Burnham mulls ghost plate crackdown with 6 points
Andy Burnham's government is considering new measures against ghost plates, including vehicle confiscation and up to six penalty points for drivers, following a consultation launched in January.
Category : Community
HMRC's £2,337 Child Benefit warning for parents of teens
HMRC warns parents of 16-19 year olds born 2007-2010 to extend Child Benefit by 31 August, worth up to £2,337 a year, as GCSE results approach.
E-bike seizures soar 83% as new rules take effect
Police seizures of e-bikes rose 83% in a year to 7,049, prompting calls for government action. New rules under Andy Burnham strengthen police powers to seize illegal e-bikes.
Tories slam Reform's £5bn PIP cuts, vow to restore assessments
The Conservatives have criticised Reform's plans for £5 billion PIP cuts and pledged to restore face-to-face assessments if they win the next general election.
Pub landlord fined £5.5k for Sky Sports illegal screening
Malcolm Rhead, licensee of Sneyd Arms in Stoke-on-Trent, was ordered to pay £5,535.70 after being found guilty of two offences for illegally screening Sky Sports without a commercial agreement.
Tributes pour in as body of boy, 12, recovered from river
The body of a 12-year-old boy was recovered from the River Lea near Hackney Marshes after he entered the water on Saturday evening. Tributes have poured in from the community, with the Mayor of Hackney expressing deep sorrow.
Attempted murder arrest after Birmingham city centre attack
A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man in his 50s was found seriously injured on Navigation Street near New Street Station in Birmingham.
Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Street Attack
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after another man was found seriously injured in a West Midlands street. Police are appealing for witnesses.
Two DWP benefits exempt from Reform UK crackdown
Reform UK pledges to bar foreign nationals from most DWP benefits, but War Widows Pension and Armed Forces compensation will be exempt, protecting those who served.
Reform proposes benefits ban for 1.5 million UC claimants
Reform UK proposes banning foreign nationals from claiming UK benefits, affecting 1.5 million Universal Credit claimants by 2029. Critics from Tory, Lib Dem, Green, and Best for Britain respond.
27 Councils Offer £0 Council Tax for Terminally Ill
27 English councils now exempt terminally ill residents from council tax, offering £0 bills. Marie Curie urges all councils to adopt the measure, citing financial relief for dying patients.
AI Rental Car Scams Target Holidaymakers
Holidaymakers risk losing money to AI-powered fake rental sites and hard-sell tactics. Experts advise comparing total costs, checking small print, and using security tools to avoid scams.
Reform UK PIP cuts: three conditions to be axed
Reform UK proposes £20bn disability benefit cuts, replacing PIP with a benefit for the 'gravely ill and severely challenged', potentially excluding mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Burnham and Nandy weigh new BBC TV licence concessions
Labour government responds to calls for free TV licences for all state pensioners, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy considering new concessions in the BBC Charter Review.
Solihull Blaze: Firefighters Tackle Field Fire as Warnings Ignored
Nearly 20 firefighters tackled a large blaze in Solihull on Sunday evening, while authorities found abandoned tent and open fire at Lickey Hills, despite warnings.
Netball founder warns of catcalling of teen girls
Girls as young as 14 are regularly catcalled and winked at by men, says Daisey Cotterill of Any Girl Netball, urging community action.
HMRC blitz targets 30,000 high street firms
HMRC launches enforcement blitz with 30,000 interventions planned, urging public to report tax fraud via improved service, backed by Chancellor Healey.
Two thirds of parents back vaping age rise to 21
A new survey shows 66% of parents with children under 18 support raising the vaping age from 18 to 21, as Andy Burnham considers licensing crackdown.
New pub protection rules in England announced by Rayner
Angela Rayner announces new planning rules to protect pubs from conversion, as Camra reports 794 closures this year. Pubs also get 20% business rates discount.
HMRC rules boost tax-free allowance to £21,330
Despite PM Andy Burnham's refusal to commit to raising the personal allowance, two HMRC rules can legally increase it to £21,330 via Rent a Room and Marriage Allowance.
Erdington vs Sutton Coldfield: stark divide in Birmingham
In Birmingham, Erdington, England's youth jobless capital with 16% unemployment, sits near wealthy Sutton Coldfield, where average house prices hit £410,000, highlighting stark inequality.
Birmingham landlord denies HMO licensing charges
Sarao Estates pleaded not guilty to eight charges under the Housing Act 2004 over unlicensed flats in two Tyseley HMOs. The case will go to trial on January 11 next year.
Father-of-four fined after being found drunk in car
Muhammad Asghar, 52, of Walsall, was fined £191 and given 10 points after pleading guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while over the alcohol limit, with 66mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath, nearly double the legal limit.
Nottingham tops Midlands crime rates, not Birmingham
Nottingham has become the Midlands' most dangerous city for violence and sex attacks, with a crime rate of 124.9 per 1,000 people, surpassing Birmingham's 114.2, according to recent studies.
Vulnerable Man Stole Skittles from Wolverhampton One Stop
Luke Wigley, 26, admitted stealing Skittles worth £37.50 from One Stop in Wolverhampton. He was ordered to pay compensation at Dudley Magistrates' Court.
Wolverhampton paedophile jailed in police sting
Gurpreet Singh, 25, from Wolverhampton, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after messaging an undercover officer he believed was a 14-year-old boy, admitting he 'loved' under-18 boys.
Activist accuses police of bias over post handling
Femi Oluwole, 36, accused West Midlands Police of 'clear bias' after officers dismissed his complaint about a threatening X post while warning his own comments were 'borderline a criminal offence'.
Shop fined for selling WKD to teenager
A Birmingham shop has been fined £1,000 for selling alcohol to a minor, following a test purchase operation by trading standards officers.
Five Teens Die in M9 Head-On Crash; Four Injured
Five male teenagers died and four others, including a seven-year-old, were seriously injured in a head-on collision on the M9 in County Kildare after a car drove the wrong way.
Corrie star heartbroken as rescued dog Jean dies
Coronation Street actor Daniel Brocklebank announced his miniature Dachshund Jean, rescued from a puppy smuggling ring, has died. Vets did all they could, but she couldn't be saved.
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