MAKE THE MOST OF FREE MICROCHIPPING SERVICE……”WE CAN ALL TACKLE CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE” – BROMLEY AND SOUTHWARK LINK WITH DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN…….34 LOUDSPEAKERS – AND A TV SET – CONFISCATED FROM NOISY NEIGHBOUR…….USE OF ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS ON THE RISE IN LONDON
MAKE THE MOST OF FREE MICROCHIPPING SERVICE
Croydon council’s dog warden service are holding a free microchipping event at Wandle Park today (Friday 11 March.)
The event, from 11am to 4pm, will be run in partnership with animal charity Dogs Trust.
Dog owners are encouraged to get their pets microchipped ahead of the new law that will make this compulsory.
All dogs over eight weeks of age (in England and Scotland) must be microchipped and registered with their keepers’ contact details before Wednesday 6 April, under new regulation.
The information will be kept on an officially registered database that will hold details about the dog and its owners. Breeders and keepers will also have a responsibility to keep their dogs’ details up to date.
Anyone breeding dogs must be the first registered keeper of the puppies, and it will be illegal for the breeder to not be listed as a keeper on the database. All imported dogs will need to have a microchip.
The breeder must also provide microchipping documents to the puppy’s buyer to ensure the new owner can update their details to comply with the law.
When the new rules come into effect, the keeper of a dog without a microchip may be served with a notice requiring the dog to be microchipped, and may face criminal prosecution and a £500 fine if they do not comply with the notice.
Dog owners who cannot make it to the Wandle Park event can call the council on 020 8726 6000, or email [email protected]
The dog warden will then make contact to schedule an appointment, or to advise where the next free microchipping event is being held. All owners of dogs collected as strays will also be offered the free microchipping service on return of their dog.
Dogs Trust also offers free microchipping at its rehoming centres, and is working in partnership with some local vet surgeries to offer free microchipping.
For more information please call Dogs Trust directly on 020 7837 0006 or speak to your local vet. (Source: Croydon council press release)
“WE CAN ALL TACKLE CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE” – BROMLEY AND SOUTHWARK LINK WITH DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
Bromley and Southwark councils are backing a campaign, in partnership with the Department for Education, to raise awareness that everyone has a role to play in protecting children and young people from abuse and neglect.
Entitled ‘Together, we can tackle child abuse’, the campaign will encourage people to act on their instincts and talk to a social worker in their local safeguarding team if they have concerns about a child.
“Research shows that nearly half of the population say they are reluctant to make a report because they feel they may be wrong” said a Bromley council spokeswoman.
“This new campaign aims to help people identify where there may be a problem and give them the confidence to report it.
“The message is: ‘If you have a feeling something is not right, report it.’
“You don’t have to be absolutely certain about whether a child is being abused. Information is gathered from many sources. “Your report would form part of a bigger picture.’
“If you think something is not right regarding a child, don’t assume all will be well, find out more and who to contact by visiting www.gov.uk/reportchildabuse”
The Department of Education are funding advertising in a number of London boroughs, including Bromley, to highlight this important message. Bromley council are providing support and will respond to any calls arising from the publicity.
‘Together we can tackle child abuse’ complements Bromley’s own ‘Safeguarding is everyone’s business’ initiative run by Bromley adult social care and trading standards to highlight what to do if you suspect an older or vulnerable person is falling prey to others who seek to exploit them for their own gain.
Southwark residents are also being urged to “open their eyes to child abuse and neglect” by the campaign.
“Everyone has an important role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse, but a recent survey found that 47 per cent of Londoners are put off reporting their concerns or suspicions because they think they might be wrong” said a Southwark spokesperson.
“A third of people who suspect child abuse do nothing. “You don’t have to be absolutely certain about your suspicions; if you have a feeling that something’s not right, talk to your local children’s social care team who can look into it. Information is usually gathered from many sources, and your report would form one part of a bigger picture.
Cllr Victoria Mills, Southwark’s cabinet member for children and schools, said: “A number of high profile cases have shown us the importance of acting on our concerns if we think a child is at risk of abuse.
“Many people don’t act on their suspicions because they’re worried about being wrong, but if you have a feeling that something’s not right, it’s really important to let us know. “Child abuse devastates lives and takes away childhoods, so please act now if you think a child is being abused.”
In 2014/15, more than 400,000 children in England were protected and supported because someone noticed they needed help.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect in Southwark you can speak to us about your concerns by calling 020 7525 1921. For more information on the government’s campaign, please visit gov.uk/reportchildabuse (Sources: Bromley council press release; Southwark council press release)
34 LOUDSPEAKERS – AND A TV SET – CONFISCATED FROM NOISY NEIGHBOUR
Peace has returned for the residents of a street in Broad Green after noise pollution officers and police raided a flat and confiscated 34 loudspeakers and a TV set.
“The lives of neighbours of the man in Vanguard Close had been made a misery by months of his playing music in his small, one-bedroom flat at unreasonably high volume at all times of the day and night” saiod a council spokesman.
“His disregard for his neighbours’ comfort and right to a peaceful life brought him to the attention of the council’s pollution team, which tried to contact him but had no response to visits to the address, and no reply to letters sent to him.
“Magistrates granted an application for the seizure of all of the sound-producing equipment causing the nuisance, but when officers, armed with a warrant, arrived at the flat, entry was refused.
“A locksmith was called to enable access to the property, and the local police safer neighbourhoods team ensured the pollution officers were able to safely remove the equipment.
Cllr Mark Watson, Croydon’s cabinet member for communities, safety and justice, said: “This resident, with his thoughtless and selfish behaviour over many months, blighted the lives of his neighbours.
“He showed no regard for their feelings, ignoring both them and the formal approaches of the council’s noise pollution officers who, in the end, had no alternative but to obtain a warrant from the courts to bring the problem to an end.
“He was left with only a portable CD player and a pair of earphones – I hope that will teach him, and others who cause similar noise problems, that they have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a reasonable manner and respect the lives of others.” (Source: Croydon council press release)
USE OF ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS ON THE RISE IN LONDON – new statistics show 95,000 workers with no guaranteed hours
New statistics released this week have shown an increase in the number of Londoners on controversial zero-hour contracts.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows the number of Londoners on zero-hour contracts has risen by 18,000 since the same October to December period in 2014, meaning there are now 95,000 workers in the capital without guaranteed hours.
The data also shows that 2.2 per cent of London’s workforce are now employed on zero hour contracts, up 0.4 per cent from 1.8 per cent on the same period the year previous.
A London Assembly Labour party press release says: “Whilst the data doesn’t show the number of zero hour contracts which include exclusivity clauses preventing workers from also taking jobs elsewhere, ONS analysis showed that over a quarter, 27 pc, or those on zero hour contracts who were surveyed said they wanted more hours in their current job or an additional job elsewhere.
Labour’s London Assembly economy spokeswoman Dr Fiona Twycross said:“The rise in the number of zero hour contracts is deeply worrying. “Whilst they work for some people, many workers are actively seeking more hours or extra job to make ends meet.
“The uncertainty of zero-hour contracts isn’t just bad for employees, it undermines the London economy by reducing training and upskilling and entrenches low pay.
“Workers need protections put in place to guarantee at least a basic income from their job; not wildly fluctuating hours which leave them in limbo from week to week.” (Source: GLA Labour party press release).