BOLD STREET 'RESPECT WEEK'

LAST week Merseyside Police worked with Liverpool City Council, the Liverpool City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), Trading Standards, the UK Border Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions to tackle anti-social and drunken behaviour in Liverpool city centre's Bold Street.

The week-long operation was carried out after businesses in Bold Street voiced concerns about begging, drinking and alcohol-related crime in the area.

High visibility and plain clothes officers patrolled the streets to provide reassurance. They issued five people with directions to leave the area - a relatively new power which can lead to the arrest of anyone who returned within 24 hours.

The results of the operation are:-

► 14 arrests in total - four arrests for public order offences, four arrests for begging in a public place, one arrest for being drunk and disorderly, two arrests for possession of controlled drugs and three arrest warrants were executed

► 25 stop checks were carried out which resulted in five alcohol seizures

► 25 fixed penalty notices were issued for traffic offences

► Five notices to leave were issued

► Two penalty notices were issued for selling alcohol to a person aged under 18 years in a test purchase operation with Trading Standards

The off-licences that sold alcohol to people under 18 were spoken to and Trading Standards will follow-up the breaches by looking at their licensing conditions.

Leaflets were issued to encourage homeless people to seek help from a variety of agencies working in the city centre.

People busking outside designated zones were told they could legally busk in the city centre without causing obstruction to businesses.

Acting Sergeant Stacey Ellison said:- "The success of this operation is due to the cooperation and support of all the partners involved. We have collectively combined our resources to create an effective approach to tackle many concerns of the community in this area. This is a neighbourhood priority and we will continue to work together to maintain the standards achieved this week. We will keep addressing the needs of the community to improve public confidence and satisfaction and make the area a safer and more pleasant place to work and visit."

Ged Gibbons, acting chief executive of Liverpool City Central BID said:- “We have listened to the issues raised by our Bold Street businesses within the BID and welcomed the opportunity to work with in partnership with Merseyside Police, Liverpool City Council and other city centre agencies to tackle many of these problems. Respect week has been a great success, strongly supported by the businesses on Bold Street and this positive work will continue in the future.”

Councillor Marilyn Fielding, the city council's executive member for community safety said:- "Crime in the city centre has dropped by 40 percent in the last three years thanks to our strong partnership work with Merseyside Police, the BID, the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. This Respect week of action has not only tackled the issues that matter to business and shoppers, but also provided reassurance that the city centre is a safe place to live, work and visit."

Bold Street was also cleaned and many of the businesses and shoppers commented on the tidiness and cleanliness of the area.

Allan Whiteside, owner of Minskys Hair, said:- "A police presence is always welcomed. It is nice to see the improvements it brings and it gave confidence for all concerned."

Ben Prescott, manager of SIZE?, said:- "It's good to feel that staff are safe in the store. The street is more pleasant as a result."

Dalip Matta, manager of Matta's, said:- "I have noticed the presence of the police and there was support if needed. It is safe for the customers as well."

Come Join the Croaking Chorus on a Night Time Natterjack Walk

AINSDALE Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve is hosting a series of Natterjack Night Walks throughout April 2009 and is inviting local people to come along and experience the most wonderful cries of nature and learn more about these rare and impressive amphibians.

Not only are the natterjack toads the loudest amphibians in the Sefton coast area at this time of year, they are also a very rare species found only in a few places around the country. As an amphibian, the natterjack toad needs a habitat of open sand and short vegetation on which to hunt, and in which to burrow, and shallow pools in which to breed. These favourable natterjack habitats have become increasingly uncommon throughout the UK and the Ainsdale Reserve is proud to host this rare and interesting species on site.

In April, adult natterjacks emerge from the burrows in which they will have spent the winter hibernating. Males head for spawning grounds where they advertise their presence to females by emitting a loud, rasping, after-dusk call. It is this spectacular chorus that has earned the natterjacks at Ainsdale the local name of ‘Birkdale Nightingale’.

Alice Kimpton, Senior Reserve Manager at Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve says:- “Hearing the chorus of the natterjacks during the breeding season is a fantastic and unique experience. These guided walks through the sand dunes offer a great opportunity to find out more about the rare natterjack toads and at the same time witness why the Reserve is such a special place. Come along and join us for an experience that you will never forget, but don’t forget your torch!”

The events are being held on Friday, 24 April 2009 and Saturday, 25 April 2009 starting at 9pm and are free of charge, but booking in advance is essential to secure a place as numbers are limited. So don’t delay and call today to find out more information about this special event and many others throughout the year.

All visitors to Ainsdale are kindly requested to follow the Country Code, ensuring that they take all litter home with them and follow safety instructions throughout the site. The Reserve has no public car park and visitors are encouraged to arrive by public transport, on foot or bike where possible.  For more details and to book a place on one of the walks please contact the National Nature Reserve Office on 01704 578774.

NOISE – THE HIDDEN DANGER

WITH International Noise Awareness Day just around the corner on 29 April 2009, the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) is reminding people to be aware of the impact noise can have on their hearing.  Exposure to high, persistent noise levels at either work or home can have an irreparable effect on hearing. Indeed, according to a recent study for the European Union, listening to an MP3 player at its highest volume for five hours a week is enough to cause serious damage. The report claims the high-volume settings expose listeners to more noise than permitted in the noisiest factory or work place.   Tinnitus is typically characterised by a persistent ‘ringing in the ears’, and can be a debilitating condition that causes great distress to sufferers and their families – and there is currently no cure.  Roy Bratby, Chairman of the BTA said:- “Being exposed to loud music can lead to people getting tinnitus, one of the most common health problems facing the UK today. Almost five million people in the country, a staggering 10% of the adult population ( ), suffer with the condition.  Tinnitus can have a detrimental effect on people’s lives – however it manifests itself. There is advice and information available to help reduce the level of noise. We have a trained team of advisors to help anyone suffering.”   For advice, support and information about tinnitus call the BTA freephone helpline on 0800 018 0527 or visit the BTA online at:- tinnitus.org.uk.