MP sponsors tougher criminal driving law

* Susan Elan Jones MP. 

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones and Wrexham MP Ian Lucas are two of the sponsors of a bill that was presented today in the House of Commons to tighten the law on how the justice system deals with cases of criminal driving. 
The Criminal Driving (Justice for Victims) Bill was proposed by Leeds MP Greg Mullholland.

It follows the launch of a manifesto 'Better Justice for Victims of Criminal Justice and Their Families' (attached) last year by road safety charity Brake, bereaved families and a cross-party group of MPs.


The Bill will seek to increase sentences for those convicted of criminal driving offences that lead to serious injury or death and also get rid of the charge of careless driving. It will also demand improvements to the treatment of the victims of criminal driving offences and their families within the justice system.

Alice Bailey, campaigns and communications officer for national road safety charity, Brake, said: “Too many victims of crashes caused by dangerous drivers are simply not getting justice at the moment. They and their families are often left feeling let down and insulted by the use of inappropriately-termed charges and overly lenient sentences.

"Drivers who have killed while taking illegal risks have too often been labelled ‘careless’ in the eyes of the law, and given insultingly low sentences, when their actions can only be described as dangerous and destructive."

Susan Elan Jones MP, who proposed her own bill in Parliament on sentences for driving offences and campaigns for fairer sentences, said: "As we know from dreadful incidents that have happened on roads in our area and across the country, the law doesn't reflect the seriousness of the crimes committed.

"That's why a growing group of MPs from different political parties are working to put pressure on the Government. We have already seen some improvements in the law, but much more needs to be done. Today's Bill is another important landmark in our campaign."

 

Council tax rise of 1.5% recommended

Members of Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet are to recommend to Full Council that the council tax increase in the county should be kept to 1.5%, one of the lowest increases in the whole of Wales.

 

The Cabinet, meeting at County Hall today (Tuesday) were updated on the latest budget position.

 

The Council has already identified £5. 2 million savings for the 2016/17 financial year and no further cuts are required at this stage.

 

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Assets, said: “The settlement announced by the Welsh Government on 9th of December 2015 was much better than expected with an overall cash reduction of 1.2% to Denbighshire.  The Council had previously been working towards an assumed reduction of 4% in funding (which equates to around £5.6 million).

 

“This now means that the Council is in a position to propose a lower increase in council tax, with some of the benefits of the settlement passed on to the taxpayer.

 

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “Residents have told us that they would like to keep increases as low as possible and we are pleased to be in a position to respond positively to this.

 

“The proposed budget also takes into account an increase in funding to schools to meet the national level of protection and to set aside £480,000 to mitigate the risks to the delivery of this budget.

 

“The Council has worked hard over recent years to be more efficient and effective in the way that it works, whilst identifying cuts that have the lowest possible effect on frontline services provided to the public."

 

The final budget for 2016/17 will be discussed at the Full Council meeting being held at County Hall on Tuesday, January 26 at 10am. 

Warning from police over car key thefts

Police are urging vehicle owners to think about where they keep their car keys following recent ‘car key’ burglaries in Denbighshire and Conwy.

Officers have seen a recent increase of incidents whereby vehicles have been stolen.

While developments in car technology improve, locking devices and sophisticated alarm systems have made it increasingly difficult for offenders to steal vehicles.

These improvements in technology have led to the national emergence of a general trend known as ‘car key crime’ where thieves specifically target car keys to steal vehicles.

PC Stuart Goldsack from the Burglary Team based at St Asaph: “Vehicle owners just need to exercise some caution and think about where they leave their keys.

“The majority of burglaries are opportunistic, with offenders managing to get into homes through insecure doors or windows. These are preventable and I would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to make sure their properties are secure even when they are at home.

“Don’t leave keys by windows or doors where they can easily be reached and always ensure your doors are locked.”

Although the number of offences committed in North Wales is low, North Wales Police are keen to work with car owners to reduce the chance of them becoming a victim. Being aware of how thieves operate, what they are looking for and some basic crime prevention measures can reduce the risk to you.

To minimise the risk of car key burglary:

• Park your vehicle in a secure garage overnight
• On entering the house lock the front door behind you.
• Never leave your car keys near a door or window. Criminals can hook keys through open windows and letterboxes.
• Keep them in a safe place away from doors and windows here they can be seen. People have stolen keys without even entering the premises
• Invest in a good quality home security system.
• Be vigilant & if you see anyone acting suspiciously, walking up driveways and looking through doors and windows, report it to the police.

PC Goldsack added: “If you see anyone acting suspiciously you are advised to call North Wales Police on 101 or in an emergency 999.  If you have any information around Car Key Burglaries you can report anonymously to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.”

Police urge caution after 69 smashes in a day

Police are urging motorists to drive carefully as a huge demand was placed on officers following a series of road traffic collisions today (Monday).

Between 7am and 1pm the North Wales force dealt with 69 reports of collisions across the region and officers are asking the public to be mindful of the weather and road conditions as the cold weather is set to continue.

Superintendent Alex Goss from North Wales Police’s Joint Communications Centre said: “Firstly, I’d like to thank the public for their patience this morning. We experienced a surge in demand into our control room reporting collisions across all six counties.

“As a result of two separate collisions two people have been taken to hospital in Stoke with serious injuries and we wish them a full recovery. Investigations are now ongoing to establish the cause of those separate collisions.

“The cold weather is set to continue so I am urging all motorists to take care on the roads and drive according to the conditions. Please allow extra time for your journeys and keep a check on weather reports for your area.”

Aled Roberts leads Lib Dem election list

Welsh Liberal Democrats have chosen their lead candidates for the North Wales assembly regional list.

It is led by Aled Roberts, current Assembly Member for North Wales and also includes, Victor Babu, Sarah Lesiter-Burgess and Rob Walsh.

Aled Roberts (pictured), who was first elected in 2011, says he believes that North Wales is often neglected by politicians based in Cardiff.

He has campaigned against a 10% increase in Assembly Members’ pay and against fracking.

He has also championed a better-run health service and more investment in North Wales roads and rail, private and public transport.

Before becoming an AM he was Leader of Wrexham Council for six years and a Ponciau councillor for 20 years.

Born and brought up in Rhosllannerchrugog and educated in Wrexham, Mr Roberts gained a law degree from Aberystwyth and initially worked as a solicitor.

In the Assembly he is Shadow Education Minister for the Lib Dems and also speaks on Welsh Language and Older People’s issues for the Party.

He is a leading member of the Assembly’s Public Accounts and Children and Young People Committees.         

Victor Babu is a surgeon working in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and lives with his family in Colwyn Bay.

Sarah Lesiter-Burgess is a mother of three children and a community councillor in Glan Conwy where she lives with her family.

Rob Walsh is a county councillor in Wrexham who last year he won a spectacular victory for the Liberal Democrats in a by-election to become member for the ward of Llay.

Aled Roberts said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats have a strong record of delivery for the people of North Wales.

“The choice for the fourth seat in North Wales is clear: do you want a hard-working Welsh Lib Dem AM fighting for North Wales with a proven track record, or UKIP who have no record for campaigning in North Wales outside election times. You may have forgotten that they have one Member of the European Parliament who is supposed to represent Wales, but we rarely hear from him.

“I’ve spoken to traditional Plaid, Labour and Conservative voters on the doorsteps over the past few months who are lending their second regional list votes to the Welsh Lib Dems to stop UKIP. I’d urge anyone who utterly opposes their views to do the same.”

Methodists enjoy lunch at the White Waters

* Methodist Church members concentrate on naming the flags at their New Year lunch at the White Waters Hotel.

More than 50 members of Llangollen Methodist Church gathered at the White Waters Hotel yesterday (Sunday) for their annual New Year lunch.

After enjoying a buffet meal, they took part in a general knowledge quiz organised by Gill Newbrook and then tackled the poser of putting names to a series of national flags from around Europe.

Public meetings will discuss HSBC branch closures

 

* Simon Baynes, left, with Shaun Roberts at the HSBC branch in Ruabon.  

 

Two public meetings are planned for later this week to discuss the closure of HSBC bank branches in in Chirk and Ruabon - both of which will affect people in Llangollen.  

 

The meetings have been organised by Simon Baynes, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Candidate for Clwyd South.

 

Last week, following the closure announcement, Mr Baynes and a team of local helpers distributed 1,500 copies of a residents’ survey on community banking in Chirk and Ruabon.

 

He says demand for the survey from shops, local businesses and residents was very strong and shows the depth of concern in the communities about the closures.

 

Helped by residents such as Lynne Hughes in Chirk, who has the shop M.G.Hughes Fruit & Veg on Church Street, Mr Baynes has arranged the public meetings, at the Parish Hall, Chirk on Thursday January 14 at 7pm, and at St Mary’s Church and Community Hall in Ruabon on Friday January 15 at 7pm. 

 

Mr Baynes said: "Our residents' survey in Chirk and Ruabon provides an opportunity for the com munity to show how important the banks are to their daily lives.

 

"There was huge demand for the surveys today and local residents, shops and businesses in both communities are very concerned about the banks’ closures.

 

"The surveys come with a Freepost envelope for their return to us and we will communicate the results to HSBC. The survey can also be filled in on my website - http://www.simonbaynes.co.uk/campaigns/hsbc-bank-closures

 

"We are pleased to be working with people locally in both communities in organising these public meetings which will give an opportunity to local residents and businesses to express their worries.

 

"We are inviting HSBC to both meetings and hope that representatives can be present next week or on a future occasion to hear their customers’ concerns, many of whom have been loyal and longstanding clients of the bank."