Perpetuity Research

Charity calls for outright smoking ban in Wales

Cancer charity, Tenovus, has called for an outright ban on smoking in Wales. This call came after smoking was banned within the grounds of most Welsh hospitals. Six of the seven heath boards in Wales have prohibited smoking within their grounds, and the final board is in the process of developing a ban.

Richard Pugh, community manager for Tenovus, believes that an outright ban on smoking is inevitable. ‘We’ve tapped away at smoking ... stop smoking in cars, in restaurants, in public places’, ‘sooner or later we will get to the point where we stop smoking altogether... let’s do it now’.  However, the Welsh government has responded saying that, while combating the harm caused by smoking is a priority, it does not have the power to introduce an absolute ban in the country.

Perpetuity is currently involved in evaluating two smoking initiatives; Smokefree homes and cars to encourage behavioural changes among smokers, and Smokescreen which aims to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking.

Metropolitan Police review into police tactics

A Scotland Yard review into last summers’ riots, termed Four Days in August, considers the development of more assertive police tactics to tackle disorder more effectively.

The report says that some people felt the police failed to sufficiently help them or protect properties from destruction. While the review rules that police failings were largely due to a lack of officers on the ground, it does acknowledge that more ‘flexible and dynamic’ policing tactics are needed.

The use of CS gas, similar to tear gas, is being considered by the Metropolitan Police as a last resort tactic to disperse groups during serious disorder. This tactic has not been used before in Britain, and the review cautions that it has limitations, including the risk to innocent people.

The force is also considering purchasing water cannon. The report says that these are ‘widely acknowledged as an effective tactic to disperse and distance aggressors’ and that they have been successfully deployed in the past. Nevertheless, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has expressed reservations about their usefulness and said their use must be a political decision.

20 arrested in metal theft campaign

A two week campaign in the East Midlands involving a series of visits to scrap years has resulted in the arrest of 20 people on suspicion of metal theft.

During the campaign police visited 60 scrap metal dealers and confiscated any stolen scrap metal. Police also encouraged scrap metal dealers to sign up to Operation Tornado. Launched in January, this scheme requires scrap metal dealers to see photo identification from the seller before purchasing any scrap metal.

Pink lights to be installed to tackle ASBO yobs

In the Fairwater district in Cardiff there have been 5 arrests and 18 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders issued in 6 weeks. In order to deter the teens the local authority has raised the prospect of pink lighting being installed. This has followed similar schemes on housing estates in Nottingham and Preston.

The pink lighting is said to not only having calming effects but also cast an unflattering light on the teenagers, quite literally. The glow from the lights is said to show teenager’s acne, therefore deterring them away from the lit areas. However there has been some controversy as to the effectiveness of the lighting as it only deters from certain areas and does not eliminate the problem. There have also been concerns of discrimination, not only for teenagers but also adults. Despite these concerns it is claimed that this initiative has succeeded in its aim of deterring teenagers from certain areas.

Card fraud falls to lowest in 11 years

There was 7% fall in the amount of money lost due to fraud on credit and debit cards last year, with the figure dropping to £341m. This is the lowest for 11 years, with the lowest reported level in 2000 at £317m. The UK Cards Association has reported that this has continued the three year annual decrease with the overall drop of 44% since losses peaked in 2008 at £610m.

The association has recognised the increased use of anti-fraud measures such as online card verification software as well as customers increased wariness as some of the reasons for the encouraging figures. However the figures have also revealed that one of the most common card fraud losses in 2011 was in “card not present” fraud, with the loss from this fraud being £221m; two thirds of the total losses. This type of fraud occurs when cards are being improperly used to order items over the phone, by post or over the internet. DCI Paul Barnard, leading officer of the police cheque and plastic crime unit, warned the public to be wary of scams pretending to be the bank and police. Neither of these will ever ask for a card and pin number or bank security details.

UK Door staff to be given mandatory physical intervention skills training

Compulsory training in dealing with physical intervention, dealing with 14-18 year olds and first aid awareness are to be given to door supervisors in the UK. The move follows recommendations from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to which ministers have agreed that this training should become obligatory. The training will provide door supervisors with appropriate techniques and how to use them in difficult situations, in the interest of their own safety as well as the public’s. 

Under the Private Security Industry Act 2011 it is illegal for security operatives and those deploying them to work in licensable activities without a valid SIA licence. In order to gain a licence, applicants must have an SIA recognised qualification. As of June 2010, physical intervention skills’ training is an integrated component of the qualifications however the training has not applied to those who qualified previously. The SIA are working in conjunction with the Home Office to determine the implementation of the requirement, once introduced existing door supervisors will have to complete the training before they can renew their licence. There will be at least six months notice before its introduction to allow time to undertake the training.

'Make One Change’: SBCC major business security campaign

The Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC) has launched a security campaign; ‘Make One Change’. The year-long campaign, aimed at businesses, will address some of the simple and regular security updates that businesses may neglect. The campaign will change its theme every month to provide businesses with the right information to raise awareness of security issues. Businesses are encouraged to visit and sign up to the SBCC e-crime website.

The theme for March is Mobile phone security, with articles, fact sheets and survey results on mobile phone security, highlighting some of the crucial security issues surrounding the growth of the smartphone.

For more information visit the SBCC e-crime website.

THIS IS ABUSE: Home Office launch campaign challenging teenage perceptions on rape and relationships

The Home Office has launched a media campaign aimed at 13 to 18 year olds in order to challenge their perceptions of relationships and rape. The ‘This is abuse’ campaign features TV advertisement on youth channels, in cinemas and on the internet, in order to challenge the misconceptions that teenagers have of rape and the acceptance of it.

The advertisements highlight some situations and behaviour which are identifiable to teenagers, bringing to light the issue of rape and youth perception of it. The advertisements will run for a month with a companion information website; providing information, help, quizzes and a forum.

Visit the ‘This Is Abuse website’

Perpetuity recently undertook a project examining young peoples’ perceptions of healthy relationships, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. This was to inform the development of The Healthy Relationship Training Programmes (HEART) which aimed to reduce the risks of young women either committing or being subject to serious violence.

Clare’s law to be trialled for a year

Following the launch of the child sex offender disclosure scheme or ‘Sarah’s Law’, in which parents can request information on persons who are regularly unsupervised with their children, the government has announced a launch of a similar year-long scheme across Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire and Gwent, aimed at domestic abuse; ‘Clare’s law’.

The trial follows the death of Clare Wood who was murdered in 2009 by her former boyfriend who had a violent background. The case ignited a campaign for people to have increased access to a prospective partner’s violent history. Michael Brown, Clare’s father, has been campaigning strongly for the change in law (his interview with the BBC can be seen here)

However the details of how the scheme will be conducted have not been released by the Home Office as of yet, and has sparked criticism from the Domestic Abuse charity Refuge, who argue they should focus on improving police responses rather than on a costly initiative. However with the results of Sara’s law leading to 21 cases of potentially dangerous persons being uncovered, the scheme is to begin this summer.

Insider Threat – BBC South East News

Professor Martin Gill will be appearing on BBC South East News (which starts at 6.30pm) on 5^th March 2012 to talk about Insider Threat – fraud perpetrated by an employee from inside an organisation.