Officers from West Mercia Police stopped in this 'cloned' car in Hereford during the early hours of this morning.

The driver got quite a shock when Police from the Operations Patrol Unit together with their colleagues from the Police Dog Section suddenly surrounded the vehicle.

The driver had purchased the vehicle believing it to be genuine. Enquiries are ongoing.

Good to see so many people enjoying the fabulous music, local produce, food and drinks on this warm Summer evening in our wonderful city of Hereford!

Photo Credit: Jaymz G Chamberlain 

Positive News from Hereford Cops 👇 (Sat 27 Aug 2022 - 23:29)

"Just bumped into these three lovely people whilst out patrolling the Great Western Way.

They are from Vennture and are also out patrolling most nights wanting to reassure the public. Whilst out patrolling they are connected to the Police and the CCTV via a radio so that they can call up for assistance at any time and be kept informed of what is going on in the area.

They are all volunteers and a real help to the community.

Great work" 👍

A partnership of five local authorities across the Midlands region, alongside Sub-National Transport Body Midlands Connect has led a successful bid for almost £1million of funding aimed at getting more electric vehicle chargers into areas with limited off-street parking.

The bid, aiming to deliver hundreds of new electric vehicle charging points across the Midlands, was made in June focusing on the first tranche of money offered as part of Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Pilot.

A partnership of five local authorities across the Midlands region – Lincolnshire County Council, Herefordshire Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council - alongside Sub-National Transport Body Midlands Connect, submitted the bid. The resulting award of £935,355 is to be distributed between the five councils.

It is expected that this support from Government will now attract an additional £2.8million of private sector investment, with the cumulative funds being used to install a total of 322 standard and 27 rapid public EV chargers across the Midlands.

Analysis by Midlands Connect found that the Midlands needs 17,461 new public EV charging points by the end of 2025 to meet the needs of the growing EV market and it’s hoped that this latest good-news around the Government funding will spur on more region-wide installation of charging points.

Estimates suggest that the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging points will also create an influx of jobs in the region with over 42,000 related roles set to be created in the Midlands by the end of 2032.

At present, 93% of electric vehicle owners have access to off-road parking. It’s hoped that increasing the number of public charging stations will make it easier for those without a driveway to make the switch to an electric vehicle, while also increasing the ease of travel and charging for all EV users.

Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport said: “I’m delighted that this successful bid means that we will be able to offer more electric charging facilities across the county which will support our residents and business to make the shift to ultra-low emission vehicles as part our strong commitment to addressing the climate and ecological emergency.”

I can recommend the Over 50s for us old uns at The Kindle Centre on the 3rd Tuesday of each month that starts at 2pm.

The 20th September meeting has the return of the Singing Vicar - Steve Hollinghurst. An entertaining afternoon for all.

Other meetings to watch out for:

18th October 2022 - My work at Cadbury - Colin Bates

15th November 2022 - Hop picking in Herefordshire - Marsha O'Mahony

20th December 2022 - Christmas Special

17th January 2023 - Lunch at Burghill Valley Golf Club

Further information from Jeff Jones, Secretary, Telephone 01432 851029

Why not bring a friend or two along, I am sure you will enjoy it.

A police cordon is currently in place on the river path near Victoria Bridge in Hereford following a reported serious sexual offence at around 1.50am this morning (Sat 20 August).

West Mercia Police have just confirmed that a man in his 30s has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Many local people including Councillors, the former Hereford Mayor and West Mercia Police joined us at the Herefordshire Women’s Equality Group Vigil last night to stand in unity with victims of sexual assault.

West Mercia Police have confirmed that they arrested a 48 year old man on suspicion of attempted rape in connection with a reported sex attack on the riverside close to the river Wye in Hereford.

The alleged sexual assault happened between Hinton Road and King George V playing fields on the river path in Hereford on August 12 at around 10pm.

A 48-year-old man from Hereford has since been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, police said.

“He has been bailed with conditions pending further enquiries,"

Last night the Herefordshire Women’s Equality Group held a vigil pledging support to sexual assault victims on the riverside close to the Victoria Bridge.

Farmers working togther with the Fire Service

Meet ‘the league of extraordinary farmers’ who are helping firefighters protect homes, the countryside and food growing in fields. This is actually in Hertfordshire however, farmers across Herefordshire and our neighbouring counties have really gone that extra mile to assist Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Gloucestershire fire and rescue service, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Fire Service, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and MAWW Fire and Rescue Service Powys Community safety during the very hot and dry conditions so far this summer.

Fantastic people and emergency the services all working together in communities to protect lives and businesses.

We love to share so good news and positive stories!

Thank you to the NFU Online for sharing this inspiring video with us.

A motorcyclist has sadly died in a road traffic collision in Shropshire overnight.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls reporting a collision involving a motorcyclist and a lamppost on the A49 Shrewsbury Road in Craven Arms at 11.34pm (Wednesday). Two ambulances and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived on scene, they found an off-duty police officer and two off duty nurses performing CPR and using a defibrillator on a man who had come off his motorcycle.

“Crews quickly took over treatment but sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone at the scene, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead a short time later.”

What's going to happen after Coronavirus

Where are we going when Coronavirus fades away and the government has run its course in keeping us at home.The sheer economic disaster coming and affecting everyone is already being discussed by some MPs. One remedy is to impose a one off wealth tax. The idea is that everyone – households and businesses, rich and poor – has to pay a sum equivalent to a chunk of their net assets. This would reverse taxation regimes across the world which tax income far more than the taxation of wealth.

Ed Conway, the economics editor at Sky News, writing in the Times, roughly calculates that a one-off 10 percent levy on all household net wealth in the UK would generate over £1 trillion ($1.24 trillion) of revenues. That would be enough to pay off all the costs of Covid-19. It would provide for the NHS for generations and reduce the national debt from wartime levels to something more like normality. 

The government reduction plans for local authority council funding on the basis that the shortfall can be made up with councils keeping the collection of business rates now looks a dead duck.

The desire to give us all an identity card accompanied with a vaccination certificate looks pretty certain. Get ready for all citizens to be given a free smartphone and be fined if not carried on one's person at all times to enable tracking at all times.

This quote says it all:

“The telephone was not his favorite object, and more than once he had considered getting rid of his. What he disliked most of all was its tyranny. Not only did it have the power to interrupt him against his will, but inevitably he would give in to its command.”
― Paul Auster, City of Glass

Today West Mercia Police have confirmed that a fourth riverside sexual assault in the city but have siad that they have arrested two people on suspicion of rape and indecent exposure.

There are additional Police patrols along the riverside paths in the city as detectives continue to investigate four sexual offences reported in the past few weeks, a spokesperson for West Mercia Police has said.

Police are now investigating two counts of rape, one indecent exposure and one sexual assault.

These are the words to describe the fire in Herefordshire this afternoon between near Marden by Malcolm Russell, founder of Prometheus Medical and a Mercia Accident Rescue Service doctor who kindly provided us with these images..

Would you feel safe walking along here after dark??

We have reported on three separate sexual attacks along the riverside on women in Hereford in the past few weeks.

• Sunday 31st July | A police cordon was in place on a riverside path all morning and into the afternoon after a rape was reported on Sunday, July 31. The attack happened on the opposite side of the rowing club between the Old Bridge and Great Western Way, close the the Hunderton bridge.
   
• Sunday 7th August | An investigation has been launched following a rape near Victoria Bridge in Hereford yesterday (Sunday 7 August). Police were called by the ambulance service shortly after 11pm when the victim disclosed to paramedics that she had been raped. It’s believed the incident took place on the river path between the tennis courts and Victoria Bridge between 9pm and 10pm on Sunday 7 August.
   
• Friday 12th August | A cordon is currently in place on the river path between Hinton Road and King George V playing fields in Hereford following a sexual assault at around 10pm last night (Friday 12 August). West Mercia Police were called after a man grabbed a women from behind and exposed himself. The incident took place on the river path between King George V playing fields and Hinton Road between 9.45pm and 10.15pm.

West Mercia Police Statement;

Superintendent Rebecca Love said: “I’m aware that there have been a number of incidents along the river path recently, and understandably this is causing concern within the local community.

“I totally understand these concerns and would like to reiterate that we are investigating all reports and are using our specially trained officers in supporting the victims.

“We have already increased patrols along the river paths, especially after dark, and these will continue. In addition, we are working closely with partners to discuss measures to increase the safety of these areas.”

Hereford Voice succesfully campaigned to have CCTV installed on the Hunderton Bridge back in 2015 https://bit.ly/3pjMTM6

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 ??

A motorcyclist has sadly died following a road traffic collision near to the English and Welsh border in Monmouth last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by the police to reports of a single motorcycle RTC on the A40 in Monmouth, near to the Welsh border, at 10.09pm yesterday (Thursday). A local community first responder, a paramedic officer, an ambulance, two critical care paramedics together with Wales Air Ambulance from Cardiff were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance crews arrived they found a motorcyclist, a man, in a critical condition. Police officers were already on scene providing CPR to the man. When ambulance crews commenced emergency treatment, it sadly became apparent that nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased a short time later.”

A cordon is currently in place on the river path between Hinton Road and King George V playing fields in Hereford following a sexual assault at around 10pm last night (Friday 12 August).

West Mercia Police were called after a man grabbed a women from behind and exposed himself.

The incident took place on the river path between King George V playing fields and Hinton Road between 9.45pm and 10.15pm.

The suspect is described as a white male with a local accent, 5ft 7in tall, aged 35-40, with a dirty appearance, short light blonde hair and wearing square framed glasses. He was carrying a backpack and wearing black trousers and brown walking boots which were muddy.

Officers are particularly keen to trace a man who was walking a large white Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dog along the path as it is believed may have seen the suspect in the moments following the incident. If you are this man, or you know who he may be, please get in touch.

Investigations are continuing today with officers carrying house-to-house enquiries as well as reviewing available CCTV and video doorbell footage. Searches of the area will also continue.

The cordon will remain in place for much of today while evidence gathering continues.

Superintendent Rebecca Love, said: “I’m aware that there have been a number of incidents along the river path recently, and understandably this is causing concern within the local community.

“I totally understand these concerns and would like to re-iterate that we are investigating all reports and are using our specially trained officers in supporting the victims.

“We have already increased patrols along the river paths, especially after dark, and these will continue. In addition, we are working closely with partners to discuss measures to increase the safety of these areas.”

“Lastly, we believe a man who was walking his white Staffordshire Bull Terrier along the river at the time could be a key witness and we would urge him, or anyone who may know who he is, to come forward.”

Anyone who was in the area last night and saw anything suspicious or have any information which may help the investigation is asked to report it online at https://www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/ quoting reference 717i of 12 August. If you are unable to report online please call 101.

Police have cordoned off the riverside path and Victoria bridge following an incident which occured overnight.

A spokesperson for West Mercia said;

"Please avoid Victoria Bridge, Hereford - including the pathway going to and from - until further notice! Police crews are on scene and dealing with an incident!"

A man from Hereford has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for non-recent sexual offences.

Charles Taylor, 68, of Ross Road, Hereford, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Hereford Magistrates' Court on 9 August for non-recent sexual offences against a male child and an adult female. The offences occurred between 1984 and 1998.

Investigating office, Detective Constable Leah Lowe, spent 12 months gathering evidence which proved critical to convicting Taylor. It was a comprehensive and often distressing investigation and one that could not have been resolved without the strength and conviction of the victims and witnesses.

DC Lowe said: “Whilst the sentence given can never make up for the pain and suffering Taylor has caused, I am hopeful it can provide some measure of solace to the victims and help them begin the road to recovery.

"Taylor is a dangerous offender and the community is a safer place now he is beginning his sentence in prison. I hope this reassures the community that West Mercia Police will investigate all offences of this nature, regardless of when they occurred, in the pursuit of justice and the protection of our communities.”

We would like to reassure anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault, whether recently or in the past, that they can report the crime at any time. More information on how to do this can be found here

However, should you feel unable to report the assault yourself, someone can do this on your behalf.