He will tell an audience including the Lord Chief Justice, at the association’s annual dinner: “So let us fight, and let us remember the option to strike. Demand better treatment. No more cuts, I say, either for the defence or the prosecution. Criminal arristers refused to take on new work in a dispute over Legal Aid in 2005 but have never gone as far as refusing to attend court, which would cause huge disruption to jury trials. However they are growing increasingly militant in response to a series of changes to the way they are paid for prosecuting and defending cases, as well as delays in payment. Mr Hill will say that his members are suffering “heartache, depression and personal bankruptcy” because of the Government’s ... Continue reading →
He asked the audience to raise their hands if they were in favour of each of the four items and the overwhelming majority of delegates did so. Mr Davis, secretary of the Fed's operational policing sub-committee, said: "We need 16,000 officers to maintain a level of public order in this country, it's going to cost £89million." The second item was protective equipment and clothing for all police officers, which he said cost £500 per person in the Met. Next was a demand for three water cannon, which would cost £3.9m in total. "Nothing contentious about this, perfectly self-explanatory. I'm only asking for three - there are six in Northern Ireland. How much do you think it costs to bring them over in an aeroplane? "I'm ... Continue reading →
Ministers say the new posts will make police more accountable to local concerns but critics say they will politicise the service. The elections themselves are likely to see record low turnout as there is no public funding for campaign literature and only the Conservatives are active supporters of the plans. Asked about the danger of apathy surrounding the elections, after voters opposed elected mayors in many cities earlier this month, Ms Thornton, chief constable of Thames Valley Police, said: "If there had been a referendum on police commissioners it wouldn't have been voted in. "On the other hand I don't think it would be good for the service if there is a very low turnout in November. "The issue about more extreme candidates becomes a ... Continue reading →
She took to the stage at the Bournemouth International Centre on Wednesday morning in silence and sat in front of a sign bearing the slogan "cutting police by 20 per cent is criminal", despite an earlier attempt to be given her own podium. An estimated 1,200 delegates stood up and brandished signs reading "enough is enough". The Home Secretary paid tribute to fallen officers and praised the police's response to last summer's riots, saying: "There is so much to be proud of in British policing." But she went on: "But that doesn't mean that everything in policing is perfect. And it doesn't mean that there is no need for reform." She said it "simply isn't true" that police spending is suffering more than other public ... Continue reading →
