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The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned a campaign encouraging the public to light sky lanterns in a show of solidarity for NHS workers is ‘misguided’. All emergency services are currently under increased pressure due to COVID-19. NFCC believes the suggestion that people should set off highly flammable lanterns – at a time when wildfires are likely to be on the increase due to the weather conditions – should be highly discouraged. “NFCC does not advocate the use of sky lanterns and we do not believe they should be used under any circumstances.” Roy Wilsher NFCC is urging the public to look for alternative ways to show their support to the NHS. Lanterns are a fire hazard; pose a risk to livestock, agriculture, thatched properties and hazardous material sites. Almost 90 local authorities across the UK have banned the use of lanterns. NFCC Chair Roy Wilsher said: “While I fully understand people wanting to show their support to the NHS, I would encourage people to find a different way to do this. “NFCC does not advocate the use of sky lanterns and we do not believe they should be used under any circumstances. “All emergency services are currently under unprecedented pressure due to COVID-19, and I am concerned this type of activity could not only put additional pressure on the fire service, but further strain on the NHS. “If a sky lantern causes a fire, it could see firefighters spending valuable time dealing with what could be a complex and large-scale incident. Time which could be spent supporting vulnerable people in the community, as part of the fire services response to COVID-19.” A fire in the West Midlands caused by a lantern saw 39 fire appliances and more than 200 firefighters in attendance to tackle it over a number of days.

Plans to create up to 2,750 new homes, community facilities and business space near Lutterworth are set to be discussed by planners later this month. The 550-acre development on land east of the town – including nearly 250 acres of green space, two new primary schools, a community hub and a network of foot and cycle paths connecting to the town centre – would also generate 2,500 jobs. Leicestershire County Council’s proposal is due to be discussed by Harborough District Council’s planning committee on 21 April. Councillor Byron Rhodes, cabinet member for property said: New homes are in demand. And our focus is on creating quality, affordable and sustainable houses that will help people get on or move up the property ladder. Sustainable design, community and life-long living are at the heart of our plans. And from first-time buyers and families to people looking for retirement living, the development would offer a broad range of high-quality houses, including around 1,100 affordable homes. It also incorporates a wide-range of green features designed to maximise renewable energy and support low-carbon living, underlining our commitment to tackling climate change. The proposed scheme features: Over 50 per cent green space – including Swift Valley Community Park, playing fields, allotments, woodland, trees and hedgerows and new ecological habitats Foot and cycle paths – connecting with Lutterworth town centre, boosting walking and cycling Nearly 60 acres of retail and business space - creating 2,500 jobs Two new primary schools - and funding for extra secondary school places Roads and transport - improvements to main roads and M1 to boost capacity, a new M1 bridge, a new spine road to reduce town centre traffic plus new bus routes A community hub – that could accommodate shops, restaurants, cafes, health centre and community hall Ultra-fast broadband at each property

Dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend but for officers, who spend all day everyday with their furry four-legged companion, it’s more than just a friendship – it’s a bond like no other. And for one officer being able to work and play with these crime-fighting canines really is a dream come true. PC Darren Sewell has been a cop for nearly 21 years and has spent the last 16 years as a dog handler, but his passion for policing and pooches began many years before. “I’ve loved dogs since I was a kid and being a police dog handler was always my dream job. Even after all these years there’s nothing else I’d rather do,” he said. Darren is one of a handful of officers working in the role as part of Leicestershire Police’s dog unit. In the unit there are six breeds of working police dogs – German and Dutch Shepherds and a Belgian Malinois, who all work as general purpose dogs - tracking offenders, locating missing people and protecting officers in potential dangerous situations. As well as a Labrador, Cocker and Springer Spaniels, known as sniffer dogs, who can find illegal drugs, quantities of cash, explosives, bodily fluids and even digital media storage devices, such as SIM cards and hard drives. The job brings a whole new meaning to taking work home as the dogs also live with their handler and are responsible for their care and continual training fulltime. In Darren’s many years in the role he’s been paired with four dogs and has also helped to train three puppies, including the unit’s latest addition Jura. The 16-week-old will spend around the next 12 months training to become a general purpose police dog in the hope he will follow in the paw prints of Gilly, Darren’s current partner, when he retires next year. “The next 12 months are going to be very busy, out on the streets with Gilly but also preparing Jura. He’s already started some basic training – getting him used to a variety of sights, sounds and smells, as well as beginning to track different scents. “He’s making good progress and starting to show some real promise. I’ve got high hopes for this future as a working police dog,” added Darren. But until then Gilly will continue protecting and serving the communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – and Darren feels very fortunate to have him by his side. “I feel extremely lucky to be doing my ultimate dream job. The talent and intelligence Gilly and all the dogs in our unit show is just incredible. The bond we share with these animals is definitely unique.” Leicestershire Police is currently recruiting for officers. If you are interested in a career with us, visit: www.leics.police.uk/joinus

SAFETY videos in 14 different languages have been launched today (Tuesday, April 7) to emphasise to communities across Leicester how to protect themselves from the coronavirus pandemic. Staff from Leicester City Council’s community languages service have translated the NHS ‘Stay at Home’ poster into some of the languages spoken widely in Leicester, including Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Somali, Arabic, Polish, Slovak, Farsi and Mandarin, as well as a version in English. The council has been working with local company Shrinker to turn the information into a series of 40 to 45-second videos, to help get the public safety message to communities who otherwise might be hard to reach. The videos are available to view on Leicester City Council’s Youtube channel here, and will also be shared on its Twitter and Facebook accounts. The messages in the videos reflect the ongoing Government and NHS safety advice, reminding people to stay at home wherever possible, and only leave for urgent reasons such as getting food or medical supplies, daily exercise or medical care, or to work. It also explains the importance of continued social distancing – keeping two metres away from other people at all times – when doing so. Getting the public health message across to people in the most widely spoken of those languages across the city is a key concern. Shrinker, which is based in the city, provided its video making services free of charge to the city council, having previously worked with Leicestershire Police in making multi-language versions of anti-hate crime information available. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “It is vital that we get these public health messages out to people in neighbourhoods throughout the city, to give them the best chance to stay safe and well during this pandemic. “I am very grateful to Shrinker for working with us on producing these video messages so quickly so we can ensure the important information gets to as many people as possible. “These are incredibly difficult times for people everywhere, but if we pull together and focus on helping each other to stay safe and well by following the Government’s guidelines, we stand the best chance of getting through this.” To view the videos, visit Leicester City Council’s Youtube channel here

Retailers are being urged to act responsibly during the coronavirus outbreak by not charging vastly inflated prices. Leicester City Council’s Trading Standards team has received a high number of complaints about sudden price rises. However, the team is advising consumers to report any complaints directly to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA is the correct body for dealing with such complaints, and has set up a dedicated email address for people to report to - covid.monitoring@cma.gov.uk At present, there is no direct legislation that regulates the price of goods. But the CMA will consider any evidence that companies may have broken competition or consumer protection law by charging excessive prices or making misleading claims – for example, about the efficacy of protective equipment. Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair, who is responsible for regulatory services in Leicester, said: “It’s natural that people turn to our Trading Standards team when they want to report poor practice or possible law-breaking in this area – but the correct body is actually the Competition and Markets Authority. “It’s very disappointing that a small number of businesses should choose to act in this way and capitalise on the current situation. The vast majority of companies are, thankfully, behaving responsibly, with many going out of their way to help consumers. I’m sure people will long remember the businesses – particularly local businesses – which have helped them at this difficult time. “If you are buying something in the current climate, it’s wise to check carefully details like returns policy and delivery times. And think very carefully about what you are prepared to pay. Panic-buying can benefit unscrupulous firms.” Ron Ruddock, trading standards manager at Leicester City Council, said: “We would urge customers, wherever possible, to report these practices to the Competition and Markets Authority and to avoid using those businesses that are taking advantage of their customers.” To report a business of unfair trading practices, use the email address listed above, call the CMA on 020 3738 6000 or visit www.gov.uk/government/collections/cma-covid-19-response You can also contact the Citizens’ Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. Businesses seeking advice should visit www.businesscompanion.info Published on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 Leicester City Council News

Leicester City Council has teamed up with local bike shops, projects and organisations to offer free bikes to key workers during the coronavirus crisis. The scheme – called Leicester Bike Aid – is being organised by the council’s Ride Leicester team, and is offering to loan bikes to people who need transport to keep working. Funded by the council and with donations from local bikes shops, businesses, Sustrans and British Cycling, the scheme has already provided 15 bikes for key workers – mostly from the NHS – since its launch on 3 April. Fifty more bikes are available, with plans to extend further, if required, to meet demand. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on transport and environment, said: “We want to do all we can to support the essential work of key workers in the fight against coronavirus. We’ve been able to draw on our well-established cycling team at the council to set up a quick, effective and free bike loan service for people who need to get to work and for whom a bike is the best option at this time. “As well as making bikes available on indefinite loan, we’re providing essentials such as locks and lights so that people have everything they need to start commuting by bike. We’re also offering a wider service from Leicester Bike Aid, which includes free bike checks for key workers who already cycle. Our experienced riders are also using the city council’s purpose-built cargo bikes to help distribute goods, such as food parcels, across the city.” Key workers who are interested in the scheme can email cycle-city@leicester.gov.uk and then fill in a registration form. Bikes can be picked up from participating cycle shops a few days after you have successfully registered. The bikes are cleaned and sanitised before being handed over, and social distancing is observed during collection. Ride Leicester project manager Andy Salkeld added: “We’re really pleased to be supporting key workers with this scheme. Bike projects have been great in donating bikes, local cycle shops are our distribution outlets and we’re using the city council’s Ride Leicester freight bikes to transport everything to where it needs to be – we’re using cycles to move cycles! This is the sort of team working that we all need at a time like this.” More information about Leicester Bike Aid is available at https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/bike-aid/ Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 Leicester City Council News

‘One Prepared’ website will help direct people to advice and support’ We’re bringing together communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to support the most vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic. A new website has been launched across the region today to assist in directing people to the help and advice available in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ‘One Prepared’ site aims to help visitors find support teams in their communities who can help with questions and concerns in relation to COVID-19 including help looking after vulnerable people and support for those suffering from financial hardship. Other help and advice includes extra support for local employers, information on health provision in each area, details on changes to council services and local business advice. The site will assist in directing people to the right organisation for this support and will also provide details for those wanting to offer voluntary help in their immediate community. The site, which is supported by the NHS, the emergency services and local councils and businesses, can be found at www.llrprepared.org.uk/one-prepared/ The One Prepared initiative is part of a network of community groups who have already had regional emergency action plans approved by the police and local authorities. The site is designed to reassure the community that help can be sought from different organisations which also helps to take some of the pressure off the emergency services at this time. The site is being promoted on the social media channels of those involved and people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are encouraged to use and share the site so it becomes the first point of contact for anyone in need of help or advice or who wishes to support their community. Deputy Chief Constable at Leicestershire Police, Rob Nixon said: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have pulled together as one across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to prepare and help people during this emergency. “Together we are taking action and local councils, the emergency services and voluntary organisations are doing all we can to help you and to support our NHS at this perilous time. “I encourage people to use the new One Prepared site to seek the advice and help you need and to be directed to the right place to find this support. “If you would like to volunteer in your community and help to make a difference, please also visit the site for further details on how you can do this.”

The government has today (26 March 2020) made new public health regulations strengthening police enforcement powers in England, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives. To ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, from today, if members of the public do not comply the police may: instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice under the regulations could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines. If an individual continues to refuse to comply, they will be acting unlawfully, and the police may arrest them where deemed proportionate and necessary. However, in the first instance the police will always apply their common sense and discretion. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: The Prime Minister has been clear on what we need to do: stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives. All our frontline services really are the best of us and are doing an incredible job to stop this terrible virus from spreading. That’s why I’m giving the police these new enforcement powers, to protect the public and keep people safe. In addition to the new powers, a package of support has been unveiled to boost police resources. Around 1,500 additional police officers have already joined forces across England and Wales since September 2019 as a result of the police recruitment campaign. Today, the government is leading by example and will ensure that existing Civil Servants who are already volunteering as Special Constables are able to assist in the national effort to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, in recognition of their value and expertise and in order to increase capacity and resilience, the government has committed to relaxing tax and pensions rules which could deter officers nearing retirement and those recently retired from returning to serve. The government is also speaking to the Security Industry Authority about what more they can do to encourage the private security sector to support the national response. The Home Office has been working with police and fire services to understand their requirements for Personal Protective Equipment over the coming months. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has confirmed that police currently have a good supply and they are overseeing distribution to forces but the government will continue to work with them to ensure that emergency service workers can get the equipment they need, when they need it, in order to carry out their jobs safely. Individuals will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible one form of exercise a day - for example, a run, walk or cycle - alone or with members of their household any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person travelling to and from work, but only where they cannot work from home Participating in gatherings of more than two people in public spaces is also not permitted except in very limited circumstances, for example, where it is for essential work purposes. Stay at Home and save lives Stay at home Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home) Stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people Wash your hands as soon as you get home You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

Businesses in Leicester which are struggling due to loss of trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic will be able to access a package of financial help totalling £85million. The Government formally announced the Small Business Grant funding, and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grant on Wednesday, April 1 – the highest amount in the East Midlands and one of the 10 highest city allocations in the UK. Leicester City Council, which is responsible for allocating the money to eligible businesses, will contact an estimated 6,000 firms across the city to ensure they get the help they need. Upgraded payment systems are being put into place to ensure that money can be allocated safely and correctly, and an online application form will ensure the process of applying is as straightforward and quick as possible. The application process is due to go live from early next week. Businesses across the spectrum have closed their doors in recent weeks due to restrictions on non-essential services and travel imposed by the Government in a bid to slow the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic. Responsibility has been handed over to local councils across the UK to organise the distribution of the funding to help hard-hit businesses to survive the current crisis. Smaller businesses who get business rate relief can expect to apply for £10,000, while businesses in larger properties could get a grant of £25,000 in line with the Government’s grants criteria. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Businesses everywhere are facing extremely difficult times because of the impact of coronavirus, and this £85million will help provide a lifeline to many of those in this unprecedented period of uncertainty. “Local authorities have been given the responsibility of working with eligible businesses in their area, to ensure the money is made available where needed. “Obviously this is a considerable amount of money which needs to be allocated safely and to avoid the risk of fraud, and we have been upgrading our payment systems to ensure the payments can be made as quickly as possible and to ensure anyone who is entitled to this help can get it. “For many firms it may mean the difference between their businesses surviving or not.” The Small Business Grant and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant funding are part of a wider package of help and support being made available to businesses across Leicester and Leicestershire who are concerned about their future. Business should also be aware of the Business Gateway Growth Hub – the service that integrates national and local business support to make it easier for businesses to access the help and advice they need. The growth hub is run by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Ltd (LLEP). The Business Gateway website is being updated daily to give employers details of how to apply for financial help, business support and help for self-employed people. The pages bring together the most relevant national Government information with the guidance and advice of various teams working across the city centre and beyond, focusing on retail, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, service and other sectors. Kevin Harris, chair of the LLEP Board of Directors, added: “The coronavirus crisis continues to be an extraordinary test of the resilience of the business community. Here in Leicester and Leicestershire, the vast majority of our economy is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises, which have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. “The LLEP is committed to standing by our businesses and ensuring that all those eligible have the ability to access grant funding through our local authorities. “I would urge all businesses to trust that help is coming, and that everyone involved in the administration of the grants are working extremely hard to expedite funding to businesses.” Leicester City Council is working with the LLEP – a partnership involving the city, county and district councils and local business leaders – to coordinate a citywide information service and has a steadily-growing team of advisers already liaising with businesses, who can all be accessed via the Business Gateway Growth Hub. The Business Gateway Growth Hub has made a wide range of help and advice available online, and has been working with small local businesses concerned about their future. Information including up to date news on what help packages are being made available both on a national and local level, to businesses struggling with the impact on their trade and staff is being made available. Find out more about applying for a Small Business Grant or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant here Up-to-date information on help for businesses is available from the Business Gateway website here at: www.bizgateway.org.uk Leicester City Council News - Published on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Leicester's annual Riverside Festival will not take place this year, as the coronavirus crisis looks set to continue beyond the spring. With uncertainty over how long stringent social distancing measures will be required, the city council has taken the decision to cancel the two-day festival, which was due to take place in June. It is now contacting the dozens of stall-holders, boat operators, performers and artists who were due to take part to let them know that the 2020 festival will not now take place. Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “Cancelling one of the city’s most popular summer events was not an easy decision to take, but with so much uncertainty about how the coronavirus situation will pan out, we really had no choice. “It’s obviously very disappointing, but it’s important to stress that this isn’t the end of the Riverside Festival. All being well, the festival will be back – bigger and better – in 2021. “The only thing that’s important now is that we all do our bit to slow the spread of the coronavirus by following the Government’s guidance and staying at home.” Leicester’s first Riverside Festival back in 1997 was a simple Sunday afternoon event on the banks of the River Soar. Over the past 20 years or so, the festival has blossomed into a packed weekend featuring live music, local artists, tasty street food and lots of family fun on the water. A provisional date for the 2021 Riverside Festival has already been set. Next year’s festival is due to run on Saturday 5 June and Sunday 6 June. Take a look at last Years Event Video by LM News

People in Leicester will see no changes to their household waste and recycling collections over Easter. Bins and orange bags will be collected as normal – even on Good Friday (Friday 10 April). Residents are asked to place their bins and orange bags outside their homes by 7am on their usual collection day. Scheduled garden waste collections will take place as normal on Easter Monday (Monday 13 April) too. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “We’re working closely with our contractor Biffa to keep waste and recycling services running as usual during these very unusual times. “Thanks to our hard-working refuse and recycling crews, our collections are currently unaffected by the coronavirus outbreak – but please be aware that we may need to make changes at short notice as this difficult situation continues. “Any changes to your bin collection, or to any city council service, will be posted on our website, so please go there for all the latest information.” The city council is encouraging residents to recycle as much of their Easter waste as possible by using their orange bags or communal recycling bins. Cardboard boxes from Easter eggs, as well as any plastic packaging, can be recycled – as can any foil wrappings. Foil should be scrunched into a ball and placed in orange bags for recycling. A full list of all the items that can be recycled in Leicester is available here People are also reminded that Leicester’s two recycling centres are closed until further notice, so items such as electronic goods or DIY materials should be kept at home until the sites re-open. Large cardboard boxes can be flattened and placed underneath orange bags for recycling. Up-to-date information about all city council services affected by the coronavirus is posted on www.leicester.gov.uk/serviceupdates Information about waste and recycling is also available on Facebook (search for ‘orange bag recycling service’). Leicester City Council News Release.

On the first anniversary of the release of a short film about a boy who was groomed online and murdered, the warning messages it contains seem now more important than ever. Breck’s Last Game tells the story of 14-year-old Breck Bednar, who was killed by a man he met on a gaming site and since its launch a year ago today (3 April) has been seen by more than three million people. With schools closed as part of the response to tackle Covid-19 and people spending most of their time indoors, young people will have an added temptation to spend longer periods of time online. Given the current restrictions, the film’s important message is even more relevant - do you really know who your online friends are? Deputy Chief Constable Rob Nixon, said : “During this global pandemic, it is inevitable that children and young people will spend more time online, both as part of their schooling but also as a way to relax – possibly using online gaming platforms. “This can be a lifeline for some teenagers and a great way for them to stay in touch with their friends but unfortunately there will be a small number of people who will use this time to try and exploit them and it’s crucial we don’t lose sight of that. “Groomers will use these online platforms as a way to get access to groups of young people and will attempt to take advantage. “We are not suggesting people do not access these services but Breck’s Last Game encourages anyone who is to think about if they really know who it is they are speaking to. “Many young people and their parents may have seen the film both in school and online. If you haven’t I would encourage you to and if you have, now might be a good time to be reminded of the important messages it contains. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep children and young people safe.” Breck’s Last Game was the result of a collaborations between four police forces – Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Essex and Surrey. It was initially rolled out in secondary schools in the four force areas before being released to the public in April 2019. In the first year it is estimated to have reached nearly 3.4 million people online and has been seen by thousands of children in schools. It has also won three awards and is being used as a resource in Australia after the forces were approached by the Australian Federal Police. Breck mother, Lorin LaFave, was also involved in the making of the film and appears as herself in the film. She too uses the film to educate people as part of her work with the Breck Foundation. She said: “It’s a year since Breck’s Last Game was publically released but it seems much longer than a year ago to me as so much has happened in our world since then. “With children now being off school and limited in their outside activities, the natural progression might be that they spend more time online socialising and gaming with friends and inevitably for some, strangers. “Some of these strangers will be trying to groom and exploit our children, to possibly encourage them to do things that could be harmful to them, so now more than ever, we need to educate young people in an engaging and empowering way using Breck’s story, so that they recognise signs of grooming, know where to go for help, remember that friends online are not the same as school friends and to think though our tagline, #DoYouReallyKnowYourOnlineFriends ? "In these trying times, don’t let a predator build a relationship with your child online, education is key.” For more information about the film or for advice and support, visit the Breck’s Last Game information page.