Think! Don't fall victim to fatigue

One in five road accidents on motorways and other monotonous roads are caused by someone falling asleep at the wheel, mostly involving running off the road or into the back of another vehicle.
Sleep-related crashes are particularly dangerous and likely to result in serious injury because the driver won't have woken in time to brake before impact.
You may find yourself fighting sleep in a warm car by winding down the window or turning up the radio.
This doesn't work. Try the following tips instead:
Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours.
Find a safe place to stop if you feel drowsy - not the hard shoulder.
Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink, then take a short nap to allow the caffeine to kick in.
Don't start a long trip if you're already tired.
Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive.
Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you're likely to feel sleepy anyway.
Who is at risk?
The highest risk group is young male drivers, who are most likely to crash due to tiredness in the early morning after little or no sleep. [4] Older male drivers are also at risk during the mid-afternoon, when it is common to experience a ‘dip’ in your body clock. [5] Nearly half (about four in ten) tiredness-related crashes involve someone driving a commercial vehicle. [6] Charlie Mitchell, 20, died on 9 May 1995 when a lorry hit his moped from behind on the A1 near Cromwell in Nottinghamshire. The lorry driver had fallen asleep at the wheel after driving 600 miles in 15 hours without taking his legally-required breaks. [7]
Factors contributing to tired driving
Many factors can contribute to driver tiredness and increase your risk of being involved in a tiredness-related crash.
Time of day: The most common times for drivers (with normal sleep patterns) to fall asleep are early morning (midnight-6am) and early afternoon (2pm-4pm) when the body clock ‘dips’.
Stress: A typical symptom of stress due to work or home life pressures is tiredness.
Disturbed sleep, for example, caused by a baby, stress or domestic problems, or due to sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnoea. To find out more about sleep apnoea, click here.
Irregular sleep patterns: this can be a problem if you work shifts and switch regularly from day to night shifts without having sufficient time off in between for your body clock to adjust.
Insufficient rest periods, if you work long hours or have long commutes to work. You may also not get sufficient rest if you juggle more than one job or fit in a demanding hobby.
Shifts and rest breaks: If you work long shifts you are more likely to suffer fatigue, particularly if your work involves long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways. If you drive for work or as part of your work you will become tired more quickly if you do not take regular breaks from driving.
Medication: Both prescription drugs, including some anti-depressants and over-the-counter drugs can affect driving by causing drowsiness and impaired alertness. Over-the-counter drugs sometimes carry warnings that are not immediately obvious or entirely clear in the meaning. You should always check with your doctor or pharmacist whether any medication you take can impair driving.
Vehicle engineering: Vehicles are often quieter and more comfortable than they used to be, meaning you might be more relaxed when driving. As well as this, driving can have a lulling effect, particularly in vehicles fitted with comfort-enhancing features, such as cruise control. [9]
Planning and scheduling: If you are planning on driving a considerable distance or if you drive for work, you should make sure you plan ahead and allow sufficient time for regular breaks. The Government recommends that drivers take breaks of at least 15 minutes at least every two hours. However, If you get tired sooner than every two hours you may need more breaks.

FIVE Section 59 warning were giving to drivers of mopeds on the evening of Thursday 24 June.

A man found guilty of numerous sexual offences against children to be sentenced next week. Daniel Lishman, aged 36 from Thorpe Street, Raunds, Northamptonshire is due to be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court next week. Lishman who has previously pleaded guilty to twenty counts of sexual assault, mostly against children, will be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on 14 July 2010.

We have received several reports of sheds being broken into at Southam Allotments Associations, Welsh Road East, Southam. If you see anyone acting suspiciously in the area, please contact Southam Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Please use the links below to find out more information and advice we offer
ON LINE NEWS
http://onlinenews.warwickshire.police.uk/home

CRIME IN WARWICKSHIRE
http://warwickshire.crimemapper.co.uk/map/warwickshire/

CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE
http://www.warwickshire.police.uk/crimeprevention/index_html

A man from Bedworth who does not wish to be identified was recently a victim of an internet scam to the value of £5000. The man replied to an advert posted on a website, advertising a car for sale, allegedly in Spain. Instead of making the purchase through the secure site the victim dealt with the seller directly by email. The buyer and seller made arrangements for payment by direct bank transfer into a Spanish bank account whereby the vehicle was to be shipped to the UK.
Following payment the vehicle failed to arrive and the seller became uncontactable.
Police investigations to date have revealed that the vehicle featured in the advert was not for sale but belonged to an innocent member of the public who was completely unaware of the situation. Further police enquiries have revealed that fraudulently obtained credit card details were used to place the initial advert and also that the same suspect may have defrauded others throughout the UK using the same scam which is well planned and orchestrated.
Police would like to warn members of the public about this type of scam and advise them to take appropriate precautions when making transactions following online adverts:
1) If the website hosting the advert has a secure payment system always use this. Completing transactions outside of the site using direct money transfer leaves buyers with little comeback if the goods fail to arrive.
2) If emails are received from official looking sites, reporting to be from 'buyer-protection' departments always check these out with the site concerned as they may be false and created to give buyers a false sense of security, as happened in this case.
3) Importing vehicles from overseas is costly and will attract various duties and charges (dependent on country of origin). Legitimate sellers are unlikely to offer 'free' shipping.
4) Always check advertised prices against published price guides. If the vehicle is much cheaper that its guide price ask yourself why.
5) If a seller is unable to provide a contact telephone number upon request then this may be an indication that they are not legitimate. Remember that web based email address's are no proof of identity and can be created by anybody, of any age, anywhere in the world using false details.
For further advice you should visit the City of London Police website below.
http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Departments/ECD/ScamsAdvice/OnlinePhone/

Home Office award recognises the work of Warwickshire Police in combating distraction burglaries.

A Harm Analysis & Intelligence Group (HAIG) and Community Protection problem-solving project on distraction burglary has lead to Warwickshire Police winning the West Midlands Regional stage of the Tilley Awards 2010.

Today, Thursday July 1, 2010, the Home Office rewarded the analytical and preventative work undertaken to reduce distraction burglaries in Warwickshire.

The stand-alone category, which welcomed applications from partnerships that could demonstrate they had successfully embedded problem solving in their area, was introduced for the 2010 awards. More than 110 projects entered this year’s awards.

The main project objectives were to substantially reduce the problem of distraction burglary, reduce the harm (and potential harm) caused, to deal with incidents better and more consistently, and, to empower the elderly and vulnerable.

Problem solving analysis was commissioned to understand exactly where distraction burglary offences were located, to identify susceptible properties and what could be recommended to reduce the levels of offending, and protect vulnerable communities from harm.

Many cannabis factories lay undiscovered for months and when they are discovered the neighbours have suspected something was not quite right because of the exotic smell wafting over the street or due to suspicous circumstances.

Here are ways to spot a cannabis factory:

* Curtains will often be kept closed at all times but bright lights may appear to be left on around the clock.
* The windows of the property are permanently covered from the inside.
* Visits to the premises occur at unusual times of the day or night.
* People often do not live in the premises and only visit to maintain them. The offenders may call daily or weekly, but usually do not stay long.
* The cannabis or by-products such as used fertiliser will be removed in black bin bags or laundry bags.
* Compost bags or gardening equipment may be left outside, usually in the rear of the premises.
* There may be a vent protruding through the roof or a rear window.
* There may be a pungent smell emanating from the premises.
* There may be noise coming from the equipment in the premises (cooling fans).
* If it has been snowing, there will snow on the roof.
* If you living in terrace properties, the walls of your house may feel warm to the touch.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service attends around 1500 deliberate small fires a year. Evidence shows that the vast majority of these fires are started by children and young people between 10 and 16 years of age, with all of those fires having been started with matches or lighters.

These fires, in addition to disrupting a much needed emergency response to larger, more serious incidents also cause massive inconvenience to the community as a whole. The consequences of this behaviour are the personal and serious financial cost, damage to property and the deliberate destruction of public facilities such as park furniture, bins and shrubbery. These actions come at a high cost to the local community putting individuals and Fire Service personnel at risk of injury or even death.

Our fire engines cannot be in two places at once; therefore if there is a house fire, or road accident, the delay in arrival of the next nearest fire engine could prove to have grave consequences.

WE ARE ASKING SHOP OWNERS TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

Since 1st October 2007, it has been illegal to sell cigarettes or tobacco to those under the age of 18, therefore, children under this age should have no reason to purchase matches or lighters.

Trading Standards needs your help
Suspect It, Report It to consumer direct
on 08454 04 05 06

Bogus/Rogue Traders - Laws to protect communities
Rogue traders seek out the elderly and vulnerable, often convincing them that an unnecessary job such as guttering or the resurfacing of a driveway needs doing then using pressure and intimidation to extract large sums of money.
Rogue Traders are likely to engage in any of the following behaviour:
A lack of any written quotation/contract
A lack of business name details on invoices
Unfair contract terms
Lack of cancellation rights
Misleading description (including misrepresentations as to work needed/carried out; price; false accreditation/trade association claims).
Aggressive trading practices (e.g escorting victims to banks/cashpoints in order to secure payment).
In extreme cases, fraud by false representation.
Below are some legislative tools available to Warwickshire Police and agencies to stop these offenders and protect individuals and communities from harm.
Fraud Act 2006
Section 2 – Fraud by false representation
A person is in breach of this section if he represents himself in a false and dishonest way, with the intention of making a gain for himself or another, causes loss to another or exposes another to a risk of loss.
A representation is false if it is untrue or misleading, and the person making it knows that it is, or might be.
For example, giving one price for resurfacing a driveway with the intention of charging a much higher price.
Section 3 – failure to state something, which you have a legal duty to do
An example of this is not telling the customer about the cooling off period and the requirement to provide cancellation notice.
Under section 6 of the Fraud Act it is an offence for a person to possess or have under their control anything for use in the course of, or in connection with, fraud.
For example; Carrying business cards or leaflets purporting to a rogue trading company or using uniforms, vehicle and logos for the same purpose.
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading 2008
This ban on unfair trading broadly means that traders have to act in a way that enables the average consumer to make free and informed purchasing decisions.
In addition, this will put a stop to aggressive selling techniques, and misinforming or misleading people about products or services.
There are 31 banned practices listed as criminal offences under consumer protection. They include the following:
Ignoring a consumer’s request to leave their home during a visit.
Incorrectly claiming to be a member of a code of practice or showing a trust mark or similar.
Incorrectly claiming approval for work or goods.
Falsely claiming that a product will only be available for a limited time to pressure a sale. (Also arrestable under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006)
Inaccurately claiming a consumer is at risk if they don’t buy goods. (Also arrestable under section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006)
Stating that the seller’s jobs or livelihoods are in jeopardy if the consumer doesn’t buy their goods or services.
Consumer protection can also be applied to offences related to aggressive commercial practices where, through coercion, harassment and undue influence (physical or verbal) the consumer feels forced to make a decision they would not ordinarily make without taking the time to think about it. E.G. Refusing to leave unless paid, making underlining threats.
There is an offence for false or deceptive statements about goods, services or the price charged.
Pedlars Act 1871
The Pedlars Act 1871 defines a pedlar as: -
Any hawker, pedlar or other person who travels and trades on foot and goes from town to town or to other men's houses, carrying to sell or exposing for sale any goods, wares, or merchandise, or procuring orders for goods, wares, or merchandise immediately to be delivered, or selling or offering for sale his skill.
This act can be used if a pedlar has been overly aggressive and has intimidated a householder.
Doorstep Selling Regulations 1987 - Cancellation of contracts made in a consumers’ home or place of work etc Regulations (2008)
It’s a common misconception that Trading Standards Services only deal with civil matters. Several serious offences linked to doorstep crime come under the jurisdiction of Trading Standards. Most offences are dealt with in either the Magistrates or the Crown Court, in the same way as police offences.
Under the Doorstep Regulations of 1987 consumers have a right to a “cooling off” period of seven days on contracts concluded away from trade premises where the work has been carried out following an unsolicited call or since 1st October 2008…even when done at the consumers request.
A notice explaining these rights must be provided in writing, either at the time of the contract or immediately afterwards. This applies to the sale of goods or services, which exceed £35 even where the work is to be started straight away.
A consumer can waive their right to the cooling off period but the consumer must make this request in writing. The consumer must not simply tick a box.
Business Names Act 1985
This information should include the name and address of the owner(s) of the business, and in the case of a company, the registered address.
This act may sound purely technical but it is of key importance with doorstep crime as very often householders are left with no details of who they have dealt with, even in cases where they have handed over thousands of pounds.
Harassment of a Debtor – Administration of Justice Act 1970
This act can be used in situations where rogue traders have tricked their victims into having work done, and then tried to charge a disproportionate fee. In some instances a cheque has been given because the householder felt intimidated …and then later cancelled.
This legislation can be used to protect the customer who may be worried that the traders will return demanding cash.
It’s a crime to coerce or harass a person to pay money as a due debt under a contract, with demands for payment, which are accompanied or calculated to subject the person or their family to alarm, distress or humiliation, due to the frequency, manner, threat or publicity by which the demand is made.
Enterprise Act 2002
The Enterprise Act is a recent piece of legislation. It gives Trading Standards Officers the power to obtain injunctions against rogue traders, discouraging them from repeating criminal offences and civil misdemeanours.
A subsequent breach of this enforcement order would bring a charge of contempt of court and possible imprisonment.
The above laws will assist if you suspect a trader has used a lie, omission, or deception to lead you into a sale.