PW_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

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