Tougher
sentences for burglars
CHILDREN whose homes have
been burgled are more likely to struggle at school and have trouble
sleeping, according to new research from independent charity Victim
Support and home security specialist ADT. Nearly 300,000 children
are believed to be the victims of break-ins every year in England
and Wales.
The first major survey into the impact of burglary found that 63% of
parents who had children living at home when they were burgled
support the partnership's call for tougher sentences for burglars
who target family homes.
27% of parents said that their child's sleep was affected following
a break-in at their home, while 11% parents reported it had a
negative impact on their child's performance at school.
32% of parents found their children's sense of personal safety and
well being affected and 10% reported an increase in their child's
bed wetting. Parents reported their children were affected even if
they were not at home at the time.
Of the adults whose homes were burgled as children, 37% still feel
that the experience affects them in adulthood. 35% sleep with the
light on and 44% now prefer to sleep with someone else in the house.
39% say that their children needed emotional or psychological
support following the burglary. But a separate survey of young
burglary victims carried out by Victim Support and ADT suggests that
the impact on children may often be greater than even their parents
realise.
Of the 53 children and young people questioned, 30% admitted they
still suffered nightmares, and 30% said that the burglary had
knocked their self-confidence.
Residential Business Director of ADT, Mark Shaw, said:- "These
statistics reveal, for the first time ever, the true scale of the
impact burglary has on children. Domestic burglary is a high volume
crime, but it's wrongly perceived as being just one of those things.
We want to address this in our Take No More campaign by deterring
burglars and supporting victims; especially children, who are often
the forgotten victims."
Assistant Chief Executive of Victim Support, Adam Pemberton, said:-
"These findings paint a disturbing picture about the hidden
impact burglary has on children. We know that this is a serious
issue for tens of thousands of families across England and Wales.
Victims tell us time and again that they suffer far more than
material loss when their home is burgled. We believe sentencing
should more accurately reflect this kind of psychological harm. It
is critical that families have access to crime prevention advice to
help them avoid becoming victims and can get practical help and
emotional support if they do experience break-ins."
Single mum Sheree's home in Leeds was broken into in December 2013
while she and her two teenage children were asleep upstairs. The
burglars took her car, widescreen TV, iPad and all their Christmas
presents but, most importantly, left her family traumatised by the
experience. Most affected was her 14year old son who, 4 months
on, is still not sleeping properly at night. Sheree says:- "My
son refuses to talk about it, but he now won't go to bed without the
light on. I sometimes go upstairs at 11pm and he's still wide awake,
sometimes he's just walking around his bedroom. His schoolwork is
suffering, he's falling behind a little bit. I'm so worried about
him."
For mum of 4 Gemma, the trauma of having intruders in her house in
Liverpool while she was out at work is still difficult to deal with.
Mobile phones, games consoles and 2 of her deceased father's steam
train model collections were taken from her house in February. Gemma
discovered the break in when she got home from work, the burglars
had gone through all of the rooms, including the attic at the house
had been completely ransacked. Gemma feels very vulnerable and
scared since the burglary, especially when she is walking around the
Town Centre. She has also noticed a big change in her daughter
Freya's behaviour. The two men have been tried and found guilty of
handling stolen goods: one is on remand and the other is on bail
awaiting sentencing later this month.
Gemma says:- "I find myself walking around when I take the
kids out looking at people and thinking is it you, is it you who
burgled my house? They have been through my house, they know exactly
what me and my kids look like. It's horrible sitting here on my own
at night, it feels eerie. The kids are also really insecure about
going to bed, they don't feel safe. Freya is really, really angry
and won't even go upstairs on her own, none of them get much sleep
because they can't settle."¯
Lorry driver Gavin returned from a Valentine's Day night out with
his wife and friends to find their home in Halifax had been broken
into. The intruders took a laptop, iPad, nearly £1,000, and the
family car, which was later found dumped in a field. The couple's
3 year old son and 6 year old daughter were at their grandparents
that night. Despite not telling the children about the burglary
Gavin still worries that his eldest child is feeling the knock-on
effects of the traumatic experience.
Gavin says:- "My wife, who works at a bank, broke down crying
and had to take the best part of a weeks' sick leave. She's too
scared to sleep at night, so I try not to work during the night
anymore, which has caused stress with my colleagues. We told my
daughter that our car broke down, and that a tree smashed the
conservatory window. But since then she always tells us to put the
alarm on when we go out, which she never did before. I'm sure she
knows what really happened, but so far is keeping quiet about it."
ADT and Victim Support have pledged to work together for the next
three years through the 'Take No More' campaign to run free crime
prevention schemes for householders, increase awareness of support
services for burglary victims, and campaign to ensure that those
victims get justice in court.
Visit:-
victimsupport.org.uk
or
adt.co.uk, for
more information. |
|
NORTHERN
ANNOUNCES ELECTRIC TRAINS FOR NORTH WEST
NORTHERN Rail, the UK’s largest train operator
confirmed it had reached an agreement with the Department for
Transport (DfT) to introduce electric trains into the North West
from December 2014.
The news follows hot on the heels of the Direct Award enabling
Northern to continue operating services until February 2016.
The 4 carriage electric trains will operate between Liverpool and
Manchester via Newton le Willows on the newly electrified route,
part of the £400million North West electrification programme.
The first trains will be introduced from December 2014, with more
entering service during 2015. In total the trains will deliver an
extra 3,000 seats for passengers during peak times of travel.
Alex Hynes, Managing Director, Northern Rail said:- “This is
fantastic news for our customers. These electric trains will bring
much needed extra capacity, more reliable and sustainable journeys.
More trains also bring job opportunities as we recruit more people
to crew and maintain them.
This is the first step to unlocking more capacity for customers
across the north of England. We’re committed to continuing our work
with our partners to campaign for more trains, better trains and
electric trains for our customers.”
Rail Minister Stephen Hammond said:- “This is great news for
passengers and underlines our commitment to transform rail travel in
the North. These electric trains will mean cleaner, quicker and more
reliable journeys for thousands more passengers between Manchester
and Liverpool, driving forward the economies of these two great
cities. In addition, the deal will provide extra capacity to Bolton
and see a passenger train running on the Todmorden Curve for the
first time in more than 40 years. I look forward to further
improvements as more trains are introduced.” Over 2.8 million
people to benefit from Government tax cuts
AS a result of a landmark
Government policy and a key plank of the long-term economic plan,
343,000 people in the North West will have been taken out of income
tax altogether from this weekend thanks to a series of increases in
the tax-free personal allowance to £10,000 in 2014-15.
This means that overnight on Sunday, an extra 31,000 hard-working
people from the North West will no longer pay income tax.
Over 2.8 million people in the North West; the vast majority of
working people; will have benefited from the personal allowance
increases over the past 4 years. For this financial year, that means
an income tax reduction of £705 for the typical basic rate taxpayer.
Over the lifetime of this parliament, the cumulative income tax cut
by this government for the typical taxpayer will be £1,824.
Ahead of a question and answer session in the North West today with
workers who will benefit, the Prime Minister said:- “A key
part of this Government’s long-term economic plan is to cut taxes so
that people can keep more of the money they earn and feel more
financially secure. From this weekend, you will not pay a single
penny of income tax on everything you earn up to £10,000.
Nearly every single worker across the country will get a tax cut and
over 3 million will pay no income tax at all. It says to the
hardworking people of this country: we are on your side; and it’s
one of the proudest things I have done in Government.”
The Prime Minister has previously said that it is right that changes
to the tax system benefit typical basic rate taxpayers the most. The
new changes on Sunday, 6 April 2014, also mean that:-
► Someone working full time on the October 2014 minimum wage
(£6.50/h at 35hrs a week) will pay over 50% less income tax
in 2014 to 2015 than a than someone on the national minimum wage in
2010.
► Someone working for just under 30 hours a week on the October 2014
minimum wage will not pay any income tax at all.
This means that the government is supporting many of those who work
flexibly and part time. The government is also helping women, who
are the majority (54%) of the 3 million people who no longer have to
pay income tax thanks to the increases to the personal allowance
since 2010. And, as the Chancellor announced in the Budget,
the personal allowance will help even more hard working families
next year when it is increased again to £10,500.
NEXT OF KIN APPEAL:- "BARRIE
HOGARTH"
THE Sefton Coroner's Office
is now appealing for the public’s help in tracing the next of kin of
a Southport man who died on Monday, 31 March. Mr Hogarth was 79
years old and died in his home on Scarisbrick New Road. His death is
not being treated as suspicious. Mr Hogarth's family, or anyone who
knows them, are asked to call Sefton Coroner’s Office on:- 0151 777
3481. |