Teenager stabbed in the face on night out in Southport

MERSEYSIDE Police are investigating an incident that took place during Halloween Night. In the very early hours of 1 November 2015, at around 1.25am, a 19 year old male was stabbed in the face. The stabbing is said to have happened in the area around the Esplanade, next to the junction of the Morrison's car park entrance, and between the amusement park and Dunes, Splash World. We are told that the victim was taken to hospital following this horrific attack and Police acted quickly to cordon off the area, for forensic examination. It is also reported that the victim had been out with family enjoying the Halloween events.

Detective Inspector Cheryl Rhodes said that:- "The area would have been busy with people celebrating Halloween last night and we would urge anyone who may have witnessed anything that might help our investigation to contact Police. Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could prove vital. We want to reassure people that this is not a normal occurrence in Southport and we are pursuing all leads to catch whomever is responsible." Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to call Sefton CID on:- 0151 777 3460 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111.

Liverpool CAMRA's 'Save the Roscoe Head' campaign spearheads customers' support for Pubs

LIVERPOOL'S Roscoe Head Pub, is located on Roscoe Street and it was at the center of a rally organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), with the theme:- 'List Your Local', was held on Saturday, 7 November 2015.

The rally was attended by hundreds of CAMRA members, who had also been joined by the local 'Save the Roscoe Head' campaigners. The event aimed at highlighting the opportunity for pub goers to support their local pubs by nominating them as Assets of Community Value. At a time when 29 pubs are being lost a week, Assets of Community Value (ACVs) have a vital role to play in ensuring that local communities are consulted before local pubs are lost.

The Rally was addressed by the National Chairman of CAMRA, Colin Valentine, who said:- "We all have a role to play in the effort to keep pubs open and at the heart of community life. The Government need to support pubs through ensuring the tax burden pubs face is sustainable; pub owners need to support pubs through investment and supporting licensee's efforts to boost trade and pub goers have a role to play by using their local pub on a regular basis and by listing those pubs that they really value as Assets of Community Value."

The aim of CAMRA's 'List Your Local' campaign is to have pub goers across the country list their valued local pub as an Asset of Community Value, which then gives the pub a degree of protection against proposals for change of use. The subsequent requirement for owners to seek planning permission if they wish to convert any pub to another use gives local people an opportunity to challenge the proposal and develop alternative proposals to retain the pub. CAMRA's aim is to have over 3,000 pubs listed as ACVs by the end of 2016.

Currently the Roscoe Head is the only pub in Liverpool to be listed as an ACV.

The 'Save the Roscoe Head' campaign started as a result of the sale of the pub by Punch Taverns to retail property investor, NewRiver Retail, who now own 350 pubs. Liverpool CAMRA's Press Officer, Geoff Edwards said:- "The aim of the 'Save the Roscoe Head' campaign is to safeguard the future of this famous pub by persuading owners NewRiver Retail to sell the pub to its licensee, Carol Ross, whose family has run the pub for over 30 years and who have made it what it is today... 1 of CAMRA's 'Famous 5' best pubs in Britain. It is fitting that the rally is taking place at the Roscoe Head, as the pub symbolises the importance of our Great British Pubs. The pub has just celebrated 43 years in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, 1 of only 5 pubs in the whole of the UK to have that accolade, yet it has been sold to a retail investment company; giving rise to concern about the long term future of the pub and the current licensee. If that can happen to 1 of the Famous 5 pubs, then pub goers need to wake up to the threat to their local pubs and act now to get them listed as Assets of Community Value. In Liverpool our message to NewRiver Retail is 'Sell the Pub to Carol' to ensure its future as a pub which is a shining example for Liverpool and Britain."