The Carter Review of the UK's prison system has recommended that judges should consider keeping people convicted of minor offences out of jail unless there is enough space for them. Prison overcrowding should be a factor in deciding sentences for offenders and community sentences may be appropriate instead, the Review says. The Home Office has estimated that the population could top 102,000 in the next decade.
Liberal Democrats today announced proposals to get Suffolk to "kick the habit" of using plastic bags and make Suffolk plastic bag free by 2010. In a motion to Suffolk County Council's Full Council meeting on 13th December, Liberal Democrats will propose that the county council takes the lead in persuading both retailers and consumers that Suffolk should be free of plastic bags by 2010.
St Peter's Ward Focus Team is delivering a December Focus to all home in the Ward. A PDF version can be found in the St Peter's 2007 section of the Download area of this site. The main stories are: Zahid Shah's Crime survey report, Zahid Shah deals with abandoned cars, car park Security, West Midlands needs Euro star link, Zahid Shah meets Shadow Home Secretary
The government is to launch its 10-year stroke strategy for England by promising to save thousands of lives.
Children with dyslexia are to receive extra help in some schools in England under a £3m pilot scheme. The government says half of pupils in 10 areas will be given catch-up reading lessons or one-to-one help from dyslexia specialists.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has slammed news revealed on Rochdale Online yesterday that fire crews will no longer answer automatic alarms linking businesses to their station straight away. From this week local fire bosses, suffering from a budget shortfall will ask that staff double check if there is a fire. If they don't, fire bosses will not send any fire engines. They claim that this will save over £2 Million a year in 'false call outs'.