PW_4_2024

IPA Section UK

Vol 69 No.4 2024

The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

www.ipa-uk.org

London North Welcomes German Visitors See Page 16

Recycle & Recruit Please recycle your used copy of Police World into Police stations to aid recruitment

75 Years of IPA UK 12 Page Anniversary Pull-out

IPA MEMBER

DISCOUNTS

BOOK EVERY TYPE OF HOLIDAY WITH THE BENCHMARK TRAVEL CLUB IMAGINABLE

PACKAGE HOLIDAYS

We Guarantee to Beat Package Holiday prices with Jet2, Easyjet & TUI holidays . With many other Operators our prices are usually better than their Internet or other Travel Agency prices. So whether its all-inclusive in Turkey, half board in Barbados or self catering in Ibiza - let us find the right holiday for you - at a saving!

WHY BOOK WITH THE BENCHMARK TRAVEL CLUB?

We aim to beat other genuine internet and Travel Agency prices

TOURS & TAILOR-MADE

Organised or Independent we can find just the right Tour for you. Adventure, Cycling, Food & Drink, Hobbies & Interests, Rail, Safaris, Solo, Sports, Wellness and of course Groups ! The options are endless! Our own Specialist Benchmark Tours now include City Breaks & Complete Tours to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan.

Open to all IPA members & their families to book

ATOL/ABTA Protected

Great Service & Peace of Mind

CRUISE, LUXURY, & WEDDINGS

24 Hour Helpline

Whatever kind of Cruise: Alaskan, Caribbean, Croatian, Dubai, Med, River or Trans-Atlantic we offer a discount. Want a Luxury Holiday? We know somewhere just right for you. Want help with Weddings Abroad, Honeymoon Packages/Romantic Breaks? – we do them all at a saving to you as a Member!

01422 847 847 enquiries@benchmarktravel.co.uk www.benchmarktravel.co.uk ENQUIRE OR BOOK TODAY!

EVERYTHING ELSE!

The Benchmark Travel Club also book Disneyland Paris/Disney Florida, Fly-Drives to the USA/OZ/NZ & Europe, Hen/Stag Do’s, Ski, Villa Holidays plus of course Attractions & Sightseeing options – UK Breaks like Hoseasons, Rail and Hotel Breaks or Coach Tours and also Car Hire, Airport Hotels/Parking & Lounges - all bookable at a saving! Try us Today!

WHENEVER OR WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO - WE CAN ARRANGE IT!

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

Vol 69 No.4 2024

Keeping You Informed 4–5 Keeping You Informed Clive Wood President of Section UK Professional Development 6–7 Walking In Her Shoes Emma-Jane Dallison

Editorial Norman Hicks e-mail: pw.editor@ipa-uk.co.uk Deadline for article submission for Vol. 70 Edition 1, 2025 is 18 November 2024 Dispatched January 2024

04

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

8–9

Thai Police Engagement Weekend Olly Button

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,

10

Gimborn Wellbeing Seminar Ryan Moore

Feature Articles 11 Canadian Contrasts Neil Hallam 12–13 Flying High Down Under Spike Elliott

12

Hampshire PO6 1TR Graphic Design by BDS 21 Ltd Membership

14–15 Orlando PD Visit Jon Stutley

16–17 London North Welcomes German Visitors

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

29

IPA UK 75th Anniversary Special 12 Page Centre Pullout News 21–25 News from around IPA Spotlight on the SIGs 18 Busy Year for C&C SIG Kevin Hullah

SIGs

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

19

The IPA Writers’ Special Interest Group Andy Gregory

Competition 27

Crossword and Soduko WIN one of these books by Ant Anstead and Tim Weaver

Sports Page 28

Bowls Invitation Karen Duckworth

Cover Photo Sandra Smith - Diversity Equality and Inclusion Champion

29

Paris 2024 Olympics Role Andy Amos

Next deadline 18 November 2024 for publication January 2025

30

Classifieds

31

Diary

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

3

ISSN No: 0032-261X

Keeping you informed

Keeping you informed

Last time I told you that I was excited and looking forward to a meeting of the National Executive with Number 1 Region in Sterling. Well, the best laid plans sometimes fail, and I ended up in hospital for a week. My thanks to Vice President Colin Hutt who had arranged the details of our visit for chairing the meetings in my absence. I know Region 1 can always be relied upon to provide excellent hospitality, so I am saddened that I was unable to make that event.

A n event I was able to attend recently was a Sunday lunch in Cambridgeshire. There at the invitation of Cambridge Branch and Region 8, I was delighted to present member Alan Carter, a friend of our founder Arthur Troop and former International Secretary General with his 60-year certificate. A great achievement and a great man, Alan kindly presented to me a pictorial history of the IPA over several volumes which he has fastidiously created during his time in the IPA. My intention will be to have this digitised so all members can view it on our website, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Also be aware that we hope to increase the admin support at Fox Road as the requirements on our helpful and friendly staff have increased so much that we need a little more support so I will let you know how we get on. By the time this Police World is circulated, I will be returned from the World Congress due to be held in North Macedonia in a week’s time. As I now hold a position on the International Board our delegate will be Vice President Chris Duncombe. Thanks Chris.

We will also be sending Vice President Karen Duckworth and Secretary General Spike Elliott. I am sure they will between them report on the main events. For me this time is a little more daunting but I’m sure all will be fine. As a National Executive we will be travelling to visit Section Gibraltar in the next few weeks on our annual visit to strengthen ties with another section. At least on this visit I will not need to make any special arrangements for currency as I have confirmed the British pound is used in Gibraltar. Now together with two of the members of the National Executive we will be finalising the interviews for the new Vice President post which we hope will make significant improvements in our recruitment and retention offer and our sponsorship potential. Thank you to all who applied. We have some excellent candidates and I look forward to working closely with the successful candidate going forward. Once returned from Gibraltar, my travel requirements on the approach to the festive season seem busy as always. I have two trips to Germany. Firstly, to attend the Gimborn Conversations. An important meeting where I will be accompanied by two young members (this may be in age or Service) followed by a kind invitation to attend the German Board this year, again with one young member accompanying me. You will recall in Peterborough at our National Council Meeting (NCM) last year the President of Section United States was one of our guests and I am delighted that he and his board have invited me and Helen to attend their annual meeting to be held in November, in San Antonio Texas. Joe the President has already told me I will need to buy a Stetson and some boots, if I do, I will let you know. As I am writing this, I am literally just returned from the housing strategy meeting (HSM) which was held in South Shields over the last few days. This meeting is part of the Social Cultural Commission (SCC) Chaired by my good friend and fellow International Board member Christos Parginos. Firstly, I must thank Vice President Karen Duckworth and her excellent team, Mike Elliott, Caroline Brown and Karel Simpson who did a fantastic job looking after our visitors. The visit as it turns out coincided with Caroline Brown having been involved with the IPA for 41 years. What an achievement.

Presentation to Alan Carter

4

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

Keeping you informed

Planting a tree at Beamish with SCC Chair Christos Parginos

Meeting group in South Shields

Always willing to help and support any IPA event it was my absolute pleasure to present Caroline with a Presidential Award whilst at the meeting. Well done! It was a busy agenda and very successful. But some of the events around the meeting were for me an absolute delight. Do you remember the front cover of Volume 2 of this year with the Police UK disability sport report about adaptive sports and wheelchair rugby.? As part of our programme, we attended an adaptive sport exhibition at the Beacon of Light Centre in Newcastle, where IPA member and founder Gary Callier gave us a presentation, followed by an exhibition match which was exciting to watch. He then invited us to try it out. Goodness me, hard work, really hard work. But a great opportunity and thanks to Gary for putting that on. The following day we went to the Beamish Museum which I’m sure many of you will have visited and as part of our visit we planted trees for each of the attending sections as part of the Green IPA strategy.

What was particularly nice to see was IPA members from around the country joining us at the event making new friends and contacts. So thank you to Sandra, Philipp, Liz, Ian, Frank, Margaret, Maureen and Vincent. Now looking forward to our big celebration next year in 2025. I’m delighted that her Royal Highness the Princess Royal confirms that she will be our Patron, and I am liaising with her staff to see if her diary may permit a visit to one of our special events, I do hope so. There’s a saying about giving someone else the bullet to shoot well, Bill Lloyd your National Treasurer asked me to inform you there will be a small increase in subs in line with the NCM agreement of £1 from January. Any comments can of course be directly sent to him!” On a sad note, I have just been informed of the passing of Kevin Troop, Arthur’s son, in Stamford. I understand he had recently been in a care home. I await further details and will of course ensure we are suitably represented at the funeral. Finally, as we approach the festive season , my thanks and appreciation goes to all serving members of the Section. Keeping us safe keeps you away from your family so thank you on behalf of all our members for all that you do. I wish you all a peaceful festive season and very much look forward to a special anniversary year in 2025. In Friendship. Clive Wood,

Me trying Wheelchair Rugby

5

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

Professional Development

Walking In Shoes Navigating New Waters: Providing Security for Team GB Sailing in Marseille By Emma-Jane Dallison When I was seconded from the Metropolitan Police to provide security support for Team GB Sailing for the Olympics in Marseille, I knew it would be an exciting but challenging assignment. W hile I am bilingual and bicultural, English and French , Marseille was unfamiliar territory for me. My only previous short visit to the city had been in 2001 and, as I prepared for the role, I quickly realized that understanding the nuances of Marseille’s unique environment would be crucial to ensuring the safety of our athletes. Meeting these police officers abroad, particularly through the IPA, was like stepping into a completely new world of camaraderie and understanding. My previous experiences with police in France had been as a civilian and had not always been entirely positive. However, engaging directly with local officers through the IPA helped to break down those old perceptions. I found myself sitting down with colleagues, sharing stories, and realising that, despite my past reservations, these officers were just as dedicated to keeping people safe as I was.

Recognising the importance of building strong local connections before my arrival, I turned to the International Police Association’s (IPA) vast network of law enforcement professionals around the world. Through the association, I was able to establish contacts in Marseille well in advance of my deployment. One of the most significant connections was with the President of the IPA’s Marseille branch, who was also involved in the local security for the Olympics and provided essential insights into what I might expect.

Upon arrival in Marseille, I quickly realized that my role would extend beyond just overseeing traditional security measures. Networking with Paris 2024 volunteers, private security teams, and local police & military forces became an essential part of my daily routine. Their insights allowed me to quickly

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

6

Professional Development

provide feedback to our team and ensure that we could address any issues swiftly and effectively. The IPA’s support did not end with my initial preparations. The connections I made through the association continued to be a valuable resource throughout my time in Marseille. These IPA members were not just colleagues—they became friends and a vital source of personal support, helping me navigate the complexities of working in a foreign city. Engaging with the IPA’s local members enriched my experience both professionally and personally, making the world feel a little smaller and more connected.

When I returned to Paris for the Paralympics, it was like reuniting with old friends. I was able to reconnect with the same officers and meet new ones, which made the experience even more rewarding. The bonds we had formed during the Olympics were still strong and plans have already been made for future partnerships and meets. It was a reminder of how the IPA not only facilitates professional relationships but also fosters genuine friendships that transcend the typical boundaries of work. Reflecting on the experience, I realise how the IPA’s ability to connect professionals across borders and cultures made a significant difference in the success of my assignment. The friendships and connections I built transformed what could have been a daunting challenge into a rewarding and enriching experience. Whether it was gaining local knowledge, building strong relationships with on-site teams, or extending my professional network, the IPA was instrumental every step of the way. For anyone facing a similar assignment in an unfamiliar environment or even if you are considering where to go next for your holidays, I recommend making contact with your IPA Branch at the earliest opportunity to ensure you are set up with contacts in advance of travelling. The association offers more than just a network; it provides a lifeline of support, resources, and connections that can make all the difference. My time in Marseille was a testament to the power of global collaboration, the importance of being part of a community that transcends borders and cultures, and how meeting police officers abroad can change perceptions and foster stronger international bonds.

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

7

Professional Development

Thai Police Engagement Weekend Olly Button , Region 8 (Norfolk)

Back in May I received an email asking if I would like to join a small team of Section UK members to help host 10 Thai police officers at Fox Road HQ and it did not take me long to reply as I jumped at the chance to head out from Norfolk and build relationships with police officers from across the world. O ver the weekend of 6-7 July the hosting team and Thai officers gathered at Fox Road HQ in Nottingham. They had travelled to Nottingham from all corners of the country, from Stirling to

Brighton. The majority of these young Thai officers had attended the exclusive Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School before moving onto their police training at the Royal Police Cadet Academy near Bangkok. After becoming warranted police officers at Lieutenant and Captain ranks, they have been given the opportunity to study various degrees at universities across the UK before returning to resume their police work in Thailand. Under the leadership of VP Karen Duckworth a busy schedule of activities and learning was organised for the weekend. After brief introductions over a cup of tea we headed across to Trent Bridge cricket ground. We received a tour of the pavilion, stands and ground hosted by Austin (a retired Notts police officer). For all of the young Thai officers it was a fascinating visit, from a country where Thai boxing is the national sport, most had never heard of cricket. Of particular interest was the control room where we saw the CCTV system and discussed how the ground stewards, supported by the police, deal with anti-social behaviour and public order situations. Despite being in between two important T20 fixtures we were able to walk around the pitch and see it being prepared for Sunday’s match between Notts Outlaws and Birmingham Bears. The afternoon saw Fox Road host two detectives from Staffordshire Major Investigation Team. First up was a case study of a recent tragic murder case by the SIO of the investigation. All aspects of the case were discussed and analysed including the initial call into the emergency services, the attendance of officers at the scene, the gathering of evidence and subsequent apprehension of the suspect. This brought up some interesting learning points around scene preservation that the Thai officers could take back to their own force.

We then received an input from an Interview Advisor and Family Liaison Officer on interview strategies and tactics. All of the Thai officers were returning to their force as ‘Inquiry Officers’ so it was immediately obvious that this afternoon’s input was of great interest with lots of questions posed and notes being taken. The day was rounded off by a presentation on the work of the British Transport Police by one of the hosting team, DI Babatunde Adeyeye.

8

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

Professional Development

Thailand is a country where there is one large national force, so the British concept of county/city and specialist forces was an excellent discussion point. Day two began early with an input by VP Karen Duckworth on the work and benefits of IPA membership. Thailand currently does not have an IPA section, but it struck me that the founder of a future Thai branch could be sat in this very room! We were joined by DC Alka Mistry of Leicestershire, alongside Nottingham Branch members Tony and Annie Berrington, as we travelled in convoy over to Nottinghamshire Police HQ. The group were treated to a walk around the force control room. The control room supervisor gave detailed explanations on all aspects of control and despatch from where the 999 calls come in to how resources are deployed to incidents. We had visited just as they were struck by an IT system outage, so we even saw the paper contingencies swinging into action. The Thai officers were fascinated with the concept of a single county-wide control room, they explained that at home each individual station had its own small control room. We then went on to visit the firearms unit. The officers were given the opportunity to get hands-on with weapons in the armoury and give comparisons with their own weaponry. In Thailand officers are expected to provide their own side arm that is stored at their home address, an alien concept to the strict procedures around weapon booking in and out in the UK. An ARV was brought out and carefully unpacked as each piece of kit was discussed and shown to the group. From Notts HQ we convoyed back into the city where we were shown into Nottingham BTP station. Two BTP officers kindly gave a full tour of the police station and train platforms. It was the first time that the Thai officers had been in an operational police station and there was much excitement at the opportunity to sit in a prisoner van and many photo opportunities in BTP beat helmets and bowler hats. It was genuinely heartwarming to receive feedback from all of our guest speakers on how engaged the Thai officers were at all times of their visit.

The weekend was rounded off with refreshments back at Fox Road and a final opportunity to discuss the differences in Thai and British police training. Whilst comparing police uniform photos I was particularly interested to see a badge in the shape of wings on Thai uniform shirts. I was nonchalantly told that parachute jumps formed a part of Thai police training, I couldn’t help but wonder how many UK officers would relish the prospect of throwing themselves out of an aeroplane in the name of law enforcement! Final goodbyes were exchanged on the platform of the train station as the ten officers travelled back to their respective universities across the UK. I drove back to Norfolk with ten new friends from Thailand on my Facebook contact list and multiple kind offers to meet up if I ever find myself in Thailand. A busy and unique weekend that proved testament to the values of friendship and networking provided by IPA membership.

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

9

Professional Development

Gimborn Wellbeing Seminar Ryan Moore , IPA UK No 2 Region, Northern Ireland Having been a member of the IPA for almost 18 months I was keen to reach out and explore the personal and professional development opportunities that the Association offers. One of these benefits was to attend a seminar at IBZ Castle Gimborn during the first week of July 2024. Located in idyllic wooded mountain surroundings in Germany, IPA’s Education and Information Centre in Gimborn was a perfect venue for some

learning in a relaxed and friendly environment. J etting off from Dublin I soon arrived in Cologne-Bonn airport with a short transfer later to spend the 1st to 5th July on a course entitled Workplace Wellbeing (Develop and implement a framework to enhance and incorporate Wellbeing across Police Forces) Given the increased issue of retention and recruitment of Police across the world, not to mention the ever increasing physical, mental and emotional toll of the job, this seminar focused on the area of wellbeing within organisations. The seminar opened with recognizing the different aspects and definitions of wellbeing with a central theme of developing and implementing a wellbeing programme for your Police Force. Promoted by IPA Section Ireland, the seminar was thoughtfully chaired and facilitated by our colleagues in An Garda Siochana. IBZ Gimborn is known as an international training and meeting place, and it was certainly that, with a range of nationalities represented from all parts of Ireland, Germany, Slovenia, Romania, Luxembourg and Kenya. A cross cultural perspective was useful in our discussions around current challenges within our organizations and their impact on participant’s jobs and roles. Key to our learning was around resilience and its importance, movement and its benefits and developing the eight steps to create a wellbeing framework. However, it wasn’t all lectures and seminars, and our enthusiastic group utilised the relaxing grounds and gym facilities, all interspersed with the occasional European Championship football match in the self-service “Tower Bar”. One of the further highlights of the week was the Wednesday afternoon and late evening excursion into Cologne, to explore the sights and sounds of this historic German city. Attending the Gimborn seminar was an interesting and enjoyable learning

experience in an area of work that I am currently involved in and wished to further my experience and understanding. I also write as the current Vice-Chair of Lisburn & Castlereagh District Welfare Group and I believe the week provided me with a framework to enhance and incorporate wellbeing across our policing district and provide an opportunity to deliver change at a policy and practice level. It also provided an opportunity to further share and implement wellbeing initiatives and develop a culture of personal health and wellbeing locally. Moreover, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet professional colleagues from different parts of the world and enjoy their company and insights. My sincere thanks to the IPA UK Section for their help and support in attending this week in Germany. Thank you.

IPA Group

Table work

10

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

Article

The fallen officers

Canadian Contrasts Neil Hallam , Nottinghamshire Branch During July and August 2024, Elaine and I toured the east coast of New England and Canada. Our trip was centred on the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club’s 50th Anniversary, in Maine, but we extended it to a 32 day tour. R arely stopping more than two nights in each place , we visited: Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Brunswick, Thumbprints on the memorial in Moncton

murdered on duty. A bronze monument features life-size statues of RCMP Constables Doug Larche, Dave Ross and Fabrice Gevaudan who were killed in 2014. It is in Riverfront Park, next to the Petitcodiac River. The monument depicts the three men wearing different uniforms — Larche in red serge, Gevaudan in patrol uniform, and Ross in the uniform of a dog handler. The details of each uniform are intricate, showing boot laces, belt buckles and bulging pockets. Around the statues are maple leaves for each family, their communities, and local schools. 1,500 people turned out to provide thumb prints, which were cast into the bronze leaves. They were among the officers who responded to a gunman, who ignored civilians, choosing only to shoot at police. Three officers were killed, but many others were hospitalised. Bourque was captured following a 30-hour manhunt that gripped the city with fear. He is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 75 years, which seems far more just than the UK’s light sentencing. Our visit to the monument was moving, as JF personally knew the dead officers. But the public location and community involvement in the monument’s creation seemed in stark contrast to the very anti-police atmosphere that is prevalent in the UK today. After our tour with JF, our visit took a more social turn, with a visit to Paul Robichaud’s home in the village of Sainte-Marie-de-Kent. Paul is now retired from the RCMP’s airborne unit. In contrast to our own overpopulated country, outside of big towns and cities, Canadian houses sit on much bigger plots than ours. Paul’s beautiful home had a swimming pool and large patio, where he laid on a BBQ for us. We were joined by JF’s wife Celine, Paul’s wife Huguette and her sister. Huguette taught Elaine how to prepare a lobster for eating, which had been on her to do list for this trip.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia. I submitted IPA travel forms for both USA and Canada, managing to meet up with members in both New Brunswick and PEI. Jean-Francois (JF) LeBlanc and Paul Robichaud answered our enquiry, and we altered our route to visit them in New Brunswick. JF took us to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) station, at Shediac, where he serves as a Community Officer. Policing in Canada is structured differently to the UK. Many cities and large towns have their own Police Force, which deal with most of their areas policing. The RCMP deals with anything Federal, but also fills the gaps, where there is no local force. Shediac was one of the towns where the Mounties were the only police presence. The RCMP station was much like the stations we have on large city estates. There were no horses, just a mix of saloon cars and 4x4s. There was one ceremonial red tunic hanging up, but the officers wear a very standard looking police uniform for routine patrol. The station had a few cells and a breathalyser room. Prisoners could be held there for up to 24 hours, before having to be transferred to a larger custody suite. The judiciary also play an active role in steering the investigation, with a judge phoning the investigator periodically, to supervise the case. The biggest surprise was the access provided by a police ID. Despite being a passenger in a USA registered hire car, JF’s ID got us through the pay barriers at two popular sea front areas. Canada still operates on the basis that off duty officers are expected to help when needed, so they are granted access perks. In Moncton, JF took us to a very moving public memorial to three of his colleagues who were

Neil at the memorial in Moncton

JF, Elaine and Neil at Shediac

The next day, we moved onto PEI, crossing over the impressive Confederation Bridge. Opened in 1997, the eight mile long bridge is Canada’s longest bridge, and the world’s longest bridge over ice-covered water (not frozen in summer, it was glorious sunshine). Our IPA contact on PEI was Alex Jameson and his wife Ann. Alex was a Ministry of Defence (MoD) police officer, serving most of his career in Scotland. The Riverdale Cidery is how they are spending their retirement. Alex brews a range of ciders, from their own orchard, and from wild fruits gathered from around their land. The results were delicious, and I bought all four varieties.

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

11

Article

Flying High Down Under Spike Elliott , Secretary - General In March of this year Helen and I had a meeting in Canberra to attend (non IPA), so we decided to extend our visit and turn the visit into a holiday.

I submitted a Travel request to both Sections Australia and New Zealand with our itinerary, and I’m pleased to say that both sections replied quickly, offering advice and arranging visits. Our first port of call was Sydney. We walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge - not the Bridge Climb, we did that in 2016 - I am in awe of the bridge and every time I see it I get a little emotional! We also visited the Opera House. Our main hobby is walking, so we managed to take part in various walks, including the Sydney City Trail, Bondi to Malabar Coastal walk and the Spit to Manly walk. We flew to Auckland on the Friday and then drove down to Rotorua, where we took part in the Rotorua Walking Festival, a two-day walking event. Day one takes you through the forest and the Redwood trees and day two is predominantly around the town and through the natural hot springs, with the strong smell of sulphur. When we visited before we booked one of Section New Zealand’s IPA houses. Unfortunately due to the many visitors to the area they were fully booked so we opted to stay in an Airbnb. After the walk on Sunday, we drove back to Auckland. We had been invited by Mike Di Leva of Region 1 Section NZ, to a tour of their Air Support ‘Eagle’ Unit, Mike is a Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) with the unit. Mike picked Helen and I up from our hotel and took us to the ASU. This was formed in 1988 and was originally based at Mechanics Bay on Auckland’s Waterfront, before moving to Onehunga in 2019. They operate three Bell 429 Helicopters aptly named Police 1, 2 and 3. The aircraft are equipped with gyro stabilised binoculars, which are used to counter the effects of vibration in the aircraft. Forward looking infrared (FLR) camera, night vision equipment, and a night sun spotlight. Eagle also has a comprehensive array of VHF and UHF radio equipment for communication with Air Traffic Control, Police, Fire and other agencies. For navigation the aircraft is fitted with global positioning system (GPS) equipment which is integrated into a mapping program. We were given a presentation on the unit and its primary role which is an Airborne Observation Platform. The Eagle crew consists of a civilian pilot and 2 TFOs. After our ground tour of the hanger and looking at the aircraft and equipment in detail (Helen and I are both retired RAF so were in our element) Mike had arranged for us to go “Airborne” on a routine patrol sortie. So after a flight safety briefing donning life jackets, we took our places in Police 1, with Riley the front TFO and Paul the Pilot up front. Helen and I sat next to Scotty the rear TFO, and it was lift off! We did a circuit of the coastline with the crew pointing out places of interest, before flying over the

city itself and looking down on Auckland’s Sky Tower, which stands at 328m high and is very impressive. We were Airborne for about 50 minutes before landing. After saying our farewells and exchanging souvenirs, Mike had arranged for Helen and I to visit the Maritime Unit in Auckland. We were shown the different types of vessels they use but the main vessel is the twin-hulled Deodar III, the unit has a very large “Beat” which covers 3,700 square kilometres, which includes the greater Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames. We finished our visit with a spot of lunch after which Mike dropped us off at our hotel. We can’t thank Section New Zealand and Mike enough for our experience, one Helen and I will remember for a long time to come.

Spike, Helen and Scotty (rear TFO) aboard Police 1

Spike, Helen, Mike and Police 1

12

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

Article

Auckland’s Sky Tower from Police 1

We left Auckland on Tuesday and flew to Canberra via Sydney for our planned meeting. During our stay in Canberra we took part in several walks around the capital, including the two-day Aussie Peace Walk, which was in its 33rd year and the second time we had taken part. Coincidentally, during our stay in Canberra, the NEB of Section Australia were having their half yearly meeting so Helen and I were able to meet up for dinner with them. It was interesting to hear that all sections are suffering the same issues with recruitment and retention of members, but that is for another time. During our visit we used the Canberra Services Club, which is open to all serving members and ex serving members of the armed forces including those of the Emergency Services. We met the President of the club Jon Hunt-Sharman a retired member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and a former president of their Police Federation. I even managed to get him to join the IPA! We made our way to Perth and the president of Section Australia Jason Brewer was on the same aircraft. Jason kindly dropped us off at our hotel. He had also arranged for us to meet local members during our stay, and we went out for dinner. We visited Rottnest Island which lies about 30km from Perth, a journey of about 90 minutes by ferry. There is hardly any traffic on Rottnest, so is ideal for walkers and cyclists. Helen and I opted to walk the “GabbI Karniny Bidi” route, which took you around the Salt lakes. We took a slight detour to visit the Island’s lighthouse and take in the breathtaking views, Rottnest is the home to the “Quokka” which is a small marsupial and likes nothing more than posing for a photo! We had a fantastic trip made all the better from the support from Sections New Zealand and Australia. If anyone is travelling make sure you fill that Travel Request in, you never know where it will lead!

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

13

Article

Orlando PD Visit Jon Stutley , 7 Region, Cornwall Branch

In May 2024 my partner and I, being the big kids that we are, spent two weeks in Orlando visiting the Disney and Universal Parks, but a visit to America couldn’t be done without meeting some colleagues and making some contacts out there, too.

T his was the first time I had used the Travel Form that the IPA provides, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was easy enough to do - fill in the blanks and send it off! Within a few days, UK HQ had made contact with the USA, who put me in contact with the Regional President for the area - Judy Duff. After exchanging a few emails, Judy arranged to meet me at Orlando Police Department for a tour and get together with the local officers. I met Judy and the Orlando PD officers at HQ one morning and we caught up and they showed me around their considerable Headquarters. It was striking to see that the Department had almost all of the same facilities as a UK county police force, in a city with roughly the same population as Bradford. The pride felt by the officers was reflected in the museum-like corridors with display cases showing the department’s long history. Of particular interest was that of the capture of serial killer Ted Bundy, where his straitjacket was still on display!

14

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

Article

After a tour around HQ, a meeting with the extensive Community Policing Team was of particular interest, given my role as a Neighbourhood Team Sergeant in my own Force - the resources they dedicate to youth projects and school engagement was impressive - reminiscent of the days when we had a large number of dedicated Schools Officers. Over to the garage for a quick look at the Motorcycle Fleet (Harleys, naturally) and we swapped some patches and challenge coins before parting. I hope to have brought in some new membership to Section USA. The Police Department had heard of the IPA, but didn’t know a lot about it and were impressed by the services the Association offered. After swapping contact details it was time for us to part - I had to go and see a famous mouse about a dog, where incidentally I happened to meet a couple of Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies. My thanks to Judy Duff and Section USA for their hospitality.

M

Y

Y

UK based specialists producing challenge & commemora�ve coins High Quality Coins, Patches, Pins & Lanyards

No obliga�on design & quota�ons service Get your branch, team, unit or force a unique coin Great for charity fundraisers, staff recogni�on or gi�s

EXCLUSIVE IPA OFFER IPA commissions produced at 20% discount

info@challengecoins.club - 01525 868847 - www.challengecoins.club

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

15

Article

London North Welcomes German Visitors IPA London North Branch hosted yet another exchange programme in July, masterminded by London Reception Officer Alex Williams. P olice officers Eike Eckelt and Niklas Jungk from the Rhein-Sieg Kreis district near Cologne, Germany were treated to an action packed whistlestop tour of policing in London supported by the Met

Parliament and Palace of Westminster led by IPA member Alex Scott. A quick visit to New Scotland Yard followed and then a journey to west London, Twickenham. IPA member Kurt Logue organised Eike and Niklas an afternoon with their response teams providing a great contrast to the City of London experience. A swift beer in a county pub on the river to quench the thirst then gave us energy to head back to Waterloo to meet socially with other IPA members and a great evening was enjoyed by all. Our final day was a relaxed one. We managed to arrange a photo visit to 10 Downing Street and then a guided tour around London’s most central police station Charing Cross to see the different operational departments and chat to detectives, officers and police staff about their roles. Our exchange programme was provided the perfect end by IPA member Shiven who generously invited us to dine at his Turkish restaurant in Dalston. We had great conversations over a tasty meal and concluded the evening with a stroll around the West End, enjoying the frivolities and liveliness. A heartfelt thanks to all IPA members who stepped forward to help. These types of exchanges always rely on IPA members offering help and support. By attending the events you can make a big difference and you will find you will benefit greatly from the experiences, opportunities and connections you make. The IPA is a friendship association, run by members for members. ‘Service through friendship’ is our motto, and what great friendships we all made last week. Thank you one and all!

and City of London Police. The programme kicked off with the City of London Police showcasing their response teams on Monday. Eike and Niklas joined early turn and spent the day learning the ropes of ‘City life’. After work we retired to the Civil Service Club on Great Scotland Yard for some good old pub food and sampling of the local tipples. The following day saw a blast around HQ Lambeth, kindly hosted by IPA member Paul Clarke. The Public Order department gave us a talk about major incident preparedness, followed by a stimulating visual presentation about football hooliganism. Our Firearms command MO19 delivered a brief on armed responses for London followed by a closer look at the vehicles, kit and weapons. A guided tour around the Special Operations Room in the bunker was followed by a guided tour of ‘first contact’ and ‘dispatch’ commands. The afternoon saw a more relaxed pace with a delightful visit to the Met Police Horses to learn how the mounted division contributes to London’s policing plan. IPA member Dan Uddin kindly took the reins for the late afternoon, hosting a pub dinner and a very memorable evening at the Tower of London for the Ceremony of the Keys. On the next day Eike, Niklas and two more serving German cops from the IPA London Reception Officer Circular list joined a wonderful tour of

16

POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.4, 2024

75 Years of the International Police Association in the UK

1950

2025

7

5

T

H

SECTION UK

A

N

N

I V

E

R

S

A

R

Y

Why not try to make London the venue of the first of these [national] conferences in 1950? As the Association would be a free and democratic organisation, with a social and cultural background, it would eventually seek membership of UNESCO. What better example can we set as members of the Police Service, than being the instrument of international friendship? The Police Service is a strong rock in most countries. It has a great reputation and is a good model. It can play its part in bringing about peace and security the world over. (Troop, A. ‘Service Through Friendship. 3rd ed 2014). Next year is a big year for the International Police Association and Section UK. When Arthur Troop placed his article in the 12 August 1949 edition of ‘Police Review’ under the pseudonym (Aytee), proposing the idea of a Police friendship organisation, he had no idea whether he would receive any, let alone favourable feedback from it. In advocating the need for such an organisation and setting out an early framework proposal (membership cards and fees, Branches, an International Secretariat etc), he wrote: 75 Years of the International Police Association in the UK Celebrating in Style Vice-President Karen Duckworth (OBO the National Executive Committee)

Scarborough Police Telephone Box

IPA UK – 75 Years – 1950 - 2025 2

Celebrating in Style

S o, how fitting it is then, that in 2025 , Section UK, this marvellous founding section with Her Royal Highness Princess Ann as its Patron for the second time, shall come together throughout the year to celebrate Arthur’s achievement. Notably, on Saturday 7th June at the Union Jack Club in London, for the Section’s 75th National Council Meeting (NCM). That weekend will see all regional committees come together to not only consider where we are going during the coming years, but take a chance with our invited guests to reflect on where we have come from. This event will include a week of ‘London on Patrol’ with operational staff from different countries taking part in a programme of activities leading up to the NCM, before attending it as guests of the President. With the National Golf Competition also taking place that week in East Sussex between the 3rd – 5th, what a busy week that is going to be. However, this is a year for every member to celebrate and get involved, and to that end there are lots of events taking place up and down the country. The centre pages outline month by month what is taking place where, however, let me take a moment to talk through some of the activities as the year moves through. Every month there will be a Regional Walk, organised by the IPA Walking Group in conjunction with each of our eleven regions. The first event of the year will take place in Devon, with the Region 7 SW Spring Break between 21st – 23rd February at the Palace Hotel in Paignton. Sand, sea and fabulous company whatever the weather. Things start getting busier in May, with the Region 7 ‘75 Years of the IPA in the South-West’ friendship weekend, based at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Plymouth between 16th 18th May. A celebratory dinner is being planned at the Marco Pierre White restaurant, which offers stunning sunset views. Also in May, Region 2 will be mounting their epic ‘5 x 75 Anniversary Cycle’ from Belfast to Nottingham. Raising money for the Section UK charity, Thin Blue Line, they hope that lots of people will come out and support them along the way. Apart from the National Council Meeting, June welcomes a new event between 20th – 22nd – the PSNI / IPA / PSUK Tennis Tournament in Belfast. Led by Region 2, this is a new event that hopes to become annual, and bring together tennis players from all the regions as well as new members to the IPA. Towards the end of June, Region 3 will have their Gala Weekend at the lovely Harrogate Police Treatment Centre.

The Albert Memorial, Manchester

July offers a rest, before two wonderful friendship weeks taking place in August. The first is in Region 1, where guests will be invited to the King Robert Hotel in Stirling to enjoy all that Scottish hospitality has to offer, including the launch of the limited edition 75th Anniversary IPA whisky. Later in the month, it’s the turn of Region 3’s Liverpool and Merseyside Branch, who invite you to join them for their Friendship Weekend in the heart of Liverpool. All sorts of activities and visits are being arranged around the Gala Dinner in the Liner Hotel on the Wednesday evening. The National Clay Shooting Competition will take place in Region 8 on Saturday 13th September. This event is open to everyone whether experienced shooters or trying it for the first time. Great fun and a really good ‘experience day’ for newcomers. November will see the last two events on the calendar. Firstly, the IPA’s annual participation in the Remembrance Day parade at the cenotaph will be taking place on the 9th. Then lastly, on the 15th November, Section UK will be hosting its 75th Anniversary Concert at Guildford Cathedral. The concert itself will be a blend of live choral, orchestral and band music, set in the most beautiful of venues. Guildford Cathedral is the location of the IPA’s stained-glass window, situated next to that of Surrey Police. The event will begin with a re-dedication ceremony for the windows. The concert has a sizeable capacity, and we really hope that this event will be supported by members from up and down the country as a conclusion to a very special year. Activities and events are being planned as part of the wrap-around friendship weekend that will accompany this concert for those who are interested. We hope that this supplement has been useful in shining a light on all that is going to be happening next year. A 75th Anniversary pin badge has been designed along with a corresponding challenge coin to mark the year, and these will be available to buy or order through HQ in due course. Planning for these events remains on-going, so for the latest information about all of them and how to get involved or attend, please visit the events page of the Section UK website https://www.ipa-uk.org/Events We really look forward to seeing as many people as we can in this special year. Servo Per Amikeco

The Liver Building

IPA UK – 75 Years – 1950 - 2025 3

75 Years of the International Police Association in the UK

January Sat 11 - 10:00 6 Region - Central & West London The National Police Memorial, London - 13Km (8 miles). contact Alex Williams - lro@ipa-uk.org February Thurs - 20 10 Region - Essex & East London Colchester, Essex - Approx 8Km (5 miles) - contact Steve Hunt - stanway1566@outlook.com Fri 21 - Sun 23 7 Region - Devon SPRING BREAK - Palace Hotel, Paignton March Sat - 01 - 10:00 3 Region - North of England Manchester - 10Km - contact Helen Elliott - cheshireipa@btinternet.com Tues 25 - 10:30 3 Region - North of England Scarborough – 10Km - contact Judith Smith judith.a.smith@btinternet.com April Sat 12 8 Region - East Anglia Cambridge City - About 3-5 Km - contact Steve Bretherton steve.bretherton@icloud.com May Sun 04 – Mon 05 May 2025 2 Region - Northern Ireland Mourne Mountains - Two walks - contact Alice Armstrong 07502 227374 alicemarmstrong@gmail.com Fri 09 - Sun 11 2 Region - Northern Ireland Tennis Tournament

Fri 16 - Weds 28 7 Region - South & South West 75 Years of IPA in the Southwest’ Friendship Weekend Fri 23 - Sun 25 2 Region - Northern Ireland ‘5 by 75’ Cycle Ride to Fox Road June Tues 03 - Thurs 05 National Golf Competition Fri 06 - Sun 08 National Committee Meeting Sat 07 National Committee Meeting - Gala Dinner Fri 27 - Sun 29 Region 3 - Gala Weekend - PTC, Harrogate Mon 30 June 2025 7 Region - South & South West Langport, Somerset - contact Hans Rennie hdrennie@btinternet.com 11 Region - Southern Home Counties & South London Gatwick Airport/East Horley Circular - 9.5Km - contact Simeon Coughlan scoughlan103@googlemail.com August Tues 05 - 10:30 3 Region - North of England Durham - 11Km - contact Chris Charlton ipachris3@gmail.com Weds 06 - 10:30 3 Region - North of England Newcastle 10Km - contact Chris Charlton ipachris3@gmail.com Sat 09 - Sat 16 1 Region - Scotland - Central Scotland Branch Friendship Week Sun 24 - Fri 29 3 Region - North of England - Liverpool and Merseyside Branch Friendship Week July Sat 05

IPA UK – 75 Years – 1950 - 2025 4