PW_1_2022

SWOOP wearing his Police Scotland uniforn

IPA News

At the Tram Museum

Swooping Around You will see elsewhere in Police World , that Swoop, and his Handler Andy Marshal, have been brushing up their Defensive Tactics at Gimborn.

The Gala Dinner at Bredbury Hall

Swoop went straight from Gimborn to put his new skills into action at the COP26 event in Scotland. Then it was back to Germany, for an attachment with Bavarian Police. He’s off to The USA at the end of this month, then on a slightly delayed departure to Kenya. Swoop has also pencilled in a trip to The Gambia in March, delivering ambulances with the Op Zephyr team.

Rochdale Branch, Carries on Regardless Neil Baldwin , Rochdale Branch Rochdale Branch was officially formed at a Regional Meeting at Durham Castle in October 1991, when Neil Baldwin and Frank Pearson asked for permission to start a branch at Rochdale. Our plans were assisted by Andy Green, the then Regional Secretary, and Frank Burrows, from Manchester Central Branch. This was agreed, and was ratified at the National Council meeting in May 1992, so we were up and running. As we approached our 30th Anniversary in March 2020, we contacted several hotels, and opted for the Copthorne Hotel in Salford Quays, for our Anniversary Event. Covid has affected many events, and it was about to affect ours in an unexpected way. HM Government block booked all the rooms in the Copthorne Hotel, to accommodate people returning from red list countries. At quite short notice, this looked like it might prevent us holding our Anniversary Weekend. We had booked the hotel through a company called Rooms4Groups, who I cannot praise highly enough. They found us alternative accommodation at the Bredbury Hall Hotel, in Stockport. This hotel was undergoing an expensive makeover, which made it a very nice place to stay. Our thanks go to Rooms4Groups, for their hard work in finding the alternative hotel at short notice, a job well done. Covid restrictions did still affect our overseas guests, who were unable to travel. But we did welcome 59 people from different corners of the UK to Stockport. The changed arrangements also meant that some people arrived early, or left later than planned, adding to the organisational tasks. Well done to Frank and Margaret Pearson, for keeping on top of this. On Thursday 23rd September, we welcomed everyone to the hotel and had a very pleasant Lancashire themed evening, with a meal and entertainment (not bad to say the hotel was in Cheshire). From Friday onwards, we embarked on a programme of activities, which are described elsewhere in Police World, by our guest John Weeks, from Avon & Somerset Branch. At our gala evening on Monday, President Clive Wood, presented Rochdale member Duncan Warren, with a 20 year membership award. Frank Pearson was also presented with a Presidential Award, for all his hard work in the organisation of the weekend. We then spent the rest of the evening being well entertained by the group Feelgood Factor. Any profit made on the weekend was intended for donation to the IPA charity the “Thin Blue Line”, and with a small donation from the branch, we were able to donate £2000.

SWOOP meets the Bavarian Chief of Police

SWOOP in Germany

SWOOP tries some local refreshment at COP26

Crich Tram Museum

SWOOP at COP26

Swooping into Germany

At the Tram Museum

POLICE WORLD Vol 67 No.1, 2022

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