“MAYOR OF LONDON SHOULD CLAW BACK POLICING COSTS FOR TRUMP’S STATE VISIT”
PLUS: 200 JOBS FOR LAMBETH TENANTS / LAMBETH COUNTRY SHOW / CLOSURE ORDER CLAMPS DOWN ON ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR / OH BROTHER!
Policing costs for President Trump’s visit must be clawed back from government, says Labour’s London Assembly policing spokesman Unmesh Desai.
Mr Desai has written to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asking him to lobby the government for additional Met funding after experts said the policing of protests during Trump’s visit could exceed £7 million.
The assembly member’s letter comes as the government rejected a petition of nearly 1.9 million signatories opposing the state visit.
“People are angered by the prejudice spouted by Donald Trump during his presidential campaign and his first month in the White House.
“Of course people have a right to demonstrate their opposition to Trump’s divisive policies, and of course those demonstrations should take place safely and peacefully on our capital’s streets.
“But the Met’s resources are already overstretched. Expecting Londoners to cover the policing costs for what is undoubtedly a national event will only put even greater strain on the Met’s budget.
“The Prime Minister invited the President, the government should pay for his visit. “Expecting Londoners to cover the policing costs for what is undoubtedly a national event will only put even greater strain on the Met’s budget”.
A Labour London Assembly statement said: “President Trump is expected to visit the UK later this year, following an invitation from the Prime Minister.
“A petition to prevent President Trump making a State Visit has gained over 1.85 million signatures.
“The petition was rejected by the government, who restated their belief that the President should be extended the “full courtesy” of a state visit, which would include a full ceremonial welcome from the Queen and a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
“It is anticipated that his visit will draw large numbers of protesters to the capital’s streets. “The former head of counter-terrorism for the Metropolitan Police, Andy Hayman, said demonstrations could reach the scale of those seen during the G20 Summit in 2009. “The cost of those protests reached £7.5 million.
“His comments were followed by a warning from the outgoing Met Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, that the cost of policing the Trump protests would be in the millions.
“The Metropolitan Police currently receive £174 million in the form of the annual National and International Capital City Grant from government. “This is additional funding which is meant to reflect the extra burden on resources for policing a capital city. “But it is estimated that the amount the Met actually needs to police London as a capital city is £281 million.”
In his letter to Sadiq Khan, Mr Desai urged the Mayor to ensure there were enough officers trained in public order policing available for the visit. The Assembly Member also sought assurances that officers wouldn’t be pulled out of local neighbourhoods to supplement numbers of the day on the demonstration. (Source: GLA Labour party press release)
200 JOBS FOR LAMBETH TENANTS
Around 200 jobs have been found for Lambeth tenants affected by welfare reform and at risk of homelessness, coinciding with the second anniversary of a partnership between St Mungo’s and Lambeth housing services in delivering the project.
‘Workwise’ project aims to find sustainable jobs for people who are in debt and at risk of homelessness. The project commenced on February 2015 and it is aided by local advice charity Centre 70.
To date 326 Lambeth residents have benefited from ‘Workwise’ support, giving the project a job outcome rate of 61 per cent.
173 places have been gained on education and training courses, 116 in volunteering positions and 33 in work placements.
These outcomes are a combined team effort and have only been possible with the buy in from our tenants and the fantastic opportunities provided by our many partners within St Mungo’s, Lambeth and beyond.
If you need support please contact Linda Oginni, [email protected] Phone: 0207 926 9311
(Source: Love Lambeth website)
LAMBETH COUNTRY SHOW
Applications to trade, exhibit and perform at this year’s Lambeth Country Show are now open
Have you been to the Lambeth Country Show before and always fancied getting involved? Well… now is your opportunity. Applications are live on the show website and there are several categories to trade and exhibit at this year’s show:
Balloon sellers / Inflatable operators
Catering
Charity and Community Groups
Craft and Food Village Markets
Health, Healing and Wellbeing
Hot and Cold Drinks
Professional Horticulturists
You can also apply online if you are interested in performing or providing entertainment at this year’s show. The show organisers are always on the lookout for the following:
Solo singers / bands of all genres
Dance / Theatre groups
Interactive workshops
Puppeteers
Poetry and spoken word
Animal exhibitors
If you have something unique and entertaining, they would love to hear from you.
Applications are only open until Tuesday 28 February, so don’t leave it too late to apply. You will be asked to create an online account upon applying so that you can save your progress and have enough time to upload your supporting documents before the deadline.
Apply via the Lambeth Country Show website
If you have any questions about the application process, don’t hesitate to contact the Country Show team by email at [email protected] or call 020 7926 7085 (Source: Love Lambeth website)
CLOSURE ORDER CLAMPS DOWN ON ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Violence, threatening and abusive behaviour towards neighbours, and loud arguments at all times of the night and day have led to a three-month premises closure order for a South Croydon flat.
The closure of a Blenheim Park Road property brought by Croydon’s antisocial behaviour team, follows an investigation by the landlord, Hyde Housing Association.
Officials of the association tried to settle an ongoing neighbour dispute between two households before asking the council to intervene when another resident, who was not a Hyde tenant, became affected by the ongoing nuisance, in November 2016.
The female occupant and her partner, who was not an authorised occupant, were reported for drunken shouting and screaming, and items being thrown out of windows into neighbouring gardens.
Cllr Hamida Ali, Croydon’s cabinet member for community, safety and justice, said: “It was clear from previous interventions that the antisocial behaviour was continuing despite warning of further action.
“So, following a multi-agency meeting, it was agreed that the closure order was the only option to safeguard the community.”
The property has been secured by the landlord service, who will be responsible for any further action taken against their tenant. (Source: Croydon council press release)
OH BROTHER! Bromley resident prosecuted for council tax fraud
A 50 year-old Bromley man has pleaded guilty to claiming a single person discount on his council tax – when his brother had been resident with him since 2002.
During an interview the man admitted he had dishonestly claimed the discount from Bromley council which amounted to £4,342 from August 2002 to December 2016. The fraud had only come to light when the man was in hospital and his brother had answered a council tax query.
He was sentenced to a four-month sentence of imprisonment suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work. In addition he was ordered to pay £350 towards Prosecution costs and a £115 victim surcharge.
Anyone with information about a suspected benefit fraud should contact (in strict confidence) the Fraud Hotline on 0800 169 6975 or email [email protected]
The council has also launched an anti-fraud App, which is a quick and easy way for residents to report their suspicions. Visit www.bromley.gov.uk/fraud for information about downloading the App to your mobile device. (Source: Bromley council press release)