Copper Plate : Winter 2012 (Issue 88)

Winter 2012 edition of Copper Plate can be viewed by clicking on the image.
You can view older editions of Copper Plate by clicking on the menu bar above or by CLICKING HERE

Happy Christmas from Durham NARPO

Happy Christmas to All our Viewers

Hi there folks, Christmas 2012 starts here, where we do hope that you will have a smile on your face and have happy memories that we have tried to share with you through our Durham NARPO webpages.

To paraphrase and old saying (with a Christmas tilt) “From little pine cones, big pine trees grow”. In January, 2010 a certain Bob Brown set up the NARPO webpages for all colleagues past and present to share. It has been my privilege to be the NARPO Durham Branch Chairman, “fronting” this magnificent information vehicle.
From modest beginnings, we now have a first class information service, PDFs  of the Durham Peeler Magazine and the Copper Plate,  Durham Constabulary’s newspaper.
To make sure everything is “bang up to date” we provide you with a current diary, a series of photo galleries, plus readers’ contributions and comments. All we ask of you is to continue to support our venture. Please forward photographs and articles of interest to your colleagues – essential fuel to keep the blog “red hot”. We always return you valuable photographs almost by return of post.
Doing a statistics count of the 2 years and 11 months that the website has been “live”, we have had a massive 111,800 page views. 
On average we have around 150 to 200 people viewing each day – a figure that rockets when the next : Durham Peeler or Copper Plate pdf’s are published.
We have 202 people on the email list (some of those are from overseas ex pats & retirees) whilst others are not NARPO members, just interested in our activities. We thank them all for their support BUT we do ask you to spread the word, broadcast our web page and see if we can’t attract a lot more of our ex colleagues to forward their email address to us.” It’s good to talk” as Bob Hoskins said in the BT advert.
Keep healthy and stay in touch. We sincerely wish you, one and all a very happy healthy and successful New Year
 
Alan S. Watson
NARPO Branch Chairman
21^stDecember 2012

Jon Stoddart to lead new inquiry into Hillsborough disaster

RECENTLY-RETIRED Durham chief constable Jon Stoddart is to lead a new inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster.

Home Secretary Theresa May announced yesterday that he would lead the fresh police investigation into the deaths of the 96 Liverpool fans at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at the home of Sheffield Wednesday.

Mr Stoddart has previously had high- profile responsibilities at a national level, he led the independent review of Operation Weeting, the Metropolitan police investigation into phone hacking by the national media and other suspected criminal activity.He also gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into phone-hacking in March and was given an OBE in the 2012 New Year’s Honours.

Mr Stoddart said: "I am aware of the great significance and personal responsibility which comes with leading this criminal investigation.   My first priority is to meet with as many of the families as possible and to establish a working, open relationship with them throughout the investigation. I have held a number of meetings already and have been struck by the families’ humility and steadfast determination to see justice delivered for their loved ones.”

"My role is to ensure that we determine exactly what happened in the lead-up to and on the day of the disaster and establish where any culpability lies."

Families welcomed the move as the “first step towards accountability“ but urged all authorities to work together to ensure justice. The announcement came as High Court judges quashed the original accidental death verdicts on the disaster which occurred 23 years ago and ordered a fresh inquest. Both decisions follow a damning report from the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September, which laid bare the attempts to shift blame for the tragedy onto its victims.

Mr Stoddart will work closely with the previously announced Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into police conduct in the aftermath of the disaster. Both investigations will be conducted from the same office in Warrington, Cheshire. The Stoddart investigation will be into a range of agencies outside the IPCC’s remit but in order to maintain independence, the IPCC will look at the actions of police officers in relation to the deaths.

In addition to announcing a new investigation, a Liaison Board will be established to bring together all organisations working on behalf of the Hillsborough families. Mr Stoddart will be able to recruit investigators and staff to his team but will not be allowed to employ officers or former officers who have prior connection to the Hillsborough disaster.He is also unable to recruit any officers or former officers who worked in West Midlands, South Yorkshire or Merseyside police forces.

The investigation may trigger criminal prosecutions, the Home Secretary said, which will be the responsibility of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Stoddart has been appointed to Metropolitan Police as assistant commissioner to carry out the investigation.

Death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1225 William Harland

It is with regret that we announce the death of retired PC 1225 William Harland, who died on the 8th December, aged 87 years.
William was a beloved husband to the late Jennie and a dear dad to Alan.
William Harland retired from Dertwentside in 1977 after 21 years' service; he had previously served at Jarrow, Consett, and Bradley.

Death of a retired Police Officer : Sgt 163 George Henry Cartwright

It is with regret that we announce the death of retired Sgt 163 George Henry Cartwright, who died on the 23rd November , aged 90 years.
He leaves a son John and a daughter Helen.
George Cartwright retired from Teesdale in 1977 after 30 years service, he had previously served at HQ, Easingwold, Consett, Highgate, The Grove, West Hartlepool and Barnard Castle.