Ascension : Police Report
Submitted by The Islander (Police Ascension) 18.02.2010 (Article Archived on 04.03.2010)

The Ascension Police Detachment has had the privilege of having Sgt Neil Fisher and his drugs dog Teeke from the Surrey Police Force with us since the 1st February 2010.

POLICE  REPORT

THE EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR THE POLICE IS:

6666

This number is staffed 24/7 if it is a genuine emergency please use it.

Just because there is not a Police Officer in the Police Station it does not mean there are no officers on duty.

The Ascension Police Detachment has had the privilege of having Sgt Neil Fisher and his drugs dog Teeke from the Surrey Police Force with us since the 1^st February 2010.  The purpose of his visit was to create awareness on drug related issues, and carry out searches.  We enjoyed the time he spent with us and wish him Good Luck as he returns to the United Kingdom.

Neil enjoyed his time here on the island and this is what he had to say about himself.

SGT NEIL FISHER

I am just coming up to 51 years old and have been married to Mandy (Amanda) for 23 years. We have two ‘children’ Ben just coming up for 21 and Emma who is 17.

Ben is currently at university studying Maths. Emma is at 6^th form college studying A levels in Photography, Law, Biology and Psychology.

Neither Mandy nor I know where they got their brains from!

I joined Surrey Police at the tender age of 16 as a Police Cadet.

At the age of 18 ½ I was sworn in as a constable and began work at Camberley Police Station, Surrey. During my time there I carried out beat and car duties before taking up a semi permanent role working on the crime car. I also applied to join the Dog section, the job I had wanted since joining the Police. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful as a stipulation for the job was that you had to be married. I was desperate to become a Dog Handler but not that desperate!

During this time I also studied for and passed the promotion exam.

I then began to get involved with the Force Firearms response team and over a number of years moved from never having handled a gun to becoming a Firearms instructor and running the team. During this period even in quiet Surrey we were being called out 3 or 4 times a week to deal with domestic and criminal firearms incidents.

At nine years service I was promoted to Sergeant. A short time later I was able to combine the roles of Sergeant and Firearms when I took responsibility for the resident protection of HRH The Duke and Duchess of York (Andrew and Fergie). This I ran for two years and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the various members of the Royal Family.

When I finally decided I had had enough of Firearms there were very few options for me within the Force. All I really wanted to do was become a Dog Handler, but with only three Sergeants posts on the section it really was dead mans shoes.

So I spent the next seven years as a Custody Sergeant which was purgatory.

I finally achieved my dream job about 6.5 years ago when I completed the Initial Dog Handling course with my first General Purpose Police Dog ‘Odin’.

A year later I then completed a drugs course with Police Dog ‘Teeke’(who some of you have met). Teeke is trained to locate all the main stream drugs (Cannabis, Heroin,  amphetamine, Ecstasy,  Cocaine and all their derivatives). He is also trained to locate Firearms, ammunition and currency (so far he hasn’t been able to find where Mandy is stashing all my money!)

I n October 2008 Police Dog ‘Odin’ was retired early so that I could take on a new dog that had come through our new breeding program. I licensed with Police Dog ‘Ajay’(a Belgian Malanois) in December the same year.

I could have retired after thirty years service, two and a half years ago. But why should    I ? I  am being paid a very good wage to spend my time playing with dogs! And now I am even being paid to come half way around the world and play with my dogs on Ascension Island.

When I say I am playing with the dogs the reason is everything they do has been taught as a game. So whether they are searching for people, property or drugs the dogs understand it as a game that they get to play at the end of.

I’ll be leaving the Island on Tuesday 16^th February and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making me so welcome and for being so friendly. Hopefully I will be able to convince Inspector Williams to invite myself or one of my colleagues back in the future.

SEAT BELT LEGISLATION

A reminder to all drivers and persons who are passengers within a motor vehicle, the Seat Belt Legislation has been in enforced since 1^st September 2009.

For your own safety and that of others it is law that you must at all times wear a seat belt when traveling in a Motor Vehicle, failure to do so could result in you receiving personal injury should the vehicle be involved in a collision or unexpected circumstances.

The Police will soon be carrying out random checks i.e using their powers under the Road Traffic legislation that will allow them to stop motor vehicles to inspect brakes, steering and silencer.  At the same time they will be observing whether seat belts are been worn.

In the event that seat belts are not worn, those persons will be reported for prosecution.

Should anyone be processed for Court and be found guilty of failing to comply with the legislation in relation to the Seat belt law, you will be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.00.

DON’T BE CAUGHT OUT

We look forward to working with you and having your co-operation.

Have a safe week !!

Georgetown Police