Monday, February 11, 2019
'Give offenders a second chance', urges police boss
A police chief is urging company bosses in North Wales to follow the example of the Timpson shoe and watch repair chain by giving offenders a second chance.
According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones, (pictured) recruiting people with convictions can have a positive impact on their businesses by giving them access to a new talent pool.
Mr Jones’s comments came during an address to the North Wales Business Club at the Quay Hotel and Spa in Deganwy.
The commissioner pointed to the success of companies like Timpsons who employ ex-offenders and he urged bosses not to adopt a blanket exclusion for people with convictions.
Instead Mr Jones called on them to support the Ban the Box campaign to remove the criminal tick box from application forms and to ask about candidates’ criminal convictions later in the process.
Campaigners have been given renewed hope after a landmark judgement in the Supreme Court which could lead to a review by the Home Office.
The court ruled that the current requirement for all previous convictions to be disclosed, however minor, where the person has more than one conviction, and in the case of any warnings or reprimands issued to young offenders was disproportionate.
The court also ruled that it was in breach of article 8 of human rights laws which entitle people to a private and family life.
The court ruled that the current requirement for all previous convictions to be disclosed, however minor, where the person has more than one conviction, and in the case of any warnings or reprimands issued to young offenders was disproportionate.
The court also ruled that it was in breach of article 8 of human rights laws which entitle people to a private and family life.
Taking a positive approach to employing people with a criminal record would, the commissioner believes, help reduce reoffending which is a key priority in his Police and Crime Plan.
Mr Jones said: “Employers who focus on criminal conviction on their application forms may well be excluding people from jobs that they may be very well qualified and capable of doing, in fact they may be missing out on a talent pool of over 10.5 million people with criminal convictions.
“What I, David Cameron and the charity Unlock are working on for you as potential employers to Ban the Box – remove the criminal record tick box from your application forms and ask about your candidate’s criminal convictions later and avoid the interviewers ‘unconscious bias’.
“Ex-offenders are often rejected for jobs out right because of their past. Of course, I want businesses to know who they are interviewing. But here’s my question, should offenders have to declare it up-front, or might this be done a bit later or before an actual offer of work is made?
“So that is what the Ban the Box is all about – giving your job candidates the opportunity to state their case without the unconscious bias of ticking a previous conviction box influencing your decision.
“Not only will his decision give your business an advantage in a greater pool of employees but it will reduce the pool of disaffected offenders retiring to a life of crime because they are not trusted to turn over a new leaf and given a second chance.
“Many large companies do give offenders a second chance, Boots, Barclays and the Civil Services to be first a few not to mention the creditable work that Timpson have been doing in this area for many years.
“Ban the Box gives people the confidence and motivation to apply for jobs in the first place.
“They know they have a chance because they will be judged on their skills, strength and experience first, rather than their past.
“Businesses can’t afford to ignore the diverse talent of applicants with criminal records. With a job, people become tax-payers rather than burdens on the state.
“Stable, meaningful employment is proven to reduce reoffending, meaning less crime and fewer victims. Everyone’s a winner.”
"We strongly urge the Government to take prompt and considered action on the filtering system, as well as committing to carrying out a fundamental review of the wider criminal records disclosure regime."
"At a time when businesses are struggling to recruit, companies need to make sure they are welcoming a diverse range of applicants.
“Over 11 million people in the UK have a criminal record and I welcome the focus by the Police and Crime Commissioner in North Wales to encourage companies to look at people with convictions as an untapped talent pool that can benefit their business.
“Unlock supports businesses to recruit people with convictions and to deal with criminal records fairly. We have a website for employers and we welcome conversations with individual employers that are keen to explore this further."
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Ponderosa Cafe "due to open again tomorrow"
4.37pm UPDATE:
The Café has posted the following update this afternoon:
The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting on its website this morning (Sunday) that the Ponderosa Café on the Horseshoe Pass has been closed until further notice.
A post on the cafe's Facebook site this morning says:
Ponderosa Café
Good morning everyone,
Again due to circumstances beyond our the control the Cafe will not be open today.
Thank you for all the positive messages we have received from our loyal customers.
...
Thank you for all the positive messages we have received from our loyal customers.
...
Apologies Simon Clemence.
* For the Free Press story, go to:
https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/17422079.popular-ponderosa-cafe-on-horseshoe-pass-closed-until-further-notice/
Call for businesses to help promote the town
Denbighshire town centre businesses are being invited
to take part in a series of videos to promote local shopping.
New object of desire from the Italian romeo
Alfa Romeo Stelvio road test by Steve Rogers
For a youngster
whose wheels were a beat up Renault 8, the Alfasud was motoring heaven . The
way it danced through bends left me gobsmacked and I wanted one.
It never happened
but at least this job has given me nearly 40 years of sampling these Italian
beauties. The designers at Alfa have created gorgeous saloons and hatchbacks
but penning an SUV is a challenge and a half so can the new Stelvio set hearts
racing.
Alfa is virtually
last to the SUV ball but clearly wanted to get it just right. It is built on
the same platform as the glorious Giulia, the most exciting car I drove last
year, and Alfa's engineering supremo Robert Fedeli wanted that saloon's brilliant
dynamics mirrored in Stelvio.
That's a big ask,
almost an impossible one given the high sided body of an SUV, yet the engineers
have made a pretty good fist of it and the designers haven't done a bad job
either.
Well, the front
definitely looks the business but with the famous shield grille and badge how
could they fail to build something stylish around it. The profile is everyday
SUV fair but I like the rounded proportions which flow neatly to the tailgate.
So having succeeded
on design front does Stelvio come up to scratch on driving dynamics?
It ain't no Giulia
that's for sure, but then a BMW X3 is no 3 Series so let's not kid ourselves.
Yet this SUV, which is lighter than some key competitors, will hold its own if
put to the test on a race track (not that I got the chance but I know it would)
thanks to some clever work by Mr Fedeli's team.
The suspension is
stiffer than the Giulia because it has to control the inevitable body roll of a
car that stands tall, so in the main they have risen to the task.
The downside is you
feel every bump and at times the ride can be annoyingly unruly.
There can be no
complaints on performance and in this case it comes from the dreaded diesel. I
don't get the anti diesel hysteria because the engines are cleaner than ever
with lower emissions than petrol engines.
The Stelvio's turbo
charged 4-cylinder 2.2 litre is a beast, flying off the start line, and with so
much mid range torque it is hard not to keep flooring the fast pedal just to
get the thrill, and that's before switching from normal to dynamic setting
which heightens the throttle response and weights up the steering.
Stelvio delivers an
exciting drive mainly because it is rear wheel drive with all the poise and
balance that brings. Four wheel drive only kicks in when the sensors detect
slippery conditions.
It all happens
through an eight speed automatic but it is tempting to go manual using the
oversized steering wheel paddle changes for the hell of it. Great fun.
Some will complain
the paddles are so big they cover the stalks, but they are so nice to touch and
I only changed gear by mistake once when reaching for the stalk to wash the screen!
It has taken Alfa
too long to bring its SUV to the table but the end justifies the means and
Stelvio is a match for similar premium offerings from Jaguar, BMW, Audi and such
like.
Style, performance,
handling, build quality, equipment, safety, they are all there. Alfa has been
on a roll for a while with some great cars so Stelvio ought to rack up some
decent numbers.
PS: This car is too
good to turn your back on so if a diesel Stelvio is a no-no then look out the turbo
charged 2-litre petrol. It will prove a very spicey alternative.
Stelvio Q4 AWD
Super
£38,490
2.2 turbo diesel;
210bhp
0-62mpg 6.6secs;
134mph
58.9mpg combined
127g/km. 1st year
tax £205
Insurance group 31
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Eisteddfod offers volunteering opportunities
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has a number of volunteering opportunities on its Grounds Team.
These are for a Field Warden, Bussing Stewards and Communications volunteers.
Field Warden
The principal role of the Field Warden is to provide immediate help
and support to the wide range of people visiting the Eisteddfod.
From helping
people to find their way around the site to handling lost property, the Field
Wardens are there to help the public enjoy their experience of the Eisteddfod.
In addition, in the event of an emergency, the Field Wardens have a
responsibility to assist and direct the public to safe areas.
Being sought are people who are happy to help and assist others and interact with the
diverse audience attending the Eisteddfod. Most of the time Field Wardens are
up and about the site and so the days are broken up into two-hour shifts and you
can volunteer onto the rota depending on your availability.
An eisteddfod spokesperson said: "This is a new, exciting and enjoyable role and we
are looking to establish a core team of people to take this role forward."
Bussing Stewards
This role is responsible for stewarding school parties on and off
the Eisteddfod field on the Tuesday and Thursday of Eisteddfod week and on
additional days if required. It involves meeting and greeting the school
parties on the coach park and directing them up and onto the field. On
departure, the bussing stewards escort them safely from the field to their
coach. Shifts are: 8.15 am to 11 am and 1.15pm to 3.30pm.
Communications Volunteers
Communications volunteers are a vital part of the Eisteddfod. They
provide essential communication support to ensure the smooth running of the
event, passing key information across the various committees to keep the music
flowing and liaising with the emergency services in the event of minor/ major
incidents and accidents.
Commitment varies, but it would be usual for a volunteer to offer around 10
hours over the course of the six-day event, in the form of two-five hour sessions in
the Grounds Communications Radio Centre which operates from 8am to around 11pm
daily. Training will be provided on the job whilst assisting an experienced
communications volunteer.
Typical tasks include:
* Working within the communication protocols to ensure the right people get the right information at the right time.
* Receiving, recording and passing of messages to the relevant person(s). Either via the telephone network or monitoring the two-way radio base station.
* Issuing and logging radio allocations, and maintaining charged battery supplies.
* Working within the communication protocols to ensure the right people get the right information at the right time.
* Receiving, recording and passing of messages to the relevant person(s). Either via the telephone network or monitoring the two-way radio base station.
* Issuing and logging radio allocations, and maintaining charged battery supplies.
* If you are interested in the above roles or know someone who would
be, please complete the volunteer
application form here or for more information, contact Mikala Nash
on info@llangollen.net
Friday, February 8, 2019
Details announced for Malcolm Twigg's funeral
Details have been announced by his family for the funeral of well-known Llangollen resident Malcolm Twigg who died recently.
It is to take place at 1.30pm next Thursday, February 14, at Pentrebychan Crematorium.
His family have said that any musicians or singers are welcome to bring instruments to the Hand Hotel later that afternoon, from 2pm, should anyone wish to play or sing in memory of Malcolm who was a prominent member of Llangollen Male Voice Choir which was based there.
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