Student Loans the Changes

With recent articles focusing on student loan changes coming into affect you maybe wondering how will this affect you or your children.

The Interest Rates:

If you are in the pre-2012 group the good news is the interest rate and impacts on repayments will not be affected. The post-2012 and the 2023 intakes are affected. Because RPI used in student loan calculations like other, areas of the economy have been affected by inflation. This has caused the RPI to increase from 1.5% for the 2012 intake to 9% plus 3%. Now the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is suggesting a cap to reduce the volatility and to keep the interest rate at a manageable level. Now whilst interest rates for the 2023 intake will gain more protection on interest rate fluctuations the main change is the repayments.

The Winners and Losers:

No the changes in student loan repayments makes it so that graduates are more likely to pay their loans back. If you are a learner who graduated on the old pre-2012 system when you graduate at say 21-22 your debt would wipe after 30 years. Now under the new system you will likely pay this off over 40 years or once you reach your early sixties. Now with the rates being capped those earning high graduate salaries with high predicted salary growth think doctors, lawyers, and those in financial roles will benefit from paying the loan back quicker as they would otherwise be paying more in interest over a longer period. Now fields or professions where you earn a lower threshold you would often benefit from paying less early in your career when you are at or under the repayment threshold which would continue to rise as changes to wage averages. Yet with this being frozen more wages that will have been inflated will creep over the threshold rather than stay at or below the mark. Which means paying the loan back, over a longer duration without realistically ever being predicted enough to pay it off completely.

Repayments:

Now the thing to remember here is not to treat the debt like other debts. Martin Lewis covers this in great detail and has highlighted the numerous problems with framing student debt as debt. Whilst it is important to be aware of it what is more crucial is to think of it in relation to your take home pay. Now Martin uses the example of someone earning £37,295 and gives numerous examples of interest rates but highlights as you only repay 9% of anything above 27,295. So thats 9% of £10,000 or £900 per annum regardless of interest rates you repay the exact same amount. Your take home salary per month with this example is £3,108 with 3% on your pension (£93) £19 HMRC pension, £273 NI and £75 on your student loan. That is just less than a family pizza deal a week over a monthly period. Leaving the student with £2,273 a month take home pay which other expenses and living costs would come out of.

Worth Remembering:

Unlike other “Debts” student loans do not affect your credit score in the UK. They do not continue paying if your situation changes or you lose your job. If you are paying any debt off early unless you are earning a significantly high income you are better to focus paying off mortgages, loans or other debts first. So whilst these changes will have an affect and the new loan system will affect learners it is still not going to act as a barrier to going to university however, do look at degree apprenticeships, traineeships or apprenticeships. Often many of these have many of the benefits of degrees without any direct cost to you. It’s your choice be the best you, you can be.

https://www.savethestudent.org/news/student-loan-repayment-changes.html

https://ifs.org.uk/publications/15953

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fairer-higher-education-system-for-students-and-taxpayers

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tax-calculator/

ULEZ and The Impact on Charities.

Whilst the goal of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone or ULEZ zone was to reduce the level of harmful toxic air within a given area. There has been an unmistaken impact of ULEZ on families financially as well as charities which serve their communities. Now whilst clean air is something that we all want for our families, there are still times where the car is crucial whether it be for key works serving the community.

How Charities Support the Community:

Although the public transport system in London is highly effective it is still unable to meet all the needs of its community and is now spilling over into adverse effects on charities. Providing aid for the most vulnerable in society is something that should be a top priority for any local authority and ensuring that works can be taken with the fewest barriers is essential. Often due to the flexibility and innovation of charities and businesses many in our communities have these needs met not just by the public sector but by the private sector.

The Impact of ULEZ

This is where the ULEZ zone particularly impacts the vulnerable, now although some businesses in London and TFL will be able to update their vehicles to reflect the new policies and therefore reduce their emissions charities and small businesses will not be able to do this. This will effectively add greater costs to these organisations. Organisations like Dogs on the Street who are a small charity which serve the homeless residents of London and their pets are one such organisation offering tailored services that these citizens otherwise would not be able to afford. The charity has bespoke services and have specialist equipment on their vehicles to offer these services to the communities and modernising these vehicles will add significant costs to their operation. To adapt to this change that means the donation and fundraising efforts are going towards paying the ULEZ fees rather than into providing crucial support for the residents and their pets.

Scrappage Program Flaws

So, what about the scrappage scheme now whilst the scrappage program offered grant funding for charities or businesses in order to conform with the new charges before they came in the problem lies with purpose refitted vehicles. Specifically having mobile grooming, veterinary and general care vehicles have additional expenses and whilst the grant would go some way to meet these costs it would barely cover the cost of acquisition of a vehicle, and this would often be of an older used model where the battery will also have shown some wearing unlike traditional fuel vehicles which have a longer service life. This scheme has also been closed to new applicants which limits charities making claims for grant funding where the two-year window may have often not allowed the organisation to raise the necessary funds to replace the fleet of specialist vehicles. This two-year window also came at a time when many of the organisations were working flat out to deal with added pressures of Covid-19.

Actions that can be Taken

Now, myself and other activists are calling on the Mayor of London to look again at how his ULEZ zones are still impacting some of the most vulnerable in his community by increasing the financial burden on charities. That is why we are collectively calling on him to review his ULEZ policy for charities who may have been unable to refit or scrap vehicles under the previous scheme. Reopen the scheme to allow for further funding to support specialist sourcing of new efficient vehicles or to provide exemptions. The support for Dogs On The Street from Neil Garratt and Shaun Bailey has been hugely refreshing to see London Assembly members standing up for this charity and others.

Further Reading

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/scrappage-schemes?cid=scrappage-scheme

https://dogsonthestreets.org/london/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/05/londons-ultra-low-emission-zone-good-or-bad-idea

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/ulez-checker-zone-map-charge-2021-b1944620.html

https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/pollution-and-air-quality/mayors-ultra-low-emission-zone-london

Remember contact your London Assembly members and add pressure onto the Mayor.

https://www.london.gov.uk/people/assembly

Safer Nights Letter

Below is a letter which is laid in order to help promote a safer nights campaign to encourage universities, clubs and bars to take responsibility for safeguarding of students and patrons. Please distribute and edit as much as you feel. Be safe.

Dear (insert name of vice chancellor and student union president),

Following the news of a rising cases of victims drinks being spiked. I am sure you can understand my/our concern for my/our safety and security when we should otherwise be enjoying ourselves. I/We want actions to be taken by the university to show solidarity with your students and that you are acknowledging our concerns. I/We seek that you work with bars and clubs in the area to offer further safeguards for students and other patrons to allow us all to continue to feel safe. We want to see tools provided at the cost of the university and bar or clubs which receive considerable money through student custom to offer preventive tools to protect patrons. While collectively we understand that greater action is needed to address this issue a show of action and support for our safety by businesses and universities will ensure we feel safe enjoying the university experience. We also want to see businesses and campuses taking responsibility for campaigns to make sure the premises are safe for its students and patrons. Training staff to recognise signs of drugged behaviours and how to take action in these circumstances. This is something that as an institution with our safeguarding in mind must take action to protect (us your students/ parents of your students/ your supporters/ citizens/ alumni). 

Yours Sincerely, 

…

Protest are they for Change or just Unnecessary Disruption:

The protests:

In the news we have seen an increase in protestors taking direct action on the M25 with the aim to disrupt drivers to garner media attention to influence change. With the aim to improve insulation of Britains instead of warming hearts the disruption caused has left protestors out in the cold. 

Now I am not against protest or the power of the individual as many of our key moments have come from a small number but many methods are flawed. The 3.5% rule as an example is a principle that so long as 3.5% of the population agree with an action engaging this can influence government decisions. Now to put this into a context the insulate britain protests are headed by a small minority numbering at most a hundred from evidence. Extinction rebellion was in the 1000s and in Leicester BLM had 4000 individuals. 

Now 3.5% of UKs population is 2391190 so many of these protests are a long way off of the influential minority. 

So how can you have an impact?

You must take the population with you or offer a sensible alternative. Many individuals of these groups often scoff when people question their actions or intentions telling people to do their own research but this does nothing but forces people away from their cause. Campaigners that share research provide resources and are able to work with other groups are often more anecdotally more successful with their campaigns. Looking at campaigns such as Anatonias Law for care home reform, the moves made my the Pet Theft Reform team, Finns law, Tuks Law as well as larger organisations to influence changes. These campaigns however have benefited from the benefit of research they then add in the emotional component which brings people with them. 

Take some of Insulate Britains own points:

Their targets of getting central government to change insulation when planning is a district or unitary council issue. A points they are raising is about new homes being built to a standard, yet they do not focus on shoddy developers with documented evidence of cut corners on their builds. They have no strategy to inform house buyers of their rights so they can challenge developers or to work with communities to block inadequate development taking place. This however is also difficult to achieve when they have no firm targets to influence house building targets. So why are they not targeting councils to adopt a higher standard of housing or working with HORNET to influence changes to house building’s standards tackling property developers as they did with leaseholds and as they are still working on with Fleecehold properties.

Issues such as fleecehold properties are an issue that planners (civil servants) do not want to tackle pressure on elected officials in the right way would help to lobby for change. Or better yet get involved to influence the change on the doorstep. The second point they are campaigning for is for government to pay for insulation of old homes to be levelled up to a standard, but without a clear standard this will always be difficult. The green grant scheme had this option but wasn’t well adopted and if the government bring it back in as an incentive businesses or suppliers up the cost or it becomes another tax burden. 

The other reason why many have little sympathy for this particular cause however is strategies are already in place to tackle it. There are green grants households can apply for on existing dwellings particularly for the less well off in society. However rather than promote this change and encourage people to take up the scheme by going to the following link: Simple Energy Advice check your eligibility and see if you can get help.

https://carrcenter.hks.harvard.edu/files/cchr/files/CCDP_005.pdf

https://www.ncvo.org.uk/policy-and-research/campaigning-policy

https://rogers-norton.co.uk/homeowners-given-15-years-bring-legal-action-developers-shoddy-workmanship/

https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation/

The case for TB testing review: PR perspective

Whilst so much of the world's attention has been on the crisis in Afghanistan, and rightly so. However, the national case of Geronimo, the alpaca, has continued.

The Story so Far

With the high court denying Helen's appeal for further testing, the case will likely result in the animal's death. When writing this, Geronimo is in the custody of the police and DEFRA awaiting his fate. Following this, a post mortem investigation will then be conducted. Helen is likely to do her independent tests. While many campaigners hope this can still be avoided if the situation cannot change, the results must be clear. DEFRAs vet will take biopsy's of the tissue and various cultures to assess the Geronimos health. This test needs to be done independently as well. Now Geronimo does not have any clinical signs of TB, which are weight loss and respiratory problems. Now visually, TB is challenging to diagnose, which is why a robust testing program is necessary.

The Impact on Testing

With a test for bovine TB essential for keeping cases down and alpaca ownership continuing to rise as more people take to various models of adding these animals onto a farm, testing is crucial. Now with the testing protocols being brought into question at present because of the case of Geronimo, the issue that is likely to happen is one where the voluntary test is proving highly inaccurate when an alternative is available. It will increase owner scrutiny. With the trial being voluntary once owners investigate the testing protocols in greater detail, owners will likely increase scrutiny, which is positive. However, as the trial is mainly voluntary at this point, the reduced confidence in the study would reduce not only the scope but further question its validity, increasing its overall cost and likely incentives offered to ensure necessary subjects are available.

Rounded Testing Regimes

The other element that needs to be considered is, does the current protocol use all of the available science to identify TB accurately. If we add this third test, there is no feasible alternative other than post mortem for further testing. Although we may still see some errors with the three tests, the additional test would increase validity and owner confidence. The likelihood of an animal failing a test due to a false positive across consecutive sampling is extremely unlikely, especially when the test has different approaches and methodologies will reduce the likelihood of farmers and owners going through lengthy appeal processes. 

A further focus

This additional phage test then opens doors further for testing once a valid treatment is available and brings into question the testing of cattle. An additional piece will focus on testing regimes in cattle and current issues or concerns to follow this article up. So what can we do whilst we desperately wait and want this case to end in a positive outcome? We also need to ensure that the focus and scrutiny does not move off of Bovine TB testing. A further change in testing is needed so that those with animals and livestock are not in the situation where the organisations do not fully utilise all the tools there to protect them.

Saving Geronimo

In Summary:

Geronimo was bought by his owner from a bTB negative farm and was imported to the UK by his Owner Helen. Geronimo was tested on a trial testing program by DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) and the BAS (British Alpaca Society). There are multiple elements taking place in this case as it is has received national interest, the personal bond between Geronimo and his owner as well as the validity of the trial.

The Trial of the Enferplex Test:

The problem with the trial. Now the test in itself may have a place in the sector to benefit cattle and alpacas. The issue is that there has been an issue with the test as part of the trial whilst they included various outcomes to rule out particular errors the problem, occurs with the circumstances of Geronimo. Even though he has been isolated and after coming from a TB free county the test conducted is showing a positive result but we should all be aware that this test is only a trial to see if it detects bTB in camelids as it does in cattle as well as the accuracy. The concern would be as with some of the errors currently found with TB testing post mortem is the only conclusive test identifying TB lesions but if Geronimo is healthy this is a senseless waste of life. This also poses a problem for the government and DEFRA as it would be a PR disaster. Now Geronimo has been vaccinated according to his owner which the tests used in the trial Enferplex would not be able to distinguish from him having the disease. This is where the problem lies for a trial the animal should not have been selected to begin with as there is nothing in the protocols to account for this. Now the backup of this type of test is to utilise the much-contested validity of the skin test which is also primarily used in the cattle which in itself has had its sensitivity questioned and found in camelids the accuracy is less than 20%.

Call for the Actiphage Test:

Now a testing method that does not utilise a method for detecting present antibodies and instead identified the presence of the disease itself is a far more sensible solution. The Actiphage test effectively highlights to the tester if the disease is present by giving a clear DNA signature under testing conditions from a blood sample taken from the subject. This would remove the risk that the animal simply has antibodies due to an immune response that has been supported by a vaccine. If the test proves that there is no TB present then what we effectively have is a case for a test that can be used to identify the status of an animal after the introduction of a vaccine. Then if animals test positive under this test they may be vaccinated but could also be reactors as they have the disease present and would effectively be suffering from the disease. This would offer an option to incorporate testing into a vaccine regime for both cattle and camelids as well as a lifeline for Geronimo.

In Conclusion:

The Actiphage test provides a new tool to potentially safeguard vaccinated animals like Geronimo as we move closer to vaccine trials this is invaluable. Whilst also protecting other stock animals as we measure the effectiveness of the test and validity. Geronimo is potentially paving the way to increase the calibre of the testing method applied in the UK and also offer crucial protection from euthanasia which many including myself feel is morally wrong and scientifically dubious without robust testing.

Sources and Further Reading:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9879245/Standoff-Geronimo-continues-alpacas-owner-demands-appropriate-bovine-TB-testing.html

https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/health-welfare/livestock-diseases/bovine-tb/farmers-and-vets-hope-alpaca-case-raises-bovine-tb-awareness

https://tbhub.co.uk/tb-in-non-bovine-animals/camelids/

http://apha.defra.gov.uk/external-operations-admin/library/documents/tuberculosis/TN191.pdf

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-58158054

https://1gov.uk/petition-to-save-condemned-alpaca-geronimo-secures-almost-80000-signatures/

https://www.bas-uk.com/british-alpaca-society-calls-for-urgent-talks-with-defra-amidst-fears-for-the-future-of-voluntary-btb-testing-in-the-uk/

https://tbhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Factsheet_gamma_test_TB_hub.pdf

https://tbhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Phage_factsheet_13.02.2020_TB_hub.pdf

Aus-UK Trade Deal

At a Glance:

On the 17th of June 2021, Australia and the UK signed a historic trade deal. Now both nations are seeking an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA). Now whilst the UK is mainly looking at the FTA as the first step in entering the pacific market, Australia is looking at boosting its ties with the UK consumer market. Whilst the UK will benefit from exports of Whiskey, Cheeses and Cars. Australia benefits from an increase in Agricultural access and industrial products. For countries with broadly similar systems and ways of working, easing restrictions on UK Australian working visas is also a big pull.

The Good:

With over 1.25 million ex-pats living in Australia, a core winner here is the young job seekers, the gap year adventures, and the entrepreneurs. Greater access to both countries education systems, markets and cultures allows for knowledge sharing, growth of existing companies or the formation of new businesses as both countries seek to explore the wealth of development in the tertiary and quaternary sectors. A core focus is how these two island nations can establish conduits of data flow with established protections maintained for both consumers. This presents opportunities for the UK and Australian firms to challenge the might of Silicon Valley. With the greater access, this would provide for a greater prospect for both nations to share both the skills of their respective workforces and provide an opportunity for businesses to flourish. With the UK and Australia already sharing cultural heritage, a free trade agreement would remove red tape to provide essential growth in these emerging sectors. 

The Bad: 

Whereas the deal is primarily heralded as an outstanding achievement and part of Britain reentering the global fray, we also need to recognise its limitations. Now the UK is both known for an exceptional standard of food quality and animal welfare; however, the provision for our farmers is far less robust than other countries. The Australian trade deal for all its benefits for opening up both emerging sectors and new avenues for trade also sees Australia benefit from a new market to sell its livestock and arable produce to now this in itself is not a problem until we address the broader issues. The UK is legislating for greater protection for animals already providing protection in slaughterhouses with CCTV, actively working towards reducing life transport and generally improving welfare standards of stock. The issues from the fact that many in the sector myself included seeing cheap imports as a potential loss leader that UK farmers cannot compete against due to quality or regulatory pressures.  Now, this could be remedied by further intervention from the government to protect the British agriculture trade through additional reinforcement of subsidies which would continue to enable farmers security of revenue so that they can steward the environment. We also have to reflect on the recent pandemic where without these key workers within this sector, UK food prices would have soared, but subsidy should not be the only tool. Subsidy should be a support mechanism for farmers to innovate and explore further opportunities, not as the critical area to ensure their survival which is where in the future we are likely going to need more robust packaging from trends in carbon footprints and welfare standards to the origin of products.

The Ugly:

As with many areas of new policy areas, we are likely to see far further detail in weeks and months to come, and the benefit of this detail may undoubtedly outweigh any cons. However, areas that are already becoming abundantly clear are that any trade deal needs to add value to our stores and the public without costing our domestic sectors. We must recognise that this deal will essentially become the benchmark for future agreements with other countries such as New Zealand and the United States, and the standards we employ need to ensure we can maintain our quality. This is where we need to think about what governments and sectors can do to ensure the British made standard is and Union Jack products are promoted as other countries will be focusing on promoting their products and not seeing our own produce increasingly priced out of the market. Whereas some would certainly and often rightly articulate that the market would be the best moderator to ensure that successful products or produce survive, we need to recognise holistic benefits of what we are trying to achieve and whilst tariff provisions are a solution, they are not a silver bullet. We need to think of what can be done to ensure that we are giving the right information with a greater abundance of produce. Making sure products are more accurately labelled and those items have information consumers care about as we already see levels of information vary based on the intensity of farming or sustainability of materials we need to reflect this on the packaging in the stores. Place of origin is also crucial and must be clear as we are already aware larger producers such as New Zealand Dairy could potentially use the deal to enter the UK milk market and price pinched farmers further out. 

To conclude:

The free trade deal in itself overs various opportunities for a plethora of sectors to benefit from further collaboration with a country we share so much with; however, we need to recognise that the deal must benefit the UK holistically and not sole sectors. Agreements need to ensure various sectors can benefit from these new agreements offering avenues to enrich our great nation and not solely focus on metropolitan sectors to see growth for our country and the success of domestic programs. Part of the levelling up agenda needs to recognise the key industries around our nation and areas where we can grow, not token offers or caveats.

Challenges with EHCPs

What are they?

EHCPs or Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs). While traditional Special Education Needs (SEN) funding is met through national funding provided to schools. EHCPs are legally binding provisions that outline additional funding for learners who need further or specific support to allow them the same opportunities to access the education system and to be able to succeed. 

My Experiences:

Having taught a variety of learners in my time as a lecturer over the last several years, I have recognised the challenges facing the student and their parents who are trying to provide the best opportunities for their child and the difficulties of these EHCPs. The premise of these documents is to increase aspirations and support the learners, but to achieve this, the parents often need a great deal of support and have the correct tools to raise their points in meetings. The problem is two factored here often the parent does not necessarily have all of this knowledge readily available to them. Although support is present and schools or relevant professionals can support them, there is a risk that families are falling through the cracks. I have seen learners who have had their EHCPs lapse who then struggle to get the support put in place midway through the year to allow them to succeed, which causes distress and disruption to the families after the best for their children. The other problem is that the young people, whilst the focus of the meeting may have different views from those supporting them. Hence, it is crucial their aspirations, and their parents are reviewed together but noted as distinctly separate to allow for better reflection. This has been done successfully by independent meetings with the young person with a relevant professional.

Challenges facing SEN families:

Whilst an EHCP is a guidance document for the school or college to provide further support for learners, there have been notable variations across different schools nationally, which will reflect the situation within the county. This variation often is one of the leading reasons parents are dissatisfied with the EHCP and, importantly, is where the conversations need to be open and transparent with what the schools can supply, compared to what the child and parents want (Sales and Vincent, 2018). Research by Sales and Vincent (2018) also pointed out that whilst there are certainly challenges facing learners due to the EHCP elements, further training needs in teaching staff as learners progress further through relevant courses and into work.

What a Good Plan does:

The vast majority of plans offer a tool for young people to engage with their peers and the educational system with the support needed to tackle the different barriers they face. That is why good plans are focused on the aspirations and views of both the family and young person. This gives the schools and providers goals to work towards to identify the strategies to help support the learners transitioning to different levels or goals they are striving towards. The long term focus should always be on allowing them to succeed and bringing career support and the local authority into the discussion. Conversations should be had around what all parties want to achieve. The learner can be supported by identifying barriers that may prevent them from reaching their goal and opportunities for alternative routes or solutions to these challenges. The other important step is the accountability facing the individuals involved in recognising what they are responsible for in the process, allowing them to succeed with the resources they need. In rural villages, whilst SEN, provisions can be provided at schools. Having family hubs where the resources come to the parents and families offering this contact point for the changing needs of the young person and offering the opportunity for consistency of a contact point as they grow into young adults.

What I am calling for:

A review of the process that allows for meetings between learning support, teaching staff and families. Whilst also providing an additional meeting with the individual learner to make the process more inclusive to their targets.

A goal setting plan for the learners is to ensure that the learner’s needs are met, and they are supported to achieve their goals and not just meet their provisions.

Better guidance for Academies, Families, Schools, and Trusts so that the process is easily referenced and supported. Although there is some fantastic support already out there, this must be uniformed and equitable. 

Final Remarks:

The EHCP process and challenges facing our young people were just one of the reasons that brought me into politics. As a teacher, more support is needed for families going through this process. It is my view that this also disproportionately affects those in rural villages, such as those in the Cosford division (Narayan and Patnaik, 2020). So whilst this is a problem I have seen whilst teaching in both urban and rural areas, it is a cause I want to continue to push for improvements in. That is why I am calling for your support on the 6th of May as your Conservative County Council Candidate.

https://www.tes.com/news/everything-you-need-know-about-ehcps

https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/attachemnt/EHCP%20Exemplar%20Guide%202017.pdf

Sales, N. and Vincent, K., 2018. Strengths and limitations of the Education, Health and Care plan process from a range of professional and family perspectives. British Journal of Special Education, [online] 45(1), pp.61-80. Available at: <https://nasenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-8578.12202> [Accessed 25 April 2021].

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/695100/Education_Health_and_Care_plans_-_a_qualitative_investigation.pdf

https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/media/362437/ctc-8-education_healthcareplans.pdf

Narayan, J. and Patnaik, N., 2020. Inclusive and Special Education Services in Rural Settings. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education,.

Resources for families needing support:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/education/extra-help-at-school/england/ehc-assessment

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/pages/category/education-health-and-care-plans

https://www.valuingminds.com/education-health-care-plans-ehcp/

https://www.sen-help.org.uk/the-system/ehc-plans/

Care Homes and Monitoring

Introduction:

Continuing on from my conversation with Tony Stowell the recognition of the service that our care home staff provide to all ranges of residents from the young, the sick or the older individual their dedication has been deeply valued by the communities they work in. However, as I said in the previous article we do not want those who are not showing the strength of character of their peers reflecting purely on the sector.

Monitoring:

In terms of monitoring, both Tony and I spoke at length about the need for monitoring changes to reflect a tougher framework for investigation. We acknowledged that organisations will never be able to address stressors in the sector if they do not see this and the current framework will only put extra pressures on staff. Improving what monitoring and inspections teams are looking for will not address the issue if there are methods in place whereby management can demonstrate one area which may not be the true reflection of the organisation. This would easily be remedied by surprise visits and yes as with any inspection this would cause short term stress but when these visits are known about in advance it places additional pressures on staff and management to meet these needs. The second element needs to ensure that reports point out flaws but give a road map for improvement as with no clear areas for improvement that must be met. Now abstract targets are often difficult for organisations to make changes in, why is this? Because current systems of grading will remove public confidence, reduce funding which increases pressure which then promotes a vicious circle of a challenge for organisations and businesses and impacts the residents and staff the most.

Funding:

Once we solve the funding challenges for a care home we will be able to provide a more suitable method of retaining staff by allowing those within and joining the sector to have a solid and long term prospect of fair employment. That way we can ensure our vulnerable residents are getting the care they deserve and need as well as making sure that staff are provided with the correct resources to be able to do high quality of service for years to come. We want to ensure that the sector is able to deliver this and will do so in a way that allows it to develop into the future. Now part of the solution has to be in ensuring that we use our resources to the best of our ability and we can do this by making sure that as many individuals as possible can get the treatment in the right places and in the right way. This can be at home care where they receive the support of professionals who can either help repurpose the relatives home and offers provisions to ensure that the relatives are able to not only safeguard their family members but make sure that they can maximise their independence. If they are able to have their independence this will reduce the number of individuals in care homes reducing the pressure on the organisations. Thereby having a lower staff to resident ratio which then allows for a more specialised care regardless of the individuals circumstances the reduced financial pressure can also then allow for more training and development of staff. We can do more by restructuring how we see care as a supported service offering reviews of the individual’s profile and looking at what support can be provided to the individual to prevent an escalation of the provisions necessary without solely resulting in increasing the funding. Although as we see a rise in the ageing population we must ensure this sector sees all forms of support and measures established.

Fraud and Scams Continued

This article follows on from Mondays report and addresses five further types of fraud as well as some tips of how to safeguard yourself.

So what are they: Pension, Advance fee , Courier, Safe Account and Invoice Scams.

Pension scams:

Now starting with pension scams these will often begin targeting you after you have reached the age of 55 where scammers will be aiming to take advantage of your pension pot as you begin to think more about your retirement. Now as with other forms of fraud and scams they will try to make the offer too good to be true they will ask you to release either all of your pension or part of your pension to invest in a scheme that is a sure thing. These vary from projects which look good and paper and which may come with detailed research notes. Now alongside the financial information they may try to pass themselves as more legitimate by claiming to be regulated by the FCA or not needing to be. Now as with everything do your research see if the company is regulated and mentioned by other sites which are reputable and not simply promoted by a means that the scammer can use illegitimately such as bot reviews.

Advance Fee:

Advance fee scams can vary from finders fees for a particular product or service where there is a big reward or potential payout for the individual. Sometimes this will be for a competition that the individual has not entered. Or they can be opportunities where the individual can access a pot of money either from a bank account, lottery scheme or government organisation. This hasn’t however stopped criminals impersonating companies such as how you can make money from home with flexible hours or there is a new business opportunity which you can explore. Remember to consult other organisations to make sure that an opportunity which is either too good to be true is genuine or something you need to avoid. If it is a business opportunity make sure that they do not have the markers of being a scam such as they have a full street address not just a mail box. Any business decision outside of a start up which requires you to put money up front without mutual risk or sharing of accounts informations should raise a red flag and something which you should be hesitant of. If it is a high risk venture either in business or for a competition it would also be prudent to get someone with legal knowledge to look at the contract.

Courier Fraud:

Now courier fraud is where a fraudster will impersonate the police or other official. The main aim which they are trying to convince the victim of is that they have evidence of a fraud and they need the victims money to effectively ensure they can secure evidence against a criminal. This can also be capitalised on if it was a well known case that the criminals are going to use and reference and encourage peoples trust because of how the case being documented in the press. Be aware they can do this in person and over the phone. Now be aware that a bank will never ask for your key information such as personal details or pin if this is the case hang up and call your bank back. They can potentially still be on the line and therefore you should either call from an alternative phone or wait for around ten minutes to call your bank. If someone is at your door never give up your debit card the only place this is ever suitable is at the bank.

Safe Account Scam:

Now this can start with a fraudster telling a victim they have won a reward and that they need to confirm their eligibility with full name, address, and bank details. What then can happen is the person is called again and advised they were part of a scam and that they have had money taken from their account. They will do this by falsely acting as a crime agency or the police. They will then ask the victim to transfer money into a safe account so that her savings are not all in one place. Now banks have protocols in place to try to prevent this but this is often only when this is out of character for the individual. Now it is likely fraudsters will reduce the amounts that they try to defraud out of victims to avoid these protocols. Now the protocols may also not kick in before a crime has been committed and the banks although under pressure to change systems to protect victims are still not regulated sufficiently to facilitate this. Therefore it still falls on the victim to place safeguard measures in place over the organisations.

Invoice Fraud:

Now invoice scams involve customer details being obtained following a phishing scam targeted against an employee. Once they gain access to the system they are then able to send emails to the clients with a falsified invoice. Now companies are often quick to both notice these breaches and to act accordingly however this does not mean that the clients data will not have already been used. Regrettably this points to the fact that emails are quickly becoming the effective medium for fraud and any sudden changes need to be treated cautiously and it is always best to contact the organisation directly.

https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart/how-avoid-pension-scams

https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/pension-scams

https://www.stpaulschambers.com/types-of-advance-fee-scams/

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/courier-fraud

https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/money/spending/consumer-rights/scams/what-is-the-courier-fraud-scam

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/06/scammers-pose-as-the-national-crime-agency-to-steal-30000-from-lloyds-customer/

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/email-invoice-scam-is-conning-thousands-in-the-uk_uk_571884d7e4b06e37a847722f

Fraud and Scams

In this article, I want to take you through some of the scams and frauds that are currently taking place across the UK. This article is paired with the video which walks through the different types of frauds and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Today I’ll take you through five different types and Wednesdays article will cover the remaining five common examples.

What types of frauds occur:

Romance, Holiday scams, Ticket, Email (Phishing, vishing and smishing) and investment.

Romance Fraud:

Romance fraud takes on the persona of a man or woman trying to groom the victim who genuinely believes the person on the other side of the account is interested in pursuing a relationship. The fraud comes from them impersonating often a real person using real content stolen from another individual’s social media accounts. These scammers then aim to make money from unsuspecting individuals for various needs of these fake personas. Now, this particular fraud has cost over fifty million and like other frauds is on the increase. How to protect yourself DATES: ensure you Don’t enter into an online relationship without getting to know the person behind the profile and the scammer will try to get you to know to influence you into sending them money by getting to know them this should be a two-way system. You can do this by Analysing their profile does their name come up in social media profiles or any particular red flags that appear such as they repeatedly use common themes. Talk think about whether what they are saying is true or whether they are too good to be true we all have our flaws and this is something that should be evidenced in conversations. Evade scams you should never be pressured to send your money or bank details regardless of whether it is for gifts or to help the individuals out. Stay on the different dating platforms this is more prevalent on social media whether the dating websites securities to identify the individual have not been done. Once you are ready meet them in person. This is also not just a problem that faces men sixty-three percent of Women suffer under romance scams as well.

Holiday Scams:

Holiday scams may increasingly become more of a problem as we look to reopen following lockdowns. So how can you be mindful that you do not get scammed and remember this can be both national and international scams. In terms of holidays whether you are purchasing a holiday home, a holiday or an overnight stay make sure that the prices are not significantly different from competitors this is not to deter you from bargains simply making you are aware to do your due diligence in areas which are significantly cheaper. Using recognised providers this includes new entrants who are competitors in the market provide you with safeguards against disingenuous fraudsters to give you more peace of mind. Whether this is tour operators such as British Airways, or brokers such as Air BnB. Warning signs would be poor spelling and shoddy grammar, incorrect addresses, no security on the website such as privacy policies.

Ticket Scams:

Now Ticket Scams can be broadly similar except they are often advertising for a particular event rather than a trip. This has two areas which are important to avoid supporting ticket touts or scalpers who buy tickets in bulk and stop this type of business which is very often not transferable to other patrons and therefore lines their profit leads events down on audience members and hits attendees hard. The scams can also be fake tickets either for a fake event or fake ticket been resold the best way to prevent this is to buy from the correct providers and ensure that you use more secure payments such as credit cards for an extra safeguard.

Phishing, Vishing and Smishing:

Although this is largely covered by the video to give you a summary of what you are looking for they are largely trying to pass themselves off as official organisations who would normally be in contact with you. Whilst they may well try to use contact you more personally unless your name is out in the media it is unlikely mass scams will try to do this. This is easier to spot when the address contains random letters and numbers in it and again do not click the links go through the traditional webpages available through search engines. Now Vishing when combined with phone number spoofing allows scammers to pretend to be legitimate organisations to either defraud you out of money or access your financial information. This is something that they can do through both in a more threatening manner using the police or prosecution as a threat or whether it be unlocking an account. Now Smishing is broadly similar but uses text messages instead where they will have spoofed your number and are chancing on opportunistically getting you to follow instructions and provide them with your bank details. The best thing to remember here is that banks will want you to call them rather than to put you at greater risk, these organisations will not ask for your personal details over text or send you links remember this and screenshot the message, then delete it and contact your bank or relevant organisation.

Investment Scam:

Now, these groups will have collected your information from lists of shareholders and will be trying to tie you to a deal there and then presenting you with an opportunity that you do not want to miss. Any firm should want you to do your due diligence even if the deal is good and they should have your interest at heart. The contact should not be unsolicited by the organisation it should not be a cold call, they should give you the opportunity to get back in contact with them. The investment is too good to be true.

This will be continued in a subsequent article hopefully this will help someone.

https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2019/10/31/dating-and-romance-fraud-in-the-uk-the-latest-statistics/

https://www.sussex.police.uk/romance-fraud

https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/02/scam-alert-romance-fraud-victims-lose-50m/

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/general-advice/holiday-scams/

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/holiday.html

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/jan/04/holiday-scams-travel-dangers-how-to-avoid-them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AgMY9c2d-0

Care homes and Social Services

An Introduction:

Care homes and social services are a lifeline for many families and vulnerable residents. The care system is facing its fair share of challenges and with an ageing population, this is unlikely to be resolved. The industry like any other has obstacles to overcome and the question I aim to seek the answers to are what these obstacles are and how do we overcome them.

The Challenges:

So first of all what are the challenges facing the care sector; finding staff to fill its vacancies, financial penalties, changes to regulation and increasing care needs.

Antonia’s Law:

What can be done to resolve some of these issues and where are the changes needed most we need to recognise the barriers creating by these challenges and think of workable solutions. On top of this, we do not just have to be made aware of the challenges facing the care system but its residents as well. It is crucial that we take the approach to but resident care and well being at the forefront of any improvements or changes made. It is at this point that I want to address the campaign by Tony Stowell “Antonia’s Law” his campaign has gained so much traction not only because of the abuse it is attempting to curtail. This campaign does not place an additional burden on the institutions with the cost it merely allows families to be able to place additional measures into care home facilities to offer protection for their family this can be nanny cams, additional CCTV provisions or the likes of smart home devices such as google home or Alexa units. This is the least we can do and the nature of the campaign has no consequences for staff unless they are committing abuse of residents as with other areas of the public sector where this could be applied should make the environment safer for staff and residents. It will allow the families to know the challenges befalling the staff looking after their relative which would then allow staff to highlight challenges for them. So why is it necessary we have seen a rise in care home abuse over the past number of years Tony’s own accounts ranged from neglect where residents leave the facility which put them at a greater risk of harm befalling them whether through lack of resources, staff or time. He has also highlighted deliberate abuse in care homes by staff which do not convey the hard work and effort put in by so many staff members they do their sector a disservice. So what signs can you look out for in your relative’s sudden changes or gains in weight, your relative may become reclusive or avoiding social interaction, and is unable to do activities that are related to what they enjoy. Some other clear signs may be a generally unhygienic environment, malnutrition or dehydration and recognisable lack of independent aids provided such as sensory needs, that do not relate to their needs. This is also reflective outside of the care sector in other areas such as education.

The Challenge:

So what factors have added to pressures for the sector now although councils have increased funding for the sector, the level of need for residents is continuing to increase and although the ambition is to allow residents to stay at home for as long as possible this is not always an option. We must ensure that all organisations public or private that are receiving contracts to care for residents or generally serving the community are providing the needed care. Now whilst social care is funded by a council precept the challenge here for residents of care homes and their families is that cost for care homes are also likely to increase as staffing costs grow. Now care homes should not use loopholes in current systems to avoid paying staff full wages for their complete shifts. In the news recently we have seen the employer gain in favour of staff for workers that work overnight shifts. Now in this particular example, it will lend to staff either arguably working a full shift for no pay or to cut the quality of care they provide. This could likely lead to staff leaving the sector to seek better pay conditions. Now the employers are then faced with the challenge to increase bills for relatives or increase the cost for the taxpayer. Now we can ensure that staff are deployed to the areas of greatest need and investing in keeping residents at home for as long as possible to provide them with the comfort of their household will ensure resources can be more sustainably spent. One particular area is technology wearable sensors, activity trackers with features that trigger an alert if activated this is something that is already being invested in and likely will support the sector. With this investment in technology, we can consolidate our resources to work to prevent the level of care needs being necessary at an early stage.

Conclusion:

The issues facing care home staff and residents are an area that we all must safeguard, support and scrutinise. To ensure staff have suitable resources and facilities as well residents get quality care and independence. A follow up piece will be issued with proposed solutions and opportunities for the sector.

https://www.caitlin-morgan.com/the-current-challenges-facing-nursing-homes/

https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/be-aware-of-the-signs-of-abuse-and-neglect-in-adult-care-homes-says-nice

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/council-and-democracy/our-aims-and-transformation-programmes/suffolk-county-council-business-plan-2021-2022.pdf

https://www.accessandmobilityprofessional.com/tech-to-revolutionise-new-normal-of-social-care/

http://www.iproscube.com/images/pdf/Tackling_the_Challenges_Facing_Care_Homes_Release.pdf

https://www.dlapiper.com/en/uk/insights/publications/2017/02/an-age-old-problem-the-collapse-of-care-homes/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/care-sector-challenges-covid-19-oecd-report/

https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/141504509/NOP_Care_Home_Challenges_Context_Accepted_Manuscipt.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgNDNg-0iZg video following conversations with Tony Stowell.

Community Activism: My Thoughts and Perspectives

We have arguably never seen a greater call for volunteer support of community initiatives during this pandemic. We have seen countless people from a range of walks of life help their community out. They have contributed to the efforts against the coronavirus by helping man the test and trace centres and answering the call to jab back to normal. With the added pressure that these projects would have had on the front line national health service, we likely would not have seen such a successful role out. Now the altruism shown by these individuals is both something that should be hugely admired and appreciated. This has also shown us the strength of our communities. These volunteers underwent training programs and joined the front line alongside other key workers, our health care staff, teachers, police, firefighters, and the various other professions that have worked through the pandemic. Over the weekend, I was reminded again of the importance of activism within our local community. In this article, I want to highlight why we must celebrate the communities we build, whether online social networks, local groups and projects, or acts of individual activism.

Now, litter picks have been able to continue due to the ability to socially distance yet still achieve the group’s goals. We, as volunteers, were suitably guided through the event we arrived at Hitcham Village Hall car park. We then selected our routes around the village and were given our equipment so that the small group of around a dozen volunteers could cover the village itself and then return to the Village Hall following the hours’ activity. My route paralleled other volunteers alongside the community play area and finishing at the parish church. Many of us easily fill a bag load of rubbish with discarded items that had drifted into hedgerows off the footpath and roads. When I met up with fellow volunteers, the largest item we encountered was parts left over from a damaged car and discarded traffic cones. The general openness and pride that these volunteers had in their local area were echoed in new and established residents I was happy to do my small bit to contribute.

This wants to contribute lead to my reason to get into the educational sector prompting me to help the next generation of young people in the land-based field to not only grow but to develop within their local areas. I noticed through my years of teaching that whilst in my day job I was helping the next generation take their next steps in their careers the current processes that were in place were the same ones that I had dealt with when I was moving into higher education. Being the first member of my household to go to university my parents did not have all the answers and the schools had more general advice and this started me thinking about what more could be done. I set up a small group to support graduates and offer advice to college students sharing jobs in the local economy as well as informing them about internships and scholarships. This was because in my experience the reason many applicants are not aware of these resources is because of a lack of information whether that is about additional opportunities or more general knowledge about the next steps after their compulsory education ends. Now, whilst this group could solve some of the problems I became aware of other impacts such as learners leaving Suffolk to pursue careers and study away from the county as well as making sure that the strong support systems which were in place for learners were actually getting to those that were needed. This I could not resolve solely as a teacher as it involved working with various stakeholders from across different industries and specialisms now it has always been my view that you build progress through hard work and opportunity. This drew me to stand for the County Council so I could not only work to continue to improve our educational sector but also ensure that our communities grow with the next generation and are not left behind. I was proud to be selected to stand as the Conservative Candidate for Cosford as the rural communities that have such a significant heritage and sense of belonging deserve a candidate who will make sure that our community has the tools to succeed at whatever stage of life they are. My commitment to you is to build on the strong community spirit and pride in Cosford’s heritage. This is something at the heart of the Conservative Manifesto which is our promise to you to build back, stronger, better, and greener. So on the 6th of May, I ask that you vote to elect me, Jordon Millward as your County Councillor.

Fly Tipping and Litter

Now an area of Rural Crime is very important to residents as well as impactful on the local environment. Now firstly whilst we all know what littering is Fly Tipping, now this is the illegal dumping of waste on a given location.

One impact which we have to address is where the waste is dumped now whilst police forces including those in Suffolk are working to reduce the crimes they cannot be everywhere at all times. Often when they are alerted to a site they are able to put measures in place to reduce the return of Tippers however, this often causes them to simply find another site. It is also relevant to mention that unlike incidents tipped on public land the farmers often will be responsible for the cleanup. Now in conversation with my colleagues in the sector, this often causes unnecessary cost and can impact livestock, machinery or crops which has unintended consequences as the farmer will both have to cover any damages, clean up the site correctly and protect their site. These cases are also not just small scale occurrences one of the largest Tyre dumps with five hundred tyres have been dumped on a Suffolk. Now, this was committed on a farm between Monks Eleigh and Milden, not through small cars dumping goods but an opportunistic HGV that was spotted. The distress and financial pressure which this likely brought to the farmer who would be saddled with the bill are fundamentally unfair and justice needs to be served by those who committed the offence. In terms of the statistics, Suffolk was at three thousand and eighty incidents which dropped slightly to three thousand and twenty-three. Two hundred and thirty-five of these are in Barbergh the figures are not calculated yearly by region but the district council is investigating the level of industrial waste which has been dropped over the recent lockdown.

What are the laws and whose duty does it fall on, firstly nationally it is the responsibility of the environment agency to work to resolve this particular rural crime. Legally they can be fined up to £50,000 however, this is the maximum, not the average amount fined. From my conversation with Tim Passmore, we mutually agreed that sequestering the assets of the individual or group involved is also something that must be done this is linked to the Magistrates Court system. Whereas the Crown Court has unlimited fines and a five-year prison sentence. Again these are up to five years or an unlimited fine the selection of which court depends on the severity of the crime and is largely dependent on contributory factors such as damages to land or property. Now although the EA has a focus on protecting the environment management of these space falls to your county and district councils in Babergh. Now whilst the council has to move dangerous debris and litter from roads or public spaces where they pose a danger litter on private land is the responsibility regrettably of the landowner (the UK Rules, 2021). Now my concern here is for those on private land who are often saddled with both the legal necessity that they have to clear the rubbish otherwise risking further fines. This can often be because of the nature of the rubbish and its effect on the land as well as those surrounding the dumpsite. I stand by calls by councils that further cost should not be imposed on the landowner by making it free for them to dispose of the waste for no cost. This is something that is already being called for by East Suffolk I believe this should be adopted by all Suffolk Councils.

The information that you need for relevance is the time when you have seen the incident and the date that you have seen it if you have seen them dump the rubbish. Descriptions of the individual and of the vehicle try to get make, model, and licence plate. Identify what the rubbish is and if there was anything specific about the site such as if rubbish was there before finally take as many photos or videos as you can. Also do not at any point confront them or examine the waste leave the seen undisturbed. Now in the public sector, this can also directly impact those who use the streets, roads, highways and our local green spaces. We need to do our best to ensure that we do not contribute we can also get involved with local activism to clean up our green spaces. Whilst councillors should continue to ensure that our highways team are able to keep our roads clean and safeguard our green spaces.

Now, what methods are being practiced around the UK to deter fly-tipping and littering. The police forces in Suffolk and nationally will try to use surveillance systems to ensure that we can have a notable reduction in waste dumping. However, this relies on either mobile surveillance sites or fixed cameras that have a cost limitation. Some methods which have had some impact is arguably the same method we use in honesty boxes for fruit and vege stalls or for eggs in our rural areas. The science indicates that if we place eyes or pictures of eyes above the at-risk areas they arguably reduce the spread of litter in these areas why? “The feeling of being watched”. The final point to bring up is that of a scheme carried out by Croydon Council which incorporated a Hall of Shame where litters or fly-tippers pictures are shared to further act as a deterrent.

If you have had any incidence of Fly Tipping contact the police at 101, Babergh council on 0300 123 4000 (option 7) or crime stoppers https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ also use fixmystreet to flag any concerns. https://www.fixmystreet.com/around?js=1&zoom=2&lat=52.10757&lon=0.79541 or https://www.mysociety.org/wehelpyou/report-fly-tipping-to-your-local-council/

https://www.tyreandrubberrecycling.com/latest-news/posts/2019/january/flytipping-of-tyres-still-a-uk-issue/

https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/sudbury/news/farmer-in-disbelief-after-500-tyres-fly-tipped-on-land-in-milden-9060291/

https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/suffolk-rubbish-dump-local-authority-defra-figures-7795404

https://www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk/fly-tipping

https://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/legal/community/littering/fly-tipping.html

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/planning-waste-and-environment/fly-tipping/

https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/east-suffolk-and-cla-flytipping-waste-figures-response-7807738

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/john-west-letter-a12-a14-litter-2690654

https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/faqs/advice/fly-tipping-and-law

https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/local-authorities/reduce-litter/fly-tipping/policy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37350153

Quiet Lanes

Road safety is something that everyone should take seriously yesterday I had the privilege of speaking with a member of the Suffolk Quiet Lanes team. Initially, this was a fact-finding opportunity to get a broader understanding of what Quiet Lanes do as well as what they cannot which will bring me onto the wider point on road safety. It is important that residents recognise what they do as many parishes across the county are adopting this initiative as well as the county councils wider pledge.

To introduce what a Quiet Lane is the main thing to establish is the group’s goals to reduce the cost facing the parishes. Now this is crucial to establishing these routes as one of these lanes may cost the parish approximately five thousand pounds as a rough guide, but by placing the burden on parishes this often racks up the cost and this is often an area that the group intends to support the parishes presently with proposals in place. Parishes currently going through the process are Monks Eleigh, Brent Eleigh, Nedging-with-Naughton as well as others. The group’s other aims are to further promote the safe and responsible use of the roads where all parties feel able to utilise the roads being able to get the best use out of them. Now whilst a benefit of Quiet Lanes would see a greater uptake of the roads by other road users its goal is to make it safer for all involved.

The group views it as a tool for reducing traffic on the road but this has to be achieved by a variety of methods not simply Quiet Lanes as a silver bullet. Noting that they work in tandem with a variety of schemes specifically Home Zones which have a more residential application. Now we can all recognise how important a clear and expansive network of Quiet Lanes could be as well as ensuring that we are all able to use them. The map attached in the second link below will give you an indication of where these roads are and the network has already seen trials running in East Suffolk in Snape and Glemsford.

Suffolk County Council has awarded two hundred and thirty-five thousand pounds of funding to invest in the scheme and the group would very much welcome the opportunity to grow the fund. Councillors from across the chamber have worked to improve road safety and reduce the levels of traffic present on our rural roads. Now like other councillors I also agree that speed limits need to reflect the nature of the roads and need to be suitable for all users and from conversations with the PCC we agreed that traffic calming is a broad issue and needs enforcement alongside reduction. Steps were taken to such as the specific targeting of HGV’s to ensure that they are taking appropriate routes. It is therefore crucial that we recognise the importance of managing the vehicles that use our road and make sure that residents are safeguarded as well as the responsible drivers. The seventh link provides cases of where lanes were adapted as well as further information about where they are suitable.

So to conclude will you agree with me that:

We should support the principle aims of quiet lanes to lower traffic levels, to maintain the tranquillity of our roads, allow us to be able to sustain the healthier lifestyle we have all enjoyed on our roads, promote environmentally friendly transport, increase the range of transport available to road users and help to tackle road dangers. Building on the hard work that various stakeholders, parishes, and councillors have put into the success of this project.

https://sites.google.com/view/quietlanessuffolk/quiet-lanes?authuser=0

https://sites.google.com/view/quietlanessuffolk/map?authuser=0

https://www.suffolkconservatives.org.uk/news/suffolk-launches-quiet-lanes-residents-enjoy-lockdown-eases

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/eastern-region-truckwatch-donate-monry-to-tackle-lorry-crime-in-2551668

https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/news/suffolk-launches-quiet-lanes-for-residents-to-enjoy-as-lockdown-eases/

https://southdownsnetwork.org.uk/quiet-lanes/

https://www.cpre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/quiet_lanes_1.pdf

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/show/quiet-lanes-suffolk-secures-funding-to-help-residents-stay-active-and-reduce-their-carbon-footprint

Locally Tackling Pet Theft What Can We Do?

We all recognize that Pet Theft is sweeping across our United Kingdom and in Suffolk, we are equally as afflicted by this rise in crime as other counties. This report will be following on from my conversation with Suffolks Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore.

Tim as an avid dog owner and lover was very open about the impacts on Pet Owners across the county. Now in Suffolk, we have eighteen reported cases of Dog Thefts. This is a clear distinction which we need to make as cases are reported as Thefts not as specific crimes. Now as I spoke to Tim he expressed his views candidly about how “Adhorrent the crime is and how it affects owners like a child being taken from them”.

The importance to remember here was that local constabularies are obligated to record the crime as a possession theft as they are recorded as an object first. Tim makes the clear point that the animal is a living being and it is my view that we should rightly view them as such this links back to Animal Welfare Sentencing reform which would recognize a greater severity for sentencing guidelines. We still have work to do in this area as we need to apply this sentence in my view to a specific act of UK law. Now whilst Suffolk Constabulary records these thefts as both traditional item theft and pet thefts is certainly useful in tackling this crime. It is also where we must recognize not only the distress that this has caused on owners but also on how wider implications of sentencing could be applied against those that commit these offenses.

Presently the UK like other countries applies sentences in a discounted way where the crimes will have been recorded but the time they have served will be served concurrently or at the same time as the first sentence. Rather than a cumulative approach where if the offender commits a series of offenses the sentences do not sequentially add on to each other. Now in the UK, we have three specific types of sentencing Suspended sentences where the duration is less than a year this is often how Pet Theft is dealt with nationally which also highlights the need for reform. The aim would be to push for a Determinate sentence were unlike the suspended sentence where the sentence is held unless the guilty party reoffends a determinate sentence sees half of the offender’s sentence in prison and half in the community. This is where the probationary sentence comes into account and ensures that the guilty party does not re-offend. Indeterminate sentences are used to identify where the courts can use their powers to determine a minimum imposed sentence which could be used where you have a repeat offender or when the individual is linked to organized crime.

Now Tim highlights that the maximum sentence for theft is up to seven years but this does not mean that the judiciary has to sentence up to this amount and the guidance for the courts may be tied from using tougher sentences. Now why is this the case, one area is culpability is an area that should be reflected on in a specific act because although this relates to the planning and coordination of the theft. Guidelines then have to further examine the level of harm to an individual now this form of measurement is a subjective matter and should not necessarily be applied in this way. If the animal itself was recognized as having harm applied to it by recognizing the conditions or impact on it and the distress to owner or keeper in a way that is more referencable to the courts this could likely lead to tougher sentences. We went on to discuss the importance of the Animal Welfare Sentencing Bill both its importance and significance as a way to develop specific and tougher sentences but also as a way to build on changes brought in at a later stage.

In terms of trends, Tim says that present data does not trend to any particular breed but as always high demand or popular breeds can be easier targets as the criminals are aware they can move them on easier. Now from this, I draw the conclusion that they are also aware of how much these popular breeds fetch online and as a result the value of the breed specifically. Whereas we could draw from this less well-known breeds may not be as identifiable and whilst we certainly should not let our guard down as dogs are stolen for a variety of reasons where we must be vigilant to protect our precious pets. There is no evidence as of yet to suggest that breeds are stolen to order and therefore business owners should remain vigilant of their risk to theft but they are at no greater risk of opportunistic thieves than the general public. Now building on my previous article Tim points out that whilst these thieves are stealing pets from gardens as well as kennels they have a variety of methods and are not deterred from entering a house to steal a litter of puppies. Now, this highlights ways you can reduce the risk of break-ins by methods such as alarm systems which must be armed, CCTV, robust locks, and not advertising any litters of puppies or kittens which may attract opportunistic thieves. One area which Tim points out that we have not spoken about is how something which may not be outrightly suspicious may be a tool for criminal groups using distraction theft to talk to the owner and cause someone to let their guard down and allow someone to abduct their pet.

https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/centres-institutes/centre-criminology/blog/2016/01/more-one-crime-sentencing-multiple-offences

https://www.lawtonslaw.co.uk/resources/sentencing/

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/theft-general/

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/theft-general/

Aspirations for Animal Welfare Reform a Summary

In this article, I want to touch on what elements of Animal Welfare reform that we should be advocating for, covering farm, and companion animals.

So when we look at Welfare Reform we need to recognise a suitable comparison between our laws and other countries which arguably have a better welfare standard then we do. Looking at the Swiss and Austrian systems. In the UK with our five animal welfare needs are the standards that we must hold people to account for the abuse of animals.

So what are these needs: Need for a suitable environment, Need for a suitable diet, Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns. Need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals and the Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease. These needs allow us to recognise the basic rights of the animal and what they require to be able to exist. This is furthered by are they able to meet the basic requirement of life as well as limiting suffering on the animal to ensure that they can behave in a normal way preventing abnormal behaviours which cause acute and prolonged suffering.

Now in terms of points where we can go further with Swiss and Austrian law provisions about freedom of an animals movement which could be arguably a move to prevent intensive farming in particular pigs who are kept in farrowing crates. This freedom of movement would protect them from a number of points that cause behaviour concerns and problems due to confinement. Now in intensive farming, it is arguable that whilst some farmers would argue confinement is necessary for the production of the animal associated products. Yet whilst Austria does still have clauses for this to allow farmers to use a form of confinement for safety reasons such as farrowing (when the sow has piglets) but generally speaking these limitations are vastly limited. Now carrying on with the farming point poultry are still getting the beaks trimmed which is a known area of suffering. The same arguably in areas that look at keeping calves with the heifer this is still recognisable as a form of suffering for the calf but it is something that can still be practiced. Both the Swiss and Austrian laws also mandate that they must see and be exposed to human interaction if it is deemed necessary. The three countries also recognise the need for animals to have suitable light exposure now all three make particular points for livestock with regards to light and this is something which is rightly protected. The other contentious issue is the exemption around religious slaughter many argue that any form of unnecessary suffering is overtly wrong. However, they specify that stunning is then done immediately following the ceremonious slaughter. This is something that is not required in other laws but does offer a way to protect the animal from prolonged suffering and although limiting the suffering further should be a goal this is a step in the right direction and easier to achieve than an outright ban. Laws around suffering looking particularly at pain and pain-causing circumstances as well as offering protection to selective invertebrates such as crustaceans and squid species. Now one area which certainly ranks lower across the board is animals used for draught and recreation which I will revisit in a later article.

In terms of the companion animal point, all three countries roughly meet the same standard of companion animal welfare. The main criticisms of all the items of legislation are as follows; Austria requires breeders to have a license to breed animals this would be something that if regulated correctly would reduce the advertising, of mass-produced litters and regulate the sale of young animals and banning on sales of animals. All of these limit the distribution of animals and would make criminal exploitation of these animals more difficult. This is something the Swiss and UK laws do not yet facilitate. UK provisions against mutilations for animals used in breeding is far more safeguarded in the UK which is a benefit to the animals as a whole. All countries arguably need to review how we control stray animal populations whether that be in the UK looking at how we rehouse animals that have been abandoned or in mitigating cat populations impact on wildlife. In the UK we arguably need to address the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which is disputed globally as a poor method for protecting public safety and not euthanising animals unnecessary. All countries were also suggested to encourage a more sustainable pet ownership mechanism.

Now, this is only an introduction which is something which I aim to look at each point more specifically to revise a more apt system to protect our animals. We certainly should do more and elements of these laws can protect are animals from abuse which should then coincide with animal welfare legislation. Now this works is likely to make a series rather than a sole article which I will look at over the latter weeks. Please do look at https://api.worldanimalprotection.org to investigate which countries have stronger laws.

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home/tiere/tierschutz.html

https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/animal-welfare_how-well-are-swiss-animals-protected-/45489148

https://www.loc.gov/law/help/religious-slaughter/europe.php#switzerland

https://thehumaneleague.org.uk/article/why-welfare

https://www.alaw.org.uk/the-law-as-a-driving-force-for-animal-welfare-reform/

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/228468611.pdf

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/animal-welfare/issues-paper

Animal Welfare Sentencing Bill

This week the latest incarnation of the Animal Welfare Sentencing bill is entering the house again for a further reading prior to entering the Lords. Now I want to highlight this because this particular bill could give us at the very least a potential avenue to attach Pet Theft Reform sentencing guidelines too. Now to begin with Animal Welfare sentencing in the UK needs to align with other western countries.

Now the guidance within this new bill would also make a particular focus on the changing digital world, paying a focus to where the offender films themselves committing the offence. This is both critical to allow social media platform and users to report and identify abusers which the police can then used as further evidence as an “aggravating factor”. Now for offenders who are caught on camera, this would not be the case but the differentiation of the attitudes of those knowingly committing the offence needs to be recognised and actioned accordingly. It was cited that the RSPCA identified that the filming of animal abuse had risen from 2019 and this needs to be apart of any reforms as it offers a way we can stop the open sharing of these acts of abuse on social media channels. It would also be worth addressing here that whilst points were made in the regard to recording the bill a potential area that needs further refining is the circulation and sharing of this content. Those found to be knowingly sharing this type of media need some form of penalty to act as a deterrent otherwise the work taken to seek justice against the abuser will be lessened by the circulation of the content. My hope is this will be addressed by the Government White Papers at online harms more broadly and that animal abuse is featured specifically.

Now whilst I would add here that when this issue was debated cross-party MPs both advocated for the bill to have amendments which at the very least would use the same sentencing guidelines as seen with robbery. However, it was pointed out by Tom Hunt the MP for Ipswich that at times these guidelines do not echo the sentiments of the public. He particularly cites Pet Theft here and the reason the call for reform is still needed in this case is because of the view that these sentencing guidelines give to the courts they treat the animal as an object and not in a specific way under the law. If the animal was treated specifically under the law it would provide us the general public and animal owners with the knowledge that those who commit these offences and also knowingly abuse someones beloved pet when they are stolen but that justice will be enacted. A further amendment to this bill would also make acts that are often associated with other crimes or forms of abuse against animals such as mutilation which are associated with dogfighting or baiting. These harsher sentences would enable our justice system to empower the police to protect our animals and tackle the criminal gangs perpetuating revenue from animal abuse.

A proposal presented to increase the effectiveness of the bill as well as making sure that animals are treated fairly and evenly not establishing systems where cruelty to domestic animals is targeted under this bill but not wild animals. The RSPCA and various other charities can report how acts of cruelty against wildlife can arguably be as severe as what we see in companion animals and no less worth safeguarding. Points which were raised that in particular areas that then targeted wildlife, in particular, were even less adequate than that which the bill seeks to rectify. The MPs however, do rightly point out to protect pets a subsequent amendment for wild animals may need to be included at a later point. It is therefore positive to see support for further animal rights reform in national politics.

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2622/publications

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0014/200014.pdf

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/4

World Wildlife Day

First of all, to raise awareness, different organisations worldwide show what affects disappearing wildlife by linking it to their branding. Now, why are they doing this?

In today's article, I discuss what the day brings awareness for. The reason why we need to keep wildlife at the centre of our policies. What we can do to help as general citizens.

Now the impact which humans have on the natural world is plain and clear for everyone to see. The importance of days such as today to highlight our place in the world and are impacts is crucial. Now what these days do is highlight what we can do better rather than encourage a sense of regret because we need to recognise what we can do better.

In terms of highlighting impacts on various animals, countries such as India highlight their rich wildlife and make it clear that their natural heritage is essential. In particular, the steps taken toward the reintroduction of other predators like Cheetahs show that they recognise that as well as maintaining the existing animals in the region, they need to reintroduce historic species to help the region recover. Countries such as India recognise the need to promote greater cohesion with wildlife organisations, such as how UK football clubs highlight the impact of World Wildlife day by removing animals from their logos. This is more for publicity, making more people aware of the effects we are having and raising awareness. This links us to the theme this year, where we look at how Forests and Livelihoods: Sustain People and the Planet.

My interest in this field is the impact that our industries have on pollinators. Comprehending how they utilise their habitats effectively is key to understanding how to preserve the species and biodiversity. The crux of this process is applied broadly to other animal conservation. Noting the importance of conservation projects and planting endeavours to help the animals recover in their environment. Comparing this with infrastructure projects that restore the vibrance of our woodlands. In Suffolk, the focus needs to be on developing works in the conservation and regenerative agriculture fields. For the Agricultural sector to grow in a sustainable direction, research needs to identify areas that producers can continue developing to maximise sustainable growth for both the industries and wildlife.

My interest in pollinators, significantly the benefits they bring to the natural world for flora and their important place in food webs. Now forests have a significant advantage in terms of how they safeguard the planet. They are quoted as being the lungs of our world. We need to recognise how we sustainably grow to limit our damage to these valuable green spaces. Many flora species have contributed to our medicines and food production. Each year, new resources, such as; plants, pharmaceutical, food resources, and natural beauty, are discovered alongside animal species. We also need to remember that the natural biodiversity all reduces how many species densely congregate in a given space. This is key for epidemiological reasons are it provides a barrier against disease spread. While animals would naturally interact in forests or different biomes, their interaction frequency is limited outside of the human environment. The increased interaction in intensive settings like wet markets has arguably lead to an increase in disease spread.

So in terms of how you can protect animals in terms of policy areas, the Dutch indeed lead the way in giving animals a front and place centre in their infrastructure projects. Often building animals into their design, they include Wildlife corridors, giving animals access to other habitats, enabling more extraordinary biodiversity and not limiting them to a closed environment and isolated population. This is a more expensive form of infrastructure design, but it is crucial we need to reflect on this when we look at designing our environments at home. Connecting farms via hedgerows and allowing green spaces to be connected, not isolated. Countries like Rwanda, India, Scotland, and Costa Rica are increasing the number of trees they are planting to increase forest cover and biodiversity. In Suffolk, we are doing the same thing by establishing our memorial woodlands and engaging in our own planting initiatives. Countries like Zambia have set up organisations to monitor and regulate our impact on animals ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive in the environment. Countries like Canada, the Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Bhutan, Tanzania, and Botswana have invested heavily in National parks and the different safeguards that can establish vestiges of protection for vulnerable habitats. Norway and Namibia have particular safeguards in their policy that recognise protected species and safeguard animals in law and society.

Now to summarise how you can help as well as engaging in conservation projects locally, you can also make sure your home is wildlife-friendly. Whether that be providing food and resources for animals that are unable to find resources at particular times of the year, such as Hedgehogs. Putting wildlife shelters in place or bird boxes to offer them an alternative home to replace the lack of suitable nesting sites. Planting trees and hedges which are ideal for nesting and foraging, which animals can use as valuable resources. In terms of what these plants are, heritage plants are good places to start but think Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Dogwood. Think about what you can offer to animals. Can you provide food for animals or even small plants for pollinators in the window? Could you plant a heritage hedge? Can you get involved with other projects rewilding, tree planting or conservation projects?

https://rr-africa.oie.int/en/projects/world-wildlife-day-2021-forests-and-livelihoods-sustaining-people-and-planet/

https://www.republicworld.com/lifestyle/festivals/world-wildlife-day-here-is-the-theme-history-and-significance-of-this-day.html

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/world-wildlife-day-when-is-it-this-years-theme-and-how-to-take-part/

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-countries-are-the-best-in-wildlife-conservation.html

https://nationaltoday.com/world-wildlife-day/

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/three-top-tips-to-help-give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/

Pet Theft Reform

Lockdown contributed to one of the largest rises in demand for companion animals. Some animals have seen a decline in demand. Many have found horses too expensive to keep, which has led to a drop in horse ownership and a rise in sales.

However, this demand for dogs and pets alongside increased funds that people are willing to pay has resulted in an epidemic of dog thefts. Now last year, people in Suffolk communities have had 46 beloved pets stolen from them. Thefts are now are over at a hundred percent increase from the average thefts in 2014-2019. Now at present, it is suggested the targets are working breeds, particularly spaniels, retrievers over that of other pedigree breeds. Now working dogs face a greater vulnerability due to being often kept in kennels, whereas pets in the home are fielded a safer environment. They are, however, being targeted because people are willing to pay for these breeds and are actively looking for these dogs. Now thefts occur across the borders, we know this. Actions are being taken from the constabulary to reduce this, but why is it happening?

Reputable breeders would have been unable to plan for the increase in demand, yet they also often do not want to increase their dogs' sales solely for monetary gains related to ambitions they have for their breed. This is because they are often bred for pets second and for working or other purposes first. Yet breeders likely will have been unable to legitimately plan their litters this year due to lack of access to the broader gene pool or attend the various shows. Prices for dogs on online websites have continued to increase and are rising, which will full demand. Whilst adoption searches are also growing, the provisions rescue groups have put in place have slowed down the process, which has faced more significant pressures due to lockdown as other businesses have. Many of these websites have less regulation than both "assured" breeders and rescue centres now, many would assume buyers would be looking at lower prices, but the price is also often a third higher for each dog. Ipswich MP Tom Hunt has said, "Current punishments represent a slap on the wrist for this cruel crime." The Home Secretary Priti Patel is also working on increasing the legislation around pet theft campaigned for by various organisations, campaigns and charities. This has to happen as, without harsher sentences, we are limited to a minor impact on criminals who are caught, such as a small fine. By making the punishments harsher, it will often be a deterrent once thieves are caught, as at this point, even once caught, the threat of consequence is low.

Now keeping your pets safe, what you need to know?

Firstly, the dogs at the most significant risk are 50% more likely to be stolen from your garden, so making your garden more secure is a better way to protect them and make them less visible. A further 16% are stolen from within the home now. Remember here that if someone is observing you and waiting for the opportunity, it is worth changing your routine occasionally, such as when you let your dog out in the garden, is it always the front or back garden as an example. Equally, in terms of protecting your home, ensure that if you have a security system that it is live when your not in the house, it is a really simple step but a clincher. Other areas are making sure your dog is not left outside the home in vulnerable positions off lead where your dog may be friendly and want to greet everyone, ensure that you can call them back before they are out of sight. Avoid leaving the dog outside a shop in a locked or unlocked car. Ensure your dog has all of the identification it needs legally but that it is not easy for it to be called away from you. Now when you're out on the walk, and you need extra safeguards, use apps such as https://hollieguard.com/, which will offer you an alarm system of shorts to highlight the crime to passers-by. Also, be aware of where you are and keep yourself safe as criminals have proven they will take the dog, not just wait for an opportunity for you to be separated. In terms of what to do when you are in a position where your dog has been stolen, the following article has many useful points https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/protect-your-dog-against-theft. The key contacts for you in Suffolk: DogLost, NationalPetRegister and AnimalSearchUK are critical databases for stolen pets; as is social media, you must have up-to-date information on your pet, including a recent photo. The local dog wardens number are separated by the District Council. They are in a list for you below under the heading DW. Now to reduce your risk of buying a stolen dog, it is best to follow the guidance of recognised breed clubs or groups and your local rescue centres. These groups are best placed to recommend breeders of specific dogs and be aware of reputable litters. If you do not know where to start, start here or with national clubs like the Kennel Club, Blue Cross and the RSPCA.

Now in terms of positive steps, national organisations are backing Pet Theft reform. MPs such as Tom Hunt, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and Siobhan Baille are advocating for reform, with the Prime Minister and Home Secretary also advocating for more stringent reforms. Now, will you support Pet Theft Reform to safeguard the nation's pets sign and share the petition and find out more from the links below https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/560216.

DW:

Forest Heath dog warden 01638 71 97 33

St Edmundsbury dog warden 01284 75 70 58

Mid Suffolk dog warden 01449 72 45 00

Waveney dog warden 01502 52 31 17

Suffolk Coastal dog warden 01394 44 40 00

Ipswich dog warden 01473 43 31 15

Babergh dog warden 01473 82 66 22

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/dog-theft-statistics-in-suffolk-2700864

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dog-stolen-puppies-theft-lost-sell-buy-cost-coronavirus-suffolk-a9652231.html

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2021/february/stronger-penalties-for-pet-theft-welcomed-by-the-kennel-club/

https://www.suffolk.police.uk/services/freedom-information/disclosure-logs/2019-disclosure-logs/crime-and-incident-statistics

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11895265/lockdown-pet-thefts-puppy-farming-fights/

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/protect-your-dog-against-theft

https://www.dogsforgood.org/good-advice/protect-dog-from-theft/

https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/24/how-to-avoid-accidentally-buying-a-stolen-dog-14139487/?ico=related-posts

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/5/209

https://www.pettheftreform.com/