Today I went in to a charity shop (Thames Hospice in Langley). I don't usually go wandering around looking for clothes or anything like that, in fact I usually donate goods to Cancer Research UK who even supply a card so that when you donate, they scan your details and automatically claim Gift Aid on your donation.
However, we were in Langley, so decided that as we had paid the council for the honour of parking there, we may as well fill the time by looking in the Hospice's shop. It wasn't long before I spotted a trolley with a tilting barrow attached, full of building blocks. It looked to be just the thing for my grandson to play with when he gets older. Made of plastic, it would be easy to give the whole package a thorough wash to ensure it was thoroughly clean before use. At £8 it was a little bargain.
Next were Tinky-Winky and La-La, two of the Teletubbies in very good condition at £1.50 each. Impossible not to buy. Made of material they would be nice to play with, but needed a clean. Anti-bacterial spray generously applied all over the toys with a good wiping down with kitchen roll then pegged out on the line to dry solved the problem.
Whilst looking around, we were approached by the manager who told us about a newly arrived toy which hadn't been put on a shelf yet. We followed him into the stockroom and there he had a radio controlled car, which he demonstrated. It was an impressive thing, even more so when he said he was selling it for £4.
My grandson is only 10 months at the moment and the car should only be used from 24 months old, so it's been put away for another year or so. But what a collection of toys with so little cost and potentially years of pleasure.
With all takings going to the charity alongside any Gift Aid associated with any of the items it is a totally win-win situation.
Do you ever donate goods to charities?
Do you purchase from charities?
If the answer to either is yes, what was your best donation and/or purchase?
Derek R @DerekR
Iver Heath
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There is a big match happening tonight in Saudi Arabia. I haven't seen any boxing on television since I moved out from my parent's house many, many, years ago. Have I missed it? Not at all! Will I be watching tonight? No! Do I care who wins? No! Will you be watching? If so, what do you enjoy about boxing? Details of the participants tonight: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will compete to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion after Fury defeated Deontay Wilder and Usyk dethroned Anthony Joshua. Despite delays, the highly anticipated match will finally take place in Riyadh, with Fury favoured due to his physical advantages. However, Usyk, a decorated boxer, is confident in his ability to emerge victorious. -
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The Sir Galahad was bombed during the Falklands War while transporting troops to support the British assault on Stanley. Recently, declassified documents revealed confusion and missed opportunities to move the ship to safety. The plan was to disembark troops at Bluff Cove to reinforce British positions, but the ships anchored five miles away at Port Pleasant. On 8 June 1982, the Sir Galahad, loaded with ammunition, fuel, and soldiers, was struck by Argentine bombs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80z0d152wzo -
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The immense sunspot cluster that caused the magnificent aurora borealis last weekend will likely return in two weeks, potentially generating more Northern Lights. The Sun's heightened radiation continues, disrupting global high-frequency radio communications, and this hyperactive sunspot is a precursor to the Sun's approach to "solar maximum," a period of peak activity in its 11-year cycle. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c163j8551ygo -
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Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office, has provided 50 new documents to the ongoing inquiry into the Post Office scandal. These documents were discovered during additional searches conducted by her legal team ahead of her scheduled appearance next week. The inquiry has confirmed receiving the documents and expects to receive more from Vennells, which will be reviewed promptly. Concerns have been raised about the timeliness of document submissions, and witnesses are warned that they may be recalled if necessary. During the inquiry, Vennells's former colleague, Alisdair Cameron, the ex-chief financial officer, faced questioning about his knowledge of the scandal. He expressed regret for the impact on affected sub-postmasters and discussed a document he wrote in 2020 titled "what went wrong," which highlighted issues that should have been addressed a decade earlier. Cameron criticised the Post Office's defensive stance, describing it as a "victim mentality" and a waste of public funds. He acknowledged that the company relied too heavily on the flawed Horizon accounting software and that the prosecutions of sub-postmasters were unjust. He believed that the Post Office should have apologised and resolved the situation years ago. https://news.sky.com/story/former-post-office-boss-paula-vennells-hands-over-50-new-documents-ahead-of-scandal-inquiry-appearance-13138002 -
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No, today I’ll be having mine much closer to home. I’m off to get my COVID booster later this morning. Sky News reported in 2022 that in the first year of the vaccine being used in England, there were around 20 million lives saved. Having booster jabs further protects the population from the world heading back into a pandemic state. Of course, there are doubters, as there will be for anything, who reject the idea that something that saves so many lives should not be used because a minute number of recipients have had side effects. Every set of chemicals can potentially affect the human body, and it is terrible when it happens, but throughout our lives, we’ve been immunized against a host of illnesses, and by far the majority of us have had longer and better lives because of it. Of course, you can’t convince everybody that it is wiser to be protected than to take a chance, which means that because I’m not going to travel to Kent for my jab, there is a little prick in Farnborough going spare! -
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Investments are a favourite trick used by fraudsters to steal your money … either funds you’ve put aside ‘for a rainy day’ or life savings to be used for a dream holiday or your retirement. Between 2020 and the end of 2023, nearly 100,000 people in the UK fell victim to investment scams, totalling £2.6 billion or £13 million every week. These figures refer only to reported scams, so are likely to be considerably higher. To learn how to invest wisely and avoid being a victim in this way read the latest tips and advice from Get Safe Online, either in the leaflet attached or in the below link: https://www.getsafeonline.org/investments/ Finally, Get Safe Online has this week launched a new ‘Self Help Tool Centre’ - nine free, easy-to-use to use tools to help keep you and your family safe, secure and confident when using the internet. It can be accessed here: https://www.getsafeonline.org/selfhelpcentre/ We hope you find these useful. Kind regards, the Get Safe Online team May24_Investment_Leaflet.pdf https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/9ADBD3E1B56444F2BE783812B46907D9 -
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WhatsApp group chat members are being warned they could be targeted by criminals, as Action Fraud reveals it has received 636 reports from victims of the messaging app this year. The fraud often begins when a member of the group receives a WhatsApp audio call from the fraudster, pretending or claiming to be another member of the group. This is done to gain the individual’s trust, and often the scammer will use a false profile picture and/or display name, so at first glance it would appear to be a genuine member of the group. The fraudster will tell the victim they are sending them a one-time passcode which will allow them to join an upcoming video call for group members. The criminal then asks the victim to share this passcode with them so they can be “registered” for the video call. In reality, the criminal is asking for a registration code to register the victim’s WhatsApp account to a new device so they can take over their account. Once the fraudster has access to the victim’s WhatsApp account, they will enable two-step verification which makes it impossible for the victim to regain access their account. Other members of the group, or friends and family in the victim’s contacts, will then be messaged asking them to transfer money urgently as they are in desperate need of help. How to secure your WhatsApp account: Set up two-step verification (2SV) to give an extra layer of protection to your account. Tap Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable.CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person outside of WhatsApp to confirm their identity.Report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions. If you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, victims of fraud and cybercrime should report to Police Scotland on 101. Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk If you found this information useful, please share it with friends and family. Message Sent By Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) -
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Abandoned vehicles, causing obstruction and eyesore, can be reported to local authorities. Parking disputes on public roads are not actionable unless designated parking spaces are involved. Parking on someone's driveway without permission is considered trespassing and should be resolved civilly. Blocking driveways can be reported to local councils, especially if it prevents vehicle access. Illegal parking on zig-zag lines, dangerously, or obstructing emergency vehicles should be reported online. Parking over dropped kerbs, pedestrian crossings, Blue Badge spaces, taxi bays, cycle lanes, red lines, or near school entrances, bus or tram stops should be reported to local councils. https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/nuisance-parking/ -
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A nine-year-old double amputee boy, Tony Hudgell, missed the King's garden party due to a traffic jam on the M20. Buckingham Palace responded to Tony's disappointment on social media, inviting him to attend another day. Tony, who had both legs amputated after being abused as a baby, had received a special invitation to the party. The family's journey to London was hindered by a lorry fire on the motorway, causing them to abandon their trip. Despite the setback, Tony remained in good spirits throughout the ordeal. Due to upcoming surgery, the family is uncertain when they will be able to reschedule their visit to Buckingham Palace. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp4geqq5ydlo.amp -
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We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales. Here are some highlights in May's edition: - There's just one month to go before Neighbourhood Watch Week, and we want to hear your plans for how you'll be celebrating it - We bid a very fond farewell to Kevin Sproston, our Project Manager for Devon and Cornwall - Avast educates us on cyber-trauma and how to access support if you've been a victim of cybercrime - ERA celebrates 185 years of keeping Britain safe READ THE MAY NEWSLETTER HERE. https://s-url.co/F8QQAA We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities! -
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Four men have been arrested after £40 million of cocaine was found in a van in a village pub car park. Around 500kg of the drug was discovered in the back of a Vauxhall Vivaro in the car park in Lelley, East Yorkshire, the National Crime Agency said. Officers believe a few hours before the haul was found it had been transferred to shore in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) travelling from a larger vessel off the Hull coast. The RHIB was abandoned at Easington Beach, the NCA added. The beach is around 18 miles from the Stags Head Inn in Lelley, where the drugs “with a potential street value of around £40 million” were found. A 22-year-old from Argyll, a 32-year-old from Oban and a 24-year-old from Campbeltown, all in Scotland, were arrested at 8.30am on Saturday in Lelley, as well as a 39-year-old from Colombia, the NCA added. Senior investigating officer Alan French said: “This was a significant amount of cocaine and its seizure will be a sizeable blow to the organised crime group which attempted to smuggle it into the UK. “There’s no doubt these drugs would have been sold into communities around the UK, fuelling further crime and exploitation. “Working with our law enforcement partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt criminal activity, and protect the UK’s border security. “Our investigation continues following these arrests.” The NCA operation was supported by Humberside Police, Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and Border Force. (Source: Press Association) -
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Yiewsley High Street incident As a matter of urgency we wish to make you all aware of a scam that was brought to our attention recently. This week an elderly female who has a disabled badge parked her car in Yiewsley High Street near to the GP surgery. A male approached the victim and told her that it was illegal to park on the single yellow line even with a disabled badge. Later when she returned to her car, another male wearing what appeared like a black stab vest and a cap told her that she would get a fine for parking illegally. He made her tap her bank card on a portable machine and asked the victim for her card pin number. Following this incident several fraudulent transactions were noticed in the victim’s bank account. We would ask everyone to pay attention to anyone posing as enforcement officers in public and do not divulge your bank or personal information to anyone. These people are likely to act in groups. An enforcement officer in public should have identification and will not ask you to pay any fines on the spot. Please report any suspicious activity to police and call someone you know if you are unsure. If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: westdrayton@met.police.uk Regards, Jeff Jacob PCSO Email: westdrayton@met.police.uk -
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As a matter of urgency we wish to make you all aware of a scam that was brought to our attention recently. This week an elderly female who has a disabled badge parked her car in Yiewsley High Street near to the GP surgery. A male approached the victim and told her that it was illegal to park on the single yellow line even with a disabled badge. Later when she returned to her car, another male wearing what appeared like a black stab vest and a cap told her that she would get a fine for parking illegally. He made her tap her bank card on a portable machine and asked the victim for her card pin number. Following this incident several fraudulent transactions were noticed in the victim’s bank account. We would ask everyone to pay attention to anyone posing as enforcement officers in public and do not divulge your bank or personal information to anyone. These people are likely to act in groups. An enforcement officer in public should have identification and will not ask you to pay any fines on the spot. Please report any suspicious activity to police and call someone you know if you are unsure. If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: westdrayton@met.police.uk Regards, Jeff Jacob PCSO Email: westdrayton@met.police.uk -
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Here are some things you could do to reduce the risk of doorstep theft: Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery. Install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system. Install a security light. Arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home; if you live in a flat, is there a concierge who could accept the parcel for you? Use an off-site locker service for frequent deliveries, or for expensive items; these parcel boxes are more likely to be in busy, safer locations - such as supermarkets - rather than secluded areas which could be targeted by thieves. If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: gemma.robinson@met.pnn.police.uk Regards, Gemma Robinson Senior Office Assistant Email: gemma.robinson@met.pnn.police.uk Police Contact Advice Telephone 999 in an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress. Telephone 101 for non-emergencies where police attendance is required, to report a crime or to report any other incidents. If you are calling about the above message, please tell us that you are responding to a message from OWL. -
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A disabled woman, Kat Watkins, shared her experiences of facing barriers in healthcare due to her disability. She recounted an incident during a smear test where a consultant assumed she was not sexually active because of her disability and recommended cancelling future tests. Ms. Watkins also described feeling like she was treated as a "textbook example" rather than an individual, leading to multiple visits to obtain a result. Additionally, she mentioned an instance where hospital staff did not believe her when she reported broken bones in her leg, which was later confirmed to be broken in five places. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68891090 -
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Neighbourhood Police Reports Each Neighbourhood Policing team publishes a quarterly report with a wealth of information, including current team personnel, actions to pursue neighbourhood priorities, times and locations of opportunities to meet team members at ‘Have Your Say’ meetings, offenders brought to justice, and other policing news. Links to the latest reports for each area are below. Further down you will find also links to the latest Rural Crime Team update, and the latest Community Speedwatch newsletter. https://www.csb-forum.org/policing/neighbourhood-police-reports/ -
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As part of our ongoing commitment to inform the public of the work we do, Thames Valley Police is today (29/4) releasing statistics on our activity from the last financial year, from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It has been another busy year with over 400,000 calls to 999, over 470,000 calls to 101, and over 108,000 online reports to our contact management centres. We have attended 160,000 incidents, made 33,000 arrests, and helped find 5,687 missing people. On top of that, we policed the King’s Coronation in Windsor, which was another of the most significant policing operations in the history of the Force, additionally we helped people to stay safe at many other events such as Reading Festival, Royal Ascot and Henley Regatta. Knife crime and serious violence We are continuing our work to stop the devastation that knife crime and carrying a knife has on our communities. We have been working hard to reduce serious violence and knife crime on the streets of the Thames Valley, with a reduction of knife enabled crime by over 10% year on year, we have also seen a reduction in homicide. We continue to play an active role in the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership, working with partners to prevent young people being drawn into crime and violence, which includes proactively working with schools to speak to young people, as well as visiting sports and local community groups. Through Hotspot Policing and the use of technology, we are putting our officers into those areas where violence is most prevalent, providing a high-visibility deterrent to crime and taking strong proactive enforcement. Operation Deter has been implemented across the force to ensure there is a swift consequence for those aged over 18 arrested for knife crime. So if someone is arrested over the age of 18 with a knife they will be charged, remanded and put before Magistrates, within 48 hours. We are also expanding the ActNow approach for those under 18, seeing a rapid response from Youth Offending Teams to support young people and provide intervention. So if a person under the age of 18 is arrested with a knife, they will be brought into custody and within 90 minutes they are seen by Youth Offending Team caseworker to engage with them and divert them. A further meeting is also held within 48 hours with the young person’s parents or guardians. Additionally we have continued to target those who run County Drugs Lines through our Drugs and Serious Organised Crime teams. We have seen a 25% increase in people arrested for drug trafficking. This is down to the proactive work by these teams to bring county lines drug gangs and dealers to justice. Violence against women and girls Our relentless pursuit of those who seek to carry out violence and sexual violence against women and girls, has seen our charge rate for rape offences increase by 17.4% and for other sexual offences, the charge rate has gone up by 13.6%. Project Vigilant continues to be utilised across the Thames Valley with over 280 deployments this year. The project uses a combination of uniformed and plain clothed officers to carry out patrols in public areas outside nightclubs, bars and pubs, to identify people who may be displaying signs of predatory behaviour, such as sexual harassment, inappropriate touching and loitering. Project Vigilant which was developed by Thames Valley Police is now seen as national best practice and has been adopted by other Forces across the country. Domestic abuse accounted for 9,253 of all arrests made between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 in the Thames Valley, which equates to 28% of our overall arrests. We have seen a reduction in formal outcomes for domestic abuse. This is due to a reduction in the use of out of court disposals where there is no sanction on the offender. We are now focused on charging or giving more conditional cautions to offenders, which better protects victims. We have also seen significant sentences handed to child sex offenders, for example a 27 year sentence was handed to a Slough man who was found guilty of 18 serious child sex offences, another man from Oxfordshire was sentenced to 19 years for multiple counts of rape and other sexual offences. Roads police We continue to work proactively to reduce serious injury and death on our roads. Sadly, there have been 58 deaths on our roads. We are again using proactive hotspot policing to reduce casualties and catch offenders particularly of the fatal four. As a result, our officers have dealt with 14,132 people for speeding, driving without due care and attention, not wearing a seatbelt, driving without insurance and driving while distracted (using a mobile phone). A further 157,103 people were caught speeding by a traffic camera. (note figures are for calendar year ending 2023) Additionally, a further 4,303 people were arrested for drink or drug driving (figures from financial year to April 24). We will continue to proactively enforce and educate road users around the four fatal driving offences of speeding, not wearing a seat belt, driving while using a mobile phone and drink and drug driving. Recruitment We have recruited the highest ever number of police officers over the past year, as we continue our focus on creating a diverse work force which reflects the communities we serve. Our work force is made up of 9,270 officers, staff, PCSOs and Specials, with 48% female and 52% male. Meanwhile, of the 522 officers recruited in 2023-24, over 40% were female. Additionally 6.1% of new recruits were from an ethnic minority backgrounds. Chief Constable Jason Hogg, said: “I am extremely proud of all our officers, staff and volunteers, who are working to make the communities we serve in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire safer. “We have made significant progress in reducing serious violence and homicide, and I am also proud of the progress we have made on tackling violence against women and girls. “We have arrested over 30,000 people, responded to more than 160,000 incidents, and we have responded to over 950,000 contacts from the public. We have also made strides to reduce fatalities and serious collisions on our roads. Further, we have supported thousands of victims and have put more defendants through the courts. “There is always more we can do, and this year I really want for us to solve more crime and bring more offenders to justice, especially in crimes such as burglary, robbery and shoplifting. “Everyday I am reassured that we have the right people in Thames Valley Police, and we are continuing to recruit the right people, to create a police force that is trusted by our communities, but also reflects the public that we serve.” Numbers at a glance • 984,280 total contacts from the public – increase of 2% from 2022/23 • 404,654 calls to 999 • 471,512 calls to 101 • 108,114 online reports – an increase of 15% from 2022/23 • 638 missing people found deemed ‘high risk’ • 160,127 incidents attended • 33,006 arrests made • 755 knife crime arrests • 9,253 domestic abuse arrests • 6% increase in personal robbery (1,022 incidents to 1,088) • 3% increase in residential burglary (4,942 to 5,075) • 17.4% increase in charges for rape offences (121 to 142) • 13.6% increase in charges for sexual offences (426 to 484) Force and people awards • Police Force of the Year award at GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards • Kings Police Medal - DCC Benjamin Snuggs • MBE - Tori Olphin, Chief Data Scientist and Head of Research for the force's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) • Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year Award 2023 • Top 100 Employers for Apprenticeships 2023 • Member of the Royal Victorian Order- Superintendent Andy Cranidge • National Investigator of the Year by Police Federation- Detective Laura Corscadden • National Roads Policing Officer by Police Federation- Inspector Simon Hills • Protective Services Apprenticeship of the Year 2023 -
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The UK Government’s overall policy is that it is up to the victim to determine whether a crime against them was motivated by any particular characteristics. This builds trust in the police among minority communities, and allows flexibility in our response. However, for those seeking a definition of antisemitism, the UK’s College of Policing does include a working definition of antisemitism in their guidance to police forces in the UK. The full guidance is available from their website here and the definition is reproduced in full here: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. In addition, such manifestations could also target the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits. Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to: Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion. Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions. Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews. Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations. Examples of the ways in which antisemitism manifests itself with regard to the State of Israel taking into account the overall context could include: Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor. Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis. Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries). Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews. Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries." Published 30 March 2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/a-definition-of-antisemitism -
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There has been a recent attempted burglary and a burglary in Denham during the past week and this information has now been released to the public. Please follow the links below to find more information about these. Police are aware the same vehicle have been linked to both of these incidents. AMENDED: Witness appeal following attempted burglary-Denham | Thames Valley Police https://s-url.co/OXkQAA AMENDED: Witness appeal following Burglary - Denham | Thames Valley Police https://s-url.co/OHkQAA -
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Tory MP and former health minister, Dr Dan Poulter, defected to Labour, criticizing the Conservatives for becoming a "nationalist party of the right" and abandoning compassion and NHS prioritization. Poulter, who works as a part-time mental health doctor, announced his resignation as a Tory MP and will join Labour until the next election. He will not seek re-election to the House of Commons but plans to advise Labour on mental health policies while focusing on his NHS work. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/27/top-tory-mp-defects-to-labour-in-fury-at-nhs-crisis -
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Four middle-aged women in New Mexico were infected with HIV after receiving 'vampire facials' at a spa. The spa, VIP Beauty Salon and Spa in Albuquerque, was closed in 2018 due to unwrapped needles and unlabeled syringes found during an investigation. Vampire facials' involve extracting blood from the body and injecting it into the face to stimulate new skin cells. This is the first known case of HIV transmission through cosmetic injection. A fifth patient, a man who slept with one of the women but never went to the spa, was also infected. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13351547/kim-kardashian-vampire-facials-hiv-new-mexico.html -
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The family home where Captain Sir Tom Moore raised millions for NHS charities during the pandemic has been put up for sale for £2.25m. The house and grounds in Marston Moretaine, in Bedfordshire, became well-known after the Army veteran walked laps around the garden, raising £38m for NHS Charities Together. He lived there with his daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore and her family. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68896140 -
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Please see attached this week's Thames Valley Police social media summary. Links are included in article: Appeal for witnesses following sexual assault – Marlow | Thames Valley Police https://s-url.co/9T8QAA Appeal for witnesses following collision – Buckinghamshire | Thames Valley Police https://s-url.co/9j8QAA Six people sentenced in connection with drugs and trafficking offences – High Wycombe | Thames Valley Police https://s-url.co/9z8QAA Report Cruelty | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk https://s-url.co/AkAQAA This social media summary for 22.04.2024 can be downloaded in pdf format from the following URL: https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/531AF902CD25D0AFCDE73AFB4DFF8A49 Message Sent By April Baldwin (Police , Administrator , High Wycombe) -
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New data released by Action Fraud reveals £6.7 million was lost to ticket fraud last year. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ticketfraud Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold-out events. Last year more than 8,700 people reported they had been a victim ticket fraud, with a total of £6.7 million lost. This works out to an average loss of £772 per victim. How to protect yourself from ticket fraud: Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site. Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud. The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification (2SV). Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets. Is the vendor a member of Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR)? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe. Report ticket fraud If you feel at all suspicious, report the email to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk. For more advice on how to stay secure online, please visit cyberaware.gov.uk. Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk If you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, victims of fraud and cybercrime should report to Police Scotland on 101. Message Sent By Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) -
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The House of Representatives has voted in favour of a bill that could potentially lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese owner sells its stake in the social media platform. https://news.sky.com/story/tiktok-could-be-banned-in-us-after-house-of-representatives-passes-bill-13119396 -
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Three hundred officers will be going on strike at Britain's busiest airport from April 29th to May 2nd. They are striking because up to 250 officers could lose their jobs due to roster changes. Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be affected. https://news.sky.com/story/heathrow-border-force-strike-officers-to-strike-for-four-days-as-union-protests-against-job-cuts-13116691 -
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A new policing app has been launched to allow the public to report crimes and incidents, find out information about local policing teams and access prevention advice and support for victims and witnesses of crime. The app, called Police.UK, is available via both the Google Play and iOS App stores and has been delivered by the National Police Chief’s Council’s Digital Public Contact Programme (DPC). -
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Here are some highlights in April's edition: - The results from our National Crime and Community Survey 2023 are in and ready for you to read - Recordings from our spring webinar series are now available - It's time to get ready for Neighbourhood Watch Week and the Month of Community! - You can win a £50 Shop voucher for sharing your community stories We would also like to highlight that the NPCC (National Police Chief's Council) has launched a new app called Police.UK, which allows the public to report crimes and incidents, find out information about local policing teams, and access prevention advice and support for victims and witnesses of crime. You can read more about this here. https://s-url.co/3I4PAA Read the April newsletter here: https://s-url.co/3Y4PAA We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities! -
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@adler I hope you read the link I posted yesterday ( https://www.scooploop.com/thread/to-be-or-not-to-be ) because in that thread I gave you the opportunity to show evidence that what you stated about people who are bullied was a scientifically proven fact. For your reference what you stated was: "you can only be bullied if you are a wimp, and allow yourself to be bullied." I, of course, pointed out and gave you evidence that bullies use victim shaming as an excuse for their actions and that is why I asked you to you to supply me with a scientific/medical or governmental paper which has been fully peer reviewed and which categorically states only wimps can be bullied and that the victim of bullying allows it to happen Have a little look at this link: https://www.scooploop.com/thread/to-be-or-not-to-be#comment_471589 In it you will see mention to someone else regarding prevarication. Almost identical to the words you used to me and yet my request for evidence from you was made on February 29th. Who is prevaricating? Quite a few times now you have stated you consider me to be conceited. You even stated: You are always telling people things, your smug conceit is unbelievable...” Now is your chance to show the evidence you have to make those claims about conceit. So that I know exactly what you are discussing, I would like you to provide me with the link to each comment where you feel that I have shown conceit. I will look at those specific comments and respond to you. Please be aware that I will not accept ifs, buts or maybes as an answer, I want to see evidence that without provocation I have shown conceit. -
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It could have been a scene from a TV ad. It wasn't. A woman nursed a hedgehog overnight, only to discover that she hadn't been looking after a hedgehog. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13241783/Kind-hearted-woman-nurses-stricken-baby-hedgehog-overnight-discover-fluffy-hat-bobble-took-animal-hospital.html -
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There were two prawns, James and Christian, swimming along the bottom of the ocean. James accidentally rubbed up against an old lantern and whoosh, a genie appeared and granted James two wishes. After a moment's thought James decided that he wanted to become a shark to gain the respect of all the creatures of the sea. Whoosh.............James became shark and swam off. Two weeks later James was upset. All of his old friends were now afraid of him and his life was miserable. He decided to use his second wish, and he wished to be a prawn once again. Whoosh....he was a prawn again, James swam away to look for his mate Christian. When he arrived at Christian's house he knocked on the door and shouted out for Christian. "Go away", says Christian, "you're a shark and you'll just eat me". "No I won't", shouted James, "I'm now a prawn again Christian". -
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Olivia Coleman was, quite rightly, on the news yesterday claiming that female actors are paid less money than men. The thing is that the gift to deal with it is in the hands of her and all the other female actors. There are very few films, television shows and stage shows where the cast is entirely male. Having a quick thought I can come up with "Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing". Undoubtedly there will be others you can think of, but comparatively few overall. What surprises me about Olivia's statement is that she hasn't said what she wants to do about it. My suggestion would be to go on strike! If films,TV and stage are reliant on females, then withdraw your labour. The production companies will soon sit up and listen. Perhaps it could be called "We Too" as the aim is to pay the same as males get. Rather than just bewail it, i think she should deal with it! -
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A town has become the first outside of London where graves on unconsecrated land can be reused. The Bishop's Stortford Cemetery Act, external became law on Wednesday. It gives Bishop's Stortford Town Council powers to "lift and deepen" graves in the Hertfordshire town's Old Cemetery and New Cemetery if those plots are at least 75 years old. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cev98kgqzjro -
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Copied from the BBC: Russia and China have vetoed a US draft resolution that tied an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to the release of hostages held by Hamas It was the first time the US has supported calls for an immediate ceasefire in the region, having previously blocked such demands at the UN It comes as Antony Blinken meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel as the US grows more critical of Israel's military campaign The US secretary of state has been in the Middle East to discuss a post-war plan to govern and secure Gaza A UN-backed food security assessment this week said 1.1 million people in Gaza were struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 others hostage Hamas says more than 31,900 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its retaliatory offensive to eliminate Hamas -
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Three months ago this 12 year old girl Alma Jaroor, lost her family in an Israeli bombing raid. When looking for her little brother under the rubble she found him - without his head. Currently living with her uncle, she desperately needs to travel out of Gaza to get to her Grandmother and hopefully safety. This girl has suffered enough in her few years of life and needs some safety and security from now on. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68625406 -
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