Between 29th September 2024 and 4th October 2024 four serving Portuguese Police Officers, members of the I.P.A. Southern Delegation Portugal, came to Lincolnshire and were hosted by four serving Lincolnshire Police Officers, all members of the Lincolnshire Branch I.P.A.
A very varied and full-on week of activities ensued in Lincolnshire. The main theme for the visit was Summertime Policing:
Lincolnshire has a vast increase in its population over the summer months with tourists from all over the United Kingdom and indeed the world visiting the area. It also has the largest concentration of mobile homes/static caravans/touring caravans in the whole of Europe.
The Southern Delegation of the Portuguese I.P.A. Police the Albufeira/Algarve area of Portugal and have similar Policing challenges with a great influx of tourists to the area, during the summer.
The object was to exchange Policing practices from both areas, particularly picking up on best practice issues and innovative ways to deal with the problems faced by both countries when dealing with tourists.
The Portuguese officers arrived on a very early flight from Faro, and did not get to their hosts until about 4am on the Monday morning. So once up the visitors had a whistle stop tour of Lincoln and some of its famous tourist/landmarks, including the Castle and Cathedral. The guests and their hosts and other members involved in the visit had an evening meal at one of the local hostelries.
Tuesday morning saw the officers visit Lincoln Police Station, where they went on patrol (separately) with officers from Lincoln. This saw them being present when an arrest was made and also at the execution of a warrant. The Portuguese officers were amazed that such work was carried out by officers who were not armed. After their patrol, there was a visit to the International Bomber Command Centre, where they had a quick guided tour of the location and also saw the I.P.A. stone in the Ribbon of Remembrance there. The afternoon saw a visit to Police H.Q. Nettleham, where they met with the Chief Constable, Mr Paul Gibson, for approx. an hour, where local “tourist” issues and challenges were discussed. A tour of the Force Control Room and a quick tour of the Armed Response Vehicle, and a chat with the officers followed.
Wednesday morning the group visited the “Home of the International Police Association” Skegness, where the founder Arthur Troop served. They went out on patrol with local officers who showed them the area, the large number of caravans there, and they were also involved with local immediate response calls. In the afternoon they attended the Arthur Troop training wing at Skegness Police station where there were presentations, from Tim Booth (an I.P.A. member) who gave a very informative presentation about the Caravan Safety and Security Group, he is a consultant with. This was followed by a presentation from Supt. Lee St. Quinten on a Problem-Solving Policing Project in the Skegness area and the east coast towns close by. The Portuguese then also gave a presentation re the Policing in Portugal. At the end of that day there was a visit to a local Brewery (Batemans) at Wainfleet, where they had a guided tour of the Brewery, which was celebrating it’s 150th anniversary, followed by a meal there.
Thursday started with a visit to Boston Police Station where they received a presentation from Insp. Cotton on a local project there involving a Problem-Solving initiative re the diversity of the area, which included a number of other partners in the area working together. Thursday afternoon saw a visit to the Lincolnshire Police Dog School where they were able to witness officers training the variety of Police dogs, there are in Lincolnshire and also a visit to the Accident Reduction/Prevention dept. Thursday evening being their last evening was a Presentation dinner which included senior officers from Lincolnshire Police who had been very helpful and supportive of the visit. Various presentations to all concerned took place.
Friday morning saw an additional, unplanned visit to Lincoln Guildhall where there was a guided tour and the group met with the Sheriff of Lincoln, the Lincoln City Mayor and they were able to view the historic meeting rooms there and the regalia owned by the City. From there the group went to Fox Road Nottingham the H.Q. of the UK Section of the I.P.A. and also the International Section they were shown around the building and the archives and also met with a couple of members of the Motor-Cycle Special Interest Group, and again they were presented with mementos and gifts. From there it was onto East Midlands Airport for their trip home.
A very good and hectic week for all involved. Members making new friends for life, and experiences exchanged about their own particular Policing journey, which was very beneficial to all, both professionally and personally, with all being able to enhance their skills and abilities as a result.
The visit and experiences gained allowed all officers involved to increase their professional knowledge in all Policing matters giving them experience on how other international forces deal with similar issues, not only benefiting the particular officers in their personal development but also being beneficial to the Lincolnshire Police by officers increasing their own professional knowledge and experience.
The Lincolnshire Branch of I.P.A. would like to thank the Lincolnshire Police, for the support, help and involvement in this programme, especially the Chief Constable, Paul Gibson, Chief Superintendent Kate Anderson and Chief Inspector Colin Clarkson, without their support this initiative would not have been the success it was.
Chris Morgan, 5 Region, Lincolnshire Branch
