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DRUGS AND GUN SEIZED IN RAID Two men have been arrested after drugs, cash and a firearm were seized from a house in Birmingham, police have said. The haul of a 9mm handgun, 15kg of cannabis and heroin and more than £100,000 was seized in Perry Barr. A police spokesman said two local men are in custody after the operation by officers from the regional drugs taskforce and the crime unit. MEP BACKS AUSTRIAN PUB'S CAUSE The Worcester bar threatened with prosecution for selling Austrian beer in traditional litre steiners has gained political support. Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP, said she was opposed to the action taken against the owners of the Cardinal's Hat. "Trading standards are overstepping the mark, wasting money in making criminals out of honest publicans," she said. GP ACCUSED OF ORGANS TRADING A Coventry doctor is due to appear at a disciplinary hearing over allegations he was involved in the illegal organ transplant trade. Dr Jarnail Singh, a GP based at the Hillfields Health Centre, is due at the General Medical Council in Manchester. If found guilty of serious professional misconduct at the hearing, Dr Singh could be struck off. BALCONY FALL VICTIM NAMED A 57-year-old Telford man who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Bridlington has been named by police. Pub landlord Leslie Bird was seriously injured in the fall at the Southcliff Hotel, South Marine Drive in Bridlington, Yorkshire. Mr Bird later died in hospital but a post-mortem examination of the body of the father of four proved inconclusive. PLANS FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY CENTRE A campaign is due to be launched to raise funds for a new technology centre at Birmingham's college for the blind. Lord Mayor Mahmood Hussain and Birmingham Edgbaston Labour MP Gisela Stuart will unveil a 10ft by 8ft poster at Queen Alexandra College. The aim is to raise nearly £400,000 towards the cost of the £650,000 centre at the college in Harborne. PUBLIC URGED TO GET INSURANCE The Post Office is launching a new campaign in Birmingham to warn the public of the dangers of not having home contents insurance. Staff will be on hand at the Victoria Square branch to urge the public to make sure they are insured. According to the Post Office, one in four UK households - more than 6m homes - does not have this type of insurance. FANS 'WANT TO BE LISTENED TO' Soccer supporters have gathered in Birmingham for the first ever Football Fans' Parliament. The parliament has been established by the newly-formed Football Supporters' Federation and over 200 fans took part. They sent a stark message to football's money men: "We want to be listened to." Issues being addressed included TV money and the treatment of away fans. MAN DIES IN MOTORWAY COLLISION A motorist has died after his car was in collision with a van parked on the hard shoulder of the M6 in Staffordshire, police have said. The fatal accident took place between junctions 14 and 15 on the motorway, south of Stoke on Trent. The male car driver, who has not yet been named, was certified dead at the scene. The van driver was uninjured. TORY CHIEF SET TO VISIT CITY Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith is set to visit a school and community project in Birmingham on the second day of his national tour. He will seek to illustrate his commitment to make the reform of public services the party's top priority. The Tory leader will tour Small Heath School and visit the Handsworth-based Parents United project. NAME CHANGE SURVEY PUBLISHED Thousands of people across Sandwell are waiting to find out if their borough is to be given a fresh identity following a survey over a possible name change. Council bosses are due to announce the results of a questionnaire which asked residents whether the name Sandwell should be retained or replaced. Suggestions for the new name include Greater Birmingham and Warley Regis. MAN 'TOLD MOTHER OF KILLING' A man strangled his ex-wife then phoned her mother in Solihull to tell her what he had done, Reading Crown Court heard. Maurice Allen, 53, who denies murder, strangled his former wife Linda, 38, at their home in Stokenchurch, Bucks. Allen's mother-in-law June Bishop told the jury: "He said 'June, it's Maurice. I've got some bad news I'm afraid, it's Linda - I've killed her'." DENTIST IN COURT OVER FRAUD A dentist has appeared at Stafford Crown Court accused of assaulting his patients and defrauding the NHS. Vernon Kenneth Flackett, 65, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, pleaded not guilty to nine assault charges and obtaining money by deception. He is alleged to have claimed £1,878 from the NHS for operations he did not carry out. Flackett was granted bail. TIE WEARING UNFAIR, SAYS WORKER A benefits fraud investigator from Birmingham is taking his bosses to an employment tribunal after being told to wear a tie to work. Ian Jarman, 46, is to challenge Job Centre Plus over its dress code - which demands male staff wear ties - on the grounds of sexual discrimination. Mr Jarman says he feels "insulted" by the new rules over workplace attire. BRIGADE HELPS ELDERLY BEAT COLD Staffordshire Fire Brigade is joining a new initiative to ensure elderly people are not left without heating in the aftermath of a fire at their home. Oil-filled radiators will be made available to pensioners whose homes have been damaged by fire. The move follows an agreement between the brigade and the Beat the Cold Campaign. COUNCIL WELCOMES CONVICTION Birmingham City Council has welcomed the conviction of a Birmingham garage owner for the botched conversion of two cars to LPG. Elizabeth Curley, trading as Stephen Long, of Digbeth, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £500 to each victim. A council spokeswoman said customers who have cars converted should be confident their safety is not at risk. STREET ROBBERY CONTINUES TO FALL IN WEST MIDLANDS AS COURTS ADOPT HARD LINE APPROACH Street robbery in the West Midlands has fallen by almost 17 per cent and more than 2,500 people have been arrested since the start of Operation Safer Streets II. Since the initiative was launched in April, offences have continued to fall week on week. The fall in offences may be due to the success of the large number of summer schemes operated by local authorities around the West Midlands, said Assistant Chief Constable (Crime Reduction) Chris Sims. In Birmingham alone, thousands of youngsters attended a wide range of diversionary summer schemes aimed at taking them off the streets. In addition, Birmingham City Council, together with police officers and other agencies, took part in a series of school assemblies just before the summer break, where pupils were told about the dangers and consequences of getting involved in robbery. I In addition, increasingly courts across the region are taking a hard line approach to the sentencing of robbers, with many being jailed for long periods. Within the last few weeks alone, nine robbers have been sentenced to a total of 44 years imprisonment. All of the defendants pleaded guilty and were told their sentences would have been longer if they had not admitted the offence. Examples include one man sentenced to 10 years for being found in possession of a loaded shotgun during an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) operation. In another case, a man was sentenced to four years for a single offence of robbery in a case where no weapon was seen and no violence was used. A further case involved the sentencing of a man for three years after a violent handbag snatch. Mrs Jan Kilgallon, from Birmingham Crown Court, said: "The level of early guilty pleas in such serious cases is an indication that co-operation between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service is leading to properly presented and prepared case papers being ready at an early stage. "The sentences give offenders credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity but also indicate a determination by the courts to send a clear message that people who carry out robberies can expect to receive a substantial prison sentence." "We welcome this hard-line approach to sentencing, which has undoubtedly helped our fight against robbery," said ACC Sims. "The length of sentences being imposed clearly acts as a deterrent and gives out a strong message to those people tempted to get involved in robbery that they could face long periods in custody." AWARDS EVENING FOR OPERATIONS SUPPORT OFFICERS An awards evening to thank Operations Support officers and support staff for their outstanding courage and achievements is due to take place today, Tuesday 15 October. Present will be the new Chief Constable, Mr Paul Scott-Lee, Assistant Chief Constable (Operations) Mr Paul Blewitt, John Shaw from the Police Authority and Operations Support Commander Chief Superintendent Sue Fish. One officer based at Steelhouse Lane is due to receive an award for coming to the aid of victims of an eight vehicle collision on the A38(M) when she was off duty. Traffic wardens from the Force Traffic Unit will receive awards for their help during an operation to target offenders. Other officers were recommended for an award by the commander of Solihull operational command unit for their work following the aircraft crash at Birmingham International Airport. CHANGES LEAD TO ARREST WARRANTS BEING EXECUTED WITHIN DAYS The execution of warrants for wanted people has improved so much in the West Midlands area neighbouring forces are considering adopting the same working practices. The changes have led to a third of warrants being executed within 7 days of being issued and a further third within 28 days. "In the past, due to bureaucracy and problems with the system, warrants were often outstanding for several months before being actioned", said Inspector Chris Burton, from the force's Administration of Justice Department. "Since introducing a range of new working practices we have managed to totally turn around our performance in this area and believe we now have one of the most effective systems in the country." One of the initiatives launched involve the emailing of warrants on the day they are issued by the courts, cutting out delays in receiving them through the post. In addition, new offender manager assistants, based in community safety bureaux throughout the force area, have been tasked with ensuring warrants issued by the courts are immediately passed to sector officers who cover the area where the person lives. The officer is then responsible for ensuring the warrant is issued without delay. New arrangements have been set up to deal with multiple warrants issued against an offender at a single court. In the past, warrants would only be dealt with by the court which issued it, which again could lead to lengthy delays, tying up officers for many hours, said Insp Burton. "Together, these initiatives have resulted in reduced bureaucracy and quicker justice for those who have failed to appear at court and for victims whose cases would otherwise be delayed." TRIBUTE FOR BOMB VICTIM The brother of a Worcester sportsman killed in the bomb blast in Bali has said his sibling was a "very talented and successful young man". Neil Bowler, 27, who lived in Singapore, was on the island to take part in a rugby tournament with the Singapore Cricket Club. Andy, 25, paid tribute to his brother at the family's home in Bastonford. SCHOOLS FACE UNCERTAINTY The Church of England has warned that several schools in the Dudley area may close as a result of a new report. The Review of Primary School Places 2002 was produced by Dudley Council with the aim of identifying surplus school places in the town. An education spokesman said: "Sadly it is a time of uncertainly for a number of schools in the region." AIRPORT SET FOR RECORD YEAR The number of passengers travelling from Birmingham International Airport is on course to break the eight million mark by the end of the year. The airport said this would be the highest figure reached in its history. Brian Summers, airport manager, said: "It is pleasing to see that the industry is beginning to showthe first signs of recovery since September 11." NEW BOWLING COMPLEX TO OPEN Work on a new £2.5m bowling complex in Birmingham is due to begin soon, it has been announced. The 30,000sq ft Bowlplex will open next year in the city's Broadway Plaza and will also offer a restaurant, bar and games arcade. Tracy Standish, director of the firm, said: "The Broadway Plaza site is absolutely perfect for our needs." WORK-RELATED STRESS DISCUSSED New strategies to tackle work-related stress are being discussed at a one-day conference at Birmingham University. Representatives from higher and further education are participating in the forum as part of European Health and Safety Week. It aims to find out how stress affects individuals and analyse the possible repercussions of workplace stress. MP BACKS THEATRE CAMPAIGN A Worcester MP has thrown his weight behind a campaign to save an embattled theatre threatened with closure. Labour's Mike Foster says the city council will "sign the death warrant" of the Swan Theatre if it slashes £80,000 from its budget. Mr Foster spoke out after attending a 300-strong meeting held by Friends and Allies of the Swan earlier this week. AIRMAN FACES CHILD PORN CHARGES An RAF airman from Shropshire used a computer in his room at an air base to download child pornography, Teesside Crown Court has been told. James Poole, 33, of Hollingswood, Telford, denies 12 counts of making indecent images. The jury heard how MoD police raided Poole's room at RAF Leeming to find indecent images of young girls. KIDNEY GP GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT A Nuneaton doctor who encouraged a man to have a kidney transplant from a live donor has been found guilty of serious professional misconduct. A General Medical Council committee ordered Dr Jarnail Singh's registration to be suspended for six months. The doctor acted in a way that was not in the best interests of a proposed patient, the GMC said. BOROUGH NAME TO BE RETAINED Residents in Sandwell have opted to retain the borough's current title by a narrow margin following a survey about a possible name change. Just over 1% of the population bothered to take part in the poll, which cost £14,000 to commission. It found that 51% of respondents preferred to retain the name. The most popular alternative was West Bromwich. ROAD CRASH VICTIM NAMED An 88-year-old woman who died in a two-car collision in Evesham has been named by police. Elsie Rodgers, of Meadow Close, Harborne, Birmingham, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident in Worcester Road. West Mercia Police said an inquest is due to be opened in the next few days, and witnesses are being sought. POLICE DONATE EQUIPMENT AND TIME TO LOCAL YOUTH CLUB A youth club in the South Aston area of Birmingham has taken delivery of a new pool table, table football, table hockey, indoor goal posts and footballs and much more thanks to local officers who organised a grant from West Midlands Police Authority's Community Initiative Fund. The funds are set aside to support initiatives in which police officers are involved in improving aspects of their local community. Police Constable Steve Davies from the Newtown crime fighting team, who helps to run South Aston Youth Club, said: "Up to 30 young people from the local community attend the club every Wednesday night in Upper Sutton Street, Aston. "They primarily come to socialise and enjoy themselves but the club can also act as a welcome distraction to the small groups of young people who can get involved in petty crime and anti-social behaviour due to a lack of leisure provisions." Aside from the regular youth club night, officers are also planning an open sports day during the school half term which will include, among other sports, a basketball tournament. "All these activities help local officers get closer to the communities we serve and allow us to build up good relationships and trust with young people," added PC Davies. POLICE TURN THEIR RECRUITMENT DRIVE TO THE ASIA MELA 2002 If you're confused about your next career move fear not! Mela 2002 is the perfect opportunity to help you get back on track and find the job of your dreams! In its continued commitment to attract more people from diverse backgrounds, the force will be recruiting for new constables at the weekend of Asian entertainment, which is expected to attract people from all over the country. Police constable Manjit Marva, from the Recruitment Department, said: "We have put a great deal of time and effort into introducing a number of new initiatives and attending large events like this to attract new recruits generally, but particularly those from ethnic minorities. "Support staff and officers will be on hand to answer any questions about the application form, written assessments, physical tests and other issues." Raj Ghai, show director from The Bigga Event Company Ltd, said: "Mela 2002 is not only about celebrating the success of the Asian community, it's all about the next generation making their mark and reaching their full potential, so we'll be bringing together some employers like West Midlands Police who are all on the lookout for bright sparks. "It's the UK's biggest indoor celebration of Asian lifestyle and culture. The show will feature five pavilions packed to the brim with exciting and interactive events and features including fashion, food, careers, commerce, music, entertainment and Bollywood - there's something for everyone all under one roof." West Midlands Police has a positive equal opportunities policy to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. West Midlands Police will be at stand no 130 in Hall 6 at the NEC in Birmingham between Friday 18 and Sunday 20 October. For further information about becoming a police officer or special constable contact the recruitment hotline on 0121 265 7007 or visit the website at www.west-midlands.police.uk/recruitment. CLUB PLEDGES TO BAN 'NAZI' FAN Walsall Football Club has pledged to identify and ban a supporter who was spotted wearing a Nazi swastika. Chief executive Roy Whalley said staff are working with West Midlands Police after reports that a supporter wore the emblem at the Burnley away match. He added: "A generation of Walsall people died to preserve freedom of speech only for deadheads to abuse it." LOCAL MAN ELECTED CITY'S MAYOR Local Gay rights campaigner Michael Wolfe, of the Mayor4Stoke Party, has been elected Mayor of Stoke on Trent. Mr Wolfe polled 12,693 votes to defeat Stoke South MP George Stevenson by 314 votes in the second round of counting. The British National Party's Steven Batkin polled 8,213 votes (18.67%) to finish third, ahead of Tory Roger Ibbs with 4,417. The turnout was 24.01%. BODY HIT BY MOTORWAY TRAFFIC Police have closed a motorway junction after a number of vehicles hit the body of a man on the carriageway near Solihull. Central Motorway Police have closed a short stretch of the southbound M42 at junction 4 after several motorists alerted officers. Police are trying to establish how the body came to be in the carriageway. GIANT PAINTING FOR NEW CENTRE Young artists from the University of Wolverhampton are helping to create a giant outdoor painting to grace a new £38m cultural centre in West Bromwich. The 58ft by 8ft piece of art will be on the site of the old bus station, which is being transformed into the c/PLEX. The c/PLEX - due to open in 2005 - will have a gallery, shops, cafes, education centre and conference centre SOCCER RIOT OFFICERS COMMENDED A team of police officers who helped convict 123 football hooligans after violent clashes between Stoke City and Cardiff City fans is being commended. The 16-strong inquiry team watched hours of CCTV footage to pick out the individuals behind the disorder in Stoke-on-Trent in 2000. Chief Constable John Giffard will award the certificates of commendation. JOBS TO GO AT SOFTWARE FIRM Retail software group NSB Retail Systems has said at least 100 jobs are to go across its UK plants, including its site in Birmingham. The firm says it is moving the core of its business to Canada ahead of falling operating profits. The group employs 350 staff across the UK, including two other sites in Watford and Theale, near Reading. PRAISE FOR 'BRAVE' OFFICER A detective has been praised for his bravery after he chased and arrested an armed robber who had held up an off licence in Birmingham. Detective Constable Martin Woodall pursued the robber through the streets of Handsworth after he saw him emerging from PS Jeer, in Wattville Road. A 35-year-old man is helping police with their inquiries. MAN HELD ON DRUGS CHARGES A 34-year-old Coventry man is in custody on suspicion of supplying cannabis after 100kg of the drug was found at a factory in Henley-in-Arden. Warwickshire police said the haul, which has an estimated street value of £500,000, was found after officers from Stratford-upon-Avon mounted the raid. The man, from the Holbrooks area, was taken to Leamington Spa police station. ARMED RAIDER TAKES £3,000 A robber took more than £3,000 from a cash and carry store in Warwick after holding up a cashier at gunpoint. The gunman entered the Booker store, in Nelson Lane, as the last customer was leaving before closing time. He pointed a pistol at the 17-year-old female cashier and forced her to hand over the money. A police spokeswoman said there were no witnesses. BROAD STREET BUSINESSES CLUB TOGETHER FOR SAFER STREETS Police from the Broad Street crime fighting team in Birmingham will host the launch meeting of the new 'Broad Street Association' at the Novotel on Broad Street next Monday, 21 October, which aims to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the popular area of the city. Speakers from West Midlands Police, the City Council's Birmingham City Centre Partnership and a licensee from the street will talk about plans for the area to over 100 representatives from the street's hotels, entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, shops and residential organisations. Inspector Sean Phillips, from Vyse Street police station, said: "The idea of the Broad Street Association is for everyone to club together to make Broad Street a safe and enjoyable venue for a wide range of people. "Once the launch meeting gets underway a member's executive committee will be formed to ensure that proposals for improvements in the area are supported. "For example, we would like to see a protocol for gaining and storing CCTV footage used around the area and will also be discussing how door staff can work with the police to ensure that any drunk and disorderly or underage drinkers are deterred from entering some of the venues." Local officers will also be giving out crime prevention literature to all members including a booklet called 'Safe and Secure', produced by West Midlands Police, which offers low cost and practical advice for reducing the risk of robbery at businesses and what to do in the event that one did occur. "The new association will build on initiatives that have already been seen in Broad Street over the last year such as a radio link scheme for venues which means they can contact the police and each other to warn of violent activity and an agreement to exclude offenders who are banned from one venue, from a selection of venues in the area," added Inspector Phillips. Members of the new Broad Street Association will also use their first meeting to receive a briefing on Birmingham's bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2008. PENALTY NOTICE SCHEME CONTINUES TO PROVE A SUCCESS The new penalty notice scheme for minor offences of disorder and anti-social behaviour is continuing to prove a success in the West Midlands - with more than 200 tickets being issued last month alone. That brings the total number of tickets issued since the scheme was launched nine weeks ago to 340. The majority of tickets - 183 - have been issued for using threatening and abusive behaviour. One hundred and three tickets have been issued for being drunk and disorderly, 35 for wasting police time, 15 for being drunk in the highway, 3 for sending a false message and one for trespassing on the railway. Chief Inspector James Andronov, from Operations Support, said officers continued to find the new powers very useful. "The feedback we have had is that people are increasingly aware of the tickets and often stop offending when threatened with a penalty notice," he said. Officers are been asked to evaluate the tickets on a day-to-day basis. One constable said: "I have found these tickets to be an excellent aid to everyday police work. They are easy to issue and, for example, in relation to public order offences, they cut down on an immense amount of paperwork/police time. "The word is obviously getting about with the public, as the mention of the issue of such tickets tends to prevent further behaviour/language problems. I would like to see the range of offences extended eg, litter etc." West Midlands Police are one of four forces around the country piloting the new penalty scheme. British Transport Police are also taking part. It allows officers to issue offenders with penalty notices in the sum of £40 or £80 for a range of minor offences and anti-social behaviour. The scheme is aimed at providing a more cost effective method of dealing with a range of offences, freeing up officers to return to operational duties, reducing the time officers spend at court and reducing the burden on the courts. Research carried out in the West Midlands alone shows the notional cost of wasted police time at court is over £600,000 per year - equivalent to 25 constable posts. "We are confident this will provide an effective way of dealing with the type of behaviour that blights the lives of communities throughout the West Midlands, providing a potent deterrent to would-be offenders, releasing officers more quickly to frontline duties and reducing delays in the courts," said Chief Inspector Andronov.
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