PW_4_2025

IPA Section UK

Vol 70 No.4 2025

The magazine of the International Police Association, Section UK

www.ipa-uk.org

Word Congress See Pages 6-7 75th Anniversary Celebrations See Pages 8-11

International Police Association Section UK

Lottery Winners See Page 27

National Clay Shooting Competition See Page 28

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

Vol 70 No.4 2025

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 1, 2026 is 17 November 2025 Dispatched January 2026

Karen Duckworth President of Section UK

6–7

World Congress Karen Duckworth President of Section UK

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75th Anniversary 8–9

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

A Warm Welcome And A Wonderful Week Andy Wright, Secretary, Central Scotland Branch IPA Anniversary Dinner in Liverpool Richard Buckingham, Thames Valley Branch

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11 Webinars Professional Development 12 Cross Border Seminar

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Deirdre Mahony, Chair, IPA UK No 2 Region, N. Ireland 14–15 Modern Forensic Methods - Gimborn August 2025 Andy Oldham

Graphic Design by BDS 21 / Jason Billin

Feature Articles 16–17 Tracing My US Roots

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

Ian Cosgrove, Cheshire Branch

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IPA At The Emergency Services Show We Ride For Those Who Died: The UK Police Unity Tour Grant Donaldson Protecting Our Protectors: Why I Volunteer With The NFRSA Nicholas Seal

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SIGs

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

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The Great North Run - A Family Affair Mike Freeman

Spotlight on the SIGs 20–21 Motorcycle SIG - IPA Slovakia Motorcycle Meeting Bob Blake 22–23 Motorcycle SIG - Visit to Staffordshire Police Road

Policing Unit Steve Lovegrove

Cover Photo National Clay Shooting Competition photo by Alexandra Pap

Sports 28–29 National Clay Shooting Competition Steve Bretherton, Secretary, 8 Region Photos: Alexandra Pap Competition 27 Crossword and Soduko

WIN one of these books by Roy Harvey and John Penlington

30 31

Classifieds

Next deadline 17 November 2025 for publication January 2026

Diary

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ISSN No: 0032-261X

Keeping you informed

Keeping you informed

It has been another busy few months for me and the NEC. We all came together at Fox Road on 4th August for the first time since the National Council Meeting in June. It was a chance to not only have our first NEC meeting of the term, but also think about the way we are going to approach the coming four years in terms of planning and priorities.

I t was a very productive day. I was also glad that Clive, Spike, Colin and I were able to support Bill, along with many close family, friends and local branch members for the funeral of his wife Linda in Bolton the following morning. Later in the month, I went to Lincolnshire HQ just outside Nettleham with VP Kieran English to meet Chief Supt Kate Anderson. Kate is a keen supporter of the IPA and the Branch are in the process of asking the Chief Constable to be their Patron, so this was a very positive meeting in terms of continuing to energise our Patron network. August was also a month of busy friendship weeks, both in Stirling and in Liverpool. I was really pleased to be able to get along to the Liverpool events and had a brilliant time. Huge congratulations to Julian, Rob and George for all the hard work that went into getting people around the city for the array of activities and visits which were laid on. The gala evening towards the end saw the current and former Merseyside Chief Constables in attendance, a sign of the strength of relationship that the branch team have built with their force.

In October, I attended a wellness drop-in event at National Police Chiefs Council offices in London, and was able to make some positive connections there for future activity, including with the Thin Blue Line, Flint House, Police (formerly Met) Friendly etc. Also, as a result of our positive engagement with the British Overseas Territories (largely led by Lorna Corbin here, and May-Britt Ronnebro and Marie Daly for the SHEisIPA project), we have been asked to deliver the online British Overseas Territories Women in Policing Awards 2026 for the FCDO. A tremendous honour and planning is now underway for this event which will take place on 29th April 2026.

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Keeping you informed

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Additional Presentations Additional presentations of note were from Emma-Jane Dallison (Section UK) who leads the IEB Marketing Team. Given her background in marketing and recruiting, Emma-Jane’s presentation was excellent and very useful. Key thoughts that resonated with me were: ‘Members first’ approach (prioritise what members actually want / need) Understand what your members are able to do (time, money, opportunity etc) Connect the Global to the local and vice versa Unified Branding There were colourful and lively presentations as well from future hosts of the World Congress. The next few years’ events look like this: 2026 – Section Sri Lanka – 20th – 25th October (friendship week 25th – 31st October) 2027 – Section Serbia (Belgrade, October) 2028 – Section Hong Kong Day two of the conference, Friday 19th September, was really about recognition and awards, as well as additional presentations concerning specific events and / or projects. Items of interest arising from these: Strategic Young Members Conference 2026 – looking for a host. Sweden Friendship Week celebrating their 70th Anniversary – 2028 YPOS 2027 – looking for a host SHEisIPA event being planned in Sofia, Bulgaria 2026 Launch of a rugby tournament and shooting competition – Section France Launch of an ice hockey tournament – Section Finland Launch of the new IPA song (check IPA Section UK Facebook page) In the evening, the Congress officially closed with a Gala Dinner to which twelve former members of the IEB were invited (including the two most recent former International Presidents). Stephen Crockard (Section UK - Region 2) was present with his wife Diane. Stephen held the position of Head of Administration prior to former Section UK President, Clive Wood. As current President of Section UK, I was invited to say a few words in recognition of this being the 75th Anniversary about Arthur Troop. The IAC did an absolutely superb job with the production of the various presentations, videos and media output and guests were able to enjoy a wonderful video about the history of the IPA. The evening finished with a disco, whilst on the final day many made the most of the fantastic cultural excursion that the Section Poland organising team had laid on, using the Section Ukraine delegation’s coach, which was with the event for its duration. Then that was it: farewells and goodbyes as those not staying to enjoy the Friendship Week departed across the globe once more. In conclusion, it is hard to nail down everything that emerged from this World Congress experience. Suffice to say that one of the most important aspects of the event for me was the conversation and the relationship building with other Sections who are keen to expand the opportunities for their members, and who see Section UK as a valuable partner in that. Next steps will be for the NEC to come together and discuss how we would like to develop these opportunities for the benefit of our members. In some respects, whilst it is undoubtedly a difficult time at the moment, in others, it is a very exciting time both for Section UK and the IPA as a whole. 2029 – Section Kenya (bidding) 2030 – Section Peru (bidding)

World Congress After having to pull out of World Congress last year due to another family health crisis, I was keen to try and get to Kraków this year for the 69th World Congress, as I was the only delegate going from Section UK. The six-day Congress began with the arrival of delegates on Tuesday 16th September 2025. As someone attending World Congress (WC) for the first time, this was the beginning of a superb opportunity to meet IPA colleagues I haven’t seen for a while, whilst at the same time meeting delegates and observers from sections with less current connections to Section UK. My aims for the week were to: • Engage in dialogue to create new opportunities for section UK members • Identify new events and opportunities on the horizon that may be of interest to Section UK members • Strengthen relationships between Section UK and other Sections. • WC itself got underway on Wednesday 17th September with an opening ceremony, which took place in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This stunning venue set the tone for a marvellous ceremony with live music from a local brass band and presentations from International President, Mr Martin Hoffmann, President Section Poland, Mr Piotre Wojcik, the Mayor of Kraków and the representative of the Chief of Police for Kraków. This event was open to both delegates, observers and visitors to the WC. • After the ceremony all Sections divided into their respective ‘7 region’ groups. Section UK is part of the Europe West group, and the countries joining us within that are: Gibraltar; Belgium; France; Ireland; Italy; Luxemburg; Malta; Monaco; Netherlands; San Marino and Switzerland. • The evening of the 17th was devoted to the usual ‘cultural activities’ associated with a WC event. Section UK shared a table with Section Ireland where food and drink (whisky, whiskey, Tayto crisps and a variety of biscuits and sweets) from our sections were made available for other attendees to try. This was an amazing event, and some countries really did put on a marvellous effort when it came to costumes and catering. • Thursday 18th September saw the beginning of the WC conference. My full report is available for you to read, as well as all of the formal presentations given during the event. Please contact me should you wish to have a copy.

In Friendship Karen Duckworth President, Section UK IPA

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Karen Duckworth’s Speech at the Gala Dinner

President Hoffmann, distinguished guests, friends. Thank you for this moment to share a personal view from Section UK about the achievement of our Founder, Arthur Troop, in this, our 75th anniversary year. As everyone here will be aware, Arthur joined Lincolnshire Constabulary in 1936, a small force on the east coast of England, and he served throughout World War 2. By 1949, Lincolnshire Constabulary, like all forces in England, was still dealing with the impact of the aftermath of the war on communities, for example, rationing was only just coming to an end in 1949. So, the policing landscape was changing all the time. I would like to note here that when the first police force was established in England in 1829, its fundamental principle was that of policing by consent. This means that the power of the police comes from the common consent of the public, not the power of the state. This would have been as much Arthur’s guiding principle during his service in Lincolnshire as it was during my career policing in London. It instills an appreciation for the need to work in partnership and be able to collaborate with others. The importance of being able to build strong and lasting relationships based on mutual respect and friendship within policing as well as outside with the public and other agencies, in order to achieve the best results. Arthur says in his autobiography that after years of bitter distrust and brutality leading up to and through the War, “friendship and trust had to take their place, otherwise there would be no meaningful outlook for Mankind for years to come”. So commenced his mission to renew his previous links and pen-pal friendships within the UK and International policing but including a definite purpose – to galvanize a future with freedom, peace… with friendship at its heart. Arthur recognized that for any group to come together successfully, the message of friendship would need to transcend those subjects which were as controversial then as they remain now, including politics and religion. Partnership working was then as it is now about finding common goals and putting personal differences aside in order to achieve the best outcome for the greater good… in our cases, as police officers, the communities we serve. Recently, in a message celebrating International Day of Police Cooperation, International Vice President Oliver Hoffmann noted “every new handshake, every shared experience, and every cross-border professional connection strengthens our collective ability to serve our communities. By building a network of trust, we make the world a safer place, one friendship at a time.” Those words could just as easily have been written by Arthur in 1950 and will resonate with every member of the police family doing their best to serve the public today. Section UK is extremely proud that Arthur Troop was one of ours and are even more proud of what this young man from Lincolnshire has achieved when we look at the IPA now. His message hasn’t changed, but our ability to make it happen through the advent of technology has, and as the new President of Section UK, I look forward to sharing that journey with you all. Thank you

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75th Anniversary

A Warm Welcome And A Wonderful Week By Andy Wright , Secretary, Central Scotland Branch IPA To celebrate 75 years of the IPA, Central Scotland Branch hosted 89 visitors from around the world at the King Robert Hotel, Stirling from 9th to 16th August 2025. Attendees from Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain and Switzerland enjoyed the Scottish sunshine and a week of varied trips and entertainment, highlighting some of the best of Scotland. T he Opening Ceremony was attended by the Deputy Lieutenant of Stirling, Robin Iffla MBE (IPA member), The Lord Provost of Stirling, Elaine Watterson and Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, Police Scotland A Ceilidh (traditional Scottish gathering) was held on the Monday evening back at the hotel where Scottish dances, such as The Canadian Barn Dance, St. Bernard’s Waltz and the Orcadian Strip the Willow had the dance floor full to the sound of the band The Jacobites, led by branch member Adrian Robertson. Everyone was keen to learn the dances and it was great to see so many guests taking part and throwing themselves into the fun dances. 7 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y 1950 2025 SECTION UK

who is the President of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents. The Lord Provost welcomed everyone to the city of Stirling, which celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2024 and Chief Superintendent Hay welcomed the guests to the Police Scotland and Forth Valley Division area. After the ceremony, Central Scotland Branch launched a limited edition 75th Anniversary Single Malt Scotch whisky, which is an eight-year-old Wolfburn, matured in a bourbon cask (cask number 999 of 2016) and bottled at 58% ABV. A true spirit of Friendship and thanks to Wolfburn brand ambassador and branch member, Mark Westmorland for making this happen. Appropriately the evening was then a celebration of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns, with branch piper Stewart Carle providing bagpipe tunes, secretary and event organiser Andy Wright and his daughters Heather and Joanne singing Burns songs and branch member Harry Morton giving a wonderful rendition of Tam O’Shanter. The first trip of the week was to the picturesque village of Pitlochry where we visited Blair Athol Distillery and enjoyed a tour there (with a dram of course). Blair Castle and Gardens in Blair Atholl were also visited. The Castle dates back to 1269 and is the ancestral home of Clan Murray and the seat of the Duke of Atholl.

Tuesday saw a trip to Loch Lomond and its bonnie banks and a sail in glorious sunny weather, seeing the loch and surroundings at its best. That evening the sound of the bagpipes was loud and proud with the Neilston and District Pipe Band playing a selection of tunes and highland dancer, Cameron Walker, dancing traditional highland dances. The week’s highlight was probably Wednesday’s trip to Edinburgh. A day to explore the historic capital city during the busy Edinburgh Festival and free time to explore, before attending the famous Military Tattoo in the evening. Of note, the Tattoo is celebrating 75 years this year too, so it was an appropriate show to see “The Heroes Who Made Us” on the castle esplanade in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. A fantastic sight with the massed pipes and drums and many acts who took part. Thursday evening was the Gala Dinner at the hotel, with invited guests, Deputy Lieutenant Robin Iffla MBE and his daughter, Erin and No. 1 Region Chairperson, Yvonne McGregor and her husband David attending. Some guests had hired kilts for the occasion and together with the local members, the formal dinner and dance was a roaring success, where some of the Scottish dances learned earlier in the week were showcased by all.

Opening Ceremony

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75th Anniversary

Edinburgh Tattoo 75 years

Thanks to everyone who came along and participated. Special thanks to the staff of the King Robert Hotel, who were all amazing (as was the food all week!), and thanks also to Bryans Coaches and Saltire Executive Transport who provided transportation for trips and airport transfers. One of our visitors, Jim Brown from Ontario, Canada said: “All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow!!! This was the first IPA experience for Denise and I and it was impressive to say the least. Every aspect of the event was five star from the start to the last hugs upon departure. The accommodations, food and staff were great. ALL of the events were fantastic! We enjoyed each one of them for different reasons, but most of all for the opportunity to interact with many very special new friends. All of the planning to execute the event was fantastic and created many memorable moments for all, and you should all take pride in what was accomplished. These moments are immeasurable as they will continue to expand in the future due to the friendships and bonds that were formed due to your efforts.” And to all our visitors: “Haste Ye Back”

All were given gifts of a glass quaich (cup of friendship), with an oak whisky stave base with IPA tartan cloth insert to hold the quaich. These bases were all hand-made by branch Vice Chair, Dave Smith. The final day on the Friday started with presentations by event organiser, Andy Wright to those who assisted with the organisation and smooth running of the Friendship Week. The coach and tour guides, Mary and Sandy Morton (who also arranged all the coach trips) and Fiona and Harry Morton, photographer for the week Lewis Allen and his partner Carol, and branch members Jim Bayliss (Treasurer), Darren Gibson, Anne Sinclair and Maggie Murdock, and last, but by no means least, Shirley Wright, “the real organiser”. A visit, with a short walk to the Battle of Bannockburn Heritage Centre, next door to the hotel, to learn about the battle in 1314, finished the tours for the week, before a final evening of entertainment by New Day Vocal Harmony and their musicians brought the week to a conclusion with the last song being very appropriate – “Thank You For Being a Friend”. A truly memorable and fantastic week, where the sun shone and friendship flourished and grew.

Men In Kilts Gala Dinner 14 August 2025

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75th Anniversary

Anniversary Dinner in Liverpool By Richard Buckingham , Thames Valley Branch 1950 legendary “Scouse” stew amongst the menu items. O ur first day out included a very informative open top bus tour of the city. That ended at the docks, where we took a Mersey ferry cruise for an hour. Among the highlights, we passed the new Everton FC ground at Bramley Dock. In the afternoon/evening there was the opportunity to visit a live music festival of pop tribute acts. On the second morning, group tours went to either the Roman Catholic cathedral or the Church of England cathedral. In the afternoon, visits to the Beatles Museum and The Cavern Club were offered. On the third day we visited the purpose built four-year-old Merseyside Police HQ. Our visit was opened by the Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy KPM, showing us an overview of her four years in charge of Merseyside. This was followed by a presentation about local policing by the Superintendent in charge of St Helens, one of the five Areas of Merseyside. During the afternoon we visited the Matrix department. This covered all aspects of Ops Policing, such as dog section, firearms, traffic, methods of entry, and drone operations. I’ve never seen such a fabulous firearms range, which also had the capabilities to include exercises with vehicles.

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Judith and I recently attended the IPA Region 3 Liverpool and Merseyside 75th anniversary celebrations of the IPA. We were based at The Liner Hotel, just a few hundred yards away from Liverpool Lime Street train station, very close to the city centre. We were welcomed at an evening reception which included the

This was followed by a celebratory four course gala evening meal at the Liner Hotel. Celebratory guests included the Chief Constable of Merseyside, the Mayor of Liverpool, the President of IPA France and our very own President, Karen Duckworth (see Keeping You Informed , page 4). Our last full day gave options of visiting various museums and a ground tour of Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC or a “Magical Mystery Tour” by bus. It also gave us time to reflect on and appreciate the enormous amount of work involved in arranging the logistics and coordinating such an event.

Rob Smith (Secretary) was our main contact, but there was also a small team of people helping Rob, and we were grateful for all their endeavours. As well as fellow Brits, we had guests from around the world, including Canada, Germany, France, Norway and Poland. We had an absolutely fabulous time, and look forward to seeing what future events the IPA will offer.

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Webinars Section UK is running a series of webinars for its members and to attract non-members to join the organisation. W e had the pleasure recently of longstanding IPA member Mark O’Donoghue, who currently works at the National Police Chiefs Council and has an extensive policing career. Mark has many skills and his latest webinar covered the benefits of mentoring and coaching. A webinar on 27 August was attended by over 20 policing colleagues and members from UK & International sections. Mark covered the differences in mentoring and coaching and bringing to life with personal experiences. This included his mentoring experience through the IPA SHEisIPA international mentoring process. Where Mark has been a mentor for a colleague from Royal Gibraltar Police service. With a healthy question & answer session the audience was engaged and those who attended benefited from Mark’s presentation. Thank you to Mark who kindly plans to do more webinar content for the IPA in the future. Please see the events page of the website for current scheduled webinars. If you have any ideas or would like to present at a future webinar please contact Professional Development VP Kieran English.

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Professional Development

Group photo PSNI & AGS IPA members

Cross Border Seminar By Deirdre Mahony , Chair, IPA UK No 2 Region, N. Ireland The IPA third annual Cross Border seminar was hosted in Garnerville Police College, Belfast on 28 August 2025. I t was co- facilitated by Ms Marie Daly IPA, 1st Vice President Section Ireland, Chair of IPA Region 24 Garda College and DC Deirdre Mahony Chair of IPA UK Section 2 Northern Ireland.A delicious lunch and all logistics were organised by the committee of No 2 Region, Northern Ireland. The Garda Commissioner was represented by Chief Superintendent Sean Colleran and Chief Constable PSNI was represented by Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton. The theme of the seminar, as always, is current policing issues facing both An Garda Siochana (AGS) and PSNI. Section Ireland provided two speakers and Section UK Region 2, Northern Ireland likewise. The topics this year were: Extreme Violence - Terrorising versus Terrorism delivered by Detective Chief Inspector Paula Bradley, a Senior Investigating Officer in the Terrorist Investigating Unit, PSNI. Murder on the lough: Case Study delivered by Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson. MIT 4 PSNI leading investigations in serious crime. Interviewing victims – a trauma informed approach to competent forensic interviews was delivered by Geraldine Noone, PHd. Geraldine was National interview advisor to an Garda Siochana and was instrumental in researching and developing An Garda Siochana interviewing model (GSIM). Money laundering - the lifeblood of transnational Organised Crime delivered by Steven Meighan PhD. Steven is a Detective Superintendent in Organised and Serious Crime in An Garda Siochana. These Officers and IPA members gave freely of their time and expertise to share with their IPA colleagues. The participants bring back a wealth of knowledge to AGS and PSNI.

Steven Meighan - Money Laundering

Gary Robinson - Murder on the Lough Case Study

Ch Supt Sean Colleran, North Western Command AGS

Deirdre Mahony, No 2 Region & Marie Daly, Section Ireland

DCC Bobby Singleton, PSNI

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Modern Forensic Methods Gimborn August 2025 By Andy Oldham I retired in 2023, having completed just over 30 years both as a Special Constable and then as a regular with Surrey Police, transferring to the Met for my last five years. In my time I did all manner of uniformed roles, ending up as a full-time tactical firearms commander. S ince retiring I’ve started a business as a police advisor/ consultant to film and TV companies and have already done some interesting pieces of work for BBC, ITV and Sky productions. I’m

conscious though that I have a knowledge gap when it comes to forensic investigations and so signed up to attend this course at the IPA’s castle in Gimborn. I last attended Gimborn in November 2004 when I gave a presentation about the Special Constabulary. The castle looks as splendid as ever, especially in the warm sunshine which made the week even better! This week-long course attracted delegates from Germany (Federal Police and Bonn City Police), Cyprus and Romania (various CID, forensic and police departments) plus the lone representative from the UK - me! During the week, we heard presentations about methods for lifting fingerprint marks from organic substances (fruit, leaves, even human skin), and an interesting case study from Romania, where a murder suspect was identified through clothing marks left in mud at the scene.

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One particularly unusual presentation - a university in Germany has developed a method of comparing the skeletal features of an offender on CCTV to suspects in custody with a high level of confidence. This method involves scanning the scene with existing 3D technology, but also scanning the suspect via a turntable and multiple cameras. In the middle of the week we travelled to Bonn, where we had a tour of their regional HQ - a large, modern, steel and glass building quite unlike any police station I saw during my service! During the visit we saw a forensics team, visited the control room and had a presentation on cold cases from a university professor who works with the police. Our final full day was dedicated to various presentations from Byron Chamberlain, BTP’s scenes of crime supervisor. These fascinating inputs covered topics as varied as basic forensics at a scene, body recovery on the railway and disaster victim identification at major incidents like Grenfell Tower, the Manchester Arena bombing and the Croydon tram crash. And in between all of the sessions I enjoyed all that Gimborn has to offer - great food including a Romanian dinner and a BBQ, and of course the delights of the Turmbar!

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Article

Tracing My US Roots By Ian Cosgrove , Cheshire Branch The Star Spangled Banner waving, eagles flying, BBQ, drag racing, football, bowling, college campus, fire trucks, big rigs, Sheriffs, State Troopers, and lots of cops. I don’t think I could have got any more of an American lifestyle if I had tried during my five days in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the 2025 IPA US Section Training Seminar.

I joined the IPA in 2022, and apart from having a family photograph in front of 10 Downing Street and adding the Police patch I was given when I joined to my collection, I am probably guilty like most of not taking the opportunities that the IPA can offer its members. Originally born in Orlando, Florida, I have forever been obsessed with my American heritage within the big old US of A, and when the opportunity arose to apply to win some funding to go to the 2024 US Section Training Seminar, I thought that I could finally scratch that itch. I’ve always wondered: if my parents had remained stateside, would I have chosen a career in law enforcement as I have done living in the UK as a Bobby?. I am guilty of watching US cop shows on a regular basis and being in awe of the muscle cars, uniform, and sense of family they have in the stations. I have to admit that I was very apprehensive about the trip, and it was a big unknown for me as I had never done anything with the IPA—not even an online seminar—so I was jumping in at the deep end. I was going to board a plane and head to Green Bay and hope that a guy called Joe, who I had been talking to, was true to his word and had someone waiting for me at the airport. Joe Johnson was not only true to his word but surpassed my expectations. I was met off the plane by a member of his team, and from that moment on, I can only describe what followed as 5-star hospitality. The seminar commenced and 31 cops were bundled into a lecture hall. They came from PSNI, Kenya, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Japan, The Maldives, Gibraltar, Australia, and of course England. All these officers were from all over the world and within hours of being with them all, one thing was obvious, we were all cops! We were all dealing with the same crimes, the same problems, and enjoyed the same successes. Each officer represented their home country and force like true professionals, and we were all clearly there not only for the experience but to develop ourselves as officers. It was obvious to me that from day one that I had made the right decision to attend, and this was validated as the days progressed, and I experienced the training and social events. Day two began with the physical side of the training and a trip to a shooting range. Not only did I get to dress up as a Sheriff but also try my hand at firing a gun. Now, as I was the only UK officer who did not carry a firearm, and the UK being the only nation at the seminar whose officers don’t carry a gun as standard, my odds of being one of the better participants were low, and after the handgun firing session, it was confirmed that I was a terrible shot (I did hit the target once, but it was in error). When we progressed to the high-powered rifle, I was much better and didn’t miss once. However, that was due to the gun and not the talent. We then moved on to searching a large area as if we were looking for an active shooter, and this is when it hit me. The USA cop shows and documentaries I watch are not just entertainment on the television they are real. The cops that were delivering this training to me were teaching this as gun violence and this is a real daily threat. The officers come into work each shift with the possibility of being shot at. One of the teachers, Jeremy Stover with the Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department, told us a story of when he had an active shooter in a casino, reinforcing the dark reality that cops, not just in the USA, face each day with gun crime. In latter days of the seminar, we also did active shooter training in a local

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get signatures for each nation. I had the pleasure of being selected to ride along in a Chevrolet Charger! (That was an item on my bucket list ticked off being in an American muscle car.) Once we set off, approximately 182 Harley Davidsons led the pack, followed by 71 patrol cars mixed with 89 muscle cars, and to end the 15-minute procession was a big rig semi-truck. The noise was something to behold, and my arm was aching from waving at the public as we drove through small towns. When the route was completed, we arrived at Wisconsin International Raceway. It was a little quicker than usual, as all intersections had been cleared by the Wisconsin State Patrol. At the racetrack, everyone was allowed to give their vehicles a blast down the 1/4 mile drag track, where we again heard the national anthem, but this time, an eagle was released so that it could fly above us all whilst we paid our respects to the Star-Spangled Banner. I spoke to cops from all different law enforcement agencies and managed to speak to a State Trooper about being a roads policing officer. It’s something I was desperate to do and of course we swapped patches. Over the course of the afternoon, I quickly became addicted to watching drag racing, and as always, a friendly local was at hand to talk to me and explain the finer details. The English accent is a plus in getting a conversation going. The day, I think, went down for most of the officers in attendance as their best experience. To see so much support for law enforcement was overwhelming and a sharp reminder why all of us at the seminar joined the force. Sometimes I think we can all be guilty of forgetting why we joined the police, and events like this reminded us all why. The day’s event raised $14,710, which was a massive success. Each evening whilst in attendance brought social events, including a tour of the Green Bay Packers stadium, and as an operational football officer, I was really looking forward to the tour and

high school. From this visit, I can confirm that the high schools are like they are in the movies, but the threat of high school shootings are at such a level that teachers are given similar training to what I was given, which shocked me. I was given the opportunity to sweep corridors looking for an active shooter, which was made more realistic with a training backpack that set off shooting sound effects. I also trained in using OC spray, which is simply captor/pava spray most UK forces use. This training was delivered by retired NYPD and Chicago officers. Now, this was the day I was least excited about, as I thought it was going to just be the same as my own PST training I moan about each 12 months when I must requalify, but I was wrong. Despite most of the techniques being the same, I took so much from the course. All officers were comparing notes on how they did it, and it made me think about different techniques and methods I would have never thought about and will be taking into my own policing style. We were at this point all close and getting on well, and you could say we were learning through friendship. Now, I’ve saved the best experience of the trip to tell you about last: the Police Lights of Christmas charity event Ride With The Lights . Each year, this charity holds events to raise money to buy gift cards that can then be distributed at Christmas by Police Departments to those in real need. 2025’s Ride with the Lights had a twist—it had 31 international cops along for the ride, with local law enforcement agencies including the State Patrol! An emotional opening ceremony was conducted with a retired officer expressing his thanks to the charity that supported him whilst he was ill. The retired military displayed the flag while the national anthem was sung live. It felt like I was at the Super Bowl, and it’s a moment I will never forget. Once we arrived, we mingled with everyone there and members of the public were given a card with each nation’s flag on, and they were tasked to

Lambeau Field surpassed Wembley Stadium for me. We had an evening of bowling, a tour around a brewery, and lots of war stories being shared in a recreation room while a sergeant from Chicago PD span records on the DJ set. Joe, the US section President, and his partner Missy were the leading force of a small team who made the experience the best it could be. Their hospitality was second to none, and no ask was too big. They made the whole experience amazing. A short walk over the River Fox from the College Campus accommodation was De Pere City Hall, housing both the fire and police stations and the mayor’s office. In good old-fashioned American friendliness, when I walked over to say hello, I was given a private tour of the fire station, the police station, and the mayor’s office—all of which was a great experience, and I took away so much from it all. Joe, at the beginning of the course explained that we would leave this course with new connections and friendships from across the globe. I took this as just a selling tagline, but he could not have been more right. I left with new friendships, knowledge, and experiences that I never thought possible. And just like a famous line in an American film: “I’ll be back!”

POLICE WORLD Vol 70 No.4, 2025

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IPA At The Emergency Services Show The IPA enjoyed a free display exhibition space at the Emergency Services Show (ESS) which was held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) over two days on 17-18 September 2025. M ore than 12,000 people visited the ESS over the two days, and the IPA stand attracted many police visitors. The popular event was first established in London in the Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria, London the year following the 2005 London bombings and has increased in popularity year on year, eventually moving to the larger facilities at the NEC. Next year will mark its 20th anniversary and an IPA stand has already been requested for the show, which will be again held at the NEC on 16th-17th September 2026. Tony Thompson, a member of the Advisory Council for the International Security Expo (ISE), will be moderating the Global Counter Terror & Security Summit being held at the ISE at London Olympia on 30th October and 1st September this year.

L-R: Tony Thompson (Chair IPA Avon & Somerset), Nadeem Zain (BTP), Kev Vince (West Midlands), Harbans Thiaray (Leicestershire), Rupinder Kaur Gill (Thames Valley)

Tony had asked the ISE organisers if the IPA could be provided with a free stand at the ISE but, due to a significant increase in government agencies requesting space, it was not possible. However, early discussions are taking place to obtain a space for the IPA at the 2026 event at London Olympia. We Ride For Those Who Died: The UK Police Unity Tour By Grant Donaldson In August 2026, hundreds of police officers, staff, and supporters including many IPA members from across the United Kingdom once again took to the road on two wheels for a cause that unites us all. The UK Police Unity Tour is more than just a cycling event — it is a moving tribute to fallen colleagues and a powerful demonstration of solidarity within the policing family. T he Police Unity Tour began in the United States in 1997 and has since grown into a global movement. Its mission is simple yet profound: “We Ride for Those Who Died.” Riders cover long distances by bicycle, raising awareness and funds for the families of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. How to Get Involved Whether you are an experienced cyclist or someone seeking a new challenge, the Unity Tour is open to serving officers, retired colleagues, police staff, and those connected to the police family. Each participant commits to fundraising for COPS, with every pound making a real difference. • Ride: Join one of the regional chapters and take part in the 2026 tour. • S upport: Volunteer as part of the support crew, helping riders complete their journey. • Donate: Every contribution helps sustain the vital work of CoPS.

The UK ride was established in 2013 and has continued to grow each year. The 2026 tour promises to be the biggest yet, with regional chapters uniting for a multi-day ride culminating at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Here, participants gather for the Care of Police Survivors (CoPS) service of remembrance, a moving service of remembering and honouring colleagues whose names are etched into our history. Each participant wears a wristband dedicated to a fallen officer, carrying their name and memory throughout the journey. At the end of the ride, those bands are presented to the families of the fallen — a deeply emotional and humbling tradition. Supporters also play a crucial role, from logistics teams ensuring riders’ safety, to colleagues and communities cheering from the roadside. This remembrance, and raising funds for CoPS, the charity supporting the loved ones left behind when a police officer dies in service. Since its inception, the UK Police Unity Tour has raised over £1.8 million for CoPS, helping families rebuild their lives after unimaginable loss. As one rider put it: “The miles we ride are nothing compared to the sacrifice our colleagues made. We ride to ensure they are never forgotten.” sense of unity and shared purpose is at the heart of the tour. The Unity Tour is not just about cycling. It is about recognition,

The UK Police Unity Tour is not only open to riders from across the UK, but we are very happy to welcome international colleagues for our ride. In the past few years, we have had officers from worldwide law enforcement departments join us who have been welcomed with open arms. The IPA has always stood for friendship and solidarity across policing, and the Police Unity Tour embodies those values. By joining the ride or supporting those who do, you will be part of something bigger: a living commitment that our colleagues’ service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The 2026 tour is a powerful reminder that the thin blue line extends far beyond duty shifts and jurisdictions — it connects us all, past and present. For more information on how to take part in the UK Police Unity Tour 2026, contact tour leader Andy Swift - andy.w.swift@met.police.uk or visit: https://ukpoliceunitytour.org/ Many thanks in advance Grant

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POLICE WORLD Vol 70 No.4, 2025

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Focus on the SIGs – Motorcycle SIG

IPA Slovakia Motorcycle Meeting By Bob Blake Late in 2024 I became aware of a motorcycle meeting being arranged by IPA Slovakia in Látky, at the Hotel Zerrenpach from the 4th to the 7th September 2025. A price of £295 per person for accommodation and food seemed very reasonable. N ever having visited Slovakia before, but being keen motorcyclists, my wife (Lou) and I discussed the possibility of going and soon decided this was a trip not to be missed. Reservations were made and a trip was planned from our home in Alsace, Eastern France, where we have lived for many years. Despite living in France I have retained my membership of the UK IPA section, and also belong to the UK IPA Motorcycle SIG.

On Tuesday 2nd September we set off, me on my BMW R1250 GSA and Lou on her BMW R1200 RS. With overnight stops near Munich and Vienna, we duly arrived at the venue on the afternoon of Thursday 4th. Just before reaching the venue, we refuelled and met up with three French colleagues who were also attending the meeting (Christophe, Sandrine and Patrick). The weather had been kind on the trip, and a mixture of Autobahn and country roads had made for an enjoyable journey. By the number of bikes already in the car park at the time of our arrival, and the steady flow afterwards, this was obviously going to be a big meeting. It was later estimated that over 100 bikes attended with more than 140 participants. IPA members from Spain, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary (and possibly some I’ve missed) were present. Fortunately, English was widely spoken so communication was not a problem. At the evening meal, which was typical Slovakian cuisine, Mgr. Richard Kadnár, President Slovak section IPA, welcomed us all and ran through the programme for the weekend. It was stressed that the organised rides out on Friday and Saturday would depart at 08:30 hrs prompt, so breakfast would be from 07:00 hrs (no chance of a lie in then!!). Following an enjoyable evening it was off to bed and a good night’s sleep. It was mentioned that in Slovakia the drink/drive alcohol level is zero, so this had to be borne in mind when consuming alcohol in the evening. Following a lovely breakfast with copious quantities of Slovakian food (Lou especially liked the spicy beans, complete with paprika and chopped sausages, which we called “Cowboy Beans” from the film Blazing Saddles), we were off, bang on 08.30hrs, with a Police Escort (two bikes and a pilot car) assisted by Slovakian IPA outriders. The escort was definitely needed as getting the huge number of bikes through junctions and towns in one complete group was no mean feat. Many locals lined the streets and waved at what must have been a truly spectacular sight. We had a coffee stop mid-morning and saw some lovely scenery on our 130 km morning ride before reaching our lunch venue. A surprise was that lunch was all laid on and included in the price of the weekend. After lunch, time for a walk around to get a bit of exercise before continuing on the afternoon ride of 135 km (also with a stop mid-way). Following our return to the hotel, time for a shower, change of clothing and then more socialising and eating! Once again, at 08.30 hrs Saturday morning we were off, still with our Police Escort. First stop was the Slovak National Uprising Museum, where we were given a very interesting talk (in English) about life in the region under the Nazi regime and afterwards. Our 165 km morning ride once again finished with a lunch (also included in the price of the meeting) before a more leisurely 90 km ride back to the hotel. Before the evening meal, presentations were made to and from each participating country and other gifts were exchanged between groups. One gift received from the Slovakian IPA was very interesting, a hunting knife engraved by the Slovak IPA. Bet you wouldn’t get that at a UK IPA meeting! Best keep that safe at home. On Sunday morning breakfast was slightly later and then it was time for everyone to go their separate ways. Goodbyes were said and off we all went.

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