Road Traffic Collision, Person reported trapped near to the Asda Roundabout, A607 Newark Road Thurmaston Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service were called to RTC around 7.10pm tonight. Upon arrival incident confirmed as an RTC involving 2 vehicles, 1 person trapped, 4 other casualties at scene suffering injuries. A total of 5 Ambulances were in attendance. A607 north and southbound is closed. Fire Service are using hydraulic cutting equipment to extricate 1 casualty from vehicle. 3 casualties with minor injuries have been assessed by EMAS and have been conveyed to the Leicester Royal infirmary. The 4th casualty has been extricated from vehicle by Fire Service and is being conveyed to Queens Medical centre in Nottingham by land Ambulance. Fire Service is now making the vehicles safe. The Northbound carriageway will remain closed for some time. A police spokesperson said. “Police were called at 6.56pm yesterday (Saturday) to a report of a two-car collision in Newark Road, Thurmaston. East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service were also in attendance. Five people attended hospital following the collision. Their injuries were not reported to be life-threatening. Enquiries are ongoing. Road closures were in place following the collision. The road closures were lifted by around 9.45pm.”

A week-long anti knife crime operation carried out by Leicestershire Police led to 36 arrests and more than 50 knives being taken off the streets. Operation Sceptre formed part of a national intensification campaign by police forces aimed at reducing knife crime by targeting those carrying weapons and disrupting the supply of knives available to use. It led to 36 arrests, 12 of which were directly related to knife crime offences and a quantity of weapons being taken off the streets. In all, nine knives were seized by officers, three knives were recovered during 15 knife sweeps across the county and a total of 48 knives were recovered from knife surrender bins around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. As part of the week, officers conducted knife sweeps, deployed portable knife arches, conducted proactive patrols and performed a number of stop and search activities where appropriate. Working in tandem with local partners, community colleges and schools, officers supported with more than 30 anti-knife and drug events and engaging with 8,000 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Online, officers conducted digital knife crime awareness sessions, these were hosted virtually and attended by in excess of 4,000 students and teachers. Officers also attended community meetings and co-ordinated 18 test purchase operations in shops to ensure business were selling knives, which are age-restricted products, legally. The We Don’t Carry #LivesNotKnives online campaign reached over 350,000 people across digital and social media channels. Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Drummond, from Leicestershire Police’s Violent and Complex Crime Unit, who led the operation said: “Working closely as a force and with our partners across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland we have recorded some great proactive results. “The operation reflects our commitment to working alongside local agencies and the community to prevent knife crime. Whilst policing plays an essential role in enforcement activity we want to continue to work together alongside our Violence Reduction Network to embed a community-led approach to prevention and enforcement, by working together and taking a unified approach we will ultimately be more effective in reducing knife crime. “It is important that we all take a role in supporting our young people to make positive choices and facilitate conversations that bring about change, help and support is available and resources can be found on our website. “Ultimately, knife crime will not be tolerated, we will continue to tackle knife crime as a force priority and we will continue to work collaboratively to do everything we can to catch offenders and deal with them correctly.” If you are looking for help and support, please visit Leicestershire Police’s website. If you are a concerned family member or friend there is also information on the website to help you. Why not start the conversation today using our a 10 step guide? https://www.leics.police.uk/livesnotknives

The new Lord Mayor of Leicester has been officially inaugurated in a ceremony at the Town Hall. Cllr Deepak Bajaj was handed the chains of office from outgoing Lord Mayor Cllr Annette Byrne at the city council’s first virtual mayor-making on Thursday evening, due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions preventing larger gatherings. With just a handful of guests present at the Town Hall, the majority of councillors joined via Zoom while other guests watching a live stream of events. Councillor Bajaj, who was born in Delhi, moved to the UK as a child and grew up in Belgrave, has been a councillor since 2007, representing the Evington ward. He has sat on various council committees including audit finance, children services, neighbourhoods, heritage, leisure, health, adult social care and the fire authority. His election had been deferred for 12 months due to the lockdown restrictions which meant the mayor-making ceremony in 2020 couldn’t go ahead. Cllr Byrne’s term of office as Lord Mayor lasted two years as a result, during which Cllr Bajaj served as Deputy Lord Mayor. During his term of office, he has chosen to support two charities. Silver Star Diabetes, which will be focusing its work on Leicester’s first diabetes village to provide a one-stop shop for health checks, advice and guidance to anyone concerned about diabetes and the impact it can have on people’s lives. The second charity is the Royal Anglian Benevolent Charity, which has a proud history with the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. The charity supports people who are injured in the line of duty, many of which have long-term disabilities or who for a variety of reasons fall on hard times when they leave the forces. Cllr Bajaj is married to Shallu and they have two sons and a daughter. She will be Lady Mayoress to Cllr Bajaj, who will also be supported by his mother, Nisha, as his consort. Throughout his year of office, Cllr Bajaj will be appointing a number of different spiritual advisors from key faith groups representing the city’s diversity, including representatives from the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities. Cllr Bajaj said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Lord Mayor of Leicester and I’m very much looking forward to supporting the local people who add so much to our communities. “Leicester is very important to me, so it is an honour to have the opportunity to serve this wonderful city.” Leicester City Council News

A group of volunteers from the Woodgate residents association are busy this weekend planting plants along Woodgate. The concrete large pots outside the old Premier screw building are having new plants along with dozens of hanging baskets are to be displayed down Woodgate. Geoff the spokesperson said, We do this every year to Brighton up the Woodgate area, we received funding from the city council of £250. It’s a large operation not just to plant but to maintain and water them. We are always looking for donations of bedding plants so if there’s any business out there that can help us we would like to hear from you.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service were called to a House fire on Lewis Close, Leicester around 13.30 (Friday 30th April). 1 appliance from Western Station, 2 x appliance from Eastern Station, 1 x appliance from Southern Station and 1 x Command Support Vehicle from Wigston Station, 1 x Emergency Response Vehicle. Several calls received to a house on fire with persons inside the property. Fire was believed to have started from outside the property but was starting to affect the ground floor. Upon approach fire crews confirmed a large plume of black smoke could be seen. External fire at the rear of the property had spread to the house and neighboring property. 6 Breathing Apparatus, 3 Hose Reel Jets and 2 Main Jets in use. All persons accounted for. Two occupants were rescued and led to safety prior to Fire Service arrival. Gas and electricity has been isolated to the property and a Red Cross Emergency Response vehicle was mobilised to assist residents. 14:35 Damping down and turning in progress and Fire investigation is now under way and a second property was also affected by fire. 17:10 An Aerial Ladder Platform was mobilised to assist with isolating the solar panels. 18:30 Aerial Ladder Platform is in use to isolate solar panels. Tier 2 Fire Investigation continues. 19:30 Aerial Ladder Platform now left the scene - solar panels made safe. 1 fire engine remains in attendance continuing operations. Fire investigation now complete, cause believed electrical fault from charging of electrical mobility scooter. Severe fire, heat and smoke damage has been caused to a large proportion of the property of origin plus some damage to the soffits of neighbouring property. Ensure you have working smoke alarms. Fire safety in the home is essential in order to keep you and your family safe. The easiest way to protect your home and family from fire is with working smoke alarms. Fit at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home. The ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room, and on the hallway and landing, so you can hear an alarm throughout your home. Don’t forget to test your smoke alarms at least once a month. Visit https://leics-fire.gov.uk/your-safety/at-home/ for more information.

A man who ran a controlled phone line to supply class A drugs throughout the county has been jailed. Fabian Evans, 35, appeared at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday 30 April) where he was sentenced to seven years and five months imprisonment. Evans, of Chatwins Wharf, Tipton in Sandwell, pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin at an earlier hearing in the same court. Co-offender, Luke Coleman, also appeared today and was sentenced to two years and five months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to charges of possession of class A drugs and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. Acting on intelligence received officers carried out an operation between 1 September 2019 and 18 August last year which focused on the supply line. From enquiries carried out it became apparent Evans was employing runners to supply drugs in and around the Westcotes area of Leicester. Evans was arrested at his home address in Sandwell on the 18 August 2020. On the same day officers executed a warrant under Section 8 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act at an address in Station Road in Wigston. Inside the property they found Coleman, 24, of Irvine Close, Stenson Fields, Derby. Coleman was wearing a pair of latex gloves and was in the process of cutting and wrapping up a supply of class A drugs on the kitchen counter – the drugs had an estimated street value of £5,000. Drugs paraphernalia and mobile phones were also discovered inside the property. PC Nick Bird was the investigating officer. He said: “The force is committed to tackling the supply of illegal drugs within our communities and officers continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. “Anyone with information about drug offending in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is encouraged to report what they know. We will take all reports seriously and investigate thoroughly. “With public help we can combat drug crime.”

A live training exercise to test the response of emergency services to a marauding terrorist attack was held in Leicestershire yesterday (Thurs) The exercise, which was designed by Counter Terrorism Policing in the East Midlands, involved Leicestershire Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and took place at St. Georges Barracks, North Luffenham. The exercise was focused on how emergency services would respond to a marauding terrorist attack in the area. It is similar to others carried out across the country and has not been conducted in response to any specific threat or information. The exercise involved around 100 employees from across the three emergency services. Details of the exercise were not shared in advance to allow the emergency services to respond spontaneously as they would in a real incident. The areas where the exercise was carried out were tightly controlled to ensure limited impact on the public. Assistant Chief Constable Julia Debenham said: “It is important for us to carry out live training exercises such as this to ensure all our emergency services are fully prepared and trained to the highest level to react in the most effective and efficient way possible should we ever face a situation such as this. We regularly carry out training in relation to critical incidents we may face in order to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep people safe. “A lot of planning has gone into the exercise from all the emergency services teams as well as by all those who were involved in the training exercise yesterday. Our thanks go to everyone who has been involved. “We would like to stress that similar training exercises are carried out across the country and this is not in response to any specific threat made.” Leicestershire Police News 30/04/21

Leicestershire’s director of public health Mike Sandys, features in a video to reassure voters that polling stations are safe places to visit, despite the pandemic. Mike Sandys has joined with Bev Smith, Police Area Returning Officer for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, to feature in a short video showing people exactly what to expect when they go out to cast their vote. Voters are being reminded they must take a face covering and their own pen or pencil to polling stations, which will have similar safety measures to those seen in shops and supermarkets. Leicestershire has seen a big rise in those opting for a postal vote this year, with over 96,000 people choosing to vote from home – but for most it will be the traditional trip down to their local polling station. Across the county, pubs, churches, libraries, a fire station and even a carpet shop are to be used as polling stations on election day, May 6. In previous years, many schools have been used as voting venues, but this year, returning officers across the country have been urged to find alternative locations where possible in a bid to minimise disruption for pupils who have already missed much time off school due to Covid 19. "We want to ensure that everyone who is entitled to vote can do so on May 6 despite the pandemic and we’d like to reassure everyone that polling stations are safe places to visit. All polling stations will have similar safety measures in place to those that we are used to in shops – hand sanitiser at exits and entrances, social distance markings and where possible a one-way system. All you need to do is to take along a face covering and your own pen or pencil." Mike Sandys, director of public health Bev Smith added: “Polling stations will be Covid-secure - voting booths will be cleaned regularly and although staff may be behind screens, they will still be available to help if necessary, including providing clean pencils for those who need them.” The county council provides a wide range of services including adult social care, children's social care, public health, transport, education, planning, road maintenance, libraries, waste management and trading standards. This year Leicestershire residents will be voting in elections for both the county council and the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner. In some areas, electors will also vote in by-elections and local referenda. If you find yourself having to self-isolate on election day, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote, asking for someone you trust to cast your vote for you. These applications can be made up to 5pm on May 6. In the video below, Mike Sandys talks about what to expect when you go to vote next week: Find out more https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/elections Key facts: There are 55 county councillors in Leicestershire - and all seats are up for election Around 550,000 people are eligible to vote People in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can also vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election on 6 May Key dates: 6 May: Polls open from 7am until 10pm 7 May: Vote count starts at 11.30am Leicestershire Country Council News

Leicester's Director of Public Health Professor Ivan Browne says that Leicester has received its first notifications from Public Health England (PHE) of a COVID-19 variant in the city that requires investigation and follow up. Professor Browne said he’d been notified of three cases of the variant known as VUI-21-APR-01 (first identified in India). All of the cases were linked to travel from India, prior to it being placed on the Government’s red list last Friday (23 April). The variant was identified after a process known as sequencing was carried out on the tests taken by returning travellers who had tested positive for COVID-19, and on follow-up tests issued to their contacts. As a precautionary measure, further testing will be carried out at a city school. Surge testing or mass testing of communities is not currently required as the cases are all linked to travel. Professor Browne said: “Public Health England notified us on Sunday that it had identified three cases of the variant known as VUI-21-APR in Leicester. PHE had already been in touch with the people concerned and some of their contacts. “Since then we have been working closely with PHE to ensure that all close contacts of those affected are identified and advised to self-isolate for 10 days. Targeted testing is also taking place in a city school as a precautionary measure. “There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness or increased risk of mortality. Our advice to everyone remains the same. The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to keep washing or sanitising your hands, wear a face covering in public places, stay apart from those you don’t live with, and abide by the restrictions in place. “Regardless of whether you have travelled recently, everyone is encouraged to take up the offer of twice weekly testing so that we can stop the spread of the virus.” People without symptoms can drop in to any of the council’s six rapid test centres in the city to get a test. No appointment is needed and results come back in less than an hour. Test kits can also be collected from the test centres and some pharmacies to do at home. Anyone with symptoms should book an appointment for a PCR test. More details on testing is available on the council’s website www.leicester.gov.uk/rapidtests Leicester City Council News

Work is underway on the first stage of an ambitious project to transform the site of Leicester’s biggest Roman ruins into a world-class visitor centre. Jewry Wall Museum, which opened in 1966, is home to one of the UK’s tallest civilian Roman structures, along with the impressive remains of a Roman bathhouse. The museum closed to the public in 2017, and designs were drawn up for a newer, revamped visitor attraction, housed in both the existing Jewry Wall Museum and adjoining former Vaughan College buildings which the city council bought in 2015. Building work on the first phase is taking place, including the creation of a new walkway to provide level access to the former Vaughan College entrance from St Nicholas Circle along with refurbishment of the windows and roof, and the construction of a new entrance and rear lobby. This first phase of structural work is costing about £2.9million, and is expected to continue until December 2021. The work will respect the heritage of the Grade II listed building, with features such as the new walkway drawing upon the design features created back in the 1960s by the building’s original architect, Trevor Dannatt. Hoardings are in place around the site and include viewing points for people to see the work as it progresses. The work is due to be discussed at a meeting of the city council's Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Sport scrutiny commission this week. The latest designs for the inside of the planned visitor centre have also been revealed, combining immersive digital technology with items from the city’s Roman collection to bring to life the ancient bathhouse ruins. Leicester-based Haley Sharpe Design are working with Leicester City Council on how the interior of the new museum will look. New displays will tell the story of the Jewry Wall site and everyday life in Roman Leicester, immersing visitors as they travel back in time to explore the baths complex and discover other locations at the heart of city life. Technology will be used to breathe life into the stories of citizens from Roman Leicester – which was known as Ratae Corielavorum – giving visitors the chance to find out what life in the city would have been like nearly 2,000 years ago. It will focus on themes including Leicester’s place in Roman Britain, life in Roman Leicester, the Jewry Wall baths and Leicester’s archaeological pioneers. The displays will feature items from the city’s museum collections, including treasures which survived for many years buried under Leicester’s streets and buildings before being rediscovered through archaeological investigations. The second phase of the project involving infrastructure work such as installing new heating, lighting and electrical work, and creating a new reception area, shop, café, gallery and meeting rooms, is due to be completed by September 2022. The final stage of work will involve creating and installing the exhibition displays themselves. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2023, at a cost of around £15.5million, with £2.5million provided by the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Rates Pool fund. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “I’m really pleased that work is underway on this exciting project to showcase what is such as major part of Leicester’s Roman history. “Tourism is a vital part of the city’s economy, bringing in millions of pounds every year, and we are planning for the future by carrying out this work now, so that we can help ensure that visitors return once again to the city when they are able to do so. “There is no other similar dedicated Roman visitor site within 80 miles of Leicester, and these remains of the Jewry Wall and Roman bathhouse are worthy of being part of a substantial, and up to date, visitor attraction. “Vaughan College itself is a listed building, and is also deservedly being put to better use as part of this overall scheme. “As well as fitting out the both buildings, this project is also an investment in the fabric of the buildings themselves to ensure they are brought up to a standard to be used and enjoyed for many years to come.” The planned new café on the site will overlook the Jewry Wall and will be open to all visitors. The main lecture hall on the upper floor is intended to be both part of the museum experience when the attraction is open, and capable of staging meetings, performances and other events during the evenings when the museum is shut. Leicester deputy city mayor for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Piara Singh Clair, added: “There has been a longstanding desire to improve the Jewry Wall site, and to make it an important part of the city’s tourism offer. “The last 12 months of nationwide coronavirus restrictions has hit everyone hard, but over the coming months they are being steadily eased, and we expect visitors to once again be able to return to the city. “Investing now means this site will be ready to make a vital contribution to the recovery of the city’s economy when the time comes.” Leicester Museums and Galleries is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Leicester City Council News release Published on Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Four members of an organised crime group who hid class A drugs in a cereal box have been jailed for more than 50 years between them for their part in supplying drugs. Officers from East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) carried out a covert operation in 2019 into the supply of class A drugs in Birmingham, Leicester and Peterborough. The main ring leader, Eashan Chowdhury, arranged for his ‘workers’ to travel to various locations and collect wholesale amounts of heroin. During a police operation in July 2019, officers intercepted a delivery of three kilograms of heroin with a street value of more than £150,000. The drugs were concealed in a cereal box (pictured) and had been collected from Abubakr Zubair in Birmingham. Zubair was identified as the supplier. When Chowdhury was arrested in October 2019, he attempted to get rid of cocaine by throwing it out of a window. Unfortunately for him, he was caught in the act. Drugs paraphernalia was recovered from Chowdhury’s home in Leicester including plastic bags used for packing the drugs, a powdered cutting agent used to bulk out the drugs, dealers’ lists setting out the money owed by various customers and also digital weighing scales. Mohammed Khan, Samadul Islam, Mohammed Miah and Azid Khan, were identified as Chowdhury’s workers. Mohammed Khan was also known as Chowdhury’s right-hand man. Phones were examined during the investigation which showed the level of communication between the group at all hours of the day and night. One particular phone had an image of a large sum of cash in a bag (pictured), believed to be from the proceeds of crime. The EMSOU operation resulted in all six defendants being charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs. During the various court proceedings, the defendants were convicted and sentenced as follows:- Abubakr Zubair, 22, formerly of Hampton Road, Aston, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) offences at an earlier hearing. On Friday 9 April, he was jailed for 12 years and nine months. Eashan Chowdhury, 24, formerly of Jubilee Gardens, Leicester, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and possession with intent to supply cocaine after a trial. He was sentenced on Friday 9 April to 17 years in prison. Mohammed Khan, 22, formerly of Avon Street, Leicester, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to supply heroin. On Friday 9 April he was jailed for 11 years and three months. Samadul Islam, 23, formerly of Skipworth Street, Leicester, pleaded guilty in February this year to conspiracy to supply heroin. On Friday 9 April he was jailed for 10 years and two months. Mohammed Miah, 22, of Hamilton Street, Leicester, and Azid Khan, 23, of Avon Street, Leicester, pleaded guilty on Friday 23 April to POCA offences. They were both sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. Investigator Rachael Robinson, was one of the investigating officers from EMSOU on the operation. She said: “This was a lengthy and complex investigation involving a number of people involved in the supply of class A drugs. Chowdhury was identified as the ringleader who directed others. “This was an organised crime group who made attempts to cover their tracks and went as far as concealing drugs in cereal boxes and other packaging. “Ultimately the operation stopped more than 10 kilos of Class A drugs from hitting our streets. Drugs are a blight on society and lead to the breakdown of families and relationships. We take drugs misuse extremely seriously and will use our powers to rid the streets of these harmful substances.” Leicestershire Police News 28/04/2021

Garden Makeover Series, Is looking for a Leicester based hero who would like to have their (very small or balcony) garden turned into a piece of paradise as a thank you for all their wonderful work in society. Do you know of anyone that you could nominate for this in the Leicester area. Love Your Garden Series 11, georgiaharding@spungoldtv.com