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BBC News
02-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lazonby fire station in Cumbria reopens after blaze
A fire station that was damaged when flames ripped through part of its building has station, which serves on-call firefighters, closed last February following a blaze Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen said on-call firefighters were "vital in keeping our communities safe, especially in counties such as Cumbria where the geography is so vast and rural".At its official reopening a certificate of thanks was presented to local bakery Bells of Lazonby, which allowed Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) to keep their fire engine on its premises during works. The bakery was also given a mounted presentation fire service axe.A spokesperson said it was "always happy to support anything where the community is involved"."It's delightful to see the refurbished station back open," they said. The official reopening was held on Wednesday with fire crews touring the refurbished Coronation medals were also presented to various on-call head of response Brian Massie said it was "essential" to celebrate them."Without our on-call firefighters, CFRS would not be able to deliver the service we do, so I am so thankful to not only the on-call firefighters but also to their families and employers that support them to help keep everyone safe." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Staffordshire firefighter numbers may be cut due to funds
Staffordshire's fire chief has warned the number of firefighters and stations may need to be cut if government funding does not increase. Ben Adams, the county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), said the "unpalatable" option would need to be considered despite a 5.85% rise in what residents pay for the service and £1m worth of savings planned over the next four Adams, who oversees the service's budget, said the tax rise and savings were due to a £1m reduction in government funding and increase in employer National Insurance Home Office has been approached for a comment. Presenting his budget plans to the police, fire and crime panel, Mr Adams said the fire service was not be looking to reduce operational staff to achieve its current savings target, but this could change if funding is further reduced in the government's spending review later this year."Regrettably, having got ourselves into a tremendous position financially compared to a number of other services, having delivered savings of around £1 million in the last two or three years, this settlement from government is poor," the Conservative PFCC extra £1.8m raised by increasing its part of the council tax was "largely going towards keeping the service where it is," Mr Adams added. Cannock councillor David Williams, a panel member, raised concerns about the impact of an increasing number of firefighter retirements and asked why there had not been a long-term plan to safeguard emergency Adams insisted there had been a long-term plan based on expected levels of funding, but that the settlement for 2025/26 had come as a fire service's ability to maintain firefighter numbers in the coming years would depend on the outcome of the spending review, he Adams is also planning to use £2.5m of reserves as part of his medium term budget panel voted to approve the fire precept increase. But acting chair Gill Heesom said members had concerns over staffing levels. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Penrith drug supply crackdown sees seven arrested and one charged
Two misuse of drugs act warrants, seven arrests, nine stop searches and one charge formed part of a day of action in Penrith on Friday (7 February). The Eden Neighbourhood Policing team used local intelligence to carry out two early morning misuse of drugs acts warrants at addresses in Penrith. 20 other addresses were also visited as part of separate arrest enquiries. Officers also carried out nine stop searches, seized drugs and made seven arrests for drug supply offences as a result of enquiries. Kyle Chaloner, aged 46, of Elm Terrace, Penrith, was charged with five offences: possession of a bladed/sharply pointes article in a public place possession of class A drugs being concerned in the supply of class A drugs being concerned in the supply of class B drugs possession with intent to supply class B drugs He appeared Carlisle Magistrates Court on February 10 and has been remanded into custody to next appear at Carlisle Crown Court in March. The day of action forms part of Operation Apache – Eden NPT's response to targeting and disrupting the supply of controlled drugs in the Penrith area. Officers from Eden NPT were assisted by colleagues from Operational Support, Cumbria Police's dogs' section and Cumbria's Community Serious and Organised Crime Unit (CSOC). The warrants were funded by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen as part of the Drugs Fund which comes from orders made at court which puts the funds back into the communities to continue work tackling the supply of drugs. Sergeant Martyn Irving, Eden NPT, said: 'Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team will continue to target those that cause the most harm in our communities and will strive to safeguard the most vulnerable. 'I hope our visibility in Penrith on Friday sends a clear message to any potential offenders that we will not tolerate drug dealing in our communities. 'I would like to take this opportunity to remind residents that information we receive from you is vital. 'Our officers visited 74 premises after this activity to conduct drug activity community appeals. 'If you witness drug supply activity or have information, please report this to us.' READ MORE: Positive step at Carlisle Market Hall as new owners help bring crowd | News and Star Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: 'Drugs and their supply will never be tolerated in Cumbria. 'Drugs cause devastation to families and communities, cause untold damage and area blight. I am, therefore, delighted to see the zero-tolerance approach that the Constabulary are taking to prevent and tackle drug supply activity. 'The funding will help target and tackle the individuals that deal in drugs in Cumbria. 'I, for one, am very happy with that approach. 'Let me be clear, if you deal drugs or are involved in the supply of drugs, you will be caught and punished".
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Essex Police to review PCSO redundancy plan amid £100m funding
A police force might not cut its 99 community officers as planned, after the government announced a £100m investment in Police said on Tuesday it needed to make drastic staffing cuts to mitigate a budget shortfall of £ the government said on Friday it would invest the nine-figure sum into neighbourhood policing teams across England and was not yet known how much Essex Police would receive, but Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst said: "On the back of today's announcement, we will revise our proposals." As well as axing 99 PCSOs, or community support officers, 65 staff roles were also put at risk earlier this who was elected on a Conservative ticket, said the cash injection would "go some way" towards bridging the force's budget followed what he described as "the hardest decision we would ever have to make"."This has been a difficult few days - we recognise the impact our announcement has had on people's lives," he said. PCSOs are paid employees but do not have powers of arrest unless accompanied by a proposed redundancies are subject to thanked the government for listening to his concerns and said work would continue to establish a long-term funding settlement for the force. 'Major turning point' The £100m investment was scheduled for the next financial year, with each force due to set out plans on how they would use it to increase patrols by came after the government announced a separate £100m funding boost for England and Wales in Secretary Yvette Cooper said both investments in neighbourhood policing marked a "major turning point"."We are giving forces across the country what they need to put more officers and PCSOs where they're needed most - on our streets and in our town centres," she added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
