To mark today’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Day, Sefton Council is reminding people about its commitment to tackling modern slavery.
Exploitation
Individuals have been trafficked into, out of or within the UK for a number of reasons including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and organ harvesting. There are thought to be around 13,000 victims and survivors of modern slavery in the UK.
People can visit www.sefton.gov.uk/modernslavery to find out more about modern slavery and how they can spot the signs of it.
Remain alert
Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Examples of modern Slavery taking place in Merseyside have been found recently so it is important we all remain alert to the signs that could be happening in our neighbourhood or at a business we use.
“Those signs can include a person living at their workplace with their employer, someone housed with multiple other people in a cramped living space or a person who has no identification or travel documents.
“Signs of physical abuse and their psychological effects or a someone insisting on being present or interpreting any conversations could also mean modern slavery is taking place.
“In 2019, Sefton Council passed a motion setting out our commitment to helping eradicate slavery and labour exploitation. Our web page at www.sefton.gov.uk/modernslavery is there to help people know what to look for as well as information on how to seek help and to report the issue.”
Supply chains
In September last year, the Home Office introduced new measures to tackle modern slavery in supply chains. This means businesses and public bodies are accountable for tackling modern slavery and are required to produce an annual statement for each financial year setting out the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their business and supply chains.
Throughout August, drive-through Mobile Testing Units will be available across the Borough.These sites are for people with symptoms – a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell – and can be booked by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.Planned dates and sites may be subject to change if testing is required in other locations:
In addition, local walk-through test centres are open every day from 8am to 8pm, providing easy access to COVID-19 tests for people who do not have access to a car and for those who have symptoms and should not travel by public transport.
The four local test centres are located at:
Bootle Town Hall, L20 7AA
Crosby Library Car Park, Haigh Road, L22 OLQ
Netherton Activity Centre, Glovers Lane, L30 3TL
Southport Town Hall, PR8 1DA
Those with symptoms wanting tests, need to book ahead of going to either the walk-through or drive-through sites. It’s quick and easy to book by calling 119 or going online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
RAPID testing and home tests
RAPID testing for people without symptoms continues at Bootle Strand and Southport’s Splash World. The Splash World site, now located in the centre’s car park, is open from 8am to 6pm seven days a week. The Bootle Strand site, the former H Samuel unit, is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
RAPID tests provide a result in as little as 30 minutes. A rapid test at home involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking for the result after 20 to 30 minutes.
Self-isolation
It is important that anyone who gets a positive result from a rapid test or who develops coronavirus symptoms begins self-isolates for 10 days and immediately books a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus. A negative result from a PCR tests means they can stop self-isolating.
Eligible individuals who test positive are entitled to the ÂŁ500 Test and Trace Support Payment in the same way as a regular swab test through NHS Test and Trace.
Vaccination
Vaccinations have played a key role in preventing the spread of coronavirus and it is vital that people go and get their first and second jabs when they are invited.
Sefton Council has approved plans for the transformation of the former HSBC Data Centre site at Bridle Road, Bootle, into a new, high-tech office space.
Imagined design of the new development
Planning permission was granted to L51 Developments Limited earlier this month, with construction set to begin on the scheme early next year. Some parts of the site will be refurbished, alongside the new construction, to deliver a mixed-use development of circa 186,000 sq ft.
Founded in 2019, L51 provides a range of technical facilities and services to clients seeking smart office environments.
Sefton Council’s business growth team, InvestSefton, has worked with L51 from their initial interest in the site, through funding options to bringing potential investors to the table.
Advisers will continue to support them as the development takes off, and employment opportunities will be promoted to nearby residents through the Council’s Sefton@Work programme.
Cllr Marion Atkinson Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills said:
“Investment and development of this kind here in Sefton is absolutely critical to not just our Borough, but to the whole of the Liverpool City Region’s digital infrastructure.
“As our ways of working are driven by technology more than ever before, it is vital that Sefton supports those who have the vision to create state-of-the-art facilities and working environments that provide the best opportunities for job creation and business growth.
“Our InvestSefton team will continue to support L51 as they begin construction on the site, looking ahead to the new employment opportunities the development will create for people across our Borough.”
Pa Nolan, Director of L51 Developments Limited, said: “The development will release a refurbished office of 30,000 sq ft, finished in a modern, flexible, contemporary design, designed by leading Architects, Mather & Co and Tim Groom Architects.
“The planning approves a new 36,000 sq ft light industrial unit, designed for several uses. The existing two data centres will be joined by a new structure, to provide a single modern data centre of 120,000 sq ft.
“The support that the InvestSefton advisors have provided to the project to date has been immeasurable and we are really excited about the future of the site now that we can push forward with the project.”
Responding to the announcement by the Government it is scaling back the extra measures that were put in place to combat the COVID Delta variant, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health Margaret Jones has said people need to remain on their guard.
Protect each other
Margaret Jones said: “It is clear that despite the Government’s lifting of most restrictions last week and the removal of these extra measures, we all need to remain vigilant if we are going to halt the current growth in COVID infections and protect each other.
“We all need to make sure we get both our vaccination jabs and I thank everyone who has already got theirs. We also all need to continue taking regular rapid tests even though we don’t have coronavirus symptoms. And we all need to continue isolating as soon as we’re we’re told to through Test and Trace or the NHS app.
“People can get vaccination jabs at walk-in locations across the Borough, free rapid tests are still widely available including from all Sefton pharmacies, and we are still running drive-through and walk-through centres for rapid and PCR tests.
Friday’s Government announcement said the package of additional support that has been in place in Sefton and across the Liverpool City Region and other areas will end. However, it said the Government will continue to work closely with local authorities to help them manage COVID-19 growth rates in their areas.
Concern
Mrs Jones said that she had noticed that many people across Sefton were continuing to show concern for others around them by still wearing masks in indoor spaces and maintaining social distancing.
She added: “I know that many people were concerned about the withdrawal of most restrictions last week and I think this is reflected by large numbers of people who are carrying on observing them voluntarily in order to keep themselves and those around them safe.”
North West RNLI in school holiday safety plea as youth rescue figures revealed
Stark figures released by the RNLI last week reveal lifeguards on the North West’s beaches assisted 2,314 children and 2,007 teenagers last summer – more casualties under the age of 18 than anywhere else in the UK and Ireland, including on the popular South West coast. Most of those offered help on the RNLI’s lifeguarded beaches in Sefton and the Wirral were simply out enjoying a walk and not expecting to even get their feet wet.
A total of 1,530 teenagers (aged 13-19) were assisted whilst out enjoying a stroll and 1,522 children (aged 1-12). This figure is markedly higher than anywhere else in the UK and Ireland. Those rescued in the walking category is significantly higher than all other activities including paddling where 23 children and 19 teens were rescued, with 62 children and 31 teens assisted by lifeguards whilst playing on the coast.
Now, with the school holidays underway, the charity and Her Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard are calling for families to take extra care at the coast.
Huddersfield mum Zoe Powell was enjoying a visit to Crosby beach with her family when son Monty, who was then 13, required help from RNLI lifeguards after becoming stuck in mud. She said: “Children are naturally inquisitive and looking for the next adventure, so the figures about the number of Under 18s rescued in the North West are not too surprising. Monty jumped off one of the outflow pipes into soft mud and quickly became stuck. One minute we were walking, the next he couldn’t move and had mud up to his knees. It can happen so very quickly and a simple day out can take a very unexpected turn.
“Luckily the two brilliant RNLI lifeguards who were on patrol saw the situation and came to help really quickly. I can imagine this summer will be exceptionally busy once the schools break and more people choosing to holiday in the UK. I’m really keen to share our family story to encourage others to just be that extra bit careful on the coast this summer.”
Crosby beach is a two and a half mile wide expanse of sand, mostly backed by promenade, with a one-mile tidal range. Many visitors come to see the popular Antony Gormley sculptures, which can be partially or totally submerged depending on the state of tide.
Crobsy is the only RNLI beach to be lifeguarded 365 days a year and is not the only location where tidal cut off is a common occurrence. Local search and rescue agencies continue to see a rise in incidents to people cut off by the tide and stuck in mud and requiring help from the RNLI on Wirral and in the wider Merseyside area.
RNLI statistics for the West region which includes the North West, show people enjoying a walk and getting cut off by the tide caused almost 10% of all RNLI lifeboat launches over the last decade – more than double the UK average.
With school children in England now on their summer holidays and joining those from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland already enjoying their school break, the RNLI and Coastguard are reminding them and their families how to stay as safe as possible when in and around the sea.
RNLI Water Safety Lead Chris Cousens says: “We see a big increase in the number of incidents involving children and teenagers during the school summer holidays and we would urge everyone – but families in particular – to be aware of the risks and know what to do in an emergency.
“Our main advice is to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling around 245 beaches this summer to offer advice on how to stay safe and they are also there to help anyone who gets into trouble.
“We want people to enjoy the coast but urge everyone to respect the water, think about their own safety and know what to do in an emergency.”
The key summer safety advice is:
Visit a lifeguarded beach & swim between the red and yellow flags
If you get into trouble Float to Live – lie on your back and relax, resisting the urge to thrash about
Call 999 in an emergency and ask for the Coastguard
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To mark today’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Day, Sefton Council is reminding people about its commitment to tackling modern slavery.
