Ascension : Inspectors Desk
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 06.07.2006 (Article Archived on 20.07.2006)

First of all I would like to say how thrilled I am to be back on the island. It gives me great pleasure in working, with the community and through the developing changes of the island.

First of all I would like to say how thrilled I am to be back on the island. It gives me great pleasure in working, with the community and through the developing changes of the island. I have settle in well enough and its time to put pen to paper. It is my intention to keep you well inform through the islander, as to how we progress in the department. The objective will be to submit articles of interest on regular basics as we have done in the past.

One of the main issues that have affected the police service, there was no provision to deal with vulnerable and intimidated witness, whereby we could effectively conduct interviews in terms of Achieving Best Evidence (ABE). There are a number of ways in which a person can be affected or traumatised by an unexpected incident. To facilitate this problem it has been recommended that evidence can be obtained through a Live Video link. The objective of this video link recording system is to be able to conduct interviews with vulnerable and intimidated witness.

In 2004 specialist equipment were obtained through Good Government Funds (GGF) for this purpose. We have also secured adequate premises at Evans Block in Two Boats, in which to set up the equipment as the Victim suite. The equipment consists of, a dual deck audio video interview recording system, one wide angle and one pan tilt zoom camera, 2 boundary layer wall mount microphones, colour television monitor, audio cassette transcriber and video presenter. The equipment has been installed, and now operational. Two officers of the detachment have received training in this field.  In order to keep abreast of the knowledge and techniques, it has been recommended that training on a regular basis be maintained locally. To enhance the development of the officers, it is envisage for a UK trainer to come on island and train all officers. This is seen as best value for money as all officers would benefit from modern best practises. The advantage of the Video link system, it’s less frightening for children.  It assists in providing a friendly environment away from the Police Station. It is particularly useful when a person have been traumatised by an unexpected event, involving an offender.  Just to give you a flavour of the two types of persons we will be dealing with are as follows:  Children under the age of 17years appearing as a witness, in cases of all types to be eligible for Special Measures’ to assist them in providing their evidence and having their evidence heard at court. The evidence will be videotaped of the interview as a substitute for the child’s live examination -in-chief at court, and the use of the Live Link facility to enable the child to give evidence from outside of the courtroom, have been extensively and successfully employed to enable the court to hear best evidence.  Intimidated witness are those persons who are subjected to sexual offences, assaults, domestic violence, racially motivated crime and crime which involve repeated victimisation such as stalking are particularly likely to lead to intimidation of witness.  It avoids repeated questions being asked and possibility alerting their evidence fearing they have given a wrong answer. The next phase of the project is to have similar equipment install in the Court House. This would enable the victims to give their best evidence by Live Video link in criminal proceedings, without having to come into contact with the offender.  You will be kept inform when this phase of project is up and running.

Joining the Detachment is Special Police Constable Ed Kerslake. He will be giving operational support on a part- time basis as and when the need arises. Ed who comes from the UK and has over 22 years  policing experience with the Devon and Cornwall Police, where he left last year to accompany his family on island, and will no doubt be sharing his knowledge and experience with the detachment. He has being out on the beat which he thoroughly enjoyed, but you will see more of him as time goes on. Ed says that during his stay on the island he wants to ‘give something back’ to the community, hence the reason he has chosen the policing profession. We wish him the best of luck.

FOUND PROPERTY

A sum of money was found over the weekend, would the owner pl collect from the Police Office as soon as possible.

Until next time have a pleasant week.

Reg Williams