Who else?

Lots of focus and pressure on the News of the World and News International over the phone hacking scandal.  And quite rightly so, anyone that feels that they have the right to hack into a missing person's email simply for the sake of a news story and a few quid is nothing short of despicable.

But, it surprises me that this scandal has not moved and looked beyond News International.  Someone at a senior level needs to start asking editors and journalists across the whole of the National media whether they have been guilty of this practice or whether they know of other newspapers who may be guilty.

My suspicion is that this is a practice that goes beyond the Murdoch press.   John Elworthy, Editor of the Cambs Times did a great interview about this on BBC Radio Cambs - the link is here - the interview is 2hrs 15mins in.

Vote Early - Vote Often - Let's Get Young Lives Afloat

I blogged recently about Young Lives' ambitious Get Creative - Get Afloat Project which they are bidding for support from in the Jubilee People's Millions competition.  This is an extremely important and exciting project for Cambridgeshire - but it will only win support if people vote for it.  Today is the day, so please call 0871 626 88 08 to support the project.  Did you get that?: 0871 626 88 08.


The Waterways are important to this area - especially the Fens - it would be great to have a young people's project in the area that used such an important part of our history.   If you agree call:  0871 626 88 08


Also tune into ITV Anglia at 6PM to see how it gets on.  But while you are waiting call: 0871 626 88 08

The voting phone line opens at 9am and will be open until midnight

A maximum of 10 calls will be accepted from any one phone number. Calls cost no more than 11p from a landline but will be higher from a mobile

Calls can be made from anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Request for Speedwatch Volunteers

This is another message I got via E-Cops, requesting for volunteers for Speedwatch:

"Whittlesey and District residents have raised the concern of Speeding in the area making it one of your local neighbourhood policings priorities. Police officers are already going to these locations but more can be done with your help using Speedwatch.

Speedwatch is a community based initiative designed to harness public support of Neighbourhood Policing by volunteers monitoring speeds of vehicle in concern areas with PCSOs from your local Policing team. It provides the opportunity for the public to safely influence and contribute to the education of drivers and assist the police in any enforcement activity thereafter.

The equipment used is a free-standing Speed Detector Unit marketed by Radarlux. We do not use hand held radar devices (a "speed gun") for Speedwatch

Speedwatch is not an enforcement activity. The aim of Speedwatch is to provide advice to speeding motorists to improve driver behaviour and to prevent collisions by encouraging drivers in Speedwatch areas to slow down. The results of Speedwatch operations will be monitored by the neighbourhood policing teams to inform enforcement action by officers.
If anyone is interested in getting involved with Speedwatch then please get in touch with me. A meeting will take place with the group at Whittlesey Police Station at the beginning of July."


The contact point for this is PCSO Melanie Bull who is available via:


melanie.bull@cambs.pnn.police.uk or 
0345 456 456 4 extension 6517

E-Cops Message about non-Rape in Whittlesey

You may have seen on this blog an article about an alleged rape in Whittlesey.  I did update that message to reflect a change in position which suggested this may not have happened.  Today I got this message via E-Cops:

Dear resident,
You may have seen or heard recent media coverage of a police investigation into a rape in a park off Station Road in Whittlesey, on Thursday night (June 16).
As with all reports of serious crime, we set up a crime scene and have been carrying out investigations in the area, including door-to-door enquiries.
As a result of our detailed investigations, I can reassure you that no rape, or any other crime, took place that night in the circumstances reported.
Two men who were arrested will have no action taken against them.


Whilst I am disappointed that I put out information about something that never happened - I was responding to a genuine request for information at that time.  Moreover, the fact that it turns out that such a hideous crime was not committed is good news because I know the concern that this would have created, particularly among women in Whittlesey.

How much do we pay for this stuff?

This was published on the BBC website today:

"Too much alcohol, drugs, and sex, coupled with poor hygiene, can be a health risk at festivals, an expert is warning."

I never could have worked that out for myself!!

Change of heart over sentencing

I am very, very happy about this change of heart from the Conservatives.

I wonder if Ken Clarke can now remain in post?  If he does he needs to be more Conservative in his outlook.

ConHome's Analysis of Michael Gove's comments

Conservative Home have done an analysis of our exam systems and Michael Gove's recent comments.  I broadly agree with it.

There can be little doubt that the credibility of GCSEs and A Levels has diminished.  That is in no way a slight on students.  We have some remarkable students who will deal with whatever exam system is put in front of them, but the best of them are not stretched sufficiently.  I can use a personal example here.  My daughter achieved remarkable GCSE (11 A*, 2 A and 1B) and A level results (2 A* 1A).  Obviously I was and am delighted with those - and she is an amazing academic.  But with hindsight you have to reflect on whether she could have been stretched and tested a little more.  Not because of the school she went to (Sir Harry Smith Community College did a grand job) but because they were working to an exam system that doesn't stretch sufficiently.

I remember taking my daughter around Cambridge when she was applying and hearing someone talk about the weight they give to the International Baccalaureate  - because its standards have been maintained over the years.  Again, that is not the fault of Cambridge University - but it does perhaps highlight one of the reasons why state schools students do not get places in top Universities. (my daughter is now very, very happy at Edinburgh University - so I have no gripes here!!).

It is not because of our students that our system has to change, it is FOR our students.  They deserve to be tested in a system that has international and academic credibility and the best of our students deserve to be stretched and tested more than they are at present.