Crime Prevention Team heads to Ainsdale

STAFF from the dedicated Policing Team in Ainsdale will be putting on special property registration and Bike registration session on Saturday, 10 January 2015. This will be held between 1pm to 3pm at MeCycle on Station Road in Ainsdale. The Policing Team are especially keen on registering pedal cycles and have a limited number of ImmobiTag devices to give away, which fit inside the frame of a bike and improve the chances of identifying its owner if taken. MeCycle are also offering free bike safety checks for anyone that comes on the day. Inspector Jim Atherton, said:- "I am grateful of the support of the Ainsdale ward Councillors who have provided funding to promote the initiative to local residents. The session is part of an initiative being run to prevent the theft of bikes and other valuables like phones and computers. Officers will be assisting with registration of bicycles as well as all electrical items. These can include phones, laptops, iPods and gaming machines. We will be offering further security marking on the day as well as providing practical advice on crime prevention. You can register your valuables for free today by simply following the links from the Merseyside Police website. If you don't have internet access or are unsure what to do then pop along and the staff will assist. If you have already registered, we will check your property is on the NMPR database. This is a national database Police forces have access to 24/7. We have a small number of stickers that will be given away for free for those that register. By registering as much property as possible we want would be thieves and also purchasers of stolen goods to ask is it worth the risk? Let's work together to turn fear of being a victim of crime into fear of getting caught. Don't worry if you can't come along on the day. Look out for details of more surgeries, which take place in the near future." If you have information about criminal activity, please call:- 101 and leave a message or alternatively call Crimestoppers for free on:- 0800 555 111.

21 year old man shot in Bootle

THE countdown has commenced for the world's biggest garden wildlife survey; and more people in Merseyside than ever before are being called upon to take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch that runs from 24 January to 25 January 2015. Now in its 36th year, the popular event is fun for all ages and it's easy to join in. Simply count the birds in your garden or local park for one hour over Big Garden Birdwatch weekend and tell the RSPB what you see. And for the 2nd time in the event's history, participants are also being asked to log some of the other wildlife which snuffles and settles in their gardens and local parks, and this year there are 2 new additions to the survey list; slow worms and grass snakes. To help you prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch, there are plenty of events taking place in Merseyside throughout January; from discovering how to attract more wildlife into your garden to gaining tips on how to identify the creatures which live on your doorstep. Go along to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands, on Sunday, 11 January 2015, between 11am to 3pm, to make a tasty bird cake which you can take home and hang in the garden to attract our feathered friends. RSPB staff and volunteers will also be on hand to offer advice about what to feed garden birds during the winter months. The event is free, but donations are welcome to cover costs of materials. On Sunday, 18 January 2015, return to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands to learn how to recognise a variety of different garden birds at the reserve's feeding station. Friendly staff will be able to help you brush up on identification skills in time for the Big Garden Birdwatch, as well as sharing tips on how to attract birds to your garden. The free drop in event runs from 11am to 3pm. For both events, normal reserve entry charges apply for non members. For more information call:- 0151 353 8478 or drop them an email:- deeestuary@rspb.org.uk.  In the build up to Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, head to Sefton Park's Palm House, on Sunday, 18 January 2015, where members of RSPB Liverpool Local Group will be on hand to share plenty of tips and advice on how to make sure your Big Garden Birdwatch is a success. The free drop in will run from 12pm to 4pm. For more information, call:- 07831 352870 or send an email:- christtynan@aol.com.  Or if you are feeling creative, join RSPB staff at the Art Box at the Atkinson Gallery in Southport to make a pine cone feeder to attract birds to your garden ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch. There will also be the chance to find out more about taking part in the survey, including tips on how to tell our feathered friends apart. The event will be held on Sunday, 18 January 2015, from 11am to 3pm, with a charge of £1 to cover costs of materials. For more information, call:- 07793 902622 or via email:- alex.pigott@rspb.org.uk.  Jo Keene, RSPB Senior People Engagement Manager in Northern England, said:- "Whether it's the 1st time you are taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, or you're already an expert, there are plenty of ways to prepare and join in. To take part, all you need to do is spend an hour over the weekend of 24 January to 25 January 2015, and count the birds in your garden, it's that simple. It's a fantastic way to discover the wildlife on your doorstep and it really helps the RSPB to gain a vital snapshot of garden bird numbers in winter and highlight any dramatic declines, as bird populations are a great indicator of the health of the countryside. With the addition of other wildlife to the survey, such as hedgehogs, badgers and frogs, we are able to build up a better idea of how important our gardens are for providing homes for nature. Last year, around half a million people took part and seven million birds were counted, so we are hoping even more people join in this year, as the more people involved, the more we can learn. So join in and be part of the world's biggest garden wildlife survey; without having to leave your sofa."  Participants can record the birds as they see them directly onto a laptop, tablet or smartphone with an online bird counting tool or send results in the post.  To help attract wildlife into your garden, there are plenty of tips for helping to give nature a home where you live on the RSPB website. No matter how big or small your outside space, there's something you can do to make a difference. Visit:- rspb.org.uk/homes for more information. Register to take part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2015 at:- rspb.org.uk/birdwatch. Alternatively, call:- 0300 456 8330.

Letters to Editor:-
"Je Suis Charlie"

"I might not be a local reader of Southport Reporter, but wanted to send you this letter. Thankfully, it's but a minute portion of the world's many believers in Sky Fairies of different shapes and sizes that takes things as far as the gunmen in Paris, so we should not blame the majority of peaceful superstitionists for the actions of the few. As an atheist and secularist, I affirm the rights of superstitionists to be wrong whilst maintaining my right to point this out to them and others peacefully (with or without humour). Superstitionists must, however, understand that respect is a 2 way process." John Hein, in Edinburgh.