COPPERPLATE

IN THISISSUE:

TRANS TAYSIDE CHALLENGE RAISES £30,000 FOR INJURED MARINES • SUPPORT FOR PARENTS WORRIED ABOUT BOOZE AND BLADES • DEAF AWARENESS AND SIGN LANGUAGE WORKSHOP • PUBLIC ASSISTANCE DESK GOES LIVE • TAYSIDE POLICE AND NHS TAYSIDE GET INFORMATION SHARING PROTOCOL • CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING

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T A Y S I D E P O L I C E | S T A F F N E W S L E T T E R

www.tayside.police.uk

THE TAMING OF ‘CARNASTY’ The infamous golfi ng links of theChampionship Course at Carnoustie isoften referred too as ‘Carnasty’ afterthe 1999 Open Golf Championship.However, this famous old golfi ng beastwas tamed by Colin Brough, David Scottand Ross Mitchell at the recent RotaryClub of Carnoustie Tri-Am Charity GolfTournament recently played there.The competition took the form of teamsof three with the best ‘net’ score foreach hole being recorded. Representing Tayside Police under the moniker of ‘The 3 Bawbies’ the golf course, which wasin pristine condition, soon knew who thedaddies were when David started withtwo ‘net’ birdies to get the team off to the perfect start.A birdie on the fi fth by Ross, on thefamous sixth hole (Hogan’s Alley) by Colinand an eagle on the seventh (again by David) kept the score both under par and bogey free for a front nine of 30 shots (six under par).The back nine holes saw Ross’s putterignited by the beautiful sunshine thatadorned the course with birdies on both the tenth and eleventh. The teams’ only blemish of the round was a bogey onthe par three thirteenth hole. This wasimmediately countered by Colin holinga monster putt at the fourteenth (thefamous ‘Spectacles’) for yet anotherbirdie followed by (guess what) anotherbirdie by Ross on the fi fteenth.The team carded 61 strokes or nine under par and lifted the trophy, raising a hefty sum for local charities in the process.A reminder to all golfers of the fi xturecalendar for Central Division Golf Section:

August 15thCentral Championships (Blairgowrie)Tee time 9.30 hrs / 14.30 hrs

Sept 5th - 7thScottish Police Golf Championships(Stranraer / Portpatrick)

Sept 19th Autumn Trophy (Strathmore)Tee time 13.30 hrs.

An Interdivisional match will also bearranged in the near future, the date of which will be made available soon. It is also anticipated that Tayside will againhave a match against Grampian Police intheir force area.All golfers who are members of the Police Club are invited to attend. These outings are keenly priced and give golfers of all abilities the chance to play some of thefi nest courses in the region with theircolleagues, both serving and retired.Further details of these outings or anyother Golf Section query should bedirected to Sergeant Alan Kidd at theCentral Division Public Enquiry Offi ce.

Tayside Police successfully graduated fromthe Carbon Trust’sCarbon ManagementProgramme this month with a commitmentto reduce our carbonemissions.Tayside Police was among 37organisations in Scotland tograduate from the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management programme at the offi cial ceremony in Edinburgh, marking the end of the eighth phase of the highly regarded programme.This year’s cohort included a mix of public sector organisations, colleges, and police and fi re and rescue services. The programme, which began in 2003, hasseen over 130 public sector organisations develop an energy saving Carbon Management plan. The benefi ts can be signifi cant for organisations involved. The fi rst50 organisations that prepared a plan by March 2009 have reducedtheir carbon emissions to the atmosphere by over 350,000tCO2, with associated energy bill reductions in excess of £35 million. With their savings set to continue and a further 37 organisations,including Tayside Police graduatingthis month, the benefi ts to both the environment and the public

purse look set to grow.John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, commented,“I would like to congratulate the latest group of organisations to graduate from the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme. “This programme is playing avital role in helping to realise the Scottish Government’s energy effi ciency and climate change priorities. It is helping our sectors to act as exemplars on low carbon behaviour, which will be vital if we are to show leadership to other parts of society and address the emissions reduction targets in our Climate Change (Scotland) Act.“We will also be looking to all organisations to support ourEnergy Effi ciency Action Plan ambitions, including the setting of individual energy reduction targets. The delivery of these could achieve signifi cant cost savings from energy bills: an important opportunity in times of signifi cant fi nancial constraint.”Gary Mair, Tayside Police’s Property Services Offi cer, added, “Climate change and its effects on the environment are a global issue. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve ourability to adapt to and cope with unavoidable environmental changes, collective actions are

necessary. Tayside Police, as amember of the Association of Chief Police Offi cers of Scotland (ACPOS), wanted to develop a plan that would work towards securing the sustainability of our country in a changing climate. The CarbonManagement Programme together with the help of the Carbon Trust gave us the building blocks and tools essential to develop our plan. At the completion of our fi ve-year programme in 2016, Tayside Policeis targeting a carbon reduction of 1,514tCO2, a 25 per cent reduction from a starting emissions level of 6,057tCO2.” “We have undertaken a number of projects that will provide long-term benefi t in terms of reduced carbon emissions.Key projects have included: boiler replacement, Building Management Systems controls, installation of solar photovoltaic systems and the development and implementation of our Carbon Management Plan across Tayside Police. Over the lifetime of our Carbon Management Programme we hope to achieve our targets by implementing high-effi ciency lighting throughout all buildings, continuing our boiler replacement programme and a low carbonreplacement vehicle programme.” Paul Wedgwood, manager, CarbonTrust Scotland, said,“The dedication shown by the 2011 public sector cohort hasbeen second to none. All the organisations involved, fromScotland’s fi re and rescue services to colleges and other public bodies, have recognised the need to take action on climate change and make energy savings, particularly at this fi scally challenging time. They are planning to make signifi cant changes to reduce their carbon emissions and, as a consequence,energy spend.“The Carbon Management programme continues to be a great success, with over 90 per cent of major public bodies in Scotland having completed the programme. We are excited about rolling the programme out to the private sector in Scotland, helping businesses to take a strategic approach to implementing energy effi ciency initiatives which will make a marked difference to their total energy costs.”

TAYSIDE POLICE - CARBON TRUST GRADUATES

Tayside Police: L-R: Gary Mair of Tayside Police with Paul g , gWedgwood, manager of the Carbon Trust in Scotland

www.tayside.police.uk

P02 | COPPERPLATE | JUNE:2011

TRANS TAYSIDE CHALLENGE RAISES £30,000 FOR INJURED MARINESBy Chief Inspector Conrad TrickettMidnight, Friday 20 May 2011, planning and preparation was over – it was time to crack on, put our bodies to the test, demonstrate our commitment to the cause – Commando 999, raising money for injured green bereted brothersin arms. The night was black with a dark cloud covering the sky, Loch Tay was black and the mountains raising each side were barely distinguishable from the water and it was raining – of course! Few Commando qualities needed already!The water phase of the challenge involved 15 of the team in a variety of kayaks, mostly doubles including a Klepper to ensure our link with the Corps at every opportunity. We paddled off into the night, with boats from the RMR raiding troop and Freespirits watersports centre (run by ex-Commando Steve ‘fl uff’ Thomas) chugging alongside. We were soon spread across the Loch with differing paces of crews and diffi culty maintaining direction at night. Each double became lost in their own world of effort, settling into a ‘comfortable’pace and battling with conditions.After seven miles or so we had made good time but the weather conspired against us, the wind blew along the Loch building the water to a great swell, which hit our boats side on. One crew in their racing double had to pull out after severalspells in the water, the weather beating the capability of the boat. Many other teams spent time upside down spluttering to the dark surface, searching for their oppo and paddles before pushing to the shore to empty water from the boat, get back in and set off once more.Despite these experiences the teams graduallycame into the fi nish at Kenmore between 5 hours 30 minutes and 6 hours 30 minutes – all ahead of schedule. Freespirits Steve Thomas gave us a brief as we exchanged kayaks for rafts and set off down the River Tay renowned for its white water rapids. After a night of paddling more of the same for three hours was not high on our list of things to do, but the sections of white water made up for the back ache and we were soon eating bacon rolls at Grandtully, the night and water phase behind us.We were joined by the remaining members of

members who were doing it all. Some impressivelooking racing bikes appeared along with a coupleof mountain bikes adapted with road tyres andbootneck attitude – the route took the cyclistsalongside the River Tay on a fairly level sectionto Dunkeld, where the road started to undulatea little towards Coupar Angus and then climbsteeply up to Tullybaccart before the cruisingdescent to Dundee. The cyclists were supportedand cheered on by check point teams every tenmiles comprising of serving Marines from RMCondor, family and friends. At Tullybaccart, furthersupport arrived in the form of 2ic Base Company, Captain Steve Lewis on racing bike to join theteam and RMA retired Sergeant Pat O Hara on amore powerful looking motorbike to encouragethe tour de France image! The marines did a greajob of encouraging bystanders to part with loosechange to further the Commando 999 funds.The fi nal part of the cycle was thankfully fl atalong the A92 to Arbroath with the bike stagefi nishing at the fi re station, where more food anddrinks were provided and the local RMA appearedto cheer us on. The leading cyclists fi nished the60 miles stage in a little over 3 hours, someawesome cycling after a night on the Loch!Running legs were stretched into life; the cliffpath being closed it was a straight run out andup the road to Lunan Bay, escorted by a policevan and motor cyclist. The hill out of town soon spread the group; the pace of the leading runnerswas mightily impressive fi nishing the eight milesunder an hour, whilst the courage of others putthe challenge in context.At Lunan Bay, Captain Steve Lewis returned withPTI and half a dozen serving Marines from Condor to join us for the fi nal six miles to Montrose to berun as a speed march and a visible demonstrationof the adage once a marine, always a marine; theyoung men of 45 Commando complementing the 62 year Ally Taylor, who last speed marched in1973!!Including Gift Aid, we have raised £30,000. This money has gone directly to the RMA who haveimmediately spent most of it long-term leasingtwo cars for Hasler Company in order that thewounded can be moved around the country in a little more comfort. There will be further picturesof the car and the offi cial handover to HaslerCompany on and around the 18th July 2011

ww taysidide police uk

the team to continue the challenge with the mad Company on and around the 18th July 2011.

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JUNEL:2011 | COPPERPLATE | P03

SUPPORT FOR PARENTS WORRIED ABOUT BOOZE AND BLADES

Tayside Police is committed to managing demand andmaking more effi cient and effective use of fi nite resources. With this is mind, the Force Executive commissioned abest value review of operational policing and in April 2009,the review team made various recommendations forimprovements across a range of subject areas including the introduction of a Public Assistance Desk (PAD) coupled witha Diary Appointment System (DAS).One of the key aims of the police offi cers working on the PAD, based at Police Headquarters, is to allow a greaternumber of incidents to be dealt with as close to fi rst point ofcontact as possible.Sergeant Debbie Allan from the PAD Project Team explainedhow the system works.‘’Force Communications Centre and VCC staff will continue to be the fi rst point of contact with customers and will create and capture incidents as normal. The police offi cers working on the PAD will then deal with some of these incidents over the phone. If the incident is not resolved atthis stage then the aim is to fl atten out the demand curve bymaking appointments with customers at a time that is bothmore suitable to them and Tayside Police.’’The PAD and DAS went live on Friday 3 June withimprovements already being noticed in operationaleffi ciency in offi cer response to routine and scheduled incidents, as well as an increase in incidents that have beenresolved without the need for police offi cer attendance.

ayside Police is committed to managing demand and

Do you know where they’re going tonight?

need to talk? We’re listening

0808 800 2222parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk

ParentLine Scotland is a service provided by CHILDREN 1ST. Registered Scottish Charity No. SC 016092.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE DESK GOES LIVE

DEAF AWARENESS AND SIGN LANGUAGE WORKSHOPWORKSHOPPP

A new initiative to encourage employees to take updeaf awareness and sign language is now available in Dundee.Signs4Life is offering an introductory workshop in deaf awareness and sign language to help staff tocommunicate with their deaf and hard of hearing colleagues, service users and clients in Dundeeon Thursday 14 July at Dundee Voluntary Action (10 Constitution Road, DD1 1LL) from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Attendance is strictly by booking only (limited places).Tayside Police staff should consult their line manager before booking a place.For more information, or to book a place, please contact Fozia on info@signs4life.org.uk

Parents worried their children maybe involved in drinking or weapons carrying are being offered a helping hand as part of a summer campaignagainst booze and blades.

The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) have teamed up with ParentLine Scotland to launch an initiative offering advice andsupport to parents worried their child maybe drinking or using weapons. The initiativeforms part of the alcohol and weapons phase of this year’s Anti-Violence Campaign.Jill Cook, Helpline Manager for ParentLineScotland said,“From the calls we receive at ParentLine, we know that parents worry about wheretheir children are going, what they’re doing and who they’re hanging around with. Mostof the time there is nothing serious to worryabout but sometimes parents need adviceon how to tackle the more serious issues.“Drinking alcohol can lead to young peopletaking risks such as engaging in sexualactivity or fi ghting. In more extreme cases it can lead to them carrying or using aweapon. It is important that parents know there is support available to them to help them address these issues with theirchildren.”Help and information is available online at both the VRU website (www.actiononviolence.org.uk) and the ParentLine Scotland (www.parentlinescotland.org.uk)Chief Inspector Graham Goulden, who leads the campaign on behalf of the VRU, said,

“Violence, and the behaviour that leadsto violence, is everyone’s problem. Weknow there are parents out there whoare worried about issues like alcohol and weapons. For the vast majority, there is no need for concern, but that doesn’t stoppeople worrying. That’s why the work of ParentLine Scotland in supporting andlistening to those concerns is so vital.Tackling violence is a team effort, and ParentLine Scotland is key in this.”Chief Inspector Goulden added that the“team effort” approach would be evident throughout the campaign, with forcesacross the country working in partnershipwith a variety of groups to help targetviolence-related issues specifi c to eacharea. In addition, forces would also:• Increase use of stop and search in

known hotspot areas.• Deploy patrols with hand held metal

detectors within known violence hotspot areas.

• Use bail conditions to prevent offenders from recommitting acts of violence.

• Use knife/weapons intervention visits/letters for prolifi c knife/weapons carriers.

• Use bail conditions to prevent offenders from returning to licensed premises or hot spot areas.

The campaign runs until 31 July.

P04 | COPPERPLATE | JUNE:2011

www.tayside.police.uk DESIGNED & PRODUCED BY: hbrutherford

Copperplate is a staff magazine – whether you u ara e tat f

a police offi cer or member of support staff, your

opinions count. That is why we would like to hear

from you with any news, views or suggestions that

you would like to see published in Copperplate.

If you have a story idea, please contact Sarah

or Damon in the Corporate Communications

Department on;

Telephone: Sarah (01382) 596730

E-Mail: sarah.craig@tayside.pnn.police.uk

Telephone: Damon (01382) 596731

E-Mail: damon.rhind.@tayside.pnn.police.uk

TAYSIDE POLICE AND NHS TAYSIDE GET INFORMATION SHARING PROTOCOLAn Information Sharing Protocol (ISP) between the ChiefConstable, Tayside Police and NHS Tayside, has been signedin order to facilitate the sharing of data in relationto serious crimes and to promote the prevention anddetection of crime and public safety. Tayside Police may share relevant information to allow NHS Tayside to conduct a risk assessment of patients and risk to their staff, to provide healthcare servicesto persons detained in Police custody and a forensic service to Tayside Police.NHS Tayside staff will, when required for policing purposes, provide Tayside Police offi cers with witness statements. They may also advise Tayside Police regarding a patient’s status in respect of their discharge from NHS premises,in relation to a patient suspected of having been the victim of a crime andin relation to a patient suspected of having committed a crime or who is suspected of posing a risk to the public. NHS Tayside will even provide up to date contact details in circumstances wherethe individual for whom Tayside Police is required to serve a document, is no longer at the address held by Tayside Police. This protocol provides a gateway to the lawful sharing of relevant information, which will be of benefi t to both partners in achieving their objectives. Theprotocol is available to view on the Intranet under Policy/Guidance – MOUsand Protocols – NHS Tayside. It provides all police offi cers and police staff with information on the purpose, powers, processes and forms to be used when sharing information.

For the next edition of Copperplate we’d like some suitable captions for this photograph of Chief Inspector Trickett and Inspector Hunter sharing an exchange ofwords during the Trans Tayside Challenge.

Here’s one to start you off…

“Chief Inspector Trickett quickly accessorised

with a helmet and orange vest after realising

he’d embarrassingly turned up wearing the

same outfi t as Inspector Hunter.’’

E-mail your caption suggestions to Sarah Craig in Corporate Communications.

CLAY PIGEON SHOOTINGThe Tayside Police clay shooting team have enjoyed a successful season. Pictured are the team that came away from the Scottish policechampionships with trophies for IndividualHigh Gun, Individual Sporting, and the teamDown the Line events. This year the Scottish Championships will be hosted by Tayside at Auchterhouse, where it is hoped that home advantage will see a sizeable haul of trophies and medals.For those interested in joining the Clay Pigeon Shooting team, there will be club practise/tuition days throughout the Summer. For furtherinformation please contact Constable Dean Morris at Downfi eld Police Station or Constable Dan Neale at Lochee Police Station.