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Cash in transit
robberies fall across the region over December
LET’S be honest, the
prospect of returning to work after Christmas, for most of us, is
unlikely to fill you with anything other than dread. In fact, when
you team wet and windy weather conditions with heightened workload,
increased demand for performance and practically no job security; so
it comes as no surprise that January is identified as the most
stressful time of the year according to British Association of Anger
Management (BAAM).
Recent statistics produced by the BAAM have found that the extra
stresses of the season are having particuarly detrimental effects on
the UK’s female workforce.
The survey concluded that stress in women has increased dramatically
with 80% of women feeling unsupported, over worked and insecure in
their positions. Worringly, these increased stress levels have
resulted in feelings of depression in 60% of cases and anger issues
in 43%.
These peturbing statistics raise the question; is the workplace
ill-equipped to deal with the needs of women and is this lack of
empathy for the female workforce creating the increased stress which
leads to depression and anger?
Mike Fisher, BAAM’s Founder, highlights the dramatic increase of
females suffering from anger and health problems that are linked to
stress at work:- "Our client base is approximately 40% female
and we see the effects every day of stress and depression. The
health effects are serious."
Of the female respondents to the survey many reported feeling
increased tension, negative changes in personality and hyper
sensitivity to colleagues, partners and other family members. Almost
half of all surveyed claimed that the stresses of work had caused
them to feel depressed and to increase their alcohol intake
significantly. Even more concerning is the number of respondents who
admitted to having experienced chest pains as a result of their
heightened stress levels.
With nowhere to turn stressed out workers are bottling up their
feelings causing them to lash out the people who love them the most.
Julian Hall, Director of the Derby Clinic, says:- "What these
stats show is that an individual’s ability to deal with stress in
the workplace is directly linked to their motivation, productivity
and their health. What we know from our core client group is that
since they are unable to express this at work they end up taking it
home with them and acting it out on their families. An employer with
foresight will place this at the core of their employee well-being
strategy. With the UK at risk of facing a 'double-dip' recession and
very little being done by employers to deal with the health of their
staff, things are looking particularly bleak for our nation’s
workforce and in particular, our women."
So would you agree? Are you suffering from stress at work? Let us
know your views on this topic by emailing our newsroom via:-
news24@southportreporter.com. |
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New look Aquax
UK set to grow in 2012
THE number of cash in
transit robberies in the North West fell by more than 66% this
Christmas compared to the previous year.
The 6 North West police forces and the security industry launched a
joint operation at the end of November 2011, to crack down on armed
robberies and target criminals intent on carrying out these offences
throughout the festive season.
The action was co-ordinated by the North West Regional Organised
Crime Unit (Titan), the regional collaboration to tackle serious and
organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking, firearms, armed
robberies, aggravated burglaries and other serious crimes.
In December 2011, there were three cash-in-transit robberies across
the region compared to nine in December 2010. Of those in 2011, two
were in GMP and one was in Merseyside. In 2010, there were five
offences in GMP, two offences in Merseyside and two offences in
Cheshire.
The campaign, which ran until 31 December 2011, saw officers using
both high-visibility and covert patrols on the ground and in the air
to escort security vehicles as they carried out their normal
deliveries.
A number of other tactics were used to prevent these robberies,
including armed police vehicles escorting high-risk security
vehicles as they carried out cash deliveries; overt and covert CCTV
monitoring; patrol cars following cash-handling vehicles; plus all
cash containers included either Smartwater or a dye, which is
released if they are opened.
Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson, head of the NWROCU
(Titan), said:- "This latest campaign targeting
cash-in-transit robberies continues the significant reduction in
these crimes seen across the North West in recent years. Robberies
targeting cash-in-transit vehicles, banks, post offices and
commercial businesses can have a life-changing impact on those at
the receiving end of the attacks, which can often be very violent.
We are committed to reducing cash-in-transit offences and will
continue to work hard with our partners and other forces to prevent
criminals making the lives of people in the security and commercial
industries a misery. We will use all the powers available to us to
find those responsible for these crimes and put them before the
courts. A critical element of our success was the information that
we received from members of the public telling us about suspicious
activity and I would like to thank all those people who took the
time to contact us during this campaign, your help is invaluable."
Following the campaign, all of the North West police forces, in
partnership with the security industries, will continue to share
intelligence and provide assistance for cross-border deliveries in
the coming months.
Police are reminding the public to be vigilant and help stop these
types of crimes by reporting any suspicious activity to
Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111. In an emergency
always call:- 999. |
