PW-2-2026

IPA Section UK

Vol 71 No.2 2026

The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

www.ipa-uk.org

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

Vol 71 No.2 2026

Keeping You Informed 4–5 Keeping You Informed

Editorial Norman Hicks e-mail: pw.editor@ipa-uk.co.uk Deadline for article submission for Vol. 71 Edition 3, 2026 is 12 June 2026 Published August 2026

Karen Duckworth President of Section UK

Blue Light Ride 6–7

B ringing Blue Light to the Dark: A Journey to Venlo Chris Bagnall

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

Exchange Pogramme 8–9 Busy Week for Bavarian State Police Visitors Owen Doherty

Learning and Development 12–13 Visit to Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany Trevor Campbell, Region 2 14–15 Global Lessons in Data Driven Policing Lou Heffernan-Glover 16–17 Gimborn PST Training Gary Nightingale 18 Later Life Education Martin Abbott Feature Articles 10–11 Women Through the Ages Maria Stanley, Region 3 24 Lorna Corbin, Section UK AVP L&D #SHEisIPA Seminar Success Spotlight on the SIGs 20–21 Motorcycle SIG - Normandy Invaded Again! Mick Sharman-Davies 22–23 IPA - UK Amateur Radio Section James Bertram (GM0GMN) News 24–27 News from around IPA Competition 27 Crossword and Soduko 26 The Great North Run - A Family Affair Mike Freeman 28 A Year of IPA and British Overseas Territories Joint Working Protecting Our Protectors: Why I Volunteer With The NFRSA Nicholas Seal

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Graphic Design by BDS 21 / Jason Billin

Membership 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 £10. Visit the website to learn about our promotional offers. Annual renewal is £34. To apply visit www.ipa-uk.org. 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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SIGs

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

Next deadline 12 June 2026 for publication August 2026 Cover Photo Section UK President Karen Duckworth with delegates at #SHEisIPA photo by Karen Duckworth

WIN one of these books by Neil Hallam and John Penlington

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Classifieds

Diary

POLICE WORLD Vol 71 No.2, 2026

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ISSN No: 0032-261X

Keeping you informed

Keeping you informed As ever, it has been a remarkably busy few months since your last copy of Police World. Unfortunately, as we still have to manage our finances extremely carefully, the remaining 2026 editions of Police World are likely to be electronic. You will have received a member briefing though, by now, outlining how the budget for 2026 has been allocated.

W e have tried extremely hard indeed to ensure that member activities are still supported whilst being ever mindful of the challenges we continue to face. The establishment of the Finance, Audit and Review Committee will help to ensure that you are properly and independently briefed about work done and progress being made by the National Executive Committee (NEC) concerning the Section UK finances. I was delighted to be told that Section UK had been chosen again as a beneficiary of HRH Princess Anne’s patronage. This time for a period of three years, concluding on 31st December 2029. After the huge disappointment that we could not take advantage of this last year for our 75th Anniversary, I really want to try and make the most of this unexpected opportunity. To that end, I welcome suggestions through the Strategic Sub-Committee where events might be taking place that are suitable for our Patron to attend. Please make sure plenty of notice is given as her diary is planned a long way in advance as you would expect. I was also thrilled to be asked to nominate two people for a Buckingham Palace event hosted by Her Royal Highness in May. More of that in the next edition. At the end of January, Kyra and I threw caution to the wind, donned our dancing shoes, and joined those gathering in Aberdeen for the 2026 Region 1 Ceilidh. And what a hoot it was. Apart from the superb whisky / gin tasting (again hosted by Robertson’s of Pitlochry), there was a visit to Peterhead Prison, a guided tour around Aberdeen, and the Ceilidh itself – which was superb. Beginners and experienced dancers alike just enjoying the music and the opportunity to try something so unique. International President Martin Hoffmann was there with his wife Angela and two lovely friends, bringing some Austrian tradition in the form of lederhosen and beautiful dirndls, to the otherwise tartan clad proceedings. Well done to the organizing team led by Jordan Blythe. Next year it will be held in Dundee, and details can be obtained through the Region 1 committee. It was lovely to see Martin again the following weekend as he visited London with his son to support his beloved Arsenal FC. Thankfully, they won, so the meal shared with members of London Met Branch was a celebratory one. Between the 19-22 February, I attended the IEB 7-Regions Europe West Meeting in San Marino. As you will be aware, we are in this group with Switzerland, San Marino, Malta, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Belgium, France,

San Morino

Italy, The Netherlands, and Monaco. Our IEB link is International Vice President Oli Hoffmann. These meetings are always about relationship building, but this time it had a particularly clear agenda – to discuss the key questions to be debated at the upcoming Convention of the Statutes (March, Lisbon). All the regional groups were having the same discussions so that everyone’s voice would be heard at the Convention of the Statutes in Lisbon. Fundamental questions about how the IPA sees as its core values in an ever-changing socio-political landscape. It was also a chance for Section San Marino to showcase the work it is doing to IPA friends, but importantly, to the government framework in which it operates. So, to be invited to a private audience with the Heads of State of San Marino, Their Excellencies, the Captain’s Regent, was really quite something, not just for President Rene Rosti (IPA San Marino) but for all of us present. As Project Lead for SHEisIPA, I attended the Professional Commission meeting held in Padua, Italy between 5-9 March. Originally planned to be held in London, it was changed by Chair Diego Trolese due to the Italian National Congress and elections. Again, this meeting brings together the project leads for the Arthur Troop Scholarship, the Education Project, SHEisIPA and the Young Members Project. As Section UK strives to develop opportunities for, and the network of, our young members, it was really good to be able to discuss those opportunities with those leading on them (YPOS, Strategic Young Members Conference, IBZ Gimborn events etc). Partnership working at its best in Italy.

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Keeping you informed

Professional Commission Project Leads

Mentoring Program Presentation

sport and all the other wonderful cultural connections that come with huge IPA events like this. The National Golf Competition will also take place in Blairgowrie, Scotland between 9-11 June with twenty-one members taking to the fairways from four regions. Good luck to everyone getting involved with IPA sport this summer. As we begin the preparations for the National Council Meeting, which will be held online on Saturday 6th June, it will mark the 1-year milestone of this term in office. It will be a time to reflect on the work that has been done, those who have stepped up and made a huge contribution to the effort of steering Section UK through the most challenging of times, and the positive plans that lie ahead to help the section to flourish again. These are exciting times for Section UK, and I look forward to sharing them with you here over the coming months.

On return from this meeting, I circulated the questions for the Convention of the Statutes to our regional committees in order to get a sense of the feeling in Section UK for the questions under consideration. I thank all those who fed back into the NEC discussion. In Lisbon, Section UK was present in its capacity of Founding Section, something that we should be rightly proud of and not lose sight of when sometimes the difficulties of 2025, our very own annus horribilis, can seem all-consuming. When the convention notes are available, I will share them through the regional committees, because it these troubling times, it is interesting to understand the discussion which shapes the direction of travel for the International Organization. Of course, this was a consultation, and any changes that are deemed appropriate will be tabled as motions at World Congress in Sri Lanka. I should add here that the event was held at the IPA Lisbon House. If you haven’t visited it, I highly recommend it for a stay in Lisbon. It is great value for money and very well situated. I have also been immensely proud of the work that Section UK has been doing to support activity and engagement with colleagues in the British Overseas Territories. We have been asked by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office to deliver the online British Overseas Territories Women in Policing Awards on Wednesday 29th April. There is more about this from Assistant VP Learning and Development Lorna Corbin in her article. I look forward to continuing to grow this work with her and Emma Portfleet (Region 10) throughout the year. March also saw us host friends from Section Ireland in London. VP Kieran English invited Gillian O’Donoghue and Steve Moore to share their Mentoring Program for young members, something recognized at international level as being an immense success in attracting and retaining new, younger, serving members. I found their presentation illuminating and Kieran will be looking to progress a Section UK model in the coming months. So, looking ahead, we have thirty-nine representatives from Section UK participating in the IPA Games in Wroclaw 10-15 May. This is fantastic, and we have competitors in women’s football, table tennis, 5K and 10K running, tennis, pistol shooting, and badminton. Our women’s football squad will be hoping to be as dominant as they were at last year’s World Football Competition, which they won. It will certainly be an exciting few days of

Karen Duckworth President Section UK

International President Martin Hoffmann, Section UK President Karen Duckworth and guests take a break from the 2026 Region 1 New Year Ceilidh, held in Aberdeen.

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Blue Light Ride

Bringing Blue Light to the Dark: A Journey to Venlo By Chris Bagnall

In December 2024, while mindlessly scrolling through social media, I stumbled across a reel that stopped me in my tracks. It showed an extraordinary sight: around 100 emergency vehicles, blue lights blazing, parked together in a car park in Venlo—a town in the northeast of the Netherlands, close to the German border. The event was mesmerising. The sheer scale of organisation and effort was impressive enough, but as I looked deeper, I realised this wasn’t about spectacle or camaraderie alone.

T his was an International Police Association (IPA) event created for sick children spending Christmas in hospital. Its aim was simple but powerful: to bring blue light to the dark December nights. And from everything I could see, it achieved exactly that. Having made tentative enquiries, to my amazement, my Inspector agreed that we should try to go! I’ve been a member of the International Police Association for around 20 years, yet I’d never attended an event or even been to a physical meeting. Like many, my engagement had been limited to the Police World magazine. Looking again at my membership, I realised I’d been missing out on something far bigger. By January, the planning had begun—and the scale of what I’d taken on quickly became clear. This wasn’t a case of simply turning up. The approvals alone were daunting. Had I bitten off more than I could chew? Possibly. But by then, I was fully invested. Taking a marked police vehicle into mainland Europe isn’t something Staffordshire Police had ever done, at least not to my knowledge—and certainly not post-Brexit. Still, support came from every direction. The local IPA group backed me. National IPA backed me too. Then came the permissions: • Home Office approval to take a marked police vehicle out of the UK • Approval from the Dutch event organisers • Authority from our Executive Team • Permission from the National IPA Committee to represent them abroad Each came with its own challenges. But it also helped that 2025 marked the IPA’s 75th Anniversary—an opportunity to raise the organisation’s profile within Staffordshire, where it was relatively unknown. One non-negotiable condition was that there could be no cost to the taxpayer. That meant no operational vehicle and no force funding.

Fundraising became essential, and while it wasn’t easy, I eventually reached the minimum needed to make the trip viable. If I hadn’t, I was prepared to fund it myself. After countless emails and calls, two companies initially agreed to help, then pulled out. Time was running out. I reached out to colleagues across the UK and retired officers—and eventually, one vehicle caught my eye on social media: the Ineos Grenadier, showcased by former Police Interceptors star Ben Pearson. I reached out. And to my astonishment, they said yes, just weeks before the event. At 04:30 on Tuesday 9 December, we set off for Folkestone. The weather was awful, but progress was good. At the Channel Tunnel terminal, the looks we got were priceless: a fully marked UK police vehicle boarding a train to Europe. People asked questions. When we explained why we were travelling, their excitement matched our own. We were venturing into the unknown. We knew French, Belgian, and Dutch authorities had been informed—but how would officers on the ground react? A Dutch Welcome We arrived in Venlo without incident and checked into our accommodation, only to be immediately invited to join the event organisers for a pre–Blue Light Ride meal. After a quick change out of uniform, we headed to secure parking at a local fire station. That evening over an ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’, we met officers from Police Scotland, Belgium, The Netherlands, and even Belgian Customs—all IPA members. Within minutes, conversation flowed and experiences were shared. We were handed bags overflowing with gifts—badges, patches, chocolates, bike lights. I felt a little inadequate with the modest patches we’d brought, but it quickly became clear: it wasn’t about what you brought, but that you came. Driving 485 miles was more than enough.

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Blue Light Ride

The next morning began early. We washed the vehicle (a Road Crime Team tradition). We visited the Venlo Police Station. Some things were familiar. Others weren’t. Different systems, similar challenges. Next came the police training centre—a remarkable, purpose-built facility under one roof. We watched taser demonstrations, discussed firearms policing (a shock to them that most UK officers do not carry guns), and even had the chance to fire a Walther P99Q, the standard-issue Dutch police handgun. In 20 years of service, I’d never stepped into a firing range. The experience was unforgettable—and surprisingly, my shooting improved without the laser. The Blue Light Ride Gathering at Toverland Theme Park, we were briefed by the Mayor of Venlo and we were joined by David - a disabled IPA member - and then we set off. What followed was breathtaking. Miles of blue lights stretching ahead and behind. A low-flying police helicopter circling above. Police boats sounding their horns as we crossed the River Meuse. It was impossible not to feel emotional. At the hospital, the lights and sirens erupted one final time before falling silent. Looking up at children and families watching from balconies made every obstacle, every sleepless night of planning, completely worth it. We visited the children’s ward, delivering gifts donated and Christmas cards made by my son’s school. Some moments don’t need many words. A Lasting Impact This event is something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. It’s the single best thing I’ve done in my policing career—and knowing that I helped make it happen fills me with immense pride. 2026… we will see you there! Here is the official video: https://youtu.be/zqvxKktel2M?si=QS5T_GETw1ne-xbx

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Exchange Pogramme

Busy Week for Bavarian State Police Visitors By Owen Doherty , Chairman 6 Region In February, 6 Region received three serving police officers from the Bavaria State Police who had applied through IPA Munich to visit the UK for a two-week exchange programme. On Monday 16th February 6 Region Chair Owen and 6 Region Secretary Rob met with Anja, Annika and Larissa at the British Transport Police Force Headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road in London. T he exchange opened in London with introductions and a detailed briefing on UK policing structures, providing delegates with an overview of the agencies and operational landscape they would encounter during the week ahead. This was delivered with the assistance of Sergeant Chris Duncombe (former VP of Section UK) who also taught the delegates about the niche area of disruption management within railway policing in the UK.

Wednesday began with an early start for the group travelling from London Kings Cross to York via train. The group were met on arrival by 6 Region Chairman Owen Doherty, Treasurer Mike Hopkins and BTP Branch Member Andrew Jones. The group took a short walk from the station to York Minster where they were hosted by the York Minster Police, a visit in which the delegates were able to gain an insight into what is believed to be one the world’s oldest police forces. Upon leaving the Minster the participants were taken on a walking tour of the historic streets of York. Before leaving a visit was paid to the National Railway Museum, where Serving BTP Branch Members delivered an extremely interactive presentation into the complexities of policing the Royal Train. The group were then driven to Leeds where the programme continued into the evening with the British Transport Police. During this station visit the participants enjoyed time with various departments including Response, CID and NPT. In addition to exploring the equipment used and the vehicles within the fleet, the participants were taught about the differences between policing in the North of England compared with the capital. The evening once again offered space to strengthen friendships and share experiences informally. Thursday’s schedule focused on training and professional development, which saw the group travel to South Kensington, where they joined on a recruit intake and took part in HYDRA training, which is an immersive virtual training experience. The group found this experience extremely interesting, getting a great feel for what goes into training officers in the UK. Friday was named as a standout day by the three participants. The morning began in Whitehall where Met Branch Chair Victoria Mason facilitated a special visit to Downing Street where they learned about the specialist role of Diplomatic Protection from the Authorised Firearms Officers and their commander. Remaining in Westminster the memorable experiences continued with a visit to the Palace of Westminster, where the participants enjoyed a uniquely tailored tour, combining both the tourist must-sees with areas relating to policing.

From there, the group visited the Deutsche Botschaft (German Embassy), receiving a warm welcome from the embedded Bundespolizei. Discussions focused on international cooperation, shared challenges, and the common values that bind policing communities between our two countries. On Tuesday the participants were again in the capable hands of Chris Duncombe. After travelling to Ebbsfleet International Station, the day began with an overview of Taser capability and training, offering delegates a close look at how less lethal options are managed and deployed in the UK. This session highlighted both the operational complexities and the safeguards that underpin modern policing.

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Exchange Pogramme

Over the weekend the group enjoyed some free time to explore and tick off some their own bucket list items. However, being keen to see as much of British policing as possible, on Sunday afternoon the group travelled to the home of BTPs CCTV Operations centre, where they were hosted by BTP Branch member David Slade. It was expressed by the group that CCTV capability was perhaps the most significant difference when comparing policing in the UK with Germany. The second week began with a visit to The Old Bailey where the participants were greeted by Met Branch member DS Atwal. In addition to seeing one of the country’s most historic courts, the group were also able to learn about the Judicial processes in place. The afternoon continued with the Met Branch as the group headed to Stoke Newington, where they were hosted by branch member PC Campbell, seeing the vehicles, equipment and processes used by the country’s largest police force. On Tuesday the group returned to the hands of the BTP branch when they met with PC Springall of the Civil Protection Unit who provided an informative insight into the complexities of the environment within which the British Transport Police operates. On Wednesday the group spent the day with BTP’s various Specialist Operations Units, learning about various aspects such as the force’s firearms capabilities, use of dogs and specialist search roles. On Thursday the participants had requested a visit to Manchester to see alternative city before their departure. After travelling from London they were met by a number of members from the BTP Branch based at various posts across the North of England, and enjoyed a social evening too. On the Friday the group spent the last day of their exchange travelling back to London by rail taking in scenes as they passed from North to South. Once back in London the group went to their final visit of the two week exchange programme, visiting the National Police Air Service where they were hosted by PC Webb a BTP Branch member embedded within NPAS.

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Article

Women Through the Ages By Maria Stanley , Region 3 I attended the “Women Through the Ages” International Women’s Day joint Norfolk/Suffolk event, on behalf of the International Police Association. T he day was built around three clear themes: The Past That Built Us, Those Who Lead Us, and The Future We Will Shape, with opening and closing remarks from ACC Julie Dean. The programme included I came away feeling that those women could quite easily have spoken all day and still not exhausted their stories. There is enormous value in creating space for those stories to be heard. They are part of policing history, but they also remain highly relevant to current conversations about culture, leadership, inclusion, and progression.

contributions from retired female officers, serving staff and officers, a confidence session, the relaunch of The Forum, networking opportunities, and a closing panel discussion on the future of women in policing. Context International Women’s Day 2026 was framed around the theme Give to Gain. It is a simple idea, but a strong one. When people give their time, encouragement, mentoring, advocacy, and support, they create better conditions for others to thrive. In that sense, giving is not a loss. It is an investment. It multiplies confidence, opportunity, and momentum. That wider theme felt especially relevant throughout this event. The women who spoke in the opening session had clearly given a great deal over the course of their careers, often in difficult circumstances and with little recognition. Because of that, others have gained. Equally, the day itself created opportunities for current officers and staff to share, connect, encourage one another, and continue that same cycle. Overview of the Day The event opened with The Past That Built Us, including a timeline display provided by force historians and museum volunteers, and personal reflections from retired female officers Sheila George, Pat Allen, and Jane Stevens. It then moved into Those Who Lead Us, featuring speeches from inspiring serving staff and officers: Inspector Dawn Collyer from firearms training, Elana Walker, Improvement and Innovation Officer and Special Constable, Vanisha Mistry, Digital Communications Manager, and PC Annelly Miles from the Dog Section. After an afternoon tea-style buffet and networking session, the day continued with The Future We Will Shape, including a confidence session, the relaunch of The Forum, and a panel discussion with audience participation. The Most Powerful Part of the Day Without question, the most poignant part of the day for me was the opening session. Hearing from retired female officers in their 70s and 80s was moving, humbling, and at times genuinely jaw-dropping. These women were not talking about change from the sidelines. They had lived it. They had been the ones pushing forward in environments that were far from welcoming. Their reflections brought home just how much women before us had to contend with, often with less support, less flexibility, fewer role models, and little formal recognition. It was a timely reminder that the progress women now benefit from did not happen by accident. It was earned through determination, resilience, and courage. One account that particularly stayed with me was hearing that one of the women had been the first female authorised firearms officer. Even in 2026, that is still not an everyday sight, so to consider what that achievement must have meant at the time was striking.

Those Who Lead Us The second session shifted the focus from pioneers of the past to women shaping policing now. It was useful to hear from a range of serving staff and officers whose roles reflected different parts of the organisation. Inspector Dawn Collyer spoke from a firearms training perspective, which was a strong reminder that women continue to lead credibly and visibly in specialist and operational spaces where they may still be underrepresented. Elana Walker brought a perspective rooted in improvement, innovation, and service in a dual capacity as both an Improvement and Innovation Officer and a Special Constable. That blend of roles reflected the value of adaptability, fresh thinking, and contribution across different parts of policing. She also brought her weeks old baby to the event – a real early introduction! Vanisha Mistry, as Digital Communications Manager, represented another important side of leadership. Not all leadership in policing wears uniform, and it was helpful to see communications, influence, and narrative shaping recognised as part of how organisations build trust and culture. PC Annelly Miles from the Dog Section also offered an important example of visible operational leadership. It was encouraging to hear from someone working in an area that people often still associate more readily with men, and it reinforced the importance of women being seen across the full breadth of policing roles. Of course, the dog, Ivy, stole the day and everybody’s attention! Taken together, the session worked well because it showed that there is no one single way to lead. Leadership can look operational, strategic, innovative, relational, or quietly influential.

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Article

Networking and The Forum An important part of the day was the chance to network with women from across Norfolk and Suffolk Police. Networking is often overlooked or dismissed as a nice extra, when in reality it is one of the most useful parts of events like this. It helps people build relationships, compare experiences, spot shared challenges, and pick up information they might not otherwise hear. Quite often, some of the most valuable insights come from side conversations over coffee or in between sessions. I had a couple of conversations with women who told me they had never attended an event like this before and were not entirely sure what to expect. I also spoke with people who had not really known what The Forum was about. That made the relaunch especially important. It is easy to assume everybody understands the purpose of these spaces, but many do not unless someone joins the dots for them. What seemed encouraging on the day was that those dots were beginning to connect. When people understand what a forum or network is there to do, it becomes much easier for them to see how it can support them, how they can contribute, and why it matters. That is one of the reasons these events have value beyond the room. They do not just inform people. They create belonging, confidence, and visibility. They help women realise they are not navigating things alone. A brief but important note on lunch

Alongside me on the panel were some significant voices, including Rachel Kearton, Chief Constable of Suffolk Police and Chair of the Senior Women in Policing Network across the UK. It was one of those moments where I had to keep imposter feelings firmly in check... The panel felt like an appropriate way to close the day because it linked the history we had heard in the morning with the leadership examples and networking opportunities that followed. It brought the focus back to the future and to the practical question of what still needs to change. For me, that included not only the obvious issues around representation and progression, but also culture, confidence, sponsorship, allyship, and ensuring that women have spaces where they can connect and be heard. Overall Reflections Overall, this was an excellent event. It was well-structured, well-attended, and struck a good balance between reflection and forward momentum. The strongest element was undoubtedly the intergenerational perspective. Hearing from retired women officers alongside current staff and officers gave the day both depth and relevance. It also brought the Give to Gain theme to life in a practical way. The pioneers gave through years of persistence and example. Today’s leaders give through visibility, support, and encouragement. Events like this give people space to connect, learn, and grow. In return, organisations gain stronger relationships, greater understanding, and a more confident and connected workforce. Personally, the day left two strong impressions. First, a renewed sense of respect for the women who paved the way. Second, a reminder that progress still depends on people being willing to give of themselves, whether that is through mentoring, speaking up, opening doors, sharing experience, or simply making space for others. Conclusion Attending on behalf of the International Police Association was a privilege. The event was an important reminder that women have long shaped policing, even when their contribution has not always been properly recognised. It also showed the continuing value of bringing women together across generations and roles to reflect, learn, connect, and look ahead. If Give to Gain was the theme, then this event was a strong example of what that looks like in practice.

On a slightly lighter note, as somebody who loves food, I would be failing in my duty if I did not acknowledge the buffet lunch. The afternoon tea style spread was extremely well received, and the generous array of cakes certainly did not go unnoticed. There is probably a serious point in there somewhere about hospitality helping people connect, but for now it is enough to say that good conversation and good cake remain a very effective combination where I am concerned! Panel Discussion I was privileged to be invited to sit on the closing panel discussion on the future of women in policing. The agenda positioned this as part of The Future We Will Shape, with audience participation included, which gave it a more open and engaging feel.

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Learning and Development

Visit to Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany By Trevor Campbell , Region 2 I had the privilege of spending a very enriching week with Polizei Baden-Württemberg in Germany, an invaluable opportunity to exchange policing practices and knowledge, organised by the Hochschule for Policing in Villingen-Schwenningen and the International Police Association of Baden-Württemberg. T he five-day programme was designed to showcase each aspect of Federal Policing in Germany to facilitate conversation around common policing practices and to learn different policing practices During the visit, I had the chance to spend time at the amazing officer development institution at Villingen-Schwenningen Hochshule. This is where they train 2000 officers each year to develop the practical and technical skills needed to become Police Officers but also providing the academic sciences required in the formal qualification. that each service undertakes. Whilst there are some minor differences in legislation, the common aim is clear and their use of mobile technology to enhance front line policing is a priority, as it is here.

To progress through the ranks, officers undertake different levels of further academia to achieve promotion. They attend the Hochschule at each stage of the promotion process, which provides not only the skills needed for leadership roles, but also the academic qualifications needed for the roles they will eventually undertake. I had opportunity to visit many departments including the Water Police, the Criminal Investigation Departments, Control Centres, custody suites, Autobahn Police and several Police stations, most notably the Wasenwache Polizei, which is a Police Station at the Cannstatter Volksfest, Stuttgart - the home of the world’s second largest Oktoberfest each year. They receive over one million visitors to the festival over a two-week period and the temporary Police Station serves as a command centre, solely to manage the massive Police operation. Following this I had the pleasure of experiencing the Oktoberfest in all its glory where I was convinced to wear a Lederhosen for the evening. There will be no photo of this! I was given the chance to drive (if that is the correct term) the Police Boat through Lake Constance, go on patrol with the Autobahn Police at hair raising speeds, meet with the heads of the Kriminalpolizeidirektion, which is similar to our C-Departments, in that it has separate departments that focus on murder investigations, organised crime gangs, human trafficking, drugs and child abuse. I also visited all the other different departments that make up Policing in Germany.

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Learning and Development

This was an amazing opportunity that provided me with extensive information and learning regarding Policing. One thing that shone through was the differences and similarities, was the common theme of why people join the Police there, which is to help people, something echoed by Police I meet from all over the World and personally agree with. I have made some great memories, new good friends, and professional contacts through both the Polizei and the International Police Association. Thank you Baden-Wurtennberg Polizei.

This region of Germany is most famous for the Black Forest and my hosts made sure that I experienced the cultural aspects of their beautiful region too. I was taken on hikes in the evenings and visited villages where the hospitality I received by everyone I met was second to none.

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Learning and Development

Global Lessons in Data Driven Policing By Lou Heffernan-Glover The rapid expansion of big data has transformed the landscape of modern policing, raising profound questions for security policy, democratic oversight, and the protection of fundamental rights.

L ast November, I was able to attend a five-day seminar on ‘The use of big data tools in police work, opportunities, risks and legal obligations’ at The Information and Education Centre Schloss Gimborn (IBZ), Germany, as part of the International Police Association (IPA). Drawing on experiences from speakers from across the globe, participants examined the ethical, legal, and social challenges of data driven policing. Arriving in the tiny hamlet of Gimborn late on a dark Sunday evening felt eerie, with no lights or signs of life. It wasn’t until morning that I saw the beautiful castle and countryside that would be home for the week. Day 1 was daunting—I knew no one, and I quickly realised I was the only non German speaker until two UK colleagues arrived later that evening. I quickly learned some useful German phrases I was able to use the rest of the week, but thankfully, the interpreters provided by IBZ were exceptional, offering seamless real time translation that made even the most technical sessions accessible. Outside the formal programme, many attendees spoke excellent English, which made mealtimes and evenings engaging for networking and discussions. The first seminar session, led by Professor Marc Schuilenburg from Rotterdam, focused on the growing need for policing to use AI to manage vast amounts of data—and the ethical and legal risks that come with it. He warned of dirty data, or as he put it “garbage in, garbage out”, where biased or unevenly distributed police data can lead to biased outcomes. The talk stressed three essentials: defining the problem before analysing data, improving data quality, and involving diverse expertise—not just technical specialists when designing data solutions.

Day 2 opened with presentations from three German State Criminal Police Officers on their use of the Foundry and Gotham systems, created by Palantir, to integrate and analyse vast amounts of police data. Their opening line: “If only the police knew everything the police know”, captured the need for tools that can connect information held across multiple systems. Palantir remains highly controversial in Germany due to concerns about data privacy, partially because it is a US-based company, but also fears of “mass surveillance,” are amplified by the country’s historical sensitivities. Misreporting in the media has added confusion, and the proprietary nature of the system limits transparency, making legal scrutiny difficult and fuelling worries about bias based on historical data. The states stressed that their systems are isolated, held on secure police servers, and used only for serious crime, terrorism, and child abuse investigations, with strict access controls. I’m not brushing those concerns aside, I just can’t say myself whether the data has any bias or how secure the system is. What I can do is reflect what the states told us. And despite the wider controversy, the operational benefits they described were genuinely striking. Gotham helps investigators make sense of data they already legally hold. They are able to ask the system to interrogate the data and look for links – e.g. if you have the devices from two different people, you could ask the system to identify whether they were online at the same time, using the same WIFI at the same time, or in the same place at the same time. The volumes of data involved were staggering. One of the presenters indicated their version of the platform held 55 million objects, 5.5 million person records, 4.5 million pieces of police information and 2.6 million phone numbers.

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The final session was delivered by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Their work focuses on large scale statistical data rather than individual records, using it to map migration flows, border crossing trends, smuggling routes, and vulnerabilities. This analysis supports EU wide planning and border management decisions and highlighted the sheer scale of the migration challenges they face. Whilst I began the week with a mix of nerves and excitement, I ended it feeling genuinely transformed. My mind had been opened, I’d connected with likeminded colleagues from across Europe, and I felt proud of myself for stepping so far outside my comfort zone. Before June, I had never heard of the IPA or IBZ. Yet through TVP’s links with the IPA, I’ve been able to share our practice with colleagues from Denmark and, most recently, had the privilege of representing TVP internationally at the IBZ Big Data seminar. I felt proud to stand on a global stage on behalf of the organisation, and I would encourage others to seize similar opportunities whenever they arise.

Day 3 started with a trip to the Hesse Police Innovation Hub in Frankfurt, offering a useful glimpse into their approach to innovation. In the afternoon, one of the seminar participants led a walking tour of Frankfurt, allowing opportunities to network and discuss the opening two days of the seminar while taking in the city’s striking architecture and enjoying some traditional local food. One of the most memorable moments came at the end of the second day, when I met one of the speakers, Antonio Saccone, in the Turmbar — a self service bar and wine cellar that ran entirely on an honesty system. Antonio was utterly fascinating. As a police officer, he had helped prosecute high ranking officials for corruption in Italy, later working for Europol after being forced to leave the country. I could have spoken with him for hours. Day 4 , the final day of presentations, began with an inspiring session from Dr Matt Bland, Chief Operating Officer of the UK Society of Evidence Based Policing (EBP). Although the concept of EBP was new to many of the German attendees— and something I’d only partially understood myself—his talk made its value clear. It also gave me practical ideas for improving how we use and share investigation audit data, particularly by trialling different approaches and evaluating which genuinely support improvement. Some of the key messages were: • Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should—EBP helps assess whether an approach truly works and what unintended consequences it may bring. • Failure is part of learning—test, evaluate, adapt, or move on. • When using AI, understand how it was trained and tested, including false positive rates, to avoid embedding bias.

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Learning and Development

Gimborn PST Training By Gary Nightingale When Jake Weldon and I booked on to the PST training course at Gimborn Castle, we had no idea what to expect. U pon arrival at the airport we met Errol from Dublin and the three of us made our way to our home for the week, where we were met by Rob, Chris and Tim, the three instructors, together with a few other course members. Monday morning was spent with introductions and half a morning’s PowerPoint with motivational quotes from various sources, all advocating the same basic premise “You’ve gotta be in it to win it”.

In the afternoon we began with some first aid for serious trauma injuries, namely knife attacks where we did some realistic training by packing gauze in to watermelons. Sounds odd, but was actually quite effective for the consistency of an open wound. Day three was washed out somewhat from constant rain, so we blitzed through the rest of the course’s PowerPoints, which was tough going but informative. We did have the chance to look into Op Plato scenarios, where we took it in turns being trapped in a room and having to plan rushing the attacker to subdue them. We did this about a dozen times, and each time was a blast. Learning came out of each permutation, and the time flew by and was up there with one of the course highlights. Launching rubber bricks and foam bottles at each other was great fun. The next morning saw the cobwebs blown off with a warm up and recap of some striking and combos. We did some ground fighting and baton work to finish off the start of the morning and then moved on to drills, simulating perceptual distortion. We wore goggles that narrowed our vision and ear defenders to replicate the symptoms of an adrenaline dump. We then drilled sprinting to the lake and back and had to face a scenario of violence and medical emergency. Great fun and hugely realistic. After lunch we moved on to the five scenarios. I won’t spoil what we did but several of them were pretty close to the bone for realism and eliciting genuine fight or flight responses from the folk on the course. That afternoon was worth the time and money alone. The Thursday evening’s dinner was a bbq where the venue, rather than cook us dinner, just gave us the open bbq and the meat, we did the rest. There was ale, whiskey and cigars had around the flames. A truly wonderful bonding experience between officers from all over the world.

We took advantage of the weather after the morning coffee break, had a quick warm-up and began slapping seven bells out of each other. Well, out of our boxing focus mitts, anyway. After a morning of open hand strike drills we had lunch and then went straight back to it. By the end of day one, hands were throbbing and shoulders were sore. We had half a dozen German officers, including dog handler, firearms, some from an undercover unit, four officers from Cyprus, one from the MET and a French Customs and Immigration officer. By the end of the first day we were all well on the way to improving public relations. Day two, after a warm-up, we were back to slapping each other with more vigour than the 90s Tango advert! We then moved through other parts of the PST manual, which included throwing elbows, knees, kicks and take downs. We moved around partners, working with other officers from around the world, and put together combinations in staged attacks.

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We told stories and stood on soap boxes as the sun set over the beautiful backdrop of Gimborn castle. Several knighthoods were bestowed upon the team from previous attendees and the night ended with karaoke and drinking songs. The last day saw people swapping kit, badges and phone numbers. I think everyone that attended and left had a renewed sense of pride in being part of the family Thin Blue Line. It was a long, hard week, but the experience was well worth it.

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Learning and Development

Later Life Education By Martin Abbott Northumbria University at Newcastle continues to strengthen its reputation as a leader in later-life education, offering pathways that empower individuals to return to academic study after long and demanding careers. As the UK population embraces longer working lives and more diverse second careers, Northumbria University has responded with flexible, supportive programmes that welcome mature learners and value the depth of experience they bring.

F or mature students, time study options, blended learning, and a culture of respect for professional experience create an environment where academic growth and personal development thrive. Intergenerational learning enriches the classroom, with later-life students contributing practical insight beyond academic reviews, while gaining fresh perspectives from younger peers. A powerful example of this commitment is reflected in the journey of NE Branch IPA Member, Martin Abbott, who returned to education after decades of public service. After a long career in policing, both home and abroad, stepping back into the classroom can feel both daunting and invigorating. However, Northumbria University’s structured support, accessible teaching, and strong professional focus make that transition not only possible but deeply rewarding. The University’s Criminal Justice and Criminology programmes, in particular, offer a natural bridge for those who have spent their working lives navigating the realities of law enforcement and community safety. Martin commented: “Years into retirement, returning to full-time education wasn’t an obvious path. It has been a long time since I’d sat in a classroom, and the idea of joining a university full of younger students felt, at first, like stepping into someone else’s world. “But Northumbria University changed that. From the moment I arrived, I felt that my experience wasn’t just welcomed — it was valued. The lecturers understood the perspective that a long policing career brings, and younger students were curious, open, and generous with their own insights”. There is a growing emphasis on intergenerational learning. Courses that bring together students of different ages foster richer discussions, broaden perspectives, and strengthen educational cohesion. Mature learners often bring substantial life experience, enhancing classroom dialogue and contributing to a more diverse academic environment. Northumbria University is investing in support services tailored to later-life students, including academic refreshers, digital skills training, and dedicated advising. Research continues to highlight the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of continued education in later life, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to widening participation. On reflection, Martin added: “Studying Criminal Justice at University allowed me to revisit the system I had worked within for decades, but with new tools, expanding theories, and a wider lens. It challenged me, stretched me, and reminded me that learning isn’t something you leave behind when you retire. Achieving a Distinction at my Master’s degree wasn’t just an academic milestone; it was a personal turning point — proof that growth doesn’t stop when a career ends. My sincere thanks to 3 Region for the additional funding, it helped me a lot. Thank you.” Overall, later-life education is becoming a vibrant and essential part of the university landscape, promoting inclusion, lifelong curiosity, and the idea that learning has no age limit.

• Editor’s Note: Martin graduated in December 2025 and his Master’s Degree was partially funded through a University Scholarship Award and additionally 3 Region IPA. Further information on courses available at UK Universities can be found via https://www.ucas.com/explore/search

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