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Two Birmingham hospitals have been chosen to pilot a new scheme to ensure the one million staff who work for the NHS are all paid in the same way. Selly Oak and the Queen Elizabeth hospitals are the only "test sites" in the UK for the new HR/Payroll system. If successful, it will be rolled out to 560 NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities by the end of 2004. FOOTBALL WORLD MOURNS ASTLE Football is mourning the death of former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle at the age of 59. The 1970 World Cup squad member was taken to the Queen's Hospital, Burton-on-Trent, after collapsing suddenly at his daughter's home. Former England captain Alan Mullery said: "He was a legend at West Brom. They loved him." PLANE-SPOTTERS TO MEET MINISTER A Staffordshire plane-spotter is to meet Foreign Office officials this week to prepare for a court case in Greece. Wayne Groves, 38, of Tamworth, is among 12 Britons who were held for six weeks after being arrested at Kalamata airbase in November. The 12, accused of secret information gathering, will meet Foreign Office Minister Baroness Amos on Tuesday. COUNCIL BIDS FOR £3.1m SCHEME Staffordshire County Council is bidding for £3.1m of public funds for a project which could create up to 5,000 jobs. The council wants to transform the former Silverdale Colliery into a massive employment centre with the latest leisure facilities. North Staffordshire's last deep mine, in Silverdale, closed in 1998 with the loss of more than 300 jobs. HAYLEY UPBEAT ABOUT POP HOPES Birmingham singer Hayley Evetts remains upbeat about carving out a career in the pop industry, despite losing out in her bid for stardom. The 26-year-old was rejected from ITV1's talent search show Pop Idol on Saturday night. "I do not know what to expect when I go home, but I'm sure it will be a warm reception," she said. 1m BOOST FOR YOUTH SPORTS Sports provision for youngsters in Shropshire is to be improved with more than £1m of National Lottery funding. The money allocated to Shropshire Sports Partnership will help develop activities over the next five years. Proposals for the coming year include hockey and basketball youth leagues, plus extra coaching for swimming, rugby and girls' football. ATTACKED WOMAN SPEAKS TO POLICE A Herefordshire mother-of-two who was left for dead in her own home has begun speaking to police officers at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Clare Thomas, 36, was brutally attacked in September at the house in Kinton, near Leintwardine, leaving her in a coma and with horrific injuries. A West Mercia Police spokesman said the interviews will take several months. CHEF PLANS ROYAL DELIVERY A Halesowen chef is to send the Queen a special selection of a traditional local delicacy to celebrate her 50 years on the throne. Richard James is preparing a Golden Jubilee batch of faggots. The 49-year-old chef, co-author of The Good Faggot Guide, was born just two days after the Queen was crowned on February 6, 1952. WEBSITE CATCHES PUPILS IN NET A new website developed by Keele University in Staffordshire has been launched to encourage youngsters at school to consider going to university. UniWorld - at www.keele.ac.uk/uniworld - provides information on the benefits and advantages of higher education. It also hopes to inspire pupils whose parents may not have gone to university or those from less wealthy backgrounds. ORCHESTRA TO JET TO ZURICH The world-famous City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is to jet off for a series of concerts in Switzerland as part of its annual winter tour. Sakari Oramo, the orchestra and music director, and musicians are heading to Zurich from Birmingham International Airport ahead of the first concert. The schedule will then tour Switzerland before a final performance in Berne. UNIVERSITY 'GENERATES £130m' Coventry University generated almost £130m for the city's economy in the last financial year, according to new figures released. The university's Centre for Local Economic Development said an impact model revealed that the institution had contributed £129m to local output. Results show the university also adds nearly £74m to local disposable income. INCOMPETENCE CLAIM THROWN OUT The new body set up to regulate teachers has thrown out a case against a Stratford-upon-Avon science teacher accused of professional incompetence. The General Teaching Council, sitting in Birmingham, declined jurisdiction against William Walters, who resigned from King Edward VI School. He had rejected claims he did not suit school work to pupils' ability levels. SCHEME TO PREVENT CAR CRIME Police in Birmingham are to launch a new scheme which aims to remind motorists of the threat of auto-crime. Officers in south Birmingham said the initiative, which is backed by West Midlands carmaker MG Rover, was aimed at hitting back at car thieves. Officers have enlisted the help of the Longbridge-based car firm to produce an information pack on crime prevention. WARDS CLOSED DUE TO OUTBREAK Seventeen patients and eight staff at a Birmingham hospital were struck down with a stomach bug which forced the closure of three wards, it has emerged. The illness, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, led to the introduction of infection control measures at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital. Hospital chiefs have insisted that the infection is under control. RACE-HATE HOTLINE SET UP West Mercia Police, who have come under fire in the past for their handling of race-hate cases, are launching a special hotline to combat the problem. The force, which covers Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, has teamed up with local community groups to set up the freephone facility. It will provide a multi-lingual, 24-hour service for race-hate victims. 'GAGGED' DOG SURVIVES DROWNING A dog found by the side of a Coventry canal with its mouth taped shut may have been thrown into the water, animal welfare experts have said. The RSPCA believe someone had tried to drown the animal at the canal off Old Church Road, Little Heath, before it was discovered by a passer-by. Tamara Gray, animal collection officer, said the cross breed dog was unhurt. CROSS RETURNS TO CATHEDRAL A cross of nails from HMS Coventry, which has been decommissioned, is to be brought back to the city's cathedral. It is the second time it has come back to the cathedral, the first time being after a previous HMS Coventry was sunk in the Falklands War 20 years ago. The cross is made of nails salvaged from the bombed-out ruins of the old St Michael's Cathedral. COUPLE THREATENED WITH AXE An elderly couple have been robbed of just £40 after two masked men burst into their Black Country home and threatened them with an axe. The 79-year-old householder and his wife were in bed when the attack happened in Bentley Lane, Willenhall. Both men are described as being aged 25 to 30, of solid build and wearing dark clothing, balaclavas and gloves. ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEME WINS AWARD A scheme helping young unemployed people in the Black Country to run their own environmental business is to receive national recognition. The Youth Enterprise Award is being presented at a national conference in Birmingham hosted by environmental regeneration charity Groundwork. The charity recruited out-of-work young people to learn how to manage woodland. POLICE LAUNCH HIGH VISIBILITY SCHEME TO TACKLE CAR CRIME Officers from Bournville Lane operational command unit are to start a new initiative aimed at hitting back at car thieves in the area. MG Rover Group is supporting the initiative, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday 22 January). Crime reduction officer Constable Terry Lewis is co-ordinating the project. He said: "With the help of MG Rover we have produced a bright yellow A5 vehicle pack which officers will hand out to motorists. The pack is very user-friendly, with bullet point information on crime prevention. "It also includes information on security products as well as a laminated card which motorists can keep in their windows telling thieves there are no valuables in the car. This is meant as a reminder for motorists to remove all items from view. "We hope members of the public take heed of the information given to them as very often crimes can be avoided by the driver changing their behaviour, reducing the opportunity for thieves." In addition, officers attending incidents will be provided with bright yellow clipboards to further reinforce the crime reduction message. "The clipboards are already popular with a lot of colleagues," said PC Lewis. "They serve as an aide memoir on issues such as stop and search, obtaining mobile phone IMEI numbers, and vehicle crime prevention advice." He welcomed the support of the MG Rover Group, which is paying for the production of the packs and clipboards. 23rd. January 2002 PROBE OVER WOMAN'S DEATH A murder probe has begun after the body of a 72-year-old woman was found by her son as he returned home in Smethwick. Charles Millward found the body of his mother, Doris, at the home they shared in Talbot Road, police said. Detectives say she was the victim of a violent attack by one or more intruders, who broke into the house and inflicted head and neck injuries. WIFE DIED 'IN BONDAGE TRAGEDY' A Cannock man murdered his wife, then tried to cover it up by claiming she died after a bondage session went wrong, a court has been told. Mark Goddard, 42, said his blindfolded wife, Kerry, 36, plunged through the floor of their loft as he was about to clear space for them to have sex. Goddard denies murder in the ongoing trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court. FIGHTBACK OVER JOBS CUTS Council and business chiefs in Shropshire are fighting back after one of the county's major private employers announced hundreds of job losses. Perkins Engines Company Ltd revealed just before Christmas that it plans to cut 520 jobs at its Shrewsbury plant. A task force has been set up to try to help save posts and assist workers who will be made redundant. PUPILS TO SEE STUDENT BACTERIA More than 300 14-year-old pupils from Coventry and Warwickshire are to get a taste of university life - by looking at bacteria found on current students. They are taking part in the University of Warwick's Aiming for a College Education week, which encourages youngsters to continue their studies. The teenagers will tour science laboratories to see bacteria cultures. DECLINE OF £2m LOTTERY WINNER A Redditch Lottery millionaire drank a bottle of spirits, a litre of wine and up to eight cans of lager each day before he died, an inquest has heard. Philip Kitchen, 58, who won £2m in 1999, had not left the sofa in his Barnt Green home for several months. He died of bronchial pneumonia. A verdict of death from self-neglect was recorded at Kidderminster Town Hall. £20m BOOST FOR FORMER COAL AREA Former coalfield areas in the West Midlands will benefit from a £20m fund approved by the European Commission. The fund aims to provide start-up cash for new and developing small and medium-sized enterprises in former coalfields areas across the country. Regeneration Minister Sally Keeble welcomed the decision and said it was "an important step forward". 'BOMB EQUIPMENT' FOUND IN BAGS Wiring, latex gloves and powder were found in refuse sacks outside a house in Birmingham rented by a man accused of plotting to cause explosions. Birmingham Crown Court was told scientists later found the gloves to have traces of the high-explosive HMTD. Moinul Abedin, who rented the Sparkhill property, and Dr Faisal Mostafa both deny conspiracy to cause explosions. GERMAN MAN KILLED IN CRASH Police are trying to establish the identity of a German man killed in a road accident near Nuneaton. The man was travelling with another German in a Mercedes van when it collided with a lorry on the A5 at the junction with Weddington Road. The lorry driver was not injured in the collision, which forced the closure of the road for several hours. UNIVERSITY PUSHES CERAMICS Staffordshire University has drafted in a marketing adviser to help promote a £1.8m design and marketing project for the region's ceramic industry. Amanda Orchard will co-ordinate projects contracted to the university through the Ceramic Industry Forum's Leading By Design initiative. Projects include helping set up an international design competition. PLANE-SPOTTERS MEET OFFICIALS The Foreign Office has apologised to a Tamworth plane-spotter when
officials met him to discuss his legal battle with authorities in Greece.
Wayne Groves was part of a group of 12 held for nearly six weeks on charges
of espionage, before they were reduced. The Foreign Office apologised
to the group and their families if officials had seemed not to offer enough
support. SACKED RECTOR IN EU APPEAL Sacked rector Ray Owen, of Stoke, is presenting his case to the European Parliament as he bids to win the same employment rights as other people. The former Rector of the Parish of Hanley says he cannot fight in the British courts to get his job back as he is deemed to be "employed by God". Mr Owen is calling for EU action to end discrimination against British clergy. RESIDENTS FACE TAX INCREASE Bromsgrove residents face a council tax rise to meet shortfalls in Government funding, the district council says. Band D property owners will see an increase of 54p each week, an increase of £28.34 over the year. Council leader Nick Psirides said: "A totally inadequate Government grant increase falls far short of meeting the cost of our additional duties." £10m FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION Consumer Affairs minister Melanie Johnson is to visit Birmingham to unveil a £10m action plan to protect shoppers from rogue traders. The plan includes taking tougher action against rogue traders and improving levels of training for trading standards officers. The plan will be unveiled at a national conference on consumer protection. POLICE SEEK POTENTIAL WITNESS Detectives investigating a 72-year-old Smethwick woman's murder have appealed for a man in a grey suit spotted near the scene to come forward. A stockily-built man, aged about 40, was seen around the time Doris Millward is thought to have been killed. The spokeswoman said: "We would appeal for him to come forward so we can eliminate him from our inquiries." LOCAL GIRL GETS A TASTE OF MODEL STARDOM
Victoria James, aged 15 from Redditch has been named as one of the six finalists of the highly esteemed Sugar/Rimmel Model Competition 2002. Number one teen magazine Sugar and cosmetics giant Rimmel are giving the six wannabe models the chance to be a cover girl. Top model agency Storm helped Sugar decide on the six finalists from thousands of entries. The Sugar/Rimmel Model Competition 2002 visited seven shopping centres across the UK and Ireland in October last year to find a new cover girl. Victoria will feature in the March issue of Sugar magazine, which is on sale on the 25th January. Readers of Sugar will be invited to vote for their favourite finalist. If Victoria is the lucky winner, she will feature on the cover of Sugar, star in a beauty shoot, jet off on a dream trip to Miami - and get £500 to spend! Victoria could also join the likes of Kate Moss and Sophie Dahl and walk away with a Storm modelling contract. Victoria comments on going through to the finals, “I am so happy to have been chosen as one of the six finalists, I couldn’t believe it at first! I can’t wait to see the pictures in the March issue of Sugar.” RAILTRACK'S DELAYS CONDEMNED A report has criticised Railtrack for delays in fixing signal problems in the West Midlands. Work at Stourbridge to ensure trains could not pass danger signals was ordered more than two years ago. The Health and Safety Executive said Railtrack's response to the danger had been less positive, in identifying risk and in implementing repairs. MP PREDICTS NEW WORLD ORDER The September 11 atrocities could see nations form new alliances, a Warwickshire MP has predicted. James Plaskitt, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, will make the claim at a summit of UK economics students at the University of Warwick. "Rather than driving states apart, the aftermath of September 11 has driven them together," he said. OPERATION ON TIGER A SUCCESS A delicate operation to insert a metal plate in the broken leg of a rare white tiger has been watched by crowds of people at West Midlands Safari Park. Queens, a female Bengal tiger, was left limping with a broken back right leg after a fight with another animal. Park operations manager Bob Lawrence said Queens is expected to rejoin her three companions in a few weeks. DRIVER RAMS POLICE MOTORCYCLIST A West Midlands police motorcyclist is recovering at home after a driver deliberately rammed him. Pc Vaughn Lowe, 30, narrowly avoided serious injury as he chased the driver of a BMW who had failed to stop at a red light in Birmingham city centre. He managed to get out of the way as the car reversed at him and was later treated for bruising and neck strain. BLAIR REJECTS VOTING AGE CALL Prime Minister Tony Blair has rejected a call from a West Midlands MP to lower the country's voting age to 16. Liberal Democrat Matthew Green, member for Ludlow, urged him to meet a group of young people to discuss the issue. Mr Green said the voting age should be lowered because at 16 young people can marry, have children, pay taxes and join the armed forces. BUTCHER BAGS COVETED AWARD A Wolverhampton butcher is celebrating after his sausages were voted the region's tastiest. Michael Kirk, whose family have owned a shop in the city since 1934, scooped the award from Heart of England Fine Foods, which promotes regional produce. The winning recipe features prime cuts of pork, wholegrain mustard and other seasonings. CHIEF'S COMMENDATIONS FOR OFFICERS SEVEN officers from Kings Heath operational
command unit in Birmingham are to receive Chief Constable commendations
for their diligence and professionalism. UNION DEAL SAVES AEROSPACE JOBS Hundreds of threatened aerospace jobs in Derby have been saved - thanks to "groundbreaking" agreements with unions, it has been announced. More than 600 job cuts planned at the Rolls-Royce plants in Bristol and Hucknall were also prevented. Staff will work up to 51 hours a year unpaid overtime, while 1% of a proposed 2.5% pay deal will be deducted. 'MISDIAGNOSIS CAUSED DEATH' A Birmingham woman died of a brain haemorrhage after doctors misdiagnosed her condition as a panic attack and later as gallstones, her family claims. The family of Jane Parry, 51, said they want compensation from Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust. A trust spokesman said a probe into the circumstances which led to Ms Parry's death had been carried out. NEW APPEAL OVER SEX ATTACK Detectives are renewing appeals for information a year after a sex attack on a 26-year-old woman in Solihull. Officers are returning to the scene of the rape near the Land Rover plant to uncover new leads. The victim was subjected to a brutal rape and serious sexual assault on January 25 after being attacked on a footpath near Lode Lane. £11m CANCER NETWORK UNVEILED The Government has unveiled a network of research centres, including one in Birmingham, to help cancer sufferers get access to the newest treatments. Public Health minister Yvette Cooper unveiled an £11m project to speed up access to experimental treatments. Health chiefs want to give more patients a chance to take part in early clinical trials of new treatments. CHILDREN'S PLAY DEFENDED A Birmingham theatre group has defended its decision to involve children as young as 11 in a play that features descriptions of rape and torture. The Hall Green Little Theatre said all the children involved in its production of Illyria had parental approval. The anti-war play, which includes descriptions of children being killed, will be staged later this year. EURO MPs PROBING JOB LAWS Euro MPs are probing British laws which deny clergymen the same employment rights as other workers, thanks to a former Stoke-on-Trent minister. They took up the case of the Rev Ray Owen, who says he was sacked and cannot fight to get his job back because he is deemed to be "employed by God". Lichfield diocese says the former rector of Hanley's contract expired. SERVICE SECTOR SLOWS DOWN Service sector firms in the West Midlands have performed less well in export markets in the last quarter of 2001, a survey has shown. A lower proportion of service sector firms reported that they were confident of increasing profitability, according to the British Chambers of Commerce. The survey said Britain's export sales and orders had reached "rock bottom". MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT A man has been charged with indecent assault in connection with an attack on a teenager at a Bromsgrove bus station. West Mercia Police said the man, who is from Barnt Green, Worcestershire, will appear before Redditch magistrates on Tuesday. The attack on the schoolboy is alleged to have occurred in toilets in Market Street. THIEVES DUPE BLIND MAN Police have condemned "callous" thieves who duped a blind man into accepting a lift with them in Birmingham before stealing cash from him. The pair approached the 46-year-old in Mansel Road, Small Heath, before offering him a lift in their van. A police spokeswoman said one of the thieves then unzipped his jacket and took some cash from his wallet. MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT A man has been charged with indecent assault in connection with an attack on a teenager at a Bromsgrove bus station. West Mercia Police said the man, who is from Barnt Green, Worcestershire, will appear before Redditch magistrates on Tuesday. The attack on the schoolboy is alleged to have occurred in toilets in Market Street. HIGH STREET CRIME FIGHTERS TACKLE PICKPOCKETING Crime fighting team officers on Kings Heath High Street in Birmingham have launched a scheme to target pick pocketing in the area. Officers have started to hand out crime prevention literature especially to elderly women who are very often victims of pickpockets. Sergeant Andrew Notley said: "Officers have been attending post offices on pension days and visiting local shops and supermarkets in a bid to encourage more people to be extra careful with their handbags and wallets." Last week the team had some success after they arrested a 50 year old man thought to be responsible for the bulk of handbag thefts from elderly women on the High Street. He was caught in Sainsbury's supermarket after he distracted a 60 year old lady and tried to steal her handbag from her trolley. "Police later found various handbags, mobile phones and purses worth hundreds of pounds when they searched his flat in Handsworth, " said Sgt Notley. "We believe the majority of this property was stolen from the High Street. The man was charged with four counts of theft and burglary and is currently on bail pending further investigations into similar offences." Police would like to remind all shoppers not to leave their purses on view in shopping bags. A purse or wallet in view is a golden opportunity for a pickpocket. DETECTIVES STILL HUNTING OFFENDER ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF SOLIHULL RAPE Detectives in Solihull have gone back to the scene of a rape one year on from the original attack to see if they can discover any new leads. A 26-year-old woman was subjected to a brutal rape and serious sexual assault on Thursday 25 January last year at about 5.50pm along a pathway connecting Lode Lane and Hermitage Road in Solihull. The victim, who comes from Solihull, screamed and put up a fight, scratching her assailant's face, during the attack. Police still need to trace the offender who is described as a black man in his late 20s to early 30s, broadly built, about 6ft tall with short dark hair and facial stubble. He had a deep voice and spoke with a Birmingham accent. He wore a dark coloured jacket, jeans and dark trainers. He also wore a long gold chain around his neck. He would have had scratches on his face from where the victim fought back. Officers want to speak to anyone who was in the area of Lode Lane and Hermitage Road, Solihull on that day a year ago and saw anyone of this description hanging around or acting suspiciously. Police believe the same offender was responsible for another sexual assault in the same area between 10.30am and 11.00am on Thursday 8 March last year. A 19 year old student was threatened with a knife and sexually assaulted as she walked along Hermitage Road towards Cornyx Lane, Solihull. While the struggle was going on a red car travelling along Hermitage Road stopped near to where the attack was taking place. When the offender saw this he released his hold on the victim and ran off along Cornyx Lane. Detectives took DNA samples from volunteers as part of the investigation and a reconstruction of the rape was shown on the BBC's Crimewatch programme which resulted in about 30 calls to police from the public. Detective Inspector Mark Evans said: "We are still very determined to catch this dangerous man and we will continue to search for him until the case is solved." Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at Solihull on 0121 712 6080 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111. FORCE LAUNCHES BOGUS OFFICIAL TOOL KIT West Midlands Police has been chosen to launch the new Home Office 'Distraction Burglary Toolkit' on Monday 28 January. Acting Inspector Andy Gregory, from the force's Crime Reduction Department, and Detective Constable Phil Bond, from Operation Liberal, the long-term initiative to crack down on bogus officials, will use the new toolkit to look at ways of improving links between the two departments. Acting Insp Andy Gregory said: "The aim of the day will be to launch the Home Office toolkit, raise awareness of the crime of distraction burglary and create working partnerships that will assist in building a reduction and detection strategy." A number of guest speakers will take part in the launch, including Superintendent Kelvin Ashby and Usha Choli from the Home Office Distraction Taskforce. During the afternoon session there will be a panel of invited guests from organisations such as Crimestoppers and the Trading Standards Authority to answer questions and discuss how their organisations can assist. DC Bond said: "The hotspots across the force are mainly in the western area where travellers are pretending to be water board officials and the Stechford area where bogus builders operate." "Operation Liberal has resulted in some excellent detection work and we hope that by combining this work with a prevention and reduction strategy we will make an impact on this appalling crime," added Acting Insp Gregory. Crime reduction officers, vulnerable persons officers and partnerships officers will attend the event, along with representatives from neighbourhood crime fighting teams, at Travel West Midlands, The Stadium Club on Wheelers Lane in Kings Heath. POLICE DONATE A PC The Fellowship of Retired Ambulance Personnel, based at Springvale Club in Bilston, Wolverhampton, are 'overjoyed' after receiving a surprise donation from the police. Kind-hearted police officers from the Public Protection Unit have donated a second hand computer to the Fellowship so that they can continue to run their activities. Detective Inspector Darren Brookes, from Crime Support, said: "Retrieved computers and other IT equipment are always thoroughly checked and wiped. Only then are they suitable for auctioning, although some personal computers are simply thrown away or destroyed." After receiving a letter from the Fellowship informing them that, 'without the means of a personal computer, the regional club would have to close down', the officers decided to donate an unused computer, which had previously been seized as part of an operation. The Fellowship is planning to celebrate its 10-year anniversary in March. For the club it is imperative to inform all of its 107 members - mostly in their late seventies and who are unable to attend meetings - about news and other information. The computer will be used for producing monthly newsletters, updating member lists, requesting sponsorships and inviting speakers to meetings. Hayden Purcell, President of West Midlands Fellowship of Retired Ambulance Personnel, said: "This computer will play a major part in our Fellowship. Without it, I could not see us being able to continue, as we would have had no means of communicating with our members. "We are very grateful to the police officers who have gone out of their way to support us." POLICE PRAISED FOR CATCHING VIOLENT MAN Three officers from Belgrave Road operational command unit in Birmingham are to receive Chief Constable commendations for catching a violent man during a disturbance. Constables Moira Orme, Michael Codd and Christopher Caley had attended an incident involving rival football fans on Moseley Road. Around 100 youths had gathered armed with bricks, bottles, snooker cues and petrol bombs. When the officers arrived at the scene, they were confronted by the gangs and were immediately forced to retreat. At this time a 36 year old man was seen running across the road being followed by another man carrying a brick. He was hit in the head and fell to the floor loosing consciousness. PC Caley went to help the man, who was bleeding heavily from the wound and was motionless. The battle between the gangs continued and the officer drew a short shield from his vehicle to protect the injured man. The other two officers chased after the offender and managed to arrest and detain him. PC Orme then helped PC Caley administer first aid to the victim who later made a good recovery in hospital. Aged 21 at the time, the offender was later sentenced and imprisoned for three years. "All three officers displayed outstanding courage in rescuing the man and showed true professionalism in the face of adversity," said a force spokesman. The officers will pick up their commendations at a special ceremony to be held at Lloyd House police headquarters in the committee room at 8pm. SUSPECT 'BRAINWASHED': FAMILY The Tipton family of a terror suspect being held in Camp X-Ray in Cuba have insisted he would not have fought in Afghanistan unless "brainwashed". The brothers of Shafiq Rasul, 24, said he was not a Muslim fundamentalist and had watched and condemned the September 11 terrorist atrocities. The family said they had not had contact with him since December 24. ACCUSED 'CONDEMNED ATTACKS' The brothers of a man from Tipton, who is being held at a terror suspect detention centre in Cuba, said he had condemned the September 11 attacks. Shafiq Rasul's brothers Murtza and Habib said he was a normal British Asian who "never went to the mosque". Habib said they had all watched the news on September 11 and Shafiq was in total condemnation of what happened. CAMPAIGN TO REOPEN COUNTRYSIDE A campaign to encourage people to visit the English countryside in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis is beginning at Hatton Country World, near Warwick. Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael and Heritage Minister Tessa Blackstone are visiting to launch Your Countryside, You're Welcome. Fifty groups, including the National Trust, have signed up to the campaign. BUSINESS PARK TO OPEN A new business park designed to encourage small and start-up businesses is to be officially opened in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Lymedale Court is a complex of 30 workshops and studios developed by Staffordshire County Council on the site of the former Holditch colliery. The Lymedale site was converted into a business park at a cost of £36.9m. WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN TENT The body of a Stoke-on-Trent woman has been found in a tent in a remote area of the Scottish Highlands. The woman was identified as 37-year-old Kay Evans, who had been reported as missing, police said. The woman's remains were found by a man on a shooting expedition near Wick in Caithness. There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances. CAMPUS CEMENTS JAGUAR LINKS Coventry University's links with the city's motoring heritage are to be cemented with the re-naming of a campus block as the Jaguar Building. The School of Engineering's former Q-Block centre houses postgraduate and the systems and electronics studies. All the postgraduate engineering courses on offer have research links with established regional firms. GAY ROW VICAR 'TO FOUND CHURCH' A Worcs vicar who has clashed with his bishop over views on homosexual priests has said he will found his own church. The Rev Charles Raven, vicar of St John the Baptist, Kidderminster, said Christ Church will cater for those wanting "biblical, orthodox Anglican ministry". He opposes the Bishop of Worcester, who has refused to sign a resolution denying legitimacy to same-sex unions. CITY FLIGHT LAUNCHES AIR CENTRE Britain's new £623m air traffic control centre has opened for business by directing a flight into Birmingham. The much-delayed centre at Swanwick, Hants, which was due to open in 1996, guided its first flight into the UK from Las Palmas to Birmingham. National Air Traffic Services hopes to transfer flight control for London airports and the military to Swanwick. RESTAURANT NAMED AFTER MANAGER A Birmingham restaurant owner has paid tribute to the England football coach by renaming his premises Sven Spices, it has emerged. Imran Javed, 41, decided to change the title of his Punjabi restaurant, Seven Spices, following the historic 5-1 win over Germany last year. He has since begun concocting dishes named after the national squad players. NEW EASY ACCESS BUSES FOR CITY Three new buses with the latest "low floor" technology are to take to the streets of Stoke-on-Trent. The buses, which give easier access to wheelchairs and pushchairs, have been bought by the council but will be operated by D&G Coach and Bus. They will go into action on Wednesday on services in Tunstall, Bucknall, Abbey Hulton and Bentilee. OVER FIFTEEN THOUSAND VEHICLES CHECKED IN WILLENHALL FOR OPERATION PIRANHA THREE Launched at the beginning of 2002, Operation Piranha Three has already involved 15,000 number plate checks of vehicles across Willenhall, Bloxwich, Darlaston and Brownhills. Piranha Three focuses on travelling criminals and makes use of technology which allows officers to check vehicles on the road against a crime database containing descriptions of vehicles involved in crimes. Since January 8, 40 arrests have been made for a variety of crimes and 111 people have been dealt with for having no vehicle tax. Superintendent Peter Goodman, operations manager at Willenhall operational command unit, said: "This operation is proving a great success, by tracing people through their car number plates we are able to discover links to a variety of different crimes. "In the past four days alone, the arrests made have varied from theft of a vehicle, driving while disqualified, possession of class B drugs, no car insurance and fraudulent use of tax discs. "We advise car owners across the area to ensure their tax and insurance are up-to-date and that they drive responsibly to avoid being stopped by our vehicle checks." CANAL OPERATION RECOVERS WEAPONS Officers in Wolverhampton have recovered a number of weapons in the latest operation to tackle crime in and around the canal networks of Oxley and Pendeford following a spate of incidents. Plain clothes and uniformed officers are policing hotspot areas targeting potential offenders particularly in relation to robberies. An initial one-week operation, code named 'Ravensclaw', proved so successful it is set to continue for the foreseeable future. Officers have also given crime prevention advice to people during their patrols around the canals. Sergeant Mike Woolley, from Tettenhall police station, said: "Overall, the operation was a big success and we have seen a dramatic effect on the number of reported crime in the area. "A lot of people have been stopped by officers which has resulted in a number of arrests. We would like to reassure the public that the police are out there targeting and catching these offenders." FULL MARKS FOR MOBILE PHONES Protection of mobile phones is the latest focus of officers from Walsall police station, who have organised for Walsall College of Art and Technology to hold two phone marking days for students next week. Phones will be marked with ultra-violet pens provided by the police who have briefed staff from the college in how to mark the phones correctly so as to deter criminals. Officers have also provided displays for the college which give general mobile phone security advice and publicise the use of the phones 'IMEI' number as a security measure. The IMEI number is a unique 15-digit code that is unique to that phone (not SIM card). This number can be accessed by entering the code *#06#. This code should then be written down in a safe place and should the phone be stolen it can be used as identification. Latest research shows that a significant number of robbery offences are committed by young people against other young people and the increase in the use of mobile phones in these age groups has contributed to this. Inspector Christopher Small, of Walsall operational command unit, said: "A mobile phone that is marked and easily identifiable is less valuable to a potential thief and increases the chances of him or her being caught in possession of an item that we can prove is stolen property. "If we can persuade everyone to mark their phones as a matter of course it will greatly assist the police in reducing this type of crime." Officers give the following advice to protect your phone: 1. Don't leave your phone on show in cars or on tables in pubs, cafes, etc. 2. When you're not using your phone lock the keypad. 3. When making calls in public places be aware of who is around you. 4. Mark your phone with an ultra-violet pen. 5. Do not leave your phone in a coat, jacket or bag that is left unattended. SERGEANT PLANS CHARITY TRIP TO INDIA Sergeant Sally Holmes is preparing for a charity trip to India - and she wants your pens and pencils! Travelling with students from St George's Post Sixteen Centre and Newtown and Sandwell College, Sergeant Holmes will be leaving on March 14 and visiting a number of schools and orphanages in Goa. During her two-week trip she will be helping teachers and staff, but is keen to take as many supplies with her as she can. Sgt Holmes, who is based at Walsall Road in Great Barr, said: "One of the orphanages we are planning to visit - the Mother Teresa orphanage in Panjim - is so badly in need of pens, pencils and paper that the children cannot study properly. "It already has to turn away 50 per cent of children who ask to be taken in, so any help we can give is always greatly appreciated." If anyone can help with basic supplies of stationary, or would like to make a donation to the orphanages they can contact Sergeant Sally Holmes on 0121 626 8720. BRAVE OFFICERS TO RECEIVE COMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHIEF CONSTABLE Police Constables David Fisher and Cherie Bates are to receive commendations from the Chief Constable next week following their brave actions catching a robber on Broad Street in Birmingham. The pair were called to the scene of the robbery on in August last year, where the offender had used a stun gun to overpower the victim. After obtaining a description of the offender they began a search of the roads nearby which resulted in identifying the suspect. Despite knowing the man was armed, the officers felt they had no choice but to approach him. They managed to grab hold of him but he continued to use the stun gun, leaving PC Bates no option but to use her CS spray to incapacitate him. After a further struggle and a short chase, the officers finally managed to restrain the man who was arrested. It was later discovered that he had previous convictions for robbery and was also on license from prison. In the same award ceremony, Sergeant Sean Russell will receive a Chief Constable's Commendation for his bravery last September when he attended a block of flats in Erdington to find a man threatening to jump from the ninth floor balcony. The man was abusive and drunk and ignoring officers' attempts to talk to him. Sgt Russell believed the man was about to jump so he clipped handcuffs to his own left wrist and moved towards the man, who was now hanging by his fingertips from the balcony edge. The officer then managed to grab hold of the man's arm and handcuff himself to him to pull him up. With the support of other officers, the man was pulled up and arrested for his own protection. STUDENTS HELP BEAT THE BURGLAR WITH THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL SHOW Students from Sandwell College have given their skills and time to the police's Beat The Burglar campaign with an educational play. The sketches, written and performed by students from the GNVQ advanced performing arts course, are designed to make audiences more aware of what they can do to keep their homes safe. PC Dave Leach, from Great Barr sector, and lecturer Beth Anderson have been working with the students from the Wednesbury campus of the college in Woden Road South. PC Leach explained: "Three of the female students play flatmates and are visited by a bogus official. One of them is celebrating their birthday and the presents go missing. Then the play starts again and shows what they should have done which is speak to a Neighbourhood Watch officer." The play will be performed to other teenagers and PC Leach will also be talking to them about crime prevention. The Home Office funded Beat The Burglar initiative, which started last year in North Sandwell, has cut the number of burglaries in Wednesbury and Great Barr. More than 100 arrests have been made by the dedicated police burglary team based at Wednesbury and funding has also paid for new locks and home security items. Neighbourhood Warden Lisa Corbett works in partnership with local community groups. POLICE IN WILLENHALL CRACK DOWN ON WARRANTS Police in Willenhall are appealing for anyone who has failed to attend court in Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston or Willenhall to come to us before we come to you. A warrant crackdown, which started on Saturday 12 January, has already resulted in officers paying home visits to several people who have a court visit outstanding and the arrest of 22 people. Sarah Turley, warrants manager at Brownhills police station, said: "We will continue to visit people until we have executed as many warrants as possible. "To avoid these home visits, we suggest that anyone who knows they have a warrant against them for not appearing in court, contacts us first to get it sorted out." These warrants could relate to offences ranging from being found with no vehicle insurance to theft and violent assaults. If you are wanted on warrant, or know someone who might be, please contact officers in confidence at Brownhills police station on 01543 374165, or call into your local police station. NEW POLICE TEAM FOR BALSALL HEATH Nine officers are to make up a special team of officers to tackle crime and quality of life issues in and around the Ladypool Road area of Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath in Birmingham. The team is partly funded by the Government's Crime Fighting Fund and are part of more than 300 officers allocated to West Midlands Police since the scheme started two years ago. Officers will concentrate on policing the Ladypool Road area and surrounding roads. The intention is to put more police back into the local community. Heading the team will be Sergeant Lee Wharmby who said: "The officers along with local partners are here to help improve the quality of life for residents. We'll tackle issue such as burglary, vehicle crime, drugs and robbery. "Officers will take part in high visibility patrols and will be using local intelligence to take a problem solving approach to issues." The local community already play a large part in improving the area and the Balsall Heath Forum have donated a couple of mountain bikes to help provide high visibility presence in the area. Police will be seen kitted out in the new mountain bike uniforms courtesy of Operation Safer Streets. MYSTERY SURROUNDS SUSPECTS British intelligence officers are believed to be probing how three men from Tipton came to be arrested in Afghanistan by US authorities. Shafiq Rasul, 24, and Asif Iqbal, 20, are among suspected al-Qaeda members being held at Camp X-Ray in Cuba. Ruhal Ahmed, believed to be 20, is being detained in the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in Afghanistan. SUSPECTS 'WERE AID WORKERS' Three men from Tipton arrested in Afghanistan by US authorities were aid workers, a spokesman for fundamentalist group al-Muhajiroun has claimed. Hassan Butt said the men are known to his organisation but insisted they are all too young to be al-Qaeda fighters. "These people went to Afghanistan to deliver aid, they were caught up in the crossfire," he added. EX-FOOTBALLER TO OPEN CENTRE Former footballer Gary Lineker is to open a new £3.2m research centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. The former England international, now a BBC TV soccer pundit, will be at the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, one of five in the the UK. Studies under way at the Selly Oak site include gene therapy for cancer plus research into multiple sclerosis. SHOOTING FOOTAGE TO BE RELEASED Footage from CCT cameras is being released of a van seen in the area where a Black Country businessman was shot and fatally wounded. The clips show a white Toyota Hiace van near Pikehelve Street in Wednesbury, where Martin Sylvester was gunned down in his car. Mr Sylvester died later from a single gunshot wound. BUS DRIVER JAILED OVER KIDNAP A Nottinghamshire bus driver has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for the kidnap of a workmate he suspected of having an affair with his wife. Kevin Garfoot, 48, Andrew Coulson, 23, and a youth, 17, kidnapped Sean Stonehouse from a depot in Nottingham. Garfoot, the youth and Coulson all admitted kidnap when they appeared at Nottingham Crown Court. 18 DENY GANG WAR PLOT Two people were shot during a street fight organised by gangs carrying guns, batons and sticks, a court has heard. Eighteen men from warring factions in Leicester appeared in court accused of planning a battle between two groups in which two were shot in the legs. The accused men, aged between 16 and 27, all deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder. SEARCH ON FOR MISSING BABY A West Midlands 11-day-old baby boy has gone missing from his mother, after she handed him over to a female friend. Daniel Gray was born in Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital but his mother has handed him over to a female friend. Efforts have already been made to trace the woman, named as Kelly Marie Sheldon, through social services and contacts in the Walsall area. AUCTIONED BRIDE FINDS HUSBAND A Birmingham businesswoman has sold her hand in marriage for £251,000 in an anonymous internet auction. Kay Hammond, 24, may marry a man she has never met provided he passes a number of basic checks. Her potential future husband, known only by his internet sign-on Ben Webb, was one of two men who were prepared to pay the £250,000 reserve price. ENGINEERING JOBS FACE AXE Brierley Hill-based engineering group Hampson Industries has warned up to 370 jobs are at risk after a slump in demand from aerospace firms. Hampson has already axed 270 jobs but said another 370 are under threat and three plants may close after a cut in BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce orders. The firm's Coventry factory, which employs 70 people, is facing closure. BISHOP TAKES MINIMUM WAGE The Bishop of Wolverhampton is to lead a group of people abandoning their comforts for Lent and living on the minimum wage. The Right Rev Michael Bourke, along with his wife Liz, will reduce their joint income by around a half for Lent. They will be joined by 50 other people in the exercise organised by Church Action on Poverty. LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO IMPACT ON CRIME ACROSS DUDLEY Police across Dudley and Brierley Hill are using the latest in hi-tech crime fighting computer technology during a two month campaign to stop the recent rise in car crime and burglary. The FLINTS (Forensic Led Intelligence system) software can analyse and combine a whole range of data in seconds, producing up to the minute analysis of crime trends and patterns that would take a traditional crime analyst many hours to produce. This state of the art crime fighting computer programme, developed by West Midlands Police, has recently been demonstrated to the CIA and FBI in America. Chief Superintendent Dennis Hodson at Dudley North operational command unit said: "We have had a great deal of success in reducing crime over the last 12 months but since Christmas and the New Year period, in certain areas, we have seen a sudden rise in car crime and burglary. "We are concerned with the increase and our aim is to tackle this trend using the latest version of the FLINTS computer system. This now allows us to analyse and identify in seconds exactly where and when crime patterns are emerging as soon as crime is reported to us. This means we can quickly identify crime 'hot spots' and post extra officers into the right place and at the right time to reduce crime." People who live in 'hot spot' areas, vulnerable to car crime and burglary offences, should notice a dramatic increase in police activity. Extra patrols, stop checks, the use of mobile CCTV, crime reduction visits, visits to the addresses of known offenders, extra visits to licence premises, and the execution of warrants will all take place. Detective Chief Inspector Steve Pepper said: "We will have to make hard choices with this initiative about the use and deployment of scarce police resources. But the technology does allow us to make the very best use of our officers' time to reassure the public and to ensure that criminals who frequent those vulnerable areas know that we are there." GRANT TACKLES BURGLARY ON THREE ESTATES Home Office funding worth £75,000 is being used to crack down on burglary on three estates in Kings Norton, Birmingham. Residents living on Hawkesley, Pool Farm and Primrose estates have already started to benefit from the grant now that crime fighting team officers have began improving security in several blocks of flats. "We have identified four vulnerable blocks of flats in the area and have taken measures to improve security," said Sergeant Keith Thompson. "Gates have been installed in the landings and residents have been issued with keys - the gates also have a letterbox and a buzzer." Another block of flats has benefited from steel bars placed on each doorframe making the premises force resistant. Police are also looking at high crime hot spots on the estates, studying the method of entry and putting in place means to combat this. Local residents can expect to see more measures being put in place to tackle burglary. They are reminded of the need to be extra vigilant and ensure their property is post coded. Crime prevention advice is available from officers at Kings Norton police station. TWENTY-ONE ARRESTS FOR OPERATION BREAK-UP IN LADYWOOD Police in Ladywood made 21 arrests over the weekend during Operation Break-up - an initiative which tasked officers to reduce crime and the fear of crime across Ladywood. The operation involved the execution of search warrants, an extra 224 hours of police patrol, a crime prevention roadshow and a mobile phone marking campaign. Inspector John Creed, from Ladywood police station, said: "Local officers spoke directly to many commuters and local people who were all very keen to have their mobile phones marked with our new security labels. "The response from the general public at seeing so much police activity was good - and our efforts were rewarded with significantly less crime recorded." Three search warrants were also executed in an attempt to crack down on drug dealers and associated crimes in the area. Ten of the 21 arrests were made for drug-related crime. "Operation Break-up has been a real success and we have already started to make plans for a follow-up operation in the same area. "We will do everything that we can to deter criminals and reduce the opportunity for them to commit crime in Ladywood," added Inspector Creed BROWNHILLS PUPILS WIN BIKES AS PART OF POLICE CRIME PREVENTION CAMPAIGN Police from Brownhills will present two bikes to winning school pupils of a prize draw, which acted as an incentive for young people to have their bicycles security data tagged. The data tagging system inserts a chip into the bicycle, which is then registered against the owner's details. This makes the bike less valuable to a potential thief and increases the chances of him or her being caught in possession of an item that police can prove is stolen property. All pupils across Brownhills who had their bicycles tagged were entered into the prize draw and two winners were chosen from local schools. Chief Superintendent Mike Layton will present the winning pupils with their bikes in a ceremony at the Barbara Stringer Community Safety House in Brownhills this Friday. Police Constable Julie Ridley, schools officer at Brownhills police station, said: "The data tagging campaign, sponsored by 'npower', was a great success and we are looking forward to repeating it at schools in Pelsall and Shelfield. "If we can persuade everyone to have their bicycles data tagged as a matter of course it will greatly assist the police in reducing bicycle theft." LARGEST NUMBER OF RECRUITS EVER JOIN WEST MIDLANDS POLICE West Midlands Police is going from strength to strength with the highest ever intake of new recruits joining the force today (Mon 28 Jan). New recruits are taken on every five weeks and today sees 100 new officers joining the ranks - 93 new recruits, five transfers from other forces and two who are rejoining West Midlands Police. As well as this the force has also been allocated an extra 65 posts thanks to the Home Office's Crime Fighting Fund. This is the greatest number for any police force in England and Wales. Director of Personnel David Williams said: "We are delighted that such high numbers of new recruits are being achieved. It is gratifying that such high quality candidates are interested in a career with the police." Anyone interested in a career with West Midlands Police can call the recruitment hotline on 0121 265 7007 or visit the force website at www.west-midlands.police.uk AGENCY ISSUES FLOOD WARNING The Environment Agency has issued more flood alerts on the River Severn in Shropshire as Britain continues to be battered by high winds and heavy rain. A warning has been issued for the River Severn between Monkmoor and Buildwas in the county. The agency warned that low-lying areas are most at risk. For more information phone 0845 988 1188. HARSHER PENALTIES WELCOMED The Chief Constable of West Midlands police has hailed the call for harsher penalties for mobile phone thieves. Sir Edward Crew said he was "delighted" with Lord Woolf's decision to increase the sentences of two teenage muggers, one of whom was from Smethwick. "I hope that the judges will follow the guidance given by Lord Justice Woolf," he added. CONGESTION SIGNS FOR MOTORWAY Stretches of the M6 in Staffordshire are to get "congestion ahead" warning systems as part of a £1.68bn package for England's roads. The Highways Agency plans also include a promise to carry out 90% of routine maintenance off-peak or at night. The plans cover the 12-month period from April 2002 and involve the country's motorways and trunk roads. TRIBUTE TO THE SOMME DEAD French exchange students visiting the National Memorial Aboretum in Alrewas have handed over a tribute to soldiers killed at the battle of the Somme. The secondary school pupils from Albert in northern France presented a wooden cross and planted a tree dedicated to "All who fought and died in battle". The cross will be put in the Chapel of Peace and Forgiveness. GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR TAX RISE The Conservative leader of Bromsgrove District Council has insisted that the blame for above-inflation rises in council tax lies with the Government. Nick Psirides said the cost of new duties the authority has been ordered to undertake will be £700,000 despite a grant increase of only £133,000. Council tax has "become just another stealth tax," he added. INDIA HONOURS ACADEMIC India has bestowed one of its highest honours on a West Midlands academic for his work promoting manufacturing and industry in the sub-continent. Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya, of the Warwick Manufacturing Group, received the Jewel of the Lotus, to mark India's 52nd Republic Day celebrations. The honour is the equivalent of a British peerage. NEW TESTS OVER CLUBBER'S DEATH A post-mortem examination on a 27-year-old man who collapsed after being taken ill at a Stoke-on-Trent nightclub has proved inconclusive. Darren Lees, of Studley, Warwickshire, was certified dead after being taken to the North Staffordshire Hospital. Police are now awaiting the result of toxicology tests, which may take several weeks. BISHOP TO FIGHT FOR RURAL AREAS The new Bishop of Ludlow has vowed to push for equal funding for rural dioceses to prevent them from being marginalised. The Archdeacon of Hereford, the Ven Michael Hooper, said countryside areas were often overlooked. He will take up his post in May, succeeding the Right Revd John Saxbee, who becomes Bishop of Lincoln. GREEN PLAN FOR THE REGION A new partnership has been set up to create and manage new woodland areas in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Waste management company Severn Waste has joined the Woodland Trust and Welcome to Our Future to work on projects across sites in the counties. The sites are owned by the Woodland Trust and will receive money from the Severn Waste Environmental Fund. STUDY MAY IMPROVE PATIENT CARE More patients could be treated at hospitals in Warwickshire thanks to the work of a Coventry University graduate. Carl Holland's MA study evaluated the benefits of treating patients with infections at home or as out-patients. He calculated that South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust could save 2,700 bed days and more than £680,000 if the scheme were adopted. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF?..??? WHAT should you do if? an abandoned car is parked outside your home? you witness a crime? you are involved in a road collision? you loose your driving licence? your car is caught by a speed camera?you want to report a crime? you are asked to be a witness at court? The answers to these and almost 100 other 'Frequently Asked Questions' received by West Midlands Police appear in a new booklet produced by the force. More than 40 topics are covered in the booklet, ranging from abandoned cars to what to expect if you are called as a witness at court. Motoring issues, which account for many of the calls received by staff, take up a large section of the booklet, with advice ranging from what to look out for when buying a second hand car to when you need to produce driving documents at a police station. Public relations officer Chief Inspector Ellie Bird said the aim of the booklet was to answer some of the queries raised by members of the public on a regular basis. "Every week we receive thousands of calls from members of the public asking for the answers to all sorts of topics. Our staff spend a considerable amount of time answering these queries, many of which have little to do with the police. "In an attempt to reduce these calls, we have produced this 'Frequently Asked Questions' booklet which we hope provide clear answers to many of the issues raised." She said although the force had taken every care to ensure the answers were clear, accurate and easy to understand, the law was often very complex when applied in different circumstances. "The information contained in the booked not intended as a substitute for legal advice and members of the public should contact a solicitor if they which to seek a detailed legal view. In addition, the law is constantly changing and this needs to be borne in mind when people are using this booklet," she added. Copies of the booklet can be obtained from local police stations, citizen's advice bureaux or local libraries. A copy is also available on-line, on the force's internet site: www.west-midlands.police.uk. CRIME REDUCTION TEAM TACKLES BURGLARY Officers from Wolverhampton have delivered crime prevention advice to households in Whitmore Reans in a bid to curb the recent increase in burglaries in the area. Ten officers, lead by Sergeant Mark Ward, hope to reduce the number of break-ins after visiting 200 houses with local Neighbourhood Watch wardens. Officers performed security checks as well as giving them literature and UV pens so they can property mark their valuables. The packs contain information on crime prevention around the home and garden and have been distributed over the last week. Police have also been providing high visibility patrols on foot in the area in the last month. Sgt Ward said: "I would encourage people to contact their local neighbourhood wardens as well as the police if they see any suspicious activity in the area. "Residents need to be more vigilant about their property; it just takes a few simple steps to safeguard property by checking security and marking property. We would urge people to start more neighbourhood watch schemes and support the police and further co-operate in reducing crime." Police offer the following information to all residents: Use time switches to turn on lights, radios and other appliances when you are out Keep valuable items out of sight Secure all windows and doors, a third of burglars get in through a back window Never leave spare keys in convenient hiding places such as under a doormat Lock garages and garden sheds Postcode your property with a permanent etching tool or an ultra violet marker pen. Anyone who would like more information on setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme should contact Sandra Hollinshead in the community safety bureau on 01902 481384. POLICE OPERATIONS STOP DRUGS FROM REACHING REVELLERS IN CITY CENTRE NIGHTSPOTS Officers from West Midlands Police are visiting licensed premises in Birmingham with a specially trained drug detection dog to stop drug users and dealers. The Operational Support Unit (OSU), a specialist team of officers who are tasked around the force area with specific operations, work with local drugs dog handler Police Constable Jason Durnell to identify persons within premises or on the streets who may be users or in possession of drugs. The first of this run of operations took place last weekend and will continue in the coming months. Sergeant Steven Wright, from the OSU, said, "This weekend's operation was a great success. A significant amount of both ecstasy and cocaine was recovered which reassures us that we stopped these drugs from getting into circulation around the nightspots. "The drugs dog is extremely skilled, drugs were even detected on one individual who was not in possession of any, but admitted that he had inhaled some cocaine earlier in the evening. "The dog also managed to distinguish the smell of drugs on a hamburger stall where the vendor was found to be in possession of a class B drug." The operation has been met with great support from licensees, doormen and other customers. "The main aim of the operation is to make sure that everyone is free to enjoy a safe and happy night out in the city centre," added Sgt Wright. BRAVERY AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED The Chief Constable of West Mercia is to present commendations to six officers and a forensic investigator who tackled a gunman. Peter Hampson will visit Redditch to present awards to Jim Howe, Matt Dyson, Shaun Lewis, Rob King, Andrew Willis, Brian Mortiemans and Damian Pettit. The awards, the highest that can be awarded, follow a shooting incident. BISHOP BACKS HATE-CRIME BILL The Anglican Bishop of Birmingham has expressed his support for new legislation to protect people of all faiths from hate-crimes. The Rt Rev Mark Santer also welcomed plans to replace the centuries-old laws of blasphemy, which only safeguard the Christian religion. The Religious Offences Bill has been debated in the House of Lords FAMILY OF TALIBAN SUSPECT PLEA The family of a West Midlands man being held by US authorities in Afghanistan have urged the US government to ensure he receives a fair trial. Ruhal Ahmed is one of three men from Tipton being held by the US on suspicion of aiding the Taliban's battle against the war on terror. Solicitor Raz Mann said Ahmed's parents wished to see their son back in the UK. CHARLES TO START FOOTBALL GAME The Prince of Wales is to attend the annual medieval football game played over Shrovetide in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, St James's Palace has said. He will travel through the crowd-lined streets carrying the town's hallowed 5lb leather ball before tossing it into a massive scrum of townsfolk. The event was called off last year because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. HARSHER PENALTIES WELCOMED The Chief Constable of West Midlands police has hailed the call for harsher penalties for mobile phone thieves. Sir Edward Crew said he was "delighted" with Lord Woolf's decision to increase the sentences of two teenage muggers, one of whom was from Smethwick. "I hope that the judges will follow the guidance given by Lord Justice Woolf," he added. CONGESTION SIGNS FOR MOTORWAY Stretches of the M6 in Staffordshire are to get "congestion ahead" warning systems as part of a £1.68bn package for England's roads. The Highways Agency plans also include a promise to carry out 90% of routine maintenance off-peak or at night. The plans cover the 12-month period from April 2002 and involve the country's motorways and trunk roads. GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR TAX RISE The Conservative leader of Bromsgrove District Council has insisted that the blame for above-inflation rises in council tax lies with the Government. Nick Psirides said the cost of new duties the authority has been ordered to undertake will be £700,000 despite a grant increase of only £133,000. Council tax has "become just another stealth tax," he added. CHIEF CONSTABLE ON MOBILE PHONES West Midlands Police Chief Constable Sir Edward Crew has offered his support to a ruling by Lord Chief Justice Woolf following an appeal against sentence for robbery of a Smethwick man. Mr Crew said: "I am delighted with what the Lord Chief Justice has had to say about mobile phone robbers. They are a plague on our society and I have felt for some time that there needed to be a far more comprehensive strategy for dealing with them. "I hope that the Judges will follow the guidance given by Lord Justice Woolf, and we now need to motivate other people to help us if the evil is to be defeated. "What we want are the manufacturers and operators to co-operate by producing phones which can be "stunned" immediately the theft is notified, and I urge the public to join in this war against the phone robbers by following simple crime prevention advice: 1. Don't leave your phone on show in cars or on tables in pubs, cafes etc 2. When you are not using your phone, lock the keypad. 3. If making calls in public places be aware of who is around you. 4. Mark your postcode onto your phone with an ultra-violet pen. 5. The IMEI number is a 15-digit code that is unique to each handset (not SIM card). This number can be accessed by entering the code: star, hash, 0, 6, hash. This code should then be written down in a safe place and should the phone be stolen it can be used as identification. 6. Do not leave your phone in a coat, jacket or bag that is left unattended. "These robbers should be in no doubt of our resolve. We are beating the burglar, we are beating the car thief and we are going to beat the robber."
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