Mirror, mascara, manoeuvre

ALMOST 20% of women admit they have put on make up whilst driving, putting themselves and other road users at risk, a new poll has revealed.  Women’s car insurance specialist, Diamond quizzed more than 4,000 women on their driving habits and discovered surprisingly high numbers of them take unnecessary risks by applying their make up behind the wheel.  18% of the women questioned said they had have applied make up while driving, while more than 3% said they had also crashed their car as a result of it.

Diamond managing director, Sian Lewis said:- “It’s worrying that quite so many women admit to this. With more than 15 million women drivers in the UK*, this could be as many as 2.7 million women regularly applying their make up whilst driving on UK roads.  We all have busy lives but applying your make up when you’re driving means your full attention is not on the road ahead. Is your mascara more important than yours and other road users’ safety? Even if you’re lucky enough to arrive at your destination safely, you could be charged with careless driving if spotted by the police.”

The Diamond survey found that women aged between 17 and 21 are the most likely to apply make up and drive and unsurprisingly, are also the most likely to have crashed their car as a result of it.  27% of those aged 21 and younger admit to putting make up on behind the wheel, and are three times more likely than average to have crashed their car as a result.

The over 50s are the least likely to apply their make up on the road and as such, are the least likely to have crashed as a result.

Sian Lewis continues:- “Women are generally great at doing more than one thing at once but this is definitely one area where multi-tasking should not be practiced.”

*Mintel Motor Insurance UK May 2009 report

Know your rights!

A NEW helpline to inform workers of their rights on pay, deductions and working hours has been welcomed by the North West TUC.

The confidential Pay and Work Rights Helpline:- 0800 917 2368 (textphone:- 0800 121 4042) enables workers and employers to call for information and advice on the minimum wage and working hours, as well as information on employment agencies or gangmasters.

The Helpline, set up by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, is open between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Further information is also available online  for workers and at businesslink.gov.uk for employers.

NW TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said:- “This is a welcome new initiative from the Government – it will ensure workers at risk of mistreatment by their employers have a phone number to find out about their rights to the minimum wage, working hours and agency standards and also to ask for help in enforcing these rights.

The helpline should help enforce legislation and ensure rogue employers who flout the law do not get away with it.

It will promote fair competition and prevent good employers from being undercut by bad ones using unlawful practices.”

ROBBERY NOBLES AMUSEMENT ARCADE

MERSEYSIDE Police are appealing for witnesses to a robbery at Nobles Amusement Arcade, Broadway in Liverpool on Saturday, 3 October 2009.

Just before 7pm, three men wearing dark coloured hooded tops entered the amusement arcade and threatened staff. They stole a substantial amount of cash, before getting into a silver coloured car, thought to be a Volvo, and heading in the direction of Broad Lane.

Detective Constable Andy Bason said:- “This incident occurred at a busy time of the day on a main road and I am sure someone must have noticed these men or the car. Thankfully no one was injured, but it must have been very traumatic for the staff. Merseyside Police is determined to identify the offenders and bring them to justice and we would appeal to any member of the public who witnessed this incident to come forward.”

Anyone who has any information about this incident, is asked to contact the robbery team at St Anne Street on:- 0151 777 4808 or Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.

TEMPORARY CHIEF CONSTABLE TAKES UP THE BATON

ON 5 october 2009, Mr Bernard Lawson took up the baton as Chief Police Officer in Merseyside following the departure of Mr Hogan-Howe. Deputy Chief Constable, Mr Lawson, will take up the rank and role of Temporary Chief Constable until a permanent posting is made early next year. On taking up the rank Mr Lawson said:- "It is an honour to take up the rank of Temporary Chief Constable and to have the opportunity to lead one of the most successful Forces in the country. During the last 25 years of my policing career I have come to know and understand the issues that really matter to our communities and I am determined to continue to tackle the issues that matter most. I believe that it is very important that the public feel they can have confidence in their police force and I will be continuing to ensure that this Force listens to and acts on the priorities set with our local communities. We have seen huge reductions in crime over the last 3 years with 57,000 less people becoming a victim of crime. Working alongside our partner agencies, including local authorities, the Fire and Rescue Service, criminal justice agencies and others, I am committed to continuing to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour in Merseyside to make the region a safer place to live, work and visit. I am very proud to work for Merseyside Police and I look forward to the challenges that leading the organisation over the next few months will bring."

POLICE RAID SUSPECTED BROTHELS IN LIVERPOOL AND HALTON

FOUR people have been arrested following police raids on two suspected brothels in Liverpool and Widnes in a joint operation by Merseyside and Cheshire Police.

The raids took place at premises in East Prescot Road, in Old Swan and Victoria Road in Widnes, at around 4pm on 6 October 2009, following a three-month surveillance operation by officers in north Liverpool.

Two residential addresses in Norris Green, Liverpool and Palacefields, Runcorn were also searched by officers with warrants.

Large quantities of cash and a blank-firing pistol were recovered during the operation, along with paperwork and other evidence suggesting that the two premises have been used for prostitution.

A total of four people were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the managing of a brothel and money laundering. They are: a 61 year old man from Norris Green, a 29 year old man from Runcorn, a 50 year old woman from Norris Green, and a 61 year old woman from Anfield.

The two men have since been bailed by Cheshire Police. The two women remain in the custody of Merseyside Police where they are still being questioned.

The surveillance was carried out by officers acting on information supplied by the local community. Residents had voiced concerns to neighbourhood police about regular suspicious activity at the premises during the daytime.

PC Carl Winrow of Merseyside Police's dedicated neighbourhood team for Old Swan, said:- "The operation was successfully carried out by officers from Merseyside and Cheshire police forces acting on information given to us by the public who were concerned at the comings-and-goings at these two premises. The venues have now been closed down, which is obviously a positive thing for local residents. Information from the public is often crucial to police investigations and I would urge people to call their neighbourhood policing team if they have any concerns about things going on in their area."

Inspector Sharon Case, of Widnes Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said:- “Officers from Widnes and Runcorn Neighbourhood Policing Units assisted Merseyside Police officers with the execution of these warrants, the arrests of two men and the seizure of a large amount of property. This was a successful operation and the premises are now closed. Members of the local community had raised concerns about the premises and we hope that residents are reassured by the positive action that has been taken. We also hope that it reinforces the message that we take information from the public extremely seriously and will seek to act on that information where possible. We are committed to tackling suspected criminal activity and anti-social behaviour within the local community. We will not tolerate any sort of behaviour, which has a negative impact on the quality of life of others."

Anyone with any information about any form of suspected criminal activity should contact Merseyside Police on:- 0151 777 4441 or Cheshire Police on:- 0845 458 0000. Information can also be passed on via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.