No vigil apology from senior Met chief
Recruitment drive for ‘demanding but rewarding role’
A SENIOR Metropolitan Police officer has said he cannot apologise for the actions of officers at the vigil for Sarah Everard at Clapham Common.
Deputy Commissioner Sir Stephen House said his officers were “doing their duty as they saw it” to enforce legislation at the event on Saturday.
The vigil, in memory of Ms Everard, had originally been organised by the protest group Reclaim These Streets which was forced to cancel it after police said it would be in breach of coronavirus rules.
However, crowds still gathered to remember the 33-year-old, whose death has led to an outpouring of grief and anger at violence against women.
While largely peaceful, it was marred by scuffles, with police officers accused of heavy-handedness after some women were bundled to the ground and handcuffed.
Speaking to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, Sir Stephen said: “I understand the officers’ actions have upset people and we see the evidence of that on a daily basis and we do not underestimate the upset that has been caused. But the officers took their actions believing they were doing the right thing to protect people’s health, and following rules put in place to protect the public during a health crisis.
“That health crisis has not yet gone away. I can’t apologise for my officers.”
POLICE have launched a recruitment drive for staff to work at their city cells.
Staffordshire Police is looking to take on eight ‘custody detention officers’ based in Etruria. And is staging an online event for people to find out more about what it says is a ‘varied and rewarding’ job.
Head of custody Temporary Chief Inspector Dave Barrow said: “We want to hear from people who are resilient, compassionate, and able to handle conflict.
“This is a demanding role but one that is varied and rewarding.
Our CDOS are responsible for helping ensure the safe and secure detention of people at our custody facilities and as part of that they oversee the welfare of detainees through working closely with our partner agencies and health care provision.
“They also have a number of powers and carry out searches to recover prohibited items, take photographs of detainees and capture their fingerprints. They are also trained to complete drug testing and obtain consensual DNA.
“No two shifts are the same and those successful applicants will be joining a committed team who are key in the criminal justice process.”
CDO Rebecca Spillard, who is based at Etruria, says good communication skills are vital.
She said: “I am presented with different challenges every shift and I find that I am learning new things every day. Within the role you have to learn to adapt your communication skills to suit the situation you are faced with, whether that’s talking to detained persons, officers, sergeants, inspectors or solicitors..”
Colleague Georgia Hughes says a key part is making detainees feel safe in what can be a ‘daunting’ environment.
She said: “I look after the people in custody, take fingerprints, carry out searches and complete regular checks to make sure they are safe and well while they’re with us.”
Fellow Etruria CDO Sabah Iqbal, below, said the job had boosted her confidence and taught her ‘valuable transferrable skills’.
As well as the positions at Etruria, the force is recruiting one CDO to be based in Gailey.
The online ‘familiarisation session’ takes place on Monday at 7pm. For details search for ‘custody officer’ at staffordshire.police.uk.
A DEFIBRILLATOR has been installed outside a barber’s shop after a customer died from a heart attack.
Edward Kent, right, passed away on November 3 last year aged 81 at 3B Barbers in High Street, Stone.
Business owner Rachel Pine said: “Very sadly one of our much-loved customers had a heart attack and passed away in November, while he was in our shop.
“Myself, my staff, as well as passers-by tried to administer CPR until the paramedic and air ambulance arrived, but sadly unsuccessfully.
“The outcome of this tragic time is that myself and the customer’s widow, Cynthia, decided we would do some fundraising when lockdown is over.
“But we’ve been very fortunate as Aeddonate has donated a defibrillator to go up outside the shop. Myself and Cynthia have paid for the installation and cabinet and 3B Barbers will take up whatever ongoing costs are involved.
“As a shop, we will look at doing something once we are open and things have settled down, I personally would like to see more folk who work on the High Street be trained to use it.
“We are so pleased to be able to have easy access to it now at our end of the High Street. Thankfully something positive has come out of what we all went through back in November.”
Mr Kent’s wife
Cynthia added: “It was a great shock to the whole family when Edward died because he was the centre of our lives.
It is very difficult to come to terms with this situation when you could not be there in their final moments.
“He had been a client at the shop for many years and met many of his ex-colleagues there. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at the shop who showed him great care and kindness and have continued to extend that to me.
“We the family are happy to have raised funds for this and hope it may help someone else in the future. We feel it is a fitting legacy to my husband – he would be very proud.”
Jamie Richards, chief executive of Stone-based charity Aeddonate, said: “As an organisation we were extremely saddened to hear of the incident that took place at 3B Barbers.
“We were contacted by 3B Barbers through our Town Traders Group and we of course were delighted to help by donating the AED.
“The installation and cabinet were funded by 3B Barbers and Cynthia Kent. Our thoughts, of course, remain with Cynthia and her family at this sad time.”
Aeddonate covers the whole of the UK to raise awareness, knowledge and confidence in the safe use of defibrillators and CPR, as well as fitting them within local communities. To donate to the charity from home visit aeddonate. org.uk, or to discuss fundraising for a community defibrillator in your area call 01785 472224.