Brake urges investment in life saving traffic Police in response to falling numbers and rising casualties

BRAKE, the road safety charity, is urging government to make Traffic Policing a national priority, in response to figures revealing that traffic Police numbers in England and Wales have fallen by 23% in the past 4 years, from 5,635 in March 2010 to 4,356 in March 2014. This continues a trend, highlighted by Brake, which has been ongoing since at least 2008.

Critically, it is not just overall numbers of traffic Police that are falling, but their strength as a proportion of all Police officers, down from 3.9% in 2010 to 3.4% in 2014. Brake is concerned that this reduction in visible roads policing may be a factor in the increased road casualties recently revealed for the year ending September 2014.

Gary Rae, campaigns manager, Brake, said:- "Effective, visible enforcement of traffic laws is absolutely critical to preventing road deaths and injuries. Drivers tempted to break the law need to know they will be caught, and that they won't get off with just a slapped wrist. Traffic Police numbers have been declining for years, and this may well be reflected in the increase in road casualties we are now seeing. Road traffic policing needs to be made a national priority, not a soft target for Police cuts. Every extra traffic officer out on the road is an investment in saving lives and easing the strain on our other emergency services and on our struggling NHS."

Brake campaigns for more dedicated traffic Police and tougher penalties for law breaking drivers through its crackdown campaign. Tweet - @Brakecharity, #Crackdown.

North West Change holds event for patients and staff

NORTH West Change Day is running an information day for patients, nurses, doctors, and other health workers at St Catherine's Hospice in Preston on Tuesday 10th February. Those attending will be going back to NHS Trusts, patient groups and Clinical Commissioning Groups across the North West to organise their own events for:- 'NHS Change Day - 11.3.2015'. Change Day and the campaign around it sees members of staff 'becoming the change they want to be', by making small, incremental changes in their own work and inspiring each other to 'do something better, together'. Full details on NHS Change Day are available at changeday.nhs.uk, or via Twitter @NHSChangeDay.

Danielle Gillett, a Student Nurse from Edge Hill University, said:- "NHS Change Day for me is all about changing the little things, which help improve a patient's journey through our NHS. Then hopefully by doing these small changes, big things will happen, by inspiring others to make changes too. On Wednesday, 11 March 2014, we will light up the country with everyone's actions. Local activities around the North West will take place to recognise the positive changes that have resulted due to the actions people have taken. Change Day is a great way of motivating staff and patients to make a difference that they feel is necessary to make the patient's journey and staff's working life better. It gives permission to people to make those changes. Last year's Change Day gave me a reason to make a difference. I see it from both sides, both as a student nurse and someone who's been hospitalised for a long term condition. It gives me the confidence to speak out not only as a student nurse but also as a patient. It's given me a platform to say to my Trust 'how can I help you make this better'."

Charlie Walton, a business manager at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said:- "NHS Change day is all about the thousands of small, easy to do, low cost changes that workers on the front line know need to be done. It's about giving ourselves permission to get on and improve things."

Now in its 3rd year, Change Day gained pledges from right across the NHS in 2014, ranging from painting hospitals differently, to clinical staff introducing themselves to patients by name. Patients, carers, social care workers and members of the public are also encouraged to take part. The movement has gone international, with Change Days now taking place as far afield as Canada and Australia. NHS staff and members of the public are sharing their plans for change at:- ChangeDay.NHS.UK, as well as through their local NHS organisations.

Man charged over sexual assault in Southport

MERSEYSIDE Police have confirmed that Ian Charles Grassick, aged 59, was charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in Southport on Wednesday, 4 February 2015. At approximately 3am, Police were called to a report of a sexual assault in a car. The 30 year old victim and a friend had got in the vehicle after leaving the Fox and Goose Pub, located on Cable Street, at about 2.05am on Wednesday, 4 February. Ian Charles Grassick, appeared in South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Monday, 9 February 2015 and was then released on conditional bail, to appear at Liverpool Crown Court, on Monday, 8 June 2015.