Street Walkers Halted

Projects which have eliminated prostitution on a residential estate, slashed youth violence, reduced distraction burglary and saved thousands of pounds by cutting theft have been named as finalists in the 2010 Tilley Awards. Among the finalists was Operation Guardian in Woking which was visited today by Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire. It was set up to tackle the supply of class A drugs after increasing levels of concern among residents about drugs users and dealers in the area. Police initiated the operation with raids, test purchases and stop and searches. Other finalists came from Lancashire, Northampton, Norfolk, Peckham, Warwickshire, Doncaster, Stockton, Hamilton, Cardiff and Caerau, South Wales. Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire said: "Empowering communities to find local solutions to local problems is a key foundation of the Big Society we want to build. These awards recognise where it is already happening and we can all learn lessons from that. They show that when police, councils, charities and the public work together they can achieve real results. I want to congratulate all the finalists on their achievements," he said.

EU Should 'Remove Barriers'

Business Minister Edward Davey has this week called on European Union member states to take urgent action to help remove barriers to economic growth. Speaking at the European Business Summit in Brussels on Wednesday, Edward Davey said: "Europe is facing deep structural problems. Productivity is shrinking. Our average growth rate is lower than the US, India and China. And we are all sitting on a time bomb, with ageing populations and too many people out of work. There is a fundamental need for reform. That means reinforcing the Single Market; boosting trade; and getting smarter about regulation to lift the burdens weighing down business. It's vital that we renew our sense of purpose without delay, to ensure that we do emerge stronger from the crisis that almost consumed us," he said. "Reinforcing the Single Market is simply a prize too big to ignore and too urgent. Boosting the single market will ultimately give us a stronger hand to play in global trade talks and trade will be crucial in supporting economic growth and recovery."

Tax Credit Deadline Looms

With the 31 July deadline for renewing tax credits claims fast approaching, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is urging families and individuals who haven't yet done so to renew their claims now. Failure to renew a tax credits claim by 31 July will lead to payments being stopped. They said that renewing is simple – just check the accuracy of the information in the renewals pack, and let HMRC know of any changes in circumstances not already reported during the year, such as working hours, childcare costs or pay. HMRC's Director of Benefits and Credits, Steve Lamey, said: "Time is running out to renew your tax credits. Don't leave it until the last minute – get it done now, and ensure your payments continue after July."

(BMcC/GK)