Weekly news from Bedford, UK

BoS leads on a report that thieves are stealing the identities of dead people.

Serial identity hijackers are operating across Mid Bedfordshire.

One man - who calls himself Mr Khan - is profiting from his crime by using the identity of dead people to apply for loans. A financial expert said:

"He is most likely to be using the person's bank account. There is no other way for him to get access to loans unless he is using fake passports but that is very unlikely."

Hijackers get access to dead people's personal documents and bank statements by conning estate agents into thinking they want to buy their vacant homes.

Access to the properties is gained by putting a phoney offer down. The estate agent is then told nothing can happen until a surveyor has been appointed.

The surveyor is said to work for a company called Platform Estate Agents. We cannot find any companies registered in this name.

It is normal practice for a surveyor to collect the keys to the property from the estate agent and visit it unaccompanied.

But this has given the hijacker access to the property. He makes a copy of the keys which enables him to enter at his will to collect the letters and documents needed to apply for loans.

At the same time, he makes a false call to Mid Bedfordshire District Council claiming he has recently moved into the property and requires a new council tax bill but gives his name to be the same or very similar to that of the dead person.

A spokesman for Mid Bedfordshire District Council confirmed that it is aware of a least one instance where the identity thief has been successful and loans were made in the name of a deceased person. They immediately notified the family.

At the start of last week the council received a similar call regarding a council tax bill. However, the officer who took the call believed it was the same person as before. A visit from the council confirmed the property is still vacant but noticed a 'sold' sign had been placed outside.

The officer visited the estate agent and they confirmed the buyer had the same name and was using the same surveyor as in the other incidents.

This has been reported to Bedfordshire Police.

Julie Luckman, fraud manager at Mid Beds District Council said:

"People shouldn't think identity theft only happens to someone else, living elsewhere.

"These cases show that these morbid criminals are at work in the Mid Beds countryside and people must take precautions against this sort of thing.

"Anybody who suspects they might be the victim of identity thieves or is suspicions of potential house buyers should contact the police."

Community workers found themselves trapped in a Cop Shop by young thugs who pulled down and jammed the shutters.

The Gostwick shop, in Bedford, is a venue where local people can meet their beat manager.

Council street rangers hold surgeries to address residents' concerns.

It is used by other agencies as well and on Tuesday night a Community Safety Group meeting, called by the local street ranger, took place.

At the end of the meeting some youths pulled the shutters down with the ranger and a couple of residents stuck inside.

Neighbours thought a screwdriver had been used to jam the shutters but police said a firework was actually thrown underneath.

Police were called and local Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) were first on the scene.

The shutters had been released by the time they arrived and they managed to move on some of the youths.

Other teenagers continued to hang around and one of them threw a firework at a female PCSO who was not badly injured.

Police officers then arrived and arrested the offender, 19, on suspicion of causing actual body harm. He was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A taxi driver has been accused of raping one of his passengers.

The attack happened when the alleged victim picked up the cab following a night out in Bedford town centre on Saturday.

She asked to be driven to a friend's house in Stanley Street but instead claims the driver took her to the car park of Robinson Pool and raped her.

She managed to get out of the car and made her way to her friend's house before calling police at around 3.15am on Sunday morning.

Officers immediately cordoned off a large part of the the car park area outside the pool (pictured above) and it remained closed throughout Sunday morning until scenes of crime officers arrived from the south of the county.

A man was later arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

BoS reports that student behaviour has got so bad that letters have been sent out apologising to their neighbours.

Residents in the Black Tom/Prime Ministers area of Bedford contacted De Montfort University to complain about drunken late night antics.

The area is popular with students who would rather house share than be under the watchful eye of university staff in halls.

And though, for the most part, the young people are good neighbours, some residents complain of rowdy parties and naked sprints up and down the usually quiet Victorian streets. One woman said:

"There's often loud music and we have had young men running up and down the street without any clothes on.

"I'm not a prude and it might sound like just a bit of harmless fun and it would be if it was a one off.

"I spoke to some of the youngsters and their attitude was 'well its our graduation, it's not as it if happens all the time'.

"But what they don't understand is that we live here all the time and they are not the only group of graduates."

Now letters have gone out to more than 100 homes across the area urging residents to get in touch if there are problems adding 'we will have no hesitation in taking the appropriate action'.

Dr Kevin Richardson, university provost, said:

"We understand our students enjoy socialising but we take any issues of unacceptable behaviour very seriously. A small number of students have been brought to our attention and dealt with appropriately.

"We wish our students to be good neighbours and we hope we can continue to enjoy the good relationship we have established with Bedford residents through the Residents' Liaison Group."

Leaves on the line will not be delaying trains in future - in fact they will be leaving earlier.

Rail company Wagn, which operates between Peterborough and London, passing through Sandy, Biggleswade, Arlesey and Luton, has announced that, during the autumn season, services will be pulling out of stations three to five minutes earlier.

The adjustments are to trains travelling to London before 10am allowing extra time for train drivers to brake when tracks become slippery.

Route director for WAGN, James Adeshiyan, said: "For some years now the rail industry has been working in unison to combat the effects of leaf fall, but there will inevitably be occasions when these measures are not enough."

The changes, which deviate from the current timetable, are only on the trains going into London as the the track closer to the capital is likely to have less leaves on it than the section running through riral areas of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The changes are expected to run up to Christmas and leaflets and posters outlining the changes are available in stations to inform passengers of the delays.

No announcement has yet been made regarding snow on the line...

Fancy free broadband internet access?

If you do, try taking your computer and sitting within 100 metres of a library.

You will be able to surf the net and look at anything you please, courtesy of Bedfordshire County Council.

Bedfordshire Libraries are set to be boosted by a £13,000 grant that will allow visitors to access internet services.

Any computer that can use 'WiFi' (wireless networking technology) will be able to use internet services free at seven libraries around Bedfordshire, without plugging their computers into a socket.

The service will also be picked up by any suitable computers within 100 metres of the library - meaning people not actually in the building will be able to use it.

Councillor Lynne Faulkner, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, said:

"This sort of service is not yet widely available so we are delighted that the grant will allow us to offer it at more of our libraries.

"The wireless service means that people sitting in the pub over the road from the library or in the cafe next door will be able to access it.

"But I would like to think that they will take the time to come into the library where they can take advantage of all the services we have to offer."

The service is already available at Potton Library but the grant from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) will allow the County Council to install the service at six other libraries around Bedfordshire.

Councillor Lynne Faulkner, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, said:

"When launched our libraries WiFi systems will have tight security systems that prevent users from hacking into other systems or downloading illegal material.

"The machine they use will never be untraceable as when they log onto our WIFI it will record the individual details of the computer.

"If a user attempts to abuse the system, that machine, even if it is the smallest pocket pc, can be blocked from using it again."

A graduate nurse has been given an eleventh hour reprieve after being taken to Yarl's Wood to be deported.

Melissa Reid was denied a visitor's visa and then asylum when she arrived in the UK from Jamaica five years ago to stay with her uncle.

As the appeal process is lengthy she used the time to study nursing at the University of Central England.

The 30-year-old graduated in March after a three-year course and started working at Nuffield Hospital in Birmingham in July. She believed the hospital had successfully applied for a work permit but when Miss Reid contacted immigration to get her passport stamped she was detained and told she would be flown back to Jamaica.

Miss Reid was due to be flown back to Jamaica on Wednesday morning but, after her situation was highlighted, immigration officials reviewed her case. She said:

"I have no idea what is going on. I was prepared, mentally and physically, to fly to Jamaica and then someone approached me when I was on the plane and asked me to get off."

Miss Reid was allowed to stay in the country while her appeal was being heard, and after completing a three-year access course at university was given a job. She is also a Sunday school teacher.

She knew nothing about this situation until she received a letter asking her to report to the immigration office in the West Midlands last Thursday, where she was immediately taken into detention and told her appeal had failed. Two days later she was taken to Yarl's Wood.

She said:

"I was sat in a room for an hour and nobody could tell me what was happening. I still don't know and it has been a terrible strain. It is dirty and I haven't been able to have a shower."

A spokesman for the Home Office said:

"Those who wish to come to Britain to study or work needed to go through the proper channels.

"However, we recognise the valuable contribution that migrant workers make to the economy and that far from being a burden on our public services they can help deliver them."

SIR - I refer to last week's front page story on flooding risk and the effects on house saleability and insurance.

I would assume that the Environment Agency has carried out this comprehensive flood risk study and resultant mapping of the UK to help the authorities plan where to invest in flood defences as well as where not to build new houses.

It seems that flood defences are urgently required in Bedford and Kempston.

It has always amazed me how moronic the planning authorities are when they sanction building on natural flood plains.

Not only are the houses on these developments at high risk of flooding but worse, the impact of a flood is pushed on to surrounding areas which were previously at a far lower risk.

I would like to find out what the local authorities are doing to counter the flood threat in the region. What flood defences are planned and what is being done to ensure new developments are not going to have an adverse effect on neighbouring houses (as well as not being at risk themselves).

Can anyone enlighten me?

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SIR - I attended the borough council planning committee meeting on September 26 and was shocked to see the way the proposal for 'comprehensive housing and other development on land west of Kempston and Biddenham Loop' was passed.

Despite valid concerns over the threat of flooding of ten per cent of the proposed area of development a request to defer a decision for further inquiries was rejected.

The Environment Agency's own website indicates a significant part of the proposed area could be subjected to flooding.

A request to distribute copies of the Environment Agency's own map of the area was refused.

One would have thought that such serious matters needed to be fully investigated before any final decision could be made.

Several other key recommendations by Cllr Roger Rigby - that sought to practically address a number of specific concerns relating to the development - were also seemingly rejected without being given any due consideration.

It is also disquieting to note that two groups who wished to speak at the meeting to voice their concerns over the proposed development were not able to do so.

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SIR - Recently while having a discussion with a friend, we decided that Michael Peters would make an excellent candidate for Mayor of Bedford.

We both decided that the Mayor should not be politically associated with any of the parties and we both felt that Mr Peters' long association and obvious interest in Bedford, his business sense and evident success as well as his obvious wide ranging skills and tenacity would make him a first class mayor.

It would be great to have a politically neutral mayor whose main interest would be for Bedfordians and the good of Bedford.

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SIR - I was delighted to read in your paper of the progress being made with the planned development for Bedford Museum and Cecil Higgins Art Gallery.

As a family (my children are now aged eight and ten) we often visit this great Bedford resource.

We pop in on a Saturday to ease the stress of shopping. Every school holiday we come to many of the special events that are held bringing visiting (impressed) relatives in tow.

The children and their classmates have also enjoyed many informative school trips to the museum and art gallery covering everything from lighting to the famous blanket dig.

The museums provide an excellent facility for the local community. They are seldom given the accolades they deserve. So here's to a bright and bigger future for all concerned.

Well done to all those behind the bid keep going as it will be worth it in the end!

(Indeed it is a splendid museum, with lots of interesting activities for young people throughout the year. Yet for some reason it remains a treasure still to be discovered; one resident who has lived here many years was unaware of its existence!)

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SIR - I read with interest your article featuring Tory county councillors upset that the Conservative-run county council may want to establish a temporary tidy tip at Mowsbury Park.

Following consultation with local youths I have been campaigning to see this piece of land set aside as a BMX track.

This project has been ongoing for the last two years. Just when it seemed we were getting the go ahead, it looks like this opportunity might be lost.

Teenagers don't want swings and slides but they still need somewhere to go if we don't want them to aimlessly congregate around our streets and shopping parades.

This site at the edge of the park has been derelict for more than ten years.

The police support this project as do local youngsters. It has the added bonus that it will tidy up an uncared for piece of borough land.

We even have finances in the pipeline.

The introduction of this temporary tip is bound to bring congestion to Kimbolton Road, when the same site could be encouraging people to get out on their bikes and make use of our open spaces.

While the facilities at Barkers Lane are in need of improvement let's not let this improvement be at the expense of local youngsters.

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SIR - I am moved to respond in a positive way to your correspondent, S Ledger (October 9).

I write in support of all councillors and those of us who come forward and participate in our local community.

The overriding reasons are to give something back, and to work for and support those who may not be able to speak for themselves.

I too hope that the county council turns itself around. As to who will become the unitary government, surely it is more a case of more focussed services and less bureaucracy being the more important considerations?

S Ledger obviously has a lot to say and has a particular perception of how things should be. I would say here is your opportunity to do what many of us have done.

Stand for elected office and do better.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a heated row at Warwick Avenue in Bedford.
An 80-year-old man was involved in an argument with a younger man concerning parking at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

About two hours later, the elderly man was found dead in his home by his daughter who had come to visit.

A post mortem held on Wednesday revealed that the old man, who had a history of heart problems, had died of a heart attack.

Police are still investigating the original incident and are looking for anyone who may have seen anything.

The younger man is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, in his 20s, with an unshaven appearence and short hair.

(A man appeared at Bedford Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with common assault in relation to the incident. He was remanded in custody.)

Five animals died as a result of a suspected burglary and arson at a stable block in Wootton on Tuesday night.

Fire crews were called out to the incident in Hall End Road at around 9.20pm.

Two horses and a sheep died in the fire, and a second sheep and a pet dog which were treated at the scene for burns by a vet were later put down because of their injuries.

The occupier of the barn, Graham Wilson, was also treated for burns to his hands after he had tried to save the burning sheep.

Mr Wilson, who has used the field for ten years, said:

"The animals were obviously terrified by what was happening, I think they knew it was going to kill them.

"My partner Tracey lived for the animals, and I just want whoever did this to be caught.

"If whoever is responsible had only opened up the stable doors and taken the animals out before starting the fire, then I would be much happier."

The value of the dead animals is put at more than £15,000. A £1,000 horse trailer, horse jumps, eight horse rugs and a generator were also destroyed.

It is believed the fire was started after a burglary as farm equipment had been stolen from one of the stable blocks.

Investigating officer PC Jamie Quinney said:

"A local man who happened to be passing saw an old Ford Escort car leaving the scene at some speed. He followed it but lost it in Cause End Road.

"I would like anyone who saw anything in the area at all suspicious, or even if they saw anything out of place in the few days running up to the incident, to contact me.

"People burgling rural locations will often check out their target locations before they actually commit the crime. The damage to the property and equipment runs into tens of thousands of pounds, let alone the dreadful distress caused to the animals and their owners."

Two fire service pumps arrived from Kempston to fight the blaze, along with a water carrier from Toddington, and crews remained at the scene until midday on Wednesday.

Police were needed to keep members of the public from the scene.

The fire follows a number of suspicious incidents in Mid-Bedfordshire over recent weeks.

These have included a suspicious fire at Manor Farm Fisheries in Lower Caldecote, and 2,000 tonnes of straw which were put out by firefighters at a farm close to Hatch.

The repercussions of the fire at Yarl's Wood Immigrant Detention Centre still continue to rumble. The Bedfordshire force is being chased by an insurance company trying to offload costs arising from the Yarl's Wood fire. Bedfordshire Police still faces a multi-million pound claim for damages nearly four years after it was launched in the wake of the Yarl's Wood fire.

Lloyds insurance syndicate DJ Pye continues to pursue the force following the blaze which destroyed nearly half the Clapham immigration centre in February 2002.

It is maintaining its demand - once set at £97 million - under an obscure 19th century law.

MP for North East Beds Alistair Burt said he would ask the Home Secretary to repeat assurances the police and taxpayers would not have to foot the bill. He said:

"I remain absolutely 100 per cent of the view that the police should not have to pay for Yarl's Wood. It was built as part of a national policy to deal with a national problem, and I would be extremely angry if there were any contribution made by the local police and Bedfordshire taxpayers.

"We have had a personal assurance from a previous Home Secretary that the police will not have to pay, so it would be a substantial breach of promise if that were not the case."

One of the two main blocks at Yarl's Wood was left in ruins after a fire which broke out while a group of detainees rioted.

As Bedfordshire Police grappled with the massive task of investigating the crime, it was hit with the damages claim from DJ Pye - the insurer to Yarl's Wood operator Group 4.

The syndicate launched the bid under the 1886 Riot Damages Act, which allows claims to be made against the police for losses suffered in civil disturbances.

Claims manager Peter May confirmed there was "still a dispute" between the syndicate and the police. He said:

"The law enables anyone who suffers property damage caused by a riot to recover it from the police authority. It's a statutory right and it's not predicated on any question of fault.

"I can't comment on the figure now. It's likely to be a lot less than £97 million, but still a substantial sum."

Bedford and Kempston MP Patrick Hall was determined DJ Pye should cough up for the destruction at Yarl's Wood. He said:

"I am confident the insurer should have to pay and equally confident the Bedfordshire taxpayer won't have to."

Better that one of the Cardington Hangars is allowed to fall down than a new warehouse is built.

This is the view of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

New plans have been submitted to build houses near the hangars and also a warehouse behind them.

Local residents have protested against the building of the warehouse, calling themselves Stop the Blot Campaign.

The developers, Frontier Estates, have said that part of the planning application includes proposals from them to repair and renovate Hangar 1, which is in danger of falling down.

In its newsletter this month, CPRE states that it has concluded:

'It would be less damaging overall to lose Shed No 1 than to allow a 'blot' to destroy the setting of both sheds. We have opposed the warehouse application, believing that refusal leaves open the possibility that an acceptable solution for the conservation of Shed No 1 may be found in the future.'

Cllr Susan Gaszczak said:

"I would be mortified to lose even one. They're part of our history and heritage. To say it is better to lose one than spoil the view of both - where's the logic?

"Bedford Borough Council should be doing more to save them. The borough can step in to force repairs to be carried out. There are so many things the sheds could be used for. Cardington Parish Council will be horrified to hear this is the view of the CPRE."

Mayor Frank Branston has stepped into the row. He is urging the planning committee to refuse permission.

Mr Branston, who is legally barred from making planning decisions, said this week:

"The sheds are majestic in their isolation and while the developer has offered to repair the northern shed if he gets permission for housing and a warehouse, it would ruin the aspect and could destroy any chance of housing a visitor attraction.

"If there were no alternative use, maybe one would have to accept it as a price to prevent the shed being destroyed as a dangerous structure, but I believe there are alternatives."

Alistair Burt wants the Bedfordshire Clanger to make a comeback and is asking the Government to help.

Mr Burt, MP for North East Bedfordshire, has signed an Early Day Motion to promote regionally distinct food. The Early Day Motion (number 429) already has the support of 65 MPs in the House of Commons.

The motion would support not only famous regional food such as Lincolnshire sausages, but also less well known dishes like the 'Bedfordshire Clanger'.

Two thirds of the Clanger is a pasty pie of meat and vegetable nad the remainder contains jam as a dessert.

Mr Burt said

"I welcome anything which will protect and promote our regional cooking. North East Bedfordshire has many local recipes which are delicious, especially when made with locally sourced ingredients."

Mr Burt will be asking Margaret Becket, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how she intends to promote regional food.

Shopkets and members of the public in the area are warned to be aware that counterfeit cash is curculating.

One Bedfordshire on Sunday staffer was handed a dud pound coin on Thursday afternoon. She said:

"If I had looked a bit more closely I would have spotted it easily, the colour is peeling off and the design on one side looks completely wrong."

A police spokesman said there have not been any recent reports of bogus cash about at the moment but they would always urge people to stay alert and if they do receive any suspicious currency to let them know.

An interesting example of "Town and Gown". de Montfort University held a graduation ceremony this week, and there was some competition for space with the Food Market.

The leaves are beginning to fall, but so far the scene is not as glarious as it was last year. I only hope that when the leaves really fall, the weather wil be mild, otherwise we are robbed of a spectacular scene!

May I wish you a restful week ahead

Robert

Week ending 29 October 2005