It has been announced that the Prime Minister’s promise to give police hand-held computers on the beat, has now been granted. 27 police forces around the UK will now have the benefit of spending more time out on the streets, and less in the police station. Last year, the Prime Minister said that it will reduce the amount of paperwork by 99 minutes per shift.

With a release date of September, the phase-in of the new technology is due to finish in March 2009, at the latest. Gordon Brown announced last year that 10,000 computers would be operational within the year, each costing £5,000. This £50 million scheme was in high demand and many police forces were disappointed that they now will not get the opportunity to use this hi-tech equipment in their borough.

The device plans to cut through needless paper work by on the spot checks; fingerprint scanning, confirming identity, and filling out forms such as stop and search. The information is relayed back to the police station and this also cuts out that unnecessary need to bring people back to the station, for further questioning or information. Some of the constabularies that were successful in their bid were; Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Thames Valley and Metropolitan.

Home Office Minister, Tony McNulty commented ‘It is just one element of a range of improvements we are delivering to cut unnecessary bureaucracy, exploit new technologies and enable police officers to spend more time on front-line policing.’

2. PM’s speech on tackling climate change

Prime Minister Gordon Brown talks at the Prince of Wales Business Summit, on how to tackle climate change. HRH the Prince of Wales and Gordon Brown yesterday told business leaders to prepare for a technological revolution and to embrace the up coming opportunities to cut down further on our carbon footprints.

With over 1,600 business leaders from across the country attending it was the UK’s largest gathering of businesses and organisations committed to taking action on climate change. It was last year that a thousand business leaders gathered together to stimulate this national movement and many came back to present their information about their carbon footprint during that year. It was calculated that 40% had already reported on reduced carbon emissions and many others have made substantial energy efficiency savings.

Brown emphasised the importance of how it is not what we have already done that matters, but what we are going to do in the future, and stressed upon how the cost of actions taken now, is far less than the costs of delay. He commented ‘The economic cost of the kind of climate change which the world is currently heading for would be comparable to the economic effects of the Great Depression and world wars put together.’

This was not the only branch that came from this conference, Brown also commented on how tackling climate change will also bring about opportunities for businesses, such as the increased employed, growing exports and thriving productivity. It is estimated that globally by 2050; industries such as renewable energy, waste management and water treatment will themselves be worth $3 trillion per year with an employment figure of 25 million people.

He ends on the environmental debate and how we need to have that vision to become a green economy. Saying that the most important factor is to help people find the right decision and persuade that combating climate change is the way forward.

3. 809^th Mayor of Winchester

Cllr Michael Read has been appointed as the new Mayor of Winchester for 2008/2009. At the special Major Making Ceremony at the Winchester Guildhall. Cllr Read took the role from Cllr Chris Pines, who has been Mayor for the past year.

While Winchester remains the second oldest Mayoralty in England, Read was handed the keys to the city of Winchester, keys to Abbey House, the Mayoral ring and badge and the chain of office. Whom previous Mayor Chris Pines liked to refer to as his ‘bling’. Cllr Read commented ‘”I am deeply honoured to be asked to serve as Mayor of this ancient city. It is without a doubt a great privilege. I would like to thank Cllr Chris Pines who has allowed me to undertake a number of engagements over the past year.’

Before working in Hampshire County Council, Read worked at the Knowle Hospital for people with mental health problems. Then worked in the Hampshire County Council from the early 1990’s until his retirement in 2003. Currently the Deputy City commissioner of Portsmouth district, Cllr Read received in 2004 the coveted Silver Acorn award for exceptional service to the Scouting movement.

Born in Yorkshire, he spent most of his life, from his early childhood, growing up in Portsmouth, and has been married to his wife Jan for the last 40 years. Wife Jan and two children Carl and Zoë, all attended the Major Making Ceremony, where the new Major announced his motto for this year ‘The three Cs; Community, Communication, and Charity.’

Ex-Husband on Trial at Winchester Crown Court for murder of his former wife Carol Reeves.

Stephen Lay denied strangling Ms Reeves, 48, at her Basingstoke home last year. Prosecution alleged that the murder took place between 6.30 and 8.00 after the couple had spent the day together.

According to evidence shown yesterday, Mr. Lay and another person, who cannot be named for legal reasons, returned to the house and found Carol Reeves face-down on the kitchen floor. The trial continues.

Drugs abuser Matthew Keeley was set free last week as he pleaded guilty to a possession of crack cocaine and admitted to an addiction to heroine for five years. The case was heard on the 20^th February, at the Crown Court in Winchester.

The 29 year old from Basingstoke was charged with possession of CrackCocaine in May of last year. Not only did he plead guilty but also admitted that he was a social user of the substance and that he had been addicted to Heroine for the past five years. In a bid to save his case, defence solicitor Adam Hiddleston contested that the Mr Keeley, has now been off the Heroine for 6 weeks.

Matthew’s previous convictions include; possession of cannabis with intention to sell and last November was caught stealing to feed his addiction to Heroine. Judge J.W. Dixon decided not give him a prison sentence and told him “you should consider yourself lucky.”

Reasons that judge Dixon made that decision were based on, having a new job and stable home environment. Also the fact he was off the heroine, and he wouldn’t be a burden on the prison service. He ordered Keeley to pay a fine of £1000 pounds, with a probation period of 28 days.

Does anybody else really quite dislike Gordon Brown? Do you think that he is doing a better job than Tony Blair? Post arguments for and against…..