It's the middle of February already, I haven't updated my blog in weeks. It's true what they say, time really does fly.
Here in F District we are preparing for the roll out of new frontline technology which will move to reduce the time officers spend in stations, an issue which was widely reported on across Northern Ireland last summer. Our new handheld BlackBerry devices, which work as mobile platforms, will make sure that officers can spend much more time out in local communities. Much of the work that they had to return to station to complete will be completed on the new handheld devices.
I am convinced that this move will increase our visibility and connection with our local community.
I am also delighted to say that the Northern Ireland Policing with the Community Awards will be held in Enniskillen later this year. It is great news that the Awards are to be hosted here, I know we will do them proud. I will keep readers updated with news of local nominees.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Friday, 18 December 2009
Christmas message
Christmas is almost upon us, traditionally a time for families, for joy and anticipation. At this time more than any we reflect on events that have passed and look to the future ahead.
All of us have been shocked and saddened by the recent events in our District, the loss of a very young life and the conclusion of a difficult inquest.
In the first case, a man has been charged with the murder if Millie Martin and has appeared in court. In the case of the fatal fire at Lammy Crescent in Omagh, people across our District and indeed Northern Ireland have been shocked at the details revealed during the inquest, which concluded last week.
I am appealing directly to everyone in our community; please assist all agencies by being watchful and mindful of the risks that can exist.
Don't sit on concerns, particularly where children may be involved. We have arrangements in place which work to protect those who are most at risk in our communities.
You can help us in this very important task. It is vital that people know and have confidence that we will investigate, with our partner agencies, any situation where a child may be risk.
We are here to protect the most vulnerable from harm. With your help we can do that.
There are times we are all reminded of what can go horribly wrong in our community. These past few weeks have been an example of that. But our aim remains the same, keeping safe from harm; ourselves, each other, our neighbourhoods and communities.
It's what we all want and what we as your police service, will strive to achieve by working in partnership with you.
I sincerely hope that we never face these issues again. As your District Police Commander, I assure you that my officers and I will continue to work with each of our partner agencies, to do our very best to ensure that we do not.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
All of us have been shocked and saddened by the recent events in our District, the loss of a very young life and the conclusion of a difficult inquest.
In the first case, a man has been charged with the murder if Millie Martin and has appeared in court. In the case of the fatal fire at Lammy Crescent in Omagh, people across our District and indeed Northern Ireland have been shocked at the details revealed during the inquest, which concluded last week.
I am appealing directly to everyone in our community; please assist all agencies by being watchful and mindful of the risks that can exist.
Don't sit on concerns, particularly where children may be involved. We have arrangements in place which work to protect those who are most at risk in our communities.
You can help us in this very important task. It is vital that people know and have confidence that we will investigate, with our partner agencies, any situation where a child may be risk.
We are here to protect the most vulnerable from harm. With your help we can do that.
There are times we are all reminded of what can go horribly wrong in our community. These past few weeks have been an example of that. But our aim remains the same, keeping safe from harm; ourselves, each other, our neighbourhoods and communities.
It's what we all want and what we as your police service, will strive to achieve by working in partnership with you.
I sincerely hope that we never face these issues again. As your District Police Commander, I assure you that my officers and I will continue to work with each of our partner agencies, to do our very best to ensure that we do not.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
This week, another life was lost on our roads
This week, another life was lost on our roads.
This brings the total of lives taken through road traffic collisions in our policing district this year to 29. The overall total for Northern Ireland now stands at 107, equal to the total number of lives lost in 2008.
Less than two weeks ago, the Police Service launched our annual Winter Road Safety campaign in Fermanagh. Why did we chose Fermanagh? I wanted the launch to be here because we have a high number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. I wanted to highlight the issue of safety, care and attention for all road users. This is not just about those who drive cars. We must include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, bus drivers, lorry drivers.
It seems to me that the message is understood by most right thinking people. It just doesn't translate into action when some get behind the wheel. I am not referring to driving under the influence of alcohol, where a small minority blatantly disregard the law and we are committed to detecting these people. I am talking about those who drive a little too fast, take risks, overtake when it is not safe to do so, and do not pay due care and attention to the weather or the road conditions.
It is a simple message. Slow down, belt up and pay attention to the road, at all times. We are committed to working with you to make our roads safer but this is one area where we can all make a difference if we take time to think.
After all it is better to arrive late in this world than early in the next.
This brings the total of lives taken through road traffic collisions in our policing district this year to 29. The overall total for Northern Ireland now stands at 107, equal to the total number of lives lost in 2008.
Less than two weeks ago, the Police Service launched our annual Winter Road Safety campaign in Fermanagh. Why did we chose Fermanagh? I wanted the launch to be here because we have a high number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. I wanted to highlight the issue of safety, care and attention for all road users. This is not just about those who drive cars. We must include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, bus drivers, lorry drivers.
It seems to me that the message is understood by most right thinking people. It just doesn't translate into action when some get behind the wheel. I am not referring to driving under the influence of alcohol, where a small minority blatantly disregard the law and we are committed to detecting these people. I am talking about those who drive a little too fast, take risks, overtake when it is not safe to do so, and do not pay due care and attention to the weather or the road conditions.
It is a simple message. Slow down, belt up and pay attention to the road, at all times. We are committed to working with you to make our roads safer but this is one area where we can all make a difference if we take time to think.
After all it is better to arrive late in this world than early in the next.
Friday, 27 November 2009
Fermanagh is a safer place today
Fermanagh is a safer place today. During a policing operation in Garrison on Saturday night, I believe officers foiled a serious terrorist attack. Colleagues acted with professionalism and restraint as they moved to prevent a serious crime from taking place.
It is without doubt a major success for policing in Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland.
This week, the Chief Constable paid a visit to Garrison and to Enniskillen. I was delighted to welcome him here and delighted that the community representatives in Enniskillen warmly welcomed him. He witnessed, at first hand, the support from communities for their local police service. He took time to talk to people and to listen, to find out what they want and need from their policing service. He met local officers and praised their professionalism and bravery as they supported their colleagues during the events of the weekend past.
I want to pay tribute to the local community for the support they have shown and the assistance they have given us. That is the basis for successful policing - real community support. And I believe we have that here. My work and that of my colleagues has just one aim. To make our communities safer for you and your families.
Policing success does not always bring the results communities may look for. But please be assured, we are working hard to disrupt the activities of those who seek to harm our communities, our neighbourhoods. Look no further than your local neighbourhood team of officers. You can find them on www.psni.police.uk. Contact the officers who work in your area, talk to them about your local issues and concerns. Let us know what your policing priorities are and we will make them ours.
It is without doubt a major success for policing in Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland.
This week, the Chief Constable paid a visit to Garrison and to Enniskillen. I was delighted to welcome him here and delighted that the community representatives in Enniskillen warmly welcomed him. He witnessed, at first hand, the support from communities for their local police service. He took time to talk to people and to listen, to find out what they want and need from their policing service. He met local officers and praised their professionalism and bravery as they supported their colleagues during the events of the weekend past.
I want to pay tribute to the local community for the support they have shown and the assistance they have given us. That is the basis for successful policing - real community support. And I believe we have that here. My work and that of my colleagues has just one aim. To make our communities safer for you and your families.
Policing success does not always bring the results communities may look for. But please be assured, we are working hard to disrupt the activities of those who seek to harm our communities, our neighbourhoods. Look no further than your local neighbourhood team of officers. You can find them on www.psni.police.uk. Contact the officers who work in your area, talk to them about your local issues and concerns. Let us know what your policing priorities are and we will make them ours.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Remembering the past, looking forward to the future
All across Northern Ireland this week, people took time to remember those who lost their lives serving their country and community.
Remembrance Services give us the opportunity to formally remember all those who lost their lives serving their community, but their sacrifice should not be forgotten throughout the year.
Each and every day, throughout F District, officers continue to step up to the mark to provide a professional and protective policing service to all who live and work in this area. It is the legacy of all those who lost their lives in the line of duty that we strive to provide a professional, protective and personal policing service to all.
Looking to the future, we face challenges. We must look forward now to providing the best policing service we can. It is a tough time, I live in the real world. As an organisation we must live within our budget, operate within a global recession and yet continue, not only to provide a first class service, but also policing a unique security situation.
In the coming weeks I hope you will see some evidence of positive change. In the very near future you will be able to access information on local neighbourhood officers on our website http://www.psni.police.uk/ including names and telephone numbers. This is part of my commitment to ensuring that you know who your local officer is and how to contact them.
They are the people that work to keep our streets and our neighbourhoods safe from harm and I would rather they'd be out there with you. This is what I am working towards right across F District, bringing policing to the community rather than waiting for the community to come to us.
Our continued determination to deliver a policing service to all the people of Northern Ireland is one I hope our fallen colleagues would be proud of.
We will always remember them.
Remembrance Services give us the opportunity to formally remember all those who lost their lives serving their community, but their sacrifice should not be forgotten throughout the year.
Each and every day, throughout F District, officers continue to step up to the mark to provide a professional and protective policing service to all who live and work in this area. It is the legacy of all those who lost their lives in the line of duty that we strive to provide a professional, protective and personal policing service to all.
Looking to the future, we face challenges. We must look forward now to providing the best policing service we can. It is a tough time, I live in the real world. As an organisation we must live within our budget, operate within a global recession and yet continue, not only to provide a first class service, but also policing a unique security situation.
In the coming weeks I hope you will see some evidence of positive change. In the very near future you will be able to access information on local neighbourhood officers on our website http://www.psni.police.uk/ including names and telephone numbers. This is part of my commitment to ensuring that you know who your local officer is and how to contact them.
They are the people that work to keep our streets and our neighbourhoods safe from harm and I would rather they'd be out there with you. This is what I am working towards right across F District, bringing policing to the community rather than waiting for the community to come to us.
Our continued determination to deliver a policing service to all the people of Northern Ireland is one I hope our fallen colleagues would be proud of.
We will always remember them.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Welcome to my blog
I am District Commander for the 4 District Council areas of Fermanagh, Omagh, Cookstown and Dungannon and South Tyrone, known in the policing world as F District. In my role as Commander I want to expand the ways in which I can communicate with people. I talk to many people about policing issues, challenges and successes in my District, I believe this medium is just another way of having those conversations.
Part of the challenge of policing in F District is also what makes it a unique place to live and work.
It's a large district, a true mix of urban and rural. It's my home, the place where I was born and grew up, and it's the place where I am raising my own family. Therefore I have a vested interest in ensuring that a policing service is delivered right and delivered well. It's about all of us feeling safe and staying safe as we live, work and relax.
How do we do it? I would argue that we are already doing it, but I understand that people do not always feel safe, even if the possibility of being a victim of crime is low, and it is low in Fermanagh and Tyrone. How do we increase that feeling of safeness, of reassurance? I have my thoughts and ideas. I have my plans and I think this forum is one of the ways I can share them. I also see it as a way to engage, to gather opinions, experiences and ideas that can help shape our policing service here. It's about personal policing and increasing our visibility, in a way that actually translates into solving problems in neighbourhoods and communities.
Simply, I want to make sure that the people who live and work and visit this area feel safe, secure and confident. I want to do that by making sure that I have officers and staff in the right place at the right time and tasked to deliver a policing service that is relevant and real. That means police officers in the places where you want to see them, when they are needed, doing their jobs. It also means managing your expectations and building an understanding of how we must prioritise and how, working together with you in our communities and neighbourhoods, we can achieve much more.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott's enthusiasm for community policing gives some pointers towards the future direction of our Police Service. This is a road we are already travelling here in F District, with effective neighbourhood teams in all our areas. It is my hope to further promote these teams so that you can get to know your local officers by face and name, helping to provide that personal policing service.
This forum is a two way communications tool. I welcome your thoughts on Policing here in F District. There is much to discuss, and I look forward to it.
Chief Superintendent Michael Skuce
Commander F District
Part of the challenge of policing in F District is also what makes it a unique place to live and work.
It's a large district, a true mix of urban and rural. It's my home, the place where I was born and grew up, and it's the place where I am raising my own family. Therefore I have a vested interest in ensuring that a policing service is delivered right and delivered well. It's about all of us feeling safe and staying safe as we live, work and relax.
How do we do it? I would argue that we are already doing it, but I understand that people do not always feel safe, even if the possibility of being a victim of crime is low, and it is low in Fermanagh and Tyrone. How do we increase that feeling of safeness, of reassurance? I have my thoughts and ideas. I have my plans and I think this forum is one of the ways I can share them. I also see it as a way to engage, to gather opinions, experiences and ideas that can help shape our policing service here. It's about personal policing and increasing our visibility, in a way that actually translates into solving problems in neighbourhoods and communities.
Simply, I want to make sure that the people who live and work and visit this area feel safe, secure and confident. I want to do that by making sure that I have officers and staff in the right place at the right time and tasked to deliver a policing service that is relevant and real. That means police officers in the places where you want to see them, when they are needed, doing their jobs. It also means managing your expectations and building an understanding of how we must prioritise and how, working together with you in our communities and neighbourhoods, we can achieve much more.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott's enthusiasm for community policing gives some pointers towards the future direction of our Police Service. This is a road we are already travelling here in F District, with effective neighbourhood teams in all our areas. It is my hope to further promote these teams so that you can get to know your local officers by face and name, helping to provide that personal policing service.
This forum is a two way communications tool. I welcome your thoughts on Policing here in F District. There is much to discuss, and I look forward to it.
Chief Superintendent Michael Skuce
Commander F District
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