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Officers partner with schools using automatic referrals to protect children at risk of domestic abuse

Source: Staffordshire Poilce published on this website Thursday 24 April 2025 by Jill Powell

The Staffordshire police  are working with participating schools across the county as part of a national scheme focusing on identifying and protecting children at risk of domestic abuse, with officers using an automatic alert system to make safeguarding referrals.

The national scheme, called Operation Encompass, is aimed at ensuring key school staff are kept informed of any domestic abuse incidents, in the 24 hours prior to the school day, so they can put measures in place to support the child.

As part of their joined-up working, any officer attending incidents where children have been exposed to domestic abuse are required to submit details of what happened in real-time via their specialised electronic devices.

This then sends an alert to a key staff member at the child’s school, who begins appropriate safeguarding and puts support measures in place for the child during the school day.

Officers send these alerts to all relevant schools, even if the child concerned was not present at the time of the domestic abuse, as we recognise any instance of domestic abuse in a location where a child attends poses a risk to their future safety and wellbeing.  

The logging of the affected household means that officers are able to record every person and child who may be impacted by domestic abuse and work with partners to safeguard them.

The approach helps to provide schools with vital information about a child, and the home environment that been exposed to domestic abuse, enabling staff to put measures in place to support them when they attend school.

These instant, automatic electronic referrals also mean that any child believed to be at risk is identified as vulnerable, enabling other agencies to become aware and involved in protecting the child going forward.

Not only this, but officers also record the details of children who may be exposed to domestic abuse who are not yet of school age, in order to ensure they experience is documented and voice is heard.

Detective Chief Inspector John Bissell, of our Public Protection Unit, said: “These referrals are a vital in providing critical information to enable schools and other partners to support the affected household and child.

“The concept is simple, but the impact is vast. That is why the operation is so important; it recognises how significant it is to share this type of information with a child’s school, acknowledging the harm such exposure to domestic abuse has on schooling as well as many other aspects of a child’s life.”

All key staff members at schools involved in the operation have also undergone training in safeguarding and management of personal data, to ensure that the child’s right to privacy is also respected.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said:

 “Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, and the impact on children living in households where there is domestic abuse can be significant. 

“It is vital that victims and their families are able to access the effective, targeted support they need when they need it, to help them recover from the impact of these crimes.

“That’s why my office commissions the New Era service, alongside the county and city councils, to provide consistent support to adults, children and young people aged four to 17 impacted by domestic abuse across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”

To find out more about the operation, how to get involved and access resources visit: Home : Operation Encompass.

Victim of stalking shares her experience of the FOUR behaviours of stalking

Source: Suffolk Police published on this website Wednesday 23 April 2025

“He appeared at my workplace regularly, sometimes multiple times a day… I was safe with security and cameras all over and people that knew of the situation… The times I saw him outside work were even more terrifying… It disturbed me thinking about his confidence to go an arms-length close to me… where he isn’t being monitored… [because] he CAN.”

A young woman “Amy”, not her real name, became the fixation of a man who was almost 50 years older than her after she served him while working in a customer service job in a Suffolk town centre.

For more than a year he would turn up at her place of work, just to stare at her, and he would walk in her workplace to try to have contact with her. He left cards inviting her to meet with him and confessed strong feelings for her, despite the fact that she had only interacted with him in a professional capacity.

He would actively follow her outside of her workplace, even showing up when she attempted to change her route, and turned up when she was out shopping away from work.

Once challenged about his behaviour by Amy’s colleagues, he became aggressive and wrote a letter to her manager to complain about her, following which she became fearful of his intentions and that she was at real risk of physical violence.

Amy reported his activity to police and following enquiries, he was arrested and charged with stalking three months later. Four months after he was charged, he was sentenced at a county court in Essex to four months’ imprisonment, with further restrictions not to enter the town centre where Amy worked or to contact her.

Amy’s experience demonstrates the typical FOUR behaviours of stalking, which should be recorded and reported to police before it escalates further. These are:


Fixated

Obsessed

Unwanted

Repeated


Detective Chief Inspector Brett Harris said: “Stalking is a frightening offence that can happen to anyone. It can be a former partner, boyfriend or girlfriend, an acquaintance, a work colleague, or – as was in Amy’s case - a complete stranger.

“In 2024 we had 848 victims report incidents of stalking and harassment in Suffolk, and we take each report incredibly seriously. Our priority is the safety of our communities and I want to encourage anyone who has been affected by this type of behaviour to contact police so that we can take steps to keep you safe.

“This includes Stalking Protections Orders (SPOs), which are civil orders that we can apply to the court for to help with early intervention.

“These can be used to monitor the actions of a person, impose restrictions or requirements – such as to ensure they stay aware from certain locations – and if they breach these they will be arrested. The aim is to address stalking behaviours before they escalate and to help protect victims from more serious harm.

“We understand that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police right away. There are support services, independent of the police, that can help you if you’ve been a victim of stalking. This includes the National Stalking Helpline, which is 0802 802030.

“Whatever you do, do not let stalking or harassing behaviour continue.”

Social media and the internet are also often used for stalking, and cyber stalking or online threats can be just as intimidating. If you are affected by cyber stalking, you can get more information and safety tips from Get Safe Online or please visit Support for victims and witnesses of stalking or harassment | Suffolk Constabulary

Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “Stalking is a very frightening and distressing crime and I am reassured that Suffolk Constabulary takes all reports of stalking and harassment very seriously.  

“I would urge anyone suffering from persistent and unwanted attention of this kind to contact the police immediately. It’s not something that you should have to live with, and it’s important that victims know there is help available.  

“As PCC I commission services to support victims and this include victims of staking and harassment.  In partnership with my counterpart in Norfolk, we fund Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care to offer support and advice and they are available via their website or on 0300 303 3706, alternatively contact the National Stalking Helpline.”

National Stalking Helpline online tool 'Am I Being Stalked?'

Met brings leader of fraud platform to justice 

Source: Metropolitan Police published on this website Thursday 17 April 2025 by Jill Powell

A massive worldwide operation led by the Met has seen a prolific cyber-criminal sent to prison for eight-and-a-half years.

Zak Coyne, 23 (22.02.01) of Woodbine Road, Huddersfield, was sentenced for leading a website used by more than 2,000 criminals to defraud victims all over the world.

The LabHost service was set up by a criminal cyber network in 2021 to create “phishing” websites, designed to trick victims into revealing personal data such as email addresses, passwords and bank details. 

For a membership fee, users could log on and choose from existing sites or request bespoke pages replicating trusted brands including banks, healthcare agencies and postal services.   

The platform was brought down in April 2024 after the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit gathered crucial intelligence and joined forces with partners across the country, including the National Crime Agency and Microsoft.

In the same month, the Met arrested 24 suspects, targeting the most prolific offenders within the LabHost service, while over 70 addresses were searched.   

As part of the Met’s duty of care, officers safeguarded victims by establishing a helpline, directing people to protected advice on the Met website, and securing compromised accounts.

Specially trained officers offered personalised advice, including how to further protect victims' data, and ensuring every case was reported to both Action Fraud and UK Finance.   

Coyne admitted his crimes at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, 18 September. These included: making or supplying articles for use in frauds; encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence believing it would be committed; and transferring criminal property.

He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, 14 April.

Commander Stephen Clayman, Head of the Met's Central Specialist Crime team, said: 

“The outcome of this case demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Met in pursuing individuals like Coyne who mastermind a network of fraudulent activity, which ultimately brings misery to thousands of innocent people.

“This also demonstrates the commitment across law enforcement to identify and hold those to account who facilitate criminal enabling functions and think they can remain undetected. We will find you and take action.

“This has been monumental operation lead by the Met and I would like to thank all the partners - including the NCA, City of London Police and Cyber Defence Alliance - involved for their invaluable input and without whom, this would not have been a success.

“We will continue to work across law enforcement and key stakeholders, including international partners, to ensure that the Met contributes to the ongoing system response to cyber-related fraud."

Mencap responds to latest data on the inappropriate detention of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Source: Mencap published on this website Tuesday 22 April 2025 by Jill Powell

Latest data highlights major concerns on the inappropriate detention of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. Mencap, along with The Challenging Behaviour Foundation, National Autistic Society and other organisations have written to the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, urging swift action to address the situation.

Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Strategy and Influence of learning disability charity Mencap said: 

“It’s of great concern that every national target to transform care for people with a learning disability and / or autism to date, has been missed and the situation is now starting to go backwards in many areas. This new data shows there is an unacceptable postcode lottery for those trapped in mental health units and their families desperate for them to come out. 

“Thousands of people are still being locked away, often for years on end, many due to a lack of suitable community support – not because they need inpatient mental health treatment. In these settings, people can be subjected to physical restraint and kept in solitary confinement for months on end, leaving people with lasting trauma. 

“The Government, health bodies and local authorities must acknowledge that progress is unravelling in many areas and take action to address this. It’s unacceptable that an increasing number of local areas are failing to meet long promised targets to reduce the number of people in mental health hospitals and alarmingly, we’re seeing inpatient rates rising in a significant number of local areas too.   

“Through reform of the Mental Health Act the Government aims to end the inappropriate detention of people with a learning disability and autistic people but the key change in the law that will make a difference will only be activated when ‘sufficient community support’ is in place. It’s hard to see how this will be achieved when there’s a lack of community support, ongoing cuts and no plan to improve the situation.” 

A copy of the joint letter can be found here 

Man jailed after dealing drugs in a play area.

Source: South Wale Poilce published on this website Wednesday 16 April 2025 by Jill Powell

On November 30, 2024, Officers from the Organised Crime Unit witnessed a drug exchange in a children's play area at Heol Yr Osaf, Pontyclun.

The man was stopped and identified as Courtney Jones,38 from Talbot Green. He was searched where he was found to be in possession of six deal bags of cocaine. Following the search Jones was arrested, officers later searched his home address which was a short distance from the park.

At the address officers located a large quantity of drugs including a further 40 bags of cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA, and benzocaine.

Jones appeared before Cardiff Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a class A drug – Cocaine and MDMA, possession with intent to supply a class B drug- amphetamine and acquiring criminal property.

On Friday April 4,2025, Jones was sentenced to three years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court.

Sergeant Lia Jones said

“Courtney Jones supplied drugs illegally to people in his local community without any concern for their wellbeing. As with other drug dealers like him, he is now going to receive justice for his offence in the form of a number of years in prison.”