Babak Belurs

Minggu, 25 Desember 2022

Police hunting gunman as woman dies after Wallasey pub shooting - BBC

A murder investigation has been launched after a woman was fatally shot at a pub near Liverpool on Christmas Eve.

Merseyside Police officers were called to the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village at about 23:50 GMT on Saturday.

Three men and the female victim were taken to hospital suffering gunshot wounds - the woman later died.

Det Supt Dave McCaughrean said the shooting happened at a "busy venue full of young people".

He added: "We believe that the gunman left the pub car park in a dark coloured vehicle - possibly a dark coloured Mercedes shortly after the shooting."

The force said a "number of others" were also injured in the shooting, which was described as despicable by the chief constable.

The shooting was described as "heartbreaking" by the area's MP, Dame Angela Eagle.

She tweeted: "My thoughts are with the family of the woman who has died and those who are injured. Anyone with any information please tell the police."

Det Supt McCaughrean appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

"This investigation is in the very early stages and we understand that this is a truly shocking and devastating incident that has happened just before Christmas Day," he added.

"We have a number of officers at Wallasey Village who are carrying out extensive inquiries to understand exactly what has taken place and take immediate action.

"A woman has tragically lost her life at Christmas whilst several people are being treated in hospital and our thoughts and condolences are with the victim's family."

Police added the woman's next of kin had been informed and her family were being supported by specially trained officers.

Jeffrey Hughes, minister of the United Reformed Church in Wallasey Village, said the pub was central to the community.

He described the area as "a fairly lively area" adding: "It's a nice part of Wallasey."

"We've got a lot of young people, families in that area.

"It's a shock. When we first heard the news this morning that there'd been a shooting in Wallasey, Wallasey Village is the last place you would think of."

At the scene

Sarah Rogers, BBC News

Not too long ago this pub was bustling and busy, it was full of young people.

The televisions are still on - it looks like the aftermath of a party. There are bottles that are still strewn across the table as people were celebrating Christmas.

It's absolutely devastating to any family and any friends at any time, but especially at Christmas.

Police want any witnesses with phone footage and information to contact them.

Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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Sabtu, 24 Desember 2022

Passengers 'waved through' Border Control to 'avoid queues' as workers strike - Sky News

Suspicious passengers who might otherwise be stopped at Border Control at airports are being "waved through" by military personnel standing in for striking workers, Sky News has been told.

Two Border Force staff members told Sky News that passengers were being waved through to avoid queues during strikes and that military personnel do not have the power to stop or detain people.

Members of the Armed Forces are providing cover for public services during strikes over winter.

One Border Force officer at Manchester Airport said several members of staff told them that arriving passengers who would normally be questioned are being "waved through in order to avoid queues building up amid strikes".

They added: "This order is said to have come from management at Manchester Airport. This would mean that people who are potentially unlawfully entering the UK/wanted by the authorities or police/on a watch list/previously refused entry are entering the UK unchecked."

Around 1,000 Border Force staff in the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union are striking over pay and conditions from 23 December to Boxing Day.

A Border Force staff member at Heathrow Airport told Sky News that the army on immigration control "can't stop or detain people" as they cannot issue a form known as an IS81.

The form gives immigration officers the authority to detain people for further questioning.

The Home Office denied any arrivals were not being properly checked and said that Border Force staff who were not striking were on hand at passport control and could issue the form if required.

A spokesman said: "Border Force has developed robust contingency plans which prioritise keeping our citizens safe and our borders secure."

He added: "Non-striking Border Force staff, with the full range of appropriate powers, are continuing to complete their vital roles and we have spread our resources flexibly to ensure there is sufficient cover to fulfil our key priorities.

"Military personnel, civil servants and volunteers are supporting a range of services and all deployed contingency are sufficiently trained for the activities they are required to undertake."

The staff member at Heathrow said: "Our job is to protect the population and the British public, to protect jobs, people from harm.

"Basically the vast majority of the job can't be done. I have the information from multiple people. If you cannot issue an IS81, you cannot stop someone. All you can do is let them through.

"Managers left managing the control is that unless there is direct evidence of criminality, they are not to stop them. People who are coming in to work illegally, live illegally, study illegally - and that's not criminal, it's an immigration issue. Unless you're aware that this person is a hit on the computer system, wanted by the police, you can't hold anybody up."

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, said: "No one's being stopped because the government has adopted a sticking plaster approach to this problem.

"We warned before the strikes started that military personnel with five days' training wouldn’t be able to do the jobs of experienced, professional Border Force officers."

A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: "To be absolutely clear, we as the airport operator are not involved in the immigration process... to our knowledge, the immigration process is operating as normal."

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2022-12-24 20:40:26Z
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Train strikes: Walkout brings early end for Christmas Eve services - BBC

Christmas Eve commuters rush to get trains at Waterloo Station in London

By Noor Nanji, James Gregory & Rachel Russell

BBC News

Rail passengers scrambled to catch the last trains as further strikes ended Christmas Eve services.

Some roads were hit with congestion as rail services stopped ahead of a 18:00 GMT walkout by RMT union members.

But the AA said disruption was "not as bad as expected" as people headed home for the festive period.

Postal workers and Border Force staff also took part in the latest walkouts over pay in the run-up to Christmas.

Services to Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central and Birmingham International from Euston were among those delayed because of a limited staff presence.

Around 1,000 Border Force workers began strike action on Friday at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports, as well as the Port of Newhaven.

Border disruption has been minimal, with military personnel and civil servants being drafted in to cover strikers.

Heathrow Airport said operations were running smoothly on Saturday. A spokesperson added: "The immigration halls are free flowing with Border Force and the military contingency providing a good level of service for arriving passengers."

Traffic on the A13 in London as people make their Christmas Eve getaway journeys

Border Force personnel will be striking until the end of the year - with the exception of 27 December - but there are warnings strikes could last for months unless a new pay deal is negotiated.

Meanwhile industrial action at Network Rail, which maintains the UK's rail system, will continue until 06:00 on 27 December.

The last train times on major routes on Christmas Eve included the 09:45 from Leeds to London, the 11:22 from London to Edinburgh, and the 12:48 from London to Manchester.

Families at London's Paddington Station told BBC News they felt anxious over the strikes.

Leela, Richard and their baby Kalinda said they were on their way to Bristol to spend their first Christmas with family since the pandemic, but had been "checking all week that the trains were not going to be cancelled".

Meanwhile a couple of miles away at Euston Station, Kartik Aggarwal's train has been cancelled. The 24-year-old student said he faced missing a Christmas party in Birmingham.

"It's been really bad," he said. "We were planning for a long time only to have two trains get cancelled with no notification."

Leela and her family at Paddington Station on Saturday morning

Elsewhere, Ollie Smith, 29, was travelling from Reading to Stockport to spend Christmas with his brother, but said his train got held up outside Birmingham New Street over limited capacity at the station due to engineering works.

He said the train was then reversed back to Birmingham International and cancelled - while he was still on board.

Jack Couzens, head of roads policy at the AA, said traffic on the roads was moving fairly well so far on Saturday but added that rail strikes had led to more people "jumping into their cars".

"There have been pockets of congestion on the A13, the M25, the M5... but as things stand traffic is moving okay," he said at lunchtime.

The railway strikes come at a time of widespread industry walkouts, as staff across a range of sectors are involved in disputes over pay, jobs and working conditions as the cost of living soars.

Other industrial action on Saturday included:

More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers from the Communication Workers Union are walking out on one of the busiest days for pre-Christmas deliveries. Letters won't be delivered, although some parcels are still being dispatched
Some National Highways traffic officers are on strike in London and south-east England. National Highways says no roads will be closed and it has "well-rehearsed resilience plans in place"
Bus drivers for Abellio in London are walking out. The routes affected are mostly in south and west London.

Elsewhere, ambulance drivers, nurses and driving examiners are all set to strike at various points over the festive period and into the new year.

Previous rail strikes caused major disruption and the RMT is due to hold further walkouts on 3-4 January and 6-7 January.

Union members have rejected offers in a dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.

The RMT said it remained available for talks. Network Rail said the deal it has put forward is "fair and affordable".

The government said it had facilitated talks and ensured a reasonable offer was put forward.

The number of working days lost to strike action was the highest since November 2011 in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Watch Make Sense of Strikes on iPlayer and find out more about why people are striking and whether industrial action works.

How are you affected by the Christmas Eve rail strikes? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
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2022-12-24 17:50:42Z
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Jumat, 23 Desember 2022

Oldham police crash: Tribute paid to Heather Smedley - BBC

A family has paid tribute to a "kind and gentle" mum-of-three who died after being hit by an unmarked police car.

The car was pursuing a different vehicle, suspected to have been stolen, when it collided with Heather Smedley's car in Royton, Oldham.

The 53-year-old was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the collision at about 10:00 GMT on Friday and died a short time later.

Her family said she was "the glue that held our family together".

In a statement the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: "We understand that the police car had been pursuing a separate, suspected stolen vehicle prior to the collision.

"Our thoughts are with the woman's family and friends at this awful time and all those affected by this tragic incident.

"Our investigation will examine the circumstances leading up to the collision and whether police actions were in accordance with policies and procedures."

Paying tribute, Mrs Smedley's family said she was the "most wonderful mother" to Benjamin, Olivia and Jamie, and daughter to Hilda and Fred and wife to Damian.

They said "the world was a much better place" with her in it.

They added she was the most "kind, gentle, beautiful soul inside and out".

"She faced all of life's challenges with her beautiful smile, and her bravery and courage never wavered," they added.

"We could not have asked for a better role model growing up, giving everything she had to all of those she loved, and always supporting those around her.

"She was the glue that held our family together. Her resilience and kindness inspired us all to be better."

Greater Manchester Police Ch Supt Chris Bowen said his "sincere thoughts and condolences" were with Mrs Smedley's family and friends.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

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Mr Serwotka said that any disruption for passengers was an "unfortunate reality" of the strikes but said any anger should be directed at the government, who he claimed had "ignored" the union.

He said the union was raising cash for a strike fund which meant members could "sustain" strikes "for months and after Christmas".

"Not only could it be six months, I think in January what you will see is a huge escalation of this action in the civil service and across the rest of the economy unless the government get around the negotiating table," he said.

Mr Sunak said: "I want to make sure we reduce inflation, part of that is being responsible when it comes to setting public sector pay.

"In the long term it's the right thing for the whole country that we beat inflation."

Separately, a planned 72-hour walkout by Menzies baggage handlers at Heathrow that had been due to start on 29 December has been called off after members of the Unite union voted to accept an improved pay offer.

Who is striking and when?

This will be the busiest Christmas for airports since 2019, and the first without any Covid restrictions in place.

Some 579 flights are due to land at Heathrow on Friday. However, early on Friday, there had been no issues reported at Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester.

Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, said passengers on departing flights would be unlikely to be delayed. It said arriving passengers would be able to use passport e-gates as usual, but these cannot be used by all passengers, including children under 12.

Adam Jones, head of passenger operations at Gatwick, said in a worst-case scenario, there would be queues of two hours for passengers arriving at the airport, but added there were no plans to hold people on aircraft.

The Home Office said it had been working to minimise delays for passengers.

Your rights if your flight is cancelled

If your flight is cancelled, you have the right to either a full refund, or a replacement flight
If another airline is flying to your destination significantly sooner, or there are other suitable modes of transport available, then you have a right to be booked onto that alternative transport instead
Your airline has a duty of care to you. For example, it should provide free meals or refreshments, or overnight accommodation if required, if you are delayed at the airport for more than two hours or so
Several airlines are allowing passengers with flights arriving in the UK on strike days to change their tickets free of charge
Strike action, or bad weather, are beyond the airline's control, so you are not entitled to extra compensation. That is only paid when it is the airline's fault that you cannot get on a flight, such as overbooking

Here is a full guide to flight cancellation rights.

'I don't know if I'm getting on the flight'

Jasmine O'Donoghue, 25, has been in Costa Rica since 16 November and is due to travel to Heathrow then on to Jersey on 27 December, which is not a strike date.

Nevertheless, she has been advised she should change her flight due to the impact of the strikes on domestic transfers.

"Right now I don't know if I'm getting on the flight, or will change my flight," she said. "It would be nice for my family and my boyfriend if I was at home for New Year after being away for so long."

Aviation data firm Cirium said over the period of the festive strikes, a total of 8,910 flights will arrive, with a capacity of nearly 1.8 million people.

Steve Dann, Border Force chief operating officer, said military personnel and civil servants, "many of whom are sacrificing their Christmases", would "not be able to operate with the same efficiency as our permanent workforce".

Border Force is the latest sector to stage industrial action over pay, jobs and conditions. Other walkouts that are scheduled over the next few days include:

More than 115,000 postal workers are striking on Friday and Saturday.
National rail strikes start again from Christmas Eve. There are also localised strikes from smaller unions on days between 23 and 29 December.
Some National Highways officers are on strike on Friday in London and south-east England.

How have you been affected by the Border Force staff strike? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
Upload pictures or video
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

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2022-12-23 16:46:29Z
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Babak Belurs

Minggu, 25 Desember 2022

Police hunting gunman as woman dies after Wallasey pub shooting - BBC

At the scene

Related Internet Links

Police hunting gunman as woman dies after Wallasey pub shooting - BBC

Related Internet Links

Sabtu, 24 Desember 2022

Passengers 'waved through' Border Control to 'avoid queues' as workers strike - Sky News

Train strikes: Walkout brings early end for Christmas Eve services - BBC

Jumat, 23 Desember 2022

Oldham police crash: Tribute paid to Heather Smedley - BBC

Related Internet Links

Airport strikes could go on for months, says PCS union boss - BBC

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Your rights if your flight is cancelled

'I don't know if I'm getting on the flight'