Daily Archives: 1 Feb 2016

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1 Feb 2016

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Police (local)

Police corruption endemic in the UK

Surely this should be a priority for Police and Crime Commissioners?

“Imagine you lived in a country which last year had 3,000 allegations of police corruption. Worse, imagine that of these 3,000 allegations only half of them were properly investigated — because for police officers in this country, corruption was becoming routine. Imagine that the police increasingly used their powers to crack down not on criminals but on anyone who dared speak out against them. What sort of a country is this? Well, it’s Britain I’m afraid — where what was once the finest, most honest service in the world is in danger of becoming rotten.

Some of this was revealed in a little-noticed report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, which went on to deliver some even more shocking news. Nearly half of 17,200 officers and staff surveyed said that if they discovered corruption among their colleagues and chose to report it, they didn’t believe their evidence would be treated in confidence and would fear ‘adverse consequences’. This appalling lack of protection for whistle-blowers — often amounting to persecution — has become commonplace throughout the public services and creates a climate in which dishonesty and malpractice flourish.

The second report, compiled by the Serious Organised Crime Agency, bears this out. It says there has been a sharp increase over the past five years in the number of police officers dealing heroin, cocaine and amphetamines and an equally startling rise in the number of officers abusing their power ‘for sexual gratification’ — in other words bullying or cajoling suspects, witnesses and even victims into having sex with them.

Just this week, in fact, it emerged that the Met suspended 73 coppers, community support officers and other staff on corruption charges in the past two years. They cited drug crimes, bribery, theft, fraud, sexual misconduct and — everybody’s favourite — un-authorised disclosure of information. Eleven were convicted in court, but what happened to the others? The Met spokesman said rather blandly that some were allowed to resign or retire (presumably with full pension rights) and some were dismissed.”

http://www.spectator.co.uk/2015/03/the-shocking-truth-about-police-corruption-in-britain/

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EDDC, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

Councillor Hughes responds on Sidford Fields criticism

“Perhaps you should like to tell me and other readers what further evidence I and Graham Troman provided at the Council meeting where we were successful in getting the Business Park removed?

According to the Inspector he had received all the evidence he required…… We now have to wait and see if a planning application is forthcoming because at that stage we can ensure that in depth traffic studies and evidence are forthcoming which will have to satisfy the County Council and its safety audits also that a flood alleviation scheme is implemented that the Environment Agency have already stated can be applied that will ensure that any development won’t have impact on Sidford or further down the Sid……This scheme would be very expensive to provide.”

Er, anyone understand this response?

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1 Feb 2016

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Austerity cuts, Hugo Swire

Swire does not support equalising pensions for women

“Sidmouth residents Jenny Velterop and Julie Davies spoke out last week about the bid to bring women’s pensionable age into line with men’s – which has seen many people born in the 1950s face a six-year delay.

MP Hugo Swire says that while he understands concerns about the pace of change, the Government has taken measures to mitigate the impact on the worst affected – and alternative arrangements would bring ‘inordinate’ costs to the taxpayer. …”

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/east_devon_mp_defends_government_s_stance_on_women_s_state_pension_1_4396714

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EDDC, Local Plan, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

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Sidmouth Herald letter re Sidford Fields

Letter in Sidmouth Herald below. Yes, Carol, LOTS of people, including your new, local Independent councillors have been and are trying desperately hard to get this ridiculous decision reversed. Unfortunately, the district council majority party councillors did not share this view. EDDC was supposed to offer the Inspector evidence to support the decision to remove it from the Local Plan. EDDC chose not to supply that evidence, which had been given to them in vast amounts. Perhaps you should ask Councillor Stuart Hughes why and how this happened as he was there at the time and seems to be unable to supply a satisfactory answer as to why this happened.

I live in Sidbury. Anyone who lives in this area knows how fast non-local traffic travels through this area.

A business park will attract even more traffic. I feel the plan to use the land for a business park is appalling. Does this [planning inspector] Anthony Thickett live any where in this part of Devon? Does [EDDC leader] Paul Diviani live here? No, of course not. Neither of these people seem to care that they are about to spoil the jewel that is Sidmouth or the ancient village of Sidbury. Is nobody able to fight this disgusting decision?

It makes me sad that these people can make choices that do not affect them, but are, in my view, happy to spoil the lives of hundreds of local people and the thousands of visitors that visit our towns and villages because they remain relatively unspoilt.
Carol Ireton
Sidbury

http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/opinion_don_t_spoil_jewel_that_is_sidmouth_or_ancient_village_sidbury_1_4398994?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eshot&utm_campaign=newsletterlink

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Austerity cuts

The effects of austerity

“Residents face rising council tax bills and more cuts to services as local authorities are pushed “closer to the financial edge” by the Government’s spending squeeze.

Many English councils say they have been hit by worse-than-expected funding reductions from the Government – leaving some facing multi-million pound budget shortfalls for the coming year.

The scale will become clear in the coming weeks as councils meet to agree their budgets for 2016/2017, but already many are warning they will have to put up council tax by close to 4% and deliver further cuts to services.

Services ranging from children’s centres, short breaks for disabled children and bus subsidies to funding for theatres, museums, community gyms and projects encouraging people to stop smoking and preventing domestic violence are under threat.

Local authorities across England are also considering putting council tax up by the maximum level permitted of 3.99% including an adult social care premium, which would see bills go up by £47 a year for a Band D home in some parts of the country.

Other charges, from garden waste collections to bereavement services, are also set to rise in some areas.

And a study by the GMB union union found that over 25,000 jobs are under threat because of cuts to services, including 3,000 in Glasgow, 1,800 in flood-hit Cumbria and 1,200 in Birmingham.

A radical shake-up in the way the Government is allocating its revenue support grant for councils, which is being phased out by the end of the decade, has left many councils facing deeper cuts than they expected in 2016/2017.

Town hall leaders have sought meetings with ministers and written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor warning them of the impact of the cuts, with some saying they face not being able to meet their legal duties or be “viable” as councils. …”

http://www.middevonstar.co.uk/news/national/14243697.display/