A Preston councillor has claimed that the public are being failed by the courts on the issue of knife crime.
Francesco De Molfetta, councillor for Preston Central North, said that the court system is far too lenient in sentencing those who commit acts of violence using knives.
“I feel the courts aren’t severe enough. There needs to be harsher penalties; stricter sentences and enforce the parents” he said.
“It’s not as high as London but it’s a real cause of concern. Despite the best efforts of the police it’s not lowering. People need to feel safe.”
Lancashire is the 10th place hot-spot in a table of knife crime figures from 2007/2008, with 361 incidents recorded; a figure less than the 515 incident average for the UK, and one which accounted for 18% of all violent crime in the county.
Below is a timeline of the main reported knife crimes within Lancashire since 2007.
Figures from the Lancashire Constabulary indicate that the peak age of people who possess a knife or carry out knife crime is 17 years old, while the peak age of victims of knife crime is 16 years old.
Assistant Chief Constable of Lancashire Police, Chris Weigh, said: “Lancashire is the 8th biggest force geographically in the country and therefore you would expect us to have a higher number of incidents than a smaller or more rural force.”
Mr De Molfetta went on to say that it was his belief that media coverage encourages knife crime in some instances, but that parents need to take more action.
“In minority cases parents are failing, despite all the support. There is instability in the family; a lack of guidance and routine.
“It’s good that there are more police on the streets. The police and the community need to work better together, but they are doing a good job. They need to be tackled at a younger age within the home and the school, to educate them.”
A statement from the Lancashire Constabulary Press Office said: “Lancashire Constabulary recognises that knife crime is a growing problem in society and proactively tackles the issue.
“Taking knives off the streets will not solve the problem in isolation. In order to reduce incidents involving knives we need to change attitudes. That will involve the whole community, including schools, parents and youths themselves in making knife carriage unacceptable.”
Official figures since Labour came to power in 1997 show that the number of people prosecuted for possessing knives has increased by 72%, to 7,699 in 2006.
The law states that possession of an offensive weapon in a public place is an arrestable offence, as is failing to submit to a search is an offence.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Digital Newsroom Article 1
The Government’s ‘Tackling Knives Action Programme’ has begun nationwide, with Lancashire one of the focus points.
The Government have begun a new £3 million campaign to crack down on knife crime. Over the past year there has been a spate of high profile deaths in relation to knife crime, especially around the capital.
Knife crime 07/08 accounted for 18% of all violent crime in Lancashire. The offences recorded by police have been broken down to show the extent of knife crime. Lancashire is the 10th place hot-spot in a table of knife crime figures from 2007/2008, with 361 incidents recorded; less than the 515 UK average.
Dominic Benson, from the Press Office at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said that between the start of November 2007 and the end of November 2008 there have been only three knife crime related injuries in Chorley but 26 in Preston.
The British Crime Survey showed statistics published by the police, based on recorded offences, showed crime down 9%. However, the BSC figures do not include under-16s; an age group which, according to the Lancashire Constabulary, can be attributed a large percentage of involvement in knife crime.
Lea Police have been visiting secondary schools in Ashton, Fulwood and Tulketh, to show pupils the types of scanners they use to find the knives in an attempt to educate and prevent future crimes.
In a press release from the Lancashire Constabulary Press Office it was said that the Lancashire Constabulary “recognises that knife crime is a growing problem in society” and “Officers regularly speak to young people to warn them of the dangers of knives and that police take action against those who carry them.”
The statement continues: “Taking knives off the streets will not solve the problem in isolation. That will involve the whole community, including schools, parents and youths themselves in making knife carriage unacceptable.
“In order to reduce incidents involving knives we need to change attitudes; education is about breaking the chain, targeting those most vulnerable to carrying knives; enforcement is about using proactive police powers and community intelligence to target areas where people are thought to routinely carry knives.”
People in Preston do believe there is a problem with knife crime, if not a major one, and it is because the youth don’t have enough activities to engage them.
The Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Hughes said at a conference in Stockwell that young people were carrying knives out of fear, a statement backed up by the police following stop and search procedures.
Undercover spot checks in the 10 national hotspots for knife crime, including Lancashire, have also shown that it is twice as easy to buy a knife underage than it is alcohol. 35 per cent of underage test purchasers were able to buy a knife while alcohol checks were just 15 per cent successful.
The map (below) shows a select few cases of knife crime in and around Preston, with the majority away from the centre of the city – away from the university – and towards fringe areas, such as Ribbleton and Walton-le-dale.
View Larger Map
The Government have begun a new £3 million campaign to crack down on knife crime. Over the past year there has been a spate of high profile deaths in relation to knife crime, especially around the capital.
Knife crime 07/08 accounted for 18% of all violent crime in Lancashire. The offences recorded by police have been broken down to show the extent of knife crime. Lancashire is the 10th place hot-spot in a table of knife crime figures from 2007/2008, with 361 incidents recorded; less than the 515 UK average.
Dominic Benson, from the Press Office at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said that between the start of November 2007 and the end of November 2008 there have been only three knife crime related injuries in Chorley but 26 in Preston.
The British Crime Survey showed statistics published by the police, based on recorded offences, showed crime down 9%. However, the BSC figures do not include under-16s; an age group which, according to the Lancashire Constabulary, can be attributed a large percentage of involvement in knife crime.
Lea Police have been visiting secondary schools in Ashton, Fulwood and Tulketh, to show pupils the types of scanners they use to find the knives in an attempt to educate and prevent future crimes.
In a press release from the Lancashire Constabulary Press Office it was said that the Lancashire Constabulary “recognises that knife crime is a growing problem in society” and “Officers regularly speak to young people to warn them of the dangers of knives and that police take action against those who carry them.”
The statement continues: “Taking knives off the streets will not solve the problem in isolation. That will involve the whole community, including schools, parents and youths themselves in making knife carriage unacceptable.
“In order to reduce incidents involving knives we need to change attitudes; education is about breaking the chain, targeting those most vulnerable to carrying knives; enforcement is about using proactive police powers and community intelligence to target areas where people are thought to routinely carry knives.”
People in Preston do believe there is a problem with knife crime, if not a major one, and it is because the youth don’t have enough activities to engage them.
The Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Hughes said at a conference in Stockwell that young people were carrying knives out of fear, a statement backed up by the police following stop and search procedures.
Undercover spot checks in the 10 national hotspots for knife crime, including Lancashire, have also shown that it is twice as easy to buy a knife underage than it is alcohol. 35 per cent of underage test purchasers were able to buy a knife while alcohol checks were just 15 per cent successful.
The map (below) shows a select few cases of knife crime in and around Preston, with the majority away from the centre of the city – away from the university – and towards fringe areas, such as Ribbleton and Walton-le-dale.
View Larger Map
Monday, 17 November 2008
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Test Post - Student Map
To all my avid readers i'm afraid this is only a test. However, if you're interested in a specific route across the Uclan campus, or you usually clamber over buildings in the interest of taking a straight route, then this map is for you.
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Barack Obama - One Man's View
Okay, so a poor attempt at some movie making, slide-hashing audio meets imagery. The intention was to have several people on this audio, but this guy spoke for so long I thought i'd use him. That and the public of Preston seem to hate me, it would seem. Nasty nasty students, asking open questions on topical subjects.
Here's the video. Also note, the aim was to have a picture of the man in question, but due to low light, and the fact he said no, instead i've used some commons pictures off Flickr of Barack Obama.
Here's the video. Also note, the aim was to have a picture of the man in question, but due to low light, and the fact he said no, instead i've used some commons pictures off Flickr of Barack Obama.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Prepayment meters - the good, bad and the ugly
At this moment in time i'm doing a feature article on these prepayment electricity meters. My research is quite interesting; almost all of the suppliers are charging extra for these meters.
I looked into why this is, and the findings were quite a shock, yet not totally surpriing. According to action groups Energywatch and National Energy Action, the companies are making close to £300m in revenue. Parts of this go to the broker of the deal, e.g. the local shop, and a little goes towards maintenance, but most of this goes to the supplier.
Some blogs I came across suggested that almost half of the meters were being used to help repay their debts.
Allan Asher, the Chief Executive of Energywatch, called the charges 'morally bankrupt'.
Now, not all suppliers do this. EON have confirmed they have an equal rate of charge for both prepayment and direct debit, and Scottish Power are actually cheaper on prepayment card.
What is disappointing is the response by Ofgen, the energy regulator. Their Chief Executive Alistair Buchanan said, in an Ofgen report dated 27/06/2007: "Prepayment meter customers should take advantage of the competitive market if they are to see further falls in their energy bills".
First thing's first. What sort of threat is that to companies potentially scamming their customers? It's not one. It just shows Ofgen to be timid and perhaps even intimidated by these companies. It also suggests a lack of consideration to these customers.
There's more though. Those on prepayment meters can't just up sticks and change company. Most of the time the only way they can change supplier is if they pay to get put back on a normal meter and THEN change company; a fee some people can't afford to pay.
I couldn't rant like this in my work, and I really shouldn't here, but it's a point I could relate to, being on a prepay meter. It's not fair that people should get scammed just because companies got themselves into debt.
I looked into why this is, and the findings were quite a shock, yet not totally surpriing. According to action groups Energywatch and National Energy Action, the companies are making close to £300m in revenue. Parts of this go to the broker of the deal, e.g. the local shop, and a little goes towards maintenance, but most of this goes to the supplier.
Some blogs I came across suggested that almost half of the meters were being used to help repay their debts.
Allan Asher, the Chief Executive of Energywatch, called the charges 'morally bankrupt'.
Now, not all suppliers do this. EON have confirmed they have an equal rate of charge for both prepayment and direct debit, and Scottish Power are actually cheaper on prepayment card.
What is disappointing is the response by Ofgen, the energy regulator. Their Chief Executive Alistair Buchanan said, in an Ofgen report dated 27/06/2007: "Prepayment meter customers should take advantage of the competitive market if they are to see further falls in their energy bills".
First thing's first. What sort of threat is that to companies potentially scamming their customers? It's not one. It just shows Ofgen to be timid and perhaps even intimidated by these companies. It also suggests a lack of consideration to these customers.
There's more though. Those on prepayment meters can't just up sticks and change company. Most of the time the only way they can change supplier is if they pay to get put back on a normal meter and THEN change company; a fee some people can't afford to pay.
I couldn't rant like this in my work, and I really shouldn't here, but it's a point I could relate to, being on a prepay meter. It's not fair that people should get scammed just because companies got themselves into debt.
Monday, 27 October 2008
What's the point in ASBOs?
My point is simple; what is the point in ASBOs?
ASBOs, or Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, are a key part of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and are given out as punishment for exactly what the name says, but they are being twisted to work as a badge of honour, which isn't exactly a surprise. You can just envisage the conversation in which a young chav - sorry for not being politically correct - gains street cred for their actions using the ASBO as proof of their wrong-doing.
There are so many articles out there. On the L.E.P there is one about a girl who TWICE breached her asbo, for drinking and being in the company of another.
According to Home Office records, there were 279 ASBOs given in Lancashire between 1999 and 2005.
This all aside though, the following questions need to be asked:
- do the media glorify ASBOs to those who have them, and thus make others want them?
- are ASBOs capable of dealing a harsh enough punishment?
People don't respect them. They seem them as having no real power to punish. There is no fear. If people don't fear the punishment, is it not time it was replaced?
ASBOs, or Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, are a key part of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and are given out as punishment for exactly what the name says, but they are being twisted to work as a badge of honour, which isn't exactly a surprise. You can just envisage the conversation in which a young chav - sorry for not being politically correct - gains street cred for their actions using the ASBO as proof of their wrong-doing.
There are so many articles out there. On the L.E.P there is one about a girl who TWICE breached her asbo, for drinking and being in the company of another.
According to Home Office records, there were 279 ASBOs given in Lancashire between 1999 and 2005.
This all aside though, the following questions need to be asked:
- do the media glorify ASBOs to those who have them, and thus make others want them?
- are ASBOs capable of dealing a harsh enough punishment?
People don't respect them. They seem them as having no real power to punish. There is no fear. If people don't fear the punishment, is it not time it was replaced?
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Knife Crime - Yet another crackdown
The title of this post links to a BBC story on a £3m government "pledge" to tackle knife crime in hotspots. Pledge is in quotation marks purely for the purpose that I assumed as government they would not need to pledge to do it, as they'd be tackling crime as a duty anyway.
The plan is another one from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, with one of the plans being increased police presence. Now, it's all well and good having extra policing, but it's a case of time management, and there will be windows of opportunity for criminals to act in, no matter how much you call for "more bobbies on the beat".
Lancashire is one of the 10 areas designated a hotspot, for which an initial £2m was assigned between these 10 areas, and now a further £3m has been added to. So, for £500,000, Jacqui Smith believes she can significantly reduce knife crime in an area. Interesting.
Knife crime is currently rife in the UK and Lancashire. You just have to look at the Lancashire Evening Post and search "knife" and you'll find stories on armed robbery and GBH.
Worse than this was the recent story of pocket knives being found in coats sold by TK Maxx, a severe issue which was seemingly ignored as soon as they said they would withdraw stock.
The crackdown means well, and we should all hope it brings some success, but at the same time if someone is determined to cause harm with a knife, then it's more than likely going to happen. I am in no way saying we should give up vigilance, prevention and deterrence, but we should be realistic in that knife crime is not just going to go away.
The plan is another one from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, with one of the plans being increased police presence. Now, it's all well and good having extra policing, but it's a case of time management, and there will be windows of opportunity for criminals to act in, no matter how much you call for "more bobbies on the beat".
Lancashire is one of the 10 areas designated a hotspot, for which an initial £2m was assigned between these 10 areas, and now a further £3m has been added to. So, for £500,000, Jacqui Smith believes she can significantly reduce knife crime in an area. Interesting.
Knife crime is currently rife in the UK and Lancashire. You just have to look at the Lancashire Evening Post and search "knife" and you'll find stories on armed robbery and GBH.
Worse than this was the recent story of pocket knives being found in coats sold by TK Maxx, a severe issue which was seemingly ignored as soon as they said they would withdraw stock.
The crackdown means well, and we should all hope it brings some success, but at the same time if someone is determined to cause harm with a knife, then it's more than likely going to happen. I am in no way saying we should give up vigilance, prevention and deterrence, but we should be realistic in that knife crime is not just going to go away.
The Working Class reap their rewards, but for how long?
In articles today covered on both the BBC website and The Guardian, it is reported that since 2000, the gap between rich and poor has decreased in the UK due to high employment rates. Good news. The government stated a plan and followed through. Well done, or so it would seem.
The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated that the gap had widened during the 1980s and 1990s, which was a time of Conservative government.
There are two things that cause concern here: firstly, in Lancashire, Conservative control has become a lot stronger in recent years, especially with the decline in Labour popularity, and secondly, tying in with this decline, is the economic "crisis", aka the current recession.
Unemployment rates, according to the Lancashire County Council website, are 1% higher in the North West than the UK average, with 134,000 men and 87,000 women unemployed.
The question then is this: how long can the government, both local and national, continue to maintain minimal unemployment in the midsts of financial downturn?
The news over the past six weeks has been packed with news of the economy and other major economies across the world and how badly everything is failing and having to be bailed out. Businesses are struggling as people are spending less, and as such job retention is becoming increasingly difficult.
This surely means that job cuts will be forced upon businesses to survive and as a result cancel out all the positives that this OECD report has shown.
The report has come at a useful time for the government, but a nonchalant one for the public.
The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated that the gap had widened during the 1980s and 1990s, which was a time of Conservative government.
There are two things that cause concern here: firstly, in Lancashire, Conservative control has become a lot stronger in recent years, especially with the decline in Labour popularity, and secondly, tying in with this decline, is the economic "crisis", aka the current recession.
Unemployment rates, according to the Lancashire County Council website, are 1% higher in the North West than the UK average, with 134,000 men and 87,000 women unemployed.
The question then is this: how long can the government, both local and national, continue to maintain minimal unemployment in the midsts of financial downturn?
The news over the past six weeks has been packed with news of the economy and other major economies across the world and how badly everything is failing and having to be bailed out. Businesses are struggling as people are spending less, and as such job retention is becoming increasingly difficult.
This surely means that job cuts will be forced upon businesses to survive and as a result cancel out all the positives that this OECD report has shown.
The report has come at a useful time for the government, but a nonchalant one for the public.
Friday, 10 October 2008
Overpayed and Underworked
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Council-boss-told-to-justify.4579193.jp
This link triggered a response from me. The salaries of company executives, particularly in the banking sector, but also Government, has always been at the centre of much debate and scrutiny by the media. The main questions keep reoccuring; why do they deserve that much money? what are they doing to earn it?
The simple matter of it all is that they get away with it. In the article linked, the Lancashire County Council boss Ged Fitzgerald is reported to earn £190,000 a year, making him the 10th wealthies politician in England. Gordon Brown, our Prime Minister, only - I say only for the purpose of this point - earns £188,848 a year. The salary in question is three times that of the average MP salary. This begs the question; why is a county council leader deserving of more money than the man who runs the country?
This doesn't happen in business. You wouldn't find a lower positioned manager earning more than the Chief Executive, it's just not in keep with the hierarchy of position and job responsibility.
The only positive from all this for Lancashire is that it has retained its four-star rating from the Audit Commission watchdogs, but this was achieved before he came and so its retension isn't exactly unatainable unless you pay someone £190,000.
Taxpayers money is going to these men in a time where money is hard to come by and a lot of people don't feel this is value for money. The public pay for a service. If they don't receive it then this is a breach of the faith the public has in their Government, and as such the person responsible for this breach should be held accountable.
This link triggered a response from me. The salaries of company executives, particularly in the banking sector, but also Government, has always been at the centre of much debate and scrutiny by the media. The main questions keep reoccuring; why do they deserve that much money? what are they doing to earn it?
The simple matter of it all is that they get away with it. In the article linked, the Lancashire County Council boss Ged Fitzgerald is reported to earn £190,000 a year, making him the 10th wealthies politician in England. Gordon Brown, our Prime Minister, only - I say only for the purpose of this point - earns £188,848 a year. The salary in question is three times that of the average MP salary. This begs the question; why is a county council leader deserving of more money than the man who runs the country?
This doesn't happen in business. You wouldn't find a lower positioned manager earning more than the Chief Executive, it's just not in keep with the hierarchy of position and job responsibility.
The only positive from all this for Lancashire is that it has retained its four-star rating from the Audit Commission watchdogs, but this was achieved before he came and so its retension isn't exactly unatainable unless you pay someone £190,000.
Taxpayers money is going to these men in a time where money is hard to come by and a lot of people don't feel this is value for money. The public pay for a service. If they don't receive it then this is a breach of the faith the public has in their Government, and as such the person responsible for this breach should be held accountable.
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