This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7351225.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Blind spot' on migrant suspects | 'Blind spot' on migrant suspects |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Police chiefs have said a lack of co-operation from Eastern European countries has left them "blind" to suspected criminals living in Britain. | Police chiefs have said a lack of co-operation from Eastern European countries has left them "blind" to suspected criminals living in Britain. |
| The report for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is in response to concerns about problems associated with a sudden influx of east Europeans. | The report for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is in response to concerns about problems associated with a sudden influx of east Europeans. |
| It said community tensions are at a minimum, but police are blocked by a lack of details from agencies abroad. | It said community tensions are at a minimum, but police are blocked by a lack of details from agencies abroad. |
| Top officers are to discuss the report with the home secretary on Thursday. | Top officers are to discuss the report with the home secretary on Thursday. |
| 'Poor intelligence' | 'Poor intelligence' |
| Acpo said officers had been left "blind" due to the lack of information from countries such as Poland. | Acpo said officers had been left "blind" due to the lack of information from countries such as Poland. |
| The report reads: "At a neighbourhood, Basic Command Unit and force level, access to accession state intelligence is poor. | The report reads: "At a neighbourhood, Basic Command Unit and force level, access to accession state intelligence is poor. |
| "The Polish national police service, for example, will allow UK law enforcement access to antecedent history only. | "The Polish national police service, for example, will allow UK law enforcement access to antecedent history only. |
| "A lack of strategic intelligence means that Basic Command Unit commanders are 'blind' to the communities they are policing." | "A lack of strategic intelligence means that Basic Command Unit commanders are 'blind' to the communities they are policing." |
| This should all have been put in place before we opened the borders Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy | This should all have been put in place before we opened the borders Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy |
| Acpo warned the lack of intelligence even left forces open to infiltration from organised crime gangs who may attempt to join the police force. | Acpo warned the lack of intelligence even left forces open to infiltration from organised crime gangs who may attempt to join the police force. |
| The report said: "The risk of not checking antecedent history in the home country makes the UK vulnerable to penetration from organised crime groups from eastern Europe. | The report said: "The risk of not checking antecedent history in the home country makes the UK vulnerable to penetration from organised crime groups from eastern Europe. |
| "At best, only access to basic criminal convictions can be obtained, with no access to local intelligence databases or national security information." | "At best, only access to basic criminal convictions can be obtained, with no access to local intelligence databases or national security information." |
| Cheshire Chief Constable Peter Fahy, a co-author of the paper, said a system of shared intelligence should have been there from the outset. | |
| 'New demands' | 'New demands' |
| He said: "This should all have been put in place before we opened the borders, but that is with the benefit of hindsight. | He said: "This should all have been put in place before we opened the borders, but that is with the benefit of hindsight. |
| "It's very important for cops who try to do their job day in, day out." | "It's very important for cops who try to do their job day in, day out." |
| The paper also criticised the government for not communicating with officers its plans for immigration. | The paper also criticised the government for not communicating with officers its plans for immigration. |
| "Research needs to be undertaken to determine the effect migration will have on UK policing during the next five, 10 and 15 years to ensure that the appropriate policing strategies and funding streams are identified to meet future demands," it said. | "Research needs to be undertaken to determine the effect migration will have on UK policing during the next five, 10 and 15 years to ensure that the appropriate policing strategies and funding streams are identified to meet future demands," it said. |
| But it has also been acknowledged by officers that the influx of Eastern European migrants has not generated a rise in crime. | But it has also been acknowledged by officers that the influx of Eastern European migrants has not generated a rise in crime. |
| Acpo's presentation to the home secretary will say the influx has not led to a "large scale crime wave" but has created "new demands" on the police force. | Acpo's presentation to the home secretary will say the influx has not led to a "large scale crime wave" but has created "new demands" on the police force. |