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Give your loved one a tax break this Valentine's Day

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are encouraging married couples and people in civil partnerships to sign up for a tax break this year. Marriage Allowance offers individuals the chance to transfer part of their Personal Allowance to their husband, wife or civil partner, which could reduce their tax by up to ₤250 a year. For some couples, this could mean a backdated payment of up to 4 years of claims, which could be as much as ₤1,188. It is free to apply for Marriage Allowance and HMRC is encouraging customers to claim directly through its online portal to ensure they receive 100% of the tax relief they are eligible for.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC's 2nd Permanent Secretary, said:- "For some, a tax break will be a welcome source of extra cash during these difficult times. I urge couples to take advantage of this offer, which could put up to ₤250 back in their pockets each year. Signing up is simple; the quickest way to claim is through the GOV.UK website, just search:- 'marriage allowance.'"

Marriage Allowance lets people earning ₤12,500 or less transfer up to ₤1,250 of their Personal Allowance to their husband, wife or civil partner; if their income is higher and they are a basic rate taxpayer. This will reduce their tax by up to ₤250 for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Claims can also be backdated to April 2016 until 5 April 2021. After 6 April 2021, couples will only be able to claim back to the 2017 to 2018 tax year.

The same criteria applies for people in married couples and civil partnerships in Scotland, except your partner must pay Income Tax at the starter, basic or intermediate rates between ₤12,501 and ₤43,430. The Personal Allowance rate for the 2021 to 2022 tax year is increasing to ₤12,570. Customers are urged to cut out the middle man, who may charge a fee, and receive a guaranteed 100% of their eligible entitlement by applying directly to HMRC via:- GOV.UK. Marriage Allowance claims are automatically renewed every year. However, couples should notify HMRC if their circumstances change..

79% of Police Officers believe character and virtues is central to Policing says new study by the University of Birmingham

POLLING carried out in January 2021 by Portland Communications on behalf of the University of Birmingham of has found that 79% of Police Officers in the UK believe that character and virtues is a central part of Police training, in order to carry out their duties. The survey which was commissioned by the Jubilee Centre for Character and virtues also concluded that 76% of those interviewed agreed that the Covid19 Pandemic has made Policing more complicated and challenging. Indeed, 54% of Officers have considered quitting their jobs in the last year.

However, the poll of 406 serving Officers, mostly Police Constables, but also of other ranks, from across British Police services reported some positive findings for the place of character and virtues in British Policing. It found that more than 78% of Officers agreed that their training equipped them to feel confident responding to the ethical dilemmas that they face at work. Further, participants in the poll reported that honesty and bravery were the 2 most important virtues to them, personally. Participants also reported that bravery and honesty were the 2 most important virtues of the ideal Police Officer.

Despite this congruence between the top 2 virtues, participants reported some differences between other important virtues. Officers saw fairness, leadership and judgment as the next most important virtues in the ideal Police Officer. Whilst Officers also valued fairness as the third most important personal virtue, it was to a lesser extent, 47%, than in the ideal Officer, 59%. They reported humour and kindness as 79% most important personal virtues.

In addition to the top 5 virtues, and across the list of 24 virtues that Officers were presented with, they selected intellectual and performance virtues such as leadership, prudence, perspective as important to the ideal Officer. Whereas, Officers chose moral and intellectual virtues, such as love, humour, kindness and gratitude, as being important personally.

The poll offers a snapshot of the moral challenges that Police Officers in the UK face and how well equipped they consider themselves to be in facing those challenges. The results reflect the ambivalent and dilemmatic nature of contemporary Policing. On the one hand, Officers generally considered themselves to possess the most important virtues of their ideal Officer, honesty and bravery. They reported to rely on their own moral compass in dealing with problematic situations, and they consider their training to have prepared them well for navigating moral dilemmas at work. However, they acknowledged the increasing challenges and stressors of present day Policing and the prevalence of situations where they have to act against their own moral judgement, to the extent that the majority of respondents have considered quitting their job in the last year.

Professor Kristj�n Kristj�nsson, Deputy Director of the Jubilee Centre, reflected on the poll results:- "These findings tell of Police Officers who are working under heightened pressure and stressors as they Police our compliance with government lockdown restrictions. However, it is positive that the vast majority of Police Officers felt confident that their training has equipped them to respond to the moral aspect of Policing. This gives us something to focus on in our work in the Jubilee Centre."

The survey is the first data to be collected as part of the Jubilee Centre research on Virtues in Policing, which is part of a wider focus on 'Virtues in the Professions.' which is looking at the place of character and virtues in Policing and Police science education today. The sample is broadly representative of the most recent Home Office data on Police Force demographics.

UK based Isle of Man Steam Packet Company crew member has tested positive for Covid19

THE Isle of Man Steam Packet Company have confirmed that a UK based crew member has tested positive for Coronavirus. The individual, who has not been named and does not hold a passenger facing role, had the test whilst off duty. Following the positive test he has been placed in immediate isolation. Contact tracing is underway and a handful of colleagues who the individual was in contact with are also self isolating. The Ben-my-Chree has already undergone an extensive deep clean and is being cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis. The Steam Packet has clear Policies in place for its crew to prevent Covid spread on both its vessels and at its ports.

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region

THE total number of UK Coronavirus (Covid19) infections that have been laboratory confirmed, within the UK, has risen by:- 13,308 cases and the total number now stand at:- 4,027,106 that includes tests carried out by commercial partners which are not included in the 4 National totals.

The total number of Covid19 associated UK fatalities added to the total, was sadly reported to be:- 621 within 28 days of positive test, according to the Department of Health. The total number of deaths of people who have had a positive test result confirmed by a Public Health or NHS laboratory is:- 116,908, within 28 days of positive test. Deaths with Covid19 on the death certificate:- 121,674.

The number of Covid19 patients currently in UK Hospitals:- 23,341. The current number of Covid19 patients currently in mechanical ventilation beds in UK Hospitals:- 2,943 Daily number of Covid19 patients admitted to UK Hospitals:- 1,741.

In England, there are a total of:- 3,528,695 confirmed cases. North West - total of:- 553,737 confirmed cases.

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within the Liverpool City Region are as follows:-

Area and number of confirmed cases:- Risen by:-

Liverpool City Region

Nation Lockdown

National UK Restrictions

► Liverpool, 45,763 confirmed cases.
84

► Halton, 11,213 confirmed cases.
23

► Knowsley, 16,472 confirmed cases. 70

► Sefton, 22,448 confirmed cases.
86

► St. Helens, 15,651 confirmed cases.
69

► Wirral, 23,007 confirmed cases.

51

Colour Key:- 0 1 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 100 100 to 199 200 & over

The number of laboratory confirmed cases within Local Authorities around the Liverpool City Region, since start of the Pandemic, are as follows:-

► Blackburn with Darwen, 16,625 confirmed cases.

► Blackpool, 8,534 confirmed cases.

► Bolton, 23,063 confirmed cases.

► Bury, 15,544 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire East, 18,937 confirmed cases.

► Cheshire West and Chester, 19,822 confirmed cases.

► Lancashire, 89,245 confirmed cases.

► Manchester, 47,999 confirmed cases.

► Oldham, 20,867 confirmed cases.

► Preston, 12,263 confirmed cases.

► Rochdale, 19,049 confirmed cases.

► Salford, 20,836 confirmed cases.

► Stockport, 18,533 confirmed cases.

► Tameside, 16,110 confirmed cases.

► Trafford, 15,050 confirmed cases.

► Warrington, 16,466 confirmed cases.

► Wigan, 26,177 confirmed cases.

Total UK people who have received vaccination

1st Dose 2nd Dose

14,556,827 534,869

Jab Stats correct as of 12 February 2021

The vaccination programme began on 8 December 2020 with people receiving the vaccine developed by Pfizer / BioNTech, and people began receiving the Oxford University / AstraZeneca vaccine from 4 January 2021. Both vaccines are given as 2 doses, at least 21 days apart, for a full vaccination course.

Daily reported Covid19 deaths are now measured across the UK as deaths that occurred within 28 days of the 1st laboratory confirmed positive Covid19 test. Daily and cumulative numbers of Covid19 patients admitted to Hospital. Data are not updated every day by all 4 nations and the figures are not comparable as Wales include suspected Covid19 patients while the other nations include only confirmed cases.

The latest R number is estimated at:- 0.7 to 0.9 with a daily infection growth rate range of:- -5% to -2%, as of 12 February 2021.

Previous 24hr Data

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