'One Service Many Careers' event for Young People

This afternoon I was delighted to attend a PSNI Careers Seminar in Cookstown Leisure Centre organised by 'F' district. The seminar was open to year 13 pupils and their Careers Teachers, and 24 schools from across the police district were represented at the event.

The ‘One Service Many Careers’ event was about showcasing the very many opportunities that exist for police officers and support staff to have a career in the Police Service and to allow them to see first hand the equipment and talk to the officers and staff who make up the various disciplines across the Service.

Today was primarily about providing the young people with the knowledge to make informed decisions about a potential career in the wider police family and to show them how they could have the opportunity to make a real and meaningful difference in their communities should they choose to pursue a career in policing.

As each group moved around the various sections they received presentations from officers and support staff, such as Uniformed Police, Tactical Support, Roads Policing and Armed Response, Detectives, Scientific Support, Analysts, Occupational Health, Corporate Communications and Legal Services. Students were shown how the many aspects of the Police Service of Northern Ireland work to support each other, how they join up to provide a service to the community and how they work as many careers in one service.

As I moved around the various sections with some of the young people, I enjoyed the opportunity to talk to as many of them as possible and was greatly encouraged by the questions they asked and the interest they showed. This was a pilot scheme today, and once we have had the opportunity to fully evaluate and debrief the event we hope based on the initial feedback to run a number of similar events across Northern Ireland.

I want to place on record my thanks to the young people and teachers who attended the event toady and to my colleagues in the district and various branches who supported it. It really was a fantastic showcase for the Police Service of Northern Ireland in all of its diversity, and for everything that is good about a career in policing.

Carjacking Update

If you routinely follow my Blog you will know that a few weeks ago I highlighted the issues of 'carjacking'.

Since then, we have established a taskforce to address the issue. A dedicated investigation team has been appointed to pursue all available evidential lines of enquiry in relation to these incidents. Leaflets detailing crime prevention advice have also been circulated by Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the Greater Belfast area.

Over the past number of weeks we searched 14 houses, made 10 arrests and have undertaken three video identification processes, with a further two more planned. As a consequence of our proactive operations we have also made an additional 55 arrests for various offences. The investigation processes against those arrested are at various stages. In addition various items have been seized and are currently being examined to determine potential forensic opportunities.

Whilst I am pleased that progress is being made in the investigation, because of the very welcome developments to vehicle security, criminals intent on stealing cars need to find a way of accessing the car keys. The simple steps, I previously outlined, can help you ensure that you do not become a victim of this type of crime.

While driving:

• Keep your doors locked.


• Keep windows closed or partially closed - enough to prevent someone from reaching in and unlocking doors or grabbing items.


• Do not place items, such as handbags, phones, laptops, in full view on the passenger or back seat. Put them on the floor under your seat, in the glove box, or lock them in the boot.


• If you are forced to stop abruptly, keep your engine running and make sure you have enough room to drive away.


• You MUST stop for the police but it's quite reasonable to ask for identification through a closed window and keep the engine running until you are satisfied.


• Beware of anyone who tries to signal that there's something wrong with your car, unless you know they're right and it is dangerous to drive on.


• If another driver gets out of their vehicle or pedestrian approaches you and you have concerns about their behaviour, flash your lights and sound your horn.


• If you have an alarm, set it off.

When parking or returning to a parked car:

• Park in well lit, busy areas or car park.


• When approaching your parked vehicle, be alert to anyone hanging around and if necessary walk past your car and report anything suspicious to the police immediately.


• If your vehicle has an alarm fitted with a panic button and you think you are being approached suspiciously, activate it.


• As you approach your car have your keys ready, if the car design allows it, unlock the driver's door only and once inside lock you doors.


• When you stop your vehicle, for example to get fuel or purchase a parking ticket, never leave your keys in the ignition or engine running, and always lock your car.


• Keep an eye out for fellow motorists and report anything suspicious immediately to the police.

This week, I know many of you will be enjoying a few days off with your families over the mid term break. Please ensure when you are out that you follow this advice but in particular I would ask that you do not leave your children unattended in vehicles.

We will continue to do what we can to prevent and detect those responsible, but you all must continue to support our efforts by taking these simple but effective precautions.

Policing Board Launch 7th Annual Human Rights Report

I am delighted to be in Derry/Londonderry this morning for the launch of the Policing Boards 7th Human Rights Report 2011.

It is entirely appropriate that the Board should choose to launch such an important report in this City. There has been so much progress in the last number of years to ensure that Human Rights compliant policing is delivered and in my view the Human Rights Act was one of the best things that could have happened to policing in Northern Ireland providing a clear framework for difficult and challenging decisions.

I am pleased that the Board have recognised the impressive implementation record of the 176 recommendations, from the six previous Human Rights reports since 2005, and our ongoing commitment to ensure that a Human Rights culture exists within the organisation.

This Human Rights report makes 16 recommendations relating to training, policy on the storage and retention of DNA and photographs, trends and patterns of complaints, public order policing, use of force, covert policing, victims, treatment of suspects and young people. Over the next few months we will be developing a programme of action to respond to these recommendations. This plan will be overseen and progress monitored by the Board's Human Rights Legal Advisor.

I am also pleased to see the acknowledgement in the report about how the Police Service has fully co-operated and assisted the Board's Human Rights Legal Advisor to provide the necessary level of reassurance that the PSNI is fully compliant with their legal requirements in the very difficult and sensitive area of covert policing. This is an area where for very good reasons we cannot say a lot publicly but the scrutiny of the Board and other organisations, such as the Surveillance Commissioner, should provide communities with a level of reassurance in this often very controversial area.

These reports are also supported by a number of Thematic Reviews during the year. These reviews are important and provide your Police Service with an opportunity to show in detail the work which is being undertaken in important areas such as policing domestic abuse, the use to stop and search powers, children and young people and the forthcoming policing with and for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender people.

I very much look forward to working closely with the Board in the coming year as we work to consider their recommendations in full in support of the delivery of personal, professional and protective policing to all the people of Northern Ireland.