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).
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 (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 75th 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!
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