Latest news with #policework
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
Peel police considering drones as first responders to some 911 calls
Police in Peel Region may soon deploy drones to certain 911 calls, something the deputy chief says could reduce response times. While drones have increasingly been used by services around the country for a variety of police work, Deputy Chief Anthony Odoardi said in a statement Thursday that the new initiative would make Peel Regional Police "one of, if not the first police service in Canada to deploy drones in this capacity." The intention is to reduce response times and give officers real-time information from the scene before they arrive, Odoardi said in the statement. Exactly what types of calls drones will be assigned to is still being determined, he said, but they could possibly be used for "in-progress incidents" like break-and-enters, missing vulnerable persons and auto thefts. "At this time, we are in the planning and regulatory review phase and will begin with a limited pilot to assess operational value, cost, and community impact," Odoardi said. "Privacy protections, including a Privacy Impact Assessment and community consultations, will guide implementation." Drones will not be used for general surveillance and will not incorporate facial recognition technology, Odoardi said. Transparency should be priority, says tech analyst Carmi Levy, an Ontario-based technology analyst and journalist, says communication with the public on how drones are being used is key. "If I'm walking down the street and I see a [police] drone zipping over my head, as a citizen, I want to understand why it's up there, what it's being used for," Levy told CBC Radio's Metro Morning last week. The public should know what information drones are able to gather, how it's used and where it ends up, he said. WATCH | As more police services use drones, privacy concerns arise: Police across Canada are using drones. Here's why that's raising privacy concerns 2 years ago "It all comes down to context," Levy said. "Potentially, this can be a game-changer when it comes to addressing crime and allowing the resources that we devote to law enforcement to cover more ground and keep us safer," he said. "I think we can realistically assume that's something we all want, but the devil is always in the details." In Hamilton, where police began using drones in 2021, people in the city have voiced concerns in recent years over privacy and a lack of transparency from police over how drones were being used. More recently, in Kingston, the use of drones this spring to catch and ticket distracted drivers drew immediate backlash from the public and legal experts, who said it was an invasion of privacy that may have violated drivers' Charter rights. The use of drones is increasingly a part of police work across the country, often aiding in investigations, ground searches and collision reconstruction. Last year, the Chatham-Kent Police Service said it was able to find a man wanted on several warrants with the help of a police drone after the man had fled into a wooded, swampy area about 100 kilometres southwest of London, Ont. Deputy Chief Odoardi said in his statement that Peel Regional Police's planned use of drones on 911 calls is intended "to better support our communities and equip officers with the tools needed to enhance emergency response efforts."
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Officer awarded for helping neurodiverse suspects
A police officer has been awarded with a Chief Superintendent Commendation for her work to support neurodiverse people who find themselves in custody. Det Ch Insp Becky Davies received recognition alongside her colleagues from Devon and Cornwall Police at a ceremony in Torquay. The force said Det Ch Insp Davies introduced the use of distraction items for detainees and supported staff by offering learning events. She said she was inspired to help after she noticed a lot of vulnerable people going into custody - and because of her own ADHD and autism diagnoses. "I just noticed one of our mental health practitioners was using a using a stretch ball to help one of the detainees with their breathing, they were having a panic attack and it was really effective," she said. She added that made her question what could be brought into custody safely to help vulnerable people. "The challenges and difficulties and symptoms vary from person to person," Det Ch Insp Davies said. "Give them something to do and that then de-escalates the situation... which enables the detainee to actually engage with all the support services that are in custody. "I'm actually autistic and ADHD, late diagnosed. I think that's probably one of the things that kind of drove me to help people." Her guidance has been published within the College of Policing as an example of best practice. She said she was "really proud and happy that it's helping people not just in Devon and Cornwall but, you know, across the UK". Ch Supt Roy Linden said: "It was an absolute privilege to be able to formally recognise some of our staff who have excelled in delivering policing over the last 12 months." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ More on this story Police launch pilot to support neurodiverse people Police trial new community hubs in north Devon Police and public awarded for bravery More on this story Devon and Cornwall Police
BBC News
20-07-2025
- BBC News
Police officer awarded for work with neurodiverse suspects
A police officer has been awarded with a Chief Superintendent Commendation for her work to support neurodiverse people who find themselves in Ch Insp Becky Davies received recognition alongside her colleagues from Devon and Cornwall Police at a ceremony in Torquay. The force said Det Ch Insp Davies introduced the use of distraction items for detainees and supported staff by offering learning said she was inspired to help after she noticed a lot of vulnerable people going into custody - and because of her own ADHD and autism diagnoses. "I just noticed one of our mental health practitioners was using a using a stretch ball to help one of the detainees with their breathing, they were having a panic attack and it was really effective," she added that made her question what could be brought into custody safely to help vulnerable people. "The challenges and difficulties and symptoms vary from person to person," Det Ch Insp Davies said. "Give them something to do and that then de-escalates the situation... which enables the detainee to actually engage with all the support services that are in custody."I'm actually autistic and ADHD, late diagnosed. I think that's probably one of the things that kind of drove me to help people."Her guidance has been published within the College of Policing as an example of best said she was "really proud and happy that it's helping people not just in Devon and Cornwall but, you know, across the UK". Ch Supt Roy Linden said: "It was an absolute privilege to be able to formally recognise some of our staff who have excelled in delivering policing over the last 12 months."
CTV News
15-07-2025
- CTV News
Country Thunder Saskatchewan 2025 sees police respond to over 150 calls for service
An RCMP vehicle is parked beside a Saskatchewan Marshals vehicle near the festival grounds for Country Thunder Saskatchewan. (Courtesy: Saskatchewan RCMP) Police officers in and around this year's Country Thunder Saskatchewan festival in Craven were hard at work it seems – as the RCMP reports its members responded to a total of 156 calls for service. 'The sheer volume of people at events like this means that we expect more calls for service, and venue campgrounds mean we have a greatly increased population in the area. Saskatchewan RCMP plans extensively for this to help ensure everyone remains safe,' RCMP S/Sgt. Kent Ashworth said in a statement to CTV News. Over the course of the four-day event from July 10th – 13th, officers laid four criminal impaired driving charges, two assault charges and one mischief charge related to property damage inside the festival grounds. Police also issued 40 roadside driving suspensions. The RCMP weren't the only police force at the festival, as the newly formed Saskatchewan Marshals Service provided traffic control during the event. 'I would like to thank everyone who worked together to keep attendees of this event and local residents safe,' Ashworth added. This year's total marks a slight increase from previous years. In 2024, RCMP responded to 147 calls for service during the four-day festival. A total of 33 people were taken into custody, and six criminal code charges were laid that year. In 2023, police responded to 105 calls for service, taking 26 people into custody. This marked a decrease from the year previous, when 126 calls were recorded.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sergeant finds job 'well-suited' to being autistic
An autistic police sergeant has said the condition helps him in his Flo Linscott, 50, from Hayle, has worked for Devon and Cornwall Police for 26 years but was diagnosed as autistic just two years is a police sergeant for the Cornwall Diverse Communities Team which he said was "a good job choice" for someone with the condition."I realise now that the work routine, the uniform, the internal code of conduct, following orders and approved practice - even the shift work - is well-suited for my condition," he said. "I was diagnosed later in life although I always suspected the differences from growing up, my career and everything else."But what I found was really wonderful and helped me in my own job is that within the Devon and Cornwall Police we have a neurodiversity support network and that was one of the helping hands that gave me the confidence to then get myself assessed... and ultimately got my diagnosis," he added. 'Super anxious' The National Autistic Society describes autism as a condition which influences how people experience and interact with the world and says more than one in 100 people in the UK are Linscott said he was not surprised when he was diagnosed."Autistic people will recognise that there are elements where you will mask or you will present yourself in a certain way to perhaps hide some of the inner things that you're going through yourself," he said."So you could be super anxious about a certain thing that's about to happen, albeit once I've rehearsed how I'm going to conduct myself, it then becomes a bit more predictable."Then it becomes safe and then you can relax completely."But it doesn't always work out that way, which is why I then rely on my colleagues in the same network." Sgt Linscott now peer supports newly-diagnosed police officers and those who think they may be neurodivergent."We share experiences and we share advice because even though there's a lot of commonality between autistic people, we're all so different," he explained."So if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person."But because I have an understanding of my own neurodivergence, I can relate to theirs. "I have helped a few officers back to work or helped them stay at work. "As this is a two-way exchange, the whole process helps me too - I now know I am not the only one who perceives the world this way." Force equality, diversity and human rights officer Teresa Berridge works alongside Sgt Linscott and said: "Being an autistic person... this enables him to put himself in the shoes of others with, perhaps, a greater desire to truly understand what that person's own experience is and how different situations may impact them."Sgt Linscott is a really well-known police officer in his local area and this is testament to his ability to engage and understand people, to listen and hear their concerns and actively seek out solutions to help them."
