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CHRISTMAS DRINK
AND DRUG DRIVE CAMPAIGN - DECEMBER 2013
ON Monday, 2 December 2013, Merseyside Police
launched its annual Christmas drink and drug drive campaign and is
urging people not to risk their lives or the lives of others by
driving after indulging in drink or drugs. Instead the message is to
leave the car keys at home, designate a non-drinking driver, take a
taxi or public transport.
With an increased number of parties and celebrations in bars, clubs,
restaurants and friends' houses during the festive period there is
traditionally a spike in the number of people prepared to drive
after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
To tackle this issue, officers will be targeting motorists who drink
or take drugs and then drive at night, as well as carrying out
enforcement in the mornings to target those still over the legal
drink drive limit or not fit to drive through taking illegal
substances. Officers will be out in force throughout the month and
will be paying particular attention to the night time economy and
hot spot areas.
Chief Inspector John Hogan said:- "Every year
throughout Merseyside and the rest of the UK, people are affected by
the consequences of drink and drug driving. Nationally 280 people
were killed in drink drive incidents last year, an increase of 17%
from 2011, which is particularly alarming. What often goes unseen is
the effect that a drink or drug drive conviction has on an
individual; putting aside a possible prison sentence, drivers also
face a criminal record, potential job and income loss as well as
impact upon families and relationships."
Chief Inspector Hogan added:- "Merseyside Police is one of the
most proactive police forces in UK in detectives drug impaired
drivers. We are not just talking about illegal drugs, as
prescription medication may also affect a person's driving if they
do not following the instructions. Slower reactions, poor judgment
of speed and distance and reduced co-ordination and concentration
can all be caused by taking drugs and drinking alcohol. Our message
is simple, leave the car at home. This Christmas, Merseyside Police
officers will be more visible that ever, conducting many thousands
of breath tests and impairment tests. We want people to enjoy the
festive period for the right reasons. A drink or drug drive
conviction can be life changing; not just for the driver but their
families."
Coalition's
green levy 'roll back' threatens to worsen excess winter
deaths problem
THE Coalition Government's
"roll back" on green levies; in a tactical political
manoeuvre to rescue its reputation and bail out the under 5 'Big
Six' energy companies; "will not placate increasingly
disgruntled energy customers yet will worsen the growing problem of
unnecessary winter deaths and endanger our long-term energy
security." say the Green Party.
Four of the major energy companies have said gas and electriCity
bills will rise by around £50 less than expected this winter in
reaction to Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge to "roll
back" green levies. The Government intends to scale back the
Energy Company Obligation scheme which helps low-income households
tackle their heating and insulation problems and said it would fund
another subsidy out of general taxation.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion:- "It is
extraordinarily irresponsible, as well as counterproductive, for the
Government to claim it is reducing energy bills by slashing the very
scheme that is designed to bring them down. Watering down our energy
efficiency commitments at precisely the time they are most needed
will mean more cold homes, more winter deaths, and job losses in the
construction industry. Only a massive programme of home insulation
and other energy efficiency measures will bring energy bills down
for good. The Chancellor should use carbon tax revenue fund such an
investment which could bring nine out of ten homes out of fuel
poverty, quadruple carbon savings, and create up to 200,000 jobs."
"Time and time again we've seen this government edge away from
its green commitments as its true colours are revealed. This roll
back, which will expose people in fuel poverty to a longer period
without decent insulation, is particularly callous considering we
know that 31,000 people died winter-related deaths last year; that
is a 29% increase from the previous winter." commented Keith
Taylor, Green MEP for the South East. |
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Fraudsters
Threaten Air Ambulance Donations
THE Air Ambulance
Service (TAAS) is calling upon its supporters and potential
donators to be wary of rogue collectors posing as a Charity.
The Charity is concerned that vital income could be lost as a
result of companies that carry out fraudulent activities and try
to trade on the Charity's good name and reputation.
Worried about the effect that bogus clothing collections will
have on its donations at the most important time of the year,
Chief Executive Andy Williamson said:- "Christmas
donations of money and clothing are crucial to our service and
yet we now have to worry that criminals are distributing bogus
bags that try to fool people into thinking they are giving to us
when they are not".
TAAS has recently received several reports of a hoax Charity,
simply calling themselves "Air Ambulance Service",
sending out collection leaflets (pictured above) nationwide and
encouraging people to donate to them.
These hoax leaflets ask people to donate unwanted items such as
clothing, and provide a phone number and website address, but do
not include a registered charity number. The phone number
provided is no longer in use and the website clearly states that
the service is a 'scam'.
The company originally responsible for distributing these
leaflets was caught out and closed down by the High Court over 2
years ago. The company's directors were subsequently prosecuted.
At the time, it was believed that over £1 million was extorted
from the public by rogue collectors claiming to be from Air
Ambulance Charities. However, these leaflets appear to be in
circulation once again, with reports of deliveries to addresses
throughout England.
The Air Ambulance Service would like to make it very clear that
this "Air Ambulance Service" is a hoax Charity
and, despite adopting a very similar name, is in no way
affiliated with "The Air Ambulance Service".
These misleading leaflets have a serious and detrimental impact
on the Charity's recycling operation and public image. Andy
goes on to say:- "As a Charity, we are extremely concerned
that this will affect our legitimate collections. We would
encourage everyone to please check the bags and make sure they
support a true air ambulance Charity. Criminal activities like
this put people off from donating which, particularly at
Christmas time, can be devastating for a small Charity like
ours."
TAAS is the umbrella organisation for 2 Helicopter Emergency
Medical Services (HEMS):-
►
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and
Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
►
They also run The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA),
a national Charity that transfers critically ill children and
babies from hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across
England and Wales.
► The Charity receives no Government
funding, relying entirely on public support to keep its
helicopters flying and its crew saving lives on a regular basis.
► The Charity operates every day of
the year, including Christmas Day, and needs to raise over £3
million every year to keep each of its services running.
TAAS is currently in discussion with the Police and Trading
Standards about this new wave of rogue leaflets.
TAAS's collection bags clearly state which Charity the
collections are going to and also include the Charity's
registration number. For further information, please call:-
08454 130999, or to see an example of what their collection bags
look like, and to find out more about them click on to the
official
website.
To make a donation to
The Air Ambulance Service this Christmas, you can also call:-
08454 130999 or go
online.
Read more at
file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/This%20Week/633-6.shtml#mh7AXzO6z2XGsQkT.99
Fraudsters
Threaten Air Ambulance Donations
THE Air Ambulance Service (TAAS)
are calling upon its supporters and potential donators to be wary of
rogue collectors posing as a Charity. The Charity is concerned
that vital income could be lost as a result of companies that carry
out fraudulent activities and try to trade on the Charity's good
name and reputation.
Worried about the effect that bogus clothing collections will have
on its donations at the most important time of the year, Chief
Executive Andy Williamson said:- "Christmas donations of money
and clothing are crucial to our service and yet we now have to worry
that criminals are distributing bogus bags that try to fool people
into thinking they are giving to us when they are not".
TAAS has recently received several reports of a hoax Charity, simply
calling themselves "Air Ambulance Service", sending
out collection leaflets (pictured above) nationwide and encouraging
people to donate to them.
These hoax leaflets ask people to donate unwanted items such as
clothing, and provide a phone number and website address, but do not
include a registered charity number. The phone number provided is no
longer in use and the website now clearly states that the service is
a 'scam'. On Merseyside the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA)
told us that they have seen this before, but not lately. They
do how ever request that should you get one of these leflets or one
like it, that you take it to one of their shops and do not donate
cloths. Also please alert the
TAAS.
The company originally responsible for distributing these leaflets
was caught out and closed down by the High Court over 2 years ago.
The company's directors were subsequently prosecuted. At the time,
it was believed that over £1 million was extorted from the public by
rogue collectors claiming to be from Air Ambulance Charities.
However, these leaflets appear to be in circulation once again, with
reports of deliveries to addresses throughout England.
The Air Ambulance Service would like to make it very clear that this
"Air Ambulance Service" is a hoax Charity and, despite
adopting a very similar name, is in no way affiliated with "The
Air Ambulance Service".
These misleading leaflets have a serious and detrimental impact on
the Charity's recycling operation and public image. Andy goes on to
say:- "As a Charity, we are extremely concerned that this will
affect our legitimate collections. We would encourage everyone to
please check the bags and make sure they support a true air
ambulance Charity. Criminal activities like this put people off from
donating which, particularly at Christmas time, can be devastating
for a small Charity like ours."
TAAS is the umbrella organisation for 2 Helicopter Emergency Medical
Services (HEMS):-
►
Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and
Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
►
They also run The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA), a
national Charity that transfers critically ill children and babies
from hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across England and
Wales.
► The Charity receives no Government
funding, relying entirely on public support to keep its helicopters
flying and its crew saving lives on a regular basis.
► The Charity operates every day of the
year, including Christmas Day, and needs to raise over £3 million
every year to keep each of its services running.
TAAS is currently in discussion with the Police and Trading
Standards about this new wave of rogue leaflets.
TAAS's collection bags clearly state which Charity the collections
are going to and also include the Charity's registration number. For
further information, please call:- 08454 130999, or to see an
example of what their collection bags look like, and to find out
more about them click on to the official
website.
To make a donation to The
Air Ambulance Service this Christmas, you can also call:- 08454
130999 or go
online.
Sainsbury's Southport are
on the lookout for local carol singing groups this Christmas
LOCAL groups and residents
in Southport have the exclusive opportunity to take part in
'Sing While You Shop'; a carol singing event hosted at
Sainsbury's Southport on Saturday, 14 December and Sunday, 15
December 2013. Sainsbury's Southport encouraging local residents,
including professional choirs, singing families, friends and
regional groups including schools, charities, community clubs and
hospices with the chance to spread the festive cheer at their local
Sainsbury's. The weekend event will see all in-store music switched
off for two days to make way for carol singing groups who will
provide entertainment to Southport customers as they shop, singing a
selection of Christmas classics The activity is part of a nationwide
carol singing charity drive by the retailer. Sainsbury's Southport
Store Manager said:- "We're encouraging local residents and
groups to get involved. Everyone from the area is welcome to apply
and we're delighted to offer our customers the chance to help us
spread the festivities in store with some traditional Christmas
classics." Local residents and groups will be booked on a
first come, 1st serve basis. Sainsbury's Southport customers who
would like to find out further details or would like to take part
should contact Nicky Plaistow/Clare Lord on:- 01704532760.
Fraudsters
Threaten Air Ambulance Donations
THE Air Ambulance
Service (TAAS) is calling upon its supporters and potential
donators to be wary of rogue collectors posing as a Charity.
The Charity is concerned that vital income could be lost as a
result of companies that carry out fraudulent activities and try
to trade on the Charity's good name and reputation.
Worried about the effect that bogus clothing collections will
have on its donations at the most important time of the year,
Chief Executive Andy Williamson said:- "Christmas
donations of money and clothing are crucial to our service and
yet we now have to worry that criminals are distributing bogus
bags that try to fool people into thinking they are giving to us
when they are not".
TAAS has recently received several reports of a hoax Charity,
simply calling themselves "Air Ambulance Service",
sending out collection leaflets (pictured above) nationwide and
encouraging people to donate to them.
These hoax leaflets ask people to donate unwanted items such as
clothing, and provide a phone number and website address, but do
not include a registered charity number. The phone number
provided is no longer in use and the website clearly states that
the service is a 'scam'.
The company originally responsible for distributing these
leaflets was caught out and closed down by the High Court over 2
years ago. The company's directors were subsequently prosecuted.
At the time, it was believed that over £1 million was extorted
from the public by rogue collectors claiming to be from Air
Ambulance Charities. However, these leaflets appear to be in
circulation once again, with reports of deliveries to addresses
throughout England.
The Air Ambulance Service would like to make it very clear that
this "Air Ambulance Service" is a hoax Charity
and, despite adopting a very similar name, is in no way
affiliated with "The Air Ambulance Service".
These misleading leaflets have a serious and detrimental impact
on the Charity's recycling operation and public image. Andy
goes on to say:- "As a Charity, we are extremely concerned
that this will affect our legitimate collections. We would
encourage everyone to please check the bags and make sure they
support a true air ambulance Charity. Criminal activities like
this put people off from donating which, particularly at
Christmas time, can be devastating for a small Charity like
ours."
TAAS is the umbrella organisation for 2 Helicopter Emergency
Medical Services (HEMS):-
►
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and
Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
►
They also run The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA),
a national Charity that transfers critically ill children and
babies from hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across
England and Wales.
► The Charity receives no Government
funding, relying entirely on public support to keep its
helicopters flying and its crew saving lives on a regular basis.
► The Charity operates every day of
the year, including Christmas Day, and needs to raise over £3
million every year to keep each of its services running.
TAAS is currently in discussion with the Police and Trading
Standards about this new wave of rogue leaflets.
TAAS's collection bags clearly state which Charity the
collections are going to and also include the Charity's
registration number. For further information, please call:-
08454 130999, or to see an example of what their collection bags
look like, and to find out more about them click on to the
official
website.
To make a donation to
The Air Ambulance Service this Christmas, you can also call:-
08454 130999 or go
online.
Read more at
file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/This%20Week/633-6.shtml#mh7AXzO6z2XGsQkT.99
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