May 2013
1 post
Could you help us to make a difference ?
Operation Accent is a year old this week and we have been looking to see what has gone well, what we could do better and what we could do differently.
At the heart of the operation is a team of dedicated and motivated people, many of whom do not work for Sussex Police.
Many are Outreach Workers who have great language skills and an ability to put people at their ease.They have worked with us to...
April 2013
1 post
Hitting the target but missing the point
I could sit here bathing in the substantial crime reduction that we have achieved in Arun but I won’t .Community safety is so much more subtle than that.
What do you mean I hear some say ? Well we have had 1274 fewer reported crimes on Arun, with a 25 % reduction in burglary and similar reductions across the board on various crime types but that’s not good enough in my...
March 2013
2 posts
Ten years on .. PCSO's the foundation of...
Ten years ago I know exactly what I was doing this weekend ; Photocopying handouts and doing all sorts of things getting ready to welcome the first PCSO’s into Sussex.
Initially funded by the Home Office for 3 years, I wonder where we would be today if it weren’t for our PCSO’s, some of the most highly motivated people we have working within the Policing Family.
As a newly...
February 2013
1 post
Op Accent a year on .. It's here to stay that's...
A couple of weeks ago we reviewed what we had achieved under the Operation Accent banner. Around the table were sat a number of really motivated people who over the past year have just got on and worked together, engaged with partners and the Eastern European Community and achieved some notable successes.
I am very talkative, but I made the effort to really listen to what they were saying and saw...
January 2013
1 post
Policing with consent and led by community...
Today has been a day that has reinforced for me and the various departments and partners what can be done to support our communities within Arun and by the communities in Arun.
All of these examples have been referred to in press releases but I wanted to reflect on what that really means. Some of the incidents still have ongoing proceedings so I am not able to discuss the details . If you take a...
December 2012
3 posts
This is what it's all about
We have an ongoing programme of surveying victims of crime and ASB asking a number of questions one of which is as below .. This is a very positive one of several I read today ..
Q What is it that makes you feel satisfied/dissatisfied with how you were kept informed of the progress?
A Because they couldn’t do any more than they did. They phoned me to say the person involved is...
A starter for ten ...
Arun District Police are currently recording a 13% reduction in recorded crime compared with the same period last year. This of course we welcome and to date this means 874 less victims of crime in our area.
Much of the police work we do is done in the background and to date this year we have completed over 60 evidential search warrants where the intelligence has proved sufficient for local...
November 2012
4 posts
5 tags
Investment fraud – Some things just aren’t worth...
As part of a national call to action, entitled The Devil’s in Their Details, government and the private sector have come together to advise investors of the steps they can take to identify and avoid investment scams. Action Fraud has teamed up with industry bodies including Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK), representing the banks and wider financial services sector, and regulators including...
Prevention Disruption or Detection ?Just do the...
For the past few months I have had the lead for the ‘prevent strand’ for rape and serious sexual offences, a force wide piece of work.What does that mean ? It means I try and bring together a number of agencies, partners and police apply some long term prevention tactics and increase reporting and prevent offences and reduce people’s vulnerabilities.
I have learnt a great...
Bognor's Op Accent on BBC TV South
BBC South Inside Out shows Operation Accent in action. Back in August Sussex Police opened their doors to the BBC South current affairs team. The film shows the work going on to help relations with the burgeoning Eastern European population in West Sussex. The crew went out on the streets with Sergeant Rachel Glenton who clearly demonstrates her passion for the work the force is doing....
September 2012
4 posts
First Stages Of The National Police Air service
Yesterday I attended a ceremony at Shoreham to recognise the work of the SEASU (South East Air Support Unit ) Consortium over the past 2 years and the roll out of the National Police Air Support Service in our region
Just over 4 years ago I joined our Operations Department to look after the Force Air Support Unit , the Specialist Search Unit and the Public Order and CBRN Training Unit.At that...
A reflection on the past 27 years as a Police...
Tomorrow a number of the people within this picture will be reflecting upon the 12th September 1985 , the day that we became police officers, swearing or affirming our allegiance to the Queen.
I thought that it might be worth reflecting on how the service has changed as I will not be able to join in on the SPP Live Event on the 13th due to a family bereavement.
Where to start - Firstly can you...
Tired but happy ..
Over the past few weeks there have been a number of demands on me and my time, my staff, the division and the Force as a whole. Off duty I love watching the Olympics and Paralympics but know the Police have had a very heavy part to play and that that has had an impact upon all of the Forces nationwide.
This time last year I was working in London as a Bronze Commander supporting the MPS in the...
August 2012
3 posts
It gets under your skin ..
I have been working on Arun since February 2011. Although in 1991 I worked as a Pc covering Littlehampton and Arundel we didn’t cover Bognor, so I never really got to see Bognor except when we went to assist colleagues at Butlins. So much has changed since then for me both personally and professionally but the objectives we have been set have not.
When I started as the District commander I...
Making a difference and restoring justice on Arun
On Wednesday 1 August, three boys were playing in a play park in Wick, Littlehampton. The park has been recently restored by the Community Payback team using a £1500 grant. Local community workers and residents have been spending many hours working with the community and the local Council in making the area a better place.
Fire damage was caused to the newly installed play facilities, but...
July 2012
3 posts
Why did I join the police ? A question some 26...
Over the past couple of months I have quietly challenged myself as to what my role is as the District Commander in Arun. This is because of a number of opposing demands and views from a variety of partners, councillors and the public that I have heard from and received feedback from following the launch of Operation Accent. Some of this is because of misinformation,some through lack of...
Half way through the year already..
I’m not sure where the last couple of weeks have gone. I have been really busy meeting with partners, on a 3 day course and trying to catch up with emails and calls.
On a personal note my eldest son has just finished his A levels and is now enjoying a few weeks off before the results are published. Hopefully he will be able to accept the offer from his first choice university in August.
...
June 2012
4 posts
Car crime a victimless crime ? I think not ...
It’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog and lots has been going on in Arun but I am focusing on vehicle crime within this blog..
Locally there have been a number of vans targeted for their tools with the callous offenders targeting hard working tradesman as they visited stores during the day to collect another tool, paint or a sandwich. The offenders have no idea what impact their...
Challenges For All Across Arun
On Monday morning I set off for work as usual and the first thing that was different was the sight of a car slewn across both carriageways of the A27 at the entrance to the Southwick Tunnel. It was raining hard and having seen Police en route and the driver out on the hard shoulder, I continued on my journey to Bognor along the A259. As I reached the Felpham I saw cars turning around so tried to...
Back to the ironing ..
The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy for me, not only focusing on Arun but also in the planning for the two protests in Brighton over the weekend and events linked to the Jubilee celebrations.
Sgt Glenton from Arun was asked to assist the Silver Commander for the Saturday operation in the final week leading up to the operation. She has a good understanding of public order operations...
Specials Activity on Arun in May
I have just opened up an email as to the hours and duties undertaken by Specials on Arun for May and they are really making a great contribution as you can see :
Total Hours - 355.5 What were they doing? Headline figures… Response Policing 134.5 District Priorities 71.25 NPT Events 27.5 Local Operations 22.75 DPA 16.5 Prevention 15.25 Anti Social Behaviour 7.75 Training 40.5
All...
May 2012
2 posts
Operation Accent
About 10 weeks ago I sat down with partners from Arun District Council and West Sussex County Council to discuss with them how we can get a better understanding of the Eastern European Community within Arun.
We had found that normal policing methods were not working and that I needed to find different ways of approaching it.
What worried me was the perception by a minority that the all the crime...
Starting To Get Busy
The first few weeks of the Policing year have been quite busy on Arun. Already we have seen a 10% reduction in crime in comparison to last year, specifically around burglary, criminal damage and theft from motor vehicles. Ok, I hear you say how many crimes does that equate to ? Just over 90 less victims, but please don’t be complacent and make sure you do all to prevent crime.
We have...
April 2012
7 posts
A Day Away From The Office
I spent today away from the office at Bognor and sadly missed the execution of a number of warrants across Littlehampton targeting those who supply and cultivate drugs and handle stolen property.I’m glad to say that the operation was in safe hands under the direction of DI Jones, Insp Bowman and Insp Webb.
A colleague of mine asked me if was frustrated by not being at the briefing - the...
Op Impact Update
Two months ago we started Operation Impact targeting those who deal in drugs , handle stolen property or commit crime within Arun .
Since then this operation with the assistance of staff from the Response Investigation Teams , our Professional Development Unit and Special Constables we have achieved the following :
In excess of 30 arrests, 115 stops and an additional 9 drug warrants...
Feedback Surveys
Just going through some feedback surveys, there is some room for improvement but the last one stated ‘I am satisfied overall because the police took me seriously, they did all they could and they were helpful. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them.’
Isn’t that what we all deserve ?
Policing Live Event
I’m not sure what other District Commanders expected from todays event. I wasn’t sure how popular it would be but was pleasantly suprised I have to say.
Today was spent at HQ and finished at the Amex. I have been away from Arun for a few days but thanks to IT solutions and the good old fashioned phone I have been in touch daily and able to see what has been going on.
Someone once said to me the...
Start Of Another Policing Year
The Policing year runs from the 1 st April until the 31st March and last Thursday I attended our Divisional Accountability Meeting at Crawley with colleagues from the other Districts within the Division. At that meeting we looked at our recent performance and the plans for the future year.
When I look back to this time last year the Division has undergone a number of changes, with the Police...
March 2012
6 posts
Humbled
A couple of weeks ago I posted a tweet about my decision to run the Brighton Marathon to support what I know as St Dunstan’s and has recently been renamed the Blind Veterans UK Charity.
I decided to do this for 2 reasons , firstly my eldest son worked there as a volunteer for a while and has learnt so much and shared his experiences with me, and secondly a great uncle of mine is a war...
Doing the right thing
Today, like many of my colleagues I attended an event on Human Trafficking. ACC Pinkney is the ACPO lead for this and the Force over the past few months has been looking at how we are, can and should be tackling it.
I listened to a number of presentations from a number of organisations including Stop The Traffiking, The Salvation Army, NSPCC and colleagues from other Forces. To think that it is...
Op Peapod Property Recovered /Update
You maybe aware that there were a number of burglaries over the new year in Bognor. I’m glad to say that Lukasz Ksiezopolski, 27, of Hawthorn Road, Bognor, has been charged with two counts of burglary from properties in Bedhampton and Bognor Regis, one count of attempted burglary in Angmering and two counts of fraud.
As part of the ongoing enquiry we have recovered a substantial amount...
It's all in the preparation
When I was growing up I used to wonder why my Dad spent so long preparing the woodwork before applying the undercoat and gloss coat.
Once the paintwork was done I could see why and it didn’t need redoing for a number of years.
The same goes for policing, both preplanned operations and normal day to day policing and problem solving.
Today we met to start planning for a Brighton home...
Time To Think Back To 3/3/2003.
A few years ago when I got promoted to Inspector I struggled to sit still in the meetings that I was expected to attend and didn’t appreciate the importance of those meetings.
Like a child I had to learn to concentrate and sit quietly and build strong relationships within those networks .My job at the time was to introduce PCSO’s into the Force and I spent alot time meeting...
February 2012
7 posts
Just a little bit further !!
I’m pleased to say I finished the extra long half in a respectable time.However at the time I didn’t think it was good,according to my watch I had run just over .4 of a mile further than I should have and I was not happy !! Thankfully with the adjustment I felt better .
I think I will look for new challenges next year, I have to say the crowds on the second half were very...
Very Nervous But Why !!!
I have been quite busy this week and suddenly realised I have to get up early tomorrow to run the Brighton Half Marathon. This will be my 5th half and is in preparation for the full Marathon in Brighton in April. As ever, I am very nervous but all I keep being told by my family is that you’ve done it before it ‘ll be easy. Really ?? So 13 .1 miles is nothing to be scared of ,the...
Well Done Michelle, Engagement At It's Best!!
I met with Kevin on Monday from one of our local newspapers . He wanted to do an item on my first year at Arun.
When I first joined the Police I was taught to be very suspicious and tell them nothing. Where did that come from ??
I think it was linked to the Police’s inability to trust the public and thinking we were the best thing since sliced bread!! We have come a long way but I...
What's special about being a Special ?
I have worked a split shift today to go back in tonight to attend a meeting with our Specials on the District to discuss our local plans and how they fit into the Force’s plans.
A few years ago as an Neighbourhood Policing Team Inspector in Hove I sat down with a highly motivated Sgt on the Professional Development Unit (PDU). I wanted to see if there was any scope for the PDU to not only...
Interesting Couple Of Days
For the past 2 days I have been at Lancashire Police Headquarters for the police marine and dive conference. So why am I at this conference and where does this fit into Policing?
Sussex has a Specialist Search Unit (known as the SSU) and they have a number of skills including dive and boating skills.They regularly support us on Arun in preplanned warrants,detailed searches in and out of the...
January 2012
8 posts
Launch Of Street Watch Today In Sussex
On a wet and windy morning we were joined at Littlehampton by the Assistant Cheif Constable, Mr Merrett, staff from the Neighbourhood Policing Team and 6 volunteers who have agreed to help us launch Street Watch.
Street Watch is new to Sussex but has been really successful across the country; asking volunteers to patrol local areas and identify any low level issues such as fly tipping,...
