Specials Crack Down On Drink-Driving

An operation led by Specials from three areas of the London Police has resulted in a number of punishments for driving offences. During the five-hour night-time operation, Specials from Hounslow Borough, CO15 Traffic and Heathrow stopped almost 100 drivers for committing moving traffic offences. They made five arrests for offences relating to drink/drive, immigration and possession of a controlled substance, issued nine fixed penalty notices and seized four vehicles. The Specials held the operation on a busy section of the A4, just east of Heathrow Airport. They closed off one lane of the road, leading into London, where they questioned and breathalysed drivers and carried out intelligence-led searches for drugs and weapons on some of the vehicles. Although the main objective of the operation was to combat drink/driving, the officers found that some of the drivers had no insurance or tax discs. One driver, who initially refused to stop after the officers saw him weaving his van up the road, was later charged with failing to provide a breath sample. His two passengers were arrested on suspicion of immigration matters. Chief Inspector Ian Vincent of CO15 Traffic, said: “This work demonstrates the willingness and effectiveness of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary (MSC) in mounting operations to help tackle the issues important to road safety. It also reinforces the value of different MSC teams working together to achieve an operation like this.”

Entertainment Businessman Banned For Seven Years

The owner of an entertainment agency that supplied acts to venues has been banned from supplying entertainers as an employment business for seven years after his formal order of disqualification began this week. Gerald Leslie Hemming, trading as Hemmings Leisure, from Solihull, was prohibited at Birmingham Employment Tribunal. The prohibition follows a successful investigation by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS), which is part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. EAS brought the case having successfully prosecuted Mr. Hemming in January 2009 at Solihull Magistrates’ Court. This resulted in him being ordered to pay back withheld payments to a number of acts. Tribunal Judge Warren complimented BIS for its pragmatic approach in brokering a revised decision with Mr. Hemming which had initially requested a total employment agency ban. However in light of the time period from January 2009 and absence of further misconduct an amended ban was agreed between parties. Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey said: “Laws are in place to stop agency workers being exploited and we will continue to enforce them vigorously. It is not acceptable for agents to withhold payments - they are taking advantage of workers, flouting the law and undermining the vast majority of agencies that play by the rules.”

First Severe Gales Of The Year Expected

Following a lengthy spell of mainly dry and settled weather, the Met Office have predicted a change to wet and very windy weather later this week. Met Office Chief Forecaster, Tony Waters said: "Northern and western Scotland are likely to bear the brunt of the strongest winds and heaviest rain but all parts of the UK will see windy weather at times". Temperatures will vary from day to day and it will be cold enough at times for some snow in Scotland, which could make for difficult travel conditions.

(BMcN/GK)