NCJ Number
175285
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 25 Issue: 7 Dated: July 1998 Pages: 54-56-58
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper describes ways in which the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) of London, England, has addressed burglary, the policing of the Thames River, officer safety, dealing with the mentally ill, wildlife crime, vehicle pursuits, and communications.
Abstract
Operation Bumblebee has been in place about 5 years, impacting the burglary rates in London through special strategies in investigation and theft prevention. One strategy is the "Roadshow," a high-profile event staged in London neighborhoods. The goal of a Roadshow is to reunite burglary victims with their property that has been stolen, but an indirect benefit is teaching citizens the importance of marking or photographing items or recording their serial numbers. To police the Thames River, The Thames Division of the MPS patrols the river with police boats, dive teams, a floating police station, land-based riverfront stations, and other resources. To enhance police safety, all officers up to the rank of chief inspector have undergone the Personal Safety Project, a four-module, integrated training program. Topics include the use of rigid handcuffs, batons, open-handed techniques, and officer safety. Further, the MPS has developed a partnership with the London Ambulance Service, London Social Services, and Mental Health Liaison Officers, so that mentally ill people detained under the mental health law go directly to a place of treatment and safety. To deal with the illegal trade in wildlife, the MPS has mounted "Operation Charm," the first major initiative in Europe against such illegal trading. To reduce the danger of high-speed vehicle pursuits, the MPS uses a spike tire deflation system to deflate the pursued vehicle's car tires and bring the suspect's car to a safe, progressive halt. Finally, "Metradio" is the MPS's trunked radio system now in full operation, providing modern communication capability for beat officers.