Latest News
Cumbria officer dies in floods
Friday, November 20, 2009
Further Info: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8371233.stm
The wife of a policeman who died when a bridge collapsed in floods in Cumbria has said she is comforted by knowing he was trying to help others.
Pc Bill Barker, 44, fell into the River Derwent when the A597 bridge was destroyed by floods in Workington.
The father-of-four was directing motorists off the bridge when the force of floodwater caused the collapse.
Met Sergeant dies in collision
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sergeant Iain Stuart McLay of the Metropolitan Police was fatally injured while travelling to report for duty in the early morning of 2nd November when his motorcycle was involved in a road traffic collision at Lewisham.
Iain was appointed in February 1986 and was attached to the Specialist Crime Directorate Intelligence Bureau having previously served with the Territorial Support Group. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this difficult time.
Bobby on a Bike
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Further Info: www.bobbyonabike.com
On a cold, wet day in April 2002, two budding cyclists stood at the border of Canada and The United States to start a 1,800 mile ride for charity along the west coast.
Police Officers, Neil Smith and Tony Spry had never undertaken anything like this before. Eighteen months of planning, training and fund raising lay behind them - ahead a 27 day ride to Mexico. The challenge was nicknamed `Bobby on a Bike`. 2005 saw the Bobby on a Bike team complete another Canada to Mexico ride, in less days, increasing their daily mileage.
In 2006, they hosted an American police Dept for a ride across the UK and, in 2008, they undertook their biggest challenge to date, a mammoth 4,200 mile ride across the USA.
To date over £45,000 has been donated to charity.
``It Seemed Like a Good Idea`` - The Story of Bobby on a Bike is the result of six months work to tell the story of the journey from an idea to do a small bike ride for charity, to completing challenges only the most determined could achieve...from crashing on the first day of the first ride to being escorted by seven motorcycle cops across San Francisco, from seeking refuge from severe storms to coming face to face with grizzly bears near Yellowstone National Park.
``It Seemed Like a Good Idea`` is a detailed, informative and witty account of not just remarkable distances and climbs, but the human story of overcoming personal challenges.
Author - Neil C Smith
The book is priced at £6.99 & is available from the above web site. All profits will be donated to COPS
Summer Police Ball
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A Summer Police Ball in aid of COPS will be held at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire on Friday 11th June, 2010.
Chatsworth is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, one of Britain`s best loved historic estates and the heart beat of the Peak District National Park. With famous works of art, a working farmyard, spectacular fountains and the finest shopping and eating, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Survivor Angela Morgan was lucky enough to secure the last available date for the summer season and negotiate an excellent deal for such a prestigious venue! Planning for the evening is still in the early stages, but will feature the Al Needham Band, Grand Auction, Prize Raffle & Special Guests.
The Summer Police Ball will be an excellent opportunity for you to dress up and have a wonderful night out in this special venue.
Tickets priced at £65 each are available from:
Angela Morgan
07976 357054
Discounts for tables of 10! Sponsorship opportunities available!
Holiday Cottage Deal
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Further Info: www.cottages-4-you.co.uk/cops
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COPS has just entered into partnership with cottages4you who have cottages for rent in the UK and Ireland, not to mention France, Spain, Portugal and Italy!
Self-catering holidays allow you the freedom to do what you want, when you want to do it. Stay 2, 3, 4, 7 nights or more!
Enjoy a break in a cosy cottage, take the family away for a holiday by the sea or gather friends and family in a manor house for that important reunion.
Many properties are pet friendly so no one need miss out!
Contact cottages4you:
Web - www.cottages-4-you.co.uk/cops
Tel - 0845 268 1921
And remember to quote discount Code – COPS05 which will not only save you 5% from the cost of your holiday, but will also include a 5% donation to COPS!
New pictures in gallery
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Further Info: www.ukcops.org/gallery/default.asp?gid=28
New pictures in the gallery.
Death of Wiltshire Officer
Monday, August 03, 2009
Further Info: http://tinyurl.com/ks8zcn
Wiltshire Police report the death on duty of PC Johnstone on their web site:
It is with great sadness that we can confirm the tragic sudden death of PC Michael Johnson on Monday 3rd August 2009.
PC Johnson collapsed at Westbury Police Station and was assisted by two of his colleagues who administered emergency first aid. Sadly, PC Johnson died before reaching the Royal United Hospital by Air Ambulance.
PC Johnson, aged 46 years, was the Neighbourhood Policing Team Beat Manager for Westbury Rural and had lived in the area for the majority of his career. He started as a police officer in Trowbridge in 1987 before serving in Westbury, then as a firearms officer based at Police Headquarters and subsequently returning to Westbury. He was due to receive his long service award this year.It is with great sadness that we can confirm the tragic sudden death of PC Michael Johnson on Monday 3rd August 2009.
PC Johnson collapsed at Westbury Police Station and was assisted by two of his colleagues who administered emergency first aid. Sadly, PC Johnson died before reaching the Royal United Hospital by Air Ambulance.
PC Johnson, aged 46 years, was the Neighbourhood Policing Team Beat Manager for Westbury Rural and had lived in the area for the majority of his career. He started as a police officer in Trowbridge in 1987 before serving in Westbury, then as a firearms officer based at Police Headquarters and subsequently returning to Westbury. He was due to receive his long service award this year.
LICHFIELD Pictures now in the Gallery
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Further Info: www.ukcops.org/gallery/
Sorry for the delay folks, it`s been a busy week, but I now have a selection of pictures in the gallery from the weekend.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are in seperate albums with 10 images to a page. I will upload those from the others as I get them.
Stu
NEW COPS Phone Numbers!
Friday, July 10, 2009
COPS has a new phone number, effective immediately the `office` number is
Phone: 0844 893 2055
Fax: 0844 893 2056
Please update your phone book.
Kent PC struck at accident scene
Sunday, June 14, 2009
A police officer has died following an incident on the A249 at the junction with the A2 near Sittingbourne shortly after 8am on Sunday 14 June.
PC Philip Pratt, aged 26, was injured by a vehicle as he attempted to introduce diversions at the scene of an earlier accident. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being flown to The Royal London hospital in Whitechapel by air ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short while later.
http://www.kent.police.uk/News/Latest_News/PC%20Philip%20Pratt1.html
Met PC Dies in motorcycle collision.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
P.C. Christopher James Dent aged 36, died on 22nd April 2009, when he was involved in a road traffic collision while travelling home from duty in the evening when a car struck his motorcycle at Perivale, West London.
A man, aged 26, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Chris was a motorcyle traffic officer based at Alperton where he served since June 2005, having originally joined Thames Valley Police in 2000 from Berkshire Ambulance Service.
He is survived by his wife, two sons aged 10 and 6 years and a daughter aged 6.
MET officer dies after robbery chase
Friday, April 17, 2009
Further Info: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8005107.stm
A Metropolitan Police officer who suffered serious head injuries while investigating a robbery has died.
Armed officers attempted to stop a vehicle in Stratford, east London, early on Saturday morning.
They followed the car to Ashlin Road in Newham, where 37-year-old PC Gary Toms was critically injured.
COPS President to stand down
Monday, March 30, 2009
COPS co-founder and President, Christine Fulton has just announced her intention to stand down when her current term expires in 2010. In her message to survivors she said:
`At our meeting on Saturday I informed my fellow trustees of my intention to stand down as both President and trustee when my next term of office is complete in September 2010. As you can imagine this is not a decision I have taken lightly but I believe the time is right both for me and the charity. The last few years have been very rewarding, never in our wildest dreams did Jim and I imagine that COPS would grow so big so fast, the fact that it has is testament to how much an organisation like this has been needed. To know that I have played a part in making it happen makes me very proud, I have always said that COPS has been as good for me as it has (I hope) for you.
It has been an honour and a privilege to have represented you, I don`t know at this stage how or when my successor will be chosen but I promise I will always be there to support them in any way I can.
Thank you for being my friends.`
Christine
COPS Chair of Trustees, Mick Foster said:
``I know what a very difficult decision this has been for Christine and no one, survivors or trustees really knows the full extent of the commitment Christine has given since COPS was formed. Emotionally the years have been a roller coaster for her but her achievements have been exceptional and so many of our survivors have better and more meaningful lives today because of what she has done. I am pleased to say that we will not be losing her as she has expressed her desire to work with COPS in the future and her experience and knowledge will be a great benefit for the future. Christine many thanks for all you do.``
M.J.Foster
Chair of trustees.
Bedroom Skies
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Further Info: www.bedroomskies.com/charitydon
LDS Designs have agreed to offer their first product, a 6’8” x 3’9” ceiling wallpaper mural and accompanying book showing all the constellations of the night sky in both daylight and in the dark, at a 70% discount to supporters of COPS (from £74 to £21). This offer can be accessed by making a small donation of £3 to COPS at www.bedroomskies.com/charitydon. This is a unique and brand new product from a new company and is only on offer for a limited time. Please feel free to visit the site and have a closer look. In the event that you decide to purchase the product we hope that you can recommend to a friend and we will send you details of the appropriate web address (it gives the same offer, but in return for a £5 donation)
This product will encourage an early interest in science and the book will enable parents to answer all the questions that an inquisitive young mind might have about the world around them. (And it’ll help you find your way around the night sky) we hope you enjoy it.
Police Unity Tour USA
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Further Info: www.justgiving.com/UnityTour2009
For the second year running, a small Metropolitan Police team will take part in the `Unity Tour` cycle event in the USA http://www.policeunitytour.com/. This year`s team consists of: Chief Insp. Rob Atkin - CCC Lambeth They will be cycling 285 miles into Washington DC with American Law Enforcement Officers, to co-inside with Police Memorial Week, arriving on 12 May. We wish them luck, and better weather than they had last year! Please show your support by making a donation on their `Just Giving` page.
Sergeant Gary Byfield - Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team
Sergeant Lee Howes - Bickley Safer Neighbourhood Team
Sergeant Dave Harvey - Shortlands Safer Neighbourhood Team
Two Arrested For Murder Of PSNI Officer
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Further Info: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7935734.stm
Two men, aged 17 and 37, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a policeman in Northern Ireland.
Dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA, said it shot Constable Stephen Paul Carroll at Lismore Manor, Craigavon, County Armagh on Monday.
Constable Carroll, 48, a married man, with children from Banbridge, died 48 hours after two soldiers were shot dead by the Real IRA at a base in Antrim.
Both of those arrested are being questioned in Antrim police station.
Police were responding to a woman`s call for help when they were attacked.
Constable Carroll was shot through the rear window of his police car when he arrived at the scene at about 2145 GMT on Monday.
Met PC dies after collapsing on duty
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Metropoitain Police Constable collapsed and fell unconscious while on duty at Greenwich Park Police Station on 18th February and died in hospital in the early hours of the following day, having suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Laura Williams (41) joined the Royal Parks Constabulary in September 1998; in 2001 she was diagnosed with Leukaemia but returned to work after treatment. After amalgamation into the Metropolitan Police she worked on a response team and recently as a Safer Parks Officer and had several commendations for her good work.
She is survived by her partner and two children, boys aged 5 and 2 years.
Rabbie Burns, 250 years young
Sunday, January 25, 2009
25th of January 2009 marked 250 years to the day since Scotland`s national poet was born. It was celebrated by the annual Blue Knights England VIII Burns Supper at the Leicestershire Police HQ and included a large contingent from COPS.
Jim Gardiner President of England III gave his now legendary address to the haggis & Christine gave an excellent reply to David Lindley from the lassies, which went down extremely well, especially with the lassies.
The addition of an excellent live band meant that everyone was on the dance floor for most of the evening after the formal proceedings were concluded. I`m sure Rabbie would have approved!
Christine`s Speech.
Thank you David and on behalf of us all may I wish you a long and happy retirement.
I know David won’t mind my telling you that he was very nervous about giving the toast tonight, indeed when he picked me up at the airport last night he told me he had spent the day writing and rewriting it so determined was he to get it right. He asked me how long it had taken me to write my reply. I said David I’m a woman, I got it right first time.
I have to admit I was a bit concerned when I was first asked to make a contribution this evening, apart from the obvious fact that I am English I don’t do comedy, I give tear jerker speeches designed to make hardened detectives cry and senior officers reach for their cheque books, but then I looked around me tonight and thought with such perfect material how can I possibly go wrong.
Now we all know that women are more intelligent than men but do you know why? Let me tell you. When God had almost finished creating Adam and Eve he had three things left over, he couldn’t divide any of them so decided that one could have two things and the other one and he would leave it to them to decide who got what.
The first thing he offered them was something that would let them wee standing up. Well, Adam leapt to his feet, he said “God that sounds fantastic please let me have that, please, please”. Eventually Eve said “Oh for goodness sake, if he wants it so much let him have it” and so it was that man was given the thing that lets him wee standing up.
Well, Adam wee’d against the bushes, he practised to see how far away he could hit a tree stump and finally he wrote his name in the sand before collapsing back down beside God and Eve. He said “God, that was amazing. It would have been totally wasted on her, nothing you can give her will be as good as that so go ahead and give her what ever you have left”.
And so it was that women were given brains. And the other thing? The ability to have multiple orgasms and so boys not only are we cleverer than you we have more fun and you only have yourselves to blame.
We are here this evening to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Rabbie Burns who was of course a great poet so it would be remiss of me to leave you tonight without attempting some poetry of my own. It isn’t up to Rabbie standards so please forgive me.
Gentlemen
We may love you all just as you are
But, with these habits you go too far
Please keep the following things in mind
To stop doing them would be so kind
Choose just one channel if you please
Or the remote from you I will seize
Please just blow it when your nose is full
Hearing you sniff it back is just too cruel
Before asking where it is, if you don’t mind
Try looking for the item you cannot find
Did you hear what I said did you hear it clear?
You will ask me again is my biggest fear
I will check it once if you ask me to
Checking it again is up to you
If you have dreams of being Ringo Starr
Please don’t practise while in the car
Gentlemen with your passion for sports
Try hitting the laundry basket with your shorts
And when you return from running all sweaty
A towel down before you sit is not at all petty
When you speak to me please do your best
To look in my eyes and not at my chest
And when I’m enjoying a glass of wine
Please get your own don’t drink mine
When I make a mistake so very small
Don’t make me feel two inches tall
Don’t speak to me in such a harsh fashion
Then speak to the dog with utmost compassion
If barefoot is how you choose to be
Then keep your dirty feet from me
When your number one is complete
Please be so kind as to put down the seat
Ladies you know what I’ve said is true
I’ve done nothing but look out for you
Gentlemen have you listened to a word I’ve said
I fear it has gone right over your head
Thank you for letting me share this rhyme
I hope you continue to have a good time
We love you all so put away your fears
Ladies raise your glasses and to the Laddies cheers.
Three officers die on the roads in two days.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Detective Constable Diane Donald (40) Strathclyde Police, was killed early on Wednesday 21st January whilst on her way to work at Govan Police Office. Her car left the carriageway of the M8 motorway near Erskine in icy conditions and struck a tree.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7844476.stm
Constable George Small (29) Metropolitan Police, was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was in collision with an car on Bromley Common, late on Wednesday 21st January. He was returning from a shift as a traffic officer based at Catford traffic garage. The car driver was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7848099.stm
Pc James Drew (27) Hampshire Constabulary, died after his car left the road and crashed into a garden in Alresford Road, near Winchester, sometime between 0600 and 0700 on Thursday 22nd January.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7846452.stm
As always, our thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues.
The Three Bears
Monday, January 19, 2009
Further Info: http://www.ukcops.org/products/bears.asp
COPS has recently been down to the woods and discovered three police bears.
Sgt. Traffic, PC Bear and PC Della all cost £20 including post and packing and would make an excellent gift for adults and children alike.
Click on the link above for details or visit the merchandise page and click on Three Bears.
