Launch Of
Merseyside Prepared Website and Online Survey
DO you know what to do in
the case of an emergency? Do you have a plan? What is a grab bag? In
conjunction with the launch of a new website aimed to help local
residents and businesses be better prepared for emergencies, the
public are being asked for their views and opinions. The
website, has been launched by
the Merseyside Resilience Forum which is a collection of emergency
services, council representatives and emergency planners working to
keep people safe in Merseyside. The site contains information about
emergencies such as severe weather, flooding, pandemic flu and fuel
shortages, alongside other Merseyside-specific risks, with very
clear and straight forward advice on the things people can do in
their own homes and businesses to prepare for major incidents. The
website suggests simple, but easily overlooked, precautions people
can take including putting together an "emergency kit”
in case they should need to leave their home suddenly, advice on how
and when to switch off the utilities in their home and the
importance of tuning into local radio for news updates. Although the
site has been launched we still need the public’s help to ensure the
site is working as it should and providing the best possible
information. This is a site designed to be used by everyone to help
educate and inform people about what to do in the case of
emergencies. The University of Liverpool has created a survey to
gauge the public’s understanding of what they should do in an
emergency. Residents across Merseyside are being encouraged to take
part in the survey which is available online and will be available
for 3 months. A link to the survey can be found by clicking on
here.
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Police make 18
arrests in crackdown on burglary
POLICE on Merseyside announced on Thursday, 13
November that they had made 18 arrests, after carrying out warrants
at 25 addresses across Merseyside.
The early morning raids are part of Merseyside Police’s 3 month long
operation that launched in September, to tackle an anticipated rise
in the number of burglaries.
The 18 people have been arrested for various offences including
burglary, robbery and possession of drugs and 2 cannabis farms have
been uncovered in Sefton and Liverpool North.
Leading the operation, Superintendent Chris Markey said:-
"Today’s activity is all about going after those we believe to be
committing burglary offences. It also sends a clear message to those
individuals intent on committing this offence that there is no
hiding place and that we will use all the tools available to us to
track them down and bring them to justice. While burglaries are down
year on year by 14%, Police on Merseyside, do see these numbers rise
by as much as 25% during the winter month. Although we have seen a
slight decrease in the number of burglaries, it continues to be a
challenging time for us. However, it’s not just about disrupting the
activities of these offenders and preventing them from going about
their daily business. We have also stepped up patrols in hotspot
areas and are working hard to provide home owners with advice on how
to keep their property safe. Many burglaries are preventable by
simply locking doors and shutting window."
1 in 5 burglaries is down to insecurities and burglars will always
take the easy option. It only takes minutes for them to get in
through an open window or door.
Police are advising the public to lock front and
back doors and use an alarm, if you have one. Light timers are also
an effective tool to give the impression that someone is at home.
Anyone who has information about crime in their area can call Police
on:- 101 or speak to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.
E-Fit Appeal following a Street
Robbery in Maghull
MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives have released an
e-fit of a man wanted in connection with the attempted mugging of a
pensioner in Maghull. The 78 year old man was walking from the car
park behind HSBC bank to the front entrance to pay cash in from a
local church when the offender tried to snatch it off him. The
victim resisted and shouted for help and several members of the
public came to his aid. As a result, the would be robber ran off in
the direction of the Coach and Horses pub. The victm was left shaken
and with a minor injury to his hand. Immediately after the incident
he went into the bank to pay the cash in before reporting the
incident to staff who then called the Police. Detectives from Sefton
CID are investigating and are keen to hear from anyone who
recognises the man in the e-fit or saw a man resembling him in the
area before or after the robbery at 9.30am on Monday, 10 November
2014, to contact them. Call DC Sue Demomme at Sefton CID on:- 0151
777 3014 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.
Bolton accountant arrested for
suspected tax fraud
AN investigation is underway into the financial
affairs of an accountant from Bolton who has been arrested by HM
Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on suspicion of tax fraud offences. In
early morning raids carried out on 12 November 2014, HMRC searched 2
properties in Bolton and seized laptops, business records and mobile
phones for forensic examination. Sandra Smith, Assistant Director,
Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:- "This is an investigation
into what we suspect is a well organised, professional attempt to
manipulate the UK tax system in order to steal around £50,000; money
which would otherwise be used to finance the UK’s vital public
services. I would encourage anyone with information regarding tax
evasion and fraud to contact the Customs Hotline on:- 0800 59 5000."
Officers also discovered a significant amount of cash which has been
detained as the potential proceeds of crime. The 27 year old male is
believed to have set up a scheme to illegally claim income tax
rebates on behalf of fictitious clients. He is also suspected of
making false claims for VAT refunds and tax credits. The suspect has
been bailed until February 2015. Investigations are ongoing. |