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Join the 'FDA' group to help and get support from people like you.
FDA Questions
Questions & Answers (169)Group Members (71) RSS
We found 169 questions associated with the 'FDA' topic.
Pradaxa good or bad?
POST THIS The number of complaints regarding Pradaxa eclipsed all other drugs monitored by the FDA 542 deaths were associated with Pradaxa in 2011 alone. Also in 2011, there were 3,781 reports of ...
Posted 9 Dec 2012 • 1 answer
Is the injectable zoldrenic acid on the US market now?
The wording of the blog about Dr. Reddy's release of the injectable Zometa was vague. I don't know if it means it will be available March 4, but its use is still pending FDA approval, or if ...
Posted 7 Mar 2013 • 1 answer
For anyone taking Celexa?
For whoever doesn't subscribe to FDA alerts and takes Celexa please read this. I hope it helps. Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) - Drug Safety Communication: Revised Recommendations, Potential ...
Posted 29 Mar 2012 • 15 answers
Viibryd - I missed this over the holidays. Just wanted to be sure no one missed it who might be?
... interested. FDA Medwatch Alert: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Antidepressants: Drug Safety Communication - Use During Pregnancy and Potential Risk of i Persistent Pulmonary ...
Posted 1 Feb 2013 • 3 answers
Whats the new series and generation of mAb medicines that have been recived FDA approved?
Posted 1 Mar 2013 • 1 answer
Did you see the latest about the FDA and drug classification?
I saw this on mednews. I hope that it's posted. Mary posts things- but mine keep getting shot down-I don't get it. Save the Michaels of the world is people that had kids OD-when I was a ...
Posted 26 Oct 2012 • 6 answers
Is neurontin fda approved?
Posted 20 Jan 2013 • 4 answers
OxyContin - can FDA control or disapprove what your doctor prescribes you?
Posted 19 Jan 2013 • 2 answers
Has salsalate been approved yet by the FDA? Is there a generic version? What is the correct dosage?
Have any other clinical trials been attempted since the Joslin trial in 2010?
Posted 22 Dec 2012 • 1 answer
Methylprednisolone injections is everyone aware?
Just wanted to get out the word for anyone who has not heard about the spinal injections of methylprednisolone for pain and the current contamination issue. Hopefully all have received the FDA ...
Posted 11 Oct 2012 • 8 answers
Novartis Endo Pharmaceuticals at 888 463-6332 is not releasing Voltaren Gel. WHY?
Novartis states that Voltaren Gel is not scheduled for release this quarter but not sure when. I called the FDA and they respond with the same answer. Meanwhile, I have a prescription for this ...
Posted 15 Mar 2012 • 7 answers
This is very important for all interested in the ongoing battle for our?
Pain meds. Please read this if you are a pain patient... Mary632009 FDA: Don't Tighten Vicodin Regulation By David Pittman, Washington Correspondent; Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage ...
Posted 26 Oct 2012 • 6 answers
Paxil or Paxil CR for OCD?
I was prescribed Paxil CR while in the Psych Ward 4 weeks ago. It has yet to help my anxiety and OCD. I know that regular Paxil is FDA approved for the treatment of OCD, however I noticed that Paxil ...
Posted 30 Apr 2011 • 1 answer
Zilactin Toothache - what are FDA administrated drugs for dental pain?
Posted 4 Nov 2012 • 1 answer
Good morning DC friends & others. I just read this new report from?
FDA site, & wanted to share it with others. Something I found out on my own, but now they are letting us all know these injections do not help in the long term... Mary Steroid Shots for ...
Posted 13 Nov 2012 • 4 answers


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Ratings based on 843 Verified Reviews
They paid and stayed. We double-checked.
4.5 Room cleanliness
4.4 Service & staff
4.3 Room comfort
4.3 Hotel condition
They paid and stayed.
We double-checked.
We double-checked.
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom Kent, Ohio
Loved the hotel, beach & staffPosted Mar 28, 2015
Pros: Good pricing for an excellent beach hotel vacation.
Location: Near town and all the Hotel Zone restaurants and activities. Bus is available and cheap if you do not rent a car.
Loved it 2 years ago, returned and still find it exceptional. We added the breakfast to our stay and it is still outstanding. Service and staff, in the hotel and on the beach is excellent.
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom MONTERREY,MEXICO
TRIED THE REST,THIS IS THE BESTPosted Mar 26, 2015
Pros: LOCATION AND THE BEST BEACH
Cons: DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING
Location: EVERYTHING THAT WE WANTED WAS IN WALKING DISTANCE....
for Everyoneby A verified traveler
Posted Mar 26, 2015
Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Resort was beautiful.
for Everyoneby A verified traveler
Perfect beach,well maintained resort,nice servicePosted Mar 25, 2015
Pros: Beach Conceirge Margaritas Cleanliness
Cons: Lunch/Dinner options Better partnership with car rental, tour operators to provide best deals
Location: At 7.5 KM milestone on Hotel Zone. R1, R2 bus routes operate here, easy to take to downtown or other happening places/restaurants on hotel zone
Concluded a 4 day stay at this resort in late March. We booked 2 rooms together couple months in advance. It is kind of busy during this time with some spring breaks still carrying on. We reached the resort around noon (check in time is 3 PM), and were told that the 2 rooms are in different tower. After multiple conversations, they were able to find 2 rooms on same floor but were available at 3 PM only. We accepted those and planned to roam in the resort, sit near the beach and have some food. The luggage remained with the bell desk. As we walked towards the beach, the view was breathtaking, white sand, turquoise blue color, multiple shades of blue, perfect beach setting. Likely all other hotels have similar views, but I noticed extra effort to keep the beach clean. The restaurant wasn't open for lunch but the bar n food place was and we ordered drinks and food. Julio, our server was nice. The margaritas were wonderful. When we walked back inside the hotel, we were told that only 1 room is available and other will be ready in 5 minutes. After 30 minutes of waiting, when they told that the other room isn't available until 6, so we had to go with the second room on a different floor. The situation can happen but the communication wasn't done well. Traveling overnight, tired and not being able to get fresh added to our frustration. In the end, complimentary breakfast offer for our stay probably made the deal even. The rooms were clean, concierge was super helpful
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom Minneapolis, MN
Very pleasant stayPosted Mar 23, 2015
We stayed at Presidente InterContinental in mid-March 2015. The location is beautiful, the resort is very well maintained, the entire setting is very relaxing. We would like to extend our appreciation to all staff who made every effort to make our stay pleasant and memorable. The front desk was very responsive and attentive, the room service was outstanding, the preparation and the quality of food was excellent, and our housekeeper and the night shift made us feel at home. Overall, we are very happy with our stay and would recommend this resort highly.
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom Minneapolis
One of the best hotels in the Hotel ZonePosted Mar 23, 2015
This is our third stay at the hotel. Great room overlooking the lagoon. The bed was super comfortable and housecleaning did a great job every day. The facilities at this place are top notch. The customer service is very friendly. Across the street is a local grocery store (pay local prices for snacks, drinks and water, not 5X more at the market in town!). The pool(s) are beautiful and clean. There is a workout room. There is a tiki bar on the beach. The beach is one of the nicest white sand beaches around. Every morning they clean up any seaweed that washes up. There are little tiki huts to lie under and they will serve you food and drinks right there. The water is blue green and clear. Find Paul and he will take you on his sailboat for a good price. Catch a bus right in front of the hotel for 10.5 pesos (R2) to downtown Cancun and eat at La Parilla (on Fridays). Presidente is a great hotel for the money. It is not inclusive but we do not care. We will be back again next year.
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom Windsor, Ontario
Beautiful view..excellent service!! Great mealPosted Mar 22, 2015
Beautiful hotel...pools lovely and great meal at open restaurant beside the ocean!!
for Everyoneby A verified traveler
Posted Mar 21, 2015
Great beach. Great breakfast. On first floor a bit noisy from late night revellers. Doors not onsulated. Overall wonderful stay.
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom FL
Nice clean hotel close to the beachPosted Mar 18, 2015
The hotel is really clean and modern. Some of the facilities are a little bit old thought. The front desk service and house keeping are excellent!
for Everyoneby A verified travelerfrom Miami
Excellent beach!Posted Mar 16, 2015
Reviews were right! The best beach in cancun!!!!!!!!! I will go again!!


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yes, and help with kids who need a good home through adoption
That's a theory, but not really. They can still do invitro or the old fashioned way if they're desperate.
One would think, unless there are some fist-butt babies out there that no one is talking about publicly.
yes, but some also donate *****, and that is a good thing for those who can't have babies on their own.
Maybe more like mutate it with test tubes and surrogacy.
No. There have always been gays and asexuals in the world, and the population continues to increase.
At least they don't contribute to it.
I think most of them tend to adopt so yes I guess.
You just getting around to realizing that? Hippocrates noted that, dude....
Actually there is an interesting theory about this...
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We can see your pet at our Fair Oaks office by appointment.
Office Address:
9712 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite B Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Prior to our first visit with your pet, we ask that you fill out our New Patient Form – use the online form below, or click here to download a fill-able form; and fax to (916) 930-6034 or email to firstname.lastname@example.com
If your pet has any pertinent medical records from another veterinarian, please request that these be faxed as well.
Please do not use the Appointment form if you have an emergency.
For urgent appointments, call our office at (916) 342-1245.
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By submitting the New Patient Form I am stating that I understand that Meridian Veterinary Care offers both traditional veterinary care AND alternative care modalities including herbal medications and homeopathic remedies. I understand that the safety and/or effectiveness of some alternative modalities are not well-established and or deemed "experimental" according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. I also understand that, although rare, the potential for adverse reactions to herbal medications exists.


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Austin Bouchard had no clue about a major or a career path when he auditioned … [Read More...]
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Upcoming Lectures
- Events on April 2, 2015
Islamic Cultural Celebration Banquet Keynote Speaker: Noor Tagouri — 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Seacobeck Hall, Faculty/Staff Dining Room
- Events on April 7, 2015
The Chappell Great Lives Lecture Series, Ted Williams — 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium
- Events on April 7, 2015
Solving Crimes with Linguistics — 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Monroe Hall, Room 116


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Home > Policing in Sussex >
The organisation >
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James Armstrong
Police seek Liam Newman in connection with West Sussex armed robberies: Police are seeking this ... http://t.co/vr3HvwvBbR #sussexpolice 27/03/2015 08:33:58
Cash point robbery, London Road, Brighton: Police investigating a robbery at a cash point in Lon... http://t.co/ss3vYX8NJ6 #sussexpolice 27/03/2015 08:33:58
Police hold anti-scam sessions in Uckfield: Scams are on the increase and criminals use a variet... http://t.co/3OgpC8zK2O #sussexpolice 27/03/2015 08:33:58
: http://t.co/oQjuaFqBTE #sussexpolice 26/03/2015 22:11:36
Seven in court at Brighton over heroin conspiracy charge: Seven people charged with conspiracy t... http://t.co/dK8VbNM7qE #sussexpolice 26/03/2015 16:37:35
RT @chris_buggins: First visit of the evening required some obstacle navigation @Manhunt_team @sussex_police @SussexSpecials pic.twitter.com/1k1YPwQDyO 26/03/2015 16:14:00
RT @chris_buggins: Heading out into #Brighton with PCs and Specials from @sussex_police @SussexSpecials @Manhunt_team pic.twitter.com/gN8hgp2hBH 26/03/2015 16:13:49
United Response receives donation from the Police Property Act Fund: Bognor police have donated ... http://t.co/LDqzpzaUKD #sussexpolice 26/03/2015 15:22:04
Bogus researcher burgles Brighton flat: A man posing as a researcher is thought to have stolen p... http://t.co/rNYWW8bjBr #sussexpolice 26/03/2015 15:22:04
The Butterfly Project receives donation from the Police Property Act Fund: Horsham police have d... http://t.co/UP3Da3lgzr #sussexpolice 26/03/2015 15:22:03
Talk to me on Twitter:
Student Special Constable James - East Sussex
Hello, I'm James, I've joined Sussex Police People to give you
an insight into my experiences of becoming a Special Constable.
I'll share my ups and downs and my frustrations and excitements
from pre-join course right through to Independent Patrol. I hope to
give you an honest view of what it is like to go through the
process, please do not hesitate to contact me with questions about
anything in my blog.
Here's a bit about me:
I've worked for Sussex Police since 2008 when I became a PCSO in
Lewes, my first beat being Ringmer, I later moved to Rye then to
Bexhill. Before that I was a Volunteer Police Cadet then a Cadet
Leader. In 2012 I became one of the first PCSO Public Engagement
Officers, some may remember my blog when in this role, then in 2013
realising how much I enjoyed the engagement and communciations role
I applied for and was subsequently promoted as the Divisional
Communications Manager for East Sussex and now I am becoming a
Special Constable too.
Friday 27 February 20:19
It's 5:30am on Friday morning, my alarm is blaring and I've had next to no sleep – the reason? I'm spending the morning with EastbourneCustody Centre and need to be there for the 6:45am handover briefing.
But why no sleep? Well, all night I kept waking, worriedthat I was running late or dreaming that I had done something terribly wrong!! I
think this worry comes from some anxiety around custody; it is a place I didn't
know an awful lot about, where your arrest is scrutinised and questioned, where
your every move is carefully watched and where you need to know exactly what
you are doing or face the wrath of the custody Sergeant!
It is a physically intimidating place too; as you walk in
you are confronted with "The Bridge", a desk which towers over you and places
the custody Sergeant in a position of power, this of course has a practical use
in terms of safety but also feels like it serves a second psychological purpose
too… but it shouldn't be intimidating for us officers which is why today was
really useful for me.
I was lucky enough to be shadowing Sergeant Gill, someone I
worked with around a year ago at Grove Road Police Station and whose cakes are
the stuff of legend. I've heard stories of cranky custody Sergeants, and
stories of friendly, supportive ones – imagine the twins played by Bill Bailey
in Hot Fuzz – but Sergeant Gill is certainly the latter (and bares no resemblance
to Bill Bailey).
Those who watch the TV programme '24 Hours in Police Custody'
will be somewhat familiar with how the custody process and an investigation
works, and I've got to say from my past experience and from today's shift it does
provide a much more realistic look at policing than many other shows.
During the morning I joined custody staff on cell checks,
witnessed two detainees being booked in and searched, one cooperative and the
other less so, saw suspects collected for court, and followed through the
investigation of a crime from handover to charge.
The crime was the attempted theft of a bicycle in the early
hours of that morning. I joined a PC from the Response Investigation Team, who
had been passed the job from plain clothed officers who had witnessed the
attempted theft. I found it useful to watch the officer in charge of this
investigation build the case file, interview the suspect, and charge and bail
him for court. Understanding how this entire process works will I am sure help
develop me as an SC.
Overall, gaining an insight of the inner workings of custody
and understanding more about what exactly the Sergeant needs from an arresting
officer has certainly removed a large element of anxiety for me and will
hopefully enable me to present my first detainee to custody with a bit more
Finally, I'd like to thank all of the custody staff for accommodating
me, putting up with my questions and giving me greater knowledge of their work;
now hopefully when I walk in with my first arrest the whole process will run
As always, thank you for reading and please do let me know what
you think over on Twitter :-)
Wednesday 4 February 11:30
For the next few weeks a number of us special constables without independent patrol status are unable to undertake normal shifts as the professional development unit are busy training regular officers. So to keep busy a few of us have begun organising inputs from other departments.
But yesterday, instead of a visit to another department Eastbourne SC Andre Owen organised a visit to Her Majesty's Prison Lewes.
Five of us were given a tour of the prison, which took about an hour and a half. We walked the steps of a new prisoner, learnt about security procedures, drug testing, visiting etc, and heard about the way in which after an incident they align their evidence gathering to the police system to ensure continuity.
The Victorian building (built in 1853) is, as one of my colleagues put it, like a tardis. From the outside you really can't fathom the size of the operation inside; with an operational capacity of 742 and inmates (all men) ranging from thieves and burglars to murders no two days are the same. The prison officer guiding us around gave us some insights into some of the incidents which have occurred over the years.
It was interesting, and for some eye opening, to hear some of the stories and learn about the strict processes all go through to keep the inmates, staff, and visitors safe. What I found particularly interesting was the amount of opportunity the prisoners have to develop themselves and become rehabilitated ready for the world outside; there was support for those with mental health issues, counselling, workshops to learn trades, and even opportunities to be employed as cleaners etc within the prison. All things I feel are necessary for those who what to turn their lives around. The support seemed excellent.
Equally I was glad to see that the way some people portray prisons, as these comfy, fairly free and easy establishments, didn't seem to hold much truth. Yes, there are a few comforts, but they're basic human comforts required to run a safe and supportive environment, but the cells were not comfy and the prisoners certainly were not free, the life of a prisoner certainly didn't seem too easy, and to earn a job or some trust you really have to truly want it and to work for it.
Another thing that struck me was how well the staff got on with the prisoners, the ones we met were in the main more trusted (although I imagine it must be difficult to truly trust anyone inside) who were hired to be cleaners etc… but as our guide said, he probably spends more time at work with prisoners than he does at home so he has to build up a rapport, they'll never be real friends but of course you have to be friendly and civil where it allows.
Overall it was very interesting to get a better understanding of where some of the people we arrest could end up. I think us gaining insights into the larger criminal justice system also helps us become better officers too, I'd certainly recommend it to any new SC or PC.
Thanks for reading, and as ever if you have any any comments or questions please feel free to say hi on Twitter: @Armstrong26455.
Friday 16 January 19:53
(James here, welcome back :-) Here's another guest blog from one of my SC cohort, enjoy!)
It's been just over three months since I walked away with my warrant card and I can't help feeling like I am lagging behind. Sure, only doing this once a week for four…ish hours isn't loads of time for me to sink my teeth into when I have a full time job, but I can't help but feel like it should have come to me by now. I should be able to remember all the laws by now and I should be signed off on loads more stuff, right?? I worry that maybe this is not right for me…
That's me getting too ahead of myself, I should really start with an introduction. My name is Marti and I am a Special Constable for Brighton & Hove Police. Being a police officer is something which has always been my goal in life. Sure I could go be an office manager or a cook but something tells me that's not for me. Until now I never felt ready for policing, either physically or mentally, as I don't think I was mature enough nor was my fitness up to scratch.
Now I personally believe wanting to be a police officer comes from one of two scenarios (note the second one is the far more likely).
1. I am a superhero fanatic to the point I have art on my body representing several comic book characters. These stories of heroes and villains are something I have grown up with. Both being a police officer and a superhero have a lot in common… a few examples being: Sticking on the uniform, grabbing their utility belt and running off to protect the people and fight crime. Being a police officer is being a superhero!
2. Without going into too much detail I saw a drama at a very young age which was by no means nice. I'll remember forever and a day how scared I was about the situation. Just when I thought the worst, all of a sudden a police officer was there protecting me, handling the situation and being someone who I could depend on.
During my time at John Street Police Station so far I have been surrounded by nothing but support from my tutors and fellow newbies. I feel so fortunate to have come into a service that gives you this level of support from the word go. I am regularly teamed up with different tutors and specials, but never once have I felt unsafe or insecure.
Anyway where was I… oh yes of course, "I worry that this is not right for me". So, I'm sitting at my desk self-briefing when my tutor tells me that an arrest for a recall to prison has come in. All of sudden the nerves and doubt are gone, determination and a sense of purpose has kicked in and I no longer worry about what I am doing because someone out there needs us. I'm ready.
What happened next I can't really go into for obvious reasons, but what I can say is that I feel confident once more with my choice. Progress may feel slow but with the limited time I have I should probably ease up on myself a bit! Hopefully I can be an example to others that have been in similar situations and help guide people in their choices for a new career path. I on the other hand will continue to uphold the law in my adopted city and protect its fine people and I'm pretty sure that the younger version of me would be pretty pleased with the officer that I am becoming today.
Thanks for reading,
Saturday 10 January 12:52
Here comes the understatement of the century - Dementia sucks!! It really does. It's a heart breaking, worrying and terribly cruel condition.
I've known how terrible dementia is for a while but last night I got first hand experience of its heart breaking affects.
My tutor and I were called to the house of a known dementia sufferer. When we arrived the woman had woken up her neighbours scared of the strange man in her house. The man happened to be her husband.
Whilst there we spoke with all parties to establish what had happened. It turned out that she had suffered an episode apparently known to medical professionals as 'sundown', where a dementia patient's mood flips in the evening; the results are different for each sufferer. For this lady it manifested itself by forgetting who her husband was and wanting to 'go home' to see her parents (who would be around 120 years old if still alive) or to her friends next door.
On this occasion she screamed and shouted and wanted to get out of the house to see her neighbours. Her husband, who finds it difficult to move in his old age, couldn't stop her. The neighbours, who have come to expect these incidents, called us.
Whilst there the husband explained that he is constantly scared for her welfare. Last time she left the house she ended up walking on a main road and only got home thanks to the kindness of strangers and neighbours. The worry is that one day she will not be so lucky.
He was upset by this but remained strong and said he was coping. But it was obvious that these episodes had been getting more frequent and that he really couldn't carry on this way.
Whilst there the lady had moments of lucidity where she suggested it would be better for her to be in a home, her husband however was reluctant to do that. But unfortunately something has got to give and sooner or later their family will need to make that decision…
So what did we do? My tutor, who had been to the address before, submitted a vulnerable adult form to our Adult Protection Team, who work with Social Services to help get vulnerable adults, such as those with dementia, the help they need.
Apart from getting her home, calming the situation and ensuring those who needed to know what happened were made aware there wasn't much we could do.
It was upsetting, I couldn't imagine living with that condition or caring for someone with dementia day in day out. The lady's husband clearly loved and cared for her but during these episodes she just didn't understand that.
In East Sussex the police, along with partner agencies, have been running a pilot scheme where dementia sufferers are given GPS devices to help families and authorities find them if they go missing, which unfortunately they do regularly. It is hoped this scheme will support sufferers and their carers to try to ensure their safety.
To find out more about dementia visit the NHS's website, which has important information and advice: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia-guide/pages/about-dementia.aspx
Saturday 3 January 09:47
Policing, like many professions, is full of superstitions and traditions. The 'Q' word is perhaps the most well known…
You never utter the 'Q' word for fear of jinxing a relatively rare moment of peace between jobs and paperwork… But sometimes you have a shift that becomes so monotonous that all want to do is scream the 'Q' word from the roof tops in the hope that something interesting would happen to dispel your boredom!
I always say only boring people get bored but to be honest I felt pretty boring last night!! It was my first shift of 2015 and having not been on duty since early December I was ready and raring to get stuck in…
My tutor had the arrest of a wanted person in mind so straight off I was in a positive mood hoping the first job we went to would be something new which would give me my first chance of an arrest!! Alas I was wrong, we couldn't locate the wanted man and it all went downhill from there…
We dealt with a few minor incidents throughout the shift but nothing new and nothing worth writing about.
Of course I know there are going to be days like these, it's not all blue lights, sirens and adrenaline, but to be honest I feel like I'm a bit of a jinx, most of my shifts have been fairly mundane so far, not for want of trying but just through sheer luck! I'm hoping yesterday's shift isn't a sign of what's to come for the rest of 2015!
I know some of you may be thinking that actually it's probably good we weren't rushed off our feet, it obviously means there's less crime about… Well that's true to a certain extent but there's always something going on too; So I'd like to make this plea: Please report suspicious acts and be sure you contact us if you see a crime taking place, not just because it's the right thing to do for your community but because we want you to, we can't make Sussex safer on our own!
Some may moan about being busy but if we're busy doing the right things, catching criminals and protecting the vulnerable, then believe me that moaning doesn't get a second thought!! Oh, and don't for one second think we are never busy, trust me I see it in my day job, everyone has plenty of work, it's just sometimes I'd like a bit more. It's frustrating not having an awful lot to do when you're still learning and want to continue to improve.
Anywho, I'm hoping my 2015 SC life will pick up soon. 2014 was a pretty eventful year for me in all aspects and I'm hoping 2015 will be even better, but shouldn't every year be that any way?
Happy New Year all :-)
Wednesday 10 December 18:01
On Tuesday, 25 November I attended the 'Domestic Abuse Hurts Everyone' conference as part of my day job.
The conference, held at Bannatynes spa and hotel in Hastings, was attended by school governors, doctor surgery managers, local councillors and senior police officers, among others. It was run by the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership on White Ribbon day, a campaign which puts the onus on men and boys speaking out against violence towards women and girls.
It came just under a week after my first experiences of 'dealing with' domestic incidents as a Special Constable and although I knew a bit about domestic abuse (DA) beforehand it was still an eye opener. In particular the 'Mockingbird High' production by Certain Curtain Theatre really made an impact, giving an evocative performance and opening my eyes to the damage DA does to whole families.
So… My second shift was much busier than my first, most of the evening was taken up with calls related to mental health and domestic related incidents; I'll write about the former sometime in the future but today I'd like to concentrate on the latter.
The first incident was domestic related in that it involved an ex boyfriend and girlfriend. It however did not involve domestic abuse. It was more about a man finding it difficult to cope with the break-up of his relationship, but when we attended all we needed to do was give the caller (his ex-girlfriend) some advice and log the details of the incident.
The next domestic was a difficult one, involving a woman who had been abused in the past and whose scars, both mental and physical, were clearly visible.
She had called us after trying to self-harm but being stopped by her current boyfriend, someone who by the looks of it cared for her much more than her previous relationships. So why was it difficult? Well, just think about what went through our minds as we rushed there, not knowing what we were going to come across… the woman had called us stating she had been pushed over by her boyfriend, as it turned out he was trying to protect her from herself, but we didn't know that at first.
As we got to the door the accused man opened it, perfectly calm but looking understandably worried. My colleague spoke to him whilst I spoke to her, we then convened to decide what was going on here… After a police computer check and talking to both parties we decided no assault had taken place, but that this woman was clearly not in a good place.
She was going to a rape survivors support group that night and we thought that was a good place for her to be among friends so agreed she should go, then stay with a friend.
It all ended amicably enough and my colleague made sure mental health services and our own vulnerable adult team were aware of her and of the incident.
But what if we were wrong? What if our judgement wasn't quite right? What if he was abusing her, he had pushed her? Was it all a clever ploy to make us disbelieve her? These were all thoughts that ran through my mind, all we could do was research her history, his history, go on experience and do the best we could. And we did the right thing, we ensured she was getting help, we did everything we could.
But after that conference I wondered, had others done the right thing in the past? Had she reported her abusers and been ignored? Is that why she is the way she is now? Had failings in the past brought her to this conclusion?
Anyway… where's this blog going then? Well, I suppose what I wanted to do was to give you an insight into the problems police face when dealing with possible domestic abuse, it is difficult to establish facts and work out the best course of action. I also wanted to push the point Mockingbird High made… how awful the damage caused by DA is, to the survivor, their family, their friends, the people caring for them in the future.
I think it is up to us all to speak out against it, not just the police but all of society working together… That was what this conference was about… recognising that we are all doing a lot but that there is so much to do in changing attitudes. One attitude challenged by the conference was the one that leads people to think "Why doesn't she just leave?" when talking about a DA victim, well why doesn't he just stop? Was the rebuttal, and I think a challenge we should all make when hearing those words!
The damage to the women we dealt with that shift was obvious and worrying. But by providing support for current victims and future survivors and working with possible offenders we can help stop more women like her suffering in the future.
Finally, I want to make a point about White Ribbon and about Sussex Police's DA campaign encouraging victims to come forward. We talk a lot about victims being women, but victims can also be men, of all ages, sexual orientations etc etc…
We shouldn't forget those other victims and we should do all we can to support them and to stop DA against all. But we should also not lose sight, because of some misguided 'political correctness' or sexism, of the fact that the majority of victims are women and girls and because of this fact they are more at risk.
To learn more about Sussex Police's DA campaign click here: http://www.sussex.police.uk/help-centre/ask-us/domestic-abuse
An example of one of the 'Talk to us, we can help' posters from Sussex Police and partner organisations…
Thursday 20 November 20:29
(Good evening, here's another blog from one of my SC cohort. It's a good one, enjoy. James)
It was that day again. It was my 4th shift as a Special and my first late shift, I had a gut feeling something was different about tonight and it definitely was!
Me, signing my attestation oath on 6th October :-)
I logged on and read through self-briefing, all routine so far… Then my tutor (PC Tash Swan) for the day asked if I had done an arrest before - Suddenly I knew, tonight was the night! Many thoughts ran through my mind, can I do it? Am I actually ready? I got a small brief about what I was arresting for and then we left the station. I was accompanied by SC Basith, who I did my training with so was comforting to have by my side, and 2 tutors; one was hers and the other mine. We jumped in the van and off we went. Looking back now that 10 minute journey was the longest and the shortest minutes of my life. We spent a few minutes going through what I would say, I'm sure I asked Tash to go through it about 5 times before it actually sunk in!
The countdown was done - I'm outside the house, 6 months of training had come down to this moment. I knocked on the door and we went inside, I identified the man and arrested him. All I kept thinking was why isn't he kicking off? I had the dream arrest, the man stood there and listened quietly to my every word. After my colleague searched him I took a grip of his arm and walked him to the van.
We drove to custody and, after a small talk in the van, SC Basith took the detained person (DP) while I checked the vehicle, just in case he had managed to drop something along the way. During this time Tash gave me another quick talk about how to present him to the Sergeant. I would probably say this was the bit I was most worried about, I didn't want to mess up, it was my first time though, how could it possibly go right? Two minutes later we were buzzed into custody and I walked up to the Sergeant and gave him the circumstances of the arrest and the necessity for it. All I kept thinking was 'please go right!' It only took about 45 seconds to explain and the Sergeant didn't ask any questions after, so maybe it did go ok!? After a few more minutes of the Sergeant talking to the DP they took him to the cell.
The Sergeant then called me over and asked, 'are you new?' That was it, my heart sunk. I obviously came across nervous and lacking in knowledge, I must've done something wrong! 'Yes' I said, 'it's my first arrest'. He looked at me and said 'good job' - Those two words meant more to me than anything I've done in my whole life!
I left custody with a straight face but my insides were dancing. I felt emotionally drained after that first hour but I carried on the rest of my shift with a whole lot more confidence! I hope that Sergeant knows how important those two words were to me and that praise will help me become a better officer.
So that's me 'signed off' for arrest, and for conveying & presenting a DP to custody!
Can't wait for the next shift. Thank you for reading,
Thursday 6 November 19:24
A week ago this evening I was at home and in pain, limping around like a lame penguin following my first shift as a Special Constable! Had I been injured on duty? No, far from it… My shift had worsened an injury I had received the Saturday before when running 'Tough Mudder'!
So lets start at the beginning… it's 9.45am, I've got my uniform on and I'm ready to go. I walk into the office, say hello to everyone and sit down to brief myself on anything that's happened or is happening and any people or vehicles I need to know about. Next my tutor constable and I walk to the custody centre to collect my PAVA spray (you'd probably refer to it as pepper spray) – As it's my first day this is where I have to collect it from ready to be secured in my own locker at the end of every shift – Then we go for a foot patrol into Eastbourne town centre as there's no cars available for us (the response teams quite rightly take precedence), this is where my day begins to become frustrating!!
Now, I don't mind walking and foot patrol is a great way to be seen and to be approached by members of the public but on my first shift I wanted the flexibility to respond to anything and sign off some of my competencies for obtaining independent patrol but unfortunately it was not to be…
I still had high hopes that we'd achieve something however so as we walked around the town we kept our eyes peeled and on the lookout for anything untoward. But apart from a driver going the wrong way up a one-way street, us having to stop the traffic to turn her around, and a few people asking for directions our patrol didn't prove too fruitful or interesting.
You could argue just our presence may have prevented a crime and that's all well a good but simply not having a car and hearing jobs come over the radio that we could have dealt with if we did have a car was incredibly frustrating for a first day!
Anyway, we patrolled for around three hours then went back to Hammonds Drive Police Base for lunch, at this point I was limping about, my foot was in quite a bit of pain and was sweltering in my stab vest, but I still wanted to finish the shift, unfortunately though my tutor suddenly had a few enquiries to make and some paper work to do so I was left undertaking some online training about the new anti-social behaviour and policing act and information handling… a thrilling afternoon! But nonetheless some important knowledge to have.
After I had done those bits of training I finished early, there was nothing more I could do really and I needed to get home to rest ready for my shift the next day! But as the night went on and I sat at home in pain I decided to cancel Friday's shift, I was no use to anyone, I certainly couldn't have run after a fleeing thief!
So, all in all a fairly frustrating shift resulting in the flaring up of an injury and the cancelling of my next shift! So most certainly not as interesting as my fellow cohorts' shifts but still it was nice to get out in uniform.
My foot still hurts but I am hoping it'll be okay for my next shifts, which I am looking to book now.
Oh, I wrote about the day on the @EBourneSpecials twitter account so go check it out for more from me and my Eastbourne Special colleagues.
See you soon,
Tuesday 28 October 16:27
(Hello, hello! So here's the next guest blog, this time from new Brighton and Hove Special Constable Jeremy Deval. My first shifts are later this week so expect to see something from me soon. James)
Following our induction I was given a brief of what my first shift would entail. We were to be attending the home of a known man to execute an arrest in relation to fraud, followed by a search of his premises, and then to escort him to custody; my first shift and I would be doing all of this?!
In anticipation I brushed up on a few areas from my training - section 17, followed by a section 32, then a section 54 at custody. It also meant time for a quick refresher on my PACE knowledge. I know most of that won't mean much to most but in training we began talking in sections etc, it's strange how quickly you find yourself talking in 'police speak'!
So… I had spent the night before reading through my powers and preparing myself for the following morning.
Bright and early we set out in the police van - 3 regular Police Officers, me and another Special Constable - Unfortunately on arrival our suspect had already left. I quickly learnt that knowing my powers and having the knowledge to act was important, but also learnt in the world of policing, it doesn't always go how you would like it to…
I was really quite nervous sat in the back of the van prior to attending, but my tutor was really good at reassuring me and making sure I was as prepared as I could be. Although understandably nervous, I felt fully supported and comfortable.
It was a shame I didn't get to carry out the arrest as I think it would have been a great opportunity to put everything I had learnt in my initial training into practice. Although disappointed, I have no doubt there will be other opportunities.
Later that morning I was faced with my first emergency, an RTC between a van and a cyclist. The radio called out our call sign, and what was probably a good five-minute drive through Brighton, even on blue lights, felt like only seconds!
(Me (SC Deval) in training)
The blue light call to the RTC (Road Traffic Collision) was extremely exciting - the adrenaline and first day nerves shot through me - but by paying good attention to the radio in the car and recalling my knowledge from our road traffic weekend, I felt at ease on arrival and began taking details from the young cyclist involved in the collision.
Fortunately he suffered only minor cuts and grazes, nevertheless we were there as soon as we could and offered support to the young lad, and to the paramedic on scene.
Still full of adrenaline we headed back to the station to fill out the collisions form and other relevant paperwork.
I felt a great sense of pride throughout the day. This first day for me was super exciting; it really put things into perspective and reinforced in my mind that becoming a Special Constable is one of the best things I have done.
I would say to anyone reading, or interested in becoming a Special Constable to really consider applying. I have since had a few more shifts, all as equally exciting and rewarding as my first. I already cannot wait for my next one.
Thank you for reading :-)
Friday 17 October 18:07
(Evening all!! James here. I've asked a couple of my new SC colleagues to write a few guest blogs about their experiences (to give me a break from all the writing!). First up is SC Andre Owen. Hope you enjoy it)
After my induction on Tuesday evening, I decided to get my first shift in sooner rather than later. So Wednesday at 8am it was.
I arrived at the station nice and early, got ready and reported for duty. We had a team briefing where Sergeant Napier welcomed me on my first shift. I was partnered up with PC Craig Roberts.
First job, we went to deal with a young person, having got into trouble for smoking Cannabis. He was tasked with researching the effects of drugs, and explaining it to us. This is known as a community resolution, which is a lovely way of first time offenders admitting doing wrong, and helps them avoid a criminal record, allowing a better future for them.
Then we went out on patrol in the van, assisting with a person running from the police and a missing little girl in Eastbourne, to mention just a few jobs. Don't worry the little girl was found all ok which was lovely to hear. Also, my first blue light run. Exciting!
Then came my first ever traffic stop. I noticed a driver with red lights on the front of his car. Red lights are only for the back of cars, so we stopped him. Hats on, we checked out the driver, car and everything was in order. We gave him words of advice on how they could be dangerous, and told the owner he needed to remove them to which he agreed. I couldn't help but smile to myself when getting back in the van, first traffic stop done!
We went back to the station and wrote it all up. First shift finished. It was a lovely feeling. Helping serve the good people of Sussex as a Special Constable. I couldn't wait for my next shift.
Fortunately for me that was today (Friday, 17 October). I was partnered up with PC Sue Marshall and we had a job to go and arrest a man on suspicion of assault. Could this be my first arrest? Not on this occasion, the guy we were looking for wasn't at home, so we went on patrol in the car, showing the public we were around if they need us.
Late morning, we got a call to a report of a person that had been stopped by a store detective for shoplifting. We were called to attend, and after hearing what happened I arrested her. I didn't mess up the caution (phew!) and we dealt with it by way of a £90 fine (an expensive trip out I think you'll agree). She was banned from the shop and we headed back to write it all up.
All in all a very rewarding first week. If anyone is thinking of becoming a special, I would always say go for it. The feeling of team and family is lovely; the job is also very exciting and rewarding… so I think so far. Can't wait for the next shift.
If you want to hear more from me and the other Eastbourne Specials follow us on Twitter @EBourneSpecials #SCOwen
Thursday 9 October 17:34
I've no idea when foundation training Inspector Taylor uttered those four words but in the nervous haze of our attestation evening I know she did and as I woke on Tuesday morning those words bounced round my mind like an echo in an empty room…
You're police officers now!
On Monday evening, after months of studying, training, learning and giving up our evenings and weekends the moment we were all waiting for had come… We were about to become warranted police officers!
The nerves were piling up and as I helped set up the room as part of my day job I couldn't help but share a photo of the setting with my colleagues, making them all just as nervous! To add to the nervousness our photographer decided to hit me in the face with a metal pole (accidentally of course, or so he says!)!! Disaster I thought!! But luckily no bruise for the photos.
Families began to arrive and the tension increased, then as we all walked down to the sports hall which had been 'transformed' into the setting for this extremely important night, the nervous energy was palpable!
I knew I was first up, the curse of the alphabet!! But as we had our briefing the senior trainer sprung a practice go on me to demonstrate the process… Meaning I had to read the oath twice!! TWICE? I wasn't sure I could eloquently manage once but I had no choice. To my relief my role as guinea pig went without a hitch… with a bow to mask the shakes and a worried walk back to my seat I knew the next time would be for real…
(ACC Smith addressing the room)
Inspector Taylor introduced the families to the room followed by ACC Robin Smith and Justice of the Peace Carole Shaves. We all stood to greet them, sat back down and awaited the first name to be read, my name!
My oath was over in what felt like hours during, but seconds after. Carole Shaves, the Magistrate there to sign our oaths, was however very friendly and calming making the whole experience slightly less nerve wrecking.
(Me taking my attestation oath)
After reading and signing the oath I sat and watched each of my cohort bravely take to the stage, each and every one more nervous than the last and each and every one just as worthy as the next. Listening to those words over and over again gave them even more meaning and after ACC Smith's speech about the reality of what we were doing you could feel the nerves turn to pride and by the time we left that night I know we all went away feeling proud and ready to get out there!
(All 33 of us newly warranted Special Constables)
So, the next time I wear my uniform it'll be for real! We're police officers now! Some of the cohort have already gone on their first shift, some are out tonight.
The Eastbourne Specials induction is next Tuesday and our first shifts very soon after. I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure my colleagues are too.
(Eastbourne Specials' new recruits)
I'll continue to keep you updated and I hope you continue to enjoy my journey to independent patrol status.
Monday 6 October 22:27
It all got a bit real tonight… 33 new Special Constables took their attestation oath… Including ME!
Meaning we're now officially warranted police officers!!
I'm a bit tired now but promise to write a proper blog about tonight asap… It was a nerve wracking experience but you could see the pride beaming from everyone :-)
Good night.
Sunday 5 October 19:35
Scenario Sunday! Today was our final Specials training day… It was a long, nerve wracking, fun, reassuring, tiring, scary, roller coaster of a day but overall a brilliant learning experience!
I won't go into details of the scenarios so I don't ruin the surprise for future participants but needless to say none of the 'actors' let us off easy - All officers and staff members themselves they knew what buttons to press and made sure it felt like a real incident! My first Sergeant as a PCSO played the custody Sergeant too… I heard he definitely didn't go easy on anyone!
So we only have tomorrow left now… Our attestation, where we are sworn in by a magistrate, get our warrant cards and officially become police officers!!
Next time we put our operational uniforms on we'll be doing it for real!! Daunting to say the least!!
Saturday 4 October 18:30
Day two of our final Specials training weekend… Today was traffic (Roads Policing) day! The trainers admited the subject can be a bit boring to learn but it wasn't too bad… We even learnt how to place cones!! (Sarcasm intended but was actually quite useful)
Very relieved we all passed the breathalyzer test ;-) Ben (pictured) does look a bit nervous though!
I'm looking forward to the scenario day tomorrow… Sure it'll be fun but really not great with role play! Nervous :-/
Friday 3 October 20:57
The beginning of a long weekend!
By the end of this we'll all be warranted officers!
Monday 22 September 15:52
…or Sierra Oscar from Alpha Tango Zero Zero Zero One as SC Deval put it!!
This weekend brought back many memories for me, from rookie mistakes such as pressing the red button on your radio because "well, I thought it was off?!" (the red emergency button still works when off, which two colleagues learnt the hard way! A doughnut fine was of course paid!) to my esteemed crewing partner's (SC Deval) inability to remember our call sign and finally everyone's complete inability to stick to correct radio procedure whilst practising around HQ!
It was a fun weekend… Saturday was IT training, which was less fun but luckily my trainer understood I knew most of what was being taught so allowed me to tune out for the morning and get on with day job work. I still stayed fairly well tuned in though - for such a, well, uninspiring subject, Jo, the trainer, was certainly entertaining and kept us awake for the full day, which was quite a feat considering she was having to teach us things like how to book on duty and send an email!
Moving on to Sunday and the opening lines of this blog… Again most of the day was more of a refresher for me rather than my first rodeo, but I found it very helpful still and actually quite fun! It was the first day we'd all been in almost full uniform (most of us, despite the very smug SC Stuckey, have yet to be issued our stab vests) and we all looked pretty good if I do say so myself… For many its the first job they've worn such a uniform so its a bit of a novelty, but above that it does carry with it a sense of pride… I know I felt proud putting my custodian helmet on, and I am sure my colleagues did too.
Pictured: SCs Emily Burton, Amy Goff, Jezz Deval and me patrolling HQ on Sunday.
The day was about proper use of the radio and in the afternoon a group of us walked around HQ in our uniform being directed to different locations to report back. Suddenly everything felt very real and although the conditions were nothing like what we will experience 'on the beat' I certainly felt a kick of reality!
It's been a long road but there's just one more weekend left, where we'll be tested in scenarios then sworn in as Police Officers! Quite daunting in a way, but I am looking forward to it. In the words of SC Basith "The Sweat ,The Time, The Devotion, It Pays off — feeling proud."
Thanks for reading and see you soon,
Monday 15 September 19:12
We're only 15 days in but my September has already included working at the NATO summit, visiting three different countries (one was England so I suppose doesn't count), meeting colleagues from all over the UK, Specials personal safety training assessments and working non-stop. Here's a quick run through…
27 August – NATO Summit, Wales
I drove to Wales and spent 10 days working with colleagues from all over the UK as a communications/press officer for the policing and security operation at the NATO Summit. It was a great experience and I will work on a blog specifically about it soon. The one main thing I took away from it though was the can-do, 'we're all in it together' attitude of my communications colleagues and the police officers on the ground. The whole operation was a great platform to show off British policing at its best and I think we achieved that incredibly well.
6 September – Specials assessments, Lewes
After those 10 days I came back to a weekend of Specials training and assessments. The first task? To undertake a written test, which I wasn't confident about as the previous 10 days had left me very little time to revise! I managed it though, as did my colleagues - overall the class did brilliantly with an average mark of 94%
But it wasn't over yet, the part I was dreading the most, the physical assessment, was on Sunday. Here we were paired up and had to demonstrate certain techniques on each other, these included hand-cuffing, searching, tactical communications and more. I was particularly worried as I don't really like role playing and as I've mentioned before physical force doesn't come naturally to me but as it turned out, just like the test the day before, I had nothing to worry about; I did drop my cuff keys once and had to deal with my cuffs being deadlocked at one point but I dealt with it as I felt I would in real life and passed!! Got some great feedback too :-)
After the two days a few of us went to a local pub to celebrate our achievements over the weekend, it was certainly well earned!
8 September – Firefighting emails, Lewes and Surrey
It's fair to say I was feeling ever so slightly tired by this point but there was no stopping. The next day I was in to work and fighting against the pile of emails that had accumulated in my absence and the work that had to be done before going away again.
Foolishly I had booked a long weekend in Dublin just three days after the Specials weekend so only had those three days to get stuff done, get packed again and get off…
On the last of those days I visited Surrey Police HQ to talk about social media strategy etc and was pleasantly surprised to bump into a couple of colleagues who had joined me at the NATO Summit. Sussex and Surrey Police are working in ever closer partnership so it's good to know a couple of people there.
11 September – Rest days! Dublin, Ireland
And finally, after almost three weeks (if you include Specials weekends) of constant work and no rest I at last had time to relax on a long weekend in Dublin. I couldn't stay away from policing for long though! Whilst there I visited Dublin Castle, which turns out has a police station attached (check out the Garda lamp in the pics below) and a memorial garden for officers just outside.
The garden was humbling to visit and I did feel part of a wider policing family as I stood there. The wall in the photo below, with the glass shard sticking out of it, is supposed to represent the the fragility of life.
I also visited the old Dublin Gaol (prison) and was surprised to learn it had featured in one of my all-time favourite films, The Italian Job! I recognised it instantly and had to get a photo :-)
The rest of my trip was spent sightseeing and taking in a bit of Irish culture. Being half Irish myself I found it quite interesting not just learning a bit about Irish history but also experiencing some of the less touristy locations too. It was a great way to spend my only rest days in a while.
All this travelling and working has exhausted me, but it's all been worth it and has made me crave more! Perhaps Scotland before the month is out?! But first, back to work tomorrow and Specials IT and radio training this coming weekend!!
PS. Apologies for the long blog…
Tuesday 2 September 20:53
A quick blog today because I didn't want to leave it too long before updating but haven't got the time to throw something better together…
I'm in Wales all this week helping out through 'Mutual Aid' as a communications / press officer for the security and policing operation here at the NATO Summit. There's lots of work to do (follow our Twitter account to find out what we're up to: http://www.twitter.com/NATOWalesPolice) but I'm still getting time to enjoy some of Cardiff and Newport, check out my Castle pic below :-)
However, whilst working here (which is really interesting and I will write a proper blog about it soon) I'm trying to find time to revise for my personal safety training test on the day I get back home this Saturday. It's been going alright I think, I've not spent enough time going over all the theory I need to know yet but the basics are in my head and too be honest it's not the theory that's worrying me… It's the practical!
My SC colleagues have been getting together this week to practice searching, cuffing etc on each other (see below) but I've not really been able to so am worried I'll get something horrendously wrong! We'll see! Anyway, I'm off to relax before my stupid o'clock start tomorrow :-)
Saturday 23 August 16:42
We were issued with our batons, handcuffs, limb restraints and spit guards and practiced using them all. None of it came naturally to me but I suppose restraining someone or using a weapon on them shouldn't come naturally to anyone; its something I obviously didn't have to do as a PCSO and as a general rule I'm not an aggressive person, however it is a sad reality of life that police officers come into contact with those who wish to do them or others harm and so we have to know how to protect ourselves and others and ensure the safety of a suspect at the same time.
I felt more comfortable at the last training weekend and I think that's because we were just using our bodies and not other equipment.
Don't get me wrong, by the end of today I did feel like I'd be capable of using the techniques tought, its just I don't think I'd feel comfortable doing so or that I'd want to… But that's not a bad thing, I'd rather calm a situation with communication than physically but if I had to I think I could.
Anyway, there was a lot to take in today and more tomorrow. I'm going to try to get some videos and photos of the training to show you but its been so intense so far that there's barely been time.
Either way I'll update you after tomorrow's session, oh and thank you to the colleagues of mine for their kind words on my blog today, very much appreciated.
See you soon,
Tuesday 19 August 18:22
Oh wait, police aren't human?! Okay, erm… no I'm quite sure they are!
So… There's been some criticism of the police service's use of social media in the news today following a freedom of information request by the Press Association asking for details of investigations into officers and staff members for breaching social media guidelines.
The reports talk of a minority of officers and staff (and they are a minority) being punished for breaching various force's social media guidance and policies and in some cases using offensive or even racist language on social media.
Firstly, I'd like to address the latter - any police officer or staff member making offensive, abusive, defamatory or racist remarks about anyone whether on social media or not should not be working for the police! If social media is the way they have been found out then great, the more weeding out of people like that the better.
Secondly, I'd like to refer back to my title - police are human and sometimes humans get things wrong. So if an officer says something they shouldn't but that isn't offensive - say they've done something as small as moaning about the 14 hour shift they just did or how their Sergeant is a slave driver, perhaps we should cut them a little slack? They are human after all and everyone says things in the heat of the moment they shouldn't, it doesn't mean they should be hauled in front of the Superintendent and made to explain themselves or be disciplined in some way other way, just some words of advice may suffice and perhaps a refresher about social media and the truly open medium that is the internet. We want to encourage the positive use of social media not beat down everyone who makes a mistake.
Thirdly, I've seen comments from the College of Policing today, from the Police Federation and from other forces defending the police using social media and quite right too. Did you know the police are part of society? And as such will always and should always change with society? Well they are, and they should. We should be using social media to communicate with the public we serve because that is how the public communicate with each other and we are and should be part of the public. Sir Robert Peel's quote when founding the Met all those years ago still stands: "The police are the public and the public are the police"
Finally, a quick story… Yesterday I used the Sussex Police social media accounts to appeal for a lady we thought had gone missing or anyone who knew her to get in touch, within just over an hour someone got in touch via Facebook and we found that she was safe and well. A happy ending but the big moral to this story is that if we hadn't used social media we may still be appealing, we may be waiting for the appeal to appear in the local paper, we could be using resources trying to find this lady but instead we were able to resolve the situation quickly through good communication and of course with the help of those sharing and retweeting.
So social media is great appeals, crime prevention, safety messages etc but it is also great for showing the world something that is sometimes forgotten… police are human!
Finally, finally, as I continue to learn as a Special and find myself back out 'on the beat' again I'll continue to use social media to talk with the communities I am serving and I'd urge any officer, staff member, PCSO or volunteer to do the same, one of the reasons police forces have corporate communications departments is to help new users through the dos and don'ts and through the minefield that is social media. If you're in Sussex and you are interested, you know where I am :-)
Oh, and finally, finally, finally… I tweeted the link to a BBC guide on media law earlier, and I think it's well worth a read for anyone using social media, police or not. Remember, as a social media user you are basically a publisher and should understand the laws that you must abide by. Click here for the tweet and link: https://twitter.com/Armstrong26455/status/501632566689292288
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The EC has approved broadening the use of Abbott's TNF antagonist Humira® to include the treatment of moderately active Crohn's disease in adult patients who have demonstrated an inadequate response to conventional therapy. The antibody has been approved in the EU since 2007 for treating severely active Crohn's disease. Clearance for the expanded indication was based on data from four Phase II/III studies evaluating the use of Humira to induce and maintain clinical remission in adult patients with moderately-to-severely active Crohn's disease.
Humira is already marketed in Europe, the U.S., and in other markets for the treatment of other inflammatory diseases including (in specific territories) moderately-to-severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active and progressive psoriatic arthritis, active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis, moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis and severe axial spondyloarthritis.
Abbott reported $7.9 billion worldwide sales of Humira in 2011, compared with $6.5 billion in 2010, and $5.5 billion in 2009.
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Romantic music filled the air as a couple danced alone in celebration of their wedding anniversary in the Rockwood Event Center.
It was just one of the many events the Rockwood Event Center has been used for since it opened late last year.
The location is a new place for special events from birthday celebrations to business meetings.
The location at 116 W. Rockwood St. has been a hit so far, according to owner Bill Anderson.
"In December, we had 16 days booked out of the month," he said.
Roane County High School senior Cynthia Cole, 19, will compete in the National Health Occupational Students of America competition in Anaheim, Calif., in June.
Cole placed third in the First Responders Rescue Breathing course at the state competition in Nashville Feb. 28-March 2.
She is the only student from Roane County competing at the national level.
"It's a surprise," Cole said. "I never really thought I would do something like this, but I am, so it's very exciting."
An old west shooting match will draw steely-eyed cowboys and cowgirls from some 20 states to Oak Ridge, April 7–9, to compete in the annual "Smoky Mountain Shoot-Out" at the Oak Ridge Sportsmen's Association.
The Coalfield Yellow Jackets put the runs on the board early and often en route to a 12-2 win Saturday afternoon under ominous skies at Coalfield.
Midway had the bases juiced in the top of the first inning, but was unable to capitalize.
The Women's Center at Roane Medical Center has gone digital with the debut of its new, advanced mammography screening unit.
"We are thrilled to offer patients digital mammograms, as we know mammograms continue to be one of the most important tools for early detection of breast cancer," said Wanda Diden, lead mammography technologist for the Harriman-based hospital.
"The new technology is going to provide great benefits for not only our patients, but for our physicians and staff as well," Diden added.
The new digital unit will provide enhanced comfort and quicker services for patients.
The annual Roane County Chamber of Commerce banquet, now in its 65th year, is scheduled for April 29 in Whitestone Country Inn on Roane County's Watts Bar Lake.
The annual banquet will begin at 6 p.m. with a wine reception and silent auction. A four-course gourmet meal and the presentation of this year's prestigious business awards will follow.
"This is the premier Chamber event of the year," said Chamber board Chairwoman Diana Knobloch.
Melanie Monroe has been named March's MMCer of the Month at Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge.
Monroe is a certified nursing assistant who works with patients in the hospital's flex pool.
"She is a hard worker and tries to put the patient's needs first," said Carolyn Shipley, director of Acute Care Services.
Monroe assists patients, family members and visitors with their needs and is responsible for taking and recording patients' vital signs, assisting with meals, bathing and transportation.
She also provides assistance to registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on staff.
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