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Computer data

Simon Crowther, founder and MD of Flood Protection Solutions, discusses what measures need to be taken to ensure technology is taken care of if companies are ever to recover from water damage from floods or burst pipes...

In a world where information technology is used in nearly every workplace and home, the protection of data has become a global priority. IT operations and data centres are a crucial aspect of business and organisational operations around the world. One of the main concerns is business continuity; companies rely on their information systems to run their operations. If a system becomes unavailable, company operations may be impaired, or worse, stopped completely.

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Gethin Jones on From Cells To Speeches

FROM CELLS TO SPEECHES how former inmate Gethin Jones has been Unlocking Potential within prisons

He works extensively with prison managers, officers and other staff to ensure a rehabilitation culture is built and maintained, as well as offering free advice to inmates or residents. So how did Gethin Jones transform his life, from being a repeat offender to an inspiration for custodial staff and prisoners alike?

Gethin Jones is an inspirational speaker, advising prison governors and staff on how to really make an impact on prisoners’ lives. And he should know, as he turned his life around after spending time inside for a string of crimes or, as he puts it, having “a 20-year relationship with the criminal justice system”.

Since making the decision to turn his life around at the age of 34, Gethin has worked for Portsmouth City Council’s public health department and credits a number of prison staff members who believed in him – as they fuelled his need to push himself out of a cell.

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Ryno -Transforming visit halls with style and safety

Manufacturers of the Ryno furniture range are putting people first by combining extreme safety with vibrant colours and smooth styling.

Thousands of Ryno products are currently in use in custodial facilities and mental health units across the country, helping to create recovery-led environments with an unparalleled level of safety.
Ryno, an innovative furniture range manufactured by Pineapple Contracts,is characterised by a bright colour palette and the organic, flowing shapes. These attributes work together to add a more “human” feel to typicallyharsh custodial environments. They also aim to soften the potentially intimidating atmosphere experienced by children (and other family members) during visiting times, encouraging better visitations and theassociated psychological benefits.

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A rat wouldn't be in a clean and safe environment 

By Paul Casson, Technical Field Manager, Rentokil Specialist Hygiene and David Cross, Head of Technical Training Academy, Rentokil Pest Control

While prisons exist to help rehabilitate people who have committed a crime or hold those awaiting trial, prisoners still have basic rights to a clean and hygienic habitation. Regular cleaning of prison areas is an important task, especially when you consider how many people live and work within prison environments. The UK’s current prison population is approximately 83,000, with around 35,000 employees keeping these facilities running as smoothly as possible. 

While frequent cleaning forms part of the day-to-day management of these buildings, specialist deep cleaning is also required to prevent the spread of disease and ensure the area is fully disinfected for both inmates and staff.

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Female officer thinking about menopause in policing

Stigma around menopause still exists and a majority of police officers and staff struggle at work when enduring the symptoms, a first of a kind survey has revealed.

The Police Federation of England and Wales’ (PFEW) Menopause Survey, initiated to help improve working conditions for PFEW’s federated members, soon caught the attention of others in policing when UNISON, the Police Superintendents’ Association, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), and the College of Policing got on board to help promote it to their members and staff.

The findings give insight into just how much the condition affects the working lives of police officers and staff.

A vast majority (76%) who had either gone through or were going through the menopause admitted they had found symptoms either moderately or extremely problematic at work, with more than eight out of ten agreeing tiredness and sleep disturbances were having a detrimental effect

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Full Neck Guards

PPSS Group Launch Cut Resistant Neck Guards To Help Protect Homeland Security Professionals

PPSS Group have launched SlashPRO® Cut Resistant Neck Guards in order to help further improve the personal safety of homeland security professionals worldwide.

This latest addition to this widely respected brand of slash resistant clothing certainly makes sense, understanding that the side of the neck and throat contains both the Carotid Artery and Jugular Vein. If either is cut by an attacker one will most likely suffer from rapid blood loss, subsequent shock and most likely death.

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Mental Health In Prisons by Sophie Walker

Article by: Sophie Walker, crime and prison law barrister at One Pump Court

My work in the criminal justice system stretches from cradle to grave: I work with pregnant women and new mothers facing custodial sentences, young defendants in youth offender institutions and older prisoners who have spent decades inside. I also represent bereaved families at inquests whose loved ones have died in prison or while on probation, as a result of mental health issues. If there is one thing that unites these people, it is that they entered the criminal justice system in poor mental health, and left it worse.  

I was recently instructed in an inquest on behalf of a family whose loved one died on the day of his release. A report from his treating psychiatrist in prison outlined his reasons for prescribing him a strong anti-psychotic drug during his prison sentence. They explained that it is common for prisoners to start experiencing psychosis despite not having any underlying mental health disorders like schizophrenia. In other words, the experience of incarceration can seriously impact a prisoner’s mental health. 

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Ensuring a clean and safe environment

While prisons exist to help rehabilitate people who have committed a crime or hold those awaiting trial, prisoners still have basic rights to a clean and hygienic habitation. Regular cleaning of prison areas is an important task, especially when you consider how many people live and work within prison environments. The UK’s current prison population is approximately 83,000, with around 35,000 employees keeping these facilities running as smoothly as possible. 

While frequent cleaning forms part of the day-to-day management of these buildings, specialist deep cleaning is also required to prevent the spread of disease and ensure the area is fully disinfected for both inmates and staff.

Deep cleaning 

The build-up of general grime and obvious dirt may be removed as part of a regular cleaning regime, but beneath the surface, unseen deposits and microscopic bacteria and pathogens can accumulate.

This is where employing industrial cleaning experts can complement daily cleaning routines, as they will have access to resources such as clinical grade disinfectants, high level cleaning equipment and specialist fogging as part of their armoury.  ULV Fogging, for example, works by generating a mist of disinfectant, which settles on top of, underneath and on the sides of objects, furniture and hard-to-reach areas - ideal for ensuring every surface is covered. 

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'Short prison sentence removal would be absurd'

John Apter responds to Justice Commitee report

Scrapping 12-month or less prison sentences would be absurd without investment in policing and probation services and could render the new assaults on emergency workers bill useless, says National Chair John Apter.

The Justice Committee has today released its full report addressing concerns over the growing prison population and reoffending.

It concurred with the Government’s view that ineffective prison sentences of less and six months should be removed whilst further suggesting this should be extended to include 12-month sentences.

National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales John Apter, said: “First and foremost, this is all driven by cost saving, it is not driven by the needs of the victim who must be at the heart of any decisions - to ignore them is to ignore justice. We talk about prison overcrowding and the pressure this adds to the prison system. The simple solution is to build more prisons. Sadly, it is clear that with the current Government that is not going to happen.

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Knife crime

National Chair John Apter today attended Downing Street’s knife crime summit headed by the Prime Minister, but questions remain over the Government’s next move.

This afternoon over 100 experts, including Met Commissioner Cressida Dick, gathered to discuss how an improved multi-agency response could become part the solution to the knife crime epidemic which Home Secretary Sajid Javid described as a “disease rotting our society”.

PFEW Chair John Apter, said: “Today I spoke with Policing Minister Nick Hurd on behalf of all our members and reminded him of how much policing has been affected by his party’s austerity measure with almost 22,000 fewer officers than on the streets since 2010 leaving them struggling to meet the demands placed on them.