The operation, carried out on Thursday (July 25), aimed to crackdown on thieves who target the public’s mobile phones and other valuables and those who deal in stolen goods.
Five search warrants were carried out across the borough and people were arrested were made for theft, burglary and drug offences.
Cdr Stephen Watson, leading the operation, said: “This operation was about the Met delivering a concerted and targeted operation, using a huge range of tactics, to stop those people who make our streets an unsafe place to be.”
“We would also ask that you take extra care of your valuables. Many of the thefts are taking place during the day in shops and cafes but at night the problem moves to bars and nightclubs.
“People are naturally distracted in these environments, so we will also be working with the owners, giving crime prevention advice and information about local criminals to help them keep their customers safe and keep the thieves out.
“If you own or manage a business and want to help protect your customers please contact us to join our effort to drive down theft.”
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Bexley is part of the south-east London region, one of 11 regional contracts NHS Direct initially won but they have said they are looking to pull out of all of their contracts because they are ‘financially unsustainable.’
The whole 111 service has been plagued with problems and is run by a number of different organisations, including NHS Direct, ambulance trusts and private companies. including Harmoni who were criticised in a Channel 4 documentary on Monday (July 29) for making patients wait, staff shortages and sending out ambulances unnecessarily.
Discussions are already taking place to see who will take over the contracts.
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This week Amazon dropped a bombshell on its millions of UK customers – delivery would no longer be free for items costing less than £10.
“Amazon.co.uk has introduced a £10 minimum spend to qualify for Free Super Saver Delivery in a number of product categories, effective 23 July 2013,” the company told people who had used this service in the past.
This means delivery costs add almost 50% to the price of a £6 ballpoint pen, where before it would have been free.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to take it lying down. Because there’s a loophole.
“Orders that include books, DVDs, Blu-rays, music, video games and software products continue to qualify for Free Super Saver Delivery with no minimum spend threshold,” Amazon explained when telling customers about the changes.
And that means you can get still get goods delivered for, if not nothing, certainly less than the price of a first class stamp.
How to get around the charges
The simplest method is to wait. If it’s not something you need right away, put it in your Amazon shopping basket and then hold off on heading to the virtual check out until you have £10 of goods in there, meaning you pay nothing for delivery on any of them.
The second simplest option is to look for the item on a site that still offers free delivery. In the case of the pen mentioned above, a quick internet search showed it was available with free delivery from a shop in Bolton that sells through eBay. The initial cost was higher, but the cost once delivery was factored in was less.
A string of big brands – from John Lewis, to Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer and Next – offer also “click and collect” services. These let you buy online, then pick up the items you’ve ordered from your nearest store for free.
And then there’s the Amazon loophole. There are rather a lot of “books, DVDs, Blu-rays, music, video games and software products” that cost less than £2.99 and would mean your order qualified for free delivery.
For example, HotUKDeals member dalipsinghno spotted the ‘World Cup Fever’ album for just 37p – less than the cost of a stamp – saving £5.64 on the delivery cost. The CD sold out at that price quickly, but it was far from the only product. Another user quickly found the CD single ‘Who's That Girl’ by Deckwrecka for just 83p. Have a look at Amazon’s Bargain CD page to see if there’s anything cheap you can add to your order.
And those aren’t the only ways to use Amazon’s policies against it. You could also make extra orders taking the price over £10 (or including an item that qualifies for free delivery) and return the unwanted items free for a refund. Or you could sign up for the free three month trial of Amazon Family or 30 day trial Amazon’s Prime – both of these services come with free deliveries.
“You can then go in your account settings and turn off auto renew so you don't get charged £49 at the end of the three months,” HotUKDeals member Jimmyboy explained.
DOCTORS treating a 12-year-old Bexleyheath boy hit by a van on a busy Erith road say it is a “miracle” he survived.
Bexleyheath Academy pupil Josh Collins had just got off the school bus and was walking home along the A206 Northend Road when he was struck by the vehicle at around 4pm on July 15.
The Year 7 youngster suffered fractures to his skull, right arm, shoulder and bleeding on the brain during the collision and was airlifted to Royal London Hospital by London’s Air Ambulance in a critical condition.
Josh’s mother, Nicola Collins, told News Shopper: said: “How he’s still alive we don’t know.
“He got off lightly, considering.
“Doctors report that this it is a miracle that he still alive considering his internal injuries and fractures.”
The schoolboy is believed to have stepped out into the 40mph road near Shell Service Station, was narrowly missed by a one car which led to a pile-up before panicking and walking into the path of a van in the next lane.
Road construction worker Steve Boakes was one of a number of people who rushed to help the 12-year-old before paramedics arrived.
Mrs Collins, a nurse who works across Bexley, is keen to get in touch with those who helped her son to personally thank them.
She said: “This, for me as a mum, is so comforting that people were there. “I’ve known clients who have heard about a person lying on the road and people walking passed them.”
The 43-year-old says the days which followed the crash were “absolute hell” but described the touching moment he woke up.
She said: “Josh’s personality is shy and lovely little boy and the first thing he did when he came round was give me a kiss. It was the best thing you could imagine."
Prayers have been said at Bexleyheath Academy, where Josh attends.
Mrs Collins was also keen to thank everyone for their support since the accident, adding: “It’s really brought the community together.
“People have been approaching my family in the street to ask how he is.
“He’s able to talk and walk but is forgetting lots of things. Although externally Josh looks well, he will need ongoing support to regain his memory and relearn some everyday activities.
TWO women from Bexleyheath and Woolwich have a hit out after their personal details were swapped in a government mix-up. ► Cheap smells - Save up to 85% RRP
Job Centre Plus sent the wrong information, including bank details, to mother-of-two Laura Ashley and 22-year-old Kelly Boschi.
The pair have been left furious by the error which came after they returned benefit claim forms.
Miss Boshi, of Eversley Avenue, Bexleyheath, told News Shopper: "The letter was addressed to me but when I opened it someone else’s details were inside.
"It was Laura and her bank number, sort code, her date of birth, her address, how many children she has; I’ve got everything.
"I rang her up and said ‘I’ve got your details, and she said I’ve got yours’.
"She could have done anything, same as me, I could do anything with her money. It’s worrying when you don’t know who’s got your details. It’s a nightmare."
Full-time mum Miss Ashley, who lives in Red Barracks Road, Woolwich, is fuming about the way Job Centre handled the blunder which happened on July 12.
The 31-year-old said: "First of all we were asked to send the forms back and then they said they will collect it and then we were told to put them in an envelope to send off.
"When I called them they just said ‘all we can do is apologise’. This is not a minor thing - this had all my details are on it."
A spokesman the Government's Department for Work and Pensions said: "We take data security very seriously and are investigating this incident as a matter of urgency. We will be contacting both parties to apologise."
Vans emblazoned with the message "go home or face arrest" are to be driven around London as a warning to illegal immigrants as part of a Home Office crackdown in the capital.
The pilot scheme will see two vehicles display the number of illegal immigrants that have recently been arrested in the area along with a number the they can text to arrange their return.
The vans will be driven around the London boroughs of Hounslow, Barking & Dagenham, Ealing, Barnet, Brent and Redbridge while leaflets and posters highlighting the advantages of returning home voluntarily will be circulated in each area.
The vans will bear the message: "In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest. Text HOME to 78070 for free advice, and help with travel documents. We can help you return home voluntarily without fear of arrest or detention."
They will be driven around for the next two weeks, with the area chosen because they have either significantly higher or below average numbers of voluntary returns, meaning that the success of the pilot can be assessed.
Material has also been published in local papers and distributed in areas where illegal migrants are known to frequent, including newsagents, money transfer shops and internet cafes.
Immigration Minister Mark Harper said: "We are making it more difficult for people to live and work in the UK illegally. Every single day our enforcement officers are arresting, detaining and removing people with no right to be in the UK.
"But there is an alternative to being led away in handcuffs. Help and advice can be provided to those who co-operate and return home voluntarily.
"This pilot is just another part of the reforms of the immigration system that have cut out abuse and seen net migration drop to its lowest levels in nearly a decade. The Immigration Bill being introduced later this year will build on this work by restricting illegal migrants' access to benefits and services."
The Home Office said voluntary returns are the most cost-effective way of removing illegal immigrants and save the taxpayer money. The pilot builds on the Government's current work on voluntary returns, which saw more than 28,000 voluntary departures last year.
A teenager has gone missing from her home in the Barnet area.
Anastasija Rakovskaja, of Geneva Court, Colindale, was last seen at school at around 4pm on Monday, July 15 and did not return home.
The 14-year-old is white, around 5ft 9ins tall, with long fair hair and blue eyes.
She has gone missing in the past but never for this length of time and it is thought she is using the London bus network.
Anyone with information should ring the Missing Persons Unit at Colindale on 020 8733 4421.
How fast do you think people should be allowed to drive on motorways and in built-up areas, and how best can speed limits be enforced?
Last month plans to raise the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph appeared to get kicked to the kerb by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
In 2011 when the possible move was first announced previous transport secretary Philip Hammond said the 70mph limit had resulted in millions of motorists routinely breaking the law. He claimed a rise to 80mph would "restore the legitimacy'' of the system and benefit the economy by ''hundreds of millions of pounds''.
However, last year campaign groups estimated raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph would cost society an extra £1 billion a year, including £766 million in fuel bills and more than £62 million in health costs. It was also predicted the higher limit would lead to 25 extra deaths and 100 serious injuries a year.
Meanwhile, the question of what speed restrictions should be applied to areas such as residential roads, town centres or near schools is often a thorny issue.
Some claim lower limits such as 20mph in built-up areas improve safety while others says they lead to longer travel times as well as increased congestion and pollution.
What do you think the motorway speed limit should be? Would increasing it make a big difference to how people drive?
Are you in favour of lowering speed limits in residential areas? What other traffic calming measures work well?
► As with any rules, speed limits are meaningless without proper enforcement and deterrents, so what are the best ways to make sure people stay within the law?
Make a Film Now in our 15th Year come and celebrate the London 2012 Olympic games in style and make your own action film which you will treasure for years to come. Throughout the week children will design and create their own props,learn film acting techniques, operate cameras, direct and star in their own
Where:
St George’s Church Hall, Albemarle Road, Beckenham. BR3 Kent
When:
Wednesday 24 Jul 2013 to Fri 26 Jul, Wed 21 Aug to Sat 24 Aug, Wed 28 Aug to Sat 31 Aug
Italian Dinner Party Enjoy the ambiance and food of this fantastic Italian restaurant. A favourite for people who enjoy an evening out chatting over a good bottle of wine and excellent food. Micele & Tunde of SE London/ North Kent Branch will meet and greet everyone then introduce them to each other and the table will.
Where:
Bexley Kent DA5 1AD Friday
When:
26 Jul 2013
Crafty Wednesdays in Greenwich Market Crafty Wednesdays in Greenwich Market Drop by Greenwich Market and join in the crafty fun with Greenwichmums.com. Lots to treats and things to do for children of all ages, adults too, 11am to 4.30pm www.shopgreenwich.co.uk
Nash, Nevinson, Spencer. Gertler, Carrington, Bomberg: A Crisis of Brilliance, 1908 - 1920
12 June – 22 September 2013 Paul Nash, C.R.W. Nevinson, Stanley Spencer, Mark Gertler, Dora Carrington and David Bomberg became some of the most well-known and distinctive British artists of the twentieth century. While studying together at the Slade School of Art in London between 1908 Where: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Rd, Dulwich SE21 7AD
When:
Tomorrow to Sun 28 Jul, Tue 30 Jul to Sun 4 Aug, Tue 6 Aug to Sun 11 Aug, Tue 13 Aug to Sun 18 Aug
Pop-up Gallery Bromley Art Society and the West Wickham Art Association share a gallery exhibiting a wide range of art and artifacts.
Where: 300 Broadway, Bexleyheath Kent DA6 8AH
When: Today to Sat 27 Jul, Mon 29 Jul to Sat 3 Aug, Mon 5 Aug to Sat 10 Aug, Mon 12 Aug to Fri 16 Aug
Did you know? A group of volunteers run allandaboutsidcup blog and site to promote local businesses,
Ladies Night 18+ ONLY Provisional details : Full Monty Act Drag Act Welcome drink Raffle Bar Ann Summers Stall Chocolate Fountain Jewellery Stall Chocolate &/ Fudge Stall Individual table finger buffet And more . . . Please check event organisers website for full confirmed details -.. More
Where:
Elite Venue Kent DA12 5ND
When: Friday 26 Jul 2013
What’s On At Tower Bridge this Summer Come and Experience Art, Apps and Engines at Tower Bridge Something for Everyone this Summer at The Most Famous Bridge in the World Need inspiration for exciting things to do over the summer months? No trip to London is complete without a visit to Tower Bridge, the most famous bridge in the.. Where:
Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road,SE1 2UP When:
Today to Sunday 1 Sep 2013
Exhibition: Wish you were here - Epping Forest’s Edwardian postcards
In Edwardian times, postcards were all the rage and lots and lots portrayed Epping Forest. This exhibition explores what the Forest looked like 100 years ago from these postcards and the often touching ephemeral messages that people wrote on them. Where:
The Temple, Wanstead Park London E11 2LT When: Today to Wednesday 4 Sep 2013
Summer Adventure Trail at Broadditch Farm
Feeling Adventurous this Summer? Ever ridden a tyre horse before? Ever climbed on a tyre Sea Serpent? If not then we’ve got a brand new adventure trail for you this Summer Holiday. Purchase a worksheet from the Farm Shop then all you have to do is answer the questions & have fun on various.. Where:
Broadditch Farm Shop, Manor Farm, New Barn Road, Southfleet Kent DA3 7HS
Become a Citizen TV maker & get free film training Looking for something to do this summer? Join crews at WORLDbytes, the online Citizen TV station and make hard-hitting filmed reports. We provide a six week volunteer-learner package during the summer holidays for 16-25 year olds interested in making Citizen TV with WORLDbytes. This is a part-time.. Where:
WORLDwrite Centre, Millfields Lodge, 201 Millfelds Rd London E5 0AL When:
Wednesday 24 Jul 2013
The Ramblers group walk. Distance 11 miles.
Enjoy British wildlife on a Ramblers group walk. Where:
Circular Keston, High Elms Country Park and Cudham. Meet at Keston Common car park When:
Today to Sunday 8 Sep 2013
►Event, Produt or Service? Advertise here ... FREE!
Festival of British Archaeology Explore Bexley Museum’s fascinating numismatic collection, focusing on Roman coins found in the borough, with British Museum expert Sam Moorhead. This event begins at 2:30pm and is free for Friends, annual pass holders, National Art Pass holders and with entry tickets to the house (which cost £7.. Where: Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley Kent DA5 1PQ
So far, we had over 14,000 Visitors on our blog - See the stats on the right ;)
And the River Flows.. And the River Flows… is the inaugural exhibition by focus finder members, and photographers Sandra Marques, Goretti Pereira and Jennifer Appiah-Phillips. Focusing on the city of London, this exhibition presents the viewer with three inter-related interpretations of what it means to live and.. More Where: The Greenwich Gallery, Linear House, Peyton Place, Greenwich, London SE10 8RS When:
Tomorrow to Tuesday 6 Aug 2013
Halima Cassell
Over the summer months, Halima Cassell showcases a collection of her exquisite sculptures in the lobby of One Canada Square. She works across a multitude of mediums - including clay, stone and bronze - and her sculptures are based on the form of vessels, carved to allow light to bend, refract and.. Where:
Lobby, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5EW When: Today to Fri 30 Aug
Romeo and Juliet A modern city. A deadly feud. And a pair of star-crossed lovers. Set against a vibrant urban backdrop, bursting full of excitement, colour, dancing and live song, a company of eight recreate the most famous love story of all time. A swift, contemporary celebration of Shakespeare’s much loved drama.. Where:
National Theatre Southbank London SE1 9PX When:
Wednesday 24 Jul 2013 to Sunday 18 Aug 2013
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Homes in Swansea, Pembrokeshire and Cumbria least likely to have experienced a break-in, but where is most at risk?
Households in Leeds, specifically those within the
postcode LS13, have more reason to fear a break-in than residents of any
other part of Britain.
The area has suffered the largest number
of burglaries in the UK according to the latest figures, but is closely
followed by parts of Bradford and London, according to analysis of 3.5
million insurance quotes.
After LS13, the postcode with most likely to have experienced a robbery is BD12 within Bradford.
The
top spot for burglary claims in London was North Finchley (N12) coming
third on the list overall. Manchester’s Eccles (M30) was in fourth place
on the list.
On the other hand, people living within Swansea’s
SA9, Pembrokeshire’s SA62 and Cumbria’s LA14 may sleep a little easier
after learning they are among the least likely to have experienced a
burglary.
Homeowners in these burglary “hotspots” are charged an
extra 20% on average for insurance, amounting to £30 extra a year, said
Moneysupermarket.com, which carried out the research.
Even
those who have not been a victim of burglary pay more if they live in
an area with high claims because of insurers blanket approach to pricing
by postcode.
Hannah Jones, insurance expert at
Moneysupermarket, said: “While there are clearly some areas of the
country with a higher proportion of insurance claims for burglary than
others, this doesn’t actually mean the area is “rife” with crime.
“Thieves
often specifically target areas with wealthy residents, or quieter
areas where there’s not a lot of passing foot traffic, where the rewards
are potentially greater and the risk of being caught in the act may be
lower.”
The 20 UK postcode districts most likely to claim for theft on their home insurance:
Postcode District
Town
County / City
Number of theft claims per 1000 enquiries
1
LS13
Bramley, Gamble Hill, Moorside, Rodley, Swinnow
Leeds
34.8
2
BD12
Low Moor, Oakenshaw, Wyke
Bradford
34.2
3
N12
North Finchley, Woodside Park
London
31.9
4
M30
Eccles
Manchester
31.6
5
RM3
Harold Wood, Harold Hill, Noak Hill in Romford
London
30.9
6
SW12
Balham, Clapham South, Hyde Farm
London
30.1
7
LS18
Horsforth
Leeds
29.7
8
UB3
Hayes, Harlington
London
29.5
9
SE22
East Dulwich, Peckham Rye, Loughborough Junction, Herne Hill
London
29.1
10
LS28
Calverley, Farsley, Pudsey, Stanningley
Leeds
28.4
11
IG2
Gants Hill, Newbury Park
London
28.1
12
HU6
Hull, Dunswell, Orchard Park
Hull
27.8
13
BD10
Apperley Bridge, parts of Eccleshill, Greengates, Idle, Thackley
