Other UK News In Brief

Man Shot Dead In Finchley

A murder investigation has been launched and detectives are appealing for witnesses and information after a man was shot dead in Finchley on Saturday, 27 November. Police were called shortly after 6am to Tillingbourne Gardens, in North London, to reports of a man having been shot in a car. Officers and ambulance service (LAS) discovered a man in his twenties with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The next of kin have been informed. Whilst officers believe they know who the deceased is they are awaiting formal identification. A post mortem examination was expected to take place on Saturday. An incident room has opened at Hendon and the investigation is being lead by Detective Chief Inspector Tim Duffield from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command. DCI Duffield said: "We are eager to hear from anyone who was near Tillingbourne Gardens, which is close to the Holiday Inn on the North Circular Road, at around 6am on Saturday 27th November. It is possible someone may have seen or heard something suspicious but is unaware of its significance. Any information will be treated in the strictest confidence." There have been no arrests at present.

Think! Team Up With West Bromwich Albion

An innovative new partnership between the THINK! child road safety campaign and West Bromwich Albion Football Club was launched today by children from Galton Valley Primary School in Smethwick.West Bromwich Albion FC will use its after-school clubs and activities in schools and on match days to help youngsters learn about road safety with THINK!'s Tales of the Road materials. The new initiative will focus on helping six to 11-year-olds learn how to find safe places to cross the road after evidence showed that this is a key factor in helping children stay safe on the roads. Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: 

"Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world but last year more than 1,600 children were killed or seriously injured - that's 31 children every week. I am delighted to announce that THINK! is teaming up with West Bromwich Albion FC to help get the message across through community work, competitions and various other activities in the local schools. I hope that this scheme will see more children gain in knowledge and confidence so that we will see fewer tragedies on the roads." Over the forthcoming weeks West Bromwich Albion FC will work with ten primary schools across Sandwell, using various fun activities in and out of the classroom to help youngsters learn about road safety with THINK!'s Tales of the Road materials. The four clubs taking part in the new pilot project - Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion are all based in regions where there are higher than average casualty numbers for children aged six to 11. This work will be supported by local road safety officers and council road safety programmes. In addition, THINK! will distribute exercise books with road safety activities to primary schools across the country in January 2011.

Builder Sentenced After Roofers Put At Risk

A builder has been sentenced after two of his employees put themselves, staff and customers at risk while working on the roof of a Frankie and Benny’s restaurant in Salford Quays. Andrew McElvaney, 52, from Chesterfield, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the workers were spotted replacing broken tiles on 21 September 2009, without proper safety equipment. Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard customers and staff at the restaurant, at Capital Quays on Trafford Road, were also put at risk as the area below where they were working had not been cordoned off. At one point, one of the roofers was seen working directly above a customer, who was sitting at a table outside the front of the restaurant. The employees at Mr McElvaney’s company, Shire Building Services, used a tower scaffold to reach the roof but the job required them to work directly on the roof, outside the protection of the scaffold. As a result, the court heard they could have been seriously injured if they had fallen almost three metres to the ground. Mr McElvaney, from Old Withington, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation Height Regulations by failing to ensure the work was properly planned and carried out safely. He was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,916.

(BMcN)