Latest news with #DurhamConstabulary
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
County Durham police intelligence specialist awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours
A County Durham police intelligence specialist who has spent decades taking dangerous criminals off the streets has been named in the King's Birthday Honours. During her distinguished career, Carole Johnson from Durham helped trace vulnerable missing children and put organised crime gangs behind bars . She has received an MBE for her services to policing. Carole, now 53, joined Durham Constabulary in 1996 as an administrator working at Newton Aycliffe Police Station - but her career changed direction when she joined the intelligence team in 2000. Carole Johnson. (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY) She rose through the ranks to form the first CAB (Central Authorities Bureau) team at the force in 2010, and her current role sees her help the force deploy secret surveillance tactics and warrants. Today, (June 13) it has been confirmed that Carole is one of 16 people from the North East to be named in the King's Birthday Honours - and when a letter carrying the news landed on her doormat, she was left "gobsmacked". 'It was Bank Holiday Monday,' she said. 'We had been across to the Lake District for the weekend, and I arrived home to find the letter among the post. 'When I opened it, I immediately thought, 'that has got to be some sort of scam', but we checked it and sure enough it was true. I was gobsmacked – it was absolutely unbelievable. 'I'm over the moon and my family and colleagues will be over the moon too – I'm just so relieved that I can finally tell them.' Carole added: "I absolutely love my job. You are always learning; there is always something new, whether that is changing technology or changing legislation, so it is always different. "There are hard days, but the team I work with are amazing people and my job is made easier by them. Read more: Police chief and leading negotiator included in King's Birthday Honours list King's Birthday Honours 2024: North East people recognised expected later King's Birthday Honours 2024: Alan Bates and Gordon Brown among those recognised King's Birthday Honours 2024: Individuals from the North East recognised King's Birthday Honours 2023: Individuals from the North East recognised "We have saved some lives and we have locked up some bad people, so I am really passionate about it." Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said: "This is a thoroughly well-deserved honour for Carole and an immensely proud day for Durham Constabulary. "Perhaps because of the covert nature of their work, some of our teams do not get the public recognition for the incredible work they do to protect the public and achieve justice for victims every day. "Carole and her team exemplify the very best of Durham Constabulary; she is an inspirational and motivational leader who has repeatedly helped to save lives, pursue criminals and protect some of our most vulnerable people."
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police called after boy, 10, seen riding motorbike through County Durham streets
Police were called after a 10-year-old boy was seen riding a motorbike around County Durham streets. Officers from Durham Constabulary received several concerned calls from residents in Sacriston after they witnessed a boy weaving in and out of traffic on the vehicle over the last few weeks. A police vehicle with the bike (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY) According to police, one video they received showed the child weaving across the road heading up Front Street in the town, narrowly missing cars. After attending the scene, the police force confirmed that they had seized the vehicle and issued a warning to parents and children in the region about the dangers of vehicles and illegal riding on the roads. A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: "Officers have seized a bike after multiple reports of it being ridden on the road around Sacriston, by a very small child. Still footage of the boy on the bike (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY) "One caller stated, 'They had to call us, as they thought they'd end up dead, because of the way they were riding the bike' "This isn't about taking kids' toys away, and more about saving lives and preventing serious injuries. Public urged to comment on incinerator's bid to burn hazardous waste in County Durham Future of plans to upgrade A66 set to be revealed in key Government announcement "A child, under the age of 10, riding on the roads at a very busy time of day could have ended up in a serious incident, and no, they weren't wearing any protective equipment. "One video showed them weaving across the road heading up Front Street with cars coming very close to having an accident." "We'd much rather seize a bike than have to knock on your door and deliver the heartbreaking news of a loved one being seriously injured, or taken too soon."
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Volunteers sought to scrutinise police custody
Volunteers are being sought to help provide oversight of police custody processes and the welfare of people being detained. The independent custody visitors will hold Durham Constabulary and the Chief Constable to account and help increase trust and confidence in policing services, Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen said. During unannounced visits to the new Durham Investigative Hub, near Spennymoor, the volunteers will check detentions standards across custody suits and ensure detainees are receiving the appropriate care. Allen said the volunteers would "play a critical role in driving further improvements". Issues identified will be raised with the custody sergeant and included in a report which is sent to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. "Our new cohort of volunteers will play a critical role in driving further improvements in our processes and procedures to ensure Durham not only delivers the very best quality of care to detainees but is held aloft as a beacon of good practice nationally," Allen said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Custody volunteers: 'We never ask what they've done' Retiring police dogs 'deserve to get pension' 'Rioters did not care if we got home that night' Durham Police and Crime Commissioner's Office
BBC News
07-06-2025
- BBC News
Durham volunteers sought to scrutinise police custody processes
Volunteers are being sought to help provide oversight of police custody processes and the welfare of people being independent custody visitors will hold Durham Constabulary and the Chief Constable to account and help increase trust and confidence in policing services, Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen unannounced visits to the new Durham Investigative Hub, near Spennymoor, the volunteers will check detentions standards across custody suits and ensure detainees are receiving the appropriate said the volunteers would "play a critical role in driving further improvements". Issues identified will be raised with the custody sergeant and included in a report which is sent to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner."Our new cohort of volunteers will play a critical role in driving further improvements in our processes and procedures to ensure Durham not only delivers the very best quality of care to detainees but is held aloft as a beacon of good practice nationally," Allen said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- BBC News
'My retired hero police dog deserves a pension'
Their lives are put at risk in the line of duty, apprehending suspects, dealing with public disorder and more - but what happens to police dogs when their years of duty come to an end?Each year 50 to 70 dogs retire and are adopted by members of the public or their former handler, but they often come with complicated medical needs, such as chronic health issues and injuries from their the charity Thin Blue Paw, which supports serving and retired police dogs, has called for them to be supported with a pension to help pay for vet costs."It seems a shame that they are just retired and that there's no support given," said Laura Meller, from Loughborough in Leicestershire, who has spent an estimated £12,000 looking after retired service animals. The 33-year-old has adopted three former service animals in total, including her current companion Marco, who served with Durham Constabulary for two years."It is the most rewarding thing having a retired police dog," she said. During his police service, Marco, now aged five, tracked a vulnerable man in a wood during the middle of the night."The man was wearing camouflage clothing and was unconscious when located laying face down under a bush," Ms Meller said."Without Marco, there was no way they would have found him given how dark it was and his camo clothing."But Ms Meller is worried that various factors, including rising vet costs, could put potential adopters off from taking on retired police dogs in the future."With no pension and the cost of living, dogs could struggle to find homes, particularly the older ones," she said."I can see an ethnical thing in that worst case could be euthanasia." Audi is another retired police dog whose playful nature belies his previous life on the and his handler, PC Karl Mander, were called to Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in 2019 to deal with a man with a bottle in one hand and a knife in the Mander said as Audi helped to restrain him, the man stabbed the dog in the he tried to stab Audi a second time, the officer was able to draw him in and use a Taser to subdue the man."He had a thin knife, and it went down the side of his head and just missed his eye," said PC Mander. "If it had gone straight in the middle, it would have pierced his skull. He was lucky."Dogs don't know any different. He would do anything for me. He'd try and stop a man with a knife, put himself in harm's way." Audi, nine, now lives with Katie Wright and her family in a rural area near Stafford."Since Audi has retired he is very relaxed and chilled," she said."He just spends most of the time chasing the sun round the lounge."He won a local hero bravery award for the incident in which he was stabbed. "I proudly display them because I want everyone to know it." But looking after Audi comes at a cost due to injuries and joint issues resulting from his service."We probably pay at least £200 a month extra than what I would normally pay," Ms Wright the cost, Ms Wright said she is determined to give back to Audi after his service. "He's served the community and he deserves something for his retirement," she added. PC Darren Sewell, from Leicestershire Police, has spent 20 years working with service dogs."They're expected to jump over fencing, hurdles, work with firearms," he said."It has an impact on them over their career."Jenny Preston, who used to be a dog handler with Kent Police, has adopted nine former service said: "When they retire, they [police forces] no longer fund anything that they need."That falls to the person who takes them on."The Thin Blue Paw estimates that adopting a retired police dog costs an average of £3,000 more a year compared with taking on an equivalent dog. "Things like joint support, special diets, hydrotherapy - all things that come with taking on a retired police dog," said Kieran Stanbridge, chairman of the charity. It can also be very difficult to find insurance for the dogs once they have retired - further adding costs. "If we are deploying these dogs in the line of duty, to save us as human beings, we have a responsibility to give back to them and make sure we give them the care they need in their retirement," he added. Nottinghamshire Police announced in 2013 it would start paying pensions to its retiring Home Office told the BBC service animals were managed by individual police forces who rely on charities and volunteers, and there were currently no plans to change the retirement process.
