Police World Edition 4 2014

Article

Essex Experience Student police officers from Brandenburg visited Colchester to experience British policing with Essex police. Steve Hunt, 10 Region Secretary, reports on their experience. F ollowing contact from IPA colleagues at Brandenburg Germany (the area that surrounds Berlin) I made arrangements for student police officers Johann Schmidt and Nico Birnbaum to spend time with various ANPR procedures (automatic number plate recognition) and another day with an ‘all partners day’ involving customs etc. Many foreign HGV’s were stopped and the drivers were surprised to see Brandenburg police officers

Nico Birnbaum, Stephen Kavanagh and Johann Schmidt

departments of Essex police whilst based at Colchester police station. I also arranged accommodation with Essex police employees. A full itinerary for two weeks in June was kindly devised by Inspector Jason Scrivener stationed at Colchester police station. For the first two days Johann and Nico were based with a local Neighbourhood Policing Team. One of their first tasks was to attend a Chief Constables ‘Road Show’ with Essex Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh. They then spent a day with the local Operation Saturn Team which is a small group of local officers formed to tackle local drug dealers and suppliers - executing search warrants and following intelligence received from many sources. The Team was led by Detective Sergeant Andy Stott who was so impressed by the Brandenburg visitors’ enthusiasm for their role that the he personally telephoned me and requested their services again - should any of their future deployment arrangements fall by the wayside. As it transpired two serious crimes were committed in Colchester which changed their itinerary a couple of times. On both these occasions Johann and Nico were again welcomed back by the Operation Saturn Team - who made good use of them in raiding houses. At one house, they both assisted in searching and watching suspects. Johann discovered around £5,000 worth of class A drugs

assisting with questioning, checking documents and enforcing penalties .

formally show appreciation for their dedication enthusiasm and hard work during their secondment. Truly a successful visit proving the worth of the International Learning & Development Exchange Programme (ILDEP). Impressed with the IPA’s role and influence into their visit, both have subsequently joined the IPA in Brandenburg and are busy spreading the ethos of ‘Servo per Amikeco’. Steve Hunt , 10 Region Editor’s note: Owing to Johann’s current job role, his true identity has not been revealed.

In their limited free-time in Colchester they were shown around Colchester’s newly refurbished castle by an official guide - which they enjoyed very much. The guide was a family friend of their hosts. The tour was really impressive, so much history within one place! Their last day in Colchester saw their planned visit to Essex Police Air Support cancelled because of operational reasons. So, to a last duty visit with the Operation Saturn Team assisting with more arrests and drug seizures. Grateful for their assistance, the Team took them out to a local pub to celebrate and thank them for their help. The Brandenburg lads returned home the next day - exhausted. They were both clutching official letters of thanks from the Detective Inspector in charge of Operation Saturn and the Road Policing Officers involved with Operation

Mermaid addressed to their commanding officers – to

hidden in the loft insulation. Other attachments to road

policing teams saw them involved with

Nico Birnbaum, Steve Hunt and Johann Schmidt

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POLICE WORLD Vol 59 No. 4, 2014