Don't make unnecessary 999 calls say police

Emergency services are pooling their resources in a bid to reduce the amount of unnecessary and inappropriate calls made to the Joint Communication Centre in St Asaph over Christmas.

In addition to the police and fire officers, a paramedic and a mental health worker will be based in the control room over the busiest days to be tactical advisers to the Force Incident Manager.

Supt Alex Goss said: “Traditionally Christmas and New Year are among the busiest times of year for the police, fire and ambulance and we are asking everyone to be mindful before dialling 999.

“This year we will have a multi-agency desk. The additional assistance from the mental health workers will mean we have professional advisors available to us if anyone is threatening harm or at risk they can provide the appropriate advice, thus taking the pressures off police officers.

“78% of the calls into the control room are not crime related. This is a massive drain on resources, so anything that can help to reduce the extra demand is beneficial to the public and the service provided.

"People are always encouraged to use 999 in a genuine emergency and never put themselves at risk.
For those people who do not have an emergency please use the single non-emergency 101 number.

“We don’t want to deter anyone from calling 999, but we want them to think twice before they do.We are asking people to use the system wisely to help ensure a genuine emergency is not missed over the holidays.”

Live web chat is catching on as more and more people use it to talk to North Wales Police.

Since the service was introduced at the beginning of July, over 400 people have used the live web chat facility to report various things to the force.

Live web chat is also now a 24 hour service that allows visitors to the North Wales Police website to communicate with control room staff in real time, via on-screen messages.

Call Centre Manager, Paul Shea said: “With over 400 people using the service since it was introduced in July people are obviously becoming aware that online reporting is a good alternative way of contacting North Wales Police.

“One of its big benefits is that it’s good for the deaf or hard of hearing community, as well as non-English/Welsh speakers who may not feel comfortable speaking to someone.”

The live web chat runs alongside the facility to ‘Report an incident online’, which are different methods of trying to cope with demands, but in an emergency people should always call 999, which runs on a separate system.

The service is intended for non-emergency enquiries, providing quick and positive feedback.

County issues rogue trader warning

Trading Standards officers are urging residents to be aware and to tell the authorities if rogue traders cold call in their area offering to do gardening, tree cutting, tarmacing, roof repairs and general odd jobs.

 

The arrival of poor weather conditions can bring out traders looking for work door to door. 

 

These traders can do a poor job and subsequently charge over the odds for that work, ask for cash and then simply disappear, say officers. 

They are usually untraceable when things go wrong as they give false names, addresses and phone numbers.

 

Denbighshire Trading Standards urge people to be on their guard and to follow these simple steps to avoid being caught out:

 

* Be cautious with anyone who turns up at your door without an appointment.

 

* Ask for identification and get comprehensive contact details. A mobile telephone number is not good enough.
 

*  Always make sure you get a written quote for any work to be carried out including written cancellation rights.

 

* Only pay after the work has been satisfactorily completed

 

* If in doubt, keep them out!

 

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire's Public Protection Manager, said “We are concerned that unscrupulous traders may try and take advantage of people on their own doorstep.

 

"Unfortunately, there are people who prey on the vulnerability of others, don't become a victim of these cowboy con men. If work needs doing then make your own appointments with reputable tradesmen - if you didn't call them then don't use them.

 

"Genuine trades people will welcome you asking for references and identification, check them both carefully."

* Anyone wanting advice on doorstep trading, or to report an incident, can contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language) which gives free, independent and impartial advice on all consumer issues, or the police on 101.  Any person feeling intimidated or threatened by any doorstep seller should shut the door and call the police emergency number 999. 

Operatic sings carols around the town

* Members of Llangollen Operatic Society helped people to get into the seasonal spirit by singing carols around pubs in the town last night (Tuesday). Here, they give voice to another stirring number at the Wynnstay Arms.

Sunday club donates to Llan foodbank

* Sunday club members hand over their donation to Llangollen Foodbank.

Members of Bethel Chapel, Cynwyd's Sunday Club, have donated a large box full of food to Matt's Foodbank, Llangollen, in readiness for Christmas and to finish off their Sunday Club project.

The Sunday Club has been collecting donations for the foodbank at the Cynwyd Shop and Post Office as part of a learning project.

Matt's Foodbank provides emergency food and support for people and families in crisis,and covers communities from Corwen through to Chirk.

It is based at the City Church in Brook Street, Llangollen and is open Mondays and Fridays between 11am and 1pm.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, one of the Sunday Club coordinators, said: "The children have been learning stories from the Bible for some time, and enjoying playing with each other on Sunday mornings in a safe environment.

"But they felt that they should put what they have learnt into practice.

"One Sunday we were learning about Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, and starting discussing the relevance of this to us today, and how we could share more and help others.

"That's when they settled on this project to collect donations for Matt's Foodbank, which also helps our small community.

"The Village Shop and Post Office in Cynwyd also helped out a lot by letting us have our box there for donations."

Recent figures show that dependency on foodbanks is on the rise in Wales.
The charity Trussell Trust, which co-ordinates foodbanks across the UK, say that between April and September 2015 the number of people in Wales to whom they supplied three days' emergency food stood at 39,245.

That's a rise on the previous figure between the same dates last year, when 39,168 people received three days' emergency food.

Matt's Foodbank in Llangollen is built on simple Christian principles of compassion, honesty, kindness and care of all people.

Others wishing to donate food to Matt's Foodbank can do so at the church itself on Brook Street, Llangollen, or at Canolfan Ni, Corwen.

It would welcome breakfast cereals, biscuits, dried pasta, dried rice, Smash, sugar, tinned fish, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, and tins of soup,beans, spaghetti, fruit, rice pudding, evaporated milk, custard, small jars of coffee, tea and long-life milk.

Be a good Christmas neighbour says county

Denbighshire County Council has issued a Christmas message, urging people to be a good friend or neighbour and look after those people who could otherwise be lonely this festive season.

 

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “With Christmas just around the corner, many of us will be looking forward to spending time with our friends and family, we are busy organising food and presents and enjoying social gatherings.

“Sadly, Christmas is not so good for everyone, it can be a time when we are lonely, perhaps some have suffered sensory loss confining activity, their families may live away, or they may have suffered bereavement, so at this time of year, spare a thought for an older person you know who may be lonely this Christmas – give their door a knock, say hello, or invite them round for a cup of tea or a drink. Little things like these can often make a big difference, can make someone's day.
“For some people, this is what every single day is like, with nothing to do or look forward to. Many organisations, work tirelessly across Wales to tackle loneliness and isolation, organisations like Age Connects, Age Cymru, Red Cross and many others, who deliver essential befriending services that so many older people rely on; The Silver Line in Wales took over 275,000 calls last year from older people who just wanted someone to talk to. The positive impact of services like these is clear: it is estimated, for example, that spending £80 on befriending services could save up to £300 from other budgets by reducing the need for formal, high-level support. 

Councillor Feeley added: “Denbighshire has the second largest population of older people and we are working hard to encourage and support independence, thinking of new and imaginative ways to provide our residents with services to ensure sustainability into the future. Denbighshire's 'Ageing Well' programme has been a catalyst for much of the work, we are encouraging neighbourliness, involving communities and importantly tapping into that wealth of volunteers, who work selflessly to help care for loved ones, support children and grandchildren and sustain charities and communities wherever they can.

“We realise how important it is to have social contact, friends, hobbies, reasons to get up in the morning, it's good to recognise and air these things, and brilliant that so many of us are highlighting, a once taboo subject, and making great strides to tackle the problem head on."

 

Winter's Tales at Methodist Church

United carol service this Sunday

* Llangollen Town Hall: venue for the carol service this Sunday evening.

A united carol service involving churches of different denominations in Llangollen will be held at the Town hall this Sunday evening.

Refreshments will be served from 5pm and the service begins at 6pm.

Musical accompaniment will be provided by Llangollen Silver band.

Organisers say everyone is welcome.