December 2023 | Policing blog

Finally, some good news!

claudiamccready | 18 December 202318 December 2023

This week sees UWE Bristol wind down for the Christmas period, with the campus set to close between Friday 22nd December 2023 – Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

It has been a busy year for most, with some of the highs covered by Eve below. January 2024 brings the marking of March 2021’s dissertations and their End Point Assessments, we wish them all the best of luck and look forward to seeing their hard work pay off. We warmly receive some existing apprentices back on the 2nd January, with a new cohort of first year apprentices joining us the week after. This pace continues throughout the year and your academic team are excited for the times ahead.

We know that most of you will be busy over the festive period – turning up at work when it feels like the rest of the country remain at home with loved ones – all in aid of keeping your communities safe. Look after one another and stay safe. A heartfelt thank you to all of those that are working over this period and for the continuous hard work you all undertake 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

This week’s blog is written by Eve Smietanko, a senior lecturer on the PCDA programme and programme lead for Law and Criminology. Eve has been collating positive news stories around the Criminal Justice System in the hope that it will show you that the hard work you do is recognised and making a difference.

Over to Eve…

The good news stories

It can be easy as a police officer to feel that the world is a dark place, and that what you do, day in, day out, makes little difference. There is pressure from all sides to do things differently, decisions made in split seconds are scrutinised and analysed and every person has an opinion on what was done wrong. It can be easy to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and to believe that world is awful; where the bad guys win and good guys get criticised. Does this all sound familiar?

Well you will find none of that here. This post is for good news. Take five and let me remind you of a few of the many positive, inspiring and hopeful stories that may have passed you by.

Support for firearms officers

In September many firearms officers laid down their weapons due to concern of how they would be treated if they did need to pull the trigger, and the impact this would have on their families. It was positive to see both leadership within policing, politics and the public standing by officers, who had chosen not to carry. Sir Mark Rowley wrote in an open letter to the (then) Home Secretary that ‘[armed officers] are extremely well trained’ and that ‘we have one of the safest models of armed policing in the world’ (Rowley, 2023).

Icon of two hands shaking in collaboration

Avon and Somerset armed officers have in recent weeks had praise from the public on a number of jobs they have dealt with courageously and professionally. There are many out there who see and acknowledge the huge responsibility that is placed on our officers to make life-changing decisions in a matter of seconds. You are appreciated.

Robber turned runner

Ever feel like you’re just churning people through the criminal justice system with no hope of any change? Thankfully this is not always the case. John McAvoy, who is now known for being a triathlete, previously served a lengthy prison sentence for armed robbery. Whilst in prison he began training hard in the gym and, with the encouragement of a prison officer, Darren Davis, started beating records. Since his time inside he has become a professional athlete, and more recently a mentor to young people.

McAvoy has teamed up with a charity, Youth Beyond Borders, to train, coach and support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to compete in trail running. There has long been an acknowledgement that nature, exercise and wellbeing are interlinked. Many of us take our ability to utilise the outdoors for granted but not all have this opportunity. As we know within policing and McAvoy surely knows himself, the connections you make in your childhood can have a huge impact, both positive and negative for the rest of your life. Despite McAvoy not having a great role model growing up, he is now trying to be one for young people across the country. It is worth remembering that he did not get to this point alone, he met encouragement and support along the way, like Darren Davis the prison officer. Without this he wouldn’t be where he is today helping other young people who could be in danger of making the same choices he once did. You too can be the difference.

The armed robber turned runner helping young people go straight – Positive News

John McAvoy interview: Former criminal turned Ironman (redbull.com)

Right Care, Right Person

When you ask most officers why they joined up they will say something along the lines of ‘to help people’. We know that being a police officer isn’t all about fighting crime but we also know that for many years now that the policing time and resource being put into mental health calls has been increasing. Dealing with people struggling with their mental health is becoming an increasingly common tasking. Whilst this is frustrating for officers it is potentially damaging for those who need mental health care and support. We do however appear to have reached the tide of change.

‘Right Care, Right Person’ (RCRP) was first introduced by Humberside Police in 2021 and since then has been rolled by a number of other forces throughout the country. The College of Policing has now issued national guidance on the scheme and the projections are that this could save up to a million police hours per year. This should mean that vulnerable people are getting the help they need and officers have more time available to them to investigate crime, build relationships with the community or any of the other invaluable actions you take.

Right Care Right Person – police adopt new national model re specialist care for health incidents – Policing News

Right Care Right Person (RCRP) national guidance launched | College of Policing

Court convictions

Over the last few months Avon and Somerset have got some great convictions at court. There have been several large-scale drugs convictions including eight men sentenced for a total of 36 years in relation to a county lines network. More recently three men have had their prison sentences for robbery increased.

Bristol robbers’ sentences increased | Avon and Somerset Police

Eight men sentenced for total of more than 36 years for drug offences | Avon and Somerset Police

It is easy for us to see the end result and forget about all the hard work that has gone on along the way. The big stories that hit the headlines often feel detached from the officers on the street but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It is those officers who gather intelligence, build rapport and begin the investigation when everybody else has gone to bed. In order to get a conviction at court, the silver thread of a quality actions has to be there throughout the investigation from beginning to end. It is with meticulous record-keeping, excellent decision-making and brilliant communication that people like those I have mentioned above have been put behind bars. It is also worth remembering that really, this isn’t the end goal. While the aim is to get a conviction, the purpose is to protect the public. To get drugs off the street, to allow people to run their business in peace, or whatever else it might be. Without our officers on the ground none of this would be possible.

Good News from UWE

The PCDA has been subject of an Ofsted Inspection and an End Point Assessment Quality Inspection, both achieving ‘Good’ status. Our key partner Avon and Somerset Police (ASP) were ranked 75^th in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Providers and UWE was listed in the Top 20 ‘Rate my Apprenticeship’ providers. With the PCDA representing over 25% of all UWE apprentices, these accolades reflect our growing reputation. In addition, a PCDA apprentice won first prize for their research project at the 2023 Social Sciences Student Conference, evidencing academic excellence. In April 2023, Avon & Somerset Police celebrated growing from 2,835 operational officers to 3,393 since July 2019, exceeding the Uplift target and reflecting the popularity of the programme. Overall, the National Student Survey 2023 scores showed improvements in all areas of the PCDA programme in 2023 compared to 2022. The majority of areas saw double-digit increases compared to 2022. The programme is determined to build further on this positive direction of travel.

Our very own Dr Anne Eason – along with UWE colleagues Professor Kieran McCartan and Dr Sarah Senker – presented the early findings of their research at the NOTA conference this year. Their research looked at how male perpetrators of sexual offences can be supported to address their own trauma. There will be more on this to follow in the year ahead. As well as this there are many other research and writing projects currently under-way in the Policing team which hopefully will be published and presented in 2024. Remember, your research journey doesn’t have to end with your dissertation! If there is more you would like to discover then keep in touch!

Information about Anne Eason, Keiran McCartan & Sarah Senker's early research findings presented to NOTA this year.

A final round-up

So there is my round-up. There are many stories I haven’t included, some because I haven’t got the word count and some because they have been told to me in confidence but take it from me, you are doing a fantastic job. Policing is difficult and it is easy to feel under-valued so on behalf of the many, many people who are grateful for what you do, I want to say thank you. You make the difference, and we know it.

Useful links

Avon and Somerset Police (2023) Bristol robbers’ sentences increased. Available from: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2023/11/bristol-robbers-sentences-increased/ [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Avon and Somerset Police (2023) Eight men sentenced for total of more than 36 years for drug offences. Available from: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2023/10/eight-men-jailed-for-total-of-more-than-36-years-for-drug-offences/ [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

College of Policing (2023) Right Care Right Person (RCRP) national guidance launched. Available from: https://www.college.police.uk/article/rcrp-national-guidance-launched [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Eason, A & Senker, S. ‘Dual identity’ and the forgotten trauma in the histories of people who have sexually offended [research presentation to NOTA Conference] . Cardiff. 3 May. Available from:https://www.nota.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NOTA-presentation.pdf [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Metropolitan Police Services (2023) Commissioner letter to Home Secretary 14 September 2023 [online]. Available from: https://news.met.police.uk/documents/commissioner-letter-to-home-secretary-14-september-2023-dot-pdf-434982 [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Policing News (2023) Right Care Right Person – police adopt new national model re specialist care for health incidents. Available from: Right Care Right Person – police adopt new national model re specialist care for health incidents – Policing News [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Positive News (2023) The robber turned runner helping young people stay on the straight and narrow. Available from: https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/sport/the-robber-turned-runner-helping-young-people-go-straight/ [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Red Bull (2023) The incredible story of John McAvoy, armed robber turned top triathlete. Available from: https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/john-mcavoy-from-iron-bars-to-ironman [Accessed 18 Dec 2023].

Editorial Team

Paul Williamson (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Eve Middleton (Tripartite Assessor – Policing); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer).

If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk

Tackling Domestic Abuse through 16 Days of Activism

Paul Williamson | 8 December 20238 December 2023

Today’s blog is written by Associate Director (Policing) Sarah Williams and reflects on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (UN Women, 2023). This ends on December 10^th (International Human Rights Day).

This annual campaign was first launched in 1991. Today, more than 30 years later, the World Health Organisation estimates that some 30% of women worldwide continue to experience violence of some sort (WHO, 2023). It can be tempting to underestimate the scale of the problem in the UK, but this would be a mistake. A lot of violence against women and girls takes the form of domestic abuse and sexual offences and sadly both are prevalent here.

2.1 million people in the UK experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023 (ONS, 2023a). That’s 2.1 million people who have been hurt in some way by those who they have (or had) close relationships with, be that a partner or a family member. And that’s before we think about those harmed in other ways – the children terrified by domestic abuse between their parents, the friends who see someone they care about slowly fade away, the parent who sees their adult child blame themselves for the abuse they suffer. Domestic abuse is a disease. It blights the lives of those it touches and ultimately it costs lives. There were 134 domestic homicides in the UK in 2022 (ONS, 2023b) and it can be a risk factor for suicide among victims (Devries et al, 2011; Keynejad, 2023).

Women are disproportionately affected by domestic abuse (ONS, 2023c), being twice as likely as men to experience it. Rape and sexual assault are also horrifyingly common. Based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS, 2023d), Rape Crisis believes that 1 in 4 women have been raped or sexually assaulted (Rape Crisis, 2023). Many of these rapes and assaults will take place in the context of a relationship.

So, what can we do about this persistent violence against women in the UK that continues to traumatise so many? The scale of the problem can feel overwhelming, but small steps can lead to big changes and there is something that we can all do. Voicing our support for those tackling violence against women and girls is a small step towards showing we will not tolerate it any longer. This year’s 16 Days of Activism asked people to do just that and to share the actions they are taking to tackle violence against women and girls. By spreading the word, we can share good practice, inspire others to do the same, and send a clear message to society that VAWG will not be tolerated. Let’s not stop after 16 days. Let’s keep up this vital work and continue the fight well into 2024.

UWE Bristol Policing tackling VAWG

UWE Bristol has played its own part in supporting the 16 Days of Activism initiative by being a signatory to an open letter sent by the Bristol Women’s Commission to local media (BWC, 2023). Along with many other local organisations, including UWE’s policing partner Avon & Somerset Police, the signatories have pledged to support local activism against VAWG and encourage other businesses, organisations and individuals to do the same. As part of its wider equality, diversity and inclusion approach, UWE Bristol also has its Speak Up campaign, aimed at creating an inclusive campus where everyone feels safe and where harassment, assault and discrimination will not be tolerated (UWE, 2023a and 2023b). This will continue long after the 16 days have ended.

Here on the policing programmes at UWE Bristol, we are tackling violence against women and girls through police education, making sure we include the latest developments in research, and policing and educational policy and practice. Among our recent changes we have:

Increased awareness of controlling and coercive behaviour and the barriers victims face when trying to leave an abusive relationship.
Included sessions on how trauma-informed practice can improve the experiences of victims and increase successful prosecutions.
Helped students explore how evidence-based research influences police practice and how this can help protect women and girls.
Incorporated greater awareness of the specific needs of those with protected characteristics or specific vulnerabilities.
Enhanced our sessions on understanding the dangers faced by victims of VAWG, exploring police techniques to identify and manage risk.
Placed a greater emphasis on digital evidence and investigative quality, and how maximising these can support evidence-led prosecutions that reduce the stress placed on victims.
Included more scenario-based teaching where policing students learn to apply what they have learned in our realistic simulation suite (UWE, 2023c).

We aren’t going to stop there. Policing at UWE Bristol takes a continuous improvement approach to its policing provision. We aim to help produce a new generation of police officers driven to tackle VAWG – officers who know how to manage offenders effectively, who understand the needs of victims, and who can use evidence-based approaches to intervene early. In doing so we hope to improve the lives of victims and survivors and contribute to the wider fight to prevent VAWG.

Unite to tackle VAWG

If you want to help us in the fight against VAWG, please circulate your own good work or show your personal support for the 16 Days of Activism and beyond by using the following hash tags on your social media: #NoExcuse, #16Days, #EndVAWG.

References

Avon & Somerset Police (2023) Avon and Somerset Police continuing to make the region a hostile environment for perpetrators of sexual harassment [online]. Available from: Avon and Somerset Police continuing to make the region a hostile environment for perpetrators of sexual harassment | Avon and Somerset Police [Accessed 5 December 2023].

Bristol Women’s Commission (2023) Open Letter for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2023 [online]. Available from: Open Letter for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2023 – Bristol Women’s Commission (bristolwomenscommission.org) [accessed 27 November 2023].

Devries, K., Watts, C., Yoshimama, M., Kiss, L., Schraiber, L.B., Deyessa, N., Heise, L., Durand, J., Mbwambo, J., Jansen, H., Berhane, Y., Ellsberg, M. & Garcia-Moreno, C. (2011) Violence against women is strongly associated with suicide attempts: Evidence from the WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women. Social Science and Medicine [online] Vol 73(1), pp.79-86. [Accessed 5 December 2023].

Keynejad, R.C., Paphitis, S., Davidge, S., Jacob, S., & Howard, L.M. Domestic abuse is important risk factor for suicide. British Medical Journal [online] Vol 379, pp.2890-2890. [Accessed 5 December 2023].

Office for National Statistics (2023a) Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2023 [online]. Available from: Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) [Accessed 25 November 2023].

Office for National Statistics (2023b) Homicide in England and Wales: year ending March 2022 [online]. Available from: Homicide in England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) [Accessed 5^th December 2023].

Office for National Statistics (2023c) Domestic abuse victim characteristics, England and Wales: year ending March 2023 [online]. Available from: Domestic abuse victim characteristics, England and Wales – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) [Accessed 25 November 2023].

Office for National Statistics (2023d) Sexual offences in England and Wales overview: year ending March 2022 [online]. Available from: Sexual offences in England and Wales overview – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) [Accessed 25 November 2023].

Rape Crisis (2023) Get Informed [online]. Available from: Get informed | Rape Crisis England & Wales [Accessed 5 December 2023].

UN Women (2023) 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence [online]. Available from: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence | UN Women – Headquarters [Accessed 25 November 2023].

University of the West of England (2023a) Equality, diversity and inclusivity [online]. Available from: Equality, diversity and inclusivity – Our values, vision and strategy | UWE Bristol [Accessed 5 December 2023].

University of the West of England (2023b) Speak Up [online]. Available from: Speak Up – Stay safe on and off campus | UWE Bristol [Accessed 5 December 2023].

University of the West of England (2023c) Crime Scene Policing and Policing Space [online]. Available from: Crime Scene Science and Policing Space – Campus and facilities | UWE Bristol [Accessed 5 December 2023].

World Health Organisation (2023) Violence Against Women [online]. Available from: Violence against women (who.int) [Accessed 25 November 2023].

Editorial Team

UWE Policing blog team: Paul Williamson (Editor-in-Chief); Claudia McCready (Lecturer); Eve Smietanko (Joint Programme Leader & Senior Lecturer); Ian Lowe (Senior Lecturer) & Micah Hassell (Senior Lecturer). If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, please contact Police.blog@uwe.ac.uk

What’s your excuse?

claudiamccready | 6 December 20236 December 2023

This week’s blog is written by Senior Lecturer Micah Hassell, part of the UWE Bristol Policing Team. Micah has written a snapshot of his impressive career within Policing, so I won’t waste words repeating it. Part of that varied career includes time specialising on the Roads Policing Unit (RPU), where he dealt with serious and fatal road traffic collisions. Most of us have either been in an accident ourselves, or know of those that have been unfortunate enough to experience them.

2021 saw a 23% increase in deaths or serious injuries from accidents involving alcohol from the year before (ONS, 2023). In the same year, Avon and Somerset stated that alcohol was a factor in 1/3 of all their road traffic collisions (ASC, 2023). Each year local police forces run anti-drink and drug drive operations, educating and stopping drivers within their areas.

This festive period offers a poignant moment to consider the risks associated with driving under the influence, the impacts is has on loved ones and the services that attend to help. Over to Micah…

Image of Senior Lecturer, Micah Hassell wearing graduation robe and colours.

After starting a new role in May 2023 as a senior lecturer within the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship programme, I have been given a fantastic opportunity to deliver a programme of learning to newly appointed police officers to ensure their operational competence meets the highest standards expected within Policing (College of Policing, 2014). My core interests in policing extend to Police ethics and the causes of corruption after serving the latter part of my career within the Professional Standard Department, but some of the most interesting and demanding responsibilities I have experienced were related to road death and its causation whilst performing the role of senior investigating officer with the Roads Policing department. As an ex Chief Inspector with 27 years operational Policing experience, I have investigated more than 120 collisions where a death has occurred and in 80% of those incidents’ intoxication has featured as a contributing factor to the cause of death. Although this is somewhat of a grim topic of discussion, I wanted to bring into focus the impact drink driving has, to prompt a discussion about your thoughts and behaviours when it comes to making that decision about drinking and driving.

Lived experience

One of my last fatal road traffic investigations occurred during the summer months just after midnight where a single vehicle carrying four occupants collided head on with a lamppost. On my arrival I was confronted with an horrific scene. The driver had been ejected out of the vehicle and came to rest some distance in front of the vehicle and had tragically died from her injures. The front seat passenger was deceased, and two rear passengers were seriously injured. One rear passenger died at the scene and the final passenger made it to the hospital before sadly passing away hours later. Almost immediately a strong smell of alcohol emanated from within the vehicle and those involved at the scene. I vividly remember that the speedometer on the vehicle had frozen at the point of impact and rested at exactly 31 miles per hour. During my investigation it transpired from witnesses that the four friends had decided to take a risk because they wanted to travel to another local pub approximately 2 miles away. Unfortunately, they never made it, and their lives were taken forever leaving families, police officers and communities with questions to this day about the decisions they all made on that tragic night.

Why?

Did you know that in the past year one of your friends, relatives or work colleagues will drink and drive and could even be over the legal limit today? You might have even drank last night feeling worse for wear this morning, but drove into work unsure of whether you were actually over the prescribed legal limit, or you could have car shared knowing the person driving was feeling pretty poorly from the night before. The reasons why people decide to drink and drive are complex, but more often than not the decision to use your car after drinking alcohol is done so with very little thought about the potential consequences that could occur. Government Statistics provide a comprehensive picture about the numbers killed or seriously injured on our roads within the UK…

In 2021 alone, over 27,000 people were killed or seriously injured on our roads.

In 2020, Police conducted over 46,000 roadside breath tests. Over 2,500 people failed these .

Department for Transport, 2022.

Alcohol as a factor

Qualitative research undertaken by Keatley et al, (2020) examined the reasons why people decide to drink and drive. After interviewing 83 participants between 18 and 64 years of age they identified five key themes that influenced their decision to drive after consuming alcohol. Unexpected reasons to leave the pub, peer pressure, only a short drive to the next destination, having an appointment they needed to be at and finally the effects of alcohol affected their judgement where they knew they should not drive, but carried on regardless. Most, if not all of us know about the effects of alcohol, but there are concerning gaps in a person’s ability to understand how much alcohol can be consumed or what strength of alcohol is contained within their drink. In each case recognising what their chosen drink contains remains a mystery and, in many cases, presents a misunderstanding about what people can tolerate. In a study conducted by Walker et al, (2016), 209 University students were asked to rank in order of alcohol strength 10 alcoholic drinks. Their research highlighted that people could not judge the strength of alcohol within an alcoholic drink, but instead chose their selected drink preferring to use taste instead. The more appealing the taste the more likely a person would choose to drink it rather than consider the strength of alcohol. This disparity highlighted the need to ensure more people should take a greater interest in the alcohol content of their preferred drink. There are also other studies undertaken by Stephens et al, (2017) that indicate people who worked full time or worked from home between 26 and 39 years old with “High Risk consumption patterns” are more likely to drink and drive, but also have a reduced perception about the risk of having a collision after consuming drink.

There are other causation factors that will always feature within any collision, but my lived experience has shown that alcohol contributes to the death of a high proportion of people who are involved in collisions. The example I provided at the beginning detailed the death of four friends travelling at the legal speed limit within 10 minutes of leaving a local pub, attempting to travel to another local pub a short distance away. You can see from this article that high risk drinking behaviours, having limited awareness of how strong your alcoholic drink is and only driving a short distance away all feature as contributing factors to causing road death. So before you decide to drink and drive think about the consequences of your actions and what excuse you are going to make before you get into the car!

Final reflections & the PCDA

Light bulb graphic with cog inside - reflection

The work of the PCDA team is extremely important. Within the operational competencies modules drink driving is taught throughout all three years. Legislation and exploring key prevention and detection strategies are all included. Working alongside Avon and Somerset Police UWE’s 2030 Strategy provides an inclusive programme designed to solve the future challenges policing faces. It focusses on student development using some of the most experienced police officers and staff to support them; using some of the best facilities throughout the region and beyond. The reason I chose to apply for a job within UWE was because it not only boasted one of the best programmes in the country, it also centred their interests around my own teaching practice and development. It’s been a fantastic transition from policing into higher education. There are always opportunities for staff and students to be part of the PCDA journey where most modules run practical sessions to develop students offices as they progress through their degree if you want to get involved you can contact me or any of the PCDA team here.

Helpful Resources

Keatley, D. A. et al. (2020) Perceptions of drink driving legal limits in England: a qualitative investigation. Psychology, crime & law. [Online] 26 (8), 733–744. [Accessed 6 July 2023]

Stephens, A. N. et al. (2017) Alcohol consumption patterns and attitudes toward drink-drive behaviours and road safety enforcement strategies. Accident analysis and prevention. [Online] 98241–251. [Accessed July 2023]

Walker, S. et al. (2016) Estimates of the Absolute and Relative Strengths of Diverse Alcoholic Drinks by Young People. Substance use & misuse. [Online] 51 (13), 1781–1789. [Accessed 10 July 2020]

Editorial Team

Image of a paper plane to mean 'email' or 'send'

If you would like to contribute as a guest blogger, please contact Police.Blog@uwe.ac.uk