ACPO Press Releases

ACPO RESPONSE TO THE ACMD REPORT

ACPO Press Office — Thu, 19 Apr 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 102/07
In response to the ACMD report on date rape, John Yates, ACPO lead on Rape and Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said:

"This report confirms the findings of the recently published report contained within Operation Matisse a joint study into drug facilitated sexual assault carried out by ACPO in conjunction with the Police Standards Unit. The public is reminded about the dangers of consuming an excess of alcohol which, uncontrolled, can make them prey to this type of offence."

� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

� ACPO�s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

POLICING REVIEW

ACPO Press Office — Mon, 26 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 47/07
Responding to the Government�s Crime and Justice Policy Review, ACPO President Ken Jones said:

�ACPO believes that the time has come for a wider debate on the future role and functions of the police service. The content of this welcome review, when combined with recent challenging reports from HMIC, supports our goal.

�We welcome this policing review to which we have submitted ideas and highlighted challenges. Whilst we wait to see the detail, we are determined to continue to do all we can to reduce bureaucracy, build on neighbourhood policing and make the best use of our resources.

�A recent extensive financial management evaluation of all 43 police forces by the national Audit Office shows that two-thirds of police forces are performing well in their use of financial resources, and the majority performing consistently above the minimum requirements set by the Audit Commission. This compares favourably with other parts of the public sector. We have recently, with the Association of Police Authorities, submitted a range of proposals on how this progress can be maintained as we enter a period of tightened budgets.

�Neighbourhood policing has made massive progress in embedding local teams in communities. Since its roll out, we have seen public confidence levels in policing rise, and we want to improve our partnership working to ensure that we have the support and commitment of all agencies. We can do even more if there were less bureaucracy and fewer targets; of which there are still far too many. If the review is able to ease these pressures �space� will be made for us to customise what we deliver according to what people need in their neighbourhoods.

�We police with the consent of the people. We are always looking for ways to be more accessible and accountable � especially at the local level � but we need to make sure that the chain of accountability from street level policing through to police chiefs, and authorities, is not broken. We need local intelligence about street dealing to tackle the organised criminals who are trafficking the drugs that ruin lives and break up communitiues. We also need to see more genuine shared accountability of all local agencies involved in policing.

�For now, we look forward to working with Sir Ronnie Flanagan on this review to build on the successes of the service.�

ACPO SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT�S SIGNING OF THE EU CONVENTION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ACPO Press Office — Thu, 22 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 45/07
Dr Tim Brain, ACPO Spokesperson on Vice and Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary, welcomed the UK�s signing of the European Convention on Human Trafficking which took place today.

�The Association of Chief Police Officers is very pleased to support the Government�s signing of the European Convention.

�There is obvious symbolism with the signing falling on the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, but it reminds us in many practical respects that slavery is still with us and is still prevalent in the UK.

�We have long called for the signing of the European Convention on Human Trafficking and we are pleased that it has now come about.

�However, this is just not signing a piece of paper. It is important that it is now followed up with resources that will enable us to increase opportunities to detect the pernicious crime of trafficking humans for sexual exploitation and to ensure that we have enough safe housing in the country to protect and support the rescued victims.�

ACTION PLAN TO TACKLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ACPO Press Office — Thu, 22 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 46/07
Grahame Maxwell, ACPO lead on Human Trafficking and Deputy Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, said:

�I am delighted to today witness the launch of the UK Human Trafficking Action Plan. This launch is the result of many months of hard work on the part of all stakeholders involved in combating this trade that brings misery to many people�s lives.

�Human Trafficking is a rapidly growing area of criminal activity. Its practitioners perpetuate a trade that was outlawed 200 years ago this week, but that persists even today in our communities.

�The Action Plan represents a significant step forward in our joint approach to rescuing and supporting the victims of trafficking, to beating the traffickers, and to making it clear that the United Kingdom is a hostile environment for the slave traders of the 21st century�

RACE EMPLOYMENT TARGETS

ACPO Press Office — Tue, 20 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 86/07
Peter Fahy, ACPO lead on Race and Diversity and Chief Constable of Cheshire Police, said:

�The figures released by the Home Office shows that the Police Service is making slow but steady progress to achieving the goal of a Police Service representative in ethnic background of the population that it serves.

�It is pleasing to note that 15 per cent of Police Community Support Officers are from minority ethnic backgrounds which shows that the Police Service is an attractive employer to such groups. For police officers the change in the percentage is much slower. Given that most police officers serve for 30 years the rate of turnover is low and present forecasts are that it will take between 17 and 23 years for the goal of a representative workforce to be achieved.

�Police forces continue to make special efforts to recruit more staff from ethnic minorities using a range of positive action measures. The retention of minority officers has improved and progression through the ranks is being maintained at the expected level. Targets are not an end in themselves however and ACPO is convinced that there is a very strong and urgent operational case for the employment of more ethnic minority staff.

�We are policing an increasingly complex society and need a workforce that can cope with that level of complexity and diversity in backgrounds. For all police forces, applications to become police officers far exceed available places and so, under current employment law, applications from ethnic minorities must wait their place in the queue the same as all other applications.�

ACPO LAUNCHES NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH PURPOSE STATEMENT

ACPO Press Office — Thu, 15 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 41/07
A Purpose Statement for Neighbourhood Watches throughout the country is to be launched by ACPO at one of three Neighbourhood Watch Symposia. One of which will be held on 21 March.

Frank Whiteley, ACPO lead on Neighbourhood Watch and Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, will formerly announce the purpose statement at the symposium, to be attended by NHW representatives from forces throughout England and Wales. The statement will help update the purpose and direction of Neighbourhood Watches and will also help them to understand expected levels of support from their local forces.

Frank Whiteley said:

�Neighbourhood watches exist to cut crime and reduce the opportunities for crime and anti social behaviour by sharing information and advice with the police and other agencies concerned with community safety. They pay a big part in reducing the fear of crime for local residents by giving them a voice and encouraging them to become part of their local community, reporting anti social behaviour, suspicious incidents and becoming involved in crime prevention initiatives.�

The purpose statement outlines how the Police Service supports Neighbourhood Watches through regular contact with specially trained co-ordinators within local forces that provide crime figures and advice amongst other things.�

Alene Branton, Chief Executive of Humberside Association of Neighbourhood Watch Groups added:

�Neighbourhood Watches are also supported by The Home Office, Police Authorities and local government. They are an integral part of reaching the community and often provide invaluable sources of information that assist the police with their day to day work.�

It is hoped that the issuing of this statement will encourage those thinking about forming a Neighbourhood Watch and will also reiterate the importance of their function to existing watches.�

Anyone seeking more information about Neighbourhood Watch can obtain it from their local Police.

The purpose statement can be found under the polices section of this website.

� Media Invitation
Members of the media are invited to the launch of the statement at Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters on 21 March between 10am and midday.
This is the only session to be open to the media. Please advise Lou Bloomfield at the ACPO press office of your intention to attend.

� Interviews are available with Frank Whiteley between 10am and 11am on 21 March. Please register your interest with Lou Bloomfield at the ACPO press office.

� The NHW purpose statement is sent out with this press notice.

� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

� ACPO�s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

ACPO RESPONSE TO DRUGSCOPE REPORT CONCERNING CANNABIS CULTIVATION

ACPO Press Office — Mon, 12 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 83/07
Allan Gibson, ACPO lead on tackling cannabis cultivation and Commander at the Metropolitan police, said:

�Cannabis cultivation is an increasing problem and the police service continue to tackle the issue and are identifying and closing 'factories' every day. Operation Keymer, a successful national operation last autumn, saw the police closing cannabis factories across the country, seizing 28,000 plants and �160,000 in cash, arresting 133 people and using the Proceeds of Crimes Act to attack the criminal profits being made.

�Those involved, are organised criminals making millions of pounds from producing an illegal drug. They are usually involved in other forms of crime and violence and see such activity as presenting a low risk for high profit. We would remind uch individuals that this is a serious offence and they will be brought to justice.

�The process of cultivation also presents a potential death trap, risking the lives of innocent members of the public. If anyone believes there is a cannabis factory in there your area, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or your local police station. �

� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48/49 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

� ACPO�s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

OPERATION NETTLE

ACPO Press Office — Thu, 8 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 30/07
Operation NETTLE which started on Tuesday (7/3/07) concerns the organised theft, ringing, and disposal of motor homes. It was co-ordinated nationally by the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS).

Some 3,100 motor homes have been recorded as stolen on the PNC over the last five years. With approximately 50-60 motor homes being recorded as stolen each month across the UK, this equates to a �9M annual problem. A conservative estimate indicates that the total value of stolen motor homes ranges from �20m to �40m.

To date, nearly 600 motor caravans have been identified, following stringent screening criteria, extensive forensic investigation and intelligence led policing, as being within the criminal fraternity, having undergone some form of �cloning�.

Through collaborative working with a number of Police forces, AVCIS has coordinated a series of operations across the UK. Some of these operations have taken place already and some will take place over the coming weeks.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have previously recovered some 46 vehicles and arrested six people in relation to these type of offences. To date, some of the results around the country from this operation include, Hertfordshire Police arresting five people and the seizure of eight vehicles in Hemel Hempstead, West Mercia arresting two people, along with a number of V5 log books and plasma TV�s being recovered. Other forces such as Staffordshire recovered V5 log books. Lancashire made two arrests, along with Kent and Northumbria recovering stolen vehicles.

Superintendent Wake of the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, said

�My team have been working closely with many different stakeholders over a number of months in order to tackle this problem. This includes the DVLA, the Leisure Sector Industry, the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team at the Home Office, as well as various Police Forces both within the UK and also Northern Ireland and Eire. I would particularly like to thank the Lancashire Police Stolen Vehicle Squad who have spent a considerable amount of time working on this operation.

�This is one of many operations that the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service have been involved in. By working in partnership with police forces, all law enforcement groups, government agencies and stakeholders within the motor industry we aim to have a significant impact on vehicle enabled crime. Virtually all offences will involve the use of a vehicle at some point in the commission of the act. I want every person who is intending to commit a crime where a vehicle is an enabler to that crime to know that they first have to look over their shoulder and to be fearful of being caught. We will use every technique available to ensure that only those who legitimately use vehicles will be allowed the use of the road�

The aim of the operation was to recover outstanding stolen vehicles, bring the offenders to justice, recover any financial assets gained as a result of this criminality and to ensure that any opportunities to commit this type of crime in the future is prevented.

� ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) was set up by Assistant Chief Constable David Ainsworth (Kent Police). The unit was launched in December 2006 by the under secretary for Police and Security Vernon Coaker MP, and the President of ACPO, Mr Ken Jones QPM. The aim of the unit is to remove the use of vehicle as a crime enabler via collaboration with partners to tackle vehicle-enabled crime by using multi-agency intelligence.
� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

� ACPO�s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

New National Network of Police Prostitution and Vice Tactical Advisors launched

ACPO Press Office — Wed, 7 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 36/07
A new national network of Police Prostitution and Vice Tactical Advisors (TAC advisors) will be launched today at a joint ACPO and Home Office seminar in Cheltenham.

These newly appointed TAC advisors, apart from providing specialist advice and support to their own forces, will act as single points of contact for issues involving vice and prostitution for both ACPO and the Home Office. The advisors will form part of a new national network, offering support and advice to others and identifying best practice and emerging trends.

The seminar, whose delegates represent police forces across the country, will also provide an opportunity to discuss the wider issues of policing prostitution.

Dr Tim Brain, ACPO lead on Prostitution and Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police, said:

�The TAC advisors will act as focal points for information from both ACPO and the Home Office regarding policy or initiatives to be disseminated throughout police forces. The police service is committed to dealing effectively with those who abuse and exploit vulnerable women, men and children.

�Policing prostitution requires a sustained and concentrated effort to deliver long-term results. As outlined in the ACPO Vice Strategy, we believe that by adopting an holistic approach, working with our partners, we can tackle the harm done to individuals and support them in finding routes out of prostitution.�

Home Office Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said:

�Prostitution can have a significant and damaging effect on communities. The Government�s strategy is clear that sexual exploitation will not be tolerated, those who control it must be dealt with and vulnerable people caught up in it must be given help and assistance they need to get out of it.

�We will continue to work closely with ACPO and this new network of specialist police officers who play a crucial role in delivering the aims of the strategy on the ground.�

� The seminar is a closed, however Dr Brain will be available for interview during the day. Please contact Lisa Vasco on 020 7084 8947 with any interview requests.

� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� Through a series of committees and working groups ACPO members, often in consultation with develop policy and guidance for the police service. The Association aims to assist chief officers in providing excellence in leadership of the service; to ensure a professional and ethical service is delivered to all communities; and to provide professional advice to Government. Police Authorities other organisations and individuals with an interest in policing issues.

� ACPO�s 312 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus national agencies such as NCIS and the National Crime Squad, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

Police use of firearms

ACPO Press Office — Wed, 7 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 80/07
Ian Arundale, ACPO lead on police use of firearms and Deputy Chief Constable of West Mercia Constabulary said:

�ACPO recognises that there will be concern about the increase in the number of operations in which firearms are authorised. A large proportion of that increase has been based in the Metropolitan Police and West Yorkshire Police as a result of increased activity against the terrorist threat since July 2005.

�Firearms operations are authorised under a strict set of criteria that must be approved by a senior officer. It is worthy of note that the grounds to authorise a firearms operation are set at a much lower level than the grounds giving an officer authorisation to actually fire a weapon in an operation. The use of less lethal options in operations involving firearms must always be considered by both firearms commanders and authorised firearms officers.

�ACPO�s continuing investment around the development and deployment of less lethal options like the AEP impact round and Conducted Energy Devices (Taser) continues to reduce the capability gap between personal protective equipment and lethal force.

�The public should be reassured that the police service remain and want to remain predominantly unarmed. We train a small percentage of police officers in the use of firearms to a very high level.�

ACPO report � The Nature, Extent and Economic Impact of

ACPO Press Office — Mon, 5 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 35/07
Embargoed until 10.30 on
Wednesday 7 March 2007

An Independent study reveals the true cost of fraud in the UK

Fraud is costing the UK economy a minimum of �13.9 billion a year, a specially commissioned report has revealed.

The findings of the report, researching the true cost of fraud, will be revealed to members of parliament this Wednesday (7 MARCH) when Mike Bowron, Commissioner of Police for the City of London & ACPO Lead for Economic Crime, together with the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, attend a parliamentary breakfast.

The report, commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers� Economic Crime Portfolio Group, consisting of representatives from both public and private bodies, analysed key data drawn from global reports and national surveys to assess, as accurately as possible, the true economic cost of fraud in the UK.

Morgan Harris Burrows LLP compiled the report, which took a year to produce, in association with Professor Michael Levi of Cardiff University. The independent study provides a comprehensive breakdown of the various sub-sectors of fraud and conservatively estimates this to be in the region of �13.9 billion per year.

Mike Bowron, ACPO lead on Economic Crime and Commissioner of the City of London police, said:

�Professor Levi and his team have conservatively estimated that in 2005 fraud cost the UK �13.9 billion. But this figure excludes some major areas of criminality, such as income tax and EU fraud, where statistics are simply not available. Adding estimates for these into the mix, it is likely that fraud represents a �20 billion annual loss to the UK. To put this figure into perspective, such losses would pay for an additional 200,000 police officers or save every man, woman and child �330.00 per year.

�It used to be said �No one walks down the street in fear of being embezzled.� Well increasingly they do. Whereas once the average Briton dreaded being burgled or having their car broken into, they are now worried about identity fraud, mass marketing scams and other forms of financial crime that have a serious impact on our lives. Long gone is the notion that fraud is a victimless crime."

The full report can be found under the policies section of this website

� Mike Bowron will be available for pre-recorded interviews between 2pm and 3pm today (6 March). For interview requests please contact Ian Sales, City of London Police press office on 020 7601 2220.

� The full report will be available on the ACPO website www.acpo.police.uk from 10.30am on Wednesday 7th March 2007.

� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� Through a series of committees and working groups ACPO members, often in consultation with develop policy and guidance for the police service. The Association aims to assist chief officers in providing excellence in leadership of the service; to ensure a professional and ethical service is delivered to all communities; and to provide professional advice to Government. Police Authorities other organisations and individuals with an interest in policing issues.

� ACPO�s 312 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus national agencies such as NCIS and the National Crime Squad, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

Restorative youth justice

ACPO Press Office — Mon, 5 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 78/07
Roger Baker, ACPO lead on Youth Justice and Chief Constable of Essex Police said:

�ACPO welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues from the Home Office and Youth Justice Board in developing and piloting a restorative approach to resolve minor offending by children and young people, at the time or soon afterwards, to the satisfaction of all those affected by the behaviour.

By involving victims with young offenders it can help determine a positive and non-citeable outcome and we would expect any evaluation of the process to show a positive impact on re-offending rates, a reduction in more serious youth crime, a reduction in the number of first time entrants in the formal youth justice system and a reduction in the fear of crime.

For a number of forces it would also provide a just reward for some very effective policing approaches that, for the time being go unrewarded.

It is intended that the new scheme, once fully developed, will be piloted in a limited number of police force areas in the near future�

RECORDING THE ISSUING OF FIXED PENALTY NOTICES

ACPO Press Office — Mon, 5 Mar 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 79/07
Richard Brunstrom ACPO lead on fixed penalty notices and Chief Constable of North Wales Police said:

�Fixed Penalty Notices are issued at a police officer�s discretion based upon the incident or facts presented to him or her.

�Anyone who commits a recordable offence e.g. shoplifting, section five public order or criminal damage are generally arrested and brought into police custody where their identity is confirmed. From here they can either be issued with a FPN or in consultation with the CPS, charged. Anyone who commits a recordable offence will have their details recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC) regardless of if they are issued with a FPN or not. FPN�s issued on the street for non recordable offences are again done so at the officer�s discretion and are also entered onto the PNC.

�People receiving FPNs get a copy of the notice and another copy gets recorded through an administration process. Those people who fail to pay their FPN then have a warrant issued for their arrest and are actively sought by police.

�ACPO supports the Home Office guidance which requires details of all FPNs to be recorded onto the PNC. This guidance is followed by forces.

�Facility is available for forces to record the identity of people issued with FPNs on the street through the taking of fingerprints on site. The use of this facility is a matter for individual forces and is not mandatory.

�Penalty notices work. They make enforcement of Anti Social legislation easier for the police, courts and offenders. It's a very efficient and effective way of keeping officers on the streets.�

NO LET UP IN POLICE ENFORCEMENT

ACPO Press Office — Sun, 25 Feb 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 33/07
From midnight tonight (26 February) drivers who persist in using a hand held phone while driving will face the full force of the law with tougher penalties and the possibility of points on their licence.
Police have been enforcing the law which bans drivers from using hand held phone whilst driving, for which the penalty was a �30 fine. From tonight, Section 26 of the Road Safety Act 2007 provides for offences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving and failing to have proper control of a vehicle, both of which are endorsable.

These new offences mean that three penalty points can now be added to the driver�s licence and an increased fine of �60 will be enforced.
Any cases that reach court in addition to the penalty points, could also involve discretionary disqualification and a maximum fine of �1,000 (�2,500 in the case of the driver of a bus/coach or goods vehicle).

Meredydd Hughes, ACPO lead for Roads Policing and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police said:

�It�s important to remember that 77,000 people have already been fined for driving whilst using their mobile phones, a figure that highlights this offence is policed robustly. The law will continue to be enforced and with the provision of penalties extending to not having proper control of a vehicle drivers need to be aware that not concentrating on the road could not only cause an accident but also earn them points on their licence and a fine on top of that.

�Driving whilst using a mobile phone is not acceptable and these penalties will hopefully deter those who think they are above the law.�

Distractions whilst driving can cause death on the roads

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is a distraction and one that could cause a serious error of judgement. Such errors often lead to road traffic crashes and in the worst cases death.
The statement that follows was given to a court by the wife of the victim of a road traffic crash whereby the driver of the other car was using his mobile phone whilst driving at the time of the collision.

�I first learned that my husband had been in a dreadful accident on the M1 two hours after it must have occurred and realised immediately the Police arrived at my house that he was very serious, despite their initial information that he appeared to have gone for a scan at hospital, because I knew if he was conscious he would have got a message to me.

�I saw him for the first time, and although his face was unmarked I could see the huge battering his upper body had taken and to me it was instantly obvious that there was no life in him and it was only the machines keeping him alive.
By the time the machines were switched off, some 36 hours after the accident my husbands face and upper body were grotesquely and massively swollen so that he was almost unrecognisable and I know I will have that image imprinted on my brain forever.

�His sudden death at the age of 39 has had a profound impact on my family. The most devastating and far reaching effect is the fact my children are now left without their father. He was completely devoted to them, playing with them, reading to them, bathing them, looking after them when they were ill, disciplining them when they were naughty, just being with them whenever he could outside work hours and ringing up to talk to them when he couldn�t be there in person.
He had so much close involvement with them that for the first few weeks after he died my youngest son, who had only had his second birthday 6 days before his father�s death, asked for his daddy inconsolably, over and over again, probably 300 times a day and now graduates to saying with a very serious voice � Daddy died. Car Crash. Broken. Hurt.� What exactly he understands by this is difficult to know. He is obviously repeating what he has heard, but with time, will no doubt come to realise what this really means. He latches onto any adult male who comes through the door and calls him � daddy� and both he and his brother act completely over-excitedly whenever there is a man in the house, as they are obviously missing a father figures desperately.

�I find it incredibly upsetting to think that he will have no memory of his father when he is older, as I always thought how lucky he and his brother were to have such a wonderful and jolly dad.

�I dreaded telling my older son, who was then 6 years old, about his dad�s death and it was probably the hardest thing I�ve ever had to do in my life. He took the news appallingly, kicking and screaming and then became very quiet and withdrawn for several weeks. Again he was incredibly close to his dad and looking back to how little I remember from the age of 6, I am fearful that he will have very few memories of him too when he is older. He does seem to have understood about death, which surprises me and has never asked for his father back, but now had become increasingly bad tempered and erratic in his behaviour.

�On my own I am incredibly lonely, having been married to my husband for almost 13 years and together with him for 4 years before that, a total of 17 years, which is almost half my life. We were not just husband and wife but genuinely best friends so I feel I am grieving twice over, for my lost husband but for my best friend and confidant.

�We got engaged at the age of 19 and we had an incredible happy marriage, being one of those couples who could see ourselves still happy in our 70�s. We �had big plans for the future, which of course will never happen now, such as seeing his new business expand and hopefully provide us with the means to move to the south coast in the next couple of years before our youngest son started school.

�I am now left with the job of being sole parent to my children and this effectively means that they have also lost a part of me, as I now never seem to have time to just sit down and play with them. There is always something needing to be done in a house which is old and difficult and where something always seems to be going wrong.

�At present I am just managing to keep it all together, but it is very tiring and time consuming without any sort of regular help, although lots of friends do try and do what they can to help when they visit and I must say that I could not have coped without them.

�However as most of these friends were also my husband�s friends I can see how badly they must have been affected too, and I have had to witness grown men crying, see my husband�s best friend decide to give up his hobby, scuba diving, because he doesn�t want to dive with anyone else and I frequently get phone calls and text messages from his friends when they are feeling low and need to talk about him. My husband was an incredibly generous person, giving every bit of help and time he could to any of his friends who were experiencing difficulties and he has left a very big gap in their lives too.

�I cannot sleep and my health has suffered. I have a continual cough since November when my husband died and has several colds and a very bad bout of flu for three weeks even missing my eldest son�s birthday party, which luckily went ahead with the help of close friends.

In the near future I will have to either find a job or get some training to enable me to do so. I will have to work full time to support us as the life insurance money I have received will only keep us going for a few years at most. This will mean that I will probably not be able to get the children to or from our school and will entail finding a reliable trustworthy childminder or enrolling them in after school club or nursery. This is not how we wanted to raise our sons. We both agreed that I would stay at home and be there for them when they were at school only getting a part time job once our youngest son started school.

�I am not even able to confide completely in anyone about my feelings of loneliness and frustration since the main person I would naturally have turned to in times of trouble would have been my husband. I miss him very much.�

The incident happened on the M1 in November 2001. The driver of the other vehicle was prosecuted primarily for causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment and disqualified for twelve years.

� Bids for interviews with Meredydd Hughes are being accepted for 27 February between 7am and 8am and between 1pm to 2pm in Sheffield. Please contact Lou Bloomfield at the ACPO press office to register your interest.
� Footage of police stopping drivers using mobile phone is available for use with this press notice.
� Play out of broadcast footage took place on Wednesday 21 February. Regional stations should contact their main network contact to receive the footage.
� Pictures have been put out by the Press Association on the wires on Wednesday 15 February. Further copies can be obtained from PA.

� The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

� The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.

� ACPO�s 341 members are police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior police staff managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.

NO LET UP IN POLICE ENFORCEMENT

ACPO Press Office — Sun, 25 Feb 07 23:00:00 GMT

Ref : 33/07
From midnight tonight (26 February) drivers who persist in using a hand held phone while driving will face the full force of the law with tougher penalties and the possibility of points on their licence.
Police have been enforcing the law which bans drivers from using hand held phone whilst driving, for which the penalty was a �30 fine. From tonight, Section 26 of the Road Safety Act 2007 provides for offences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving and failing to have proper control of a vehicle, both of which are endorsable.

These new offences mean that three penalty points can now be added to the driver�s licence and an increased fine of �60 will be enforced.
Any cases that reach court in addition to the penalty points, could also involve discretionary disqualification and a maximum fine of �1,000 (�2,500 in the case of the driver of a bus/coach or goods vehicle).

Meredydd Hughes, ACPO lead for Roads Policing and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police said:

�It�s important to remember that 77,000 people have already been fined for driving whilst using their mobile phones, a figure that highlights this offence is policed robustly. The law will continue to be enforced and with the provision of penalties extending to not having proper control of a vehicle drivers need to be aware that not concentrating on the road could not only cause an accident but also earn them points on their licence and a fine on top of that.

Driving whilst using a mobile phone is not acceptable and these penalties will hopefully deter those who think they are above the law.�

Distractions whilst driving can cause death on the roads

Using a mobile phone whilst driving is a distraction and one that could cause a serious error of judgement. Such errors often lead to road traffic crashes and in the worst cases death.
The statement that follows was given to a court by the wife of the victim of a road traffic crash whereby the driver of the other car was using his mobile phone whilst driving at the time of the collision.

�I first learned that my husband had been in a dreadful accident on the M1 two hours after it must have occurred and realised immediately the Police arrived at my house that he was very serious, despite their initial information that he appeared to have gone for a scan at hospital, because I knew if he was conscious he would have got a message to me.

I saw him for the first time, and although his face was unmarked I could see the huge battering his upper body had taken and to me it was instantly obvious that there was no life in him and it was only the machines keeping him alive.
By the time the machines were switched off, some 36 hours after the accident my husbands face and upper body were grotesquely and massively swollen so that he was almost unrecognisable and I know I will have that image imprinted on my brain forever.

His sudden death at the age of 39 has had a profound impact on my family. The most devastating and far reaching effect is the fact my children are now left without their father. He was completely devoted to them, playing with them, reading to them, bathing them, looking after them when they were ill, disciplining them when they were naughty, just being with them whenever he could outside work hours and ringing up to talk to them when he couldn�t be there in person.
He had so much close involvement with them that for the first few weeks after he died my youngest son, who had only had his second birthday 6 days before his father�s death, asked for his daddy inconsolably, over and over again, probably 300 times a day and now graduates to saying with a very serious voice � Daddy died. Car Crash. Broken. Hurt.� What exactly he understands by this is difficult to know. He is obviously repeating what he has heard, but with time, will no doubt come to realise what this really means. He latches onto any adult male who comes through the door and calls him � daddy� and both he and his brother act completely over-excitedly whenever there is a man in the house, as they are obviously missing a father figures desperately.

I find it incredibly upsetting to think that he will have no memory of his father when he is older, as I always thought how lucky he and his brother were to have such a wonderful and jolly dad.

I dreaded telling my older son, who was then 6 years old, about his dad�s death and it was probably the hardest thing I�ve ever had to do in my life. He took the news appallingly, kicking and screaming and then became very quiet and withdrawn for several weeks. Again he was incredibly close to his dad and looking back to how little I remember from the age of 6, I am fearful that he will have very few memories of him too when he is older. He does seem to have understood about death, which surprises me and has never asked for his father back, but now had become increasingly bad tempered and erratic in his behaviour.

On my own I am incredibly lonely, having been married to my husband for almost 13 years and together with him for 4 years before that, a total of 17 years, which is almost half my life. We were not just husband and wife but genuinely best friends so I feel I am grieving twice over, for my lost husband but for my best friend and confidant.

We got engaged at the age of 19 and we had an incredible happy marriage, being one of those couples who could see ourselves still happy in our 70�s. We had big plans for the future, which of course will never happen now, such as seeing his new business expand and hopefully provide us with the means to move to the south coast in the next couple of years before our youngest son started school.

I am now left with the job of being sole parent to my children and this effectively means that they have also lost a part of me, as I now never seem to have time to just sit down and play with them. There is always something needing to be done in a house which is old and difficult and where something always seems to be going wrong.

At present I am just managing to keep it all together, but it is very tiring and time consuming without any sort of regular help, although lots of friends do try and do what they can to help when they visit and I must say that I could not have coped without them.

However as most of these friends were also my husband�s friends I can see how badly they must have been affected too, and I have had to witness grown men crying, see my husband�s best friend decide to give up his hobby, scuba diving, because he doesn�t want to dive with anyone else and I frequently get phone calls and text messages from his friends when they are feeling low and need to talk about him. My husband was an incredibly generous person, giving every bit of help and time he could to any of his friends who were experiencing difficulties and he has left a very big gap in their lives too.

I cannot sleep and my health has suffered. I have a continual cough since November when my husband died and has several colds and a very bad bout of flu for three weeks even missing my eldest son�s birthday party, which luckily went ahead with the help of close friends.

In the near future I will have to either find a job or get some training to enable me to do so. I will have to work full time to support us as the life insurance money I have received will only keep us going for a few years at most. This will mean that I will probably not be able to get the children to or from our school and will entail finding a reliable trustworthy childminder or enrolling them in after school club or nursery. This is not how we wanted to raise our sons. We both agreed that I would stay at home and be there for them when they were at school only getting a part time job once our youngest son started school.

I am not even able to confide completely in anyone about my feelings of loneliness and frustration since the main person I would naturally have turned to in times of trouble would have been my husband. I miss him very much.�

The incident happened on the M1 in November 2001. The driver of the other vehicle was prosecuted primarily for causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment and disqualified for twelve years.