PC Bill Barker

Message from Cumbria Constabulary Chief Constable Craig Mackey:

“It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that the body found on a beach at Allonby this afternoon is that of our friend and colleague PC Bill Barker.

“Over the last few days Cumbria has faced some of the most severe weather conditions ever and Bill was amongst the hundreds of officers and staff dedicated to rescuing local people and ensuring the safety of our communities. He was directing motorists safely off Northside Bridge, saving lives, when the tragic incident occurred.

” Bill was a wonderful police officer and a real family man. He leaves behind a wife and four children in their home in Egremont- two boys and two girls – aged between 8 and 16. He was due to to celebrate his 45th birthday tomorrow. Bill is a hero who died saving the lives of others and our thoughts are with his family at this devastating time. He was a much loved friend, colleague and an inspiration to everyone he knew – he will be sadly missed.

“His friends say he loved being a Police officer and, a passionate biker, he was part of the Constabulary’s dedicated Roads Policing Unit. He was a sterling officer and had won a number of awards throughout his 25 year service with Cumbria Constabulary.

“Whilst this is an extremely difficult time for everyone involved in the rescue operation, our officers and staff continue to work valiently to ensure the public remains safe.”

PC Barker’s wife, Hazel, has offered the following moving tribute:

“How do you put into words how you feel about somebody you are so proud of? Bill was my best friend, my forever friend, and an amazing dad. Even when he was exhausted from work he would always take time out for the kids.

“I have the comfort of knowing that Bill died doing the job he loved and the fact that he was helping others is just typical Bill.

“I’d now ask that the media respect the family’s privacy at this time and leave us to grieve in peace.”

Anyone who wishes to pay tribute to Bill can do so online by logging on to www.facebook.com/cumbriapolice.

The above photograph is of PC Bill Barker receiving a long service and good conduct medal after 22 years service. This award was presented to him by Chief Constable Craig Mackey.

Never trust a teddy.

The PR crackled into life all of a sudden. The call was obviously urgent and any unit available was wanted to make for the edge of the Britannia Estate. The doctor’s surgery above the community centre had got unwanted visitors. They had been seen to climb across the roof before forcing a window and gaining entry.

As the eyes of the world watched from behind the safety of twitching curtains, the responders made their way, swiftly and as silently as a diesel police vehicle could possibly be. About half a mile away one of the intruders heard the distant diesel throb as it tried, unsuccessfully, to gain the element of surprise. After a shout, the spotter hurried out of the window, across the roof, dropped into the car park and was lost into the night. Egress from window onto the roof would be in the text on the crime.

It was possible the other did not hear the warning shout, nor heard the diesel throb as it got noisily ever closer. But closer it got until it was too late.

We were there. In all our good guy glory. One to the front, another towards the side with a good view across the car park. The dog support into the shadows at the back, by the edge of the roof to the window chosen by the intruders.

Keys are on the way, about 20 minutes. By this time we have bodies on the roof outside the window, we have containment and we have a dog ready to go in as soon as the keys have opened up and knocked off the alarm. The ringing noise of the alarm, despite the audible delay, has stopped but the ringing from being too close continues in my head.

We are in, the door is covered and my boy sets off in search of the quarry. In the same way that he would search out a tasty morsel for dinner, he begins his search, the hunt is on for the intruder.

Slowly and systematically, room by room, the building is knocked off. Closer to the far end of the building I follow. I have interest in a couple of places. We have success, we have some tools, a torch, a jacket, hat and gloves. We have the tools of the trade but, we want more. The urgency in the dog becomes heightened as he moves from corridor into room after room and then back again. He could be close.

In a room I begin to hear low gutteral growls followed by shaking and ragging of something that has clearly pissed the dog off. I move towards the sound, the growls and noises get louder. I enter the room and in my torchlight I see that my dog has got a really nasty offender. He must have threatened or kicked out at the dog and the dog has done his stuff. I call him back. He drops the suspect and returns. I see the pathetic, lifeless form of the suspect on the floor. His coat is torn but it seemed to be well-worn anyway.

I put the dog in the down and approach the suspect. I pick him up and replace him into the large box that contained all the rest of the cuddly toys in the child’s playbox in the waiting area. I will tell the key-holder about this later on. The other toys might need counselling having witnessed the savagery of the attack on their friend.

I carry on the search until I find what we really came for. Squashed under the sink base unit. I think he thought we had already found his mate. He was compliant and almost relieved to be under the supervision of response.

You can never trust a teddy.

Bullshit Bingo

 Are you bored, or fed up with the latest meeting or seemingly pointless conference. When you need that extra little diversion to break the tedium of listening to jobsworths talking bullshit to justify their existence instead of getting on with a real and meaningful job, then opt for bullshit bingo.

Listen to the endless, spouting jargon and trendy buzz phrases. Tune your ear into the latest corporate claptrap and meaningless word juggling and mark off each of the words/phrases on the grid until you get a line down, across or even better, go for that full house. When completed stand up and shout “Bullshit” to the amazement of the rest of the people attending. Better still, copy off several sheets and pass them around and then see who wins.

Bring offenders to justice	Resource model	Pre- populated	Police and Agency partners	Investing in people	Multi  Agency
Deny criminals the use of the road network	Making our Communities  safer	Bullshit Bingo Free square	Control strategy	Enforcement priority	Volumetric
Business case	Resource efficient	Community focus	Core business	Fit for purpose	Business scorecard matrix
Crime mapping	Workforce modernisation	Reinforce our mission values	Bring offenders to justice	Demand profile	Citizen focussed policing
Value for Money	Organisational strategy	Sustainable	Key performance indicators	Bigger Picture	Efficiency savings
Strategic aim	Intelligence directorate	Ownership	Community engagement matrix	Intelligence led	Scoping period
Diverse aware	Embed	This is a live Document	Best practice	Partnership	Go-live

TPAC

RPU meeting on TPAC policy. You couldn’t make it up.

Theft of poppy collection box.

You just have to see this. Thanks to Kendl for spotting this one.

Theft of a poppy collection box recorded on CCTC. Good detail and clear video evidence  for a change.

Fork Handles

Handles for forks………….

A Minute for Madeline McCann

So its one minute and 30 odd seconds. Please pass it on.

Dangerous Dog – Out of control.

Thanks to Ambush Predator for bringing this to my attention. A  reported incident where an allegedly dangerous dog attacked a woman who was out walking and the Police took no action.

The reported story alleges that the Police have failed to act over a dangerous dog incident that resulted in a woman being bitten by a dog that was out of control.

I simply cannot believe that no investigation was carried out into the offence, which it certainly is. Dangerous dog  legislation allows for dogs to be seized in such circumstances whilst an investigation takes place with strict conditions or, in some cases, a destruction order granted by a court if the dog conforms to strict criteria.

Most Forces have trained officers who deal with identification, seizure and offer expert advice when needed.

 

For their sake……….

Please buy a poppy.

Bird-feeder crime.

There are many people who get a little fed up with squirrels breaking into the bird feeders or climbing onto bird feeders to steal the tit bits intended for the birds.How do you deal with the problem of something just a little bit bigger than a squirrel ?

I wonder if the line is going to hold.

It must be super strong stuff.

Would you go out and tell it to get off your bird feeder ?