Rural Police Action, Armed Forces Champions, Police Misconduct hearing & More
Happy Monday to you all and I hope you had a great weekend.
Monday morning has come around fast again, it's time to grab a brew, open the bourbons, put the phone on silent and kick back for 10 - enjoy a read of today's newsletter covering all things Bassetlaw and surrounding areas.
Todays Quote for the day - "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." — A.A. Milne
Justin Doddy, Editor
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A disqualified driver was sent to jail less than 24 hours after he was pulled over by our officers conducting a rural crime patrol.
Declan Boswell, aged 25, was pulled over in Church Street, Beckingham, at about 11pm on Tuesday 8 September.
Officers were conducting a cross-border operation as part of Rural Crime Week when a Land Rover Defender was spotted being driven erratically.
The vehicle was then intercepted by officers from the Roads Policing Unit supporting the operation.
As he got out of the driver's seat, Boswell immediately confessed to being a banned driver, having chalked up four other convictions for the same offence. Boswell, of Brewster Road, Gainsborough, was first banned from driving in August 2024 after he was convicted of drug driving, driving without a license and driving without insurance. In the two years since he has now been convicted of breaching his ban five times.
After his last offence in April this year he was jailed for six weeks. Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 9 September he was jailed for 20 weeks and handed another driving ban.
If he is ever to drive legally again, he will have to pass an extended retest.Sergeant Joseph Krawiecki, of our Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
"Boswell is a prolific offender who clearly pays no attention at all to the multiple driving bans he has now received.
"He came to our attention Tuesday night not long after we'd caught up with another man who was wanted for drug driving."
As they have both discovered to their cost, the roads of rural Nottinghamshire are regularly patrolled by officers on the lookout for all manner of different offenders."
Nottinghamshire’s Armed Forces’ champions honoured at Boots and Beret 2026 Awards
The tireless dedication, commitment and service within Nottinghamshire’s Armed Forces’ community has been celebrated at the fourth Boots and Beret Awards.
Around 240 guests, including Armed Forces champions and dignitaries, attended the showpiece event, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham.
This year’s awards were presented across eight categories and the winners were:
- Inspiration Award, sponsored by Experian – Amanda Morledge, Armed Forces Clinical Champion, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Reservist Award, sponsored by Arc Partnership – Danny Downham, Army Lieutenant Colonel
- Health and Wellbeing Award, sponsored by SCAPE – Brian Dacunha, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, Forest Forces
- Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer Award, sponsored by Via East Midlands – Major Kyle Beeston, County Training Officer, Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force
- Employer Award, sponsored Anderson Green – Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue
- Employee Award, sponsored by West Nottinghamshire College – Nicole Dixon, Deputy Head of People Governance, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Projects and Events Award, sponsored by Business Support Service, Nottinghamshire County Council – ATTFE College , Simon Martin, Executive Leader
- Community Award, sponsored by Motorfinity – Susan Parker, Newark Services Club
Edwina Morris was presented with a special award in recognition of her long-standing work with the Royal British Legion and Merchant Navy Association Mansfield and Ashfield branch and for her tireless support of Nottinghamshire’s Armed Forces community.
The glittering ceremony, which has quickly become a firm favourite with the county’s military and business communities, also included a wonderful performance by the South Notts Hussar Association Band.
Guest of honour was Sir Simon Bollom, chairman of the Armed Forces charity, SSAFA (Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen's and Families Association), and former BBC broadcaster, Melvyn Prior, was the host for what proved to be a highly moving occasion.
Councillor Kelvin Wright, our Armed Forces Champion, said:
“It was a real privilege to attend this year’s Boots and Beret Awards and celebrate the outstanding people and organisations that do so much to support Nottinghamshire’s Armed Forces community.
“From those who have served our country to those who continue to serve, and from employers and charities to volunteers and community groups, there are so many people across our county who go above and beyond to make a difference.
“The Boots and Beret Awards provide a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on these contributions and, importantly, to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved.
“As Armed Forces Champion, I am incredibly proud to play a part in supporting our Armed Forces community and helping ensure that Nottinghamshire remains a place where serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and their families feel valued and supported.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners and nominees. Every one of them should be immensely proud of their achievements, and I hope this year’s awards inspire even more people and organisations to get involved and show their support for our fantastic Armed Forces community.”
Content courtesy of Nottinghamshire County Council
Misconduct hearing: Former officer barred from policing for drink driving
A former police constable would have been dismissed had he not resigned after being caught drink driving.
An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing was held at Nottinghamshire Police Headquarters, Sherwood Lodge, on Friday 11 September.
The hearing was open to both the press and the public.
The hearing heard that on 5 June 2026, former PC Fraser Dunbar was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and was later charged with driving having consumed so much alcohol that the proportion in his breath, namely 51 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit.
On the 1 July 2026, PC Dunbar attended Derby Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to drink driving and was banned from driving for 12 months.
The hearing found that he breached the following standards of professional behaviour, namely discreditable conduct.
He would have been dismissed had he not resigned and has been placed on the police barred list.
Chief Constable Steve Cooper, who chaired the hearing, said:
"Anyone who is caught drink driving while on or off duty can expect to be dealt with robustly as this case clearly demonstrates."
Mayor of the East Midlands elected to lead UK Mayors Network
The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has been elected by her fellow mayors to chair the UK Mayors Network, giving her a national leadership role as Government devolves more power to regions.
The UK Mayors Network is the sector body for strategic authorities. It brings together the regional mayors to discuss shared priorities and work on issues including devolution, transport, skills, housing and economic growth.
Mayor Claire assumes the role of chair from Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire. Mayor Claire, who has served as deputy chair for the past two years, will now lead the cross-party group as it works with Government to strengthen local decision-making and secure the powers, funding and flexibility regions need to deliver for their communities.
Mayor Claire said:
“I’m honoured to have been elected by my fellow mayors to chair the UK Mayors Network. Tracy has done a superb job in the role, and I take it over at an exciting time with more devolution and more mayors on their way to join us.”
“Mayors are working across party lines because we all face many of the same challenges, in the East Midlands and across the country, from improving public transport and building the homes people need, to giving people the skills to get on and backing local businesses to grow.”
“People know what works in their communities, and mayors are often best placed to act on that. I want the council to be a strong voice for mayors and for the communities we represent.”
Mayor Claire’s election comes at a significant moment for devolution, with former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham now Prime Minister and the Government putting greater powers for regions at the centre of its agenda.
The Government is proposing to give regional mayors a greater share of locally raised taxes and more control over funding and investment, describing its plans as the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation.
Mayor Claire said:
“Since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, we have seen a real shift in the national conversation about devolution, with Government recognising that decisions are often best made closer to the people they affect.
“That creates a real opportunity to go further. In the East Midlands and across England, regions need the powers, funding and flexibility to tackle the challenges they face and make the most of the opportunities in front of them.
“I look forward to working with mayors from across England 🤝 and with Government to build on that progress. I want to use this role to make sure the voice of mayors is heard clearly at the heart of Government, and that the benefits of devolution are felt in every part of England.”
At the same time, Amy Harhoff, East Midlands Combined County Authority chief executive, has taken over as chair of the UK Mayors Network Chief Executives.
Content courtesy of the EMCCA
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Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.
Justin Doddy, Editor
Bassetlaw Today
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