Letters to Editor:- "Posters of personal nature."

"MY wife and I have been noticing posters popping up with people's faces on and writing. At 1st we thought these could be missing people, but on closer inspection they are often posters that are of a personal nature. These posters are badly printed and are very amateurish. Some have been put up warning about what the poster claims to be a suspected paedophile, others are just as bad. The latest is a poster that claims a chap pictured on it is a chap who preys on vulnerable women. it says:- 'Beware ladies, do not trust this man.' It also says he is a 'con man' Do any of your readers know what these posters are about and why they are being fly posted all over the Town?" Joice, Churchtown.

Editors reply:- "We have spotted these as well and asked a shop, whose window a poster was tapped on to, in order to see if they know anything about it. The shop said they didn't know who put it up or why, then took it down. We do not know the motive or if the allegations made on these posters are correct, and we strongly suggest if they are on your property, you remove them. These 'name and shame' poster campaigns are often very dangerous. Posters like this could risk hindering Police investigations, defaming someone, breaching their privacy, or breaking suppression orders from the Courts. A Police spokeswoman has told us that posters like this don't always get the information correct and in some cases a misplaced name and shame has ended in legal action, risk to the person's safety and in some cases, death. In 2013, an innocent man was beaten then burned to death in the UK after his neighbours wrongly believed rumours he was a paedophile. People should report concerns about individuals direct to Police or other 'significant authorities' so the issue can be dealt with appropriately and not to take matters into their own hands."

Letter to Editor:- "Phallic pictures on Lord Street."

"I have been spotting all over Lord Street and on back streets, a run of phallic symbols being painted and drawn on the pavements and walls. Annoyingly both these depictions and also Nazi symbol graffiti are getting to be a common sight, in and round our Town. Please can something be done about them? How do we report them to the Council? Also, what does it say about our Town when we keep seeing these doodlings all over the area? They are not pleasant to look at and often the items on the floor are painted with a very revolting, sticky substance. If it is done as a joke, this is not funny, but could also indicate something much darker... Already we are seeing what looks like drug gang markings appearing around the Town. These markings are a pair of shoes that have been throw onto over hanging objects, like tree branches and telephone wires. I have been told that they are often used to signal to users and other sellers that you can purchase drugs, from a drug dealer, within that location. Now I have been informed that phallic symbols are often used to alert potential customers to locations of 'pop-up brothels.' Owners of holiday homes and short-term rental properties have been warned on the South Coast to keep an eye out for indications of 'pop-up brothels' and this was flagged as a way to spot them. Could this be a sign that they are now happening in Southport? I have asked the Police, but not had any information back." Southport Resident. (Name not published at request of sender.)

Editors reply:- "Yes, we are aware of the 'doodlings' and the shoes. We have already covered this a few times on our Social Media accounts and also on here. The shoes can in some areas indicate drug gang activity, and we are also aware of the markings being associated with prostitution. We will contact the Police for more information about your concerns about 'pop-up brothels.' The removal of graffiti that is racial or obscene nature in Southport, on our roads, is the responsibility of Sefton Council who often do it within 48 hours. It is also worth adding that Sefton Council also offers a service to remove graffiti from private properties, but they do charge and require the owner to sign a disclaimer against any damage. If you want to report an issue to Sefton, you can do so online or call them on:- 0345 140 0845 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, except on Bank Holidays.)"

Public sector organisations urged to be "at the forefront of the fight against modern slavery"

PUBLIC sector organisations are being urged to be at the:- "forefront of the fight against modern slavery" by taking advantage of new training being offered by the Region's Police Commissioner designed to ensure they are aware of important new changes in the law.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy has arranged the training session to ensure public sector organisations, and those who provide services and goods to them, are aware of upcoming changes to the Modern Slavery Act.

The Act requires public sector bodies to do more to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking, both within their organisation and the whole of their supply chain. Crucially, this includes a new obligation for organisations with a turnover of ₤36m or more to produce an annual modern slavery transparency statement. This statement will require organisations to set out what they are doing as an organisation to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking.

Failure to comply with these new requirements could lead to organisations being excluded from future public sector commissioning and procurement procedures.

In preparation for the changes, the Region's Police Commissioner has united with Southport based not for profit company Libre Solutions Ltd, to host a training day at the International Slavery Museum.

The event, on 19 November 2019, will focus on ensuring any organisation in a public sector supply chain, or any which wish to secure public sector funding, fully understands how the Modern Slavery Act will impact upon them.

On Anti-Slavery Day last year, Merseyside's 5 Local Authorities were among 50 Councils across the UK who signed the Co-operative Party Charter against Modern Slavery pledging their commitment to tackling this issue. The pledge obliges Councils to proactively vet their own supply chain to ensure no instances of modern slavery are taking place. It also encourages Councils to ensure they challenge any abnormally low bids to ensure they are not using contractors who may be using slave labour and refer on for investigation any contractors who cause concern.

Jane said:- "In the UK, slavery was abolished more than 180 years ago. Yet we know the horrors of slavery are still happening today, as seen in Essex where sadly the bodies of 39 people have been recovered from a refrigerated truck, but also in our own communities here in Merseyside. These changes to the Modern Slavery Act will support efforts to put a stop to slavery and human trafficking and ensure large organisations are playing their part in fighting this abhorrent crime. I recognise that businesses of all kinds require help and support in understanding these changes, so I have organised this training to help organisations prepare for the significant new responsibilities they face. Our 5 Local Authorities signed the Co-operative Party Charter against Modern Slavery on Anti-Slavery Day in 2018 and I want to help them to ensure they are delivering on that pledge. Our Councils, and other public sector agencies, have the ability to implement changes that can make a genuine difference, protecting some of the most vulnerable people and young people in our neighbourhoods. I would urge organisations working in this sector to send staff to this event and ensure they are equipped and ready to face these changes head on, ensuring they don't fall foul of the Act while also ensuring they are at the forefront of the fight against modern day slavery."

Libre Solutions trustee Gary Spratt said:- "Stories are breaking on a daily basis describing the abhorrent crime of human slavery. It is now the highest earning criminality in the world and surpasses the illegal drugs market. Labour exploitation accounts for the highest percentage of slavery victims. That means, organised criminals are looking to put their slaves into businesses all over the UK in order to make as much money as they can. Merseyside's Police commissioner is to be applauded for taking a positive stance against this and Libre Solutions are pleased to support this work in whatever way we can."

This new training follows on from a previous educational event at the International Slavery Museum in July aimed at housing and youth care providers. Attendees provided extremely positive feedback following the event, with 1participant commenting:- "I thought I understood a little of modern slavery, but your explicit and powerful presentations made me realise I had completely underestimated the sheer scale and sophistication of the slave masters. The event affected me on an emotional level."

All profits from the event will go to victims' services and tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite's website and search:- "Merseyside PCC Modern Slavery."

Childline needs your help as it is shortlisted for major fundraising boost

THE NSPCC has urged the public to take a few moments to support them in an online vote and help fund vital services for young people across the country. Childline has been shortlisted as a potential recipient for the intu Trafford Centre's Fountain Fund; which sees every coin thrown into the waters of the shopping centre's fountains shared between 3 charities. Since the centre opened in 1998, almost ₤1 million has been donated the charities across the North West, with millions of people visiting the Manchester centre from around the country every year. Voting for the shortlist for the 2020 to 202 2 period is open this week, and development manager Rachel Walker has urged the public to go online and make their vote count for Childline. To register your vote for Childline, search online for:- 'Childline fountain fund' click here before Sunday, 10 November 2019.  Rachel said:- "We're absolutely thrilled to have made the shortlist for this wonderful fund, and so grateful to the intu Trafford Centre for the opportunity. We know that 1 in 5 children around the country suffer abuse every year, and our incredible Childline Volunteer Cunsellors work around the clock; even on Christmas Day; to offer them support in their darkest hour. Unfortunately, 1 in 3 calls to Childline will go unanswered, and it's only through generous donations from the public and businesses that we can provide a light for every childhood. If you can take just a minute or so to vote for Childline at the Fountain Fund, you could help save a child's life."