Initiative a success as crime falls

ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour has been slashed by 46 per cent in a year following the launch of Warwickshire’s Safer Schools initiative.

New figures for the last quarterly report show falls in crime across the board in areas where Safer Schools are in place.

Measured against last year’s figures, the report revealed criminal damage has dropped by 31 per cent and reports of violence are down 24 per cent.

Safer Schools is a partnership initiative between Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire County Council and selected Warwickshire schools, which sees a police community support officer (PCSO) based on the school sites to offer support to pupils and teachers and the local community.

PCSOs are also involved in promoting positive activities to support PSHE (Personal Social and Health Education) and citizenship studies, offering advice about personal safety and providing early intervention for students at risk.

David Whitehouse, head of community protection at Warwickshire Police, said: “One year on and we are seeing real benefits to the environment both within schools and the surrounding area.

“There have been some excellent partnership examples proving the success of this innovative scheme, with real impact for our young people in particular”

Safer Schools was launched as a pilot in six Warwickshire schools in September 2008.

Campion School in Leamington was one of six schools chosen to take part.

The schools were chosen based on criteria including location of the school in relation to the community and the need for local support.

The long term goal is to extend the programme to all of the county’s secondary schools.

More schools will become involved this year and then a county-wide roll-out will see school clusters forming with groups of schools working with a full-time PCSO in each area of the county.

This cluster model has already proved to be successful in the delivery of extended services and it is hoped that the two initiatives will continue to be developed side by side.

Warwickshire County Councillor, Izzi Seccombe, portfolio holder for children, young people and families, said: “We have seen the positive effect Safer Schools has made in Warwickshire and I’m
really excited that the programme has been rolled out to more schools in the area.”

Spa Centre future looks brighter

THE future of Leamington’s Spa Centre looks brighter after councillors agreed to look at ways to transform the venue.

Warwick District Council’s executive committee met last week to discuss recommendations put forward, which look at the future of the 37-year-old entertainment venue in Newbold Terrace.

Members voted to support the Task and Finish group’s recommendations, which means a detailed business plan will be developed for the venue that looks to find ways to reduce the subsidy currently required.

Last year the Spa Centre had to be subsidised £557,508 by Warwick District Council.

And figures show the centre can lose up to £2,000 each time it hosts a show.

Council officers will also complete a detailed market- testing exercise to consider alternatives for the venue.

Investigations will take place to look at alternative venues which could be used by community groups in the future.

Cllr Susan Gallagher, portfolio holder for culture, said: “Every effort will be made to transform the venue into a more cost-effective operation. This will hopefully be achieved through the introduction of a revised programme of acts and artists and more effective marketing of the venue.”

These actions will be top priority for the Spa Centre’s newly appointed general manager, Antony Flint, who will take the lead in January 2010 after leaving his current post at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.

Cllr Gallagher added: “We are aware of the wide range of community groups currently using the venue and want to assure them that we will retain close communication to understand their needs.

“This information will be vital to enable us to protect the valuable contribution these groups offer the local community.”

The Spa Centre opened in 1972 and includes an 800-seat theatre and a 200-seat cinema.

It hosts productions by local amateur dramatics companies including Leamington and Warwick Musical Society, the Spa Theatre Company and Spa Opera Group.

The National Blood Service also holds drop-in donation sessions.

Kenilworth take-away's late night licence revoked

RESIDENTS plagued by rowdy behaviour near a Kenilworth take-away have welcomed a decision to revoke its late night licence.

Warwick District Council has ordered Kenilworth Kebab House, on the corner of Warwick Road and Queens Road, to close early to stop drunks disturbing people nearby.

Councillors made the decision last week after a review of the take-away was called by police following a string of complaints reporting noise, nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

It means the shop must now close at 11pm each night instead of 1.30am.

Complaints were also made about customers being served hot food out of hours. Under its original licence no food was to be consumed off premises after midnight.

Jacob Johnson, aged 56, who lives nearby, said: “It’s about time. There have been problems for over a year. I blame the people going out, getting drunk and making a nuisance of themselves because they have nothing better to do.

“Half the time I don’t think they even want any food. Shutting early hopefully means people will go elsewhere and stop disturbing us.

“I understand when people go out and get drunk, they get loud. I can tolerate that sometimes but it’s happened too often here and a lot of the time it’s not just them being noisy, they can be aggressive too.”

Vanessa Little, 34, who also lives nearby, added: “If the take-away has been serving food later than it should have been, they’ve only got themselves to blame.

“The place just seems to attract trouble. Probably because I think it’s one of the only places that does open so late, it means people automatically go there after a night out.

“I’m glad something’s been done because it can be quite intimidating around there. I wouldn’t like to go there, especially at a weekend.”

A third resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I sometimes wish the take-away wasn’t there at all. I use it occasionally but never late at night. It can be like running a gauntlet to even get there, you could easily get caught up in something.

“I imagine closing early won’t be good for business but if it makes this area a nicer place to live and makes it safer and stops all of this, then I’m glad.”

A council report to last week’s licence review hearing stated: “Warwick District Council has captured CCTV images of persons entering and exiting the premises after midnight on numerous occasions.

“The footage clearly shows on one occasion males leaving the premises with packages after midnight and discarding paper wrappers from the takeaway food onto the pavement.”

David Davies, licensing services manager at Warwick District Council, said: “Three councillors from the licensing committee made the decision.

“The decision was taken mainly because the take-away broke the conditions of their licence on several occasions by serving food later than they should have been.

“They can’t serve food after midnight, but clearly were even after being interviewed by police about it.

“Police asked for a review and presented CCTV evidence showing this and revocation was the decision taken.

“I would think the police will be very pleased with this as they asked for the review and the revocation and that’s what they’ve got.

“The take-away has 21 days to appeal the decision. If they appeal, it will be heard by the magistrates’ court who can decide to uphold the decision made by the council, reject it, add conditions to it, or ask the council to rehear it.”

No-one from Kenilworth Kebab House was available for comment as the Times went to press.

‘Evening all’ a term of the past

POLICE officers in Warwickshire are being urged not to use greetings such as “evening” and “afternoon” in case it confuses people from different cultures.

The advice was revealed in the results of a Freedom of Information request to police forces and fire services about the guidance they give their staff on their use of language.

It found that in Warwickshire Police’s handbook Policing Our Communities, issued to every member of its staff, advice is given on communicating with people from different ethnic groups.

Under a section entitled “Communication, Some Do’s & Don’ts” it advises officers on communicating with people from different ethnic groups.

It states: “Don’t assume those words for the time of day, such as afternoon or evening have the same meaning.”

A spokesman said: “Terms such as ‘afternoon’ and ‘evening’ are somewhat subjective in meaning and can vary according to a person’s culture or nationality. In many cultures the term evening is linked to the time of day when people have their main meal.

“In some countries including the UK, the evening meal time is traditionally thought of as being around 5-7pm but this might be different say for a family say from America who might have their main meal earlier and thus for them ‘evening’ may be an earlier time.

“The point is there is an element of subjectivity leading to a variation between cultures that we need to be aware of – taking steps as far as possible to ensure our communication is effective in serving the public.”

Officers are also advised not to use phrases that include black in a negative context, such as ‘black mark’ or ‘black day’.

And they are advised: “Do take care to be patient and reassuring when accent or language hinders communication. Remember, a translator could be useful.”

But critics have said the guidelines lack common sense.

Marie Claire, of the Plain English Campaign, said: “There comes a point when common sense must prevail.

“I have never heard of anyone being confused as to what part of the day it is. When the police need absolute accuracy over when something happened, then I am sure they use the exact time."

Pipe-laying monster is a cut above

A HUGE machine has been brought in to try and speed up the pipe-laying operation on the A425 near Leamington.

National Grid hired the cutting machine to chop through the surface of the road after Warwickshire County Council stressed that, as the busiest road in Warwickshire, it cannot remain closed into December and will have to re-open – even if the works have not been completed.

Highways engineers at the county council have also informed National Grid not to go across the Chesford Bridge – instead they are going through the fields to the north of the bridge.

National Grid is also looking at ‘no dig’ techniques for the works on the approach to Kenilworth.

Councillor Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, said: “We have worked closely over the last 12 months bringing sections forward and encouraging them to use no dig techniques to keep disruption to a minimum.

“This is an example of true partnership working. They need to complete the work and we need the disruption kept to a minimum.”

Warwickshire County Council has also been told that National Grid intends to use one of these machines at the other end of the road close to Southam, to reduce traffic disruption there as well.

National Grid project manager, Stan Best, said: “This work is part of a major project to replace a large 18-inch diameter metal main with new, hard-wearing plastic pipe.

“Unfortunately, because of the size of the pipe and its position in the road we cannot work safely while keeping the traffic flowing. Therefore we will have to close this stretch of road while the work is being done.

“Unfortunately roadworks are disruptive, but we are working closely with Warwickshire County Council to keep that disruption to a minimum.

“I would ask motorists to bear with us while we carry out this essential work.”

The work is being carried out by the West Midlands Gas Alliance, a partnership between National Grid and leading utilities company Morgan Est.

The project is part of National Grid’s 30-year programme to improve the safety and reliability of the gas supply network by replacing all metal gas pipes that lie within 30m of property.

Fire protests

HUNDREDS of protestors are expected to march through Warwick next month as anger over plans to close the town’s fire station continues to grow.

The march has been organised by independent Warwick district councillor Karen Scarrott who is backing the bid to keep the fire station open following the death of her 14-year-old daughter, Jade, who was killed in a road accident in 2004.

Mrs Scarrott said: “This is the last opportunity for residents to come together and stand united against the proposals.

“There are so many reasons why we need to keep Warwick fire station open. There is the increase in housing development and it goes without saying there is a hospital here.

“I also have a personal interest in this because my daughter, Jade, was killed five years ago in a collision in Leamington. Firefighters were there within minutes.

“From that I know firemen work from the heart, that’s the type of people they are.”

Protestors are set to meet on December 6 at 11.30am at the town’s Racecourse by Hill Close Gardens.

The march to Shire Hall will start at noon, before heading to the fire station in Albert Street.

It is hoped people from all over the country will attend.

Mrs Scarrott added: “I’ve had very positive feedback from Warwickshire, and people from further afield have also said they’ll come along and support us.

“Firefighters do so much for the community. There is also the risk of increased flooding, which firefighters are vital for.

“My house flooded in 1998 which you never would have expected because Warwick is on a hill.

“I’m all for moving with the times, but you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken.

“Firefighters can’t be in two places at once and they shouldn’t be forced to choose between incidents.

“I’m a Warwick girl born and bred. Five generations of my family are Warwickians. The fire station has been in Warwick for years and it is still very much needed.”

MP James Plaskitt is also backing the march.

Last week he met with the chief fire officer, Graeme Smith, to discuss the planned closures.

He said: “I’m concerned by the closures across Warwickshire and I’m keeping in touch with similar campaigns in other areas. But I’m concentrating my efforts on Warwick as it’s within the constituency that I was elected to represent.

“The county councillors need to listen to the concerns of people all over Warwickshire and re-think their plans.

“They seem to be more concerned with saving money than saving lives. I met with the chief fire officer and put some of the many points people have raised with me directly to him. Once again, I did not receive any reassuring answers.”

A final decision on the proposals, which would also see Kenilworth fire station close, is expected to be made by county councillors after the public consultation ends in December.

The month sees the last eight of 19 public meetings take place.

Chief fire officer, Graeme Smith, said: “I hope that I have made it clear to all residents that despite what has been reported, this is a true consultation, which needs the views of Warwickshire residents.”

All responses to the consultation need to be in by the closing date on December 8 in order to be con-
sidered.