ORGANISED CRIME UNIT (TITAN) ARREST MEN IN CONNECTION WITH DRUGS HAUL

IN the light of the hard facts that the economy is stalling the Bank’s monetary policy committee must put priority on getting growth going all across the UK says GMB

Liverpool has the highest rate of unemployment in North West. 12.8% of all residents in Liverpool who are economically active are jobless. This compares with a rate of 8.2% in the North West and 7.8% in the UK. Knowsley is next highest at 12.2%, followed by Manchester 11.7%, Oldham 10.3%, Salford10.0%, Halton 9.6% and Bolton and Blackpool 9.3%. Warrington and Cheshire East has the region’s lowest unemployment rate at 4.9%, followed by Lancashire at 5.9%.

Manchester has the lowest employment rate in the region. 59.8% of those aged 16 to 64 living in Manchester are in employment. This compares with 68.8% in North West and 70.2 % in the UK. Other areas below the regional average for the employment rate are Liverpool, Knowsley, Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Salford, Rochdale, Wirral, Oldham, Tameside, Halton and Blackpool. Warrington has the region’s highest employment rate at 76.6%.

32.3% of those aged 16 to 64 who live in Manchester are economically inactive (see note 4 for definition). This is the highest rate in North West. Blackburn with Darwen has the next highest rate with 31.1% economically inactive. The rate for the North West is 25.1% and the UK 23.9%. In Liverpool, Knowsley, Rochdale, Bolton and Salford economically inactive rates are above the regional average. Cheshire West and Chester has the region’s lowest economically inactive rate at 19.0%. 
 

GMB ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYMENT/ UNEMPLOYMENT DATA – NORTH WEST

		Aged 16 to 64
	Location	% employment rate	% who are economically inactive	unemployment rate
	UK	70.2	23.9	7.8
	North West	68.8	25.1	8.2
Rank
1	Liverpool	60.0	31.1	12.8
2	Knowsley	61.9	29.5	12.2
3	Manchester	59.8	32.3	11.7
4	Oldham	67.0	25.3	10.3
5	Salford	65.2	27.6	10.0
6	Halton	67.4	25.4	9.6
7	Bolton	64.8	28.6	9.3
8	Blackpool	67.7	25.3	9.3
9	Sefton	70.4	22.5	9.2
10	Tameside	67.2	26.4	8.7
11	Blackburn with Darwen	62.4	31.7	8.6
12	St. Helens	69.3	24.6	8.1
13	Rochdale	65.4	28.9	8.0
14	Trafford	71.5	22.2	8.0
15	Cheshire West & Chester	74.5	19.0	8.0
16	Bury	70.6	23.4	7.8
17	Wirral	65.9	28.7	7.7
18	Wigan	70.8	23.3	7.6
19	Cumbria	73.3	21.1	7.0
20	Stockport	74.4	20.3	6.6
21	Lancashire	72.7	22.7	5.9
22	Cheshire East	73.4	22.8	4.9
23	Warrington	76.6	19.5	4.9

Paul McCarthy, GMB Regional Secretary, said that:- "These important figures on unemployment must be a serious cause for concern for both the Government and the communities affected. GMB experience is that the position on the ground is getting worse. With government getting rid of tens of thousands of public sector jobs and with the private sector either stalling or going backwards the outlook in many areas is very worrying bordering on bleak. The latest downturn in economic growth prospects announced by the Governor of the Bank of England confirms GMB experience. In the light of the hard facts that the economy is stalling the Bank’s monetary policy committee must put priority on getting growth going all across the UK. The priority is for investment to create jobs and boost confidence rather than cuts in the tax rate for the super-rich. Investment in housing, school repair, energy and transport are all badly needed and will create jobs and growth in all sectors of the economy. The squandering of human talent through unemployment is a crime that will haunt future generations."

Homelessness fears for almost 3 million renters

NATIONAL debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has said it fears a rise in homelessness as almost 3 million renters have been found to be financially vulnerable. New research commissioned for the charity by the Financial Inclusion Centre has identified 2.9 million renters as in rent arrears or struggling to pay their rents.

High numbers of renters seek help from CCCS each year with over half of the 418,000 people who sought help from the charity last year living in rented accommodation. Their average debt varied depending on how they rented their property. Those with a private landlord owed an average of £18,733 in unsecured debts, whereas those renting from a housing association or local authority owed quite a bit less at £14,239 and £12,612 respectively.

The charity expects the numbers of renters seeking help from it to rise and is concerned that many will end up homeless as a range of budget pressures such as high inflation, welfare benefit and tax changes as well as wage freezes will leave more people unable to save. It says that, unlike many homeowners, renters have not benefited from historically low interest rates.

Commenting on the findings, CCCS external affairs director Delroy Corinaldi said:- "The next few years are going to be tough for many people as the economy has shown few signs of improving and those living in rented accommodation will be at the sharp end of this.  I fear that many will end up homeless."

ORGANISED CRIME UNIT (TITAN) ARREST MEN IN CONNECTION WITH DRUGS HAUL

OFFICERS from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (Titan) have arrested 3 men in connection with a significant haul of Class A drugs.  Carl Robinson, aged 29, of Eskdale in Skelmersdale, Graham Miller, aged 37, of Cherrycroft in Skelmersdale and Ian Adderley, aged 45, of Sennen Road in Kirkby have all been charged with conspiracy to import and supply Class A drugs.  Robinson was in addition charged with wounding with intent in connection with an incident at a pub in Skelmersdale on 6 August 2011.  Officers carried out the 3 arrests in Skelmersdale as part of a pro-active covert investigation and seized a substantial amount of drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £1million.  Detective Superintendent Lee Halstead said:- "The primary function of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit is to protect the communities of the North West from serious organised crime.  Today's operation will have had a significant impact on the availability of Class A drugs in the North West.  Drugs blight the lives of members of our communities and we are dedicated to dismantling the organised crime groups who prosper through other people's misery."  All 3 men appeared in South Sefton Magistrates' Court and were remanded in custody.

Website opens doors for patient access to potential new treatments...

PEOPLE with difficult to treat medical conditions across Merseyside could get access to new treatments thanks to the launch of a website that informs visitors about new medications. researchforyou.co.uk has been set up by Liverpool based MAC Clinical Research in a bid to increase awareness of medications still in early development and not available through the NHS. The organisation works with pharmaceutical companies looking at developing medications for conditions that have been traditionally difficult to treat. Such conditions include chronic pain following surgery and post-herpetic neuralgia – an unexplained pain that is commonly found in people who have recently had shingles.  Gary Parkinson, Head of Marketing at MAC, said he is pleased with the site’s performance:- "We’ve seen a good response from the site so far. The site lets people see which studies are currently available to enrol on and it’s allowing patients the opportunity to find out more about us, the treatments we can offer, and about their condition. Visitors to the site can also register their interest with us and specify convenient times to take a call from our clinical relations specialists. Patients who don’t live in our immediate Liverpool area are finding it to be a very helpful way of taking advantage of our service."  In Addition to MAC’s focus on pain-related conditions the company has an active interest into cognitive illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals interested in clinical research are encouraged to see if they are eligible for studies by visiting the website to find out more.