Birmingham EDL demonstration planned for Saturday October 11

The English Defence League is planning another controversial demonstration in Birmingham city centre next weekend.

The far-right group brought chaos to the city last summer, which led to violent scenes along Broad Street.

Now they plan to return to Birmingham on Saturday, October 11, with police seeking talks with those involved ‘to plan for a safe and peaceful event’.

Around 2,000 supporters of the EDL arrived for the demo on July 20 2013, which sparked a counter demonstration by the Unite Against Fascism in nearby Chamberlain Square.

Windows were smashed, cobbles torn up and fences around the unfinished Library Of Birmingham were demolished during the day.

Policing the two demonstrations had cost West Midlands Police more than £1 million.

Now the EDL is planning to return to the city, with a statement on the group’s social media pages saying it has been arranged in the wake of Trojan Horse allegations involving Birmingham schools.

One message said: “Exact times, muster points, and demonstration area will be published a week or so before, but it will definitely be in Birmingham city centre and it’s 100 per cent on. West Midlands division’s will be there in our masses.”

A counter demonstration has also been organised by anti-fascist groups.

Do you want the EDL to demonstrate in our city?
YES: They have a right to demonstrate and should be allowed
NO: I don't want groups like the EDL in our city

A Facebook page entitled We are Birmingham - Don’t let the racists divide us, has been launched along with the plan for a demonstration on the same day.

A message on the page says: “The English Defend League are NOT welcome in Birmingham. Join us to show Birmingham is united Against racism and fascism.”

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police told the Mail: “West Midlands Police is aware that the English Defence League plan to stage a demonstration in Birmingham on Saturday October 11.

"At this stage of planning there are no confirmed locations or times however the force is seeking to work with those involved in the event to plan for a safe and peaceful event for all concerned.”

Read HERE

More than 200 rapists remain at large after attacks in Northumbria Police area this year

Cops are today hunting more than 200 rapists who remain at large after horrifying sex attacks this year.

And Northumbria Police has received an average of almost two reports of rape or attempted rape a day since the start of 2014.

The Chronicle is today revealing the shocking statistics which paint a chilling picture of the scale of this life-changing crime, as it emerged that yet another woman was raped in Newcastle city centre.

Since January 1 Northumbria Police has received reports of 440 crimes which have been recorded as rape or attempted rape.

But so far just 44 of these cases have been classed as ‘detected’ and there are just another 124 offences where arrests have been made.

This means detectives today are still actively hunting the attackers behind 201 rapists, who remain at large, while there are 71 cases that have been closed as ‘undetected’ and will not be re-opened unless new information comes to light.

However, Northumbria Police’s Head of Crime, Chief Supt Gary Calvert, explained that the complex and sensitive nature of rape investigations could be the reason why so many reports had not yet been detected.

“Every single rape that is reported to us is recorded as a crime and thorough enquiries are carried out into all allegations. We work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to try and bring about successful prosecutions,” he said.

“Due to the nature of rape investigations, which require very sensitive enquiries, investigations can take some time. We place great emphasis on the need to treat victims with care and compassion throughout the whole process from investigation to conviction and work closely with partner agencies, such as Sexual Assault Referral Centres, to ensure victims are provided with the right support.

“Since January 1, there have been 440 crimes recorded as rape, including attempted rape, across the force. Of these 71 have been closed pending further information coming to light and any new lines of enquiry will be fully investigated.

“There have been 44 recorded rapes that have been detected and a further 124 where arrests have been made. We currently have 201 live investigations where enquiries are actively on-going with a number of lines of enquiry being carried out including forensic examinations.”

And Chief Supt Calvert is urging anyone who has been raped to get in touch and seek help.

“Throughout our investigation we remain in contact with victims, as decided by them, to keep them up to date,” he added.

“We would always encourage any victims to come forward and speak to us and would not want anyone to feel reluctant about reporting they have been a victim of rape.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Vera BairdPolice and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird
Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird has made rape and violence against women a priority since her election in 2012.

Vera Baird, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “We encourage anyone who finds themselves in the appalling position of being a victim of rape to talk to someone and not suffer in silence.

“I know, from speaking to victims in my role as Police and Crime Commissioner and hearing their personal stories of abuse, that these people can be terrified of the repercussions their report might have and it takes huge courage to make their report.

“It is important that any victim comes forward to seek this very necessary help which Northumbria Police and it’s partners can provide them with.”

The latest chilling report came after a woman in her 20s was attacked in the usually busy smoking area between Perdu and Blackie Boy on the Groat Market, Newcastle.

The assault, which happened during the early hours of the morning is the second rape at a Newcastle bar in just over two weeks.



THE FIGURES:
440 The number of reports of rape of attempted rape Northumbria Police has received this year.

44 The number of these rapes that have been detected.

124 The number of rapes where arrests have been made but need further investigation before they are classed as ‘detected’.

201 The number of rapes where no arrests have been made that are still being actively investigated.

Read HERE

Child sex exploitation described as a 'growth industry' in Middlesbrough

New report reveals vulnerable children as young as 11 are being groomed for possible sexual exploitation :: Deputy headteacher says it is 'extremely prevalent'

Vulnerable children as young as 11 are being groomed for possible sexual exploitation in Middlesbrough, a new report reveals.

Dozens of young people have been identified as potential victims of child sex exploitation (CSE) in the town, a report compiled by Middlesbrough Council’s Community Safety and Leisure Scrutiny Panel says.

The panel’s report, to be considered at Tuesday’s executive meeting, aimed to assess the extent of the problem in Middlesbrough, see how it is being tackled and suggest additional measures which could be put in place.

It gathered evidence from various groups, including Cleveland Police, Barnardo’s and the Middlesbrough Safeguarding Children Board. And after hearing concerns that CSE is on the rise, locally and nationally, the authority is being urged to ensure it remains “one of the council’s top priorities.”

A deputy headteacher told the panel CSE was a "growth industry" in the town.

The 35-page report, which includes nine recommendations, heard from Barnardos that children as young as 11 have been groomed via the internet, social networking sites, in parks and even by the perpetrator befriending their parents first.

The report tells councillors: “The bottom line is...protecting children from CSE is everyone’s responsibility.

“The topic often gets highlighted in the media when there is a high profile case, as has happened in Middlesbrough, then once the furore has died down and media attention dissipates, it becomes yesterday’s news. It does not mean that it is not happening, it is real, it’s here and preventing it from happening must continue to be one of the council’s top priorities.”

The panel was “reassured” by the establishment of a Vulnerable, Exploited, Missing and Trafficked (VEMT) group.

Part of the Middlesbrough Safeguarding Children Board, the group meets every six weeks to discuss young people identified as being at risk. It was created after concerns that exploitation had been identified as an “emerging issue” in Middlesbrough and the numbers were “significantly higher” than in the other Tees Valley areas.

At the time the panel met, 42 vulnerable young people were being monitored by the VEMT but, during the past year, the number had been as high as 68. Another group which also meets regularly to help identify potential victims had identified 50 to 60 young people.

The report notes that every Middlesbrough secondary school has a member of staff trained to spot the signs of CSE.

It also recommends that the work done by Acklam Grange School in training staff to recognise the potential signs of CSE should be adopted as a model of good practice.

The school’s assistant headteacher, Martin Burnett, told the panel that CSE in Middlesbrough was a “growth industry” and extremely prevalent in the town, but schools were not “burying their heads in the sand” and were developing ways to address CSE.

The report also recommends the extension of a scheme where, for 20 nights a year between 10pm-4am, a van crewed by two police officers, a social worker, Barnardo’s and a youth worker travels around Middlesbrough, looking for children and young people walking the streets at night.

And it calls on the Government to tighten a legal loophole where taxi drivers have their licence suspended if caught grooming a child in their car, yet they remain free to apply for a PSV licence and legitimately drive a minibus.

Multi-agency working and the sharing of information is seen by the panel as a key weapon in the fight against CSE.

The report states: “Child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated in our area. Work will carry on seeking out, investigating and stopping perpetrators of this horrible crime.”

54 rape cases to be re-investigated

Northumbria Police has re-opened 54 rape cases for further investigation. It follows an audit by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) which showed some rape cases may have been incorrectly recorded as 'no crime'.

The Chief Constable of Northumbria ordered further checks to be made on all such reports since October 2011. A team of experienced officers looked at 153 cases and have decided 54 require further investigation.
"Each case will be reinvestigated by the review team. This will include contacting the victims in these identified cases and our main priority is to support them through this process.

“We are progressing this speedily but thoroughly, mindful of the impact this can have on victims when we speak to them again about their experiences.

“I want to reassure anyone reporting such crimes to us that we will listen to them, take them seriously, investigate thoroughly and bring offenders to justice whenever we can.”

– SUPERINTENDENT NEIL ADAMSON
48 officers who were involved in the cases identified in the audit, and those who supervised the investigations, have been served with formal notifications and those in the Rape Investigation Team have been moved to other teams. Northumbria Police says this is standard procedure and a temporary measure.
“This does not necessarily mean they are guilty of serious issues. This is entirely dependent on the findings of the investigation. If any officer has failed to reach the high standards expected of them rest assured this will be dealt with through the proper procedures.

– SUPERINTENDENT NEIL ADAMSON
Following the re-opening of cases a 50 year old man has been arrested in the Slatyford area of Newcastle in connection with a rape in March this year and has been bailed.