Death of a retired Police Officer : PC 450 Dennis Robinson BEM

It is with regret that we announce the death of a retired Police Officer : PC 450 Dennis Robinson BEM, who died on 12th January 2013,  aged 89 years.
Dennis retired from Durham Constabulary  on the  26th October 1981

Death a retired Police Officer : Chief Inspector Richard Matthew (Matt) Hutchinson,

It is with deep regret that we have to inform you of the  death a retired Police Officer :  Chief Inspector Richard Matthew (Matt) Hutchinson, who died on the 24th January, 2013 in hospital, aged 95 years.
Matt joined Durham County Constabulary in 1938, followed by World War II service, resuming police duties and retiring in 1973 .

Help with pictures of Harperley Hall (1971–1980)

A request for some pictures from one of our readers. If any of you have any pictures of Harperley Hall, etc from this time (or suggest who might have), please can you forward via : durhamnarpo@gmail.com and we will publish on the site & in the gallery :

“Dear Sir/Madam,
I found your site fascinating seeing some faces I recognise from child hood.
I was brought up at Harperley Hall, Durham Constabulary's training facility and home at the time to the mounted branch and the police dogs , between 1971 to 1976 before moving to a Police house in near by Fir Tree village.
My father Bill Maltman, was a mounted officer and I was wondering if you have any more photos from Harperley Hall around the time 1971-1980.
My own family hear me talking about my childhood growing up with the excitement of Police horses and dogs and police cars being around but I've never been able to show them any photos.
Many thanks,
best regards,
Glenn “

Death of a retired Police Officer : Chief Inspector 235 John Reed

It is with regret that we announce the death or retired Chief Inspector 235 John Reed, who died on the 24th January 2013, aged 72.
John retired from Durham Constabulary on the 25th July 1993.

Death of a retired Police Officer : PC Lawrence Richardson

It is with regret that we have to inform you of the death of a retired Police Officer : PC Lawrence Richardson, who died on Wednesday 16th January 2013, at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Aged 92 years.
Lawrence retired from Durham Constabulary in 1973

Home Secretary approves radical overhaul of police pay and conditions

• Theresa May backs radical reform of pay and conditions
• New recruits will see starting salary cut from £23,259 to £19,000
• Controversial changes were drawn up by lawyer Tom Winsor
• Police Federation says it 'fails to reflect the dangers' of the job

The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the cut was 'ill-conceived and fails to reflect the dangers and demands inherent in the job'.

There was also widespread anger on social media sites used by officers. One wrote on Twitter: 'McDonalds starting salary £21.5k…'

Mrs May, the home secretary, said the starting salary for police constables in England and Wales will be cut by £4,000 to around £19,000 in the first major overhaul of police pay and conditions for more than 30 years.

She told MPs she was accepting the recommendations of the police arbitration tribunal which would help “modernise police pay and conditions so that they are fair to both officers and the taxpayer”.

Mrs May said she accepted the tribunal's recommendation that the salary for recruits with no experience, such as school-leavers, should be cut by 17 per cent, to £19,000.

Older recruits with relevant experience, such as a period as a special constable, will earn £22,000 a year. New recruits in London will earn a minimum of £21,000, which could rise to £25,500, if they live in an expensive part of the capital.

The move follows a landmark review of police pay and conditions by the former rail regulator Tom Winsor, who is now the first non-officer to hold the post of Chief Inspector of Constabulary, which angered rank-and-file officers.

Mrs May said: “Existing police pay and conditions were designed more than 30 years ago which is why we asked Tom Winsor to carry out his independent review.

“Police officers and staff deserve to have pay and workforce arrangements that recognise the vital role they play in fighting crime and keeping the public safe.”

The home secretary stressed that in reaching her decision she recognised that the police did not have the right to strike and the particular frontline role and nature of the office of constable.

But the home secretary has followed the recommendation of the police arbitration tribunal to delay a decision on the most controversial element of the Winsor package, which is the introduction of a system of making police officers compulsorily redundant for the first time.

The change was to be introduced from April giving discretion to chief constables struggling to make 23% cuts in police funding over three years. The home secretary has now given police staff associations and their employers until July to reach agreement on compulsory severance.

Elfyn Llwyd, a member of the Commons justice select committee, said the move was a “historical low”.

“These repeated attacks on funding for vital public services are counter-productive and grossly unfair,” he said.

“The police service throughout the UK does a fantastic job but both the reputation of these forces and the safety of communities are in jeopardy due to the Coalition's unsustainable budget cuts and proposed changes in working practices which will undermine the morale of hard-working officers.”

He added: “This is a historical low in terms of Government’s lack of respect for the police service and it will have far-reaching consequences including making it more difficult for the police to ensure that they are able to deal with crime and public order.”

Labour's police spokesman, David Hanson, said the £4,000 cut in starting pay could not be allowed to discourage the best quality candidates from coming forward.

"There is a real worry that the proposed starting salary for all police officers will damage the ability of police forces to recruit officers of the right skills and experience and directly contradicts the government's own wish to limit recruitment to those with three A-levels and recruit professional people from outside the police," he said.

"The other proposed changes will hit police morale further at a time when the Tory-led government are making cuts to the police force which go too far, too fast, with the loss of 15,000 police officers by 2015. I'm pleased there will be more discussion on the issue of severance packages and we will continue to discuss with police forces and staff in coming months what reforms are needed."

Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, said it was the wrong time to cut the pay of ordinary police officers.

"Morale in the police force is already at an all-time low and the landscape of policing is undergoing the most significant reform since Sir Robert Peel. If the home secretary wants her revolution in policing to be successful, she must carry the workforce with her," he said.

Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said officers were disappointed, but had agreed to be bound by the process involving the police negotiating board.

“Whilst we remain disappointed with some of the PAT’s recommendations we acknowledge that the Home Secretary has honoured the process of the Police Negotiating Board,” he said.

“We accept that today’s decision by the Home Secretary is binding on the Police Federation of England and Wales and we will continue to engage fully on behalf of our members.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it was essential that the system of pay and conditions recognised the professional status of policing and moved towards a system where pay levels rewarded expertise and contribution.

"Acpo was concerned about the starting salaries range proposed and the outcome of these negotiations means that chief constables will now have the flexibility to pay a starting salary of up to £22,000 depending on skills and qualifications. Officers can also reach the top rate of pay three years earlier than under the current arrangements," said the chief constables' statement.

"Police service funding has already been considerably reduced and further financial pressure lies ahead. Chief constables must have the means available to them to manage their workforce through these difficult times, even if that means taking steps that are unwelcome. The slow pace of progress through current pay machinery both hampers the ability to secure reform and prolongs uncertainty for officers and staff."

Memories of DS Jim McIntosh

Many Thanks to Ian McIntosh for sending us some pictures of his father, the late DS Jim McIntosh : http://www.durhamnarpo.com/2010/12/death-of-retired-police-officer-sgt.html

Back Row : Cliff Brown (Durham : Darlington), Brian Huscroft (Durham : Jarrow), Bill Paxton (Gateshead), Terry Denton (Hull City), Ray Cassie (Northumberland : Blyth), Jim Young (Durham : West Hartlepool), Malcolm Dalby (N.Riding : Southbank)

Middle Row : Don Glasper (Durham : West Hartlepool), John Hattersley (Durham : West Hartlepool), Jim McIntosh (Durham : Barnard Castle ) , Arthur Forrester (Durham : Seaham), Maurice Farn (Durham : Chester Le Street), Alan Dixon (Gateshead), Win Cole (Middlesbrough)

Front Row : Bill Webster (Newcastle), George Harrison (River Tyne), Sgt Santon (Durham), Mark Rannam (Newcastle), Ron Rochester (Newcastle)

Early 60’s Diving pictures, Jim is the diver on the right

Wakefield Detective Training School 1969.Middle Row  - Third from Left : Jim McIntosh (Durham)

Surveillance Course at Lancashire 1981 – Back row : DI Stan Bramfitt (Durham) & Third from left DS Jim McIntosh

To view the images in the NARPO gallery at a bigger size please click on them & if you know the names of anyone in the pictures please let us know

A couple of retired four legged friends (and their handler….)

Retired Durham Officer PC 566 Dave Davies sent us a couple of pictures of himself with two of his police dogs

Dave Davies with PD ‘ELLE’

Dave Davies with PD ‘MIKEY’

Dave transferred to Durham Constabulary from the Met Police on the 10^th May 1986 and transferred  dog section on the 4^th January 1993 where he served until his retirement. Dave’s initial training for Dog Section was conducted by the late Paul Greener, who Dave says, “was a superb dog trainer especially for the day and age. Ahead of his time in methodology! “

During his service Dave served with numerous Police dogs : Max, Brutus, Tyler, Jack, Prince, Elle & specialist dogs Mikey (Lab, narcotics and firearm detection) & Hamish ( Terrier cross - Narcotics, Firearms and currency detection)
Dave retired on the 15^th November 2009 and PD Elle & PD Hamish retired with him. All three are still enjoying retirement

Elle served from being a puppy!! and was bred in force, she retired with Dave and is now 9 years old.

Mikey was an unwanted gun dog, bought from a gun dog dealer in Alston and served from 1998 for five years or so, eventually being retired into Dave’s care and replaced by PD Hamish. Mikey has subsequently died.

Dave is now the editor for Service Dog, the official journal for The British Police & Services Canine Association.   BPSCA are needing members, they have people from all branches of the forces and police, all are or have been dog handlers and trainers, so the knowledge base is superb.  They have one trial a year held at Newbold Revel HMP college, Warwickshire. This year it is on the 13-7-2013.  There is also a specialist dog search, usually drugs but this year it will cater for all disciplines such as fire brigade, explo, drug, weapons.  Closing date for entries is last day of May.

For further info please visit : The British Police & Services Canine Association or Dave’s own website : www.daviddaviesdogtraining.com

Death of a retired Police Officer : PC Joseph Hedley

It is with regret that we announce the death of retired Police Constable Joseph Hedley, who died on the 31st December 2012, aged 89 years.
Joseph Hedley leaves a widow May Unice Hedley.
The cremation service will be taking place at Mountsett Crematorium on the 14th January 2013 at 14.45p.m, the service is not private.

Death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1821 Ralph Cook

It is with regret that we announce the death of a retired Police Officer : PC 1821 Ralph Cook, who died on the 23^rd December, aged 80 years.
He Leaves a widow Jean Cook.
Ralph initially joined South Yorks Police in 1960, transferring to Durham Constabulary in 1971, where he served at Sunderland and then in 1974 he was transferred to Peterlee, from where he eventually retired.

The Police Traffic Control Box in the Market Place in Durham City

PC Bob Bell, Durham Market Place about 1950 ?

Dick Collinson : about 1940 (Note tin helmet)

Any idea’s who the PC is ?

The Police Traffic Control Box in the Market Place in Durham City.

Notice the step halfway up the box, which officers used to use to climb into the box as it had no door.

This was later changed as it was deemed undignified for an officer, particularly a WPC,  to climb in & out of the box

(Click on the images to view in the gallery)

Lambton House 1971

One from Sedgefield Camp

Lambton House 1971

Bruce McMillan, ? ? Alan Borthwick, ? Jim Mordue, ? ?
? Steve Lackenby, ? Bill Sproates, Ian Martin, Colin Mitchell, Paul Caslaw, Nick Skelton,?
Phil Taylor, Richie Gibson, John Wright, John Gilsenan, Bill Miles, Hugh Blenkin, George Harrison, Geoff Seedman? Phil Iceton, Dave Dunn, ? — with Ian D. Martin.

(Click on the image to view in the gallery)

Cadets Instructors… Rugby ??

Cadet Instructors at Aykley Heads somewhere between 1972 and 1974

Back row; PC Ronnie Lambert (Northumbria), Insp.Colin Neal, PC/Sgt Dave Cromarty, Sgt John Smith (North Yorks). Tom Baxter (Referee in yellow shirt)

Front Row :  Sgt Ray Clish, Sgt Frank Pickering, PC Lawrie Cummings and PC/Sgt George Nixon

 

Any of the Instructors or ex cadets remember what the occasion was ??

 

(Click on image to view in gallery)

Police Cadets : Xmas Concert : Oliver–1973 /74 ??

Police Cadets Christmas Concert  : 'Oliver' - 1973 or 74.

Sgt Dave Cromarty at front centre.

Other Durham cadets :

Steve Wintrell, Paul Wood, Frank Reed,  Carol Potts (Moore), Lynn Cleveland, Janet Clasper, Mick Kent, Bob Brown, Steve McLean, Brian Henderson & Denny Pygall

 

Northumbria Cadets : Syd Wareham, Fraser Gill, George Barber, Gillian Oakley

Any more names ??

Happy New Year…

Happy New Year...

Here's wishing you all a happy, healthy, prosperous and safe 2013.