Find your voice in Register to Vote Week

DO you care about how long you spend at work each day, what goes into the food you eat and how much your mobile calls cost when you’re abroad?  Political decisions are being made that affect our everyday lives, yet thousands of people in Britain are without a say about who represents them because they are not registered to vote.

This week (4 May to 10 May) is ‘Register to Vote’ week when the independent Electoral Commission is calling on everyone to take a few minutes to make sure that they are registered to vote by the 19 May deadline. A national TV, radio, online and print advertising campaign was launched last week, with the slogan:- “If you want to vote, make sure nothing stops you.”

“At each election some people turn up at the polling station to vote but find they can't because they didn’t realise that they need to register before polling day. We want everyone who is eligible to be on the register and able to vote, and part of our job is to make sure they know what they need to do. There are elections to the European Parliament on 4 June 2009, as well as local elections in parts of England. Some people, especially young people and others who may be voting for the first time, may not realise they need to be on the electoral register. Other people may think they’re registered, but if they’ve moved house they need to re-register at their new address. We also find that many people who have every intention of voting are away from home on polling day, and miss their chance because they have not applied for a postal or proxy vote in advance.” says Electoral Commission Chief Executive, Peter Wardle.

To register to vote or apply for a postal or proxy vote, go to aboutmyvote.co.uk, print off a form and make sure it reaches your local authority by 5pm on Tuesday, 19 May 2009. It just takes a few minutes to make sure your voice is heard. Remember, if you’re not registered, you can’t vote!

WITNESS APPEAL - INCIDENT, BOOTLE FOOTBALL GROUND

MERSEYSIDE Police are this week investigating an assault of a 15 year old boy that occurred on Friday, 17 April 2009, at Bootle Football ground, New Bucks Park, Vesty Road, Bootle.

At about 8.45pm an altercation took place between players during a presentation inside the football ground following a football match between Northfield and Millennium under 16 football clubs. During this incident a 15 year old boy was assaulted and suffered serious facial injuries.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment. He was discharged the next day but is still receiving treatment for his injuries.

There would have been a large number of people in the ground at the time of the incident and police are urging anyone who may have seen anything or who have information to contact police.

Merseyside Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault. If anyone has any information please contact Merseyside Police on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

DRUGS WARRANTS EXECUTED - NORTH LIVERPOOL - INTERIM RESULTS

ON Thursday, 30 April 2009, Merseyside Police arrested 21 people across north Liverpool as part of its total war on drugs.

Around 200 officers executed search warrants in the culmination of a 12 month investigation into the supply of Class A drugs.

The operation was launched in response to information received from the community and targeted drug dealing on the streets. It is linked to a similar operation in January 2009 when 23 people were arrested in south Liverpool on suspicion of drug offences, 18 of whom were subsequently charged.

Officers arrested 21 people aged 17 to 60 years from the Kensington and Tuebrook areas.

Liverpool North Area Commander Steve Watson said:- "Drug dealing brings misery to our communities and we are listening carefully to residents' concerns as we tackle the problem. We will continue to enforce the law to the fullest extent and urge anyone with any information about the supply of illegal drugs to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

NEW DRUGS CLOSURE LEGISLATION USED FOR FIRST TIME

MERSEYSIDE Police have secured a closure order on a house used for drug dealing using new powers for the first time in Liverpool.

A district judge at Liverpool City Magistrates Court ordered the property in Eastern Avenue, Speke, to be closed for three-months on Thursday 30 April 2009 after an application by Merseyside Police, supported by South Liverpool Housing and the local community.

The order prevents anyone from entering the house, which was raided by police officers in 2008 with drugs act warrants and resulted in 44 people being arrested for either cannabis possession or disorder. Work has already started to return the house to normal by removing fortifications in and around it and by making general improvements.

It is the first time in Liverpool a closure notice has been used under a section of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 that came into effect on 1 December 2008 to close a property associated with persistent disorder or nuisance.

It was secured thanks to information from members of the community, who had expressed concerns about criminal activity taking place at the house, and supports the work being done in the Speke area to crack down on the supply and use of drugs.

Officers will continue to watch the property to ensure the order is not breached. Anyone caught entering the building is committing a criminal offence and can be arrested.

Neighbourhood Inspector for Speke and Garston, Ian Mason, said:- "This is an excellent result and involved a lot of hard work to secure the evidence needed to ensure the closure order was granted. We are determined to use all the available legislation to tackle the scourge of drug dealing and we are committed to working with our partner agencies and the public to improve the quality of life for local, law-abiding residents. I would encourage anyone who is suffering at the hands of their neighbours who are involved in drug-related activities or knows about any such activity in their neighbourhood to contact us in confidence so we can act on their information."