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Jail for man who threw tiles at police from rooftop

by Zachary January 12, 2025
written by Zachary

A man who threw tiles at police from a hostel rooftop during a five-hour standoff has been jailed for more than two years.

Paul King, 42, climbed on to the roof of a building where he lived in Wesleyan Road, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, and remained there until he was helped down by the fire service on 14 January.

He threw ceramic tiles, damaging three police cars, an ambulance and a hostel staff member's car.

King appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison, after previously pleading guilty to affray and four counts of criminal damage.

Cambridgeshire Police
Three police cars were damaged by King throwing ceramic tiles from the roof of a building

King initially climbed on to the roof after becoming aggressive with hostel staff who wanted him to undergo an alcohol test.

Staff called police at 20:15 GMT and officers found him on the roof.

He came down after five hours with the help of the fire service who were called when he tried to start a fire.

Cambridgeshire Police
King's actions were described as "dangerous" by Cambridgeshire Police

According to Cambridgeshire Police, three counts of the criminal damage charge related to damage worth more than £5,000 – and one count worth less than £5,000.

A charge of attempted arson will lie on file.

"King's dangerous actions resulted in lots of emergency service resources being used to protect him and the community," Det Con John Pentney, investigating, said.

"I would like to thank all those who responded to the incident and put themselves at risk to protect the public."

January 12, 2025 0 comments
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Industry

Alan Bates' 'kangaroo court' claims denied

by Vanessa January 11, 2025
written by Vanessa

Compensation for sub-postmasters is not being decided by a "kangaroo court", the body overseeing the payouts has said, pushing back against allegations made by Sir Alan Bates.

Sir Alan, who led the campaign for justice, said he had been made a "take it or leave it" offer that was less than half the amount he was claiming.

The "goal posts" had moved and claims had been "knocked back", he said, in ways he saw as unfair to sub-postmasters, many of whom have been waiting years for redress.

However, the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board has rejected his criticism, saying it was following a process agreed by Sir Alan, designed to resolve the outstanding cases.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Sir Alan had suggested the process was not following established standards, describing it as a "quasi-kangaroo court".

The board, made up of parliamentarians and academics, issued a statement on Tuesday saying: "We do not agree [with the criticisms]."

It said Sir Alan had been "closely involved" in setting up the process for deciding compensation, which included a final assessment from a "highly respected" judge.

"That was what happened in Sir Alan's case," the board said.

"It is only a 'take it or leave it' decision in the sense that at some stage the matter has to come to an end and someone has to decide, in order to bring fair closure to so many who have been harmed."

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted after the faulty Horizon IT system indicated shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts.

Sir Alan led a group of 555 sub-postmasters who took part in the landmark group legal action against the Post Office.

Their fight for justice was brought to wider public attention last year by an ITV drama about the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

The government went on to set up a specific compensation fund to ensure these sub-postmasters received extra money to reflect the gravity of their situations, but progress has been described as slow and many are still waiting for a payout.

Under the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme, claimants can either receive £75,000 or seek their own settlement.

Sir Alan said the latest offer made to him amounted to 49.2% of his original claim.

He said promises that compensation schemes would be "non-legalistic" had turned out to be "worthless".

January 11, 2025 0 comments
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Business

PM living in 'la-la land', striking bin worker says

by Charlotte January 8, 2025
written by Charlotte

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was living in la-la land for calling on union workers to end their industrial action, a striking Birmingham refuse worker has said.

Lorry driver Dave Callaghan said he was sorry the city looked a mess and was gaining a bad reputation but workers could not stand by and watch people lose money.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir said the government supported the Labour-run council and called on Unite to end its strike immediately.

Refuse workers have been taking all-out action for 10 weeks in a dispute which now focuses on plans to cut pay for drivers. The council said the changes were part of a regrading exercise aimed at avoiding future equal pay claims.

The equal pay issue, which relates to claims staff in female-dominated roles were historically underpaid in relation to male-dominated positions, was one of the key factors in the authority declaring effective bankruptcy in 2023, when it said it was facing a bill of £760m to settle the claims.

  • Why are Birmingham's bin workers on strike?
  • Bin strike exposes divide between rich and poor
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Unite the Union bosses said the council's stance over the refuse workers pay amounted to a 'fire and rehire' situation.

Dave Callaghan, a lifelong Labour voter who has worked in the refuse service for 35 years, said he was ashamed of the council and the government and would never vote for them again.

Speaking to Politics Midlands, Mr Callaghan said he had been involved in three previous rounds of industrial action, but this strike had cost him thousands in lost wages as well as taking a toll on his mental health.

"This is the hardest strike I've ever done, being out for so long in one go," he said.

"The 300 strong on the picket line is humbling really, because everyone feels the same."

Dave Callaghan
Dave Callaghan (front) started work in the refuse service in the early 90s, before hi-viz safety jackets were commonplace

He said the council's plans to regrade drivers were shocking and unfair but he had sympathy with residents impacted by the disruption.

"None of us want to be out on strike but as a union member we've got to be able to do something as we're losing £8,000," he said.

"I'm sorry to the people of Birmingham that it looks a mess and we're giving Birmingham a bad rap, but we can't just stand by and lose that kind of money."

Sir Keir said the government was supporting the council to make sure a backlog of waste, which at one point totalled more than 17,000 tonnes, did not reappear.

The strike escalated again last week when West Midlands Police scaled back its operation at the picket lines.

Negotiations to end the dispute are ongoing.

Dave Callaghan
Mr Callaghan said he had been involved in three previous rounds of industrial action

Meanwhile, Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington Paulette Hamilton said collections in her constituency had been "quite regular" due to the extra resources deployed by the council.

But, she called on the authority and Unite to "sit down and sort this out".

"We have to understand that this strike is something we need to end. Residents in Birmingham are tired of it," she added.

Councillor Ade Adeyemo, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Solihull Council, said Birmingham had experienced so much disruption during the strike that Labour would see repercussions at the next local election.

"They are going to pay a very heavy price. People in Birmingham are totally fed up of having waste piling up everywhere," he said.

Labour
Birmingham Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton called on the council and Unite to "sort this out"
January 8, 2025 0 comments
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Economy

Farm blaze 'started deliberately' – fire service

by Amy January 8, 2025
written by Amy

A blaze in a derelict building at a pig farm in North Yorkshire is thought to have been started deliberately, the fire service has said.

Fire crews from Selby and Acomb were called to the site on Magazine Road in Barlby at about 20:20 BST on Monday.

The blaze covered an area of about 33ft by 10ft (10m x 3m) and had spread to the building's roof, according to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Two youths had reportedly been spotted near the scene of the fire and investigations were continuing, police said.

A fire service spokesperson said: "Crews extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet while wearing breathing apparatus equipment.

"The cause of the fire was believed to be deliberate and the incident was left with police to investigate."

Anyone who saw what had happened, or who had information which could help the inquiry into the blaze, was asked to contact North Yorkshire Police.

January 8, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Cricket festival aims to inspire women and girls

by Sophia January 7, 2025
written by Sophia

A cricket festival returns to Worcester this weekend, celebrating women and girls in the sport.

Megafest is Worcestershire Cricket Foundation's annual women's softball festival with teams from across the country competing.

This year, it aligns with the Worcestershire Rapids women playing at Worcester's New Road ground for the T20 Blast.

Player and girls' performance coach Jess Beach told the BBC it was "amazing to play there as we don't do it too often".

"We're really looking forward to showing what we can do," she added.

Ms Beach said it was really important more women and girls were inspired to get into the sport and she had noticed an increase in opportunities in recent years.

"When I was young, there weren't many girls playing," she said. "Now you can get so many teams at clubs which is really exciting to see."

'Celebrate women's cricket'

T20 Blast is a new tournament for 2025, with 18 county teams from across England and Wales competing.

The festival takes place at a ground next to New Road, where the Women's Rapids are set to play the Derbyshire Falcons from 10:30 BST on Sunday.

"We've been working hard this week so hopefully we get a good couple of wins," Ms Beach said.

The Worcestershire Cricket Foundation said Megafest is "one of the biggest" soft ball festivals in the country.

"It's a chance to celebrate women's cricket," a spokesperson added.

Organisers said there would be a participation event focussed on fun as well as a new second competition festival, where a Megafest champion will be crowned.

January 7, 2025 0 comments
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Global Trade

Liverpool marks 36th Hillsborough anniversary

by Jason January 4, 2025
written by Jason

Liverpool fell silent earlier to mark the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Ninety-seven football fans were fatally injured in a terrace crush at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989.

The minute's silence began across Liverpool at 15:06 BST, the exact time when the match at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium in 1989 was halted.

A bell at Liverpool Town Hall tolled 97 times in tribute to each of the men, women and children who died.

Liverpool falls silent for the 97 Hillsborough victims

New inquests into the disaster concluded in April 2016 that 96 football supporters were unlawfully killed in the disaster.

The same conclusion was reached by a coroner about the 97th victim, Andrew Devine, following his death in 2021.

Flags were flown at half mast from civic buildings in Liverpool on Tuesday, while Liverpool Town Hall will later be illuminated in red.

Liverpool Football Club also marked the anniversary.

Coaches and captains from the men's, women's, and youth teams laid wreaths at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield.

Liverpool FC
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and captain Virgil van Dijk paid their respects at Anfield
Liverpool FC
In an online post, Liverpool FC said: "They will never be forgotten"

In an online post, the club said the 97 victims "will never be forgotten".

Liverpool also marked the anniversary before Sunday's Premier League match against West Ham United.

A mosaic in tribute to the 97 children, women and men who died was formed on the Kop during a minute's silence.

PA Media
Players also marked the anniversary at the team's Premier League match on Sunday
PA Media
People have been laying flowers at the Hillsborough memorial throughout the day

January 4, 2025 0 comments
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Innovation

Evacuated residents criticise lack of information

by Jayden January 4, 2025
written by Jayden

Residents forced to evacuate their apartment block over dangerous cladding said they still do not know when they will be allowed home, more than a week later.

On 4 June, 60 people, including eight children, were told to leave Barbourne Works in Worcester after inspectors found dangerous fire safety risks.

Hotel bookings are only for a couple of nights at a time and one resident, Anne Eason, said she did not know from one day to another where she would be staying.

A spokesperson for the building's managing agents, FirstPort, said they recognised how disruptive it was for residents but their decision was taken with their safety in mind.

Ms Eason said the events of the past week have left her struggling.

"I feel mentally exhausted because every day you don't know where you are, what you're doing or what's going on.

"I worry about my own mental health because I've been going to work and I've been there physically – but I'm totally distracted by what is going on.

"They don't give you any updates or email you after five o'clock but you can't ring up and speak to anybody about the content of it."

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service placed the building under a prohibition notice after an inspection found concerns dating back to when the former factory was converted 20 years ago.

" I'd like to see the government step in and not allow these organizations to treat us in such an inhumane way," Ms Eason added.

"We are people, we are human beings, yet we are not being treated as such."

Handout
Chris Sherwin and Amy Hawkswood were told to evacuate ahead of their marriage next week

Army veteran Chris Sherwin, 43, and Amy Hawkswood, 40, were also evacuated and are being housed at a hotel in Droitwich.

The couple are due to get married next week but Mr Sherwin said the stress of the situation had overshadowed what should be a memorable time.

"Our stay has been extended for another day but they can't offer us the same hotel that we are in tomorrow so there is a chance we will be placed further afield – we don't know what is happening," he said.

"We're getting married but we don't know if we will be able to do any of the plans we wanted."

He said since being evacuated, he has been back to collect belongings.

"I'm struggling with my mental health and the uncertainty is is crushing," Mr Sherwin added

"The day-to-day, fighting, to know when you're going to get your next hotel, is exhausting."

A spokesperson for the managing agent said they remained committed to working closely with everyone involved to provide "continued support and timely updates as we address the issues raised."

"Our immediate focus has been to secure appropriate short-term accommodation for all affected residents," they added.

"Responsibility for ongoing and longer-term accommodation costs rests with the other parties.

"Specialist contractors are undertaking surveys this week, to better understand the building's structure."

January 4, 2025 0 comments
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Market

Film wins award for Ukraine aid worker story

by Faith January 3, 2025
written by Faith

A BBC film about a Truro man killed in Ukraine after helping rescue hundreds of people from the front line has won an award at a world media festival.

The documentary Hell Jumper, depicting aid worker Chris Parry, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Rockie Awards.

The 28-year-old went to the country shortly after it was invaded by Russia and died from gunshot wounds alongside fellow volunteer Andrew Bagshaw in January 2023.

The organisation said the director Paddy Wivell brought a "tenderness and empathy to his interviewing" within the documentary, which also won in the Social Issues and Current Affairs category.

'Breathless sequence'

It said: "These interviews are the architecture of the whole film, giving it its tone and emotional heart.

"Stylistically the master interviews were laced with social media posts, personal voice messages, and self-shot go-pro footage to create a first-person quality throughout."

Most of Chris Parry's work was captured on 10 hours of bodycam footage, making up a large part of the film.

It added: "The team wanted the audience to be fully immersed in Chris' experiences, so chose to run much of their footage at length.

"It's an extraordinary, breathless sequence that perfectly captures Chris' character."

January 3, 2025 0 comments
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