PW_2_2024

IPA Section UK

Vol 69 No.2 2024

The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

www.ipa-uk.org

Police UK Disability Sport (PUKDS) See Page 29

International Police Association Section UK

Recycle & Recruit Please recycle your used copy of Police World

Entry Form Over Leaf

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Contents Police World The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

Vol 69 No.2 2024

Keeping You Informed 4–5 Keeping You Informed Clive Wood President of Section UK Professional Development 6

Editorial Neil Hallam e-mail: mail@neilhallam.com Deadline for article submission for Vol. 69 Edition 3, 2024 is 14 June 2024 Dispatched August 2024

Traffic Cones and an MP5: A Ride Along in Cologne James Wingate Hertfordshire Branch

06

Advertising Michele Rai tel: (+44) 115 981 3638 e-mail: michele.rai@ipa-uk.org

7

Bavarians Experience in London Simeon Coughlan, Sussex Branch

8

Penn State study experience in London, with help from IPA Hakan Can, professor of criminal justice at Penn State University A World of Learning (The Churchill Fellowship) Gareth Twigg, Devon & Cornwall Branch

General enquiries IPA HQ - Section UK, 1 Fox Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. NG2 6AJ tel: (+44) 0115 981 3638 e-mail: mail@ipa-uk.org Printed by Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth,

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Feature Articles 5 Brotherly Love

14

Henrik Ellert, Section UK (Resident in Denmark)

10

42 Years Service in the Special Constabulary Lorraine Woolley MBE Miami Vice in London Samuel Kendall, Essex Branch London Calling: Visitors from Wisconsin Sarah Charman, London North Branch

11

Hampshire PO6 1TR Graphic Design by BDS 21 Ltd Membership

12

Looking Back to the 80s David Smith, Wiltshire Branch Michael Mouse visits Cornwall Wilf Rickard, Cornwall Branch

In Section UK, the membership comprises serving and retired Police Officers, Special Constables and members of Police Staff employed by a Chief Constable or other appropriately designated Chief Officer. We also now offer associate membership. The Section has a unique mixture of police personnel who are still serving, retired, or in some instances, who have voluntarily resigned from the police service. For details of who can join Section UK, go to www.ipa-uk.org/Join-Us Join the IPA from £20. Visit the website to learn about our promotional offers. Annual renewal is £33. To apply either visit www.ipa-uk.org or request an application form from the general enquiries team. A guide to Region numbers 1 - Scotland Region 2 - Northern Ireland Region 3 - North of England including Isle of Man Region 4 - Wales Region 5 - Midlands Region 6 - Central and West London Region 7 - South & Southwest including the Channel Islands Region 8 - East Anglia Region 9 - Northern Home Counties and North and Northwest London Region 10 - Essex and East London Region 11 - Southern Home Counties and South London Region

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29

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Working the Red Carpet: Dinard Film Festival Lee Brodie, Central Scotland Branch

SIGs

15

A Canadian in London Darrin Gordon, Section Canada

Caravan & Camping SIG Family History Group Motorcycle SIG Police Educators Writers’ SIG Walkers’ Group Amateur Radio Section

16

Our Final (Highland) Fling David & Yvonne McGregor, Tayside Branch

28

Legends Never Retire: The remarkable story of Jeffrey Smith’s life of purpose Brian Kennedy, Publicity Officer, Region 2, Northern Ireland

News 18–21 News from around IPA Spotlight on the SIGs 25 Section UK Motorcycle SIG

Cover Photo Police UK Disability Sport (PUKDS), Gary Callier

Stuart McMillan, Secretary, Section UK Motorcycle SIG Out and about in Thailand Paul Black, Section UK Motorcycle SIG

Competition 25

Crossword and Soduko WIN one of these books by Richard Osman and Carla Valentine

Sports Page 29

Police UK Disability Sport (PUKDS) Gary Callier, British Transport Police Branch

Next deadline 14 June 2024 for publication August 2024

30 31

Classifieds

Diary

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ISSN No: 0032-261X

Keeping you informed

Keeping you informed Last time, I told you that the newly appointed International President, Martin Hoffmann, wanted to bring the new International Executive Board (IEB) to the UK and to Fox Road, for their first full board meeting. This was a great honour for us, and we hosted a successful few days. Much work was undertaken to develop and deliver the International Executive Board strategy for 2023 to 2027. You may well have seen this document elsewhere, as it has now been published. I hope you like what you see, as there are some fantastic initiatives.

T here is also a lot of hard work to come, in delivering a forward looking IPA, which meets the needs and wishes of members around the globe. A good number of UK members were awarded certificates at World Congress, which I collected on their behalf. I was delighted that many of the recipients were able to join us for lunch at Fox Road, where they received their certificates directly from the International President. I and other members of our National Executive, also presented members of the IEB with a keepsake of their visit; an engraved quaich.

I was asked to lead on a global app for our mobile phones, and had the first meeting of my project group recently. The President of Section Australia, Jason Brewer, has kindly agreed to lead the project team for me. So, one of us has to get up early or stay up late! As part of my wish of trying to be visible and supportive to the regional committees, I am looking forward to a visit, together with other members of the National Executive, to Region 5. Hopefully, we will have a lovely couple of days, working through any barriers to an effective relationship between ourselves and the Region, in the historic and picturesque city of Lincoln. It would be remiss of me not to mention here that my good friend and Branch Chair for Leicestershire and Regional treasurer for 5 Region has recently been quite poorly. Now recovering at home, I wish Tony all the very best both, as a friend and as a colleague in Region 5. I told you last time that I have instigated a procedure, where I write personally to members achieving significant milestones in membership, and of course any system is open to some errors. If you think you are reaching 50 years or more this year, please keep an eye on the letterbox. Cathy at Fox Road has given me a large box of IPA cards and envelopes, and I shall be working my way through the list over the coming weeks.

The IEB at Fox Road

When I undertook my walking challenge, I published a picture of me and my faithful companion Millie, the cocker spaniel. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was devastated to lose her. She was a good age I suppose, nearly 13. Those of you with pets I know will agree it leaves a massive hole. We are kept busy with my daughter’s dog Winnie, who is currently living with us, so there is no time for a rest.

In the run-up to Christmas, Helen and I enjoyed a couple of weeks on a cruise around the Canary Islands, which was warm, sunny and just the job. Whilst I was at Fox Road, I asked Michele if we could have prints made of our two international photo competition winners, from World Congress last year, and the year before in Spain. I am grateful to Michele for having had these printed on canvas and they now look very smart indeed.

Photo competition winners on display at Fox Road

Millie with Winnie

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Keeping you informed

Clive with Winnie

Henrik Ellert

Brotherly Love Henrik Ellert , Section UK (Resident in Denmark)

On a very personal note, I have done something to my right leg, and have been put in an air boot for 4 to 6 weeks. This makes walking Winnie very difficult, so I’ve bought a mobility scooter. Just on a brighter note, you will see a picture of Winnie sitting on the foot plate, enjoying a ride to the park, where I do make her get off and run around a bit, before she gets back on the footplate for the ride home.

Henrik Ellert had lost contact with his brother, aged 74, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. Knowing he had not been well, Henrik reached out to the Secretary General of IPA U.S. Section, Ellwood Cushman, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Being a retired police officer and member of the IPA UK Section, I contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department by phone. My call was attended to promptly by an officer, who quickly and efficiently arranged to carry out a welfare check to re-establish contact with my brother Anthon. Within an hour, I received a phone call - I was expecting to hear from Pima Country - but it was my brother calling me on a new phone. He told me he was alive and asked what all the fuss was about. Wonderful news, we are back in contact. I’ve got an updated phone number, email and also details of his late wife’s sister and family, who often help my brother with practical issues. I posted a commendation on the department’s website, saying “I wish to express my most sincere appreciation to the officer who handled my request in a compassionate and professional manner. She is a credit to the police service and an example of the international fellowship and understanding that exists between police officers wherever they serve. Thank you”. After posting my commendation, I received a message from the Secretary General of IPA U.S. Section, Ellwood Cushman: “Thank you for taking the time to send that commendation to Pima County. As you know, police officers appreciate getting positive feedback to help offset all the negative they encounter in their daily duties. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and let me know if you ever travel to Arizona” .

Clive presenting Life Membership to Neil Hallam

Finally, for this edition, I really must thank our editor of Police World , Neil Hallam, who has indicated his wish to step down after eight years, producing what I am sure you will agree, is a most excellent magazine, showcasing the best of the IPA, both here and abroad, and without doubt a fantastic recruiting tool when left on coffee tables around police stations. As a published author, I wish Neil the best for the future. I met him only a few days ago to thank him in person and present him with an Honorary Life Member award. The new editor of Police World will be reported soon. Your Vice President Communications Colin Hutt, is working with Neil to identify a most suitable replacement. But, in the meantime Neil, thank you so much for producing such first-class magazines for the Association. In Friendship. Clive Wood, Section UK Presidentv

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Professional Development

Traffic Cones and an MP5: A Ride Along in Cologne James Wingate Hertfordshire Branch

In October 2023, DC Lauren Eifert, PC Marcus Zost and Sergeant James Wingate from Hertfordshire, travelled to Germany as part of an exchange programme between Hertfordshire Constabulary and Siegburg Police, near Bonn.

A rriving in Cologne , we were met by our host, Mike, who drove us to the Siegburg Police HQ, to be welcomed by the Commissioner. Andreas Piastowski was so down to earth and approached us as friends from the start. Andreas had planned a packed programme for us, and showed us why the IPA’s motto is “service through friendship”. Our first day consisted of touring the Siegburg Police HQ and visiting the units based here. It was clear that there were real similarities between our work and its demands, particularly hearing about CID’s huge workloads. A close inspection of the response team’s vehicle was much the same as any of our patrol vehicles, apart from the MP5 submachine gun! Not something you see every day, especially as it sat next to a few cones. Other visits included the traffic department, custody (where there were no permanent staff and arresting officers process their own prisoners), and the control room. An innovative idea was a crime prevention room where the public could visit and see recommended doors, cameras and locks for themselves, as well as practical preventative steps, which was also relevant to our own force priorities of “Prevention First”. On the second day, we joined two response officers on a community safety day. Multiple units came together; such as dogs, drug units, ASB units, and general patrol. We moved throughout the district to keep the criminals and road users guessing where we would be next. We watched our German counterparts engage with the community and process offences. This initiative clearly worked, and we were keen to bring this home with us to use locally in our force areas. On our final day, we visited the range and fired the Glock pistol used by officers on patrol. The addition of interactive moving targets and scenarios,

brought some realism to the range as we “attended” domestics and building searches and had to decide when to fire our weapons. It was an eye-opening experience about the added responsibility of carrying a firearm on patrol, and the split-second decisions required. The afternoon saw us taken to the Bonn Police Riot unit, hosted by the commissioner. We saw officers completing training in unarmed tactics, pistol and MP5 drills. The unit also has a counter-terrorism role. PC Zost was volunteered by the others to demonstrate some of our unarmed tactics. None of the officers wanted to be the test subject, so the Commissioner took up the mantle. The Riot police officers showed us some of their technical vehicles, including a mobile CCTV vehicle to monitor and record anyone in large protests or crowds, which was not something we had seen in the UK. No trip can be complete without sightseeing, and we managed to visit Cologne. We saw the River Rhine, we headed into the hills to visit the grounds of Steinberger Grand Hotel Petersberg, where Queen Elizabeth II stayed during a trip to Bonn many years ago. The view was spectacular, and extended as far as the eye could see. One of the highlights of our trip was staying with our German host. Mike, an experienced serving officer, welcomed us into his family home. It was an experience that wouldn’t be available to any other visitor and was a true example of the IPA’s ability to connect officers and create friendships. We were also welcomed so wonderfully by the Commissioner, who moved mountains to ensure we had an overwhelmingly positive experience. We made so many contacts and friendships, which really demonstrated the amazing objectives of the IPA.

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Professional Development

Bavarians Experience in London Simeon Coughlan , Sussex Branch

In March 2023, I was lucky enough to attend my first IPA trip to Denmark, where among many other International Officers I met Sam, a Police Officer from Bavaria. We kept in touch, so when Sam said that he was coming to visit London, with his girlfriend Johanna, in December, I jumped at the opportunity to meet up again. S ince I am based outside of London , it was time to call on friends and colleagues to make sure that Sam and Johanna got a chance to, not only enjoy their

Police Station in the City of London. It’s very fortunate that Jordan, a long time friend of mine works for the City of London. He pulled out all the stops to ensure Sam and Johanna got a picture of how the City of London works. It started with a visit to the Control Room, then a meeting with the Dog Unit, before heading out to go and watch a live deployment of their Operation Servator team. This gave Sam and Johanna a great opportunity to learn about the Counter Terrorism tactics used by the City of London, as well as potentially recruiting a few new members. We then returned to the Police Station and met with their Traffic Unit, where Jordan is based.

Having finished with Policing related activities, we met with my partner and went for an evening meal, before enjoying the Christmas lights on Regent Street. With plans made to meet up during the summer in Germany, we parted ways. This visit demonstrates the true ability and commitment of the IPA and Policing family, ensuring we afforded the best hospitality possible to Sam and Johanna.

time in London, but get to find out more about UK Policing. It wasn’t their first trip to London, so they had already covered most of the tourist sights. We agreed to meet up on two days of their stay. Starting on Tuesday afternoon, we met at the Civil Service Club, to enjoy a drink and exchange patches, which we collect on behalf of one another, before heading out to have a tour of Westminster. I’m not a big believer in fate, but by a stroke of luck, as we left the Civil Service Club, we bumped into a former colleague of mine who works at the Mounted Branch in Great Scotland Yard Stables. With a cheeky request from me, Kevin was happy to head back in after his shift, show them around the stables, introduce them to their horses, and talk about the work they do. Having finished our somewhat unexpected tour, we walked around Whitehall, going through the history of the area (special thanks to the IPA Whitehall Walk guide on the website), before heading to watch the Ceremony of the Keys. They both enjoyed the event and commented on how amazing the experience was. On Thursday we met again at the Civil Service Club, where a very reasonably priced breakfast was enjoyed. Then we met Alex, an IPA friend and the London Reception Officer. He was kind enough to give Sam and Johanna a tour of Charing Cross Police Station, as well as the vehicles we use in the UK. They also had a lengthy chat, sharing experiences with Officers from Charing Cross Response Team. Patches and gifts were exchanged, with hopefully some more members recruited to the IPA. Once we’d finished at Charing Cross Police Station, it was a quick trip over to Bishopsgate

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Professional Development

Penn State Study Experience in London, with help from IPA Hakan Can , professor of criminal justice at Penn State University Aris Karagiorgakis, associate professor of psychology, and Hakan Can, professor of criminal justice at Penn State University, led students on a journey through London, as part of the Serial Killers and European Criminal Justice course. T he seven-week course offered students an immersive experience into the heart of English criminal justice history and modern practices. The program explored key British sites to gain insight into the English criminal justice system. Students participated in a walking tour, taking in the sights of Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Parliament Street, Millennium Bridge and Tower Bridge.

Students at London’s Tower Bridge

At the Central Criminal Courts, the students had a particularly impactful experience. Thanks to Communications Manager Jay Patel, they sat through a murder and an arson trial, took a tour of the Old Bailey, and even had a Q&A session with Senior Circuit Judge, Judy Khan. Khan fielded questions and inspired a discussion about death penalty attitudes across cultures, offering the students a deep dive into the complexities of judicial perspectives and cultural differences in law. Throughout their journey, the students explored how legal and cultural contexts in the United Kingdom shape human behaviour. Through hands on experiences and engaging dialogue, they examined the psychological underpinnings of law and culture, and how these elements influence thoughts, feelings and daily actions. Reflecting on the experience “Visiting historical sites provided a vivid understanding of how much has changed throughout history, like seeing where the last public execution took place, to the modern legal practices at places like the Old Bailey. It’s one thing to read about history, but it’s another to stand where it all happened,” said Roger Myers, a student from Pennsylvania. “Walking through spaces like medieval prisons and courthouses, allowed me to connect with the conditions and processes prevalent during those times. Studying the architecture and design of historical courthouses and prisons, revealed shifts in attitudes toward justice and punishment,” said Bailey Dunn, a criminal justice and psychology student from Pennsylvania. “You hear a lot of stories about serial killers and the psychology behind their motives. But whenever you have absolutely no idea who does the killing, it becomes a lot more complex. One thing that I really appreciated during our Jack the Ripper walking tour, was how our guide humanized the victims. They were sex workers, and there’s a tendency to victim-blame sex workers when they are assaulted or murdered. The guide was wonderful, talking about these women’s lives, and why they ended up where they did, how they ended up doing sex work. There was no stigmatization at all,” said Kenadi Erdely, a business accounting major. “From my perspective, the way the prosecutors were cross-examining each other felt more respectful in the United Kingdom than the United States. Everything was so respectful in the courtroom,” said Nicholas Cutler, a student pursuing a major in psychology and minor in crime, law and psychology from Idaho.

In addition to these historical explorations, the students engaged directly with the modern criminal justice system. They received a lecture aimed at reducing discriminatory practices in “stop and search” from Inspector David Porter, at New Scotland Yard, accompanied by a tour from Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Ozan Bagatirlar and Detective Helena S. At Islington Police Station, the students were lectured on gun violence and approaches to crime prevention, punishment and justice by Special Constable George Nahlis and Roula Nahlis, from Sir George Monoux College. These experiences were coordinated by Detective Sergeant Alex Williams, from Metropolitan Police, an IPA member. The itinerary also included a visit to the Tower of London, the Clink Prison Museum, and a uniquely engaging London Dungeon Experience. The students delved into the darker chapters of London’s history with a Jack the Ripper walking tour.

Students at London’s Big Ben

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A World of Learning Gareth Twigg, Devon & Cornwall Branch The Churchill Fellowship was founded in 1965 as a legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. It supports UK citizens to learn from the world, bringing knowledge back to the UK. Gareth Twigg was awarded a Fellowship in 2023. H aving lived most of my life in the shadow of Dartmoor , I enjoy all things related to the countryside. In 2021, New Zealand’s Independent Police Conduct Authority, the equivalent of the UK

During my trip, I visited 15 different police stations and spoke with nearly 100 people. Although I had travelled halfway around the world, I found issues and challenges very similar to those experienced at home. The learning will be explored in more detail in my final report, which I will complete after my visit to Namibia. It was clear in New Zealand, that police visibility, accessibility and engagement were considered to be key in providing an effective service. This won’t come as a surprise to colleagues from rural beats, but emphasises to leaders the importance of maintaining a meaningful policing presence outside of our towns and cities.

IOPC, responded to public concerns by publishing a review of rural policing. The report provided recommendations covering many different aspects from governance through to staff welfare. I wanted to see how recommendations from the report have been implemented, to discover if there is anything that could be developed for use in Britain. The UK tends to look at westernised jurisdictions for research and answers, so I wanted to experience rural policing within a completely different culture. With the support of my force, I applied for a Churchill Fellowship to visit both New Zealand and Namibia. After an interview in London, I was delighted to have been successful. I set off for Auckland in October 2023. Before travelling I contacted New Zealand Police’s lead for rural policing, Insp Karen Ellis. Karen introduced me to contacts across the country. I wanted to meet police and community members from different locations, to find examples of good practice that were sympathetic to local need. I began north of Auckland, working out of Orewa Police Station with my host, Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw. I visited Springboard, an initiative that supports at-risk young people at Warkworth and Woodhill Forest, a vast Māori managed area of woodland, to see how they worked in partnership with local police to reduce crime & anti-social behaviour. The next leg of my trip took me to Gisborne, on the east coast, where Senior Sergeant Danny Kirk, explained how police had been involved in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle. I visited the multi-agency Emergency Control Centre at Gisborne, which was initially set up in preparation for a magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami, which scientists say is overdue in the region. During my stay, I saw the police response to gang violence. Motorcycle gangs are a feature of life in New Zealand. Whilst in Gisborne, there were three drive-by shootings, leading to the police invoking rarely used stop & search powers. The next stage saw me visiting Police HQ in Wellington. Being a national police force, implementing national working practices is more straightforward than in the UK. I heard how an app has been developed, which allows rural people to report crime and suspicious activity, whilst giving the police the ability to share crime prevention advice and messages. Whilst in the capital, I met with the authors of the IPCA review. It was interesting to hear the links they had made between the welfare of rural officers and quality of service. In New Zealand, ‘Rural Officer’ is a designation that attracts a higher pay scale, in recognition of the challenges of isolated working. Rural officers have periods of ‘on-call’, during which they are the primary response for incidents in their area. I then travelled to South Island, basing myself at Invercargill, where I could feel icy blasts straight from the Antarctic. I was surprised to meet an ex-D&C officer, who now patrols the mountainous area of Fiordland. I also visited Christchurch, where I met with Jade McCormick, policy officer of Federated Farmers, the equivalent of our NFU.

Gisborne Spring Show

Mountain near Queenstown

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Professional Development

42 Years Service in the Special Constabulary Lorraine Woolley MBE I joined the Met Special Constabulary (MSC) in 1970, at a time when women were not integrated into the police service. I started at Hendon, where I reached Special Sergeant rank . Policing London in the 70’s, meant we were often called to suspected IRA packages, which we opened (cautiously), rather than feel a fool by After promotion to Special Inspector, I moved to Barnet, covering four stations and their specials. I became a Self-defence Instructor for women, and participated in First Aid Competitions.

calling out the Bomb Squad. I was once first on scene when a bomb went off, fortunately no one was hurt. I policed many events at Wembley Stadium, including Live Aid and international football matches.

Three years after my move to Barnet division, I became the Area Special Commandant’s Deputy at Kingsbury. Two years later, I was promoted to Special Commandant, in charge of Specials in the north east and east. As Commandant, I implemented an MSC Welfare Officer Support service. This was a group of impartial officers from all ranks, that any MSC officer with problems could go to. I was instrumental in getting MSC officers involved in policing Arsenal Football Stadium, which became regular practice. In 1996, I was promoted to Deputy Chief Commandant, based at New Scotland Yard. During this time, I was invited to the Queens Garden Party, introduced to (then) Prince Charles and honoured with an MBE at Buckingham Palace, presented by Queen Elizabeth. I also volunteered for Sir Johns Stevens charity in Romania, and spent nine years helping with projects including; building a hospital for people with HIV and renovating an old Peoples home. I was presented with an award by the Romanian IPA and the local Mayor. In 2007 I was promoted to Special Chief Officer, for which I felt very honoured. I was self-employed and decided to retire to concentrate on doing the best for the MSC. As a volunteer police officer throughout my service, I was always concerned for our officer’s welfare, which I tried to improve. I always tried to help officers if they had difficulties. Balancing a working, family and volunteering life is not easy, and with it brings many demands. People ask how many arrests I have made. My answer is always, “I have helped more people than I have arrested”. I am very proud of the dedicated, committed, and skilled volunteers who contribute a great deal to the policing of London. This was demonstrated at the Royal Wedding and the Olympic / Paralympic Games, seeing our Specials interacting with the crowds, displaying; professionalism, dedication and good humour. In 2012, with the MSC at just over 6,000 officers, I decided to retire and let someone younger take over the role. In 42 years, I worked approximately 84,000 hours of voluntary service for the MET. I was invited as a guest at Westminster Abbey, to celebrate 100 Years of Women in Policing. Now, in retirement I still volunteer. I am a Trustee & Support Group Leader for a health Charity: Trigeminal Neuralgia Association. After nine months fostering for the Dogs Trust, I just adopted our last foster dog. I spend a lot of time travelling and meeting new people, thanks to the IPA, which I joined in 1974. In 1975, I decided to drive through Europe on my own. Though I had concerns, I knew that IPA Colleagues from other countries would be there to help. I am still a member, and have enjoyed the social aspects and opportunities to engage and learn from fellow members, here and abroad. I have hosted officers from abroad, and been to see them in their country ,learning about their experiences.

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Professional Development

At No.10

Emmy in Downing Street The Yard

At the stables

London Calling: Visitors from Wisconsin Sarah Charman, London North Branch As a fairly new IPA member, I became involved in hosting international visitors to London. In January we had some students from Wisconsin, who we took to a few interesting places in central London.

I have enjoyed hosting over the past few months .Having to explain how the Met and UK policing works to an international visitor, builds confidence, and shows how much I’ve learnt since I joined the job a year and a half ago. I encourage others to get involved. Here’s what Emmy had to say: “ I am a student at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, enrolled in the LEAD Law Enforcement Program. While on a study trip to London and Paris, I received a great opportunity to have a private tour of law enforcement organizations. I give a big thanks to Joseph Johnson, Alex Williams, and Sarah Charman for organizing this for us. With their support, we were able to visit the Prime Minister’s door and meet his cat, Larry.

We also had a conversation with a seasoned officer, about the differences between American and UK policing. After that we visited the Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police stables, to meet the work horses. We fed them mints, and learned how they are used within the police force. After meeting the horses, we toured a police station to learn about their different Task Forces. A police officer even took time to tell us his experience as a police officer, and what he carries to keep himself and the community safe. Lastly, we were taken for coffee, to debrief what we learned and what we found the most interesting. It was the best part of my study abroad trip, and I will be eternally grateful for this experience.”

Miami Vice in London Samuel Kendall, Essex Branch Nostalgic for the well-known TV series, I had the opportunity of finding out more about Miami and its inhabitants in December 2023.

P olice Captain Gladys Amato , from Miami-Dade Police Department, visited London with her two daughters and I had the pleasure of meeting them all. Gladys submitted an IPA travel form, and sought assistance from the London Reception Officers Alex Williams and Darren Hartigan. Several volunteers also stepped forward to assist and I was keen to get in on the action too, as my first volunteering experience with the IPA. I knew that IPA member Dan Thomas, had assisted them a few days before my involvement, so I decided to treat them to a walking tour of Central London. I met Gladys outside Westminster tube station, which gave great delight to them, exiting the tube station and seeing Parliament and Big Ben, right in front of us. From that moment we made a two and a half hour whistle-stop tour around the busy capital, taking in the sights from New Scotland Yard, all the way to Bond Street and all the attractions in between. The bussle of London’s streets provided a spectacle to Gladys and her daughters. They quickly acclimatised, and found themselves preferring London to Miami in many ways. The clash of culture and architecture was awe inspiring for them, as they continually lamented

about how aw-struck they were by it all. I gave them some facts about London, which I knew and had researched. I was able to answer lots of questions they had about living and working in the UK. Stopping for food, Gladys and her daughters discussed the culture of America, and we compared those differences with Miami, which I found very interesting. They even managed to learn a few British slang words too, which led to much laughter. Sadly, even after a break for refreshments, Gladys and co where exhausted, so my tour came to an end. Even just seeing a quarter of Central London for Gladys and her daughters was a true delight. They were extremely grateful! Although our encounter was brief, it was a genuine pleasure for me to end 2023 on such a high. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them, and was delighted to have had the opportunity to show them some of my home city - that’s what makes London so special. Importantly I now have friends in Miami, Florida, and am guaranteed a great American welcome when I visit there one day. I highly recommend trying out volunteering for the IPA and showing visitors around your local areas, after all the IPA is ’ Service through Friendship’

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Article

Looking Back to the 80s David Smith, Wiltshire Branch

American Cars B ack in September 1982 , I was a Traffic Sergeant in Wiltshire, when I came across a flat bed with a big American Car on it. The front end had been cut off. The driver was stood by the lorry with a map and was clearly lost. He said he had to get to a field near Hinton Parva, where there was to be a film made. Knowing my patch, I told him to follow me, and at the end of a dead end lane I was met with the sight shown in the photos. BMW were doing an advert to show how their new models drove the big gas guzzlers into the ground. They buried 25 cars like this, and then drove their cars zigzagging through them. I spoke to the crew, and they said the best shots would be at dusk, when the cars would have their headlights on, so I went back later, and it was quite something to see. It was all quite hush hush. I never did see the advert, but some petrol head member might recall it. Indeed, given that all the buried cars were American, it might just have been for the USA market.

Tanker RTC T he accident was back in the early eighties on the A420 East of Swindon. I was the Sergeant , the imbiber is an officer who shall be nameless. He later went from Traffic to CID, so his consumption of a large quantity of lager here was good training for what was to come. Note the total lack of equipment hung about us, our staff’s handcuffs and bullet proof clipboards were in the boot of our car.

Police World Back Copies Sought We are looking for original copies (one of each) of: Vol. 64 No.3 -2019 Vol. 65 No.1, No.2 & No.3 -202)

If any members have these and are happy to part with them, please contact: michele.rai@ipa-uk.org Michele Rai,Business Operations Manager, International Police Association – Section UK

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POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.2, 2024

Article

Michael Mouse visits Cornwall Wilf Rickard, Cornwall Branch We recently hosted a visit in Cornwall of a Twinning Association, between a local council in Northern Germany and the old Restormel Council (now Cornwall Council).

T he Chair of the association in Germany is a retired Police Officer and has been an IPA member for 41 years. It was their turn to visit the Newquay area, and with them came a new member, Sabine Wieck, who is a Traffic Officer at Heide, just north of Hamburg. As you see from the report, she thoroughly enjoyed herself. We took some photos of Sabine and Dietmar Grein, in their uniforms. When Sabine visited Tony’s home in Wadebridge, she wanted to try on the helmet. We gave it a caption “We have all had customers called Michael Mouse, well here is one who joined the Police”. Back in 1990, a twinning association was formed between Dithmarschen County, in Northern Germany and what was Restormel Council in Cornwall. Since its formation, there have been regular meetings and exchanges between its members. Since 2001, Dietmar Grein has stayed with a friend in Newquay, and visits regularly. He has travelled extensively in Cornwall and has met IPA members in Cornwall. Dietmar became Chairman of the twinning association in Dithmarschen, in 2013. This year, members from Dithmarschen visited Newquay. The necessary travel forms were submitted, and I set about making arrangements for their visit. The party had a programme of events arranged for them during the week. Superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith, at St Austell, very kindly made arrangements with the Traffic department at Bodmin, and on Monday morning, Dietmar and Sabine were collected from their accommodation in Newquay. We took them to Bodmin Police Station, where they visited the various departments including Traffic. The highlight of the day was for them to be taken out on patrol, which they enjoyed immensely. The professionalism and friendship of Devon & Cornwall Police was in the true spirit of IPA. Our sincere thanks go to Ian Drummond-Smith and to Sergeant Ian Richards, at Bodmin. On Tuesday, the group visited the Falmouth area, on a Helford River Cruise. Wednesday saw a Bergfest at Lakeside in Newquay, for a Gala Dinner and concert. Thursday was a visit to Bodmin Jail, which is now a tourist attraction, followed by tea at a Restormel member’s house. On Thursday evening, I with my wife, Marilyn, and Tony Wilce, Cornwall IPA Treasurer, and his wife Sue, travelled to Newquay to visit Sabine. Sadly, Dietmar and his wife already had a prior commitment, so we were unable to meet him. The Chairman of the Restormel Twinning Association, Steven Daniell was also there, as he was very helpful in our arrangements.

We walked to a local pub, where a good meal and a drink or two were enjoyed. We had a lively conversation about policing, the IPA, and my connections with the Hamburg area. Friday was a lovely sunny day, and having enjoyed a full English breakfast Sabine took the ‘ Cornish Coaster’, an open topped double decker along the north Cornwall coast to Padstow. There she was met by Sue and Tony, and shown around the port. A walk along the Camel Trail towards Wadebridge followed, with lunch and a walk around the town of Wadebridge. This being Sabine’s first visit to the UK, she wished to visit a British home, so a short walk took her to their house in Wadebridge. Sabine is a relatively new IPA member, so she was pleased to learn more about our organisation and all it has to offer. She spoke of her day with the Police at Bodmin, the equipment and tech. that they have to hand, which is not available to them in Germany. A frequently used phrase was “It is the same but different” about work and life in general. A view of Tony’s police memorabilia led to a try of a ‘Bobby’s’ helmet. Later she was taken back to Newquay to prepare for her return journey home to Germany. New friendships made and experiences created, in the spirit of the IPA. Sabine has become an ambassador for IPA, and she intends to return to Cornwall next year, along with more colleagues. They will be made very welcome.

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.2, 2024

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The draw of a Custodion Helmet

Article

Working the Red Carpet Dinard Film Festival Lee Brodie, Central Scotland Branch I recently had the privilege of working with the Dinard Municipal Police, in France, at the British Film Festival 2023. My specialisms lie in events and community policing, so I was keen to see how the Muncipal police, as the closest French equivalent to community police, manage events like this. The opportunity was one of the most rewarding I have experienced so far, and certainly the greatest benefit I have enjoyed from my IPA membership.

I was collected from my accommodation by Franck Ribanneau, the Chief of the Municipal Police in Dinard, and taken to the local station. Here, I was introduced to everyone on duty, including his Deputy Alan Alsters, who spoke flawless English, even understanding my thick Scots accent. Everyone was especially welcoming. Then Franck took me on a patrol of the town, pointing out all the venues we would be visiting over the following days. He also took me to meet the public officials working in the Mayor’s office. I also enjoyed another fabulous meal with Alan and Franck, where we discussed our experiences of policing, events and life more widely. On Tuesday I got my first taste of operational policing in Dinard, when I accompanied one of the local supervisors, carrying out reassurance patrols at the local academy, visiting the festival locations, assisting with road closures, and setting up security measures for the festival. I was especially impressed by the unique hostile vehicle mitigation devices the town had, when David gave me a demonstration of them.

On Saturday we again donned ceremonial uniform as we patrolled the local market, meeting locals, ex-pats, tourists

and children, who were keen to take pictures with us, especially fellow Section UK member, Nick’s Custodian Helmet (which sadly have not been worn in Scotland for around 100 years). We then lined the red carpet for the closing ceremony of the festival, which if anything was somehow even grander than Thursday. Sunday was an amazing day as Franck and Alan had arranged a trip to Normandy, where we visited the landings museum and the US war cemetery at Omaha beach. Sunday evening was particularly enjoyable, as we attended a party hosted by the Mayor, to thank everyone involved with the Festival. Sadly, Monday marked the end of the venture as Nick and I boarded ferries marking the start of our respective journeys home. On my way home I reflected on what a marvellous trip it had been, in the finest traditions of the IPA, literally serving together through Friendship! It is with that in mind that I cannot wait to see everyone from the trip again.

Lee and Franck

The following day I was keen to get involved in the actual festival itself, this included accompanying Franck and Alan as we met the town Mayor, and helped to facilitate the arrival of the Film Festival Jury. We enjoyed the best meal of my entire life, at a local Michelin starred restaurant. Thursday evening’s formal start of the festival, can only be described as extremely grand, as: Alan, Franck and I all lined the red carpet, providing a ceremonial presence whilst Alan and Franck also oversaw the security arrangements and their operational colleagues nearby. We were very lucky to see several recognisable celebrities; especially Aiden Gillen, who as a massive Game of Thrones fan I was delighted to see. On Friday, we went to St Malo, where we met the local chief of the Police Nationale. We enjoyed a tour of the station, which was very impressive. We were then involved in a lovely festival tradition, where a beach hut named for the president of the festival jury is unveiled. We again provided a security presence, managing the arrival and exit of the jury and local mayor. It was particularly interesting to see how this type of event is managed, having been involved in many similar events in Edinburgh. That afternoon, we were taken out on the rescue boat of Dinard’s SNMS (local equivalent of the RNLI), touring the coasts of St Malo, Dinard and beyond; all of which can only be described as breath taking.

Lee, Franck and Nick on the red carpet

Lee with the SNMS

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POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.2, 2024

Article

A Canadian in London Darrin Gordon, Section Canada

My family and I have returned to Canada after a fantastic trip to the UK and France. I want to begin by thanking Alex Williams (IPA London Reception officer) for the assistance he provided and Gary Shepperd (London IPA member) for his hospitality and advice during our stay. I very much appreciate all of the information and answers to questions they provided prior to our journey commencing and while we were there. We arrived in London on 25th July, and Alex arranged my attendance at the IPA event at the Tower of London. The tour was fantastic, and I spent an enjoyable evening visiting with colleagues in law enforcement. I spent the next few days visiting various tourist destinations with my family, and we were impressed with the sites and history associated with them. Alex graciously invited me for a tour of the Charing Cross police station and the Royal Chelsea Hospital, but I was unable to attend due to previous plans we had made. On the Saturday, Gary met with my family at Parliament, and took us on an unforgettable tour that included portions of the building unavailable to the regular public. Visiting the chapel of St. Mary Undercroft, was truly a special privilege. Gary did a fantastic job explaining the history of the site to us. At the conclusion of the tour, Gary invited us to the Union Jack Club, where we met with his wife Linsey for some lunch and refreshments. Colleagues over the years have advised me to go to the Union Jack Club if I ever had the chance, so I was quite pleased to go. Gary and Linsey provided us with suggestions of what to see, and shops to visit as we continued on to Edinburgh, York and Paris. Linsey and my wife, Tammy, both had an interest in genealogy, and Linsey was able to provide some great access to information on my family history from UK sources. This has been a special trip that I have always wanted to go on with my wife and daughters. The efforts of Alex and Gary made the trip even more amazing than I had imagined, and my family already has a desire to return again someday. I want to conclude by wishing all the best to my IPA colleagues in London and throughout the UK.

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.2, 2024

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Article

Our Final (Highland) Fling David & Yvonne McGregor, Tayside Branch In 2014, Tayside Branch volunteered to take over the organising of the 1 Region Friendship weekend, which had previously been hosted at Lochanhully, by Ronnie Dukes. N ethybridge Hotel, in the Scottish Highlands , was our choice for 2015. We had 26 guests, the majority from Scotland, but with visitors from Sweden and Norway. During our first night’s stay, the

snow arrived and by morning we were basically snowed in. That did not stop us having a fun weekend in the snow, and we even managed to enjoy a distillery tour and tasting at Tomintoul Distillery. Our Branch had decided to raise funds for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), which operates from the airfield just outside our village. In 2016 we moved to the Duke of Gordon Hotel, in Kingussie. There was more to do in the immediate area, including the Highland Wildlife Park, Funicular Railway at the Cairngorm Mountains, and not forgetting the Speyside Distillery. We continued to use the Duke of Gordon Hotel for the next three years, with the number attending growing each year, including many more overseas members. 2020 was 70th Anniversary of the IPA. We had 76 guests, from six countries: Austria, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, USA and UK. We were honoured to be supported by three National Executive members from Section UK, three International Presidents from Austria, Ireland & Sweden and three members of the International Executive Board, as well as members from the IPA Whiskey Forum. To make this a special weekend, we extended it by one day and organised a bus trip to Fort George, near Inverness, home of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, where a regimental piper escorted us in. To make the most of our Whisky and Gin tasting, we invited Ewan McIlwraith, a World Judge in both spirits, to run it, as our own efforts had been a bit ad hoc.

We also commissioned Ewan to source a special whisky to commemorate our 70th anniversary. The resulting 23 year old Benriach, Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was one of the whiskies we tasted. It was very well received with lots of positive comments and a good many bottles were sold. This was the only event Section UK held in their 70th year as Covid arrived soon after, and all other planned events were cancelled. 2021 was also not an option due to Covid. For 2022 we moved locations to Pitlochry, as we had exhausted the Kingussie area’s attractions. Covid had eased slightly, and plans were in place. Unfortunately, there was a spike in Covid cases and once again, we had to make the sad decision to cancel the event.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.2, 2024