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POLICE TARGET
SPEEDING DRIVERS IN MONTH-LONG CAMPAIGN
MOTORISTS who exceed the
speed limits will be the target of a month long campaign by
Merseyside Police over April 2014. Last year 50,428 drivers
were caught speeding in Merseyside. This coincides with a rise in
the number of people killed and seriously injured on the County's
roads. In 2013, 550 people were seriously injured and 24
people died as a result of collisions in Merseyside. The previous
year, 548 people were seriously injured and 20 were killed.
Sgt Paul Mountford from the Matrix Serious and Organised Crime (MSOC)
Roads Policing Department said:- "The figures speak for
themselves. Speeding drivers are causing or contributing to
thousands of collisions resulting in death, injury and misery to
many thousands of Merseyside people. However, I believe that these
statistics don't reflect the full picture. The number of drivers
actually caught speeding is only a fraction of those who regularly
ignore the speed limits on our roads. We are targetting these
drivers this month and urging them to think outside of their box
when they are driving and consider other vulnerable road users such
as pedestrians and cyclists." Merseyside Police
will be running a number of roads policing operations where officers
will be out in force across Merseyside conducting roadside speed
checks and stopping drivers who are exceeding the limit. Sgt
Mountford added:- "A speed limit is not a target to aim for.
It is often unsafe to drive at a speed limit for many reasons;
schools, parked vehicles, pedestrians, the weather and road
conditions to name a few. Our officers will show zero tolerance
towards drivers who place others at risk.” Drivers
caught speeding are in some cases offered the option of paying a
£100 fine and having 3 points added to their licence or going on a
speed awareness course. Last year 20,000 drivers attended speed
awareness courses to educate and reduce their re-offending. As part
of the ongoing work carried out by officers to reduce speeding
drivers the Force has a Community Speedwatch scheme running in
several areas of Merseyside in which residents are encouraged to
join officers to reduce speeds in their areas. Merseyside
Police also works with local authorities and driving instructors on
the pioneering 'ENGAGE' driver training scheme to
better educate novice drivers about the common factors that cause
crashes including speed choices. Chief Inspector John Hogan,
Head of Roads Policing, added:- "We are putting a huge amount
of effort in to make Merseyside a safer place for pedestrians,
cyclists and motorists. Alongside enforcement we educate offenders
and provide new drivers with a better understanding of the skills
required to be a safe motorist. and we also invite communities to
play their part through the Speedwatch initiative. However,
ultimately it is down to drivers who need to take responsibility for
the speed they drive and to realise the potential life changing
consequences of not just breaking the limit but also not driving at
a speed appropriate to the conditions." |
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Over 2.8 million
people to benefit from Government tax cuts
AS a result of a landmark
Government policy and a key plank of the long term economic plan,
343,000 people in the North West will have been taken out of income
tax altogether from this weekend thanks to a series of increases in
the tax free personal allowance to £10,000 in 2014 to 2015.
This means that overnight on Sunday, an extra 31,000 hard working
people from the North West will no longer pay income tax.
Over 2.8 million people in the North West; the vast majority of
working people; will have benefited from the personal allowance
increases over the past 4 years.
For this financial year, that means
an income tax reduction of £705 for the typical basic rate taxpayer.
Over the lifetime of this parliament, the cumulative income tax cut
by this government for the typical taxpayer will be £1,824.
Ahead of a question and answer session in the North West today with
workers who will benefit, the Prime Minister said:- “A key
part of this Government’s long term economic plan is to cut taxes so
that people can keep more of the money they earn and feel more
financially secure. From this weekend, you will not pay a single
penny of income tax on everything you earn up to £10,000.
Nearly every single worker across the country will get a tax cut and
over 3 million will pay no income tax at all. It says to the
hardworking people of this country: we are on your side; and it’s
one of the proudest things I have done in Government.”
The Prime Minister has previously said that it is right that changes
to the tax system benefit typical basic rate taxpayers the most. The
new changes on Sunday, 6 April 2014, also mean that:-
► Someone working full time on the October 2014 minimum wage
(£6.50/h at 35hrs a week) will pay over 50% less income tax
in 2014 to 2015 than a than someone on the national minimum wage in
2010.
► Someone working for just under 30 hours a week on the October 2014
minimum wage will not pay any income tax at all.
This means that the government is supporting many of those who work
flexibly and part time. The government is also helping women, who
are the majority (54%) of the 3 million people who no longer have to
pay income tax thanks to the increases to the personal allowance
since 2010. And, as the Chancellor announced in the Budget,
the personal allowance will help even more hard working families
next year, when it will be increased again to £10,500.
Letter to the Editor:- "Best
Wishes To Menay Edwards."
"ALL of us at Hatton
Promotions is pleased to hear that Menay Edwards has been discharged
from hospital. The Crayford cruiserweight had been at Blackpool's
Victoria Hospital since Saturday night due to bleeding on the brain
sustained in his English title fight with Matty Askin. Thankfully,
on Wednesday morning, Menay was given a final assessment and deemed
fit enough to return home. Everyone at Hatton Promotions wishes him
the very best for the future." The Media Team at the Hatton
Group. |
