Focus on tackling rural crime
There was coverage of the first rural crime day of action, a nationwide event organised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council on Thursday 8th November. Police forces were encouraged to use the day to carry out activity, including issuing warrants and making arrests. It followed reports showing that rural crime is now costing the UK […]
Calls to reduce rural road speed limits
The Sunday Times reported on calls from the cycling charity Sustrans for a reduction in the speed limit on rural roads from 60 to 40 miles per hour. The charity’s chief executive, Xavier Brice, said the change should be made to increase the quality and safety of Britain’s 16,500-mile national cycle network routes. Sustrans’ research […]
Leaked memo reveals Defra Brexit panic
A leaked memo sent on 22nd October shows plans for the emergency reshuffle of staff to support work in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help prepare for a no-deal Brexit. According to the Guardian, the Environment Agency was given just 24 hours to select 75 staff members to be sent […]
Rural hospitals on knife crime frontline
The Guardian reported on the pressures being faced by rural hospitals as a result of the so-called ‘county lines’ drugs trade, which has seen urban gangs moving drugs between cities and smaller towns and rural areas. The report noted that this is leading to a rise in knife crime, meaning rural hospitals are having to […]
High street crisis intensifies
An average of 14 high street shops are closing every day, with only 1.569 new shops opening in the period between January and June 2018, an historic low. According to Sky News, the research by PwC and the Local Data Company, highlights challenges including business rates, staff pay costs and rising rents. The Government announced […]
Second homes ‘tax loophole’ review
The Government has launched a review of a tax loophole under which the owners of second homes register their properties as businesses in order to gain small business rate relief. Coverage, including in the East Anglia Daily Times, highlighted that the practice means local authorities lose out on council tax revenues, even when properties are […]
