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Commissioner
urges partners to keep funding PCSOs
LANCASHIRE'S Police and
Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw is urging partners to continue to
help fund Police and Community Support Officer roles (PCSOs) across
the County.
In a letter to all funding partners the Commissioner said:- "A
key part of my role is to set the budget for Lancashire Police and
in 2014/15 I ring fenced £9.2m towards PCSO funding while partners
committed further funding to these roles. This allowed the
constabulary to employ 335 PCSOs across Lancashire; 155 of which
were part funded. PCSOs provide a valuable resource and a visible
police presence in and around Lancashire, making residents feel
safer in their local area and helping to prevent crime and anti
social behaviour. They also provide vital local contact with
communities on policing issues. Without funding from partners I
think it is likely that around 70 roles may be at risk and this may
lead to an increase in incidents of anti social behaviour or other
crimes across the county."
The Commissioner who is responsible for setting the Police Budget
and holding the Chief Constable to account for the work of the
Police, is currently consulting the public on the Police precept;
the part of the Council Tax Bill that goes towards Policing costs.
Faced with an additional £20m of savings to be found by 2017/18 on
top of the £60m already saved, the Commissioner is asking residents
if they would consider paying an additional 6p per week towards
their Council Tax to help make up some of the shortfall.
The Commissioner said:- "The message from Government is clear;
we are going to be faced with more cuts to our funding and
inevitably that will lead to less staff. By increasing Council Tax
slightly and securing partnership funding, it will go some way to
mitigating these cuts, although it will not stop job losses
altogether. I have pledged my funding for PCSOS will be maintained
and I would urge our partners to continue with their funding so that
we can maintain the number of PCSOs at current levels and help keep
our local areas safe."
8 arrested after nationwide fuel
fraud raids
2 diesel laundering
plants, capable of producing nearly 120,000 litres of suspected
illicit fuel a day, evading almost £12.5 million in taxes a year,
have been dismantled by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
HMRC officers, accompanied by
Merseyside Police, searched three premises on the Wirral and one in
Liverpool, where they discovered a laundering plant in the
Birkenhead area on Thursday, 4 December 2014. Over 9,000
litres of suspected illicit fuel were removed from the site, along
with equipment and chemicals. 3 men from Merseyside were arrested in
connection with the find. A 2nd laundering plant was
discovered after HMRC searched premises in Ashford, Kent. Officers
removed 12,000 litres of suspected illicit fuel from this site,
dismantled the laundering plant and seized chemicals, equipment and
separately a fuel tanker.
The operation involved over 100 HMRC officers, assisted by
Merseyside Police Force, Lancashire Police Force, Essex Police
Force, Kent Police Force, West Midlands Police Force and
Staffordshire Police Force. A further 8 premises were searched
during the activity and another 5 men were arrested in Essex,
Lancashire and the West Midlands. Sandra Smith, Assistant
Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:- "It is wrong
that honest businesses should be undercut by criminals involved in
making or selling laundered fuel. Buying illicit fuel not only funds
crime, it supports and encourages these dangerous activities within
our communities. Every illegal laundering operation typically
generates tonnes of toxic waste, involving significant safety and
environmental issues. As taxpayers and local ratepayers, not only
are we missing out on the stolen tax that ends up the pockets of the
criminals, we are also paying the substantial clean-up and disposal
costs. Anyone with information about fuel fraud should call the
Customs Hotline on:- 0800 59 5000."
All those arrested have been bailed until April 2015 pending further
enquiries. Investigations into the illegal fuel plants are
continuing.
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Cyclists told to
stay safe and stay in the law
CYCLISTS on Merseyside are
being urged to stay safe on the roads this Christmas. Also for those
who get a new bike in their stocking are being encouraged to ask for
good quality bike locks from Santa aswell! The advice comes after
Police in Formby, Ainsdale and Birkdale and Southport, have received
complaints from the public about some cyclists not being visible
enough on the roads and others riding on the pavement. Officers are
also highlighting to motorists in these areas the need to be aware
other road users such as cyclists and motorbikers, especially during
the dark mornings and afternoons and icy conditions. Police stress
to motorists to apply the Highway Code to their driving; observing
'Stop' and 'Give Way' signs and traffic lights.
Neighbourhood Inspector Jim Atherton said:- "As Christmas is
coming and many people are buying new bikes for Christmas I would
ask that everyone takes a few moments to consider bike safety and
security. Wearing light coloured or reflective clothing and putting
good quality lights on the front and back of your bike increases
your visibility. I would also encourage people to put a bike helmet
on their Christmas list as they could potentially save your life or
prevent serious injury if you do come off. It is also the Law to
have lights on your bike at night and in low light!"
Also on the Police's Christmas wish list for residents who like to
pedal are bike locks. The theft of bikes from sheds, schools,
streets and stations is a growing trend across the UK.
Inspector Atherton added:- "It only takes a second to steal an
unlocked bike but if you invest in a strong, good quality lock from
a recognised manufacturer it could be worth its weight in gold if it
deters a thief."
This comes after the British Transport Police (BTP) released the
shocking number of bike thefts reported to the in 2013, with 5318
bikes being reported stolen to them. That is an estimated value of
over £1.5million were stolen from Britain's train stations alone! In
response British Transport Police (BTP) arrested 1381 people over
2013, abut the is litle confert to those who lost their bikes!
Correctly securing a bike using a good quality gold standard lock
and ensuring your bike is marked and registered will deter a thief
from stealing or attempting to steal a bike. Unsurprisingly the
majority of the 5318 bikes stolen from the railway network last year
were not secured correctly or had substandard locks.
BTP Superintendent Jason Bunyard, who headed up this years Operation
Wiggins, on Merseyside, part of a national day of action to tackle
the rise in this type of crime said:- "Over the past few years
we have seen an increase in passengers using bikes to travel to and
from railway stations. Following continued investments in cycling
infrastructure, events such as the Tour de France, and with people
being more conscious of the environment and their health, there has
been a huge surge in their popularity. Unfortunately this has also
provided increased opportunities for thieves due to them being
relatively easy to steal and dispose of bikes sadly remain an
attractive target for thieves. More bikes stolen will lead to in an
increase in insurance claims resulting in higher insurance premiums
for everyone. Thieves need to operate quickly to reduce their
chances of being caught, having a heavy duty lock will make their
job much more difficult and they are more likely to abandon any
attempt to steal your bike. Its quite surprising that someone would
spend over £1000 on a bike then use a £5 lock to secure it. We would
always recommend spending at least 10% of the bike cost on an
appropriate lock. Don't be tempted in purchasing a bargain bike
online, from someone on the street or down the pub either with no
questions asked. You could be prosecuted for handling stolen goods
and will be landed with a criminal record. Always insist on a proof
of ownership and check the bike frame number on:-
BikeRegister.com..."
And as a finally festive gift, Police are point new and existing
bike owners to:- immobilise.com, a website linked to a Police
database where valuables can be given a unique identity code so that
the rightful owner can be traced if it is ever stolen and recovered.
If your bike is stolen on railway property, contact BTP on:- 0800
405 040. Having your Bike Register number, a photo and any other
details to hand may help the Police investigate. Also if stolen in
any other location call:- 101 and also having your Bike Register
number, a photo and any other details to hand may help the Police
investigate. |
