|
Crime Prevention Team heads to Ainsdale
STAFF from the dedicated Policing Team in Ainsdale will be putting on special
property registration and Bike registration session on Saturday, 10 January
2015. This will be held between 1pm to 3pm at MeCycle on Station Road in
Ainsdale. The Policing Team are especially keen on registering pedal cycles and
have a limited number of
ImmobiTag devices to give away, which fit inside the
frame of a bike and improve the chances of identifying its owner if taken.
MeCycle are also offering free bike safety checks for anyone that comes on the
day. Inspector Jim Atherton, said:- "I am grateful of the support of the
Ainsdale ward Councillors who have provided funding to promote the
initiative to local residents. The session is part of an initiative being run to prevent the
theft of bikes and other valuables like phones and computers. Officers will be
assisting with registration of bicycles as well as all electrical items. These
can include phones, laptops, iPods and gaming machines. We will be offering
further security marking on the day as well as providing practical advice on
crime prevention. You can register your valuables for free today by simply
following the links from the Merseyside Police website. If you don't have
internet access or are unsure what to do then pop along and the staff will
assist. If you have already registered, we will check your property is on the NMPR database. This is a national database Police forces have access to 24/7. We
have a small number of stickers that will be given away for free for those that
register. By registering as much property as possible we want would be thieves
and also purchasers of stolen goods to ask is it worth the risk? Let's work
together to turn fear of being a victim of crime into fear of getting caught.
Don't worry if you can't come along on the day. Look out for details of more
surgeries, which take place in the near future." If you have information about
criminal activity, please call:- 101 and leave a message or alternatively call
Crimestoppers for free on:- 0800 555 111.
21 year old man shot in Bootle
THE countdown has commenced for the world's biggest garden wildlife survey; and
more people in Merseyside than ever before are being called upon to take part in
the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch that runs from 24 January to 25 January 2015.
Now in its 36th year, the popular event is fun for all ages and it's easy to
join in. Simply count the birds in your garden or local park for one hour over
Big Garden Birdwatch weekend and tell the RSPB what you see. And for the 2nd
time in the event's history, participants are also being asked to log some of
the other wildlife which snuffles and settles in their gardens and local parks,
and this year there are 2 new additions to the survey list; slow worms and
grass snakes. To help you prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch, there are plenty
of events taking place in Merseyside throughout January; from discovering how to
attract more wildlife into your garden to gaining tips on how to identify the
creatures which live on your doorstep.
Go along to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands, on Sunday, 11 January 2015, between 11am
to 3pm, to make a tasty bird cake which you can take home and hang in the garden
to attract our feathered friends. RSPB staff and volunteers will also be on hand
to offer advice about what to feed garden birds during the winter months. The
event is free, but donations are welcome to cover costs of materials. On Sunday,
18 January 2015, return to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands to learn how to recognise a
variety of different garden birds at the reserve's feeding station. Friendly
staff will be able to help you brush up on identification skills in time for the
Big Garden Birdwatch, as well as sharing tips on how to attract birds to your
garden. The free drop in event runs from 11am to 3pm. For both events, normal
reserve entry charges apply for non members. For more information call:- 0151
353 8478 or drop them an email:-
deeestuary@rspb.org.uk.
In the build up to Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, head to Sefton Park's Palm
House, on Sunday, 18 January 2015, where members of RSPB Liverpool Local Group
will be on hand to share plenty of tips and advice on how to make sure your Big
Garden Birdwatch is a success. The free drop in will run from 12pm to 4pm. For
more information, call:- 07831 352870 or send an email:-
christtynan@aol.com.
Or if you are feeling creative, join RSPB staff at the Art Box at the Atkinson
Gallery in Southport to make a pine cone feeder to attract birds to your garden
ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch. There will also be the chance to find out
more about taking part in the survey, including tips on how to tell our
feathered friends apart. The event will be held on Sunday, 18 January 2015, from
11am to 3pm, with a charge of £1 to cover costs of materials. For more
information, call:- 07793 902622 or via email:-
alex.pigott@rspb.org.uk.
Jo Keene, RSPB Senior People Engagement Manager in Northern England, said:-
"Whether it's the 1st time you are taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch, or
you're already an expert, there are plenty of ways to prepare and join in. To
take part, all you need to do is spend an hour over the weekend of 24 January to
25 January 2015, and count the birds in your garden, it's that simple. It's a
fantastic way to discover the wildlife on your doorstep and it really helps the
RSPB to gain a vital snapshot of garden bird numbers in winter and highlight any
dramatic declines, as bird populations are a great indicator of the health of
the countryside. With the addition of other wildlife to the survey, such as
hedgehogs, badgers and frogs, we are able to build up a better idea of how
important our gardens are for providing homes for nature. Last year, around half
a million people took part and seven million birds were counted, so we are
hoping even more people join in this year, as the more people involved, the more
we can learn. So join in and be part of the world's biggest garden wildlife
survey; without having to leave your sofa." Participants can record the birds as they see them directly onto a laptop,
tablet or smartphone with an online bird counting tool or send results in the
post.
To help attract wildlife into your garden, there are plenty of tips for helping
to give nature a home where you live on the RSPB website. No matter how big or
small your outside space, there's something you can do to make a difference.
Visit:-
rspb.org.uk/homes for more information.
Register to take part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2015 at:-
rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.
Alternatively, call:- 0300 456 8330.
Letters to Editor:-
"Je Suis Charlie"
"I might not be a local reader of Southport Reporter, but wanted to send you
this letter. Thankfully, it's but a minute portion of the world's many believers
in Sky Fairies of different shapes and sizes that takes things as far as the
gunmen in Paris, so we should not blame the majority of peaceful
superstitionists for the actions of the few. As an atheist and secularist, I
affirm the rights of superstitionists to be wrong whilst maintaining my right to
point this out to them and others peacefully (with or without humour).
Superstitionists must, however, understand that respect is a 2 way process."
John Hein, in Edinburgh. |
 |
1 in 7 risking lives to correct sat-nav mistakes
"TURN around when possible." It's a phrase that anyone who drives with the aid
of a sat-nav knows well. But it could mean more than just a navigational
nightmare. A survey by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line has found that
more than one in seven (15%) drivers who use a sat-nav admit making illegal or
risky manoeuvres to correct mistakes when following sat-nav instructions,
putting themselves and other road users at risk of a devastating crash.
Dodgy u-turns aren't the only danger.
Brake and Direct
Line's survey also found that:-
1 in 14 (7%) drivers have had a near miss, having to swerve or brake suddenly to
avoid a hazard, because they were distracted by a sat-nav (rising to one in 10
(11%) among young drivers (17 to 24);
1 in 14 (7%) drivers also admit to having a similar near miss because they were
fiddling with their stereo (rising to one in 10 (11%) among young drivers (17 to
24))
When used responsibly, using a voice based sat-nav can make you a safer than
using a visual display or paper map, as you can navigate without looking away
from the
road.
However, there is some evidence that relying on a sat-nav can make you drive
faster and make you less
observant. Fiddling with a stereo can also make you react slower and make
more
errors.
Through its drive smart campaign, Brake is calling on all drivers to make a new
year's resolution to stay alert and keep their mind and eyes on the road. That
means programming your sat-nav before you set off, and not attempting to
re-programme it, fiddle with your stereo, use a mobile, or do anything else
while driving. Research shows almost everyone is unable to multi-task at the
wheel without driving performance being badly affected. Carry out a secondary
activity and you're 2 to 3 times more likely to crash: more for complex
activities like talking on a phone or texting.
Brake is also calling on drivers not to be distracted by the range of
technologies being installed in many new cars that have nothing to do with
driving, such as access to social media. Brake is also appealing to the
government to regulate the use of features that can pose a dangerous distraction
to drivers.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said:- "Sat-navs have
revolutionised the way many of us drive, helping us get from A to B without
worrying about navigation, and there are indications they can make you safer.
However, there are potential pitfalls to be wary of that can pose a real danger
to yourself and other road users. Remember, the sat-nav is there to help you
keep focused on driving rather than worry about directions, but it's not there
to make all the decisions for you. Driving is an unpredictable activity, so you
still need to look at signs, particularly those warning of hazards or speed
limits, and watch for people and unexpected problems. For many drivers there is
an increasing array of technological temptations that can pose a deadly
distraction; it's essential to resist to ensure you and others arrive safely.
Brake's advice is: set your sat-nav and radio before you set off, put your phone
in the boot and ensure you're not tempted to do anything that will take your
mind or eyes off the road while driving."
Rob Miles, director of motor at Direct Line, commented:- "Looking at the sat-nav
while your eyes are meant to be on the road is no different from trying to drive
with a map in front of you. It's dangerous, and you shouldn't do it. If you're
going to use sat-nav to guide you through a journey, better to use a voice-based
version so you can keep your eyes on the road. If you need to change direction
or turn around, do it safely, even if it takes a bit of time to get to the next
roundabout rather than doing a U-turn. And if you want to look at the sat-nav,
do what you'd do with a map: find somewhere safe to pull over before having a
look."
About the report
These survey results come from Section 3 of Report 5 - Driven to Distraction,
part of the Direct Line and Brake report on safe driving, 2012 to 2014, released
on Tuesday, 6 January 2015. The survey consisted of 1,000 drivers and was
conducted by Surveygoo. Read the report.
Full results
Q1. In the past year, have you braked suddenly or swerved because you were slow
to notice a hazard when distracted (eg. because you didn't notice the car ahead
stopping in time)? (tick all that apply)...
7% said yes, distracted by a sat-nav (age breakdown – 18 to 24: 11%, 25 to 34: 7%,
35 to 44: 5%, 45 to 54: 5%, 55 to 64: 2%, 65+: 0%).
7% said yes, distracted by adjusting the stereo (age breakdown – 18 to 24: 11%,
25 to 34: 7%, 35 to44: 6%, 45-54: 4%, 55 to 64: 1%, 65+: 0%).
2% said yes, distracted by food or drink.
3% said yes, distracted by a mobile phone.
12% said yes, distracted by passengers.
6% said yes, distracted by kids in the back.
21% said yes, distracted by something else.
60% said no.
Q2. In the past year, have you made an illegal or risky manoeuvre to rectify a
mistake when following sat-nav instructions?
1 in 10 (10%) said yes.
⅔ (65%) said no
A ¼ (25%) said they don't use a sat-nav
|
