Latest news with #Werrington
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Troubled footy player set to be handed career lifeline after domestic violence charges against him were withdrawn
Taylan May is reportedly on the cusp of being offered a deal to join up with a new NRL club and could return to play over the next month. The 23-year-old former Penrith Panthers player is, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, could resurrect his NRL career with the Wests Tigers. The move would see him join up with his older brother Terrell May. May was indefinitely stood down by Penrith under the NRL's no-fault stand-down policy in May of last year, with the club later announcing that he'd be leaving the side by mutual agreement. His exit came after he had faced serious accusations relating to an incident in April 2024 at a home in Werrington, with May being charged with domestic violence offences. He later pleaded not guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of stalking or intimidation intending to cause fear of harm and two counts of contravening an AVO. The charges were later withdrawn. Peter V'landys later confirmed that May could return to play following the dismissal of the charges but the former Penrith player, who made his debut in 2021, delayed any such comeback. The winger had checked into a mental health clinic earlier this year to focus on his well-being. In May, he broke his silence on admitting himself to the facility to Channel 9, stating that he felt like he was 'a whole different person now.' He also added that he could play as early as 'next week', dismissing claims that he would not be a risk to other clubs in the NRL. Now, The Sydney Morning Herald writes that the winger 'underwent a medical exam' at the Tigers on monday. The rugby league player is also understood to have snubbed a train-and-trial offer from the Rabbitohs having visited the club two weeks ago. However, the outlet adds that sources close to the deal say the footy player was drawn to the prospect of playing alongside his older brother Terrell at the Tigers. It comes as Sam Burgess had also reportedly attempted to coax May to join Super League club Warrington. But the former Penrith player has made it clear that he is set on staying in Australia so that he can play alongside his brother. 'I'll just put it out there, I honestly wanna play with my brother,' he recently told Channel 9. 'He has spoken about that in the media and it will be a dream come true, not just for us but for my family. Playing with him would light a bigger fire inside me.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Prison officers at youth jails 'warned to NOT take TVs away from disruptive teenagers'
Wardens are having to give back TVs they have confiscated from teens for violence or bad behaviour in a 'decency' drive. Officers in youth jails have been left stunned by the instruction - which sees sets returned to lags, including rapists and murderers. An email from the governor of Fetham Young Offenders Institution, in west London, told staff the removal could lead to 'frustration' among the teenagers. In the year up to March 2024 the facility saw 410 violent incidents - a rate of 488 incidents per 100 children. It is considered to be the most violent in England and Wales, with authorities finding 343 weapons in a year - nearly one a day. A source said confiscating TVs is one of the only ways to punish young offenders. 'Now we have been told we can't take them away even if they assault us. Predictably, since the boys have found out, this the place has gone wild,' a source told The Sun. The order is also reported to be being rolled out at institutions in Werrington in Staffordshire, Wetherby in West Yorkshire and Bridgend in South Wales. Just last month justice secretay Shabana Mahmood authorised the use of pepper spray at young offender institutions at Feltham, Werrington and Wetherby. 'If a TV is to be considered for removal, a case will need to be raised to the Deputy Governor,' the email said, as seen by The Sun. 'Leaving boys without a TV is one of the sources of frustration that leads to instability - so will help to drive to safety through decency.' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told the newspaper: 'Staff cannot remove TVs, but they are encouraged to look at other options.' Last year Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor painted a disturbing picture of conditions inside Feltham A young offender institution (YOI), describing a volatile environment where children aged between 15 and 18 play 'the big man' and have to be kept apart. Housing 84 boys inside a run-down, poorly-insulated building that suffers from frequent leaks, the facility saw a spree of violent incidents in the year to March. Figures suggest six times more violence at the west London site than at HMP Bedford - one of the most violent adult prisons - where a recent inspection found the rate of violence was calculated at 80.6 incidents per 100 prisoners. Over last summer the level of disorder reached such a level that dogs were introduced to Feltham to keep order. One person assaulted 38 members of staff in seven months, according to a separate report published in August 2023. Mr Taylor, who visited in March, said he was 'very concerned' by how the prison had 'deteriorated' since his last inspection, although he praised staff who had 'managed to maintain impressively positive and supportive relationships' with inmates 'despite the violence around them'. A source with knowledge of the jail told MailOnline at the time that Feltham was particularly at risk from violence because it brought together serious young offenders - often with links to gangs - all in one place. In his inspection Mr Taylor found there more than 260 different instructions to prevent children from mixing. Seven inmates had been separated for more than 50 days, while two of them for more than 100. Mr Taylor warned that rather than being placed in lessons with children who had similar abilities and interests, boys were allocated to classes based on with whom they could mix without fighting. In an interview with BBC Radio London, he said many of these orders were to prevent violent gang disputes. 'The danger is, it feeds the sort of grandiosity that some of these kids might have about themselves that 'I'm the big man and I can't mix with anybody',' he said. His inspectors found high levels of violence and rising self-harm when they visited Feltham A in March 2024. Incidents of disorder had 'tripled' since the last inspection, with the latest report detailing the volatile situation the watchdog found behind bars. There had been a 'dramatic increase' in the number of assaults and serious incidents last summer which led to the education block being shut down for several weeks. Reacting to Mr Taylor's report, Mark Fairhurst, chair of the Prison Officers Association, warned 'a tragedy is on its way' and claimed 'brave staff' had been left with 'zero protection'.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
Fury as prison officers at youth jails told NOT to take TVs away from disruptive teens including murderers and rapists
PRISON officers at youth jails have been told not to take TVs away from disruptive teens including murderers and rapists. A 'decency' drive has even seen them have to return sets confiscated for bad behaviour. 1 Staff say they are stunned by the order, which comes amid soaring levels of violence. An email from a governor at Feltham, West London — found by a watchdog to be Britain's most violent prison — insists: 'If a TV is to be considered for removal, a case will need to be raised to the Deputy Governor. 'Leaving boys without a TV is one of the sources of frustration that leads to instability — so will help to drive to safety through decency. A source said: 'One of the only ways left to punish prisoners is to take their TVs away. 'Now we have been told we can't take them away even if they assault us. Predictably, since the boys have found out, this the place has gone wild.' The move will also apply to institutions at Werrington, Staffs, Wetherby, West Yorks, and Bridgend, South Wales. Last summer PAVA pepper spray was approved 'as a last resort' for use in young offender institutions – where the rate of assaults on staff is 14 times higher than adult prisons. A Ministry of Justice source said: 'Staff cannot remove TVs, but they are encouraged to look at other options.'
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
Legal bid over plans to use pepper spray in young offender institutions
The Government is being threatened with legal action over plans to allow prison officers to use synthetic pepper spray in young offender institutions. Charity Howard League for Penal Reform has sent a letter before claim to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging her to reverse the move set to be rolled out this summer. Pava spray, which is an incapacitant, is due to be made available 'in limited circumstances' to a select number of specialist staff at the three public sector YOIs holding under-18s – YOI Werrington, Wetherby and Feltham A, the Ministry of Justice announced in April. The measure, which seeks to combat rising violence from inmates, was welcomed by union bosses who lobbied for the change for prison officers to be given equipment to protect themselves. The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show rates of assaults on staff in the YOIs are 14 times higher than within adult prisons. But the plan sparked criticism from the Children's Commissioner and the charity, which warned it was 'a serious escalation in the use of force that is permitted against children'. The spray is set to be rolled out for an initial 12 months before it is reviewed by ministers, while each use of the spray will be reviewed by an independent panel. On Tuesday, charity chief executive Andrea Coomber KC said: 'The Howard League has been preparing to take whatever steps necessary to challenge the roll-out of Pava spray to prisons holding children, including potential legal action. 'We know that Pava spray has been used inappropriately in prisons holding adults; to use it on children would be catastrophic. 'Far from keeping children and staff safe, normalising the use of violence in this way risks making conditions even worse for those living and working in prison.' The national charity is concerned there is a lack of research on the use of the spray in custody, and specifically against children, while existing research in relation to adults shows a 'myriad of potential physiological health impacts'. Ms Coomber added: 'Instead of arming staff, the way to reduce violence is to close failing young offender institutions and ensure that children are accommodated in more appropriate settings – such as secure children's homes – where they can be given the care and support they need. Prison is no place for a child.' The pre-action letter sent by lawyers on behalf of Howard League asks for the Justice Secretary to withdraw the decision and respond within 14 days, it said. The campaigners have also launched a crowd fundraiser to help them fund the challenge, which has currently raised more than £10,000. Announcing the roll-out in April, justice minister Sir Nic Dakin said: 'This Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis. The unacceptable levels of violence faced by our brave frontline officers in young offender institutions is yet another symptom of that. 'This is not a decision we have made lightly, but our overarching duty is to keep staff and young people in custody safe. This spray is a vital tool to prevent serious violence, helping staff to focus on rehabilitation as part of our Plan for Change.' The rate of assault incidents on staff last year was 170.0 per 100 children and young people at Feltham, 182.9 per 100 at Werrington, and 167.4 per 100 at Wetherby, Ministry of Justice figures show. The rates are around 14 times the equivalent figure in adult prisons in England and Wales, which was 12.2 per 100.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Two 'unsafe' Peterborough footbridges reopen after repair works
Footbridges that have been shut for more than a year will reopen following repair City Council (PCC) closed three footbridges within Cuckoo's Hollow, in Werrington, over public safety concerns and said they were "at risk of collapse".Members of the public previously expressed disappointment over the lack of consultation about the decision and the impact it would have on week, the local authority said restoration works, costing about £1.2m, had been completed and two of the three bridges would reopen on Friday. Bridges at the reserve were inspected in January last year, and the council found signs of degradation and evidence of water said that three bridges, adjacent to Baron Court, Lakeside and Welbourne, had deteriorated much more quickly than anticipated and posed a risk to public the council said only two unsafe bridges - Baron Court and Lakeside - would be replaced due to a limited council cabinet member for environment and transport, Angus Ellis, previously said the authority prioritised replacing those particular bridges to ensure there was access to the north and south of Cuckoo's Hollow."I am pleased that this work to replace the bridges is being done, it is much needed by residents and visitors to the natural habitat of Cuckoos Hollow," he said. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
