PW_1_2019

Professional Development

Gang Tattoos and Forged Passports Steve Bretherton

As the VP with liaison responsibility for Gimborn, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that this October’s seminar on Organised and Gang Related Crime was my first visit to the castle. Still, better late than never. I now realise what a great opportunity I missed out on for all those years.

I was one of 23 participants at this English and Polish seminar who enjoyed a five-day programme of talks and hands on activities. Russian prison tattoos and identifying forged passports were just two of the informative and entertaining presentations given by experts, including officers from police and Home Office units. Other talks included subjects as diverse as Polish phone scams and cross border traveller crime. Co-facilitated by President Clive Wood, the seminar drew participants from around the world, attracting members from Ireland, Germany, Slovenia and Australia, as well as Poland and the UK. It wasn’t all about work though. The Polish participants provided a mouth- watering selection of meats, cheeses, pâtés and of course, vodka to share in the Tower bar one evening. In return, we treated our Polish colleagues to English regional cheeses and a selection of Scottish and Irish whiskeys. Oh, and our Australian friend contributed a tube of Vegemite – the Aussie version of Marmite. I’m not quite sure what the Poles made of that. Throwing out a challenge to the new chef at the Schloss Hotel, Clive asked if he could give us a traditional British meal one night. Sure enough, we were treated to what must be a Gimborn first; fish, chips and mushy peas served in newspaper. Using my experience as a first-time visitor, I’ve produced a Gimborn FAQs document, which covers everything from how to apply for a place on a seminar to how the honesty bar works. These FAQs are now available on the Gimborn page of the national website.

The full seminar list for 2019 is now available from the Section UK website. Remember that, like me, you don’t have to be a serving police officer to visit Gimborn, nor do you have to have knowledge of the seminar subject. Retired officers and staff with a desire to learn will get just as much out of a visit to this wonderful place as anyone else. Don’t forget that Section UK will pay up to £200 towards the seminar fees and that many branches and regions provide financial assistance with travel costs. This may have been my first visit to Gimborn but it won’t be my last. I am facilitating a seminar in October next year entitled ‘Virtual Reality Training for Emergency Services’ – a chance to get hands on with some VR kit and to find out how VR is going to change training for police in the future. For more information about Gimborn visit the Section UK Gimborn page or contact VP Steve Bretherton at Gimborn-uk-liaison@ipa-uk.org

POLICE WORLD Vol 64 No. 1, 2019

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