles, with many staff being highly trained in some functions historically performed by police officers.

“We often talk about the role and experience rather than the rank or ‘warrant card holding’ requirement for the position, which has been a very positive step forward.

“I am very keen that we retain a healthy mix of police officers, staff and people who step forward to volunteer with us.”

SONJA LEITH Head of Crime Prevention “The increase in police staff posts, including senior positions, has really opened up opportunities for staff to develop themselves and progress within the organisation. It’s also helped bring new skills into the Force which we wouldn’t otherwise have had access to.

“In Crime Prevention we recognise the enormous value police staff bring to our various roles, however I feel that the diversity of teams is strengthened by having some officers, with their training knowledge and powers, as part of the mix.”

JON FREEGARD Head of People Development “I find myself in a role now and started in a role in the Contact Centre that have traditionally been officer posts.

“With increasing specialisms supporting frontline and investigative roles, the mix feels about right, so long as we are delivering an equal service.

“For me, the tipping point will be if we are unable to respond to emergencies or if we lose confidence from our public as a result of fewer police officers and the skills they bring.”

If you have something you’d like to see covered in ‘The Big Debate’ feature please email us at firstbeat@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk

“There is no getting away from the fact that even with this year’s increase in the council tax precept our establishment is still some 300 officers below where we were before austerity.

“Our police officers are expected to do more with less and we frequently see our resilience stretched beyond capacity.

“We have seen consistent increases in assaults on officers and sickness due to stress and anxiety and as chair of Wiltshire Police Federation my role is to consider how to effectively communicate the need to increase officer numbers to ensure their wellbeing.”

CLIFF FULLER UNISON Secretary “I have long been a believer that if the role does not require a warrant card, then the role should be workforce modernised (become a police staff post).

“I am not an advocate of reducing police officer numbers and those officers no longer required to perform an in house function, should be redeployed to frontline duties.

“The Police Federation has gone to the press stating that PCSOs are dearer than a PC in the first four years.

I am still researching those figures, but at the end of the day, even if that is true, police officer wages will outstrip that of a PCSO in years to come.”

Of those who answered: 12%

50%

said NO

said I DON’T KNOW

38%

said YES

A longer version of this article is available on the Force app SIREN. Autumn 2019 | Page 9

NEWS

CHILDREN have been committing crimes since time began.

In the vast majority of cases these are low-level crimes, with all police officers and staff dealing with countless young people who have bent or broken the law – usually incidents involving anti-social behaviour, shoplifting or underage drinking.

We were all young once and undoubtedly pushed boundaries, defied our parents or deliberately flouted the rules set by school.

However, the question of how we as a society deal with this behaviour, particularly when the crimes become more serious, is something which requires careful consideration.

We all know that when children and young people become involved in serious criminality, such as drug dealing or gang violence, then there is a bigger picture to consider.

Children from stable, loving and law-abiding backgrounds very rarely find themselves crossing the line from misbehaviour into highlevel, organised crime.

Of course there are exceptions, but for the most part, these children who transition from neighbourhood nuisance to hardened criminal, come from troubled backgrounds.

We now understand more about how the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) detrimentally impact on children’s behaviour and the choices they make.

And if there is something we can do to intervene early and help guide them back onto the straight and narrow, rather than criminalising them, potentially limiting their future life opportunities and pushing them further into a life of crime, then we have a duty to do so – both to the child themselves and society as a whole.

Page 10 | Autumn 2019

Here at Wiltshire Police we work hard with partner agencies, such as the Youth Offending Teams (YOTs), schools and the local authorities, to make sure we have a joined up, holistic approach to dealing with these issues.

We have introduced a Youth Restorative Intervention Panel which looks for more effective alternative outcomes for children that are first time offenders. We focus on the children we are most concerned about, potentially moving from being exploited towards becoming the exploiter through a Vulnerable Adolescent’s Contextual Safeguarding panel and we are trialling an Early Intervention programme which uses our staff to support children at risk of criminality or indeed victimisation.

We are not their parents, we are not social workers, nor should we have to take on these roles.

But we can take a step back and apply some common sense and compassion.

So, I would urge all police officers and staff to keep in mind the age of the offenders they are dealing, be professionally curious about the backstory they might have and understand whether there is more we can do to help rehabilitate them.

I’m not saying we ignore them or wrap them up in cotton wool.

But young offenders should be treated differently to adults, and we need to give them the opportunity to change their behaviour before we relegate them to a lifetime of crime.

Sonja

Sonja Leith Head of Crime Prevention

NEWS

OUR FORCE IN NUM8ER5

The demands and capability of the Force have been laid bare in the first-ever public summary of the Force Management Statement (FMS).

THE FMS sets out the challenges facing officers and staff as well as highlighting the assets and the plans in place to tackle them in the year ending March 2019.

Key stats from the report include; ■ 43,246 crime were dealt with (the 6th lowest volume in the country) ■ 340,000 999 and 101 calls received (of which 94.7% of 999 calls were answered within 10 seconds and 94.6% of 101 calls answered within 30 seconds)

■ 76% of all burglary, vehicle and violent crime victims were satisfied with the service they received

ONGOING DEMAND

Statistics for the last 24 months to March 2019, in Wiltshire and Swindon:

■ 204,140 individual pieces of demand were experienced

INCOMING DEMAND

In the last 24 months to March 2019, on an average day in Wiltshire and Swindon we deal with:

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “This document forms the basis of my advice to the Police and Crime Commissioner by setting out the demands and challenges we face and what we are doing to tackle these.

“It also highlights the capacity and capability of the Force and the changing nature of the demand facing us.

“It enables us to review all of this and to make predictions in relation to potential future challenges over the coming months and years.”

The full version of the public summary can be found on our website.

Autumn 2019 | Page 11

IN FOCUS

They are embedded into families who are in the grips of trying to come to terms with the worst new support and guide loved ones through the foggy haze of accepting that their partner, child, sibling most tragic circumstances. But, first and foremost, they are a vital part of the team investigating th family unit.

y) Szaruta

Andrzej (And

Who are our Family Liaison Officers and why do they volunteer for such a challenging role?

Name: ALISON WILES How long have you been a FLO? I did the course in May this year and had my first and only deployment in June.

What is the hardest element to being a FLO? When the Family Liaison Coordinator calls you about a job, you need to make a quick evaluation as to whether you have the ability to commit yourself over the next few days, both in your home life and work role.

What is the case that sticks out the most to you as a FLO and why? I was deployed as the FLO for a murder investigation, for which the suspect is now awaiting trial. It was slightly unusual as I was deployed whilst the victim (Andrzej Szaruta) was still alive, although he had been diagnosed with un-survivable injuries. I met his family at the neurological unit at the hospital where he died two days later. During this deployment so far, I have liaised with numerous medical professionals, briefed the Major Crime

Page 12 | Autumn 2019

Investigation team, travelled many times to Southampton, Brixton and Bridgewater, dealt with the media side of the case, consulted with the coroner’s office and SIO regarding organ donation amongst many other interesting aspects of the case.

What are the common misconceptions of being a FLO? That we just make the tea!

Name: JO NORTHWAY How long have you been a FLO? 20 months. I also mentor the new FLOs who have completed their training and are going out on their first deployments.

Why did you decide to be a FLO? I’ve always had an interest in the role but never applied for it as I thought I wasn’t capable of undertaking it. My partner’s family have required the involvement of a FLO on two occasions, and, based on their experiences (both positive and negative factors) and mine, I realised it was something I could do.

What is the hardest element to being a FLO? The emotional drain on you, especially when you have more than one deployment on the go and the long hours that are all part of the role. I would also say that 99% of the families you are involved with are some of the nicest families you could meet, however there is

always the 1% that are very difficult to work with.

What are the common misconceptions of being a FLO? That it’s all about breaking bad news to families and then making them cups of tea. Your role as a FLO is much more involved than people realise.

What is the best thing about being a FLO? When a family thank you for making the whole process easier for them at the end of a deployment. For me, personally, it is one of the best roles I have had in the Force.

Name: TONI NUGENT How long have you been a FLO? Almost two years.

What is the case that sticks out the most to you as a FLO and why? I am still dealing with a job where a woman (Samantha Ann Magee) was found dead under a bed in a flat and the occupant was nowhere to be seen. He was later located and arrested but this case has been full of ups and downs. The family has struggled to accept what has happened and are understandably very angry and frustrated.

What are the common misconceptions of being a FLO? I think some people think we just talk to the family, tell them the news and go on our way. Also, it is important to remember that the role is voluntary, so

people should only take on the role if they feel then can invest the time needed in it.

Name: TOM WILSON How long have you been a FLO? I have been a FLO since 2003 and a coordinator since 2015.

Why did you decide to be an FLO? I was already performing the role in a non-formalised way as a traffic officer when Family Liaison became a formalised role.

What is the hardest element to being a FLO? Balancing the immediate needs of the investigation against the on-going needs of your day job and your home life.

What is the case that sticks out the most to you as a FLO and why? It is probably a double fatal involving a brother and sister who were both juveniles. The 17 year old brother (Jackson Watters) was driving his 12 year old sister (Millie Crouch) home from school

Samantha Ann Ma

gee

IN FOCUS

ws they will likely ever receive. They are there to g or family member has died - normally in the he death and can provide a unique link into the

What is the best thing about being a FLO? It is a difficult but rewarding role. Receiving thanks and positive feedback from the families you deal with at what must be the lowest point of their lives is humbling and restores faith in humanity.

when they both died in an RTC on the A36 near Salisbury. I attended the scene, dealt with the bodies and then visited their mum and told her that her children had been killed. I’ve dealt with over 200 deployments and there is often little to choose between which ones are most or least impactful. Another which sticks out was the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby on the A36 near Warminster just before Christmas last year.

What are the common misconceptions of being a FLO? The “pink and fluffy” nature of the job – it has never been pink or fluffy and I think many officers still believe it is. The reality is that it’s one of the most demanding roles you will ever perform.

Name: LEILA WILLIAMS How long have you been a FLO? Almost five years.

Why did you decide to be an FLO? I have always wanted to be a FLO because I want to be able to help people when they are potentially at their lowest emotional state. As a family, we had a FLO when I was little and I always remember how nice and professional she was at such a tragic time.

What is the hardest element to being a FLO? Dealing with families who do not agree with what you have to tell them or families who are in denial.

What is the case that sticks out the most to you as a FLO and why? I was the FLO for the lady who was run over by a road sweeper in Swindon (Nina Maggs).

She was on her way to pick up her daughter who was due to turn one in a few weeks. I was pregnant at the time and I had to tell her husband and her mother

she had passed away. Seeing their little girl for the first time was hard, knowing she was going to grow up without a mother.

What is the best thing about being a FLO? Being able to support people when they are at their lowest and feeling like I have made a difference at such a horrible time of their life. Also proving that as a police officer, we are normal people and have feelings too. Every one of the families I have worked with have been very grateful and I have always left feeling like my work was done to the best ability.

Name: CAROL LOVELOCK How long have you been a FLO? 13 years.

Why did you decide to be an FLO? Originally, I thought it would be a good way to get exposure to major crime without giving up my response role which I loved.

What is the case that sticks out the most to you as a FLO and why? It’s really difficult to pick just one as so many stick out for different reasons. However, the death of Dohoon Kim in 2016 will always stick with me - it brought so many challenges, including two families requiring careful handling for very different reasons. It was a great team effort, including a Korean interpreter who became an integral part of our team. In addition to this, I will never forget certain families who have impressed me with their humility, strength and ability to forgive – two in particular and both very different. The first couple whose young daughter was killed in a skiing accident and the second couple who were former heroin addicts whose son was killed whilst shoplifting to get money for drugs – the latter probably surprised me more than anyone ever has.

Nina Maggs

What are the common misconceptions of being a FLO? That we are just there for sympathy.

Name: MAXINE BROMLEY How long have you been a FLO? Approximately two years.

Why did you decide to be an FLO? I was the first civilian FLO for Wiltshire Police and it took me six years of asking why they didn’t use civilians because you are not using any police powers for the role.

What is the hardest element to being a FLO? I find each case quite stressful at first as you get the phone call asking if you can deploy and I immediately have to check on child care as I have an eight year old son. You never know what reception you will get from a family but most of them are lovely ‘normal’ people who are in the middle of the worst day in their lives.

What is the case that sticks out the most to you as a FLO and why? One is an estranged dad and daughter who had recently found each other and met at a pub. Her father, the passenger in a car involved in an RTC, was killed on the way home. She now grieves for what might have been.

The other is where a family met for lunch and the mother, who was the matriarch of the family, was killed in an RTC on the way home. The guilt felt by the daughter for not picking her elderly mother up was palpable.

Autumn 2019 | Page 13

IN FOCUS

Mutts strut their stuff “The typically unreliable British weather did keep us on our toes and we actually had to set up the show in the rain. Fortunately though we were lucky that by the time everything started the sun had kindly decided to make an appearance.”

All of the photos from the event can be found on Firstpoint.

Prettiest bitch winners

THE second annual charity dog show was held at police headquarters in August and raised more than £870 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The event for Wiltshire Police employees and their friends and family, which was organised by Kirsten Weir, from Horizon, and Kat Fleet, from Corporate Communications, saw dogs enter the ring for seven competitive rounds.

Most handsome dog winners

Best puppy winners

Police dog Trainer Ian Partington and Dog Handler PC Cindy Hargreave had the very difficult job of judging all the entrants, including a whopping 25 dogs in the Most Handsome Dog Category.

There was no shortage of proud owners and wagging tails with lots on for all the family including a cake sale, raffle and bouncy castle.

Say cheese

Kirsten said: “This was the second show Kat and I have organised at work and they are always such fun to do. We love seeing people from all around the force come out with their dogs of all shapes and sizes to support the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the amazing lifesaving work they do.”

Kat added: “We couldn’t do it without our amazing team of hardworking volunteers, so we’d like to say a massive thank you to them, as well all those that came along on the day.

Page 14 | Autumn 2019

Some keen spectators

Best rescue winners

Golden retrievers

Organisers Kat and Kirsten with Kirsten’s dog Chase

Curious pup

Amazing volunteers

Golden oldie winners

IN FOCUS

Out of the classroom onto the beat TWO of our newest recruits have given an insight into trading the classroom for the CPT. Evangeline Templar and Dan England have recently completed their training and are now out working in our communities.

Both of them have previously worked in different roles within the Force, so have come to the job with a wealth of experience.

Dan, who has held a number of police staff jobs, including in the Control Room and in Corporate Communications, started his training on 3 December 2018, exactly ten years to the day after he first attested as a Special.

in Chippenham with Wiltshire North CPT, did her training in the same cohort as Dan, following a two-year stint working as an escort officer in Salisbury.

varied and walking through the police station doors, I have no idea what’s in store for me that shift. The job is very spontaneous and I love every minute of it.”

“I really enjoyed it because I got a massive insight into the role of a police officer and it helped with my training”, she said. “I wanted to help people and I have always looked up to police officers since I was little.

The pair have high praise for their trainers and tutors, who have led them through their first days, weeks and months with Wiltshire Police.

Evangeline said: “I want to say a huge thank you to my tutor for being so supportive and patient with me.

“I like the fact that the job is so

He said: “I’d been a Special for about nine years before I decided it was time to apply for the PC post.

“I have always loved it and really enjoyed my other roles, but the frontline was where I really wanted to be.”

Dan, who is currently working with Wiltshire East CPT, added: “Training was a long slog, imagine five months in a classroom when everyone is itching to get out and get started, and frequently getting on each other’s nerves.

“But “Intake 32” gelled really well and we supported each other loads, actually Sgt Mark Smith said we were the best intake ever, and he’s retired now so you can’t check that!”

Evangeline, who is based

Government drive to recruit more police officers A big drive to recruit more police officers in Wiltshire launched this autumn, as we opened recruitment for the first time in two years.

The campaign coincided with the Home Office national advertising campaign to recruit 20,000 more police officers over the next three years, urging people to join the police and ‘Be a force for all’.

The national police recruitment drive is the biggest in decades, with the Government announcing funding to support the recruitment of a first wave of up to 6,000 officers, shared among the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

The remaining 14,000 will be hired in the following two years. The number of officers allocated to each police force is still to be confirmed, but Wiltshire Police has welcomed the announcements, which reflect the continued pressure the police service is under.

“This is excellent news for policing and the local community,” said Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills.

“We are gearing up for a significant uplift in police officer numbers in the coming years, with more than 100 students already planned to start police officer training in Wiltshire over the next 12 months.

“Additional Government funding will enable us to recruit, train and deploy even more officers to tackle crime and the issues that are really important to our communities.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson added: “Boosting police officer numbers can only be a good thing for our Force.

“We need to attract, train and retain talented individuals who put people first and continue to give the public an excellent policing service, keeping people safe and working with local communities to reduce harm and the risk of crime. This is a priority for me.”

Autumn 2019 | Page 15

PCC NEWS

PCC: From our building blocks to digital cops The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is always busy – this year so far the PCC has commissioned a new Digital Investigations and Intelligence Unit to tackle the rise in cyber-crime, commissioned the production of two new information videos to help witnesses called to court, continued to oversee the estates programme and the refurbishing of existing police buildings, and helped with the transition of moving IT support from the council back to the police.

Here we find out more about the OPCC’s achievements and plans for the Force as a whole.

ESTATES - OUR BRICKS AND MORTAR AS part of the OPCC’s estate strategy 2017 -21 there has been some work carried out this summer to move staff and prepare new buildings:

MARLBOROUGH The Major Crime Investigation Team moved to Gablecross in September 2019 following the closure of the former police station in George Lane which will now be sold off.

Marlborough will have a new “touchdown point” based at Corner House, George Lane Car Park which is due to open in September.

been temporarily relocated to Malmesbury. The newly revamped station at Wootton Bassett should be completed by early 2020.

WARMINSTER

HQ CANTEEN REFURB

Work on the new Community Policing Hub in the town has started with a view to moving Community Policing Teams from the town’s existing police station next summer.

This is due to start in the autumn.

The plans also include making new working/break-out spaces in the former bar area, adding a new I.T. help desk as well as updating the Bay Window and Neville rooms.

The new location already houses Fire and NHS partners and will provide modern facilities replacing the current station which is no longer fit for purpose.

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT The refurbishment of the station is now underway with officers having

DIGITAL IS THE NEW FRONT LINE OF POLICING THE Digital Investigation and Intelligence Unit celebrated its first birthday in September with the news that the PCC will be funding further posts in 2019/20.

“More and more criminality is being carried out from people’s front rooms on a laptop – modern day policing needs to reflect this and our DIIU is testimony to that.

The biggest job the team has investigated this year has been Operation Zagros - the pair jailed after accessing CCTV footage of footballer Emiliano Sala’s postmortem (see full story on page 5).

Angus said: “This is proof that the DIIU works and is needed in this fastpaced world of cybercrime.

Page 16 | Autumn 2019

Sherry Bray

Christopher Ashford

“There are more exciting things which the team want to develop into next year, including the introduction of Digi-dogs (dogs which can detect digital devices like phones and computers) and improved software to detect cryptocurrency and vehicle crimes.

“In this fast-moving world of cybercrime we can’t afford to stand still for a moment and the DIIU are hot on cybercrime prevention as well as keeping abreast – almost daily - of the latest cybercrime trends.”

PCC NEWS

MINIATURE HEROES OVER the summer, Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson welcomed more than 20 schoolchildren to Police HQ to introduce them to some real-life heroes.

Last year, the class was learning about heroes and one of the children made a card for Mr Macpherson identifying him as a local hero.

They also spent time with Fleet, learning about the behind the scenes work that goes into getting police vehicles on the road and had a tour around a prisoner transport van.

COURT ON VIDEO THE OPCC has commissioned two videos to highlight the support Horizon provides for witnesses who are called to court.

In return the PCC, who had dedicated the card to Wiltshire’s officers and staff, invited the whole class to visit so they could learn about what officers do to keep the children, and their communities, safe.

Finishing the day with PCSO Al Byrne and Crime Prevention Manager Pippa McVeigh, the schoolchildren learnt about evidence collection and investigations by trying to identify a biscuit thief.

They spent some time quizzing Chief Constable Kier Pritchard and the PCC on whether the police know where all the robbers in the world are and how handcuffs are used when arresting people.

Following their visit, the children wrote letters of thanks to Angus, some citing him as an inspiration.

Angus said: “Going to court can be a daunting experience for witnesses, victims and even those accused and Horizon asked me to pay for two videos which can be played to witnesses before they go to give evidence.

“The videos have now been made and are ready to be used along with other material to support witnesses and victims.”

On receiving the letters, Angus Macpherson said: “It was a delight to host this class. They were all very interested in the work of the police, many expressing an interest in becoming officers themselves one day.

Later they joined Sgt Chris Palframan and PC Cindy Hargreave to learn about what the police dogs do and meet PD Echo - with many of the children deciding they wanted to be dog handlers when they grew up!

“It was fun and informative - for them as well as me.

“A number are also considering joining the Mini Police scheme, when they can, which is good news as this project offers primary school children the opportunity to build positive relationships with the local police team as well as helping their school and wider community. Basically, it encourages good citizenship.

“I was extremely moved by all the thank you letters, everyone was heartfelt and it shows that the majority of youngsters are interested in looking after their world and one another.”

Autumn 2019 | Page 17

IN FOCUS

LET’S GET DIGITAL Firstbeat takes a look at the future of digital services for Wiltshire Police.

IN May, we launched a service on the Wiltshire Police website to allow the public to report non-emergency incidents online.

After some initial triage questions, to direct people to more appropriate channels or partner agencies where required – the online crime reporting tool takes the user through a similar series of questions that would be asked through 101, and then sends a report to the CCC, which is then THRIVE assessed before being processed.

Since launch, the service has been used over 500 times, with 62% of reports recorded as crimes, and a significant number of storm and intelligence logs created. While online crime reporting is not expected to reduce demand, it does allow the CCC to process reports in quieter time, helping to better manage demand.

And initial analysis suggests that an online report takes less time to process than a 101 report.

“Online Crime Reporting (OCR) is a step into the digital age,” says John Flynn, head of contact management. “It gives victims an alternative to 101, and means that we can manage demand at a suitable time once it has been through an initial THRIVE assessment.

“On the whole, OCR has been really positive. The volume of reports are increasing, showing that the public and businesses are happy to switch to this new channel, and I am certain it will continue to grow as the public become more aware of it.”

SINGLE ONLINE HOME But online crime reporting is not just about launching a new service. It’s part of the work the Force needs to do to prepare for a major national digital project coming to Wiltshire next year.

Single Online Home (SOH) – part of the Digital Public Contact programme – aims to deliver a standard web platform for policing across the UK. Although every force will have a home page with local content, news and

Page 18 | Autumn 2019

advice, the digital services being built on SOH (see boxed out area) will be managed and maintained centrally, giving the public across the UK a consistent experience in accessing digital services.

The plan is for Wiltshire to move to SOH in August 2020.

“The work we need to do for SOH is about business change rather than technology,’ says Clare Mills, SRO for Single Online Home. “These services will affect lots of teams around the Force to varying degrees, and we want to make sure that people are prepared and ready for when these digital services come online.

“As online crime reporting is one of the biggest services to be delivered by SOH, it made sense to launch it early on our own website, so that we could prepare the CCC, understand the process change, engage the public and smooth out any issues before SOH is launched.

“The good news is that several of the other SOH services are already on our current website, so the changes to these teams are going to be minimal.

And the lessons we’ve learnt from launching crime reporting will be invaluable when we introduce some of the other services.

“All in all, I think we’re in a good place to manage these changes before SOH goes live next year.”

SOH is already live in a number of forces, including Hampshire and Thames Valley, two of the pilot forces for the programme.

Online Crime Recording is available at: www.wiltshire.police.uk/Report_a_ crime.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE? Some of the digital services being offered by Single Online Home include: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Online crime reporting RTC reporting ASB reporting Firearms licensing and renewals Clare’s Law Lost / found property Intellectual property licenses Request collision report Notification to film Processions / event notifications Possible terrorist activity Street and charity collections Criminal injury compensation authority Pedlars certificate Overseas visitors registration Data protection requests Fingerprint requests Freedom Of Information request Misconduct hearings Complaints, thanks and feedback, Contact Us.

IN FOCUS

MY STRANGEST SHIFT: ‘Double tragedy in Swindon’ POLICING is a job like no other. You go through highs and lows but there are some incidents that stay with you forever.

You never know what is round the corner. The next call that comes in could stick with you for the rest of your life.

One of the most hard-hitting shifts for Detective Sergeant James Newbery came a few years ago when he was working on Swindon CID. What initially started as a welfare concern at a house in West Swindon, quickly unveiled a harrowing story of decline and a point of no return.

this moment, it was too meticulously organised.

“It was such a sad situation. What had gone on in their lives for them to feel that this was their only way out?

“I thought long and hard about sharing this story but I believe it can serve as a timely reminder that no matter how low we get in life, there is always another way out and things will get better.

“What had gone on in their lives for them to feel that this was their only way out?”

“Friends, family members and support services are always there to listen and help. Please tell someone.”

The Samaritans free helpline is available round the clock on 116 123.

We want to hear from you – got a shift that sticks in your mind? Something so out of the ordinary it’s hard to believe it ever happened? Email firstbeat@wiltshire. pnn.police.uk

“My colleague and I arrived at the house and we were immediately struck by how vacant it was,” recalls DS Newbery.

“The downstairs was completely empty; cleared of all furniture, belongings and food. It felt almost derelict. And at the same time, eerie.

“We made our way upstairs; I felt apprehensive and knew something wasn’t quite right. On certain jobs, you just get that gut feeling that all is not well. This was certainly one of them.

“I pushed the bedroom door ajar and was met by an image that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

“Two people, a married couple, were lying next to each other on the bed. It appeared to be a double helium suicide – something I had never heard of being done before.

“The bedroom turned out to be the only room in the house that had any belongings left in it. The bedside table was stacked full of paperwork, which included a suicide note and the couple’s wills.

“This wasn’t a spur of the moment thing. They had both planned for

Autumn 2019 | Page 19

IN FOCUS

Protecting our past

THIS summer the Rural Crime team launched Operation Apollo - the Force’s response to all aspects of heritage crime in Wiltshire.

Heritage crime is any offence that harms heritage assets and their settings and can be very costly to repair. The loss of historical artefacts can stop future generations from being able to enjoy them, and can have an impact on tourism and the livelihoods of those who depend on them for an income.

Operation Apollo focused on: ■ PREVENTION: Offering the best crime prevention advice to landowners, asset owners and management organisations including steps they can take to help prevent thefts, anti-social behaviour, illegal metal detecting, criminal damage and illegal off roading.

■ INTELLIGENCE: Improving the intelligence picture around heritage crimes by encouraging people to report all incidents, however small, to the police.

■ ENFORCEMENT: With good intelligence the police can target potential offenders through rural operations.

■ REASSURANCE: By working together with the public and taking a proactive approaching to tackling heritage crime we can hopefully reassure our rural communities by publicising action taken and results like arrests, seizures and convictions.

A number of officers across the Force recently received specific heritage crime training to help improve how we respond to incidents of this type.

We are asking the public to report any and all incidents of heritage crime to us, using the phrase ‘Operation Apollo’. Poor reporting means that we do not have an accurate picture of the issue and are unable to allocate resources appropriately.

Rural Crime Officer PC Emily Thomas said: “Wiltshire is a predominantly rural county and we are required to deal with some specific crime types that don’t affect urban areas. Heritage

Page 20 | Autumn 2019

Types of heritage crime include: crime is an excellent example of such a crime type.

“Operation Apollo will help us protect the wonderful history left by our ancestors in the many listed buildings and heritage sites around the county. We hope the public will help by acting as our eyes and ears and report all suspicious behaviour to the police by calling 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.”

More information about Operation Apollo can be found on the Rural Crime Team’s Firstpoint site.

If you need advice or support with a heritage crime, speak to your

■■ Nighthawking (illegal metal detecting) ■■ Treasure offences ■■ Criminal damage or arson ■■ Fly tipping ■■ Theft Areas affected include: ■■ Listed buildings ■■ Conservation areas ■■ Scheduled monuments ■■ Word Heritage sites ■■ Registered parks and gardens community policing team’s wildlife and heritage crime trained officers. A list of these can be found on the Rural Crime Team’s Firstpoint page.

Rural Crime Team takes to the skies THE Rural Crime Team have a new drone which will be exclusively used to tackle rural crime around the county. It was kindly funded by the National Farmers Union and Historic England.

Force Operations Superintendent Phil Staynings, who oversees the Rural Crime Team, said: “The Force is always looking for new ways to embrace technology to support operational policing and we are really grateful for this support and funding from our partners.

“Whereas the wider Force already has drone capability, this new

drone will be another excellent tool for tackling criminality that specifically affects our isolated rural communities.”

IN FOCUS

Spotting the signs of stalking IN 2016, Alice Ruggles was tragically murdered by her ex-partner. Alice’s expartner showed telling signs of stalking and harassment in the months that led up to her death.

Two officers from Northumbria faced disciplinary action after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found they had a case to answer for misconduct over their response to Alice.

It is vital stalking is taken seriously and lessons are learnt from Alice’s death.

Over the past year, a lot of work has been undertaken to improve Wiltshire Police’s response to stalking.

A Stalking and Harassment Hub, with all necessary information and support, has been created on Firstpoint and we are already seeing good examples of officers recognising stalking early on in an investigation.

The suspect was arrested and released on conditional bail – which he later breached. The breaches were correctly identified as a further course of conduct for a stalking offence.

consider the following:

The victim was kept up-to-date on developments throughout and support was provided.

If these behaviours are recognised within your investigation, then offences of stalking should be considered.

On 12 July 2019, the suspect pleaded guilty to one count of stalking at Salisbury Magistrates Court. He was given a community order, with an unpaid work requirement, and the court issued a restraining order.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills is the national policing lead for stalking and harassment. He said: “Both nationally and locally there has been a significant rise in stalking offences and this reflects increased focus by the police to encourage victims to come forward to ensure that these offences are properly identified, recorded and investigated.

Had this offence not been identified as stalking by the Stalking Champion, it is likely that the suspect would have continued to re-offend.

However, as the following example highlights, improvements still need to be made…

Back in March, an officer attended an address following a report that the victim’s ex-partner had driven down from Scotland to sit outside her house.

The attending officer gave “strong words of advice” to the suspect and subsequently the log was closed.

Fortunately, after viewing the PPD1, one of the recently identified Stalking Champions picked this up as a stalking offence. They were concerned by the pattern of escalating behaviour and further lines of enquiry were identified.

Remember; stalking is different to harassment in that it relates to fixation and obsession, rather than nuisance behaviour.

In order to establish if you have a stalking offence or not, it is useful to

F – Fixated O – Obsessive U – Unwanted R – Repeated

“We all have an obligation to highlight the impact that stalking offences have on victims and we are encouraging anyone who believes they are subject of ongoing ‘Fixated, Obsessive, Unwanted and Repeated’ behaviour to come forward so we can work with them to keep them safe.”

Stalking offences often develop from other offences that have initially been tagged as harassment and/or malicious communications.

Victims will often report a number of offences before a stalking offence is recognised. Once a stalking offence is confirmed, evidence gathered from previous reports should be used to develop a clear timeline.

For more information, including contact details of the Stalking and Harassment Champions in your area, please visit the Stalking and Harassment Hub on Firstpoint.

Time to develop - a focus on Coaching “Every day is a school day” - a mantra we have all heard and now that can be put into practice at Wiltshire Police.

Coaching and mentoring, a service offered to all officers and staff, is designed to support anyone who wants help to develop.

There is currently a team of qualified coaches available in the Force to offer free coaching to anyone who wants it.

However, the team will be boosted in the future as a group of new coaches is currently being trained.

Det Sgt Lawrence Billi, course organiser, said: “Coaching is the process of helping an individual to improve themselves by facilitating their own thinking and fostering and understanding how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are learnt and can be changed.

“It is a way to enable others to enhance their professional

performance through conversation and reflection.

“The Chief Constable fully endorses this, seeing it as a real opportunity for every one of us working in the police.

“The current intake of 16 new coaches will be available to work with you in the near future as they become qualified. Watch this space.”

You can find out more about coaching on Firstpoint – go to the People Development page and click on Coaching Site.

Autumn 2019 | Page 21

IN FOCUS

TOASTING OU

MORE than 100 guests celebrated the bravery, dedication and hard work of police officers, staff, volunteers and members of the public at the latest Wiltshire Police Awards Ceremony.

This prestigious event, which was held at Casterley Barn, near Pewsey, saw 42 recipients take to the stage to receive their awards.

The ceremony was overseen by Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills and assisted by new Assistant Chief Constables Mark Cooper and Maggie Blyth.

Distinguished guests included PCC Angus Macpherson, Deputy PCC Jerry Herbert, Vice Lord Lieutenant Mr William Wyldbore-Smith and High Sheriff Mr David Scott.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard opened the ceremony. He said: “I am always full of admiration for the recipients of these awards. They are brave, public spirited and extremely dedicated whether they form part of the Force or have helped us as members of the local community.

“This ceremony was an exceptional one because we were joined by more members of the public than ever before.

People who had gone that extra mile to make their community a safer place to live in.”

And PCC Angus Macpherson added: “As Commissioner, I always feel really proud to hear the great work that is going on around the Force and out in our communities. The ceremony is a brilliant opportunity to recognise the bravery, dedication and hard work of the people we work alongside, as well as members of the public who deserve to be recognised for their outstanding actions.”

L to R: PC Rachel Barnett, PC Helen Khezrzadeh and PC Harriet Matthews

L to R: PC Paul Bezzant, Di Powell, Rob Faulkner and PS David Tippetts

L to R: Hannah Wolfe, Brad Fitzgerald, CC Kier Pritchard and Antony Wolfe

L to R: T/DS Mark Lewis, DI Paul Franklin, CC Kier Pritchard, DC Madeleine Hennah and DS Lucy Thorne

Hayden Pinsent and Taylor Squire with CC Kier Pritchard

ROLL OF HONOUR LONG SERVICE AWARD Tina Opie PC Leslie Fletcher PC Lucy Wileman

CHIEF CONSTABLE’S CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE DI Paul Franklin (Op Wainwright)

CHIEF CONSTABLE’S CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

DS Lucy Thorne (Op Wainwright)

Di Powell

T/DS Mark Lewis (Op Wainwright)

Rob Faulkner

DC Iain Crouch

DC Madeleine Hennah (Op Wainwright)

Hayden Pinsent

PS Annie Pursey

Alison Gosling (Op Wainwright)

Taylor Squire

D/Supt Deborah Smith SPC Louise Carter SPC Richard Warren EXCELLENCE IN PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Danielle Pearson (Op Wainwright) Adrian Richey (Op Wainwright) Andrew Stephenson (Op Wainwright) John Flynn Insp Mark Wilkinson

PC Paul Bezzant

CHIEF CONSTABLE’S COMMENDATION

PS David Tippetts

PC Scherene Clarke

OUTSTANDING TEAMWORK AWARD PC Rachel Barnett PC Helen Khezrzadeh PC Harriet Matthews

Page 22 | Autumn 2019

Brad Fitzgerald Ian Fitzgerald Antony Wolfe Hannah Wolfe Ian Harris (CPS legal team) Sarah Cartwright (CPS legal team)

PCSO Marcin Kozak

Amanda Sawetz (CPS legal team)

PCSO Kuy Harrison

Hannah Squire (CPS legal team)

PC Nathan Martin

Mark Bayada (Chief Instructor NAPA*)

SPC Richenda Sheehan

Major General Paul Cain (Chairman NAPA*)

PC Christopher Miller

* NAPA: Netheravon Army Parachute Association

IN FOCUS

UR TOP TALENT CC Kier Pritchard and DI Mark Wilkinson

L to R: PC Nathan Martin, CC Kier Pritchard and SPC Richenda Sheehan

PC Lucy Wileman

PC Leslie Fletcher

Tina Opie

John Flynn receiving his award

L to R: Sarah Cartwright, Ian Harris, CC Kier Pritchard, Hannah Squire and Amanda Sawetz

DC Iain Crouch and his wife Lorraine

Special Constable Louise Carter and her husband

L to R: Major General Paul Cain, CC Kier Pritchard and Mark Bayada

L to R: Andrew Stephenson, Alison Gosling, CC Kier Pritchard, Danielle Pearson and Adrian Richey

D/Supt Deb Smith

PCSO Marcin Kozak receives his award

Our next awards ceremony takes place on Tuesday 17 December 2019 Autumn 2019 | Page 23

IN FOCUS

From special to serg - four decades of po

BY KATIE BOND Media Officer

HAVING left school with not a single qualification to his name, Martin Alvis was set for a life on the farm where he’d grown up near Malmesbury.

But a few years later, his parents sold the farm where he was working and a new career beckoned.

“I worked on the farm until I was 21, but when it was sold I never thought I’d join the police – I was naïve and lived a sheltered life. I had no idea about the things that went on in towns like Swindon,” he said.

In 1988, Martin joined the Special Constabulary and was inspired to become a regular by the officers he volunteered alongside. “I saw what they were doing and I thought ‘I could do that’.”

He was sworn in on the stage at Malmesbury Town Hall by the Chairman of the Magistrates and then spent two years as a regular in Chippenham before he was moved to Malmesbury for 12 years. From there, he moved back to Chippenham where he helped implement the Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

His next move took him to Royal Wootton Bassett and he worked with Steve Cox, who was Inspector for the area at the time.

“I had some of the most enjoyable times of my career in Bassett,” Martin said. “I built up a really good rapport with the community I was working with.

“As a team, we made a massive difference in the area, virtually stamping out anti-social behaviour Page 24 | Autumn 2019

and reducing crime by 50 per cent. It was amazing what the team achieved.

“Like with most places, there were a handful of individuals responsible for committing the majority of crime, and we were able to do some ground work with partner agencies which worked really well.”

One of the biggest and most important jobs for the team during this time was the repatriations of fallen service personnel from RAF Lyneham through Wiltshire and on to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The town would later receive its Royal title in recognition of the way it honoured the fallen.

Martin said: “Organising the repatriations was very moving and very humbling. Unless you took part in them, it is hard to believe what it was like.

“It was an honour to be able to do it for so many families who had lost loved ones. While it was a massive thing to organise and required a lot of resources, we made it work. It was one of those things that brought us all together.”

In 2014, Martin was told his next move would be to custody in Melksham.

When the news hit the local community of Malmesbury, residents launched a petition addressed to the then Chief Constable Pat Geenty, asking for Martin to remain in the town heading up the NPT – a position he had held for nearly seven years.

The petition cited Martin’s regular and innovative use of social media to communicate to residents as one of the many reasons they wanted him to stay, as well as his help in reducing crime in the area.

“The petition had over 500 signatures, which was lovely to hear,” said Martin.

“Even people I had arrested over the years had signed it, which was quite touching really.

“People loved the work I did on Facebook – of course it wasn’t used as much then as it is nowadays and people seemed to really enjoy the regular updates we would give.”

Moving to custody was a move

IN FOCUS

geant olicing

“I’ve been to suicides of those I’ve known, I’ve been first on the scene of road traffic collisions and I’ve known the person involved.

“Those stretches of road or addresses always stick in your mind and whenever you drive past you remember exactly what you dealt with at the scene all those years ago. The support in place for officers now is so much better than what we used to have.

that Martin wasn’t particularly looking forward to, but it turned out to be one of his best yet.

“I loved the community interaction I had in Malmesbury so I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it,” he said.

“However, I’ve really enjoyed my time in custody. It’s strengthened my knowledge in law and PACE. “It’s been massively

challenging but I have enjoyed it.

Custody is very unique within the organisation.

“We are there to ensure that the law is followed to the tee - our decisions sometimes go against that of the investigating officer but we do it because we have to do it and that has been my biggest challenge – ensuring the law is applied fairly and ensuring a person’s time in custody is kept to a minimum.

“Negotiating has also been a really important part of my career, I’ve done it for 10 years. To go home from a shift and say you’ve saved someone’s life by talking them down from a building or a chaotic situation is incredibly rewarding.”

Two of Martin’s children have now followed in his footsteps, with Elliot a PC in Chippenham and Monty joining as a PCSO the day before his dad retired.

“Taking away someone’s liberty is a big thing to do. We should never take that decision lightly because it can have a massive impact on the person and their family.”

With a career in the police now spanning across four decades which has seen him get through over 200 pocket notebooks, the list of memorable incidents is pretty lengthy, but it’s often the fatalities that stick with you, according to Martin.

“The first child death I went to was one of the most difficult calls,” he said. “The baby that had tragically died had been in the same hospital ward as my first child so I’d met them recently.

“That was really sad. When you live and work in the same area, you find that you will often get called to incidents involving people you know and that can be really hard.

“It’s really good they’ve decided to join the police – they made their own choices and I’m pleased for them – it’s an amazing job,” said Martin.

“When you get chosen to be a police officer, you get chosen for who you are, so you shouldn’t change when you put on that uniform.

“Don’t be someone different, it takes all sorts of people from all walks of life to make up the police family. It’s important we keep our individual identities and don’t become a big corporate organisation.

“My advice to any new officers would always be to treat people how you would like to be treated – just because someone has made a mistake it doesn’t mean you should speak to them with disrespect.

Martin and his son Elliot

“It can become easier with time - the more experience you have in life, the easier it is to understand where people have fallen down.”

Autumn 2019 | Page 25

NOSTALGIA

Pressed to impress In addition to the uniform itself, the way it was presented was also constantly under scrutiny. All uniform had to be pressed properly with visible creases. Anyone who came into work without their uniform presented properly would be sent home.

From 2008, officers were issued the black wicking shirts to replace white shirts and ties, and since then, Wiltshire Police has gradually moved to the national patrol uniform which all of our officers wear today.

THE uniform and equipment provided to frontline officers has long been the subject of debate.

While the discussions today focus on taser or spithoods, back in the 1800s they would have revolved around when officers removed their capes in favour of a greatcoat or used a cutlass (a small sword), as opposed to a truncheon, to help detain an offender.

When Wiltshire Police was established in 1839, the uniform for police officers was similar to naval dress – comprising a coat, greatcoat, a cape, trousers, a hat and a stock (a close-fitting neck band).

Each officer was given a truncheon – which also acted as his warrant card – an oil lantern and a cutlass.

Helmets were not introduced until 1879 and whistles followed in 1908.

1908 also marked the first time that officers were accompanied by dogs on patrol - with the Chief Constable Colonel Sir Höel Llewellyn declaring Irish Terriers were more suitable than Airedales and later securing Bloodhounds for the force.

During the First World War, a shortage of police officers was remedied by using more volunteers from the special constabulary and the establishment

Page 26 | Autumn 2019

of the Women’s Auxiliary Police Corps to help with clerical and administrative tasks.

In 1919, flat caps were first issued to male officers and later that year the Mackintosh capes were introduced.

Then, in 1922, leather leggings were issued but were extremely unpopular due to them being very uncomfortable to wear.

At the time, Chief Constable Llewellyn declared: “During wet weather, leggings must be worn, for nothing looks worse than a police officer stepping about in the mud with his trousers turned up”.

In the 1980s women were only allowed to wear trousers on night shifts. If they were on duty in the day, they had to wear skirts, tights or stockings. They were given a stocking allowance to cover these expenses.

Their equipment consisted only of a small wooden baton which could fit into their skirt pockets or force-issued handbags.

It was widely accepted that the big rubber torches that were issued to all officers were more effective than the small batons women were given.

SPORTS

Charity challenge pushes pair to limit INSPECTOR Doug Downing and A/Inspector Lizzy Skey recently completed a gruelling 200-mile cycle ride, 100-mile walk and 50-mile row – all in aid of Julia’s House.

Julia’s House offers respite for families in Dorset and Wiltshire who look after sick children.

“We started the challenge in Cockermouth in the Lake District,” said Insp Downing. “The first day comprised of a 200-mile cycle ride, non-stop, towards Birmingham.

“We arrived in Birmingham, tired and sore, but there was no time to rest.

After a quick change of clothes, it was onto the next leg of the challenge.

initially left Cockermouth. However, this still wasn’t the end of the challenge.

“I initially thought the walking leg would be the easiest part and, to start with, it certainly felt like this would be the case. However, I did not plan for the constant pounding pain that soon developed – any old injury, or niggle that I had picked up on the cycle ride, quickly surfaced and made each step feel like I was dragging a ton of weight.

“The final leg was a 50-mile indoor row that we shared amongst the whole team. We managed to complete this in just over an hour and finally, it was time to rest and sleep”.

“In what seemed like an eternity, we arrived in Devizes at 12pm on Monday 27 May, 51 hours after we

Doug, Lizzy and the team raised an outstanding £6,345 for Julia’s House.

The money raised will go a long way in supporting families whose child has a very serious medical condition, which can be life limiting or life threatening.

UNITED WE RIDE A group of Wiltshire Police officers and staff pedalled their way to raising almost £4,000 in memory of police officers who have died in the line of duty.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills led the group of 15 cyclists and six support staff on the three-day, 180 mile journey from Police Headquarters in Devizes to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire back in July.

They were joined by more than 300 cyclists from police forces across the UK for a memorial service on the final day.

DCC Mills said: “This is the seventh year

of the UK Police Unity Tour and I was honoured to have once again led the Wiltshire chapter on this challenge, which always proves to be an emotional and humbling experience for everyone who takes part.

“Every year we are reminded of the tremendous sacrifice given by so many of our colleagues from across the country, and here in Wiltshire it is an opportunity to reflect on the life of one of our own - PC Dan Cooper, who sadly died while on duty on 1 February 2010.

“Now, more than ever, it is important that all police officers and staff, as well as the wider public, acknowledge the ever-present dangers and risks of modern-day policing, and pay tribute

to those who have lost their lives while protecting the public.”

The purpose of the UK Police Unity Tour is to raise funds for Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a UK charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives on duty.

Last year the Wiltshire chapter raised more than £8,000 for COPS, while the total across the country was more than £200,000.

You can still donate to the team by logging onto www.justgiving.com/ teams/WiltsPUT19.

Autumn 2019 | Page 27

Submit a photo you have taken at work for the Wiltshire Police Instagram by emailing digital@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk

That’s Summer Solstice done for another year đ&#x;‘‹ đ&#x;Œ… it passed peacefully with people enjoying the occasion. Hope all that came had a good time. #solstice #summersolstice#wiltshirepolice

Wow đ&#x;‘€ Superb shot taken by PC Aaron Pediham of the Red Arrows flying over Salisbury City Centre for Salisbury Armed Forces Day. You may also notice HRH helicopter too! đ&#x;‘Œđ&#x;‘Žâ™‚ď¸? đ&#x;š #SalisburyAFD #armedforcesday

One of our wonderful vintage police cars đ&#x;š”, the Austin. They still scrub up okay đ&#x;˜?.

đ&#x;?ş After attending a minor traffic collision this week, two of our Bradford On Avon Officers got to meet this cute baby wolf đ&#x;˜?! Policing really is a job like no other. #swoon

Salisbury Team 4 PCs Turner & Elliot got into a bit of ‘bubble trouble’ during a visit to the #BubbleRush event at Hudson’s Field.

A number of our officers who recently went over to Portsmouth to assist with the D-day 75th anniversary event were kindly invited aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. đ&#x;š“đ&#x;š¨ đ&#x;›ł

đ&#x;˜ƒ Big smiles yesterday as we handed over a cheque for ÂŁ4,357.31 to Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group đ&#x;Ž‰ Sophie, photographed with Roy Perrett from the CCC, and her mum Kim who is the chair of the Swindon Group picked up the cheque.

đ&#x;Ž‰đ&#x;š“ It is now illegal to injure a police dog or horse. They are such an important part of our policing family đ&#x;’™ and offer so much support to operational policing with their amazing skill sets. It definitely gets a paws up from Police Dog Chiko here đ&#x;‘? #FinnsLaw

For our latest student officers, who’ve just begun their policing careers, it’s been hats off to Training Sergeant Mark Smith, who retires today after 28 years service, and hats on to Sergeant Annie Pursey who takes up the reins in the training school. đ&#x;‘Žâ™‚ď¸?đ&#x;‘Žâ™€ď¸?đ&#x;š“

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