The first steps towards scrapping the stop and account form currently used by UK police services – and measures which will save an estimated 450,000 hours of police time each year – have been taken by the new Government.
The Tory-Lib Dem axis’ proposals will also reduce the amount of information officers are required to take as part of the stop and search process. In future, seven items will need to be recorded rather than 12. This will save around 350,000 hours of police time each year.
Policing minister Nick Herbert said: “We’re determined to free police officers from unnecessary red tape so that they have more time for frontline duties and responding to the real concerns of their communities.”
He added: “Scrapping the stop and account form and reducing the box ticking around stop and search will free up to 800,000 hours of police time.”
The latest figures show that, in 2008-2009, more than 2.2 million stop and account incidents were recorded. In the same period, there were more than 1.5 million searches conducted.
The issue will now be debated in the House of Commons, with the new proposals expected to take effect soon after those discussions are concluded.
Encouraging active and safer communities
The Government’s new champion for active, safer communities has begun her programme of work and launched a new blog.
Inspirational community activists are being called upon to spread their good work by Baroness Helen Newlove, the coalition’s champion for active and safer communities.
The Baroness is now working with ministers to encourage local people, businesses and frontline workers (including the police) to play their part.
Her role will involve:
Local power over policing priorities
“We want to start inspiring people all round the country to get involved by showcasing the excellent work already done and freeing people to take part,” said Baroness Newlove.
“The Government is creating the right environment for community-level activity to flourish by giving local people power over policing priorities and ending top-down Government.”
However, the Baroness continued with a note of caution: “For a real revolution to happen, we need all the existing groups to help spread their success far and wide. If every group already doing good work now helps another we will see a real cultural shift.”
As part of her remit, Baroness Newlove will travel around the country visiting areas with strong community engagement.
In the coming weeks, around six neighbourhoods across the country facing real challenges will be chosen to act as a ‘test bed’ for galvanising local services to join forces with communities and tackle problems together.
Home Secretary Theresa May commented: “Baroness Newlove brings a wealth of experience to this important new role that really is at the vanguard of community empowerment. I look forward to seeing the results of her work which will help us all build safer and more confident communities which are free from crime and anti-social behaviour.”
The new blog, entitled: ‘Helen Newlove: encouraging active, safer communities’, will include updates on the Baroness’ visits and features on community projects to help inspire people around the country.
It will also feature guest posts from projects and people who have made a real difference in their areas.
Check out the blog by accessing the link on the right hand panel of this page
Rapson takes on Registrar General’s role
Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service, Sarah Rapson, has been appointed as the new Registrar General for England and Wales.
In turn, Rapson becomes the nineteenth individual to take the post since the civil registration of births, deaths and marriages began in England and Wales in 1837.
Rapson commented: “It’s a great honour to be asked to take on this historic role. I look forward to working with partners in local Government to ensure that the General Register Office continues to deliver the best service possible to our customers while maintaining and developing the national record of civil registration events.”
The Registrar General is appointed by Her Majesty The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister to act as the head of the General Register Office (GRO).
In post, Rapson will make the regulations that govern the duties of local registrars and the registration processes. By law, she’s required to create and make publicly available a free index of registration records of births, deaths and marriages for searching purposes and to issue certificates on request for a prescribed fee.
GB pound 40,000 worth of cocaine found in birthday card
Cocaine worth up to GB pound 40,000 has been found in a birthday card by UK Border Agency officers.
The card containing the class A drug was posted in South Africa and intercepted by officers in Belfast on its way to an address in Glengormley.
The drug, which weighed just 110 grams, has an estimated street value of up to GB pound 40,000 when cut with other substances.
Maggie Eyden, UK Border Agency assistant director in Northern Ireland, said: “Our officers are on constant alert to keep drugs and other banned substances out of the UK. Drugs devastate lives and communities, and my officers at the UK Border Agency, along with colleagues from other law enforcement agencies, are determined to stop them reaching our streets.”
A 21-year-old woman was arrested last Thursday at an address in Glengormley. She was later released on bail pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling is urged to call the UK Border Agency Hotline on 0800 59 5000
