Latest News |
| News Archive 5 |
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Lifesaving fire safety advice |
Householders who are elderly or vulnerable through ill health must be given the chance to get important and potentially lifesaving fire safety advice, warned Shropshire’s fire prevention chief. John Das Gupta is urging family, friends and neighbours to contact the community fire safety department at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to get help for their relatives and friends.
“It’s just one phone call and it could save a life,” he said after the sixth death in a house fire in Shropshire since April this year – the worst death toll statistic in more than a decade for accidental house fires in the county.
“We know that fire discriminates and some people are more likely to succumb. Those with mobility issues, the elderly, and those who live alone are more likely to suffer a house fire.”
People with less money to spend on household expenses were also more likely to use more unsafe methods to heat their homes huddling closer to electricity bar heaters with the higher chance of clothes and blankets catching fire, he warned.
With the forecast of a harsh Winter ahead, he is urging people to contact Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for fire safety advice.
“If you feel anyone near you may be at risk please do not hesitate to call us on 01743 260 260 and we will come and make a free home visit to point out areas where fire prevention action is necessary.”
A total of 65 per cent of house fires start in the kitchen caused by overheated oil or fat in chip pans, deep fat fryers or grill pans. Don’t overload electric plug sockets, ensure electric blankets are checked annually and have an escape route if fire does break out.
Fire prevention officers say don’t be tempted to have a fry up after drinking alcohol, make sure you have working smoke alarms on each floor of the home and test them weekly, don’t ever take any risks by tackling a fire and if fire does break out, get out, stay out and dial 999.
Further information: Visit our Fire Safety Advice pages for more fire safety tips in the home and call 01743 260 260 for a free home fire safety visit for the elderly or vulnerable householders.
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| Face the future - Telford |
Date: 04 October 2011
Time: 10:00am - 2:30pm
Location: The Learning Centre, Stirchley
FACE THE FUTURE is an Act Smart event for adults with learning disabilities. Workshops will be held about how to stay safe when using the Internet and mobile phones.
The event will end with a light lunch, teas and coffee plus a quiz!
For more information contact: Delyth Humphreys/Alison Teece 01743 260 258; Daphne Simmons, Community Council of Shropshire 01743 342 161; or Taking Part on 01743 363 399.
Venue: The Learning Centre (Formerly Stirchley Primary School) |
| Newport Free Business Fire Safety Workshop |
Date: 23 August 2011 Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm Location: Newport Fire Station
Background
On 1 October 2006 a new piece of legislation was introduced into the UK to help safeguard all workplace premises from fire. This fire safety law is called the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It replaces numerous other pieces of legislation and means now you have one set of rules to comply with, regarding fire safety.
To assist businesses meet this new legislation Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is offering all businesses within Shropshire the opportunity to attend a free workshop.
Workshop content
Our Business Fire Safety Team is committed to assisting companies to fulfill their legal and moral obligations in the workplace and with Fire Safety Officers present at the workshops for advice, you will receive information on:
Workshops
The workshops are held at fire stations across the county throughout the year; each lasting approximately 2 hours. This workshop will take place at: Newport Fire Station,
If you wish to reserve a place at any of the events listed, please contact the Business Fire Safety Team
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Teach children about fire safety – that is the vital message from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Children and young people need to know exactly what to do if fire breaks out in their home, said Community Fire Safety officer Charlie Cartwright.
They must also know how to take sensible precautions to prevent a blaze, he said.
“There’s nothing more important than the safety of a child in the home. Get into the habit of taking a quick glance around the room for hazards to make safety an automatic reflex and for peace of mind.
“Talk to your children about the importance of fire safety and make sure they know what to do if the worst happens.” Fit a smoke alarm and involve children in testing it regularly to make them more “fire aware.”
“Most importantly a smoke alarm gives you vital seconds you need to escape in an accidental house fire,” he said.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging families and child carers to “Take a Second Look for Safety” as part of Child Safety Week 2011 run by Child Accident Prevention Trust from June 20 to 26. Visit www.childsafetyweek.org.uk for more information.
Preventable accidents are one of the biggest killers in the UK but a few moments extra thought can make all the difference. Check candles and matches are out of reach and ensure escape routes are clear in case of a fire.
“An extra check takes just seconds but can save lives,” said Charlie. Shropshire firefighters’ top tips for a safer home include:
Further information:
Community fire safety officers will be outside Smyths toy store at Telford Retail Park on June 20th and at Toys R Us, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury on June 22nd from 10am to 4pm.
More information on fire safety in the home is available from the fire safety department on 01743 260 260. To find out more about Child Safety Week go to www.childsafetyweek.org.uk.
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| Fire Safety |
The Safer Telford and Wrekin Partnership is urging residents in Hollinswood to ensure their wheelie bins are kept safe and secure and to put their rubbish out on the morning of their collection.
The call comes following a rise in the amount of rubbish fires in the area recently, with incidents reported in Dunsheath, Downton Court and Duffryn.
West Mercia Police has pledged to step up patrols in the affected streets and is working closely with the Council, Wrekin Housing Trust, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service as well as local residents.
Councillor Miles Hosken, cabinet member for Community Protection, said: “I want residents in Hollinswood to be assured that we are very much aware of the problem and that we are doing everything we can to work with partner agencies to prevent such incidents.
“Residents can help us do this by ensuring their wheelie bins are kept in a safe and secure place and also by not putting out their rubbish or recycling until the morning of the collection.
“We would also like to remind residents in Hollinswood that their rubbish and recycling are collected on alternate Thursdays and that their nearest Community Recycling Centre is at Ketley.”
Acting Chief Inspector Keith Gee, of West Mercia Police, said: "We are working with our partners to address this problem and will be stepping up patrols in the area to tackle the issue.
"We will be doing all we can to trace the individuals responsible for starting these fires and would warn them that they will be dealt with robustly when they are identified." More information can be found at www.telford.gov.uk and any incidents of anti social behaviour including fly tipping can be reported to the Anti Social Behaviour hotline on 01952 384384.
To reduce the risk of Arson:
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Residents living in Newport are being reminded about a rearranged PACT Meeting that is now being held in the town early next month.
PACT (Partners and Communities Together) are staging the meeting – which had originally been organised for Wednesday 30th March - in a bid to allow members of the public the chance to discuss community issues with the various represented organisations such as West Mercia Police and Telford & Wrekin Council.
The meeting will now take place in the Café at the Waitrose supermarket on Audley Road at 6.30pm on Wednesday 6th April and items on the agenda will include the possibility of holding a PACT event on the High Street in Newport sometime during the summer.
Speaking about the meeting, PC Dave Parry, from the Newport Local Policing Team, has encouraged as many people as possible to attend and share their thoughts with the partner agencies in attendance. He said:
“Meetings like this act as a platform for residents to air their views about any pressing issues they may have. The fact that we’re holding the meeting in the supermarket should allow us to engage with even more people and we’re hoping that shoppers may pop and see us while they’re out and about.
“We’re keen to hear from anyone who has concerns about specific issues in Newport and would ask anyone with concerns they’d like to raise to attend the meeting and share them with us. Alternatively they can also notify us of their concerns prior to the meeting so we can then talk about them on the night.
“If you have anything at all you would like to discuss, please come along on the night and talk to us. By attending this meeting and sharing your views you can make sure that the issues that matter to you really are the ones that become our priority.”
To find out more about PACT, or your own Local Policing Team, please log on to the Local Policing section of the West Mercia Police website at http://www.westmercia.police.uk/localpolicing/.
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| PACT Meeting Leegomery |
Residents living in the Hadley and Leegomery Local Policing area are being reminded about a PACT Meeting that is being held in the ward next week.
PACT (Partners and Communities Together) will be staging the meeting in a bid to allow members of the public to discuss community issues with the various represented organisations.
The meeting will take place at Leegomery Community Centre on Leegate Avenue on Thursday 24th March.
The meeting will start at 6pm and Community Support Officer (CSO) Rachel Hughes, from the Hadley and Leegomery Local Policing Team, has encouraged as many people as possible to attend and share their thoughts with the partner agencies in attendance.
She said: “Meetings like this act as a platform for residents to air their views about any pressing issues they may have.
“We’re keen to hear from anyone who has concerns about specific issues in Hadley and Leegomery and would ask anyone with concerns they’d like to raise to attend the meeting and share them with us. Alternatively they can also notify us of their concerns prior to the meeting so we can then talk about them on the night.
“Representatives from a number of agencies including Telford & Wrekin Council and the Wrekin Housing Trust will be attending the meeting alongside members of the Hadley and Leegomery Local Policing Team.
“If you have anything at all you would like to discuss, please come along on the night and talk to us. By attending this meeting and sharing your views you can make sure that the issues that matter to you really are the ones that become our priority.”
To find out more about PACT, or your own Local Policing Team, please log on to the Local Policing section of the West Mercia Police website at http://www.westmercia.police.uk/localpolicing/.
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A Muslim leader in Shropshire has said that all religions are warmly welcomed to attend their mosque.
Mufti Sahib, who is President of the British Sunni Ulma Council in the UK, spoke out at a children’s fire safety event held at the Regent Street mosque in Wellington.
Sahibzada Pir Mufti thanked officers from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for organising a children’s poster competition to promote fire safety in the home.
“Our doors are always open for everybody. It doesn’t matter if you are Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu or Sikh. There is a very warm welcome to whoever wants to come to the mosque.”
The Mufti Sahib said they were very pleased to work with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that the community was safe and free from fires.
He thanked Mohammed Younis, a community outreach officer, for giving fire safety advice for a number of years to the elderly and none English speaking members of the Wellington community. And he congratulated three youngsters for gaining prizes in a poster competition about fire safety in the home.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Redmond presented certificates to 29 children who took part in the competition and to winners Adeeba Akhtar (14), her sister Khalima (12) and Zara Ahmed (12), all from Wellington.
“As a fire service we work hard to stop fires happening in the first place. By working with the community and educating them about fire safety we have succeeded in reducing the number of fires in the home.”
He praised the children’s winning posters which included fire safety messages on “Be Aware, Be Safe” and an image of onion bhajies on fire in a kitchen.
The winning poster entitled: “Cook the Food not the House” will be reproduced onto leaflets as part of a fire safety campaign planned for the Summer.
Further information: Call 01743 260 200 for fire safety advice or to request a home safety visit from the Community Fire Safety department.
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Telford & Wrekin Council is working with the West Mercia Probation Service to supervise a community payback scheme across the borough.
Community payback is a nationwide project where offenders pay back communities for the crimes they have committed whilst serving community sentences. Residents can choose the type of projects offenders carry out in their community as part of an unpaid work sentence.
In Telford & Wrekin, the council is working through the Safer Communities Partnership to sponsor two supervisors to manage a team of offenders. So far the team has collected leaves and rubbish in alleyways and rubbish in Hollinswood, Malinslee and Brookside.
It’s hoped the scheme will be rolled out following cabinet approval to tackle other environmental projects such as painting underpasses to removing graffiti and pruning back vegetation from public rights of way.
Cllr Miles Hosken, Cabinet Member for Community Protection & Cohesion, said: “The Community Payback scheme is an innovative way of making offenders pay back communities for the crimes they have committed whilst serving their community sentences. Anyone can nominate a project and this is then assessed by the probation service.”
Jason Thomas, Community Payback Manager for Telford said: "This is an excellent initiative between Probation and Telford & Wrekin Council. Residents of Telford will be able to see a real improvement in the environment and also see offenders giving back to their community."
Courts sentence offenders of particular crimes to carry out between 40 and 300 hours of Community Payback. Projects considered must meet the following criteria:
The local community payback team assesses the project for suitability and for health and safety implications.
To find out more about community payback, contact the Telford branch of the West Mercia Probation Service on 01952 214100 or by emailing head.office@west-mercia.probation.gsi.gov.uk.
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Promotion of Safe and Sensible Drinking to Students at Harper Adams University College |
On the 3rd December Telford & Wrekin NHS Community Health Services Health Improvement Team were invited to Harper Adams University College to promote safe and sensible drinking habits to their students as part of a “One Stop Shop” event for information and advice on a range of issues including welfare, safety and health. Over 300 students accessed information about the harmful effects of alcohol on their health and wellbeing and picked up some useful tips for staying safe and cutting down on their alcohol use this Christmas. Students got the opportunity to try on the “Beer Goggles” demonstrating how binge drinking affects their vision, perception & judgement, which in turn could lead to accidents and unintended harm. For an interactive view of the days activities check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgN-Zr2Ei2M For further information about the work of the Health Improvement Team and how they can support you to promote safe and sensible drinking please contact Emma Vaughan, Health Promotion Specialist on 01952 217474 or email emma.vaughan@telfordpct.nhs.uk
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| Stay Off Frozen Lakes - Police Issue Warning |
With freezing temperatures continuing, police in Telford today warned people to stay off frozen lakes, rivers, canals or ponds for their own safety.
The warning comes after an incident was reported to police where several young people – described as being aged between 12 and 18 - were spotted walking on the ice on the pool in Priorslee Flash at around 6pm on Monday 29th November.
Chief Inspector Jason Wells expressed his concern at the actions of the young people and warned that venturing out onto frozen water was extremely dangerous and even life-threatening should the ice give way.
“I’m sure it doesn’t need me to explain quite how reckless the behaviour of these young people was as there is simply no way of knowing just how thick or stable any ice is, or whether it is strong enough to take your weight,“ he said.
“If the ice gives way and you fall in, with temperatures so low it could prove fatal. Our message is simple – stay off any frozen body of water for your own safety. It might seem like great fun to go out onto a frozen lake or pond and have a bit of a skate or mess about with your mates, but you are literally risking your lives for a bit of fun.
“Not only are you putting yourself in danger but potentially others too, because no matter how young, fit and healthy you are, if you plunge into such cold water, your chances of survival are extremely slim.
“Please be aware that by falling into the freezing water you are not only endangering your own life, but also the life of anyone who bravely climbs into the water to try to help you.”
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The current Arctic blast has prompted police to warn motorists not to leave their cars unattended with the engine running on cold mornings.
With the cold spell set to continue West Mercia Police is keen to highlight the risk of vehicles being stolen as drivers de-ice their windscreens outside their homes.
Chief Inspector Jason Wells said that while no thefts of this nature had occurred in Telford in recent days, the onset of icy weather traditionally led to reports of such offences.
He said: “Despite repeated warnings motorists continue to leave their cars unattended while warming up and de-icing their cars on driveways or on the street outside their properties. Nobody seems to think it’s going to happen to them but every winter we receive calls from people who are caught cold by car thieves when their backs are turned.
“Leaving your car with the engine running in icy conditions is an invitation to opportunist thieves who will look out for this and won’t hesitate to jump in the car and drive off with it when the chance presents itself. “We want to make people aware that this does happen and to encourage them to be extra vigilant as they warm-up their cars, particularly as many insurance companies will not pay out for thefts in such circumstances.”
“We are also urging motorists not to take any risks with their safety or the safety of others by failing to clear their windscreens properly before they drive. Not only does a frosty windscreen cause problems, it is also an offence to drive with obscured vision and could result in a hefty fine.”
Anyone with information about car thefts should contact police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Further crime prevention advice is available on the West Mercia Police website at www.westmercia.police.uk. |
| Telford Police Remind Local People to Secure Their Homes |
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Pete Brophy, from the Police Command Team in Telford, has issued a warning to local residents and reminded them of the importance of not leaving their homes vulnerable to burglars when they go out or go to bed.
Although police regularly issue warnings to local people about the need to keep windows and doors shut, and ideally locked, when they leave their homes, a number of recent burglaries – many of which have occurred during daylight hours - only appear to have happened because people have left their homes insecure.
Speaking about his concerns about this issue, T/DCI Brophy explained: “Although burglaries do remain rare in Telford & Wrekin, up to half of all burglaries are committed by thieves who enter the house through an unlocked door or an open window.
“This means the reality is that most burglaries are carried out by opportunistic thieves, rather than ‘professional’ criminals, who are looking for the easiest way of getting into a house without being seen or disturbed. Opportunist thieves will not want to take unnecessary risks to carry out a burglary and therefore there are simple things that everyone can do to make life more difficult for them.
“For example, don’t leave open or unlocked doors or accessible windows in unoccupied rooms even if you are only outside for a very short time. If you are in the garden and leave the front door open: it would only take a matter of seconds for an opportunist thief to walk in and steal items from your home. Remember to lock up properly before you go to bed and only leave windows open in the rooms where people are sleeping.”
If you’re away overnight you should also ask yourself, does your home look lived in? Take the following simple steps to make sure your property is less vulnerable to burglars and you can enjoy your time away with peace of mind:
T/DCI Brophy continued:
“I would ask each and every person in the Borough to spend a little time considering how they can make their home more secure.
“It will only take a few minutes to think this through but could make an enormous difference in terms of reducing your chances of becoming a victim of an opportunist thief.”
For further information on home security advice visit please visit the Community Safety section of the West Mercia Police website at http://www.westmercia.police.uk/ |
| DON'T PUT UP WITH IT, REPORT IT |
If you witness, or are a victim of anti-social behaviour, call 01952 384384 to report it today. Anti-social behaviour can include: • excessive noise such as rowdy behaviour or barking dogs With this new ASB hotline we aim to make a real difference on the streets of our town, empowering local people to improve their area and working with our partners to stamp out anti-social behaviour. Nationally anti-social behaviour is perceived to be on a much larger scale than it is in reality. However, the fact is that it does affect people’s lives and this perception leads to fear. We are committed to tackling and eradicating anti-social behaviour in Telford and Wrekin. Your call will be answered by Telford & Wrekin Council Contact Centre and with your consent; the information will be shared with relevant agencies to respond appropriately. This is not an emergency number. The Police can be contacted on 999 for emergencies, or 0300 333 3000 for non-emergencies. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and Saturday 9am – 1pm. Outside of these hours, please leave a message and we will contact you the next working day. Alternatively visit www.telford.gov.uk/asb for more information, and details of how to report an incident of ASB online. |
