New powers help in the
battle against yobs
by John Hendon
TEN anti-social behaviour orders have been issued again people at Warrington – and police say they are helping local communities to fight back against yob behaviour and reclaim their neighbourhoods.
The 10 ASBOs are among more than 2,400 issued across England and Wales since they were introduced in 1999.
Some 1, 323 have been issued in the last 12 months nationally and the Government claims the figures show communities are using the new powers to fight back against the louts.
The Warrington ASBOs have all been issued after the people concerned had been convicted of an offence or offences.
Inspector Stuart Woodcock said: “ASBOs are an effective way of targeting those people who persistently behave in an anti social manner. However we need members of the local community to help police by providing evidence which can be used to prevent the few individuals who make life unpleasant for the majority.
“Anyone who is experiencing anti social behaviour should contact their local Community Action Team who can advise them on how to collate evidence for the police and local agencies who will work together to bring an end to the problem. Everyone has a right to live in the community in peace and harmony and together we can weed out those who cause misery for others.”
In addition to ASBOs, the Anti Social Behaviour Act enables the police to work together with their partner agencies to implement Dispersal Zones, Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and Fixed penalty Notices. Houses used for taking, or dealing drugs can also be closed down and boarded up.
The Dispersal Zone established at Culcheth, Warrington on August 1 is already having an effect, say police.
Since its introduction, 26 anti social incidents have been reported. More than 50 youths have been spoken to and asked to disperse and the majority have responded to police requests. One youth has been arrested for breaching the Order and five others have been summonsed to appear before court for the same offene – all aged under 16. Before the Dispersal Zone came into effect more than 300 anti social incidentsat Culcheth were reported to police during a seven month period.
Three in court on
?30,000 drugs charges
by court reporter
THREE people are to appear at Warrington Crown Court on Friday for sentencing on offences involving the supply of heroin and crack cocaine worth more than ?30,000.
Angela Wilcock, 48, Lee Corrigan, 29 and James Perry, 31 have all pleaded guilty to the offences.
Wilcock has admitted being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack over a period of one month.
Corrigan has admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and crack over a three months period.
Perry has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply herion and crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply and supplying the drugs.
At an earlier hearing, the court was told Wilcock was arrested at her home in Fairclough Street, Burtonwood on December 5. Heroin and crack cocaine worth about ?26,000 and ?3,000 cash was found. Corrigan was arrested the same day.
Further investigation into the source of the drugs resulted in a surveillance operation on Perry, of Oak Bank, Wigan. This resulted in Perry being arrested in Merseyside in possession of cocain worth about ?2,000 and heroin worth about ?3,000 of Heroin.
Forensic testing was undertaken which linked Perry to the Burtonwood address.
Lib-Dems hit out over
“shocking” state of roads
by David Skentelbery
WARRINGTON Liberal Democrat activist Ian Marks has slammed the Government over the “shocking state” of the country’s roads.
He says figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that more than 20 per cent of the country’s road are in need of structural maintenance.
In Cheshire and Merseyside, 621 miles need ?1 billion spent on repairs. Warrington comes off better than the national average at 12 per cent, but is still next to the bottom in the local league table.
Coun Marks, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Warrington South and leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the borough council, said: “In Warrington many of our roads are in need of treatment because of potholes and uneven surfaces.
“They are potentially dangerous for all road users including cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. Across the country nearly 40 thousand miles are damaged and when repairs do eventually take place there is the potential for more traffic jams and disruption.
“The government should do more to improve the condition of our roads. More should be spent on structural repairs at the expense of some costly and unnecessary road expansion.
“In Warrington, the grant we get from the government for highway repairs is always less than inflation. How come other countries in Europe don’t have the same problems as we do? The government needs to change its priorities in the interests of safety.”
Coun Marks added that according to insurance companyZurich International, it was not uncommon for councils to spend more money defending claims than on road maintenance.
Man attacked and
robbed in street
by staff reporter
A MAN was taken to hospital at Warrington after being attacked and beaten by a gang of youths.
The 23-year-old victim was walking along Alder Lane, Warrington, near its junction with Longford Street when he was approached by a group of youths.
He was punched, knocked to the ground and kicked and left with cuts and bruises. He was taken to Warrington Hospital for treatment to his injuries.
The man’s pockets were rifled as he lay on the ground and a quantity of cash was stolen.
Police said the offenders were aged between 18 and 25 and wore sports clothing, some hooded.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any information about it is asked to call PC Julie May on 01244 350222.
Driver trapped as
lorry overturns
by David Skentelbery
A DRIVER was trapped when his articulated lorry overturned on a roundabout at the junction of the A57 Manchester Road, Warrington with the M6.
The lorry – a Royal Mail vehicle carrying a large quantity of mail bags, overturned as it was negotiating the roundabout.
Fire crews raced to the scene and gave first aid to the trapped driver until paramedics arrived. They also removed the lorry’s windscreen to enable the man to be released.
He was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises and back injuries.
In a separate incident early this morning, three heavy lorries collided on the M6 Thelwall Viaduct.
One man suffered back injuries but managed to release himself from his damaged cab.
Firefighters assisted police and ambulance crews in making vehicles safe and clearing wreckage from the motorway.
The incident, on the northbound carriageway, caused long tailbacks of traffic and brought traffic chaos to large areas of Warrington during the morning rush hour.
Now it’s lovely
weather for fleas!
by staff reporter
WHILE most people moan about the wet, warm summer, the heavy atmosphere is just what one species revels in – fleas.
The weather has provided a perfect breeding ground for nature’s pests and encouraged speedy breeding and energetic spreading from pet to person and onwards.
August and September are traditionally the most active time of year for fleas and with reasonable weather prospects being forecast for this month, pet owners need to be extra vigilant in the battle against these bugs.
Joanne Mullally, principal environmental health officer with Warrington Borough Council, said: “We responded to 84 requests for treatment or advice in August where infestations have spread from a pet to the home.
“Pet owners across the borough should check their pets regularly and treat them with a reliable spray, dusting powder or wash. It is also impor
tant to clean the areas where your pet lives and particularly sleeps.”
A flea infestation in the home can be distressing and the transmission of fleas from pet to pet to person can cause additional problems and further infestations, she added. Treatments for the home are free of charge where an infestation exists.
Adult fleas are 1-4 mm in length, brownish in colour, without wings but with powerful legs for jumping. Female fleas can live up to two years and can lay up to 1,000 eggs each.
Fleas tend to live as parasites on animals but as a second choice they will happily move in to carpeting, soft furnishings, cracks and crevices. Larvae live on debris and adult flea droppings, while the adult fleas feed solely on blood.
Although fleas are not thought to transmit any serious illness to humans they can give irritating bites.
To avoid any form of infestations, from 1-1,000, the council’s advice is:
Treatment of pets – pets must be treated with a product approved for veterinary use.
Hygiene – regular cleaning, particularly with a vacuum cleaner, of floors, soft furnishing, pet beds, should help keep on top.
Chemical – the standard treatment for infested premises is the use of an insecticide, such as a powder of liquid spray.
Patience – although new adult fleas may still be emerging from cocoons for up to a month after treatment, there should still be enough insecticide to kill them.
Further information about pest control can be obtained from Environmental Health Customer Care on 01925 442599 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or email [email protected]
