Latest news with #Northumbria
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
West Cumbrian mental health facility should be fully open by autumn
A NEW west Cumbrian mental health facility should be fully open by the autumn this year at the latest according to health chiefs. Members of Cumberland Council's health overview and scrutiny committee were given an update from Cumbria, Northumbria, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust at Allerdale House in Workington on Thursday (July 17). Ramona Duguid, the trust's chief operating officer, told members extensive arrangements were in place at Hope Haven, in Whitehaven, and it was hoped that the main building fully open and operational by September or October at the latest. She said that recovery and well-being drop-in sessions had been established and added that they had a 'huge impact on access to services'. Ms Duguid suggested that they could bring back a progress report to the committee in six to 12 months. James Duncan, the trust's chief executive, stressed that it was not a pilot scheme and added: 'This is something that will be sustained.' The report states: 'By the end of July Everyturn will be operating our Virtual Safe Haven Offer, telephone and online support. 'We will also be going live with our 'team of the day' which consists of staff from each of the partners CNTW, Home Group, Everyturn, The Well, Cumbria Health and iCan along with peer support being available to support all new referrals and wrap around existing service users who require immediate crisis support. 'The four short stay beds which will provide a robust alternative to admission will open at the beginning of August 2025. They will have 24/7 staff support from Home Group and Intensive Home-Based Treatment from the CNTW crisis team. 'The team will continue to work closely with the CNTW inpatient bed management team and also Lowther Street crisis beds to ensure the most appropriate bed is used to meet the individual needs.' According to the report there is also a Hope Haven on Wheels initiative which currently focusses on rural isolated areas within Copeland. The report states: 'This is a 15-week rolling programme which has reached into four areas of Copeland thus far with rural community venues booked and scheduled until October. 'iCan Wellbeing Group is working in collaboration with system partners to co-work/co-deliver sessions, as recruited staff come into post, Everyturn and Cumbria Health have joined thus far.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Councillors could have given support over proposed ward closure
COUNCILLORS could have offered support over the proposed closure of a west Cumbrian hospital ward if they had been 'kept in the loop', it has been claimed. Members of Cumberland Council's health overview and scrutiny committee were given a progress report from Cumbria, Northumbria, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust at Allerdale House in Workington on Thursday (July 18). In October 2024 it was reported that North-East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) announced that it was considering closing an adult mental health ward. Yewdale Ward, part of West Cumberland Hospital, was deemed too isolated from other mental health services and no longer fit for purpose, as it was a mixed sex ward. Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) said the matter was brought before scrutiny too late and it would have been better if they had been 'kept in the loop' sooner. She added: 'I feel very sad about this and the community feels sad about this.' She said she hoped the situation worked out for the best but added: 'Because I will coming back to you.' Ramona Duguid, the chief operating officer with the trust, said there had not been a focus on mental health or disabilities and added: 'We do need to change that. We want to work together.' Councillor Martin Harris (Dearham and Broughton, Labour) asked what demand there was on the service and James Duncan, the trust's chief executive, it was 16 at any one time and it had remained constant over the years. He said that, if it was created as two wards, with eight male beds and eight female beds, it would be too difficult to staff. Councillor Jeanette Forster (Hillcrest and Hensingham, Labour) said she was not convinced by the new Hope Haven facility, which is due to open later this year, but accepted that Yewdale was not fit for purpose. She added: 'We will just have to go with it and see how it pans out.' Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) said lessons had to be learned from what had happened but added that they would support the trust. Cllr McCarron-Holmes proposed that they write to the ICB highlighting that they were not involved sooner and the whole process could have been handled better. Councillor Helen Davison (Belah, Green Party) said it should be formalised with a letter and there should be proper engagement 'right from the start'. When it was put to the vote members agreed that they should write a letter to the ICB raising their concerns. According to the report in January 2025 the trust updated the committee on the position and next steps in relation to changes to service provision in west Cumbria. This included the development and investment in community and crisis services, Hope Haven, as well as the proposed changes to adult inpatient care, which had been subject to public engagement since November 2024. In April 2025 the board of directors reviewed the final Strategic Case for Change and: Approved that the engagement process completed on the proposals has been robust with the local community and staff; Agreed the case for change proposal for the re-provision of services from Yewdale Ward to Carlton Clinic in Carlisle; Agreed that further consultation on the proposals was not required.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Orgreave papers destroyed by police thought to include report on notorious truncheon beating
Documents destroyed by police relating to operations at Orgreave during the miners' strike in 1984 are believed to include a report on a notorious incident in which an officer beat a man over the head with a truncheon. In the ITV News at 10 report on the violent scenes at Orgreave, the officer, PC Martin of Northumbria police, was seen hitting the miner, Russell Broomhead, several times with his truncheon. Northumbria police have been widely criticised since confirming that in April last year they destroyed two boxes of documents relating to the strike and the Orgreave operation. That was just months before a general election that the Labour party, which had a longstanding pledge to hold an inquiry into what happened at Orgreave, was expected to win. The timing led to accusations that the force had destroyed the documents to avoid scrutiny of its officers' actions. At the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984 an estimated 8,000 miners assembled for a mass picket called by the National Union of Mineworkers, met by 4,500 police officers from forces nationwide, led by South Yorkshire police. The violence that took place, with police charging on horseback and hitting miners with truncheons, is remembered as a landmark confrontation of the bitter 1984-85 strike. A criminal prosecution of 95 miners for riot and unlawful assembly collapsed a year later after the miners' barristers repeatedly accused police officers of lying and malpractice. The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) has for years called for an inquiry into the police operation and the failed prosecutions. Northumbria police previously confirmed that they held documents relevant to the policing at Orgreave, including a report by a superintendent who was the liaison officer for 92 officers sent to South Yorkshire. In 2016 Northumbria's then chief constable, Steve Ashman, wrote to Yvette Cooper, then the chair of the home affairs select committee, explaining that the superintendent's report detailed an incident involving a police constable. 'This officer was believed to have been involved in striking a 'picket' with his truncheon,' Ashman wrote. 'This incident is identified as been [sic] the subject of television news reporting … the superintendent's report details how [the PC] was 'reported' for the offence of assault to the director of public prosecutions (DPP). The report further outlines that the DPP subsequently decided there would be no criminal prosecution in the case.' Joe Diviney, a historian at the University of Sheffield who is researching a PhD on the Orgreave events, pointed out that this appeared clearly to be the PC Martin incident. Martin was identified, including in police documents, as the officer who struck Broomhead, and a report was sent to the DPP who decided, on the same day Martin was interviewed, not to bring charges. During an interview under caution, Martin denied wrongdoing, and said of the Orgreave policing: 'It's not a case of me going off half cock. The senior officers, supers and chief supers were there and getting stuck in too – they were encouraging the lads and I think their attitude to the situation affected what we all did.' Broomhead told the Guardian: 'I would still like truth and accountability for what happened. If something is wrong, it stays wrong. I never knew in all these years that a superintendent had written a report on the incident that involved me. It's unbelievable that the police can throw that document away, without asking me and people it affects.' Kate Flannery, secretary of the OTJC, said: 'It now seems highly likely that one of the documents destroyed by Northumbria police could relate to the PC Martin attack. Any destruction of important information relating to violent police attacks on striking miners means that crucial evidence is no longer available to an Orgreave inquiry. 'This all adds to the many concerns we have about police cover-ups and justice being denied.' A Northumbria police spokesperson said last month that the documents had been 'disposed of … in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018'. After criticism, including by the Labour MP Ian Lavery, the force has since said it is investigating its own decision-making. 'We very much recognise the strength of feeling and concern within our communities at the disposal of information relating to the miners' strike,' a spokesperson said. 'We can confirm, we are carrying out an investigation into the circumstances around the disposal of the material.' The Archives and Records Association is calling for police documents to be preserved by law. The association's chair, Ruth MacLeod, said: 'Many people have no idea that police records, which are important for accountability, can be so easily destroyed. There needs to be legislation to protect them, and prevent the kind of destruction that has happened in Northumbria.'
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Pride rainbows taken off police cars after court ruling
A police force has agreed to remove all Pride rainbows and transgender livery from its vehicles following a landmark High Court ruling. Northumbria Police has also told its officers and staff they cannot attend a Gay Pride march in uniform this weekend, in a move that could set a precedent for other forces. Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine ordered the removal of all diversity-based symbols from police cars and vans after a judge rebuked her force over its lack of impartiality. Northumbria was taken to court by a gender-critical lesbian who said it was wrong for officers to take part in events that promoted gender ideology. Now, in a letter seen by the Telegraph, the force has confirmed it is withdrawing all visible support for this year's Northern Pride. Going even further, Ms Jardine, who is LGBT+ communities lead for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), said all of Northumbria's police vehicles would have Pride livery removed. The letter stated: 'This work has commenced but may take a short amount of time. No vehicle carrying Pride, Progress and/or transgender colours and/or insignia will be deployed at the Northern Pride march and there are currently no vehicles with this livery deployed operationally.' The letter made clear that officers and staff would not be allowed to attend the march wearing uniform or anything else that identifies them as being associated with Northumbria Police. In addition the letter stated that while there would be a police stall at the event, there would be 'no Pride, Progress or transgender colours/insignia on display'. It is not clear whether Ms Jardine's approach will now be mirrored by other forces, but her role in the NPCC means her position is likely to carry some weight. The move comes after Linzi Smith, 34, a gender-critical lesbian from Newcastle, brought a case against Northumbria Constabulary, arguing that it had been wrong to allow uniformed officers to actively participate in an event that promoted gender ideology and was supported by transgender activists. In his ruling, the judge, Mr Justice Linden, said it was important that police forces were not perceived as taking sides in contentious social debates. He said: 'The fact that the officers had publicly stated their support for transgender rights by taking part in the 2024 march would be likely to give the impression that they may not deal with the matter fairly and impartially.' The judge was clear that his comments were only a reflection on the force's conduct during last year's march and it was unclear what Northumbria Police's approach would be for this year's event, which is due to take place in Newcastle on Saturday. The founder of Fair Cop, an organisation which was set up to remove politics from policing and supported the legal challenge, welcomed the move and said hopefully other forces would now follow. Harry Miller said: 'There was never any place for contested livery on a police van, and we are relieved that the Chief Constable has finally seen sense. 'The message it gave was stark, brutal and overtly political: comply, shut up, or risk facing the consequences. 'A healthy democracy requires rigorous debate, and a police force which remains unstintingly vanilla. Our hope is that chief officers throughout the UK will take note of the positive action by Vanessa Jardine and follow suit.' Following the High Court ruling, Gavin Stephens, chairman of the NPCC, said forces were working through the details of this judgment. He added: 'We are also working with the College of Policing on broader guidance which will help local forces make decisions around participation in events to maintain their impartiality. 'Policing values all our communities and will continue to police in a way that aims to build trust and confidence, including among those who have less confidence in our service. 'This is the cornerstone of good policing and especially neighbourhood policing. Our desire to ensure we recognise and provide good policing for all communities will remain unchanged.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Northumbria Police bans uniformed officers from Newcastle Pride
A police force has banned uniformed officers from taking part in a Pride march after a High Court judge ruled its past participation was Police has told on-duty officers they cannot take part in Newcastle Pride, while off-duty officers will no longer be allowed to wear clothing which identifies them as members of the force during the the force said it would continue to run a community stall at the event, which begins on Police said it believed there was a "legitimate policing purpose" for its engagement at the event as long as it did not "show support" for any political agenda. "We feel the complete withdrawal of Northumbria Police engagement from such events would be a retrograde step and damage trust and confidence amongst members of LGBTQ+ community," a spokesperson force said its attendance at events such as Pride allowed it to build trust among minority communities, provide advice about its response to homophobic and transphobic hate crime, and promote recruitment opportunities. New Pride policy During the judicial review, Northumbria Police said it planned to scale back its involvement in Newcastle Pride this year, but had planned to allow off-duty officers to wear a T-shirts which identified them as members of The National LGBT+ Police Smith, the claimant in the initial legal case, threatened the force with further legal action if it did not cancel its plans. The force has now issued new rules which state on-duty officers and staff will only be permitted at the Pride march as part of an "official policing response" and must be in officers are allowed to attend, but must not be identifiable as a police officer or member of staff. Under the new policy, they must not wear clothing, carry flags or use accessories which link them to the police or express support for political aims or opposition to other lawful views. Ms Smith, a lesbian who describes herself as having "gender critical" views, argued during the judicial review the force would not have been able to remain impartial if a dispute between those with similar beliefs and transgender rights supporters had broken out."The impartiality of the police is vital in ensuring these events can take place in a way that does not restrict free speech," she said."My hope is my case will have brought the Northumbria Police and other forces back to their core responsibility of policing without fear or favour." The LGB Alliance, a charity which supports lesbians, gay and bisexual people who do not wish the category of "sex" to be replaced by "gender identity" in law, welcomed the force's change in policy. The charity's CEO, Kate Barker, said: "We will continue this work until the UK's remaining 42 forces follow the lead of their colleagues in Northumbria, and stop endorsing a movement they do not understand." Ste Dunn, the director of Northern Pride, which runs the Newcastle event, said he was "very disappointed" by the High Court's judgement."We are today even more saddened to hear that Northumbria Police have made the decision to withdraw from the march tomorrow," he said. "Whilst we understand there are ongoing challenges and opposing views associated with police presence and participation in Pride, we believe it's deeply important the police are present at Pride festivals."As well as acknowledging those working in the police force who were part of the community, it would help officers "listen and learn" from lived experience, he added. Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
