Illegal Rave, Nuisance Motor Bikes, Firearms Officers & More
Happy Tuesday everyone and a massive welcome to all our new subscribers. I really hope you enjoy the daily read as subscribers now receive 7 - YES SEVEN FREE newsletters every week.
Its time to grab a tea, dig out the rich tea, put the phone on silent and kick back for 10.
Todays thought for the day ... “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most people dread it.”
~ George Bernard Shaw
Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great day wherever you are in Bassetlaw.
Justin Doddy, Editor
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter if you haven't already and remember to send us your pictures from around Bassetlaw, we may feature it on our newsletter.
Strengthening Community Safety: Six New Firearms Officers Now on Patrol
Nottinghamshire Police have announced that six newly qualified Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) who have successfully completed an intensive 16-week training programme are now on active patrol across the county.
The demanding course, which concluded with a challenging two-day final exercise, tested officers in critical areas including weapons handling, enhanced first aid, building searches, vehicle stops and containment. Of the twelve candidates who began the process, only six successfully met the exceptionally high standards required to qualify.
The rigorous training ensures officers are fully prepared to respond to the most serious incidents, helping to keep our communities safe while demonstrating professionalism, sound judgement and restraint.
Superintendent Louise Mayo said:
"The initial firearms course is designed to develop and assess candidates against nationally recognised standards and operational requirements.
"As the public would expect, the standards we require of officers who safely carry firearms on our streets are extremely high.
"Consequently, this course is not just about marksmanship or tactics – it is about judgement, communication, de-escalation and making the right decisions in the most extreme and pressurised situations.
"Particularly inspiring were two officers who narrowly missed the required standard last year but returned stronger, demonstrating outstanding determination and resilience to successfully pass this time."
Each of the new AFOs will now work alongside experienced firearms officers as they begin the next stage of their policing careers, further strengthening the county's ability to protect the public and respond to incidents safely and effectively.
Police divers issue Float to Live open water plea
“Float to Live” – that’s the simple message from Nottinghamshire Police’s Underwater Search Team to anyone who finds themselves struggling in open water.
Team members, who are tasked with recovering the bodies of people who have drowned, are joining emergency service colleagues in sharing this message.
Float to Live is a lifesaving RNLI campaign that teaches a simple survival technique for people who get into difficulty in open water:
- don’t panic or swim hard
- instead, float on your back to control your breathing and stay alive until help arrives or you can self-rescue
The vital advice is based on research showing many drownings happen due to cold water shock and panic – and not a lack of swimming ability.
Diver training in the River Trent
Inspector Tim Ringer, who has responsibility for the underwater team, said:
“Over the years, our divers have had the very sombre task of recovering the bodies of dozens of people who have drowned in our waterways.
“Some of those people may have been competent swimmers in a controlled environment, but the many hazards of open water can claim the life of anyone.
“Chief among those is cold water shock, which causes people entering the water to gasp uncontrollably and panic. That can lead to the inhalation of water and may even trigger underlying health issues such as heart conditions.
“That’s why we support the Float to Live message – because by doing so, people who find themselves struggling in the water can regain their composure until their breathing settles and help can arrive.”
While offering full support for the Float to Live campaign, officers are also keen to reinforce the most important message of all – that nobody should jump into the River Trent, local canals or lakes, regardless of how hot the weather is.
With that in mind, parents in particular are being urged to educate their children about the risks.
PC Stephen Craner, an experienced diver with the underwater team, made a particular plea to young people:
“The water we operate in is always extremely cold, no matter how hot it feels outside.
“Also, what may look inviting on the surface will very often have multiple hazards lurking just below the water – including hidden objects and reeds that can quickly cause people to become entangled.
“So, no matter how strong a swimmer you think you are, and no matter how much your mates are egging you on, please take a moment to think twice and avoid the temptation to jump in.
“Because the very last thing we want to do this summer is recover another young person from the water.”
Operation Pernicious: Police taking Action Against Nuisance Bikes
Another illegal off-road and nuisance bike has been removed from the streets of Retford thanks to Nottinghamshire Police and information provided by the local community.
Operations like Operation Pernicious play a vital role in tackling the issues residents regularly raise around nuisance bikes, dangerous riding and vehicle-related crime. By identifying offenders, recovering illegal vehicles and taking positive enforcement action, officers are helping to make roads, parks and neighbourhoods safer for everyone.
Every bike removed helps reduce risk, improve public safety and protect the quality of life for those living and working in our communities.
Nottinghamshire Police have thanked everyone who continues to share information with them. Community support is invaluable in helping officers identify offenders, take positive action and keep Retford a safer place for all.
Our three interesting facts for today ....
Krishna Pandit Bhanji is Sir Ben Kingsley's real name
Fort Blunder, built in the US in 1816 to defend itself from Canada, was accidently built in Canada.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote in to ask about the Charles Atlas bodybuilding course.
Have Your Say – Check Your Electoral Registration Details
Bassetlaw District Council is carrying out its annual electoral register update to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote in future elections can have their say.
📧📬 Letters and emails have been sent to residents asking them to check that their details are correct. If you receive one, simply follow the instructions provided in the letter or email to confirm your information.
Keeping the electoral register up to date helps ensure that everyone who has the right to vote can take part in the democratic process.
✅ Check your details ✅ Follow the simple instructions ✅ Make sure you're ready for future elections
Party’s Over: Early-Morning Rave Brought to a Quiet Close in Bassetlaw
Officers from Nottinghamshire Police brought an illegal rave to a swift and peaceful end in Bassetlaw during the early hours of Sunday morning (July 26).
Police were called to reports of loud music coming from a wooded area in West Drayton shortly before 2.15am.
After attending the scene, officers discovered what appeared to be an illegal music gathering taking place among the trees.
The music was quickly switched off and those in attendance were moved on without incident. Thanks to the calm and cooperative response of those present, no arrests were necessary.
Detective Chief Inspector Les Charlton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
"Having received complaints about the noise coming from this site, our officers attended and identified what appeared to be an illegal rave.
"This was quickly shut down without any issues, with those in attendance moved on using policing powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
"We completely appreciate the concern incidents like this cause to local communities, so will always look to do everything in our powers to put a stop to this type of antisocial behaviour.
"We are now working with partners to identify a long-term solution to prevent an event such as this from happening again in the future."
Nottinghamshire Police have reiterated their commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour and responding to concerns raised by local residents, while working alongside partners to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Thanks so much for reading our local newsletter and for supporting us. We’re committed to providing Bassetlaw with the quality local news service it deserves, but sustaining this work may come with some challenges. Our team is currently discussing how to make Bassetlaw Today financially viable in the long term, and one option we’re considering is introducing a subscription model to help cover our costs.
We want to be open with you about these conversations so you’re aware that a fee may need to be introduced in the future. If that happens, we hope you’ll continue to stand with us and support the publication.
Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.
Justin Doddy, Editor
P.S. Your feedback about this newsletter is important to me. You can email me your feedback to news@bassettlawtoday.co.uk
