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"Policing Needs To Exist Where Communities Exist"

2/25/2017

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of a single police force in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Formed to protect the public and reduce crime, the organisation has developed with society and technology over the years, striving to uphold the motto, protecting our communities. 

Writing exclusively for my blog, the Chief Constable of Leicestershire, Simon Cole, looks at how the police force has changed in line with society.
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By Simon Cole, Chief Constable, Leicestershire Police 
Reflecting on the early stages of the Constabulary, through to the organisation it is now, local policing has moved forward in ways the world couldn’t have anticipated. From the days of paper pushing to the increasing presence of computers in the late nineties, Leicestershire Police has branched out into many new roles and responsibilities.
 
Policing has always focused on ‘walking the beat’ and being a visible presence on the streets. As technology advances, it is important that policing becomes a part of the online community and connects with the public in the ways they feel most at ease.
 
Departments now accept enquiries from the public through social media, officers hold live web chats with the community and respond to messages on Twitter, regardless of whether it is a serious concern or a lighthearted conversation, just as they would on the street.
 
The last decade has shown that crime is no longer only committed on the streets, but in the anonymity of the internet. The recent case of Kayleigh Haywood is an example to us all.  We must always prevent harm, hence films such as Kayleigh’s Love Story.  
We must be vigilant and visible on the growing network that our society uses daily. A recent campaign by the Communications and Public Engagement Department saw the launch of the CEASE campaign, which aims to stop the sexual exploitation of child grooming, especially in online areas such as social media and gaming websites.
 
There has been a shift in the way people spend their free time, causing a need for a force presence online. Society uses technology at work, when travelling throughout the day and socially, so it is necessary for us to be present where the public chooses to be. The average person still sees a police officer walking by as often as they used to, but at the same time as visibility online has increased enormously, making us more approachable overall.
 
The advancement of technology has changed the way the force functions and with a growing demand, new departments have been formed such as communications and IT support as well as introducing new roles including Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

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In 2003, Tony Gallagher became the first person introduced to the role, and has helped the concept of PCSOs to develop over the years to become a vital role within the force.
Tony says: “At first, the public were intrigued, but very appreciative in seeing a visible presence on the streets and in their communities. We would visit businesses, community groups and multi-faith groups as well as carrying out traffic duties ranging from traffic wardens, school patrols and promotional events.
 
"Soon the public wanted more and I was asked to give presentations to local groups about the benefits for their communities and getting additional funding to bring out more PSCOs to the area.”
 
Over the years a PCSOs responsibilities expanded from engaging with the local communities to tasks such as statement taking, intelligence gathering and scene preservation.
 
“Whilst a police officers’ role has more powers and can deal with conflict, arrest and investigation at a higher level, we are more focused on visible and community issues, intelligence gathering and reassurance. As the role developed, we had marked CSO cars with CCTV, we were RIPA trained and used in a number of ways for anti-social behaviour and even night time economy for recording of incidents.”
 
Tony states that the past few years have proved that technology has been a great addition to his role, granting PCSOs the capacity of reading incidents and updating without returning to the office.
 
“Social media promotion is instant and maintains getting the positive message to the community on a regular basis. My smartphone gives me instant access to my email and therefore my community has direct access to me, which results in speedy and positive results for the community as a whole.
 
"Overall, my role makes me feel very much a part of the community and I get excellent feedback from councils, parish and local. They all feel confident in getting in touch for advice, guidance and concerns where they feel I can assist.”

As the demand for PCSOs increased, digital PSCOs were introduced in September 2016 to increase our presence in the online community and to introduce a new way of keeping in contact with the public. They work together with traditional PCs and PCSOs to prevent and react to reports of crime in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

Our PSCOS serve as being a checkpoint to a specific community in Leicestershire. Digital PSCO, Ben Hill, has been part of the Cyber Beat project since it started.
 
“My role gives me direct contact between the public and police through social media, giving us all the ability to instantly speak with residents – essentially being in several places all at once.
 
"I certainly feel like I have connected with a community online and very much feel part of it. People will often come to me for advice or to report issues rather than phoning or walking in to a police station.”
 
Having a direct line to the community, digital PCSOs are a huge example of how the force is adapting to society’s needs.

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However, the force’s online presence isn’t just used to prevent crime. Social media has given a platform for the force and its officers to engage directly with the community and vice versa, so the public will always have a way to contact an officer.
 
This brings new challenges such as the digital shift widespread in the force. As an example, our Contact Management Department (CMD) is adapting to take emergency calls through social media and via email. Traditionally a telephone concept, this change will bring difficulties in translating policies, and processes over to the digital world as well as the training that will need to be provided.

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Pictured: Inspector Aimee Ramm. Picture courtesy of Kate Lowe - Kate Lowe Photography
​Inspector Aimee Ramm from CMD feels that the department she works in is constantly evolving.
 
“Previously staff had less readily available information to guide and advise the public, and we were much more focused on set policies and procedures. Technology is opening our communication channels, allowing us to reach and engage our different communities in different ways.
 
"This has an obvious impact on the role of staff; they need constant training, and it is a challenge to keep up to date with technology. It’s an exciting time, and an opportunity for us to try and develop new ways of engaging our public in a way that they want and need.
 
"We want to be accessible to everyone, in a variety of different ways, meeting the demand of the public.”
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Likewise, police officers take advantage of the internet and its ability to connect them with their local community.

​Sergeant Elizabeth Perry (pictured with a colleague), a police officer since 2008, feels that “technology has been brilliant in allowing officers to be more visible in the community, the use of smartphones keeps officers out of the station and able to record updates whilst out on the street.”

Local policing will always consist of officers patrolling the streets but the last 10 years has adapted the meaning of local policing to include our vigilance within the online community.

“I believe local policing has remained a consistent and crucial role to the protection and safety of communities. Officer numbers are always varying, but protecting communities is still at the heart of what we do and we must deliver that service in a more effective and evidence-based approach,” says Sergeant Perry.
As Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, I aim to maintain an active presence with the public.
 
When I started Policing, longer ago than I care to remember, I don't recall a networked computer‎ in the station. At home the telephone was made of bakelite and stood on the hall table, where it was plugged into the wall. But now, as a Chief, I can't think of much that doesn't involve the cyber world. Even playground fights often have a build up in cyberspace, on mobile phones that give instant access to opportunities and threats.
 
Policing needs to exist where communities exist. That means cyber space, digital forensics and cyber patrol. Local policing is now global, and global policing is now local. Policing has always evolved to deal with a changing world.
 
It existed before the telephone was invented – a challenge has been met. The cyber world will be no different for policing, and we must move with the times to meet that demand too. I find the challenge exciting.

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Both images of Simon Cole, courtesy of Kate Low - Kate Lowe Photography
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New Study Shows Sepsis Could be Costing The UK Economy Up To £15.6 Billion Each Year

2/20/2017

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Regular readers of my blog, my Twitter account, and magazine column, know that I'm a passionate supporter of the UK Sepsis Trust, doing all I can to help spread awareness of this dreadful condition that kills more than 44,000 people every year.

It's been announced today (Monday February 20th) that sepsis could be costing the UK economy over £13 billion MORE each year, than was previously thought.

Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, has provided me with a copy of the press release announcing this shock figure. The press release is reproduced below:


  • New data from an independent study shows the cost of sepsis to the UK economy is likely to be as much as £15.6 billion every year, rather than the £2.5 billion previously estimated  
  • The UK sees 260,000 cases of sepsis annually – over 100,000 more than initial projections suggested
  • Potential savings to the economy by improving sepsis care across the NHS could be as high as £2.8 billion  
 
Monday 20th February – A study commissioned by the UK Sepsis Trust and carried out by the independent York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) has found that sepsis is incurring costs of up to £15.6 billion every year for the UK economy. Mortality and long-term complications due to delayed diagnosis and treatment in sepsis patients is resulting in billions of pounds worth of lost productivity each year.   
 
Previous estimates suggested that the cost to the economy was in the region of £2.5 billion, but the latest analysis indicates the problem is far worse, both in terms of the economic burden and the number of people affected. The reported 260,000 annual cases of sepsis show incidence of the condition in the UK to be much higher than previous estimates of 150,000.  
 
But government intervention to improve access to healthcare and reliability of basic care could make a huge impact, saving thousands of lives and reducing the economic burden by as much as £2.8 billion (largely through minimising indirect costs due to lost productivity). The full report was presented today at a Portcullis House event hosted by Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director of NHS England.   

Sepsis, or blood poisoning, is the reaction to an infection in which the body attacks its own organs and tissues. If not identified and treated quickly, it can lead rapidly to organ failure and death, and leaves thousands of survivors with life-changing disabilities. The condition harms adults and children alike, and results in at least 44,000 deaths every year in the UK. Earlier recognition and treatment could save more than 14,000 lives annually.  
 
Despite the economic and human costs associated with sepsis there is very little data on incidence, care pathways and costs in the UK.  The estimates reported in YHEC’s study are based on the evidence that does exist, but are heavily caveated due to significant gaps in data and a lack of clarity. Better quality data and more accurately recorded incidence rates would enable crucial analyses and the development of targeted plans to improve sepsis care throughout the NHS.  
 
The report recommends that new practices for coding sepsis should be adopted by NHS trusts across the UK, and reinforces the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s calls for the Department of Health or NHS England to create a ‘sepsis registry’ to capture key information about sepsis patients.   
    
Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Chief Executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, comments: “We’ve long been aware that sepsis causes thousands of unnecessary deaths every year and presents an unmanageable economic burden. A crippling paucity of data has thus far confined us to conservative estimates, but the figures reported in YHEC’s study are nonetheless a shocking indication of the gravity of the problem. It’s sobering to learn that the issue is so much greater than previously estimated.   
 
“Equally sobering, though, is the dearth of reliable data recorded for a condition that carries such an overwhelming cost in human and economic terms. It’s imperative that the government acts decisively to develop a national ‘sepsis registry’ and introduces coding practices for sepsis in all NHS trusts. A precise understanding of how the NHS handles sepsis is urgently required to prevent avoidable deaths, improve outcomes for survivors and save billions of pounds for the UK as a whole.” 

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UK Sepsis Trust website:
http://sepsistrust.org/
UK Sepsis Trust Twitter:  https://twitter.com/UKSepsisTrust
UK Sepsis Trust Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheUkSepsisTrust
Dr Ron Daniels BEM Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/SepsisUK


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Our Journey 

2/4/2017

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​by Donna McFarlane & Thomas Wilson (in Memory of our Mum)
"There is not enough knowledge out there on sepsis"
In 2013 our Mum contracted Sepsis whilst in hospital.

On 31st December 2013 - New Years Eve - we received a telephone call from the doctors and we were informed to make our way to the hospital as our Mum had deteriorated for the worse.

We arrived at the hospital and our Mum was being transferred to Intensive Care. We were put into a family room and stayed the whole night, taking it in turns to sit by our Mum's bedside. On the 1st January 2014 at 1 p.m. we were given the worst news that Mum was deteriorating and the doctor was 50/50 about putting our Mum on Life Support.

We asked him to please persist and give our Mum some hope, some chance to fight! The doctor proceeded to ventilate my Mum.
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Mum remained on life support for 10 days. These days seemed long and Mum showed no signs of improvement so doctors decided to take her off the life support and see how she reacts. Our Mum reacted well and went on to make a full recovery! She looked fab upon her return to the family home after nearly a 5 month stay in Hospital.

Three years later, in January 2017, our Mum became not well. She was shaky and had shortness of breath. We called out the doctor on 4th January, and Mum was given antibiotics for urine and chest infections.

However one day later there was still no improvement; her breath was becoming even shorter and upon checking her urine there was hardly any produced! My brother phoned the doctor on the 6th January and Mum was admitted to hospital to get checked over. Upon arrival to the Hospital Mum was deteriorating. Eventually, once a doctor came, they took one look at her and telephoned for a team to appear as she was very sick.

At 5 a.m. on Saturday 7th January Mum was admitted to Medical High Dependency where she underwent a chest X-ray and kidney scan. We sat patiently as the doctors were going to have a meeting about her. At 12.30 p.m. the doctor spoke to our family to advise that Mum had a small hole in her bowel which was leaking, and also that our Mum's kidney was not working and not producing any urine.

The doctor advised they could not operate to fix the hole as Mum was very sick and she would most likely die on the operating table. Therefore, this left only one option - to treat it with antibiotics and hope it would kickstart the kidney. We were told don't loose hope.

Having been in this situation before we knew what all the machines meant. We sat with our Mum holding her hand, talking to her in the hope she could hear us, telling her come on mum fight this! At 8 p.m. the doctor advised there was still no sign of improvement.

We knew what this meant. We knew then our Mum wasn't going to win this fight. Sadly at 11.30 p.m. on 7th January 2017 surrounded by family and friends our Mum lost her battle with Sepsis 💗❤️💗❤️ #GBNF #RIP

We cannot help but think about how our Mum was seen by doctors and nurses and no-one spotted the signs. There is not enough knowledge out there on Sepsis. We are trying to raise awareness of the symptoms as it's crucial to spot these promptly within the first "Golden Hour" as it could save a life!

Sepsis should be treated like a heart attack! Help us raise awareness of this horrible infection. We are hosting a Charity Disco & Raffle to raise funds for FEAT (Fiona Elizabeth Agnew Trust) if anyone can donate a prize to our Raffle and Charity Auction please get in touch.

www.justgiving.com/Donna-Wilson18


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    Stewart Bint supports mental health charity Lamp Advocacy.

    Click here to donate
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    Author

    Stewart Bint is a novelist, magazine columnist and PR writer. 

    He lives with his wife, Sue, in Leicestershire in the UK, and has two children, Christopher and Charlotte, and a budgie called Bertie.

    Usually goes barefoot.

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