National Parking Platform looks to deliver a revolution in parking services

THE British Parking Association welcomes progress on a National Parking Platform (NPP) which aims to enhance the customer experience when choosing where to park and how they pay for parking. The National Parking Platform will be a major initiative funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and open to public and private parking operators and service providers. The NPP will allow drivers to locate suitable parking for their journey, check tariff and availability, and make a payment using their preferred method of payment including:- parking apps, card, or cash, as well as modifying that journey as conditions change to enable use of alternative parking. The NPP builds on the work of the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS), a new set of standards for parking that will help to streamline the parking experience and help free up much needed space, easing congested cities, and boosting British high streets

Andrew Pester, BPA Chief Executive said:- "Our not for profit Association is at the forefront of raising standards. As parking management becomes increasingly digitised, the importance of data and digital payment systems is key. We will continue to work closely with Government to enable the successful delivery and adoption of the National Parking Platform."

Police Commissioner issues statement following report into investigation into explosion outside Liverpool Women's Hospital

FOLLOWING the publication of the key findings of the Police investigation into the explosion outside the Liverpool Women's Hospital, on:- 14 November 2021, Merseyside's Police Commissioner has released the following statement.Emily Spurrell said:- "Nothing will ever excuse or justify Al Swealmeen's despicable decision to build and detonate a bomb at the Women's Hospital, on:- 14 November 2021. His actions risked the lives of hundreds of patients and staff. Whilst a precise motive for the attack remains unclear, it is important we try to understand what influenced him to carry out his cowardly deed to better prepare for and deter any attempts to cause mass devastation in the future. Today's report raises more concerns around the effectiveness of our asylum system, the way claims are processed, support available to asylum seekers and what procedures are used to monitor those individuals who are refused permission to live in the UK. These incidents are thankfully very rare, and I want to reassure our communities that Merseyside Police and Counter Terrorism North-West work around the clock, with all partner agencies to prevent them from happening. I'd like to thank Counter-Terrorism officers who have diligently and meticulously followed every line of inquiry to find out why the bombing happened as well as the emergency services and partner organisations for their response to the incident. I'm also grateful to all our communities who came together to support each other and our asylum seeker community in the wake of the incident. Liverpool is a diverse City built on multi-culturalism and it's a place that proudly welcomes people from across the world into its heart. As we've seen in the past, when the City and the wider Merseyside Region faces adversity or tragedy, people come together, and it's that spirit of community that defines us all. Hate and division and those who attempt to inflict it will never be tolerated here. If you see or hear anything suspicious or unusual then you should always report it. You can do so by contacting the Police direct or by visiting:- Gov.UK where you can file a report in confidence. If you've been affected by any events outlined in this report then our Victim Care Merseyside Hub has a team of trained staff on hand who can provide tailored, emotional, and practical support. You can find more information at:- VictimCareMerseyside.Org or by calling Freephone:- 08081753080. Alternatively, you can access support from the Peace Foundation at:- Peace-Goundation.Org.UK."

Merseyside Police effective at preventing crime

MERSEYSIDE Police is effective at preventing crime, but it must improve its service for the public in a number of key areas, the Police inspectorate has said.  His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Merseyside Police's performance across 8 areas of policing and found the force was good in 3 areas, adequate in 3 areas and requires improvement in 2 areas. HMICFRS praised the force for listening to and responding well to the local community, with effective 2-way communication enabling local priorities to be set and addressed.

However, the inspectorate said that Merseyside Police needs to improve how it safeguards vulnerable people, such as sharing information with partner agencies at the earliest opportunity to protect them from harm. HMICFRS also said the force needs to ensure it has enough trained staff and resources across several areas; this includes its domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS) and specialist investigation functions.

His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer said:- "I am pleased with some aspects of the performance of Merseyside Police in reducing crime and providing victims with an effective service. The force has faced significant operational challenges since our last inspection, all of which required effective leadership and the ability to flex resources, as well as quick responses to changing situations and level of risk, which it achieved well. However, Merseyside Police needs to improve the service it provides in some important areas, including:- how it safeguards vulnerable people, and it must do more to meet the public's needs. I hope the recent changes to the way the force operates result in improvements that help it better meet the public's needs. I will be monitoring its progress closely."