GUN RECOVERED DURING RAID IN SOUTHPORT

MERSEYSIDE Police has arrested a 51 year old man who has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.  Thursday, 1 November 2012 Police recovered a handgun following the execution of a warrant on Liverpool Road, Southport. During that search, a 51 year old male, from Birkdale, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled drug.  Also found on the raid at the property where 2 handmade taser-like devices, along with a crossbow, several flares and a small amount of chemical substances. The chemical substances will be taken to a laboratory for testing.  The Army's OED and the Fire Service also attended as a precaution and to provide advice and guidance to the Police search teams.  Detective Inspector Rob Hill said:- "The action is the result of an extensive investigation by detectives and is an example of the Force's commitment to tackling serious criminality. The use of firearms blights our communities and puts law abiding people at risk. Merseyside Police is fully committed to pursuing those involved in serious organized crime and will act on all information provided. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank residents for their patience and co-operation during this operation."  Anyone who has information about organised crime or gun crime in Merseyside is asked to call Matrix on:- 0151 777 5699 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.

The Financial Skills Partnership has backed calls for much needed reform of apprenticeships

A report into apprenticeships from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee concluded that apprenticeships should take a more prominent role in the learning landscape in the UK. It calls for apprenticeships to be seen as equal to study at university as the country looks to grow its economy through a wider range of industry related skills.

Liz Field, CEO of the Financial Skills Partnership, said:- "The focus for apprenticeships shouldn't just be placed on how many we can implement without looking at the effect the apprenticeships are having on businesses. Apprenticeships are no longer stopgaps for those not sufficiently academically gifted, or privileged, to get into higher education. They are now available in many more formats that cater to a greater number of job roles in industry sectors. Getting apprentices job ready and tooled up with relevant skills that will boost their respective workforces should be the priority. They shouldn't just be there to make up the numbers. The brightest and most ambitious are now considering quality vocational training as an excellent alternative point of entry to a rewarding career. Their appetite should be matched by an established infrastructure whereby they can gain access to their chosen professions through apprenticeships that reflect the needs of the industry."

The Financial Skills Partnership, whose role is to support employers in the sector in meeting their skills needs, has helped develop 6 apprenticeship frameworks currently being used, with over 7,000 apprenticeships starting in 2011/2012 across the sector, spanning all disciplines from accounting, payroll, book keeping and professional services to providing financial services, financial advice and mortgage advice.

Last year, FSP also received an award from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund to help develop employer-led higher apprenticeship frameworks in partnership with large employers. It has helped develop a number of major programmes which have already commenced offering a variety of apprenticeships up to Level 4, and one to Level 7, on par with academic study.

Liz concluded:- "We welcome the BIS report because it echoes our own lobbying voice that has called for a closer and more productive relationship between schools and the National Apprenticeship Service, and ultimately the businesses themselves. Apprenticeships must shift from being a fringe subject on the careers advice curriculum and given adequate weighting in terms of how the benefits of vocational learning are taught. A school's success should be judged on its ability to reflect the changes that are happening outside of the school walls and help provide the next generation of workers with what they need to hit the ground running in the real word of business."

Private foresters best detectors in fight against tree disease, says CLA

THE CLA has said the private forestry sector is best placed to provide early detection of tree pests and diseases such as Chalara fraxinea (ash dieback), which has now been confirmed in 115 sites across the country including Yorkshire and Northumberland. Attending a Tree Health Summit, on 7 November 2012, CLA President Harry Cotterell said private foresters would have been able to help support government action more effectively if they were engaged earlier in the fight. Mr Cotterell said:- "The CLA has welcomed the Secretary of State's commitment to change priorities within Defra to help control the spread of ash tree disease. We are now asking for a culture change within Defra and the Forestry Commission so foresters are recognised as the best early detectors of tree pests and diseases." CLA North Policy and Public Affairs Director Douglas Chalmers added:- "Hands-on foresters in the private sector have a great deal of expertise - they know exactly where to find specific types of trees and they know what they should look like in a healthy state. However, they must be engaged earlier to help control the spread of diseases. Foresters and landowners throughout the North are now in a race against time to check trees that have already dropped most of their leaves, making disease identification much harder." Also adding to this was Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies, a member of the European Parliament's Environment and Public Health Committee, has insisted that EU rules clearly provide for governments to take 'emergency measures' in such cases. He said:- "European Commission officials are annoyed that ministers are using them as an excuse for inaction when the opportunity for the UK to introduce a ban was always available. This is not one of those occasions when Brussels can be blamed by civil servants and ministers keen to pass the buck to anyone, but themselves."  The latest update from Defra on the situation is available on the DEFRA website.