Students have new experiences during trip to London

The trip was the 30th that CSC criminal justice students have taken to London. While many of the same places are visited annually, there are always some new discoveries, according to Dr. George Watson, professor of justice studies at CSC and instigator of the trip.

Also helping sponsor this year’s trip again was Dr. Tracy Nobiling, another member of the CSC justice studies faculty.

One of the highlights was visiting the new emergency control center at the New Scotland Yard. It showed how law enforcement personnel plan for major events and the equipment that is available to help them solve crimes when they occur.

London reportedly has more surveillance cameras in place than any other city in the world. Nobiling said she was amazed by a demonstration of a camera that zoomed in on a lady reading a book while waiting at a bus stop.

“We could even read the print in the book,” Nobiling said. “They have all kinds of computers and equipment that they use to help them do their jobs.”

Learning about the Diplomatic Protective Service was another eye-opening experience for the CSC group. The service is in charge of protecting the royal family, members of Parliament, government employees, foreign ambassadors and dignitaries who visit London. Those assigned to the service carry guns, something regular police officers do not possess. In fact, Watson said only 10 percent of the law enforcement officers in England are even training in firearms.

The protective service was preparing for the Nottinghill Carnival, somewhat akin to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The personnel are already talking about the Olympic Games that will be in London in 2012, the CSC professors said.

Other highlights of the trip included visits of the Metropolitan Police Training Academy, the largest of its kind in the world; Oxford University; Stratford –Upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare; Warwick Castle, which dates back to the 11th century; Old Bailey crown courts, where some of England’s relatively few murder trials take place; and Wormwood Scrubs, a men’s maximum security prison.

Watson noted that ironically the CSC group was in London while both Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Tony Blair were in the United States. About the same time, it was announced that Blair is stepping down as prime minister and will be succeeded by Gordon Brown.

Watson and Nobiling said the students asked a lot of questions about the Great Britain’s political process and were interested in the newspaper accounts of how Blair’s friendship with President Bush and their involvement in the war in Iraq had contributed to his downfall.

But Nobiling said Americans are treated well in London. “The British are so busy badmouthing the French that they don’t have much time for us,” she added with a grin.

Watson said this was the most expensive of the 30 trips he has made to London. That’s because of the low conversion rate for the dollar to the pound and Euro.

“Meals that cost $14 five years ago and were $20 to $22 last year, now cost $25,” he said, “even though the prices are the same in the menu.”

The current exchange rate is a boon to Europeans who wish to visit the United States and is also beneficial to American business because it means U.S. products are cheaper than they were in the past, he added.

Watson also said he paid $10 a gallon for gasoline while visiting Ireland. Housing in London also is high. He noted that a long-time colleague who has helped lead Chadron State groups many times commutes by train an hour and a half both to and from work because he cannot afford to own a home in London.

On weekends during the 16-day visit, most of the students traveled to Paris, Scotland and/or Ireland. Thinking this might be a once-in-a–lifetime experience, several of the students stayed another week or so to see more of Europe. Nine family members flew from the United States to join one of the students and do more traveling as the CSC trip was coming to a close.

Watson said the trips give CSC students a different perspective of life in general and justice studies specifically. He believes the annual excursions also are an excellent recruiting tool for the criminal justice program.

The students who participated:

Christina Corey, Scottsbluff; Shannon Escott, Faith, S.D.; Jacob Ewing, Gillette, Wyo.; Josh Gallagher, Belle Fourche, S.D.; Adriana Garcia, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Brett Hansen, Alliance; Lori Hoegerl, Alliance; James Innes, Gillette, Wyo.; Ashley Kitt, Wauneta; Jacob Lockhart, Johnstown, Colo.; Craig Lowe, North Platte; Megan Maine, Papillion; Matt McCroden, Crawford; Angela Mobley, Gering; Chet Murray, Green River, Wyo.; Melvin Oldaker, Harrison; Jessica Pettie, Chadron; Raycheal Steininger, Sidney; Jillian Stewart, Crawford; Michael Straub, Chadron.