police world Edition 3 2013

Article

Firsts at Gimborn

In 2013, Members Karel Simpson and Donna Powell attended their first seminars at the IPA study centre in Gimborn, Germany. Read about their experiences below. D uring my 30 year membership of the IPA, Gimborn has often been advertised and spoken of with Greece, Canada, America, Australia, Germany and Bavaria. During the seminar we had guest speakers, both regular officers and civilians, from

A First For Donna Since I joined the IPA in 2009, I have heard from fellow members over the following years about their experiences of Gimborn and was informed it was not just about the studying but networking with police officers from around the world - and that increased my interest. So towards the end of 2012 I was on standby waiting for the seminars that were going to be in English to be announced. Out of the eight English seminars for 2013 there was one that immediately grabbed my interest - namely ‘Women Strength in the Police’ - which was going to be held over the 11 - 15 March, 2013. So at the end of November 2012 I completed my application and was accepted onto the course a few days later. On arrival in Dusseldorf I met up with May-Britt Rinaldo, President of Section Sweden, and Panayiotis Sofokleous a member from Section Cyprus - we were then transferred to Gimborn. I was very excited to learn that I had a room in the castle for the duration of my stay. Part of the first day was spent learning about the facilities at Gimborn and about each other - getting to know everyone. During group work we discussed the challenges, possibilities, obstacles and the future for women within the police. It was interesting to hear and note that the points raised by all groups were very similar. On the second day, May-Britt Rinaldo gave her presentation and she shared with the attendees some of her early policing experiences of being a female police officer in a male dominated workforce. We later examined patterns of communication of women and men. We looked at strategies for successful communication in a masculine working environment in the form of theory as well as practical exercises. This is just a brief description of my first Gimborn experience. For me I cannot believe I have left it so long before attending. I got a lot out of this seminar both on a professional and personal level. I can now say that I plan to make an annual visit to Gimborn. For anyone who has not been to Gimborn I urge you to look at the seminars and experience this great place for yourself. To anyone who has not been back for a few years, what are you waiting for? Donna Powell , Sussex branch To read Donna’s article in full visit: www.ipa-uk.org/news

reverence by other members who have attended. As a member of the Special Constabulary I never considered that I was eligible to go. It was my perception that only regular police officers qualified to attend. Once I realised that Specials were eligible, I kept a look out in Police World for the coming year’s seminars being held at Gimborn. Last year I found a seminar in the Gimborn programme dealing with a subject close to my personal observation on the future of policing - which I believe would impact on the Special Constabulary in the future. The seminar I applied for dealt with the subject ‘Social Unrest as a challenge for the Police in Europe – ergonomic decline and imperfect multicultural integration’. This interested me as I wanted to discover whether the UK has unique crime problems or do other countries in Europe, that have been experiencing similar crimes in recent years, share the same causes. Troubles in the euro zone and the impact that has had on its population through financial hardship, where previously honest law abiding individuals, who have fallen on hard times, turn to crime as a way out - is a possible cause - so I wanted dig a little deeper into this subject. The other topic of interest to me that the seminar dealt with covered multicultural integration which due to political or religious views over hundreds of years is a problem that no one seems to be able to solve. Gimborn is ideally suited to broach such a subject as people come from all over the world to attend its seminars. In this instance attendees came from a number of different countries including: UK, Ireland, Pakistan,

countries which have experienced the issues the seminar focused on - issues such as the troubles in Northern Ireland, the riots in London, the increase of criminals moving across from the East of Europe. There was even a suggestion that climate changes will affect the movement of populations from poor climates into Europe. When we were broken up into groups it became obvious that no matter where you police in the world the same problems crop up and it was good to share knowledge and expertise. The discussion between members attending during the week was open and frank. Dialogue continued after the day’s session ended and adjourned into the bar until the early hours. Having attended this, my first seminar, at Gimborn I found it enlightening talking to people from different police cultures and learning how they deal with the issues raised during this seminar. Contacts were made and a network of friendships started which may last a lifetime. Since my return, I have been

considering the implications of the issues discussed during this seminar and I now see where the Special Constabulary is heading in the near future. Karel Simpson , Durham and Cleveland Branch.

Karel Simpson with two other Gimborn attendees

Interested in attending Gimborn? Visit: www.ipa uk.org/Study

Police World Vol 58 No.3 2013

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