300 police in biggest
ever drugs operation
by David Skentelbery
THREE hundred police officers were involved in dawn raids on more than 30 homes in Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn early today ? the largest drugs operation ever carried out by Cheshire Police.
Twenty people were arrested during ?Operation Crackdown? and are now helping police with their enquiries.
Operation Crackdown follows months of intelligence gathering work by officers, coupled with information supplied by the community, keen to remove drug suppliers from their doorsteps. Police today targeted suspected drugs suppliers in their homes, in a series of synchronised raids commencing shortly after 6am.
Detective Inspector Martin Cleworth, leading the operation, said: “This pre-planned operation was only made possible thanks to the support of local residents who supplied police with information about drug dealing. This type of intelligence is invaluable and helps officers to gather vital evidence needed to co-ordinate large scale operations such as this and bring drug dealers to justice.
?It has also been made possible due to the support of a number of partner agencies including; Warrington Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Warrington and Halton Drug Action Teams as well as local housing providers who are continuing to assist police throughout the course of today and in the coming days by offering advice and providing a range of services to residents to make our neighbourhoods safer for everyone. “
Det Insp Cleworth added: “Removing the suppliers is just one part of tackling the overall problem, and our work will continue. The clear message we are sending out to those who sell drugs is that you will not be tolerated, you will be caught, and you will be dealt with robustly. This is a message not just from police, but also from the public who supplied us with some of the information which has made today’s Operation so successful.”
Part of the process of breaking the supply cycle is to make those who use drugs aware of the help and support available to them.
This afternoon leaflets will be posted through the letterboxes of the communities in which the arrests were made providing advice to those wishing to break the users? cycle, and offering contact points for those wishing to offer information.
Police Community Support Officers will also be carrying out extra patrols in the areas targeted in this morning’s operation, allowing any members of the public with information on drugs or concerns on drugs issues, to report them directly. Meanwhile, anyone withinformation about drugs can contact Cheshire Police on: 0845 458 0000, or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.
Mother and son re-united
after more than 50 years
by Gary Skentelbery
WHEN his adopted mother died “Burtonwood baby” Jack Stewart decided to embark on a mission to find the birth mother he had not seen for more than half a century.
Now after a three year search via the internet, birth records and help from friends he has at long last been reunited with his mother.
Jack was a “Burtonwood baby” and was given up for adoption after being born out of wedlock following a romance between his mother Winifred Shawcross and an American major based at the air base, which was once the largest US Army supply depot in Europe, where she worked as a secretary.
Born in 1952, Jack, who is a psychotherapist and author, was adopted by Gladys Stewart and her husband Jack and grew up in south Warrington believing they were his real parents. He only discovered he was adopted when he was aged 21, through a family friend.
He kept his knowledge of his origins secret until his 40’s when his wife Anne confronted his adoptive mother who at first denied it. She eventually admitted that Jack was indeed adopted.
Following Gladys’s death in 2003 Jack decided he wanted to trace his birth mother. Using adoption paperwork he traced her via the internet to Boston in America. Her name was now Winifred Piper, aged 72. She had twice been married, and had two sons by her first husband Lou Crook, Ray and Mark. She had spent many years living in East View, Grappenhall with her late second husband, Richard Piper. The marriage to Dick Piper had produced a son and daughter, Richard and Kim. Of her five children the only two living in the UK were Mark and Jack.
Jack’s first contact with his birth family was a phone call to his brother Mark Crook, after writing to him and his mother.
The best lead to Mark’s whereabouts had been provided by Jack and Anne’s close friends, Len and Janice Blood. Janice’s son Martin, had known Mark for years when they were young. He knew Mark had a classic car business.
Not knowing how he would be received, Jack was overjoyed by Mark’s warmth and understanding.
Jack met Win for the first time at Mark’s house in Whitley. When he was reunited with his mother Jack says there were no tears.
“I had prepared for the meeting which had a calming influence as I realised it could have been an extremely emotional experience for us both,” he said, “And being a therapist, I suppose I do have the experience dealing with strong emotions.”
During her stay Win met Jack’s step-daughters Karen and Janet, and their children, Nicola, Josh and James.
The whole roller-coaster of the last few months has left Jack feeling a little fragile. However, he insists he wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Of course my life would have taken another path if any one of a dozen things had turned out differently. After 54 years, I’m slowly getting to realise what it means to have birth relatives. I’m the luckiest man in the world to have two fabulous families, and the way things are going, it will be soon be more!
Jack and Anne are now planning to go to the USA later this year to meet Win again. He is also keen to trace his father Emory Adkinson, who if still alive, would now be about 86.
Andy gets on his
bike for charity
by Gary Skentelbery
WHILE many people will be thinking about getting away to the sunshine on their summer holidays Andy Gilbert is getting on his motorbike to ride to the Arctic Circle for charity.
The retired environmental health chief from Warrington will be taking part in a 3,000 mile sponsored bike ride helping raise funds for Hope House Childrens Hospice.
Rotarian Andy will take part in the event as a volunteer from the Canal Boat Adventure Project which works closely with the hospice.
It is the first time he will have ridden abroad on his touring machine and he expects it to be quite an adventure.
He is likely to come face to face with a few dangers including Polar bears, whale hunters, saddle sores and not forgetting, cold wet and hunger!
As he nears the circle he will also experience 24 hours day light as he passes through the land of the midnight sun. Andy is being supported by members of Warrington Rotary Club and is involved in a number of sponsored initiatives to help raise funds, including a sponsored jail break.
“I am expecting quite an adventure,” said Andy, who will be one of a team of 25 taking part in the project.
“I’ve never ridden abroad before so it will be quite something getting used to riding on the wrong side of the road!” He sets off on the ride on August 17and sponsorship pledges can be sent to [email protected].
Town’s clampdown on
under-age smokers
by Lesley Wilkinson
A CLAMPDOWN on young people buying cigarettes is underway in Warrington in a bid to protect their health and prevent them from becoming addicted.
Warrington Borough Council’s Trading Standards is supporting the Government’s proposals to raise the legal age for buying tobacco to 18 years, from its current 16.
Trading standards officers enforce the law preventing young people from buying tobacco and are backing tougher penalties on retailers who repeatedly sell cigarettes to c
hildren.
Coun Roy Smith, the council?s executive member for community services, said: “Smoking is the greatest cause of preventable disease in the UK and underage smokers in particular are a real concern to us. We strongly support the Government’s proposal, which we believe will help to reduce the number of teenagers from smoking.”
He said the proposals bring tobacco in line with other age-restricted products such as alcohol and fireworks.
“It has been estimated that someone who starts smoking at the age of 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late 20s. There are, therefore, clear health benefits to this proposal,” he added.
The consultation on raising the legal age for buying tobacco is to last three months and would bring the UK in line with other EU countries as well as the US, Canada and Australia.
Officers say that 80 per cent of smokers take up the habit as teenagers, and that on average 450 children start smoking each day. Two-thirds of teenage smokers say they would find it hard to go without cigarettes for a week, and 55 per cent cannot go a day without one.
Planning chiefs to
visit restaurant site
by David Skentelbery
COUNCILLORS are to visit the site of a proposed new restaurant at Culcheth, near Warrington, before deciding if the development can go ahead.
Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council and a number of nearby residents have objected to the scheme at the junction of Warrington Road and Shaw Street.
The scheme would involve the demolition of an existing unoccupied takeaway shop to be replaced by the new restaurant with offices space and five self contained flats in two storeys above the shop.
An existing access to Shaw Street would be re-positioned and 14 car parking spaces provided.
Neighbours say the plan would have an adverse visual impact on the approach to Culcheth village, lead to litter, noise and disturbances and smell problems.
Parking provision would be inadequate and on-street parking would probably result in car driveways being blocked.
Trader promises not
to “harass” customers
by court reporter
A LOCAL trader has promised not to “harass” customers or put them “in fear of violence” after being taken to court by Warrington Borough Council’s Trading Standards.
And the first case of its kind in Warrington is expected to send a strong message to the town’s businesses that they can no longer “abuse” customers.
Ian Brennan, trading as Distinctive Bathroom Designs based in Culcheth, gave an undertaking to Warrington County Court that he will work to specific rules set out by the court when dealing with his customers.
He promised the court that he will carry out work with reasonable care and skill, using appropriate materials that are correctly described. He agreed to complete jobs that he has started, not harass customers by causing them distress or alarm and not put them in fear of violence.
He agreed to pay costs to be decided at a further hearing.
His court appearance followed legal action under the Enterprise Act 2002 following receipt of complaints about his business from customers.
Head of trading standards, Peter Astley, said: “This is the first time action under the Enterprise Act has been taken as far as the courts by Warrington Trading Standards. We are very please with the result. We believe that this case will send a strong message to traders who abuse consumers and indicates that such behaviour will not be tolerated in Warrington.”
He said he welcomed the new legislation that allowed the agency to deal with traders who flouted the law.
“The new powers actually allow us to produce changes in the behaviour of traders to the benefit of customers in circumstances where previously effective action would have been very difficult,” he added.
Locomotive blaze
halts rail traffic
by staff reporter
FIRE broke out on a deisel locomotive in railway sidings off Wilson Patten Street, Warrington – bringing rail traffic to a standstill for more than an hour.
Six fire engines were sent to the scene to tackle the blaze.
Trains were halted because power supplies to overhead cables had to be turned off during the operation.
No-one was hurt but extensive damage was caused to the locomotive. The cause of the outbreak is being investigated.
Food safety experts
warning on barbecues
by Lesley Wilkinson
PEOPLE enjoying lazy summer barbecues are being warned not to forget food safety tips and risk food poisoning.
Warrington Borough Council’s food safety team is warning people that the warmer weather encourages harmful food bugs to grow more easily and that people may forget good hygiene practices when barbecuing outdoors.
Officers say the general trend is that food poisoning cases increase during the summer and have issued safety tips to help avoid problems.
Coun Roy Smith, the council?s executive member for community services, said: “British weather permitting, barbecues are very popular at this time and enjoyable but they can all too easily become a nightmare if we forget the basic food hygiene rules.
“If food is not stored, prepared or cooked properly then food bugs such as salmonella and E.coli can cause severe illness,” he added.
During preparation officers say the barbecue should be lit well in advance to ensure it is hot before cooking, hands should be washed thoroughly before preparing food, touching raw meat and eating. People should ensure all utensils and work surfaces are thoroughly clean, meat is defrosted before cooking and that pets are kept away from food and utensils.
