Have your say on cops wearing BWV tech
Police Scotland is seeking the views of Rutherglen and Cambuslang residents on whether body worn video (BWV) should be used by armed police officers.
BWV has been shown to have a positive impact on the safety of the public and the officers wearing it, and all other armed police units in the UK are currently deployed with cameras.
The introduction of BWV will bring Police Scotland in line with these other forces and ensure best practice and evidence as well as increased transparency and accountability at incidents.
The online survey, which is opened for the next couple of weeks, will allow members of the public to engage and offer their opinions on the deployment of BWV in Scottish policing for the future.
The move follows Chief Constable Iain Livingstone’s support for the deployment of BWV to armed police officers as a “pressing, critical, ethical and operational imperative” and his commitment to focused and concise public engagement prior to rollout.
Assistant Chief Constable Kenny MacDonald, who is leading on the introduction of BWV, said: “The Chief Constable has consistently expressed strong support for the greater deployment of body worn video by Police Scotland officers and staff.
“Armed policing remains an area of high risk and understandable public scrutiny and as such this roll-out will help improve transparency and accountability.
“The safety of our officers and staff as well as that of the public remains paramount in our decision to introduce this technology.
“While this is not new technology, and every other armed policing unit in the UK uses body worn cameras, it is a significant introduction for Scottish policing and as such our public engagement survey is essential to ensuring people have a voice and it will help us gather and address any ethical and community related concerns where possible.”
An initial roll-out of BWV will equip armed police officers as soon as possible during the course of the year.
This deployment will also provide a valuable basis and learning for the consideration of a broader national plan to roll out BWV to police officers across Scotland in the future.
Martyn Evans, chairman of the Scottish Police Authority, said: “The use of body worn video is widespread across UK policing and the benefits to effective policing such as improved officer safety, reducing and resolving complaints against officers and an increase in early guilty pleas, have been positively evaluated in the current limited use across Scotland.
“However, it is important that whenever new technology is adopted, that the implications are fully considered through an extensive stakeholder consultation process.
“We welcome the launch of a public survey and would encourage as many people as possible to register their views.
“The SPA looks forward to considering all responses as part of our oversight of the implementation of BWV.”
The survey can be found on the Police Scotland website.
Q. I am a pensioner over the age of 80. I am not in receipt of any benefits apart from an occupational pension and my state pension. My friend told me that I do not have to pay for my TV licence and I wondering if this is correct.
A. Unfortunately not. Last August, the BBC introduced a new scheme that offers some over 75-year-olds a free TV licence.
You can get a free TV licence if: you, as the licence holder, are over the age of 75 AND you or your partner living at the same address are in receipt of the benefit, pension credit.
If you are not over 75 but your partner is and either of you claim pension credit, you can still apply for it.
There are two ways to apply for your free TV licence.
If you feel confident, you can apply online at www. tvlicensing.co.uk or if you are not computer literate you can call 0300 790 6117 and speak to a TV licensing adviser to request an application.
You will need proof that you are in receipt of pension credit.
Q. I am with the energy company Green Network Energy who supply both my gas and electricity. On January 31, I received an email to say that they had entered into administration. The company EDF have taken over Green Network Energy customer accounts, but I do not want to use this company as I was with them previously. Do I have to stay with them?
A. You will still have gas and electricity if your energy supplier goes out of business.
The gas and electricity regulator, Ofgem, will move you to a new supplier. This usually takes a few weeks. Wait for your new supplier to contact you.
Please do not switch tariff or supplier until your new account is moved to the new supplier.
You might find it harder to get any money you are owed if you switch before this happens.
If your account is in credit, your money is protected. Your new supplier will tell you how you will be paid back.
With a situation like this, your new supplier will tell you when your new account has been set up. This normally takes a few weeks.
You can switch if you are not happy with your new supplier or tariff. You can do this without paying an exit fee.
Q. I have been awarded a small amount of money from the council as compensation due to a flooding in my council house. I owe money in council tax as I am in arrears and the council have used the compensation money to ‘offset’some of my arrears. Are they allowed to do this?
A. Unfortunately, if any payment is received from a local authority (i.e. a redundancy, damages etc.) and there is a council tax owed then the council can and would make a deduction for the amount before passing on any surplus monies to you.
Q. I have to use the train to get into work and it is constantly late from my station or more often than not it is cancelled or they have to skip my stop to make up time further down the line. What should I do as, when this happens, I have to get either a taxi or the bus – therefore paying twice on most journeys?
A. You can get a full refund if your train journey is cancelled.
If you are delayed and arrive at your destination more than half an hour late, you will usually be able to get some money back.
Some train companies will also give you compensation if your train is more than 15 minutes late.
You must keep your train tickets to get a refund. You should try to claim within 28 days, but some companies allow longer.
If you’re entitled to a full refund because your train was cancelled, it does not matter what type of ticket that you bought.
The amount you can claim for a delayed train depends on which train company you travelled with.
Check your ticket if you are not sure. Many train operating companies offer a delay repay scheme or delay compensation.
You are legally entitled to compensation of 50 per cent of your ticket price if you reach your destination between 30 minutes and an hour late, and a full refund if you arrive more than an hour late.
You can claim compensation by visiting the train company’s website. Most have online forms you can use and you will probably need to upload a picture of your ticket. A lot of companies offer vouchers to use on future train journeys.
You do not have to accept them. If you want a cash refund, you can insist on it.
If you are not happy with the response from your train company you can contact the Rail Ombudsman and they can investigate complaints about most train companies.
If they cannot help with your issue they will put you in touch with another organisation which will help.
Q. I have accidentally deleted a direct debit (DD) to a finance company and I wish for it to be re-instated. The company has been taken over and I do not know the new name or how to contact them. I want to know what else I can do as I do not want my credit rating to be affected.
A. You are advised to contact your bank as they should have a copy of your completed mandate for the finance company and should therefore be able to re-instate the DD.
You could also try a Google search online to find out who took over the finance agreement or if you have any paperwork in relation to your new provider as this would give you contact details to get in touch with them and explain the situation.
If you have a problem about a direct debit or standing order, you should use the bank or building society’s internal complaints procedure.
If the matter is unresolved, the client can contact the Direct Debit Help Centre operated by Bacs Payment Scheme, the organisation responsible for the administration of direct debits.
The Help Centre will investigate complaints and respond to a client. If the matter remains unresolved, the client may wish to take it up with the Financial Ombudsman Service. The contact details of the Direct Debit Help Centre are:
The Bacs complaint procedure for direct debits. Telephone: 0330 123 0363 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm)
Website: www.bacs.co.uk ■ PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone / e-mail advice Mon – Fri 9.30am – 3pm.