NewzIntel.com

Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Far too extreme for this arrested rider

    Source: South Australia Police

    A motorcycle rider has been caught travelling more than 100km/h over the speed limit in Murray Mallee this afternoon.

    Just before 12.30pm on Friday 27 September, a speed detection camera on Kulde Road at Tailem Bend captured a motorcycle travelling at 151km/h in a 50km/h zone.

    The same motorbike returned a few minutes later travelling in the opposite direction and was captured going 146km/h.

    The rider was photographed on camera with wearing what appeared to be a pirate hat and goggles.

    Local patrols attended a Tailem Bend address where they located the motorbike and the rider.

    The rider, a 54-year-old man from Coonalpyn, submitted to a drug test where he returned a positive result for methamphetamine.

    The man was arrested and charged with two counts of driving at an extreme speed, driving whilst being disqualified, driving with incorrect number plates, failing to wear a helmet and contravening mandatory alcohol interlock scheme conditions.

    He was refused police bail and will appear in Murray Bridge Magistrates Court on Monday 30 September.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic arrangements for National Day Flag Raising Ceremony

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

        Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate the holding of the National Day Flag Raising Ceremony on October 1 (Tuesday) in Wan Chai North, Central and Tin Hau.A. Road closure     The following roads will be closed, except for authorised vehicles:(I) From 00.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1:- Expo Drive;- Expo Drive Central;- Expo Drive East;- The slip road leading from Central – Wan Chai Bypass to Expo Drive; and- Eastbound Lung Wo Road between the Wan Chai portal of Central – Wan Chai Bypass and Fleming Road.(II) From 5.30am to 1pm on October 1:- Westbound Lung Wo Road between the Wan Chai portal of Central – Wan Chai Bypass and Fleming Road;- Lung Tat Path; and- Westbound Lung Wo Road between Lung Hop Street and Fleming Road.(III) From 6am to 8am on October 1:     Lung Wo Road between Edinburgh Place and Tim Wa Avenue.(IV) From 6.45am to 7.15 am on October 1:- Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lin Fa Kung Street West; and- Lai Yin Lane.B. Traffic diversions     In connection with the road closure as mentioned above, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:(I) From 00.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1:- Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road heading for Fleming Road and Hung Hing Road must turn right to southbound Lung Hop Street or enter eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass via eastbound Lung Wo Road for Island Eastern Corridor;- Traffic turning right from northbound Lung Hop Street can only enter eastbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass via eastbound Lung Wo Road; and- Traffic from Central heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via Man Po Street, eastbound Yiu Sing Street and eastbound Lung Wo Road.(II) From 5.30am to 1pm on October 1:     Traffic along westbound Hung Hing Road heading for westbound Lung Wo Road must turn left to southbound Fleming Road, via northbound Fleming Road, westbound Harbour Road, Fenwick Pier Street roundabout, westbound Fenwick Pier Street and northbound Lung Hop Street.(III) From 6am to 8am on October 1:- Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted to southbound Edinburgh Place;- Traffic along westbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted to southbound Tim Wa Avenue;- Traffic along eastbound Harcourt Road cannot enter Tim Wa Avenue; and- Traffic along eastbound Tim Wa Avenue cannot make a U-turn to northbound Tim Wa Avenue.(IV) From 6.45am to 7.15 am on October 1:     Traffic along westbound King’s road will be diverted to westbound Causeway Road.C. Suspension of parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas     The metered parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas at Expo Drive, and the on-street parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas at Expo Drive East will be suspended from 00.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1.     All metered, motorcycle and disabled parking spaces on Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lin Fa Kung Street West will be suspended from 10pm on September 30 to 7.30am on October 1.     All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.       Actual implementation of traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police investigating fatal Bowen Bridge crash

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police investigating fatal Bowen Bridge crash

    Friday, 27 September 2024 – 6:00 pm.

    Sadly, two people have died following a multiple vehicle crash on the Bowen Bridge near Risdon this afternoon.Inspector Jason Klug said police and emergency services were called to the scene about 3.40pm, following reports of a crash involving a truck and three other vehicles.“Initial inquiries indicate the truck driver was travelling east on the bridge in a Hino heavy vehicle, when it collided with a silver Holden Barina travelling in front,” he said.“The Barina then collided with two other vehicles, a red Holden Commodore and a blue Honda HRV, also heading east.”“Two occupants of the Barina, a man and a woman both in their 80s, sadly died.”“The woman driving the Barina, who was the third occupant of the car, was taken to hospital, and her injuries are not believed to be life threatening.”“A woman and two children in the Commodore, and a woman who was the sole occupant of the HRV were also not seriously injured.”“The truck driver was not physically injured in the crash.”“As is usual process for a crash of this nature, all drivers are undergoing mandatory testing.”“The circumstances leading up to the crash are being investigated by police and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.”“Anyone with information or relevant dash cam footage, is asked to contact police on 131 444.”“Our thoughts are with everyone involved.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks Announcing the Justice Department Findings of Civil Rights Violations by the Lexington, Mississippi Police Department and City of Lexington

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good afternoon. My name is Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Justice Department. Joining me is Todd W. Gee, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

    We are here today to announce the findings from our pattern or practice investigation into the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police Department.

    We find reasonable cause to believe that the Lexington Police Department and the City of Lexington engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments of the Constitution, Safe Streets Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

    Specifically, we find that the Lexington police use excessive force; unlawfully stop, search and arrest people — including by jailing people on illegal “investigative holds” — unlawfully jail people without affording prompt access to court; violate the rights of people engaged in free speech and expression, including by retaliating against critics of the police; and unlawfully discriminate against Black people.

    The department also unlawfully arrests, jails and detains people based on their failure to pay money without assessing their ability to pay; unlawfully arrests people just because they owe outstanding fines; and imposes money bail without justification and, again, without assessing ability to pay. The fact that fines and fees fund the department drives its law enforcement, resulting in a crude policing-for-profit scheme. The Lexington Police Department operates under an unconstitutional financial conflict of interest.

    Lexington’s focus on revenue and its overly aggressive form of policing leaves the people of Lexington harassed, feeling helpless and hopeless. For example, on the day we opened our investigation, Lexington officers chased a man down and tased him until he foamed at the mouth. In the previous months, police officers had repeatedly arrested the man for minor offenses most police departments would have handled with a ticket. For stealing sugar packets from a gas station, the man spent 13 days in jail. He spent four days in jail for taking a second cup of coffee after paying for the first. Each time, the Lexington police kept him in jail because he could not afford to pay the fines or the $50 processing fee Lexington charges for every arrest. Especially for a person in poverty, these fines are no small thing. Even though he has no money, the man owes the Lexington Police Department over $7,500. At no point did the police or city assess his ability to pay those fines.

    In America, being poor is not a crime, but in Lexington, their practices punish people for poverty. On Feb. 29, we provided official notice to Lexington city officials and the police department about our concerns regarding illegal arrests and detentions that penalize people for lacking resources. Lexington has made some changes in response to our notice. But, as today’s findings show, more meaningful reform is necessary.

    Lexington’s fines and fees have been absolutely devastating for the people who live there. Although Lexington is in one of the poorest counties in America, people owe the police department $1.7 million in outstanding fines. The Lexington municipal court has issued bench warrants for over 650 people based on unpaid fines — equivalent to roughly half of Lexington’s population. Based on these warrants, police officers have unlawfully arrested and jailed people, using the leverage of incarceration to extract more money from them.

    Other times, the Lexington police send people to jail for days or weeks for minor offenses. These people wait in jail until they can go before a judge or they can get enough money together to pay their fines. This, too, violates people’s civil rights. For example, the Lexington police arrested a Black man for allegedly taking $15 worth of gas. The police told him his fine was $300. He couldn’t pay it. The police sent him to jail until the next scheduled court date — two weeks later.

    Unjustly enforcing fines and fees creates a two-tiered system of justice that can perpetuate a cycle of poverty. It also fuels a financial conflict of interest for the police department. The police must enforce the law even-handedly, not based on generating revenue. Lexington, though, focused its law enforcement on strategies that generated income, even at times linking officers’ paychecks to the number of arrests they made. Over the past two years, Lexington has made nearly one arrest for every four people in town — more than 10 times the per capita arrest rate for Mississippi.

    The Lexington police also illegally arrest people for using profanity, and they retaliate against people who film officers or criticize the police. The First Amendment protects swearing, yet the Lexington police broke down a man’s back door and arrested him for swearing in a public place. The First Amendment also protects the right to film or criticize officers. But when a man filmed officers approaching his suicidal brother with their guns raised, a police officer batted the man’s phone out of his hand, pushed him to the ground and arrested him.

    While making arrests, the Lexington police frequently use excessive force. We found instances in which officers used a taser like a cattle prod to punish people or to make them comply more quickly with officers’ orders. For example, officers used a taser to shock a Black man 18 times until he was covered in his own vomit and unable to speak or walk. Officers punch, hit or kick people who are unarmed and handcuffed. One officer kicked a Black man in the groin so hard that he wet himself. Another used his gun to repeatedly hit a Black man already in handcuffs. An officer knocked an elderly Black man unconscious. Nor are children spared from attack. An officer grabbed a Black child by the neck and shoved him into a patrol car, banging the child’s head against the door frame.

    Black people bear the brunt of the Lexington Police Department’s illegal conduct. Lexington’s former police chief, Sam Dobbins, who regularly spoke disrespectfully to Black men, set in motion the aggressive enforcement of low-level violations. Dobbins left the department when recordings of him using other racial slurs were released. Officials told us that with Dobbins gone, so too was the problem. We found, however, that the discriminatory practices he initiated continue unabated. Lexington officers frequently tase, punch and beat Black people without justification, while we identified no such use of force on white people. Low-level traffic violations that resulted in arrest for Black people yielded only warnings or citations for white people. The result? 98% of people arrested for traffic offenses are Black. This pattern of racial discrimination not only violates the law. It also erodes the community’s trust in law enforcement, the judicial system, and the government more broadly.

    According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, half of America’s police departments have 10 officers or fewer. Every person in the United States enjoys certain fundamental civil rights, regardless of the size of their town, the contents of their bank account or the color of their skin. Residents of rural and underserved communities have the same rights and deserve the same protection as people who live major cities. The Justice Department is committed to providing that protection. Police misconduct in smaller communities may not always garner national attention, but rest assured, the Justice Department is watching. No city, no town, no law enforcement agency is too large or too small to evade our efforts to safeguard the constitutional rights that every American enjoys. Small and mid-sized police departments must not be allowed to violate people’s civil rights with impunity.

    To the people of Lexington, I want you to know that we heard you. We listened carefully to your testimonies. We thank you for having the courage to speak out.

    The Lexington Police Department and the City of Lexington have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department to address the challenges we outline today. As we begin the hard, essential work of rebuilding trust and restoring equal justice under law, we need to continue to hear from the Lexington community in the coming days and weeks.

    We stand with the people of Lexington to extend justice to all its residents, rich and poor, regardless of their race.

    I’ll now welcome U.S. Attorney Todd Gee.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Remarks as Delivered

    Good morning. Thank you, Jonathan, for that warm welcome.

    I am very happy to be here in Arkansas.

    In just a few moments, U.S. Attorney Ross and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners about our shared work to protect communities here in Little Rock and across the district.

    I am grateful to have the chance to thank our law enforcement partners, in person, for the difficult and often dangerous work they do every single day.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the public servants of this office for their extraordinary work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in the Eastern District of Arkansas. When people in this District look to see what the Justice Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    I have been consistently impressed not only with the work you do, but with the way you do that work.

    Those efforts, in addition to the efforts of our state and local law enforcement partners, are making a difference.

    Three- and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships that are represented in this room. While we know that progress in too many places is still uneven — and there is no acceptable level of violent crime — today we are seeing results.

    Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report showing an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years nationwide.

    And recent data indicates this trend is continuing. Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced new data from across 88 cities that indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders.

    But we know we have so much more work to do, here in Arkansas, and across the country.

    That is why this office, and our entire Department, are working in partnership with state and local law enforcement to arrest violent felons, seize and trace guns used in crimes, disrupt violent drug traffickers, and prosecute the individuals and gangs who are responsible for the most violence.

    For this office, that meant working with the DEA, the FBI, and the North Little Rock Police Department to secure a 25-year prison sentence last month for a Little Rock man for distributing fentanyl resulting in someone’s death.

    Also last month, this office worked with DEA, the Arkansas State Police, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Little Rock Police Department to secure a 15-year prison sentence of a defendant on fentanyl and firearms charges.

    In July, this office, together with the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, secured the guilty plea of a man who threatened to assault and murder a United States judge and a federal law enforcement officer.

    Earlier this spring, this office worked with DEA, FBI, the second Judicial District Drug Task Force and seven other state and local partners as part of a large-scale enforcement action to charge and arrest 15 people on drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses related to the distribution of methamphetamine in Northeast Arkansas.

    In March, this office worked with the DEA, ATF, the Pine Bluff Police Department, and the Little Rock Police Department to secure a 30-year prison sentence for a man with a lengthy criminal record of domestic violence who was found guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition. In October of last year, the defendant shot his former girlfriend and then shot into an apartment where the victim and her young son were hiding.

    And in January, this office worked with ATF to secure a 20-year prison sentence against a man who had assaulted a victim after she ended their relationship. The defendant then set fire to her business after she changed the locks. During the sentencing, the victim told the Court how hard she worked to build her business as a single mother and spoke about the impact of the defendant’s violence against her.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources to protect communities in this district, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Justice Department is awarding more than a million dollars in funding to the state under the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program, to enhance laboratories’ capacity to process DNA samples.

    And this week, we awarded more than $4 million to Arkansas under the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information.

    Today’s grants are part of the more than $26 million that the Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in Arkansas this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in Arkansas hire more officers, help to prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect people across this District.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the work this office is doing every day to protect communities in the Eastern District of Arkansas, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, to protect civil rights, and to uphold the rule of law.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office. And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with the people and the agencies around this table, who are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners.

    I look forward to our meeting. Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Police rescue kidnap victims

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Friday, September 27, 2024

    Police have rescued two victims, believed to be victims of alleged kidnapping. 

    The victims were reportedly released by their kidnappers due to the pressure exerted upon the suspects by the police. This was as a result of an intelligence-driven operation consisting of the Cash-In-Transit Interim Team of the Hawks, Tactical Response Team (TRT),  Crime Intelligence (CI), Provincial Tracing Team and Hostage Negotiators. The victims were held hostage and released after eight days.

    It alleged that a 39-year-old victim was accosted by unidentified suspects whilst she was driving a Toyota Fortuner, travelling to Umngazi Resort, Port St John’s, on 20 September 2024. 

    In another incident, a 34-year-old victim was also accosted by unidentified suspects on 17 September 2024 between Barkley East and Elliot.

    The investigations by the joint team ensued, where the police were working around the clock. 

    As a result, the victims were allegedly dropped off by a white Toyota single cab bakkie nearby Sulenkama Police Station. Both victims were released unharmed but were traumatised and were taken to a health care facility for medical assistance. The investigations are still underway.

    The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, applauded the joint team for making sure that the victims were released unharmed and reunited with their families. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks by Public Affairs Officer, Laila Gillam at the State Partnership Program Nevada National Guard Subject Matter Exchange with Samoa Prisons and Corrections Services.

    Source: Government of Western Samoa

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    (September 13, 2024)

    Faafetai Deacon Siaosi for that wonderful word.

    Deputy Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga

    Members of the Police, Prisons and Corrections Services

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Talofa lava,

    It is my privilege to stand before you today and give remarks to conclude this impactful week-long program. I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we have taken together, the knowledge we have shared, and the bonds we have forged.

    It has been an enriching experience focused on basic leadership, inmate management techniques, and effective strategies for addressing mental health challenges within the correctional environment.

    First and foremost, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Government of Samoa, and especially the Samoa Prisons and Corrections Services, for their commitment to this vital partnership.

    Your openness to learn and evolve is a testament to your dedication to improved correctional practices and the welfare of the individuals entrusted to your care. This collaboration is not just about exchanging ideas; it is about mutual growth and progress, and your leadership in these areas has been exemplary.

    I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team from the Nevada National Guard, Chaplain LTC Tod Brown, MAJ Luis Muruato, SFC Theresa Faoa and SSG Romeo Tiumalu.

    Your expertise and willingness to share your knowledge has been invaluable in facilitating this subject matter exchange. The insights and practices you have brought to the table have equipped everyone here with essential tools that will serve you well in your roles moving forward.

    To the participants, as we wrap up this week’s exchange, I encourage each of you to carry the knowledge and skills you have gained this week into your respective roles. You are not just correctional officers or leaders in your field; you are agents of change. It’s about fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and responsibility.

    As we navigate the complexities of inmate management, let us remember the central role mental health plays in rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

    The skills you’ve shared must be implemented with compassion and understanding. I want to thank each of you for your participation, openness, and commitment to enhancing your competencies.

    Your dedication to personal and professional growth speaks volumes about your character and your desire to make a difference. Let us take the insights and connections we’ve made this week and apply them in our ongoing efforts.

    This program is just the beginning, and the U.S. Governments hope that it serves as a foundation for ongoing collaboration through the State Partnership Program. Together, U.S. and Samoa can continue to build upon this framework, expanding our exchanges and furthering our collective mission of improving correctional practices.

    Thank you, and I wish you all the best as you go forward in your important work. Safe travels

    and take care!

    Faafetai lava.

    SOURCE – USUS Embassy Apia, Samoa

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Hon. Minister of Sports and Recreation at the Australian Government Welcoming Reception for the Australian Women’s and Australian First Nations Men’s Rugby 7s Team

    Source: Government of Western Samoa

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    (AHC Compound Avele – Thursday, 19 September 2024 @ 6.00pm)

    Rev. Siaosi Salesulu

    Honourable Ministers of Cabinet

    And Members of Parliament

    Honoured Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps

    Australian First Nations Men’s and Australian Women’s 7s Teams and Management

    Distinguished guests

    Ladies and Gentlemen

    Talofa lava and warmest greetings. Rev. Salesulu, we extend our

    heartfelt gratitude for your uplifting message and prayers. Your words set a tone of unity and positivity for this special event. Thank you, and may you continue to be anointed and blessed in your ministry to the world.

    This evening, it is both an honour and a pleasure to welcome the

    Australian First Nations Men’s 7s Rugby team and the Australian

    Women’s 7s team to our shores.

    I have fond memories that I have shared with the Australian High

    Commissioner, His Excellency Will Robinson on occasion about my

    time on Policing missions to Timor-Leste, and the time I’ve spent in

    Darwin and Alice Springs. I have also recently had the privilege to join the Australian High Commission for the launch of their Art Exhibition featuring Torres Straight artists on display for the people of Samoa to enjoy.

    Language, culture and our own connection to land and sea is

    important to our Samoan people. Tonight, we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements of these outstanding athletes but also the deep and meaningful connections between our peoples. Sport is more than just a game; it is a powerful bridge that connects communities, fosters understanding, and nurtures friendships across borders.

    I acknowledge the efforts of the Australian Government to centre First Nations in your Foreign Policy and through your programs like

    PacificAus Sports and Team Up.

    Our two nations share a strong bond, united through our love for

    rugby and a mutual commitment to supporting athletes from

    grassroots to high performance. This includes the PacificAus Sports

    support for Manusina 15s development pathways through Penina

    Pasifika, and pre-olympic support for the Manu 7s.

    The presence of three Australian teams in Samoa this week to

    celebrate 100 years of Rugby is a testament to the strength of this

    partnership. I hope your participation and dedication inspires us all

    and reminds us of the true spirit of competition and collaboration.

    You will no doubt be aware of the newly established Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the commitment by the Government of Samoa to fostering an environment where sports can thrive, and our athletes can achieve their full potential. One of our primary goals is to ensure that sports are accessible to all Samoans, regardless of their background. We are dedicated to developing programs that not only enhance performance but also instils values of teamwork, discipline, and resilience in our youth.

    We are therefore deeply grateful for Australia’s unwavering support in the realm of sports, which helps elevate not just the game but also the lives of countless individuals resonating with the goals of the Ministry. It is through this spirit of camaraderie and shared passion that we continue to grow and succeed together. A spirit that was evident at the Manusina versus Australia A match on Monday, on and off the field.

    As we move towards two Rugby World Cups hosted in Australia,

    Samoa looks forward to exploring opportunities to further strengthen our partnership and Rugby in Samoa, at all levels.

    Thank you for being here, for your dedication, and for the powerful

    example you set for all of us. Let us celebrate the unity and friendship that sport brings into our lives.

    Fa’afetai tele lava, and all the best on the competition this week.

    May your time in our beautiful Samoa be a memorable and a joyous trip for everyone.

    Thank you

    Photo by Government of Samoa (Leota Marc Membrere)

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Avos Finance: BaFin warns consumers about the websites avos-finance.com and avos-finance.ltd

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the company Avos Finance and the services it is offering. BaFin suspects the operator of the websites avos-finance.com and avos-finance.ltd of offering consumers financial and investment services in Germany without the required authorisation.

    Anyone conducting banking business or providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent website related to Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent website related to Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
    Fraudulent website related to Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
    ***************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited relating to a fraudulent website, which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.           The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).           Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 17:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “iAM Smart” as default registration method for Hong Kong identity card holders in completing real-name registration for pre-paid SIM cards from October 1 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “iAM Smart” as default registration method for Hong Kong identity card holders in completing real-name registration for pre-paid SIM cards from October 1 (with photos)
    “iAM Smart” as default registration method for Hong Kong identity card holders in completing real-name registration for pre-paid SIM cards from October 1 (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) announced today (September 27) the latest enhanced arrangement of the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards (Real-name Registration Programme). Starting from October 1, Hong Kong identity (HKID) card holders completing real-name registration for pre-paid cards (PPS cards) via telecommunications service providers’ online registration platforms can by default register and verify their identities through the mobile application “iAM Smart” so that they can instantly complete the registration. The enhancement aims to ensure the effective implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme and enable members of the public to activate their PPS cards more conveniently.      According to the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation (the Regulation), Hong Kong residents must use HKID cards for real-name registration. If members of the public choose not to use “iAM Smart” for real-name registration for PPS cards, telecommunications service providers will manually verify the registration information submitted upon receipt of the relevant registration requests, and the relevant PPS cards will be activated after completing the real-name registration procedures. OFCA has already requested telecommunications service providers to deploy additional resources and manpower to process such verification work. Users in need may contact their respective telecommunications service providers for details.      “To assist the enforcement agencies in combating fraudsters exploiting false information for registrations, OFCA has been maintaining close contact with telecommunications service providers and the Police, and has constantly requested telecommunications service providers to enhance their registration platforms, taking into account the operational experience since the full implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme in February last year. The digital identity authentication function of “iAM Smart” can help verify the identities of those who complete real-name registration with their HKID cards, thereby further ensuring the effective implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme. We urge members of the public to use “iAM Smart” for instant completion of the real-name registration procedures, making it easier to activate their PPS cards,” a spokesman for OFCA said.     To help the public understand more about the relevant enhancement, OFCA and the Digital Policy Office (DPO) jointly conducted publicity and education activities in Mong Kok today, and arranged “iAM Smart” mobile registration teams to assist members of the public in registering for “iAM Smart” on-site. Staff members of OFCA also distributed leaflets and souvenirs to remind members of the public not to purchase or resell PPS cards that have allegedly completed real-name registration.        In addition, OFCA has requested telecommunications service providers to step up their inspection of user information of registered PPS cards and refer suspicious cases to the Police for follow-up to assist in combating phone deception. As of end August this year, telecommunications service providers had rejected around 3 million registration requests as clients failed to provide information that meets the registration requirements, and had deregistered around 2.64 million non-compliant PPS cards. Earlier, based on reports from telecommunications service providers, the Police successfully arrested suspects for using false identity information to register a large number of PPS cards, including the telephone deception case involving a transnational crime syndicate as announced last month.      “To avoid contravening the relevant laws, members of the public must complete real-name registration with their own original identity document, and traders should not assist any persons in using the identity document of a third party in completing the registration. OFCA will continue to carry out a series of monitoring actions to ensure that telecommunications service providers comply with the requirements of the Regulation and the relevant guidelines,” the spokesman added.      Details of the Real-name Registration Programme are available at OFCA’s thematic website (www.ofca.gov.hk/simreg/en). For further information about the “iAM Smart” services, please visit the DPO’s “iAM Smart” thematic website (www.iamsmart.gov.hk/en/).

     
    Ends/Friday, September 27, 2024Issued at HKT 18:38

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: stockstrends.co: BaFin warns consumers about website

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the website stockstrends.co. According to information available to BaFin, financial and investment services are being provided on this website without the required authorisation.

    The operator of the website is StocksTrends Ltd. It provides business addresses in London, United Kingdom, and the British Virgin Islands.
    BaFin has warned consumers about several almost identical websites that have come to its attention recently. The homepage of each website begins with the following sentence: “Step Into the Trading Arena With Confidence & [name of website]”.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Creator of tool to protect DV victims wins national award

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Stacey Rothwell, Network Director for the Eastern Region Innovation has been working on Rapid Video Response (RVR.)

    The creator of an innovative tool to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims has won a national award for her work.

    Stacey Rothwell, Network Director for the Eastern Region Innovation was instrumental in the development and roll out of Rapid Video Response (RVR) – a secure technology which gives domestic violence victims video-based officer response in as little as three minutes.

    In the pilot area of Kent, the tool has significantly increased victim satisfaction and reduced anxiety, while from a policing perspective it has led to an increase in arrests and cut down on investigation time. 

    RVR has been given the seal of approval from the national VAWG Taskforce, who will oversee its national roll out, under the leadership of Assistant Chief Constable Sam Millar and Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe.

    The technology aims to put victims at the forefront and offer them a consistent service and a more efficient response. It also wants policing to measure performance based on victim satisfaction levels, and encourage further reporting of Domestic Abuse.

    Praising Stacey’s work, Professor Paul Taylor, Chief Scientific Adviser said:

    “Few examples in the public sector so crisply capture the value of science-led innovation than Rapid Video Response (RVR).

    “It uses secure technology to give domestic violence victims an immediate video-based officer response rather than a delayed physical response. By doing so, RVR reduces policing’s response time from around 33 hours to just three minutes.

    “This massively increases trust and confidence in policing, and for victims, it reduces anxiety. RVR improves evidence collection, reduces the length of primary investigations by around 40 per cent and has increased arrests by around 50 per cent. It also has the potential to save forces money in transportation and other costs.”

    He added: “The idea of RVR may seem obvious, yet Stacey deserves credit for her breakthrough because she recognised the problem and stepped up to lead a solution.

    “She undertook two randomised-control trials in Kent Police, with support of the Chief Officers, to show the value of RVR and the absence of negative consequences and then developed a blueprint to across the Eastern region initially. 

    “RVR has helped tens of thousands of women and girls suffering from domestic violence. With overseas forces expressing interest, this innovation is on course to be an international success.”

    Comments from the judges echoed Professor Taylor, stating Stacey’s work was a worthy winner due to ‘the efficient and rigorous process’ which was undertaken as well as the ‘significant impact’ made not only to the area of research, but to people’s lives.

    Stacey’s hard work and determination was recognised at the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Awards, held at the Science Museum in South Kensington on September 18, where she took home the Innovation Award.

    The category recognises those who utilise and embed innovation within their ways of working in the public sector.

    If you would like to learn more about RVR you can read a detailed case study here and also watch a short video about the innovative tool.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ill prepared

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    In a recent public inquiry, Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington heard the case of Peter Edward Douglas.

    Mr. Douglas held a restricted PSV licence and had applied for a standard licence, but following an extensive investigation, it was determined that Mr. Douglas is no longer trusted to operate in a compliant manner in the future.

    Mr Douglas, a sole trader, was granted as restricted public service vehicle operator’s licence authorising 2 vehicles in 2007. The inquiry heard that the DVSA had stopped his vehicles four times and on each of the four occasions, the vehicle had been used commercially for hire and reward.

    There were no tachographs fitted in the vehicles, no commercial MOTs and in two cases, the driver did not have the required driving entitlement for the vehicle, nor did he have a driver CPC qualification or a digital tachograph card which were also required in order to drive the vehicle for hire and reward. The operator seemed to have no real idea of how to run a compliant business.

    In the absence of the correct driving entitlement the insurance for the vehicle was invalid since all policies of commercial vehicle insurance require the driver to have the correct driving entitlement required to drive the insured vehicle at the time it was being driven. The second time that this driver was stopped, the vehicle was seized by the Police because they were satisfied that it was not insured and as at the date of the public inquiry it remained in their custody.

    Commissioner Dorrington said “It is clear to me that Mr Douglas lacked, any, or any effective management control of the transport operation to ensure that the general undertakings on the operator’s licence were fulfilled. His lack of knowledge is inexcusable as an experienced operator (he has been an operator for 17 years) and no lack of basic knowledge to operate a compliant transport operation can ever be accepted.”

    The commissioner found that he had lost his good repute and revoked the licence, giving the operator until the 30th September to wind down the operation.

    The full written decision can be found here.

    For any further details or enquiries, please contact:

    Office of the Traffic Commissioner Press Office

    Moblie: 07971963998      I     Email: pressoffice@otc.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Super-complaint on the police response to stalking

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Super-complaint submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium about the police response to stalking.

    Applies to England and Wales

    Documents

    The police response to stalking

    https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-html/police-response-to-stalking

    The police response to stalking (PDF)

    https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets-hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/uploads/police-response-to-stalking.pdf

    Annex A: IOPC – Qualitative research into victims’ experiences of reporting stalking to the police and subsequent police actions

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints/super-complaints/police-response-stalking/qualitative-research-into-victims-experiences-of-reporting-stalking-to-the-police-and-subsequent-police-actions

    Annex A: IOPC – Qualitative research into victims’ experiences of reporting stalking to the police and subsequent police actions (PDF)

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/publications/qualitative-research-victims-experiences-reporting-stalking-police-and-subsequent

    Annex B: College of Policing rapid evidence review: Stalking and serious harm or homicide (PDF)

    https://assets.college.police.uk/s3fs-public/2024-09/Stalking-and-serious-harm-or-homicide-REA.pdf

    Annex C: College of Policing rapid evidence review: Victim experience of the police response to stalking (PDF)

    https://assets.college.police.uk/s3fs-public/2024-09/Victim-experience-of-the-policing-response-to-stalking-REA.pdf

    Annex D: An annex report about HMICFRS fieldwork to support the investigation of the super-complaint on the police response to stalking

    https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/publication-html/annex-super-complaint-police-response-to-stalking

    Annex D: An annex report about HMICFRS fieldwork to support the investigation of the super-complaint on the police response to stalking (PDF)

    https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets-hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/uploads/annex-super-complaint-police-response-to-stalking.pdf

    Annex E: IOPC – Force self-assessment survey on the police response to stalking

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints/super-complaints/police-response-stalking/force-self-assessment-survey-on-the-police-response-to-stalking

    Annex E: IOPC – Force self-assessment survey on the police response to stalking (PDF)

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/publications/force-self-assessment-survey-police-response-stalking

    Annex F: IOPC – Review of IOPC cases involving stalking

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints/super-complaints/police-response-stalking/review-of-IOPC-cases-involving-stalking

    Annex F: IOPC – Review of IOPC cases involving stalking (PDF)

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/publications/review-iopc-cases-involving-stalking

    Annex G: College of Policing report on officer and staff perspectives on the police response to stalking (PDF)

    https://assets.college.police.uk/s3fs-public/2024-09/Officer-and-staff-perspectives-on-the-policing-response-to-stalking_0.pdf

    Annex H: IOPC – Qualitative research into the perspectives of stalking victim support service providers on the police response to stalking

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints/super-complaints/police-response-stalking/qualitative-research-into-the-perspectives-of-stalking-victim-support-service-providers-on-the-police-response-to-stalking

    Annex H: IOPC – Qualitative research into the perspectives of stalking victim support service providers on the police response to stalking (PDF)

    https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/publications/qualitative-research-perspectives-stalking-victim-support-service-providers-police

    Super-complaint on the police response to stalking

    https://www.suzylamplugh.org/super-complaint-submitted-on-police-response-to-stalking

    Details

    The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and the College of Policing have published a report in response to the super-complaint submitted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium. The super-complaint raised concerns about how police forces in England and Wales respond to reports of stalking.  

     A joint investigation by the IOPC, HMICFRS and the College of Policing found that significant changes are needed to improve the police response to reports of stalking in England and Wales. 

     The joint investigation report includes a series of recommendations aimed at supporting policing to make the necessary improvements to ensure reports of stalking are consistently taken seriously and victims are better safeguarded. There are recommendations for chief constables, as well as for the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, police and crime commissioners and the Crown Prosecution Service. These include recommendations for changes to the law around stalking and stalking protection orders. There are also actions for the College of Policing and the IOPC to further develop the available guidance and advice for police on responding to reports of stalking.

    Updates to this page

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Releases Annual Safety Reports

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn is releasing two reports detailing its response to reports of criminal activity, sexual violence, serious on-campus injuries, and other issues it monitors to ensure the safety of its campus communities.

    The first, the Clery Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, is required from all U.S. universities that receive federal financial aid funds. It includes data about certain crimes identified by the Clery Act, including violations of the Violence Against Women Act; arrests and disciplinary referrals for drug and alcohol violations; and hate crimes reported on property that UConn owns or controls, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to campus.

    It also includes a comprehensive overview of safety policies and prevention programs available to UConn’s campus communities. It is compiled by the UConn Division of University Safety.

    The second report, compiled by UConn’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), is a state-mandated annual overview in which all Connecticut colleges and universities outline their policies and data on sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence.

    It captures a wider range of data in those categories than the Clery report because the data collected is not limited to incidents reported to have occurred on UConn property, and because it includes incidents reported even in the absence of a UConn connection.

    Some categories listed in the Clery and OIE reports might appear to capture data about the same kinds of crimes and incidents, including some regarding sexual assault and related crimes.

    However, the numbers will differ between the two reports because of the differences in how the incidents are defined, and the locations for which incidents must be captured.

    In addition, some categories listed in the Clery reports and federally required Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) – from which crime rates are calculated – might appear to reflect the same kinds of crimes and incidents. However, the Clery and UCR numbers will also differ because they use different metrics on the populations and places for what is included in each report’s calculations.

    Importantly, some figures involving sexual assault and related crimes may differ because the University prioritizes the wishes of the complainant in whether that person wants an investigation to be pursued. That helps them regain a sense of agency over their circumstances and is part of the process to help them make the journey to survivor.

    The Clery report also includes an appendix with additional data required under Connecticut Public Act 21-184, which directs colleges and universities to report accidents on their campuses that result in serious injuries or deaths.

    It is similar to the proposed federal COREY Act (College Operational Reporting of Emergencies Involving Teens and Young Adults), named for Corey Hausman, a Connecticut native who died of a head injury shortly after a skateboarding accident on his campus as a freshman at the University of Colorado.

    —

    2023 Clery Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

    UConn is posting the report for calendar year 2023 on its website and distributing the link electronically in compliance with federal and state law, and in the interest of informing all enrolled students, faculty, and staff on this important subject.

    The Clery data includes reports from complainants made directly to UConn Police, along with information that comes to the attention of campus officials beyond law enforcement.
    Those officials, known as “campus security authorities,” comprise more than 1,200 people who regularly interact with students in their roles as resident assistants, coaches, faculty advisers, and other on-campus authorities.

    The university has significantly increased training for those officials so that they better understand what they are legally required to report and the proper way to do so. In the case of sexual violence crimes, UConn’s Clery numbers reflect a large amount of input from campus security authorities, along with significant outreach services university-wide to encourage reporting of this traditionally underreported crime.

    Of the eight sexual assaults reported at Storrs in calendar year 2023 – the same number as in 2022 – police received six reports directly from individuals. The rest were reported by campus security authorities, including Residential Life and Student Affairs, to be included in the Clery report.

    UConn takes an expansive view on what is included in the data by counting all sexual assault reports received in a given year, regardless of the level of detail known to the university; regardless of when the assault is reported to have occurred; and even when the report comes from a third party in the absence of a complainant.

    This is an important part of UConn’s commitment to creating and maintaining a campus free from all forms of sexual harassment, sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking.

    Under a University policy, nearly all UConn employees are “responsible employees” to report sexual assault. Because that policy is specific to UConn and other institutions might take different approaches, comparisons are difficult to make against other universities whose policies are not as robust and whose reporting requirements are not as stringent.

    The University provides information online for all individuals impacted by sexual assault to receive support and file reports, including through its website on sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking awareness.

    It also launched the UConn InForm site (inform.uconn.edu) to simplify and streamline reporting processes, offering an avenue through which students, faculty, staff and others can more easily locate and use the University’s many resources to report concerns and find support.

    This year’s Clery report reflects a decrease in the number of reports of fondling to three reported to UConn Police in 2023, compared to 11 in the previous year.

    Twelve motor vehicle thefts were reported in 2023 on campus, of which 11 were scooters. Those numbers are similar to 2022 figures, which showed 12 thefts that included nine scooters.

    UConn’s 2023 Clery report also captures data on reports of domestic violence, which is defined differently in Connecticut than in many other states. The 2023 figure of nine events reported is up from seven in 2022.

    Before June 2019, Connecticut’s domestic violence laws afforded protection to any people who lived together, including college roommates in non-romantic relationships, but the law was changed to include two exemptions.

    The first exception clarified that platonic roommates are not subject to mandatory arrest when they are attending higher education and live on campus or in off-campus housing that is owned, managed, or operated by the institution.

    The second exception extends to platonic roommates anywhere who are making payments pursuant to a written or oral rental agreement, also excluding them from mandatory arrest.
    The secondary exception would apply to sororities or fraternities who are owned and operated by individual organizations.

    However, roommates who are in a dating relationship, married, formerly married, related by blood or by marriage, or who have a child in common are still subject to the family violence mandatory arrest laws.

    In reviewing Clery data, it is also vital to understand that the ways in which domestic violence is defined and application of the applicable laws vary from state to state, making comparisons to other states’ institutions invalid.

    For instance, UConn’s domestic violence reporting process captures figures for the number of victims, not the number of incidents. Therefore, if two people involved in one incident both report it separately, the same incident appears twice in the data as two separate offenses if both individuals are the victim of a crime. One overall event can generate two or more statistics.

    University officials promote awareness of UConn’s bystander intervention programs, which help increase awareness of sexual violence on campus and empower students to be effective, proactive bystanders.

    One such program, Protect Our Pack, is presented to all incoming first-year and transfer students at the Storrs and regional campuses during fall orientation as students settle in for the new academic year.

    In addition, UConn Police also offers many initiatives tackling difficult conversations about stalking, intimate partner violence, consent, and effective communications. The programs are offered throughout the year to students at all academic levels.

    Under a state law that went into effect in 2021, UConn’s Clery report includes an appendix reporting serious accidental injuries or deaths that it can identify on its campuses for 2023.

    Those incidents can include, but are not limited to, injuries or deaths that resulted from vehicle collisions, and in which pedestrians were hurt or killed while walking, jogging, bicycling, skateboarding, and similar activities.

    The data must also include injuries and deaths from on-campus slips and/or falls such as tripping at ground level or falling from heights, including off bunk beds; alcohol or drug overdoses; choking or drowning; and other accidental incidents. The UConn Division of University Safety quantifies such incidents by reviewing reports from its police and fire/EMS records, Student Health & Wellness, and other sources.

    UConn also proactively included information this year for the first time that explains the University’s Bias Reporting system and reflects its numbers for the past three years.

    Although none of the incidents met the threshold to be criminally prosecutable as a hate crime, UConn encourages members of its community to report incidents they believe exhibit bias based on race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, a past or present history of mental disorders, or physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities.

    By encouraging members of the community to report these incidents under the bias protocol, the University can better provide support to people and groups who are affected, and to determine if those who exhibited the behavior – if they can be identified – violated the Student Code of Conduct.

    2023 UConn OIE Report Pursuant to State Statute Section 10a-55m

    In addition to the annual federally mandated Clery report, UConn also submits a yearly report to the General Assembly specifically on sexual violence policies and data.

    Figures in this report exceed those in the Clery data because it captures all incidents disclosed to UConn, regardless of on or off-campus location or the year in which they are reported to have occurred.

    It also includes information on prevention, awareness, and risk reduction programs and campaigns provided in the community throughout the year. This year’s report outlines more than 500 such initiatives, constituting a 23% increase in education and prevention programs.

    The 2023 OIE report indicates that OIE received 118 reports of sexual assault, of which 68 were reported to have occurred during 2023. The University’s definition of sexual assault is broad and can include incidents such as unwanted touching (sexual contact) along with more physically invasive offenses categorized in criminal law.

    The sexual assault disclosure numbers also include reports of incidents from many years ago, including childhood abuse – all of which helps the university provide appropriate, compassionate, and trauma-informed services to students and employees if and whenever they choose to share their experience with the University.

    Among the 118 reports of sexual assault logged in the newest report, 42 of the respondents were identified as being connected to UConn; three of the reports came in anonymously or confidentially; and in nine cases, the complainant chose to participate in a University investigation.

    Those who report an incident can request a University investigation at a later time should they wish, not only at the time they make a report.

    The University takes steps to follow the wishes of the complainant whenever possible and does not investigate unless that individual wants the University to do so. Only in limited circumstances will the University proceed with an investigation against a complainant’s wishes.

    Factors considered within this determination include the age of the complainant, whether there is evidence of a pattern of misconduct, the severity of the misconduct, and whether there is a safety risk to the complainant or the campus community.

    In matters where an investigation does not occur, the University may still take responsive or preventative actions, such as meetings with the alleged respondent and/or additional training and prevention work with impacted communities.

    UConn’s OIE report for 2023 also includes 48 reported incidents of stalking, of which 44 were reported to have occurred in 2023. In 28 of the stalking cases, the respondent was identified as being connected to UConn.

    None of the complainants chose to participate in a university investigation at the time of making the report, but they all retain the right to request an investigation later if they wish.

    A total of 66 cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) were reported, including 63 reported to have occurred in 2023. In 15 of the intimate partner violence cases, the respondent was identified as being connected to UConn; and in one of those cases, the complainant chose to participate in a University investigation.

    As with other categories, those who reported intimate partner violence but chose not to participate in a University investigation can still request one later if they wish.

    In addition to providing data, the OIE report outlined 510 awareness and prevention programs and campaigns during the year. They include the “Protect Our Pack” bystander intervention training provided at new student orientation; UConn’s Violence Against Women Prevention Program (VAWPP) Consent 201 courses; the widespread training provided to employees; and many others.

    In addition to Storrs-specific brochures and programs, the University provides programs and publications tailored to the regional campus communities and UConn Health.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NPCC response to stalking super-complaint

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills responds to HMICFRS, IPOC and College of Policing’s findings into a super-complaint on stalking.

    Today (27 September), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, the Independent Office for Police Conduct and College of Policing have published their findings into a super-complaint on stalking. The report makes recommendations for policing and wider criminal justice agencies to improve the response to victims of stalking.

    In 2022, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium, submitted a super-complaint that raised concerns around the police response to stalking in England and Wales, including identifying and investigating stalking behaviours and ensuring protections for victims. 

    Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for stalking, said: “We welcome the recommendations made in the super-complaint and remain committed to doing everything possible to improve the policing response for victims of stalking. 

    “Stalking and harassment can have a devastating impact on victims. Our criminal justice system must recognise the damage and harm perpetrators cause and protect victims at the earliest opportunity. 

    “To effectively do this, policing must respond as part of a wider system approach. As the report highlights, police forces that have integrated multi-agency models to respond to reports of stalking have seen the best success at disrupting perpetrator behaviour and safeguarding victims.  

    “We must continue to drive best practice nationally across forces and ensure that police officers and staff have the right skills and resources to identify and investigate reports and provide support for victims through the criminal justice process.  

    “We are carefully working through the recommendations made for policing and will work closely with our partners across the criminal justice system and beyond to further improve and standardise the service victims receive.” 

    Policing is working hard to improve its response to stalking and harassment, which accounts for 40% of all offences related to violence against women and girls.

    • Each force has a dedicated stalking lead, and many have specialist advisors to support victims through the reporting stage and investigative process. 
    • Updated training and guidance for officers and staff has been implemented nationally, which focuses on better understanding stalking and harassment behaviours, the impact on victims and maximising existing police powers to effectively pursue offenders and safeguard victims. 
    • The introduction of a national stalking screening tool for front line officers – following a period of trial in selected forces – this new tool has been designed to support police responders to better identify whether a stalking crime is being presented, as opposed to a harassment, coercive and controlling behaviour, or malicious communications, to initiate urgent investigative action, implement safeguarding measures and safety planning processes, and to ensure referrals to the most appropriate support services are offered. 
    • We have been working with the Home Office to further embed Stalking Protection Orders with updated statutory guidance in relation to the standard of proof thresholds and improve the access to official SPO data on a more regular basis.
    • Working with Chief Constables and PCC’s to share the learning from multi-agency perpetrator programmes. 
    • Working in partnership with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to improve prosecution rates by refreshing the joint protocol on the appropriate handling of stalking or harassment offences between the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the CPS and supporting the development of the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan principles to improve the response to both domestic and non-domestic stalking. 
    • Improving the available data concerning the incidence of stalking, to help target further improvement activity. 
    • We are working closely with stalking charities to better understand the experience of victims and drive improvements in the police response. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SIM card registration enhanced

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) today announced that starting October 1, Hong Kong identity (HKID) card holders completing real-name registration for pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards via telecommunications service providers’ online registration platforms can by default register and verify their identities through the iAM Smart mobile application.

     

    The enhancement aims to ensure the effective implementation of the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards and enable the public to activate PPS cards more conveniently.

     

    According to the Telecommunications (Registration of SIM Cards) Regulation, Hong Kong residents must use HKID cards for real-name registration.

     

    If people choose not to use iAM Smart for real-name registration, telecommunications service providers will manually verify registration information submitted. PPS cards will only be activated after completion of real-name registration procedures.

     

    To help the public understand more about the enhancement, the OFCA and the Digital Policy Office jointly conducted publicity and education activities in Mong Kok today, with mobile registration teams assisting people in registering for iAM Smart on-site.

     

    Additionally, the OFCA has requested that telecommunications service providers step up their inspection of user information in relation to PPS cards and refer suspicious cases to Police for follow-up to assist in combating phone deception.

     

    As of the end of August, telecommunications service providers had rejected around 3 million registration requests due to applicants failing to provide information in compliance with the registration requirements. Around 2.64 million non-compliant PPS cards had been deregistered.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Police stop more Black drivers, while speed cameras issue unbiased tickets − new study from Chicago

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Wenfei Xu, Assistant Professor, Cornell University

    Traffic stops are meant to make the streets safer, but police interactions with Black drivers can escalate quickly. deepblue4you via Getty

    Traffic stops by Chicago police have more than doubled over the past nine years in what the American Civil Liberties Union, a civil rights group, is calling the “new stop-and-frisk.”

    Stop and frisk is when officers stop and search people based on “reasonable suspicion” that they are involved in criminal activity. The practice has been documented to disproportionately target Black and Latino people – not only in Chicago but also in New York and across the United States. In Chicago, it has declined sharply since a 2015 reform agreement between the ACLU and the Chicago Police Department.

    Meanwhile, traffic stops have surged in Chicago, rising from less than 200,000 in 2016 to over 570,000 in 2023. And much like stop and frisk, police disproportionately stop Black drivers in Chicago, according to our latest study examining racial bias in traffic enforcement.

    Drivers, automated enforcement and police stops

    Our research, published in June 2024, used data on the racial composition of drivers on every street in Chicago. We then compared who is driving on roads with who is being ticketed by the city’s speed cameras and who is being stopped by the Chicago police.

    Our findings show that when speed cameras are doing the ticketing, the proportion of tickets issued to Black and white drivers aligns closely with their respective share of roadway users. With human enforcement, in contrast, police officers stop Black drivers at a rate that far outstrips their presence on the road.

    For instance, on roads where half of drivers are Black, Black drivers receive approximately 54% of automated camera citations. However, they make up about 70% of police stops.

    On roadways where half of the drivers are white, white drivers account for around half of automated citations – and less than 20% of police stops.

    Driving while Black

    Our research adds to other evidence that shows racial bias is a problem in traffic enforcement – a problem sometimes summarized as “driving while Black.”

    The civil rights era of the 1960s was rife with law enforcement incidents that targeted Black drivers. As the scholar and historian Gretchen Sorin details in her 2020 book “Driving While Black,” the car simultaneously opened new possibilities of freedom as well as new hazards for Black people.

    By the 1990s, the whole world witnessed the punishment that could await those caught driving while Black. In 1991, a Black man named Rodney King was stopped after a high-speed chase and beaten by police in Los Angeles. The violent encounter, captured on videotape and shared on local media, became national news.

    The officers’ acquittal sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots, in which widespread unrest and violence killed over 50 people, injured thousands and inflicted $1 billion in property damage.

    In recent years, the police killings of Daunte Wright, Tyre Nichols and other Black drivers have shown how traffic stops can escalate quickly and sometimes lethally.

    In September 2024, Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill was pulled over by local police on his way to a game at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Police officers physically pulled Hill from his vehicle and handcuffed him. The incident raised questions about the officers’ aggressive use of force.

    A screenshot from body cam footage of officers pulling Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill from his car after stopping him for speeding on Sept. 9, 2024.
    Miami-Dade Police Department

    Fairer enforcement and safer streets

    All humans have biases. These biases can become dangerous when those humans are police – agents of the state who are armed and empowered to make our cities safer.

    And even when there’s no excessive use of force, disparate enforcement erodes trust between communities and police.

    In recent years, as national conversations around racial bias in policing have accelerated, many police departments have implemented programs such as implicit bias training to establish fairer enforcement. While these initiatives appear to have an effect on officers’ attitudes about implicit bias, they do not seem to change the racial breakdown of whom police stopped, searched or arrested.

    To reduce enforcement disparities and improve how traffic violations are handled, more fundamental reforms are likely necessary.

    What can more ambitious policy reforms look like?

    Several recent potential reforms of traffic enforcement center on decriminalization and de-escalation.

    Legislators in Illinois recently proposed a bill that would prohibit traffic stops solely based on noncriminal and minor offenses such as improper vehicle registration, seat belt violations or lane usage mistakes.

    Berkeley, California, is considering using trained civilians for traffic enforcement to reduce the opportunity for escalation. The idea is akin to how parking enforcement is done in many cities, including Chicago, which has unarmed parking units separate from the police.

    The rationale for many police traffic stops is safety, which should remain a priority. Between 2013 and 2022 in Chicago, crashes on average killed 44 pedestrians, seven bicyclists and 78 vehicle passengers each year.

    In contrast, the Norwegian capital of Oslo had four traffic deaths a year between 2015 and 2019. If Chicago’s streets were as safe as Oslo’s, crashes would kill 15 people each year – not 129.

    More reliance on automated traffic enforcement could improve traffic safety and transform policing.

    Red-light cameras like this one detect and punish reckless drivers without requiring person-to-person interactions.
    John M. Chase via Getty

    Cameras can detect dangerous moving violations, such as serious speeding and running red lights, without the need for immediate police involvement. Automated enforcement alone won’t guarantee safe streets, but cameras have reduced fatal and serious injury crashes substantially where deployed, including in Chicago.

    Over half of police stops in Chicago for 2023 were license plate, registration or equipment related. Automating enforcement of such nonmoving violations would eliminate a major reason for police-driver interaction, reducing the potential for bias and escalation.

    This, in turn, would free police resources to focus on nontraffic priorities.

    And as our data shows, cameras are equal opportunity ticketers: They don’t have racial bias and carry no risk of escalation.

    David Levinson has received research funding from ARC, UDIA-NSW, iMOVE, and Sydney Metro. He is affiliated with WalkSydney and Peaceful Bayside.

    Nebiyou Tilahun has received funding from the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

    Michael J Smart and Wenfei Xu do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Police stop more Black drivers, while speed cameras issue unbiased tickets − new study from Chicago – https://theconversation.com/police-stop-more-black-drivers-while-speed-cameras-issue-unbiased-tickets-new-study-from-chicago-238170

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Making Sheffield fairer and healthier – launch of 10-year plan Making Sheffield fairer and healthier – launch of 10-year plan The city now has … 27 September 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Making Sheffield fairer and healthier – launch of 10-year plan

    The city now has a 10-year plan to create a fairer and healthier Sheffield.

    The Fair and Healthy Sheffield Plan, launched this week at The Sheffield Joint Health and Wellbeing Board, intends to close the unfair gaps in length and quality of life by prioritising improvements to the health and wellbeing of those who need it the most first.

    The plan highlights the need for ‘brave and compassionate leadership’, recognises that good health and wellbeing depends on many aspects of people’s lives and emphasises how important it is for people to know how they can be part of making the changes that they want to see.

    The Sheffield City Goals show that fairness and health really matter to Sheffield as a city and that the current situation is not fair. Some people in Sheffield die younger and have worse health than others for many reasons including the impact of racism and discrimination, living in poverty, not getting a good education, having low-paying and insecure jobs, living in poor housing, the accessibility of quality food, the support from family and friends, what their local area is like, and how easy it is to access health and social care.

    Greg Fell, Director of Public Health and Integrated Commissioning for Sheffield, said: “People consistently tell me how important good health is to them and we know that the unfair gaps we have here don’t have to exist. We can do something about it.

    “Everyone in the city needs to do things differently to make Sheffield fairer and heathier. There’s plenty to do, working together across sectors and with communities. Greater and fairer investment in creating health and wellbeing and preventing illness is needed and of course, being on top of the data we hold, keeping it up to date, measuring and reporting back on the changing Sheffield picture over time is how we will really make progress and keep on track. It’s essential we get this right and that we review constantly based on our learning and people’s feedback.

    “All of this will help us to create a different future, and we must do it together.”

    The Sheffield Joint Health and Wellbeing Board is made up of organisations from across Sheffield, working together to make Sheffield fairer and healthier. These include Sheffield City Council, the NHS, Healthwatch, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, the Voluntary and Community sector, and South Yorkshire Police. Every member is an equal partner as everyone brings an important point of view.

    Councillor Angela Argenzio, Co-Chair of The Sheffield Joint Health and Wellbeing Board and Chair of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Now that we have approved this plan today, we can act on the commitments set out in the plan. The main message from all of us is that we must do what needs to be done together. We will only be successful if we take this approach. Already there is excellent work taking place in our communities and we must build on that using the ‘building blocks’ talked about at the Board meeting yesterday.

    “I urge people to get involved with the work of the Board, it’s there for you to attend and engage with it and we know that doing things together will mean that we do things much better.

    “Constant feedback is required. We’re asking you to tell us what we’re doing well, what isn’t so good and what changes you would like to see. We intend to update the priorities in the plan every three years, and you can help us do that properly.

    “We want to be responsive and highlight the opportunities that there are for you to be part of making a difference in your life, family, or your community. Please talk with us about what matters to you so that you can have a healthier life and if you have lived experiences about any aspect of health and wellbeing and what that means to you, come to the Board and talk with us.”

    Helen Sims, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Sheffield, said: “In the community and voluntary sector, we work with communities by listening to people and making sure that people with the greatest barriers to health are empowered to build care and support around them. People working together in communities through social action are so powerful. It’s incredible what people can achieve when they have a common belief and goal and opportunity to participate in creating good health.

    “This plan will hopefully make it easier for our communities to connect with the Board so that it can support them in different ways and connect them with others who are working towards similar goals. At VAS, we will be working with voluntary sector partners out in our communities, to talk about this plan and the City Goals so that people understand the city’s current and future challenges. We’ll invite their feedback and comments and discuss at the Board, and welcome greater participation of people directly at Board meetings to talk about their experiences, concerns, and action.”

    Zak McMurray, Co-Chair of The Sheffield Joint Health and Wellbeing Board and Sheffield place Medical Director within the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said: “I welcome the approach outlined in this new 10-year plan. Creating better health in our neighbourhoods and communities is key and we must do it together. Creating and improving our health is something we need to do as individuals as far as we can and to do that in conjunction where needed with those who can support our health, such as GPs, health services and prevention services.

    “We must shift our focus from being done ‘to’ when it comes to health and instead focus on creating health ‘with’ others, our communities, our health providers. It’s a two-way thing. That said, how services are set up and run affects the unfair gaps in health and wellbeing between different groups of people, and that’s where the health organisations in the city must work hard to make it as easy as possible for those who need NHS and social care services to access them.”

    The Fair and Healthy Sheffield Plan and information about The Sheffield Joint Health and Wellbeing Board meetings and events is at https://health-wellbeing.sheffield.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: BaFin warns consumers about website arrowfortune.com

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about services offered on the website arrowfortune.com. According to information available to BaFin, the operator, Arrow Fortune Limited, is offering financial and investment services on this website without authorisation.

    On its website, Arrow Fortune Limited provides a business address in London, United Kingdom. The company also claims to be registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and that it is regulated by BaFin, among others. However, this is not the case.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: finacix.com: BaFin warns about website and suspected identity theft

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The website contains contradictory information on the identity of the provider. According to the “Risk Warning”, the website is operated by Finance and Investment Solutions Ltd., while the “Website Terms of Use” names Finacix Ltd. as operator.

    Finance and Investment Solutions Ltd. claims to be registered with the British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Since a company by this name is indeed registered with the FCA, BaFin suspects this to be a case of identity theft.

    Finacix Ltd., on the other hand, claims to be registered with the “Securities Commission of the United Kingdom (SCUK)”. There is no such authority in the United Kingdom. The website states an address in London, United Kingdom, as the company’s registered office.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: BaFin warns consumers about websites westhill-pros.net and kaiser-investrade.com

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The operator of the website westhill-pros.net refers to itself only as “Westhill Pros” without stating the company’s legal form and provides business addresses in Sydney, Australia, in Stockholm, Sweden, and in London, United Kingdom. Responsibility for the website kaiser-investrade.com is claimed by Kaiser Invest Trade, which likewise does not state the company’s legal form. The company claims to be domiciled in London, United Kingdom, without providing a specific business address.

    BaFin has recently become aware of a number of websites with almost identical content and has warned consumers about them. On all of the websites, the following sentence is displayed at the top of the homepage: “Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence & [name of website]“.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Report on rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Council

    Bern, 27.09.2024 – At its meeting on 27 September 2024, the Federal Council took note of a report on the European Commission’s proposal for a regulation on preventing and combating child sexual abuse. The report highlights the possible legal consequences of the European project. In particular, the planned control of instant messaging services could violate Swiss law.

    In November 2022, the Federal Council announced the preparation of a report in its opinion on the Bellaiche motion 22.4113 “Control of instant messaging. Protecting the population against continuous and unjustified widespread surveillance”. Submitted in connection with the European Commission’s proposal for a regulation establishing rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse (CSA regulation, for child sexual abuse), this motion tasked the Federal Council in particular with protecting the inhabitants of Switzerland against the control of instant messaging provided for in the proposed European legislative project.

    Consequences of the proposed European Union regulation

    The report of the Federal Department of Justice and Police shows that even if this regulation of the European Union (EU) would not constitute a development of the Schengen acquis and should therefore not be adopted by Switzerland, the envisaged rules could also concern legal entities or natural persons established in Switzerland. The proposed detection order could undermine the sovereignty of our country and infringe Art. 271 of the Criminal Code (acts carried out without right for a foreign state).

    The proposed regulation was withdrawn from the agenda of the EU Council and the European Parliament this summer. Discussions and differences persist between the member states, particularly on the detection order and end-to-end encryption. Hungary, which has held the presidency of the EU Council since July, has proposed a new compromise, which is currently being debated. If the proposed CSA regulation were to be adopted by the EU, the issue of sovereignty and the infringement of Swiss law would need to be clarified in depth.

    The report, which the Federal Council has taken note of, also provides an overview of the measures taken by Switzerland to combat child sexual abuse.

    Address for sending questions

    Communication fedpol, T 41 58 463 13 10, media@fedpol.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Councilhttps://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/accueil.html

    Federal Department of Justice and Policehttp://www.ejpd.admin.ch

    Federal Office of Policehttp://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/fr/home.html

    Social sharing

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Best Direct Finance: BaFin investigates purported sale of shares in “OpenAI Inc.” and warns against identity theft

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The unknown perpetrators also operate the website bestdirect-finance.com. On this website, they advertise other services, e.g. in the areas of time deposits or overnight money, asset management, investment advice or securities trading. Until recently, the website included a legal notice. There, the operator referred to itself as a “Zurich branch (…) of the parent company, Best Direct Finance LTD, from the United Kingdom”. According to information available to BaFin, there is no such connection. This is a case of identity theft.

    In the past, there have been frequent reports of attempted fraud where shares in well-known companies are offered for subscription. However, these shares are not delivered to the clients after payment is made, and the offerors can no longer be reached; in some cases, the offered shares do not even exist.

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify attempted fraud at an early stage.

    Background information:

    Unless an exemption from the prospectus requirement applies, securities may be offered to the public in Germany only if a prospectus approved by BaFin in advance has been published. During the approval process, BaFin checks whether the minimum information required by law is included in the prospectus and whether its content is understandable, coherent and consistent. However, BaFin does not check whether the information contained in the prospectus is correct. Moreover, it does not check whether the issuer is reliable nor does it examine the product in question.

    No securities prospectus relating to OpenAI shares has been submitted to BaFin for approval. You can check whether an approved prospectus for an offer of securities to the public has been filed with BaFin by consulting the Prospectuses filed database on the BaFin website.

    In addition, companies offering shares of other companies to consumers need prior authorisation from BaFin. The same applies for pre-IPO shares. Information on whether particular companies have been authorised by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Dallas arrests Mexican national charged with aggravated assault on a public servant

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    DALLAS — Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas arrested Santos Victor Hernandez-Garcia, an unlawfully present 60-year-old Mexican citizen charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, Sept. 24 in Wichita Falls, Texas.

    “ERO Dallas will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our Texas and Oklahoma communities,” said ERO Dallas Field Office Director Marcos Charles.

    The Houston Police Department arrested Hernandez for first degree murder with a deadly weapon on July 12, 1990. Hernandez was convicted of the charge in the 174th District Court in Harris County, Texas, on January 15, 1991, and sentenced to 20 years confinement.

    The Office of the Inspector General for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice charged Hernandez for harassment by persons in a correctional facility on Feb. 28, 2002, and Hernandez was convicted of the charge and sentenced to three years confinement by the 3rd District Court in Anderson County, Texas on June 13, 2002.

    Hernandez entered the U.S. at an unknown date, at an unknown location, without inspection.

    ERO Dallas lodged an immigration detainer against Hernandez with the Wichita, Texas County jail on June 27, 2017 and officers from ERO Dallas took custody of Hernandez on Sept. 24, serving him with a warrant of removal.

    Detainers are critical public safety tools which focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Because detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Detainers also conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our ERO Dallas communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERODallas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Crackdown to tackle phone theft and robbery in Croydon

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers are tackling robbery and theft as part of their commitment to making Croydon safer by using precision policing to target offenders.

    Local teams have stepped up efforts to protect people who live, work and visit Croydon, responding to community concerns around pick pocketing, robbery and theft.

    With a laser like focus on CCTV footage and a drum beat of operations in robbery hotspots, officers are intensifying efforts to tackle these issues head on and take more criminals off the streets.

    Neighbourhood officers in Croydon have been encouraging victims to report robberies as they happen to allow for a quick time investigation. This early reporting has enabled officers to get to the scene promptly and start collecting crucial evidence. This significantly increases the likelihood of apprehending a suspect.

    Across Croydon and London more widely, officers are being deployed to areas with higher robbery crime rates. This deters criminals and makes officers more visibly available to members of the community. Plain clothed officers also patrol areas to identify any suspicious behaviour and make arrests.

    Chief Inspector James Weston said: “We understand the impact that robbery has on victims – it is invasive and frightening. That’s why our teams are working so hard to deter and catch offenders to reassure our local community.

    “Thanks to the hard work of officers, our partners and community grassroots organisations, we are stepping up our efforts and tackling the issues that matter most to the people of Croydon.”

    Recent prosecutions in Croydon demonstrate officer’s success in bringing offenders to justice.

    Teens prosecuted for spree of Croydon robberies

    Two teenagers aged 16 and 17 – and who cannot be named for legal reasons – pleaded guilty to counts of robbery, attempted robbery and attempted grievous bodily harm.

    This followed an investigation into a spree of robberies across Croydon and Bromley on Monday, 5 August. A coordinated effort was undertaken to identify the teenagers following one report, where a victim was robbed at knifepoint. Officers immediately began to investigate, with officers recovering two discarded kitchen knives and analysing hours’ worth of CCTV.

    Once identified, detectives tracked back through recent robbery reports on the day of the original offence, as well as reports from previous days. This involved analysing phone records to show the pair were present at the locations of the reported robberies. Detectives used this evidence to prove that the pair were responsible for eight other robberies across the south London area.

    Phone snatcher brought to justice

    In a similar fast-time case concerning multiple victims, a man was arrested following a succession of robberies in Croydon and Lambeth

    On Wednesday, 6 March 2024 a woman in Croydon had her iPhone snatched out of her hands by an offender on a push bike. The woman reported the incident to Croydon Police Station.

    Less than an hour later, a report came into police that another victim had had their phone stolen while they waited for a bus.

    The man was arrested following a swift police response, with officers using real-time phone tracking data to locate him. Officers identified him the same day, where he was still in possession of the stolen phones.

    While arresting him, officers also recovered a stolen motorbike.

    Amari Scott, 20 (06.08.2004) of Wrythe Lane, Sutton was sentenced to four years in a Young Offender’s Institution.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leader of 2021 Tennessee Clinic Blockade Sentenced for Federal Conspiracy Against Rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act Convictions

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Chester Gallagher, the leader of a March 5, 2021, blockade of a Mount Juliet, Tennessee, reproductive health clinic was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release following his convictions for federal conspiracy against rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offenses.

    “This defendant, like everyone else, has a right to his personal views regarding reproductive healthcare, and the right to speak, write and demonstrate about those views,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “But he does not have the right to impose his views on others by using intimidation and physical obstruction to prevent access to reproductive health care. This defendant is being held accountable for leading both a conspiracy to blockade a reproductive health clinic and the actual blockade, which physically obstructed patient access. The Justice Department will continue to protect patients seeking reproductive health services and the providers delivering those services.”

    “The defendant and his co-conspirators knowingly chose to violate a law that was enacted to protect health care providers and patients in an effort to impose their views about reproductive healthcare on others” said U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. “While we are all entitled to our personal views, yesterday’s sentence is a reminder that we cannot pick and choose which laws we follow and that those who violate the law will be held accountable.”

    “This sentencing should send a clear message that the FBI will always work to bring to justice those who violate the civil rights of others,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations to protect the rights of those who receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.”

    Gallagher and five co-defendants were previously convicted at trial of all charges. A sixth co-defendant previously pleaded guilty. Evidence presented at trial proved that Gallagher and his co-defendants engaged in a conspiracy to prevent employees at the Mount Juliet reproductive health clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services, a civil right secured by the FACE Act. As part of the conspiracy, Gallagher and others traveled to Tennessee from other states to participate in the clinic blockade, and Gallagher and another co-defendant stalled the Mount Juliet Police Department through phony negotiations. Evidence at trial further proved that the defendant violated the FACE Act by using physical obstruction to interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because the clinic provided, and the patient sought, reproductive health services.

    Gallagher was also convicted of conspiracy against rights and FACE Act offenses in the Eastern District of Michigan on Aug. 20.

    The FBI Memphis Field Office, Nashville Resident Agency, investigated the case. 

    The U.S Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee and Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Hackensack, New Jersey, Police Department under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative

    Source: US State of Vermont

    The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will provide an Organizational Assessment of the Hackensack, New Jersey, Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This is a voluntary program that is offered at the request of law enforcement agencies that are seeking to ensure fair, impartial, and effective policing for the communities they serve. Over the next year, the Hackensack Police Department will work in partnership with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on:

    • Data-Driven Policing;
    • Employee Wellness, Training, and Professional Development;
    • Community Engagement and Problem-Solving Strategies;
    • Internal and External Communications;
    • Leadership and Organizational Structure; and
    • Accountability and Oversight Systems.

    “The in-depth assessments undertaken as part of the Collaborative Reform Initiative benefit both the Hackensack Police Department and the community,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “By taking an honest look at what might need to be strengthened or reformed, agencies can continue to improve public safety and trust.”

    “By examining an agency’s historical practices, their current practices, and their goals for the future, a solid plan for moving forward can be put in place,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “It is this kind of strategic thinking and planning that is critical in helping agencies meet the standards that the community has set for them.”

    Regular updates on the Collaborative Reform Initiative team’s work with the Hackensack Police Department will be provided at www.cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-hackensack-nj-police-department as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort.

    The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide.

    The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance to improve the fairness, effectiveness, and efficacy of agency operations that build trust with communities. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths, and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting and community input. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management, and organizational reform.

    The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Murphy Announces $15 Million FEMA Award to Increase Climate Change Resiliency

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    TRENTON – To conclude Climate Week, Governor Phil Murphy today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) selected New Jersey’s application, awarding $15 million in funding to increase climate change preparedness and provide immediate relief to homeowners in the aftermath of a storm. New Jersey will provide a 10% match, about $1.5 million, as part of the award.

    The selection, through FEMA’s Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program, will allow New Jersey to make low-interest loans to local governments most in need of financial assistance, including low-income areas and underserved communities, for their hazard mitigation and resilience infrastructure needs.

    “This award is essential to ensuring that our local communities have the tools they need to get ahead of the next disaster,” said Governor Murphy. “As our state experiences the growing intensity of storms and sea-level rise due to climate change, this program will allow us to increase available resources so we can provide prompt assistance to New Jerseyans. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and New Jersey’s congressional delegation for fully funding the STORM Act as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

    The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act established the STORM Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to provide revolving loan funds to states, eligible federally recognized tribes, territories, and Washington, D.C. to finance projects that reduce risks from natural hazards and disasters.

    Through the STORM RLF program, FEMA empowers these entities to make funding decisions and award loans directly. These revolving loan funds will help local governments carry out hazard mitigation projects that reduce disaster risks for communities, homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to build climate resilience.

    “As we highlight Climate Week, it is important for us to address the ever-expanding impacts that climate change has on the communities we serve. Increased severe weather activity not just threatens an increase in costs– it threatens lives,” said FEMA Region 2 Administrator David Warrington. “At FEMA, we take climate change seriously and understand that funding opportunities of this type are critical to building resilience against the damaging effects that can occur throughout the region. We remain committed to putting people first and value our partnership with New Jersey to help communities build capacity for years to come.”

    “The new STORM RLF financing program highlights the significance our federal and State officials have placed on climate mitigation infrastructure projects in our neediest communities,” said Robert Briant, Jr., Chairperson of the I-Bank. “Working with FEMA, New Jersey now has one more tool to help these communities protect their residents and assets before the next disaster strikes.”

    “This is a significant award for the state and provides an additional path to assist local governments and underserved communities,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police and State Director of Emergency Management. “As New Jersey continues to experience stronger storms, this resource allows us to offer yet another method to carry out mitigation projects and make our state even more resilient.” 

    This second year of STORM Act funding to New Jersey represents the second highest cumulative award in the nation to date.

    The funding was made possible by a partnership between the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) and the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM), within the Division of State Police, to apply for and administer funds to finance hazard mitigation projects in New Jersey through the New Jersey Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (NJ CHAMP). Please contact the I-Bank at information@njib.gov for additional information.

    MIL OSI USA News –