Trading standards officers in Leicester are warning people to be on the alert against bogus firms offering to recoup money consumers have paid out for payment protection insurance.

Finance companies offering loans have often included payment protection insurance (PPI), to cover the repayment of the loan in the event of the customer being unable to do so. The PPI is at an extra cost on tip of the loan.

In some cases where payment protection isn't necessary, or where the customer had not agreed to take it, legitimate firms offer a service to recoup the money paid by customers, in return for a percentage of the money recovered.

However, Leicester City Council's trading standards team has received a complaint from a city resident who was duped into paying over £800 to a bogus payment protection insurance recovery firm which was claiming to help her.

The resident, who was in the process of pursuing a genuine claim for insurance repayment, was contacted by a bogus company claiming to be responsible for handling her query.

The firm told her that it had recovered £2,339 on her behalf, which she could claim by sending off a fee of £316 by Ukash payment voucher, which would result in an officer delivering to her a cheque for the recovered money.

However, she was then told the voucher hadn't gone through, and that she would need to purchase another one, costing £300.

Once again the voucher failed to result in any payment being made, and when she contacted the bogus company for a third time, she was told that £4,029 had now been recovered on her behalf, and that she'd have to send a voucher for a further £250 in order to recover it.

After spending £866 on vouchers and receiving no repayment, the customer then found she was no longer able to contact the company.

Leicester City Council trading standards manager, Ronald Ruddock, said: "This is an up-front payment scam, which targets people who may have already lost money when they were originally mis-sold payment protection insurance.

"There are many companies which legitimately offer to reclaim payment protection insurance for customers. However, most of these may take a percentage of the payment recovered and some ask for money up front.

"All legitimate claims management companies are regulated by the Ministry of Justice and must be registered with them.

"The good news is that customers can make a claim for free, and do not need to pay a company to make a claim on their behalf.

"Anyone who believes they have been mis-sold payment protection insurance should start by writing a letter of complaint to the company which sold it to them. If they are unable to resolve the complaint they can then contact the Financial Ombudsman Service which will decide if they have a valid claim."

The ombudsman service is free to use and further guidance on how to pursue a claim can be found at: www.financialombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/ppi.html

Source-Leicester City Council

Due to Saturday's protests, we've made temporary arrangements with city bus companies to relocate bus stops for those outward routes leaving the city centre.

These arrangements will last a few hours until the protests are over and the city centre has returned to normal. We apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you on Saturday.

Please click here for list of Bus Stop Alteration

Source- Leicester City Council

Courts across England and Wales have started using a new interpreter service which is expected to save tax-payers more than £18m a year.

The change means that all courts and justice agencies are now being provided with skilled interpreters and translators through a single agency, Applied Language Solutions.

The new system came into effect this week and means that interpreting assignments across several agencies, including the police and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, can be allocated to interpreters more effectively. A single interpreter can now complete consecutive assignments for different agencies in the same general location where previously two, or more, interpreters would have been booked.

National roll-out for the Ministry of Justice is now being completed following successful implementation of the new service in courts in the North West last month.

Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice Nick Herbert said:

'The Government is determined to ensure that taxpayers get value for money across the whole of the justice system. This new contract will save at least £18 million a year on the cost of interpretation and translation, a reduction of almost a third, but will ensure that high quality interpreters and translators are still available to those in need.

'This is just one of a number of common sense changes we are implementing across the justice system to make it more efficient and effective, including digitisation of the courts, greater transparency and expanding the use of virtual courts.'

The new arrangement will:

· Provide a 'one-stop shop' for all language services including face-to-face foreign language translation and telephone interpretation as well language services for the deaf and deafblind, and written translation.

· Simplify the booking and allocation of interpreters and translators, to save staff time and ensure a quicker service for the public.

· Centralise the booking of interpreters so that they can be used more efficiently on behalf of the public.

· Increase the numbers of interpreters and translators available for use.

The changes have been introduced for criminal, civil and family courts, tribunals and prisons. Other justice organisations, including police forces, probation trusts and the Crown Prosecution Service can also sign contracts under the framework agreement.

Source-Ministry of Justice

A summit is being held next week to launch a new strategy aimed at improving local dementia care.

The Improving Lives: A partnership approach to dementia event will take place on Wednesday 8 February at Leicester City Football Club and will be attended by health and social care professionals from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The dementia strategy has been developed in partnership with Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT Cluster.

During the event health and social care professionals will be able to find out more about the strategy and will be encouraged to continue working jointly to improve dementia care. There will also be a range of keynote speakers, a question and answer session and a film showing first-hand what life is like for a person with dementia.

The five key elements of the new local dementia strategy are: early diagnosis; improving experiences of hospital care; improved care in residential and nursing homes; improved care for people with dementia in the community; and a workforce fit to deliver services to support the care pathway for dementia, and work is already taking place in these areas.

Leicester’s city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who will welcome delegates to the event, said: “I am delighted to be introducing the summit. Having developed a strategy together, this event will help health and social care authorities to build further links with one another and illustrate how, by working together, we can ensure the best possible diagnosis, treatment and care for people with dementia, their carers and their families.”

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet member for adults and communities, said: “By working together on this strategy, we will be able to improve early diagnosis and access to treatment for people living with dementia. This will help health and social care professionals to put plans in place that best suit the needs of the individuals concerned.”

Roger Begy, leader of Rutland County Council, said:
“This is a very important initiative for Rutland when you consider that around a quarter of our population is aged over 65. It’s vital that everybody works together to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities. I’m particularly keen to see us develop even further our work around early diagnosis as this is where we can make a real difference to people’s quality of life.”

Catherine Griffiths, chief executive of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT Cluster, said: “This summit shows a commitment from health and social care groups across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to work together. I am delighted that the strategy will be helping to improve dementia care for local people and their families through early diagnosis and improved care both at home, in the community and in hospital.”

Dr Ian Cross, a GP and the mental health lead for Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group, added: “Early diagnosis and intervention can help to improve the life of people with dementia by ensuring they and their families receive the care and support they need, and this new strategy for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will enable health and social care groups to work together better to ensure this can happen.”

Source-Leicester City Council

Investigators discovered that the adults are likely to be living in a private household, resulting in an underestimation of autism prevalence.

Dr. Terry Brugha, professor of psychiatry at the University of Leicester, led the research on discovering “invisible” cases of autism with his research published by the NHS Information Centre. The report presents findings from a new study based on a sample of people with learning disabilities living in private households and communal care establishments.

“We were surprised by how many adults with moderate to profound learning disability had autism because previous estimates pointed to lower rates in this group.

“Because they form a very small part of the adult population, when we added these new findings to the rate we had previously found in adults living in private households, and able to take part in our national survey in 2007, the overall percentage of adults in England with autism did not increase significantly over our 2007 estimate of 1 percent.”

“Our finding that about 60 percent of men with profound learning disabilities and 43 percent of women with profound learning disabilities have autism has never been shown previously. It may also seem surprising how many live at home with parents or carers who provide 24 hour care and shoulder a considerable burden: 42 percent of men and 29 percent of women with severe learning disabilities living with family members and in other private households have autism.

“Taken together with the 2007 survey findings this means that most adults with autism live in private households, and before these two surveys they remained largely invisible.”

Brugha added, “This new information will be of particular importance for those who plan and provide services to support those with learning disabilities. In March 2010, the government published a national strategy for autism and guidance for the condition, with the view to improving the quality of services provided to adults with autism in England.

“Such improvements can only be achieved if the number of people with recognised and unrecognised autism is quantified. The strategy gave special emphasis to the need to train staff who have responsibility for identifying people with autism and their care. It will be vital to repeat such studies in future years in order to make sure that the national strategy is working effectively.”

Dr. Sally-Ann Cooper of the University of Glasgow, who also contributed to the latest study, commented: “Until now, routine statistics have not been gathered on the numbers of people with learning disabilities who also have autism, leaving this as a hidden problem. Our study clearly shows that the more severe to profound an adult’s learning disability is, the more likely they will be found to have autism if actually assessed.”

For a copy of the report please click here NHS Information Centre,

Source: University of Leicester

Visitors will be able to find out more about services on offer for disabled children at an open day taking place in February.

The event, in the main hall at New Parks House, Pindar Road, New Parks, will include information sessions and stands on issues ranging from play schemes, short breaks and holiday clubs to volunteering opportunities and information on the Disabled Children's Register.

The all-day session runs from 10am to 7pm, on Monday, February 6. At 10.30am there will be a session on play schemes and holiday club providers, and 10-minute presentations about the Disabled Children's Service will take place at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm.

Leicester assistant city mayor responsible for children, young people and schools, Cllr Vi Dempster, and Leicester City Council's director of learning services, Margaret Libreri, will be attending.

Cllr Dempster said: "The Disabled Children's Service offers help, support and advice on a great many areas affecting children and young people with disabilities, so this is a great chance to see the work which is being done and find out more about what the service offers."

Visitors will also get the chance to meet staff and pick up goody bags. Refreshments will also be available.

Further information on the Disabled Children's Service is available on 0116 294 6056.

Source-Leicester City Council

Source: REDP

EDL and UAF routes

Leicestershire Police and Leicester City Council have today reassured people that they have the right experience to deal effectively with the two planned marches in the city centre on February 4.

The assurances come following the formal confirmation of next Saturday’s march routes for both the English Defence League (EDL) and Leicester Unite Against Fascism (LUAF).

Both the police and the council have a wealth of experience in planning for large scale events and say this should give people confidence that they will uphold their commitment to minimise disruption.

Chief Superintendent Rob Nixon, Leicester policing commander, said: “We know that there will be some people looking at the march routes who immediately feel concerned and these are not feelings we take lightly.

“Clearly, there will never be one route that is perfect for everyone but please be assured that our joint agreement on these routes draws heavily on experience of dealing with these kinds of large scale events.

“We have used our experience of policing football and rugby matches, the disturbances in the summer and the last protest in October 2010 in the planning for next Saturday and are putting together a policing plan to ensure that there is as little disruption as possible to normal city centre business.

“Both the EDL and Leicester UAF came to us with a plan of where they would like to march. These were both carefully risk assessed and it was this which formed the basis of any negotiations with the event organisers. There has been lots of dialogue between the organisers, the police and the city council to get to this point.”

Leicester’s City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “None of us want these marches to take place, but looking at what happened in Leicester and other cities last year, we believe the marches will cause less disruption than the static demonstrations of October 2010.

“We will need to make some changes to bus routes and traffic flow while the marches are taking place, but we are aiming to get the city back to normal as quickly as possible once they have ended.

“Our city wardens will be in the city centre this week, giving out information onchanges to bus services and traffic diversions. And our website will have regularly updated information about our plans for the day.

“Our priority is to ensure that people can go about their business safely, with the minimum amount of disruption on February 4th, and we are working very closely with the police to achieve this.”

The EDL will begin their march at St Margaret’s Pastures. They will then walk along St Margaret’s Way, onto Burleys Way, turn right onto Abbey Street, right again onto Belgrave Gate before heading down Church Gate and back towards St Margaret’s Pastures.

Leicester UAF will begin their march on Welford Place, heading along Pocklingtons Walk and right into Millstone Lane, leading onto Horsefair Street and Halford Street. They then turn right for a short distance on Charles Street before heading right along Belvoir Street and back to Welford Place.

Both groups are being asked to arrive at the assembly points from 11am. The marches are scheduled to begin at around 12.30pm and it will depend on the numbers involved as to how long it takes them to complete the route. However, both groups have been informed there is no provision for any static protests on either route but they may hold a static demonstration at the finish points.

Chief Superintendent Nixon added: “We are in the process of speaking with all the affected businesses directly on the route and are continuing to engage with people locally. There is sure to be some disruption to the city while those involved in the processions are marching through, however, it is the intention of both the police and the city council that it should be business as normal at all other times.”

To help ensure everything runs smoothly on Saturday the police have used section 12 and section 14 of the Public Order Act to impose conditions on both protest groups.

These stipulate the timings of the marches and the designated assembly points. Both groups have also been informed that there is no provision for a static assembly on the march route but they can hold a static demonstration at the finish point for a limited length of time. Any person taking part who knowingly fails to comply with the conditions is guilty of an offence for which they may be arrested.

The city council and the police have also taken on board feedback from local people and businesses who felt that because members of the EDL had the opportunity to drink prior to the event in October 2010 this was a significant contributory factor to the disorder that then took place.

To prevent this they are asking licensed premises not to open between 8am and 1pm on February 4 and will also use powers under the Licensing Act if necessary.

Police have given a commitment to maintain normal levels of neighbourhood policing though out Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and anyone who has concerns about the events is encouraged to make contact with their local neighbourhood team.

Source Leicestershire Constabulary

We are aware that an email entitled 'Population Census: a message to everyone - act now' is being circulated, allegedly in the name of National Statistician, Jil Matheson. This email demands individuals provide further personal information, supposedly for the Census and threatens fines for non-compliance.

This email is a scam and a hoax. It has no connection whatsoever with the National Statistician, the 2011 Census or the Office for National Statistics.

We believe the links in the e-mail could download malware to any computer where the user clicks on the links. This could put your personal data, including financial information, at risk.

Anyone receiving this, or similar emails, should delete them, not open any links and certainly not provide any information.

For more information on how to protect yourself from this type of threat, please see www.getsafeonline.org

If you wish to, please report receipt of any such suspicious emails to www.actionfraud.org.uk

ONS takes the protection of personal census information extremely seriously. Collection of census data was completed last year and no further requests will be forthcoming from the Office for National Statistics relating to the 2011 Census.

Message sent by

Marion Lewis (NHWN, Force Lead NHW Volunteer, Leicestershire)

A senior disabled MP is to examine the government’s failure to respond to allegations that it misled parliament over its disability living allowance (DLA) reforms.

Dame Anne Begg, the Labour MP who chairs the influential work and pensions select committee, this week raised serious concerns about the government’s “overly dismissive” response to last week’s Responsible Reform, a ground-breaking report by disabled activists.

Dame Anne described the Responsible Reform report – also known as the “Spartacus Report” – as “coherent and consistent” and a “detailed analysis” of the responses to a government consultation on its DLA reforms.

But the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been heavily criticised for avoiding answering a series of crucial questions about the report.

Now Dame Anne has told Disability News Service that her committee will consider – in its current inquiry on DLA reform – how DWP responded to the Spartacus Report.

She said: “Certainly I have concerns about the fact that [the DWP response] seems to be overly dismissive. I think this is a serious piece of work and is a serious analysis of the responses to the consultation.

“I am consistently disappointed about the way that DWP is handling information around this subject and is not taking seriously what are well-argued and well-researched points.”

She and other members of her committee have been outspoken about how DWP has issued information to the media, MPs and the public about disability benefits and welfare reform.

Last month, Dame Anne accused the disabled people’s minister Maria Miller of being “evasive” throughout an evidence session for the DLA inquiry.

She has also accused Miller’s fellow ministers Chris Grayling and Iain Duncan Smith of appearing to encourage the tabloid press to run stories attacking disabled benefit claimants.

A fellow committee member, the Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd, accused the DWP last year of “pandering to the Daily Mail” in a press release about employment and support allowance, the new out-of-work disability benefit.

A DWP spokesman said: “The work and pensions select committee has yet to publish its report and the government will respond to the report after its publication.”

Source-Disability News Service