Yearly Archives: 2025

Wiltshire PCC says scrapping role will ‘politicise’ policing

Wiltshire PCC says scrapping role will ‘politicise’ policing

BBCWiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson described the move as "doomed to failure"A police and crime commissioner (PCC) claims the government's decision to scrap the role is an attempt to "politicise" policing.Philip Wilkinson, who was elected PCC for Wiltshire in 2021, described the move as "thoughtless, heartless and doomed to failure".He said: "Take away all the functions [of PCCs], it's going to mean a less effective, less efficient and more politicised police force."Under the changes, when the commissioners' terms end…

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Devon charities win King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Devon charities win King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Four organisations in Devon are among the winners of the King's Award for Voluntary Service.The British Association for Immediate Care Devon (BASICS Devon), Bob the Bus, Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled and Rainbow Living were all recognised this year.The award aims to highlight voluntary groups and was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.Lord-Lieutenant of Devon David Fursdon said: "I am delighted that volunteers in four Devon organisations have received this prestigious award."Mr Fursdon…

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Exeter City fire: Supporters raising money to pay for damage

Exeter City fire: Supporters raising money to pay for damage

Exeter City Supporters' Trust are aiming to raise £100,000 to help repair damage caused by a fire at St James Park.The fire on Wednesday night caused damage to the control room and first-aid room at the League One club's stadium and smoke damage to the newly-built Adam Stansfield Stand. The control room, which is vital for matchday safety, was severely damaged and must be repaired in time for next Saturday's visit of Burton Albion.The supporter-owned club are 18th…

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Teens still exposed to violence and suicide online despite ruling

Teens still exposed to violence and suicide online despite ruling

Harriet Robinson and Andy Howard,West of EnglandZara McDermott is shown the findings of BBC West's investigationTeenagers are still being exposed to social media content about bullying, suicide and weapons despite new safety rules being introduced, a BBC investigation has found.Measures came into force in July as part of the Online Safety Act, meaning online and social media companies are now legally responsible for keeping children and young people safe online.The experiment, in collaboration with BBC Morning Live, used…

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West Country schools and fundraisers mark Children in Need

West Country schools and fundraisers mark Children in Need

Chloe HarcombeWest of EnglandBBCMany children around the West Country, including these Priestley Primary School pupils in Calne, Wiltshire, had the chance to meet Pudsey earlierPeople around the West Country have been fundraising and meeting Pudsey for BBC Children in Need.Challenges and bake sales have been held across Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the cause.BBC Children in Need funds vital support for children and young people struggling with…

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‘It’s crazy how much we have to spend’

‘It’s crazy how much we have to spend’

Seb NobleCornwall political reporter, CamborneBBCOllie, Lacy, and Luke said the cost of bus travel to college was becoming unaffordableTransport costs "should not be the barrier" for students learning and working in Cornwall, a college deputy principal has said.Staff and students at Cornwall College's Camborne campus said the cost and unreliability of buses in the county made it hard for them to study effectively or hold down weekend jobs.MPs on the Transport Select Committee have called for the government…

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Cornwall deli Sabzi trademark row ends amicably

Cornwall deli Sabzi trademark row ends amicably

A Cornish deli owner has withdrawn her complaint over the use of her company's name on a cookery book.Kate Attlee, who launched Sabzi in 2019 and trademarked the name in 2022, previously said she was "incredibly stressed" when Bloomsbury released a cookbook under the same name by food writer Yasmin Khan.Bloomsbury maintained the term sabzi was a descriptive word for vegetable dishes in Farsi and Urdu and said Khan began work on the book in 2017, before the…

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Passengers frustrated at flooded rail line issues in north Devon

Passengers frustrated at flooded rail line issues in north Devon

Alex Green,South West and Scott Bingham,in ExeterBBCFlooding along the railway line in north Devon has suspended trainsRail passengers and campaigners are calling for change amid a series of issues on a stretch of railway line in Devon.Delays and cancellations of services, flooding, and overcrowding on the Tarka Line, between Barnstaple and Exeter, have frustrated rail users and campaigners.Tim Steer, chair of Railfuture in Devon and Cornwall, said the various issues on the line in recent weeks were due…

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