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PVH On-line Launched PVH Online was launched on 9 January 2012. Personal subscriptions are now available for officers and staff from those Forces which don't subscribe to the PVH at just Ł29 per year. The site is iPhone friendly. You must have a valid .police.uk email address in order to sign-up. Subscribing Forces will be moving over to it during February and March. January 2012 New this month: we have added guidance to help officers and staff understand and recognise child sexual exploitation, which is particularly relevant to officers and staff taking reports of missing and returned children, we have added additional information about the key strategies to be considered in major incident investigations, i.e. Scene Management, Investigative, Witness Management, Suspect Management, including Custody, Interview and Identification, Intelligence, Forensic, Communication. To these we have added links to our existing strategy material for Arrest, Search, Family Liaison, Pathology (formerly Dealing with the Body), Trace, Interview and Eliminate (TIE) and Disclosure, a guide for officers on the use of social media sites as a line of enquiry in investigations, a behaviour/offence grid for public order offences, a guide to the mechanical examination of vehicles including the role of vehicle examiner, when examination is required and conducting examinations, information about a new mobile phone 'app' used by members of the public to record their satisfaction with stop/searches, a guide to Serious Crime Prevention Orders, and a guide to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIM) Notices (these replace Control Orders). Updated this month: our guides to the National Occupational Standards in respect to the Professionalising Investigation Program (PIP) have been amended to reflect the latest standards adopted by Skills for Justice, we have written a new guide to 'no comment' interviews as part of our extensive guides to conducting suspect interviews, we have added guidance concerning victims who are dead on arrival at hospital and dying declarations to identifying and assessing the scene, we have added additional information about the PROTECT classification of documents used in other organisations and additional handling considerations for other types of documents to our guide to the Government Protective Marking Scheme we have extended our guidance on the use of social media websites by police officers and staff which includes how to enable secure browsing, disable public search facilities, etc., we have extended our guidance on fireworks and the law and introduced a new glossary of terms, separate menus have been provided for collision investigation and investigations into fatal, likely to prove fatal and serious collisions, and many associated pages have been expanded, we have added additional guidance to our guide to understanding vehicle identification numbers, the guidance for custody officers concerning the use of mobile telephone, laptops and other electronic communications and recording devices in custody suites has been clarified. October 2011 As it becomes more common for Police officers and Police staff to only make rare appearances in court to give evidence, many Forces are finding it necessary to conduct "Courtroom Skills" courses. As a reminder to all staff involved in the delivery of such courses both as trainers and students, the PVH contains a comprehensive guide to presenting evidence in court that includes: why a guide to good practice is needed, the role of the police witness, preparation, manner in the witness box and the credibility of police evidence, features of a good standard of presentation of evidence; and common failings when police officers present evidence. New this month: a guide for officers performing the role of SIO at serious road traffic collisions, the points to prove for the offences related to bringing prohibited articles into and out of prison, e.g. drugs, weapons, mobile phones, etc. guidance about the immobilisation, removal and disposal of uninsured motor vehicles, a guide to investigating electricity prepayment meter fraud, which includes posters and flyers in connection with the Top-up Safe campaign, a guide to the use of social networking websites by police officers and staff, which includes guidance about the use of strong passwords, a guide to police associations and organisations, a printable guide suitable for those who have suffered the bereavement of a friend or relative through suicide. Updated this month: there have been some minor amendments to the Counting Rules, we have extended our guide to national and religious festivals through to the end of May 2013, our guide to Support Organisations, both the web page and the printable pages to give to victims of crime, updated with details of organisations supporting immigration and abduction issues, we have added some additional guidance to our guidance concerning common questions asked by bereaved families, we have added the leaflet for the public: Media Attention Following a Death - How the Press Complaints Commission Can Help You, we have added some additional guidance to our guide to dealing with hate incidents and crime, we have added some additional guidance to our guide concerning dealing with female genital mutilation to take account of the revised CPS policy, we have added some additional guidance to our guide to witness intimidation concerning the protocol recently agreed between the police, the CPS and the prisons, we have added some additional guidance to our guide to road collision investigation and disposal options concerning the handover of collisions for investigation by another officer/department, various menus have been updated to reflect changes in the Sgts and Insps examination syllabi. June 2011 New this month: a guide to the health risks associated with dealing with acid etched graffiti, Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders in force from 30 June 2011 to 29 June 2012 in the Oldham, South Manchester and the Metropolitan Divisions of Greater Manchester Police, the South Worcestershire territorial policing unit of West Mercia Police, and Wiltshire Police, for completeness we have added a guide to pedlars and pedlar's certificates. Updated this month: our guidance to the charging decision has been updated to reflect the latest CPS (4th Edition) guidance, including revised forms MG5 and MG6, we have added information about the contents of the new National File Standard (2011) which replaces are other types of file, including the CJSSS Streamline Process (date of implementation varies), a recent case has acted to remind arresting officers: of the need to both consider why an arrest is necessary and subsequently record those deliberations in full, and to assist with understanding why it such considerations are required we have added information on the Wednesbury Principles and Wednesbury unreasonableness, of the considerations that are required before a person who has agreed to be voluntarily interviewed is arrested on arrival at the police station, our guide to the minimum standards of investigation has had additional guidance included to emphasise the need to make reasonably comprehensive enquiries to establish whether a crime is linked to any others in order that an appropriately comprehensive and coordinated investigation of such offences is carried out, our custody guide has had additional guidance added: to remind custody staff to ensure that those detainees who appear to be suffering the effects of alcohol or drugs have not suffered a (what could be fatal) head injury (as well as or instead of, their intoxication), concerning verification procedures (as a result of Anthony Leon Peart Review), contrary to what we said in April, 4-Methylmethcathinone remains a Class B drug, having, in fact, been reclassified within Class B, our missing persons guidance has had additional information added to reflect the latest NPIA guidance, our guide to key considerations when attending collisions has had an action summary added, we have added a menu in respect of cordons, our guide to national and religious festivals has been extended through to the end of 2012. our faith guidance has had additional facts added concerning attending places of worship. April 2011 Topical due to a mention in the media recently is stalking and harassment, with the media commenting that half the Police had yet to be trained in the 2009 revised NPIA guidance - so please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the procedures contained within the guide, and the range of possible police actions that can be taken to deal with such incidents. New this month: a guide to international child abduction and child tracing procedures, which includes the application form to be used by anyone wishing to seeking to obtain governmental assistance with the return of a child, together with a guide to completing the form, at the request of the Eastern Region Regional Asset Recovery Team we have now expanded our guidance on the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to include: a guide to undertaking financial and money laundering investigations, which includes a printable and foldable aide memoire to cash seizures and money laundering, the points to prove for the money laundering offences of: concealing criminal property, facilitating the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property, the acquisition, use or possession of criminal property, the points to prove for the offences in respect of those who work in businesses in the regulated sector of: failing to disclose, nominated person failing to report, and tipping off, guidance concerning legal professional privilege in relation to money laundering, details of the type of financial investigations carried out by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Tapentadol has been classified as a class A drug, Amineptine has been classified as a class C drug and 4-Methylmethcathinone has been de-classified and is no longer controlled, a revised power of search replacing the controversial power provided under sections 44 to 47 of the Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 18 March 2011. Updated this month: the Home Office Counting Rules have received their annual update - the summary of amendments page reflects the latest changes, our guide to dealing with child abuse has been expanded to include a more comprehensive guide to recognising child abuse, the actions to be taken by those non specialist staff receiving reports of child abuse, actions for call takers and dispatchers and a guide for those operational officers undertaking an initial investigation into child abuse, our guide to national and religious festivals has been extended through to the end of June 2012. contact details for requests for advice or assistance in connection with searches of vehicles, aircraft or vessels should be made to UKBA Border Force National Intelligence Hub and not Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. March 2011 New this month: information about the Serious Organised Crime Agency, including details of the Fugitives Unit which deals with requests for the execution of European Arrest Warrants (EAWs), information about the new Immediate Support Worker Service for Bereaved Road Crash Victims now being provided by Brake, the road death charity, guidance concerning ensuring that arrests for driving whilst disqualified are lawful. Updated this month: from 7 March 2011 there are some changes to PACE: the requirements concerning the recording of searches of persons and vehicles change, there is no longer any national requirement to record encounters which do not result in a search, there are some changes concerning the taking of fingerprints without consent, the power to take fingerprints on the street (i.e. elsewhere than in custody) are introduced around the country, but, of course, can only be used when mobile fingerprint scanner are available to officers, there are some changes concerning the taking of non-intimate samples without consent, there are new powers to take fingerprints, non-intimate samples and intimate samples (but in the case of intimate samples only when the previous non-intimate samples have proved insufficient) in respects of offences committed outside the United Kingdom, together with appropriate additions to the meaning of speculative search, the power to require persons to attend at a police station to provide fingerprints and samples has been amended, officers authorising searches under section 18 of PACE are now required to include a declaration that they are satisfied that the premises are occupied or controlled by the arrested person, arresting officers who search premises under section 18 of PACE occupied or controlled by that person must ensure that they are satisfied that the premises are occupied or controlled by the arrested person, and make a record of that fact, either in their pocket notebooks or in the record of premises search booklet, lodging houses, bedsits hostel and other similar accommodation should not be searched solely on the consent of the landlord, even in urgent cases, revised guidance to distinguish eye-witness identification procedures such as video identification from procedures for obtaining recognition evidence by viewing CCTV and similar images, suspects will no longer be informed of the time and date of a video identification in order to provide greater protection for witnesses attending a video identification, with the aim of preventing associates of the suspect intimidating a witness before a viewing, our guides to the carriage of dangerous goods: have been updated to include the 2011 requirements (ADR) valid from 1 July 2011, now include a table of dangerous goods as a searchable spreadsheet (requires Microsoft Excel) and as a web page contains revisions made to supply classifications, instructions in writing, limited quantity exemptions, excepted quantity exemptions, and small load exemptions, Part 1 (General Provisions), Part 2 (Classification) and Part 3 (Dangerous Goods List, Special Provisions and Exemptions Related to Limited and Excepted Quantities) have been added as web pages, now includes an updated enforcement guidance for common offences, and a much enlarged glossary of terms, our guide to the registration of foreign vehicles used in the UK by a person resident in the UK or which are used in the UK for more than 6 months in any 12 month period. February 2011 New this month: the rules as to who makes the charging decision is being changed across England and Wales during the Spring: implementation will vary between Forces, check locally as to when the new scheme applies to you, all Points to Prove have been updated, offences that have changed show a reference to 'old scheme' or 'new scheme', see our guide to the key changes, gang related violence injunctions are in force from 1 February 2011, the offence of Fail to Prevent a Minor from Having Possession of an Air Weapon in force from 10 February 2011, information alerting everyone about a hazardous new trend to commit suicide by the use toxic chemicals, information about continuous insurance enforcement - an initiative between the DVLA and the Motor Insurers' Bureau, additional guidance has been added to our search toolkit in respect of search scenarios, searching on or adjacent to high speed roads and searching aircraft, information about the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and its databases and functions, four new bribery offences (in force from Summer 2011): Offering a Bribe, Receiving a Bribe, Bribery of a Foreign Public Official, and Failure of Commercial Organisation to Prevent Bribery, to our Roads Policing menu: A Quick Reference Guide to Driving Licenses and Foreign Drivers Driving in the UK. Updated this month: we've added additional information to our page about the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to include key contact information, including that for the regional police/UKBA liaison officers, January 2011 New this month: our Searching Toolkit has been updated with additional guidance concerning: the use of dogs, the use of horses, the use of non-police resources, searching for evidence, searching houses and other buildings, searching people (including prisoners), searching baggage, searching land, searching motor vehicles, searching boats, yachts and other vessels, searching rivers and streams, lakes and ponds and the sea shore, focusing the search for missing children using data researched by Grampian Police, the new powers of entry, search and seizure in order to establish the nationality of persons suspected of not being lawfully in the UK, search briefing and debriefing, key search roles, information concerning Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs the UK Border Agency and the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency, a new page on the Fire and Rescue Service, which includes the powers of fire and rescue employees, their search and rescue capabilities, and the offence of making a false call, guidance about the false positives some Forces are having when testing for the drug MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone), some information about the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme. Updated this month: our guide to the role of the communications centre when taking calls concerning domestic violence, to including additional points raised in the most recent Learning the Lessons bulletin (requires access to internet), our guidance on dealing with mass gatherings of the gypsy and traveller community has had additional guidance added concerning the key considerations during pre-event planning, the event itself and post-event. our guide to searching for missing persons, with information about searching for the suicidal, those with ADHD, dementia and bi-polar disorder, our guide to major incidents: with additional information concerning the roles of HM Coastguard and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, our guidance on voice identification to include additional guidance on the pitfalls to be avoided, our list of contact telephone nos. for lost and stolen bank cards, some minor amendments have been made to the Counting Rules effective from 25 November 2010, we have simplified our guidance on the Cross Examination of Complaints and Certain Witnesses, the Disclosure of Protected Material in Sex Offender Cases and the lawful use of force including the use of force in self defence, our guidance on Obstructing the Highway and Related Offences with additional information about related offences. Drinks Banning Orders on conviction have been rolled out to Birmingham, Bristol, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, City of Westminster, Denbighshire, East Berkshire, Fenland, Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Gwent, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, Hartlepool, Lambeth and Southwark, Manchester City, Mansfield, Merthyr Tydfil, Newcastle-upon-Tyne District, North East Derbyshire and Dales, North East Suffolk, North Kent, North Tyneside District, Northampton, Plymouth District, Sedgemoor, West Cornwall and West Hertfordshire. It is therefore quite likely that officers will encounter people who are in breach of such Orders in those areas over the coming months. Back to top

PVH On-line Launched

PVH Online was launched on 9 January 2012. Personal subscriptions are now available for officers and staff from those Forces which don't subscribe to the PVH at just Ł29 per year. The site is iPhone friendly. You must have a valid .police.uk email address in order to sign-up. Subscribing Forces will be moving over to it during February and March.

January 2012

New this month:

we have added guidance to help officers and staff understand and recognise child sexual exploitation, which is particularly relevant to officers and staff taking reports of missing and returned children,
we have added additional information about the key strategies to be considered in major incident investigations, i.e. Scene Management, Investigative, Witness Management, Suspect Management, including Custody, Interview and Identification, Intelligence, Forensic, Communication. To these we have added links to our existing strategy material for Arrest, Search, Family Liaison, Pathology (formerly Dealing with the Body), Trace, Interview and Eliminate (TIE) and Disclosure,
a guide for officers on the use of social media sites as a line of enquiry in investigations,
a behaviour/offence grid for public order offences,
a guide to the mechanical examination of vehicles including the role of vehicle examiner, when examination is required and conducting examinations,
information about a new mobile phone 'app' used by members of the public to record their satisfaction with stop/searches,
a guide to Serious Crime Prevention Orders, and
a guide to Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIM) Notices (these replace Control Orders).

Updated this month:

our guides to the National Occupational Standards in respect to the Professionalising Investigation Program (PIP) have been amended to reflect the latest standards adopted by Skills for Justice,
we have written a new guide to 'no comment' interviews as part of our extensive guides to conducting suspect interviews,
we have added guidance concerning victims who are dead on arrival at hospital and dying declarations to identifying and assessing the scene,
we have added additional information about the PROTECT classification of documents used in other organisations and additional handling considerations for other types of documents to our guide to the Government Protective Marking Scheme
we have extended our guidance on the use of social media websites by police officers and staff which includes how to enable secure browsing, disable public search facilities, etc.,
we have extended our guidance on fireworks and the law and introduced a new glossary of terms,
separate menus have been provided for collision investigation and investigations into fatal, likely to prove fatal and serious collisions, and many associated pages have been expanded,
we have added additional guidance to our guide to understanding vehicle identification numbers,
the guidance for custody officers concerning the use of mobile telephone, laptops and other electronic communications and recording devices in custody suites has been clarified.

October 2011

As it becomes more common for Police officers and Police staff to only make rare appearances in court to give evidence, many Forces are finding it necessary to conduct "Courtroom Skills" courses. As a reminder to all staff involved in the delivery of such courses both as trainers and students, the PVH contains a comprehensive guide to presenting evidence in court that includes:

why a guide to good practice is needed,
the role of the police witness,
preparation,
manner in the witness box and the credibility of police evidence,
features of a good standard of presentation of evidence; and
common failings when police officers present evidence.

New this month:

a guide for officers performing the role of SIO at serious road traffic collisions,
the points to prove for the offences related to bringing prohibited articles into and out of prison, e.g. drugs, weapons, mobile phones, etc.
guidance about the immobilisation, removal and disposal of uninsured motor vehicles,
a guide to investigating electricity prepayment meter fraud, which includes posters and flyers in connection with the Top-up Safe campaign,
a guide to the use of social networking websites by police officers and staff, which includes guidance about the use of strong passwords,
a guide to police associations and organisations,
a printable guide suitable for those who have suffered the bereavement of a friend or relative through suicide.

Updated this month:

there have been some minor amendments to the Counting Rules,
we have extended our guide to national and religious festivals through to the end of May 2013,
our guide to Support Organisations, both the web page and the printable pages to give to victims of crime, updated with details of organisations supporting immigration and abduction issues,
we have added some additional guidance to our guidance concerning common questions asked by bereaved families,
we have added the leaflet for the public: Media Attention Following a Death - How the Press Complaints Commission Can Help You,
we have added some additional guidance to our guide to dealing with hate incidents and crime,
we have added some additional guidance to our guide concerning dealing with female genital mutilation to take account of the revised CPS policy,
we have added some additional guidance to our guide to witness intimidation concerning the protocol recently agreed between the police, the CPS and the prisons,
we have added some additional guidance to our guide to road collision investigation and disposal options concerning the handover of collisions for investigation by another officer/department,
various menus have been updated to reflect changes in the Sgts and Insps examination syllabi.

June 2011

New this month:

a guide to the health risks associated with dealing with acid etched graffiti,
Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders in force from 30 June 2011 to 29 June 2012 in the Oldham, South Manchester and the Metropolitan Divisions of Greater Manchester Police, the South Worcestershire territorial policing unit of West Mercia Police, and Wiltshire Police,
for completeness we have added a guide to pedlars and pedlar's certificates.

Updated this month:

our guidance to the charging decision has been updated to reflect the latest CPS (4th Edition) guidance, including revised forms MG5 and MG6,
we have added information about the contents of the new National File Standard (2011) which replaces are other types of file, including the CJSSS Streamline Process (date of implementation varies),
a recent case has acted to remind arresting officers:
1. of the need to both consider why an arrest is necessary and subsequently record those deliberations in full, and to assist with understanding why it such considerations are required we have added information on the Wednesbury Principles and Wednesbury unreasonableness,
2. of the considerations that are required before a person who has agreed to be voluntarily interviewed is arrested on arrival at the police station,
our guide to the minimum standards of investigation has had additional guidance included to emphasise the need to make reasonably comprehensive enquiries to establish whether a crime is linked to any others in order that an appropriately comprehensive and coordinated investigation of such offences is carried out,
our custody guide has had additional guidance added:
1. to remind custody staff to ensure that those detainees who appear to be suffering the effects of alcohol or drugs have not suffered a (what could be fatal) head injury (as well as or instead of, their intoxication),
2. concerning verification procedures (as a result of Anthony Leon Peart Review),
contrary to what we said in April, 4-Methylmethcathinone remains a Class B drug, having, in fact, been reclassified within Class B,
our missing persons guidance has had additional information added to reflect the latest NPIA guidance,
our guide to key considerations when attending collisions has had an action summary added,
we have added a menu in respect of cordons,
our guide to national and religious festivals has been extended through to the end of 2012.
our faith guidance has had additional facts added concerning attending places of worship.

April 2011

Topical due to a mention in the media recently is stalking and harassment, with the media commenting that half the Police had yet to be trained in the 2009 revised NPIA guidance - so please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the procedures contained within the guide, and the range of possible police actions that can be taken to deal with such incidents.

New this month:

a guide to international child abduction and child tracing procedures, which includes the application form to be used by anyone wishing to seeking to obtain governmental assistance with the return of a child, together with a guide to completing the form,
at the request of the Eastern Region Regional Asset Recovery Team we have now expanded our guidance on the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to include:
1. a guide to undertaking financial and money laundering investigations, which includes a printable and foldable aide memoire to cash seizures and money laundering,
2. the points to prove for the money laundering offences of:
  - concealing criminal property,
  - facilitating the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property,
  - the acquisition, use or possession of criminal property,
3. the points to prove for the offences in respect of those who work in businesses in the regulated sector of:
  - failing to disclose,
  - nominated person failing to report, and
  - tipping off,
4. guidance concerning legal professional privilege in relation to money laundering,
5. details of the type of financial investigations carried out by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs,
Tapentadol has been classified as a class A drug, Amineptine has been classified as a class C drug and 4-Methylmethcathinone has been de-classified and is no longer controlled,
a revised power of search replacing the controversial power provided under sections 44 to 47 of the Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 18 March 2011.

Updated this month:

the Home Office Counting Rules have received their annual update - the summary of amendments page reflects the latest changes,
our guide to dealing with child abuse has been expanded to include a more comprehensive guide to recognising child abuse, the actions to be taken by those non specialist staff receiving reports of child abuse, actions for call takers and dispatchers and a guide for those operational officers undertaking an initial investigation into child abuse,
our guide to national and religious festivals has been extended through to the end of June 2012.
contact details for requests for advice or assistance in connection with searches of vehicles, aircraft or vessels should be made to UKBA Border Force National Intelligence Hub and not Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

March 2011

New this month:

information about the Serious Organised Crime Agency, including details of the Fugitives Unit which deals with requests for the execution of European Arrest Warrants (EAWs),
information about the new Immediate Support Worker Service for Bereaved Road Crash Victims now being provided by Brake, the road death charity,
guidance concerning ensuring that arrests for driving whilst disqualified are lawful.

Updated this month:

from 7 March 2011 there are some changes to PACE:
1. the requirements concerning the recording of searches of persons and vehicles change,
2. there is no longer any national requirement to record encounters which do not result in a search,
3. there are some changes concerning the taking of fingerprints without consent,
4. the power to take fingerprints on the street (i.e. elsewhere than in custody) are introduced around the country, but, of course, can only be used when mobile fingerprint scanner are available to officers,
5. there are some changes concerning the taking of non-intimate samples without consent,
6. there are new powers to take fingerprints, non-intimate samples and intimate samples (but in the case of intimate samples only when the previous non-intimate samples have proved insufficient) in respects of offences committed outside the United Kingdom, together with appropriate additions to the meaning of speculative search,
7. the power to require persons to attend at a police station to provide fingerprints and samples has been amended,
8. officers authorising searches under section 18 of PACE are now required to include a declaration that they are satisfied that the premises are occupied or controlled by the arrested person,
9. arresting officers who search premises under section 18 of PACE occupied or controlled by that person must ensure that they are satisfied that the premises are occupied or controlled by the arrested person, and make a record of that fact, either in their pocket notebooks or in the record of premises search booklet,
10. lodging houses, bedsits hostel and other similar accommodation should not be searched solely on the consent of the landlord, even in urgent cases,
11. revised guidance to distinguish eye-witness identification procedures such as video identification from procedures for obtaining recognition evidence by viewing CCTV and similar images,
12. suspects will no longer be informed of the time and date of a video identification in order to provide greater protection for witnesses attending a video identification, with the aim of preventing associates of the suspect intimidating a witness before a viewing,
our guides to the carriage of dangerous goods:
- have been updated to include the 2011 requirements (ADR) valid from 1 July 2011,
- now include a table of dangerous goods as a searchable spreadsheet (requires Microsoft Excel) and as a web page
- contains revisions made to supply classifications, instructions in writing, limited quantity exemptions, excepted quantity exemptions, and small load exemptions,
- Part 1 (General Provisions), Part 2 (Classification) and Part 3 (Dangerous Goods List, Special Provisions and Exemptions Related to Limited and Excepted Quantities) have been added as web pages,
- now includes an updated enforcement guidance for common offences, and a much enlarged glossary of terms,
our guide to the registration of foreign vehicles used in the UK by a person resident in the UK or which are used in the UK for more than 6 months in any 12 month period.

February 2011

New this month:

the rules as to who makes the charging decision is being changed across England and Wales during the Spring:
- implementation will vary between Forces, check locally as to when the new scheme applies to you,
- all Points to Prove have been updated,
- offences that have changed show a reference to 'old scheme' or 'new scheme',
- see our guide to the key changes,
gang related violence injunctions are in force from 1 February 2011,
the offence of Fail to Prevent a Minor from Having Possession of an Air Weapon in force from 10 February 2011,
information alerting everyone about a hazardous new trend to commit suicide by the use toxic chemicals,
information about continuous insurance enforcement - an initiative between the DVLA and the Motor Insurers' Bureau,
additional guidance has been added to our search toolkit in respect of search scenarios, searching on or adjacent to high speed roads and searching aircraft,
information about the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and its databases and functions,
four new bribery offences (in force from Summer 2011):
- Offering a Bribe,
- Receiving a Bribe,
- Bribery of a Foreign Public Official, and
- Failure of Commercial Organisation to Prevent Bribery,
to our Roads Policing menu: A Quick Reference Guide to Driving Licenses and Foreign Drivers Driving in the UK.

Updated this month:

we've added additional information to our page about the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to include key contact information, including that for the regional police/UKBA liaison officers,

January 2011

New this month:

our Searching Toolkit has been updated with additional guidance concerning:
- the use of dogs,
- the use of horses,
- the use of non-police resources,
- searching for evidence,
- searching houses and other buildings,
- searching people (including prisoners),
- searching baggage,
- searching land,
- searching motor vehicles,
- searching boats, yachts and other vessels,
- searching rivers and streams, lakes and ponds and the sea shore,
- focusing the search for missing children using data researched by Grampian Police,
- the new powers of entry, search and seizure in order to establish the nationality of persons suspected of not being lawfully in the UK,
- search briefing and debriefing,
- key search roles,
information concerning Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs the UK Border Agency and the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency,
a new page on the Fire and Rescue Service, which includes the powers of fire and rescue employees, their search and rescue capabilities, and the offence of making a false call,
guidance about the false positives some Forces are having when testing for the drug MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone),
some information about the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme.

Updated this month:

our guide to the role of the communications centre when taking calls concerning domestic violence, to including additional points raised in the most recent Learning the Lessons bulletin (requires access to internet),
our guidance on dealing with mass gatherings of the gypsy and traveller community has had additional guidance added concerning the key considerations during pre-event planning, the event itself and post-event.
our guide to searching for missing persons, with information about searching for the suicidal, those with ADHD, dementia and bi-polar disorder,
our guide to major incidents:
- with additional information concerning the roles of HM Coastguard and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution,
our guidance on voice identification to include additional guidance on the pitfalls to be avoided,
our list of contact telephone nos. for lost and stolen bank cards,
some minor amendments have been made to the Counting Rules effective from 25 November 2010,
we have simplified our guidance on the Cross Examination of Complaints and Certain Witnesses, the Disclosure of Protected Material in Sex Offender Cases and the lawful use of force including the use of force in self defence,
our guidance on Obstructing the Highway and Related Offences with additional information about related offences.

Drinks Banning Orders on conviction have been rolled out to Birmingham, Bristol, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, City of Westminster, Denbighshire, East Berkshire, Fenland, Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Gwent, Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, Hartlepool, Lambeth and Southwark, Manchester City, Mansfield, Merthyr Tydfil, Newcastle-upon-Tyne District, North East Derbyshire and Dales, North East Suffolk, North Kent, North Tyneside District, Northampton, Plymouth District, Sedgemoor, West Cornwall and West Hertfordshire. It is therefore quite likely that officers will encounter people who are in breach of such Orders in those areas over the coming months.