New Lancaster base to fight Serious and Organised crime across the Region

A new satellite office for the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit's (NWROCU) Operations Team has officially been opened in Lancaster, on Thursday, 1 September 2022. Lancashire Constabulary Chief Constable Chris Rowley, together with ACC Jo Edwards from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit officially opened the new satellite office at Lancaster. The new base on the Lancashire / Cumbria border will provide a home for 1 of the new serious and organised crime task forces which have been created as part of the national Police uplift programme in our fight against serious organised crime and sees the NWROCU estate continuing its geographical footprint within its collaborative forces across the North West.

ACC Jo Edwards from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit said:- "The opening of our Lancaster Police Station is a significant development in our plans to expand our estate across the North West. The NWROCU is a collaboration of Police Officers and staff from all 6 North West Police Forces, and we want to make sure we have got a footprint right across the North West Region. Being accessible to the Police Forces and communities we serve is the heart of policing and a major priority for us."

Andrew Snowden, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said:- "The North West Regional Organised Crime Unit plays a key part in supporting the work of the Constabulary as we take the fight to criminals here in Lancashire, dismantling organised crime gangs and making the county as hostile a place as possible for them to operate. This new Regional base strengthens our relationships and capacity to tackle high level crime, and further supports the delivery of my Fighting Crime Plan. We've recently seen arrests for involvement in organised crime up by almost 90% and charges up by over 100%. Statistics like this highlight the intelligence led, round the clock work carried out by Officers here in Lancashire, in the wider Region and nationally. I, like most people, want to see more doors put through, more assets seized and more criminals behind bars as I lead the fight against crime and back Officers to stop offenders in their tracks."

Lancashire Chief Constable Chris Rowley said:- "This Lancaster base provides accommodation for the NWROCU Serious and Organised Task Force. Its location provides a geographic base in the county for Officers from the 6 North West Police Forces, who work together to tackle serious and organised crime. While the majority of people who live and work in Lancashire are honest and law abiding, there are some individuals who choose to commit crime and cause misery for their own gain. This will not be tolerated and the location of the unit should send a very clear message to those criminals that we will use every specialist resource available to us to put a stop to their activities."

Liverpool's Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Bid

MUSIC is the lifeblood of Liverpool and Merseyside. This area has produced more global hit songs than any other City in the UK. It has had the biggest impact on music than any other City worldwide. Liverpool was the most successful British European Capital Of Culture back in 2008, plus Liverpool is designated as a UNESCO City of Music... We also have an amazing Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and a Skyline like no other in the UK. We know our Region would throw an absolutely unforgettable event, so fingers crossed we make the cut!

Vikings field huge response for shirt suicide initiative

STATE of Mind founder Dr Phil Cooper will be among dozens of people taking a rugby league shirt to the Widnes versus Halifax match on Monday night, as part of the Vikings' initiative to remember those affected by suicide. The Vikings will display 120 shirts on seats at the DCBL Stadium, marking the number of people around the world that will take their own lives during the course of the 80 minute match, 1 every 40 seconds. Any club, at professional or community level, or individual that has been impacted by suicide can include the shirt they want in the stand, on:- 5 September 2022. Among those will be Cooper, who was the key figure in the formation of the ground breaking State of Mind organisation in 2011, the year after the untimely death of former Great Britain hooker Terry Newton. Cooper explained:- "I'm taking a Warrington Wolves shirt, and it's from the season when Andrew Johns came over for the last 3 games. It reminds me of his debut at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and my lifelong friend Simon Ellam from College. Unfortunately Simon took his own life in April 2019, and that shirt reminds me of being with him at lots of rugby games. I thought it should have 1 more outing. It's a fantastic initiative that is a really great way of highlighting how many people will take their own life around the world during the course of an 80 minute game. To have 120 rugby league shirts in empty seats is very strong. The idea has come from the men's mental fitness group at Widnes, and it's a fantastic way of raising the profile of a serious issue. What we're hoping will happen is that people will think about it and maybe consider some training around the Zero Suicide Alliance, or even just talk to somebody and ask the question if they're struggling at the moment. People can be quite frightened to ask that for a number of reasons but it can be so important."

The Halifax match takes place in the same week as World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday September 10, and while State of Mind continues its work to prevent future tragedies taking place. Cooper added:- "From an initial meeting that came after reading an article in League Express saying that the NHS and rugby league should get together, we've reached around 150,000 people with training sessions over the last 10 years. We've had many tell us that they've changed their mind about taking their own life, which is what we're striving for, to change the next person's mind and their direction."

Also present in the display on Monday night will be 2 Warrington Running Club vests in memory of Kevin Miller and Tim Reid, illustrating how the idea has extended beyond just rugby league circles. Club member Johanne White explained:- "After seeing the initiative Widnes Vikings were doing in raising awareness around suicide and the stigma surrounding men's mental health in particular, I felt compelled to ask the families could I include the running club shirts of the 2 members of Warrington Running Club who tragically have taken their own lives. Kevin Miller was 46 when he took his own life on July 25 this year. A true Scotsman he lit up a room with his smile warmth and personality.  He joined the running club in 2017 and was a much loved friend and active member of the club competing in countless events over the years. Tim Reid was 52 when he took his own life in January 2018. Tim was always known as a gentle kind and loving person. He competed in many race events and loved his triathlons. At the time of his death Tim was a serving Police Officer for Merseyside Police Force. It's so important to keep highlighting that it's ok not to feel ok. We hope that by having  Kev and Tim's shirts displayed amongst the 120 strikes a chord with just 1 person to be able to say I'm struggling, I need to talk. Please please reach out to someone. Be kind to yourself."

Widnes Vikings CEO Phil Finney adds:- "The shirt initiative and concept we are implementing alongside State of Mind, in order to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention, has so far received a fantastic response.  We have a platform as a historic club to raise awareness of such a very important and prominent societal issue, as a club we want to be more than just a rugby league team and this initiative, highlighting the very sad story from the running club, underpins our vision and ambition to engage with a much wider audience."