The Bedfordshire Police team fighting cybercrime – including child abuse – should be given another triage van to help speed up investigations
Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye met the Cyber team earlier this week.
The Cyber Hub specializes in digital forensics, cybercrime investigations and the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAIT).
Beds PCC met the Beds Police Cyber team and decided to invest in a fourth Cyber Van
In 2018, his team was the first in the country to have a vehicle dedicated to sorting digital multimedia devices in order to speed up the process of investigating cybercrime.
Bedfordshire Police currently have three cyber vans and the CCP invested in a fourth after seeing the benefits immediately.
The Commissioner said: “My priority is the safety of our residents and I am committed to equipping our officers with all the tools they need to do just that.
“This is why I am delighted to invest in another cyber triage van for our Cybercrime team as they work to keep our communities safe.”
Cyber Vans are a high-tech mobile lab providing officers with a discrete location to investigate devices and analyze digital data, reducing the need to return items to police stations for investigation.
Acting Inspector Peter Ward said: “CCP’s investment in Police Cyber Triage Vans beds allows specialized digital investigators with world-leading equipment to be on site on time. Golden.
“With the introduction of the fourth van, we will increase our ability to witness multiple scenes simultaneously.
“In recent years, this model has enabled us to reduce the backlog of digital devices by over 80% to a sustainable level within eight months (which provided a database to support CCP funding for a fourth van), especially with IT backlogs. reduction from one year to one month. “
Sorting through inconclusive devices at the scene and targeting suspicious devices at the earliest opportunity has enabled investigators to drive an increase in early guilty plea cases, enabling swift justice for victims and maximizing value for money.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-21 17:56:18
To date (May 21), Bedford has registered 72 new cases of the coronavirus, with a total of 14,099 people now diagnosed with the virus, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.
There was one death in Bedford (485) and none in Central Bedfordshire (570) and Luton (499).
The Bedfordshire center has 20 new Covid cases with a total of 16,204, while Luton has registered 18 with a new total of 20,887.
Meanwhile, Buckinghamshire now has 31,775 cases of Covid, Hertfordshire 77,331 and Milton Keynes 20,253 cases.
The new figures are recorded between 5 p.m. the day before and 5 p.m. and unfortunately do not include the number of patients who have recovered from Covid-19.
In the UK, the number of coronavirus cases increased from 2,829 to 4,457,923. The number of deaths increased by nine to 127,710.
As of May 20, in the UK, 37,518,614 people had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 21,659,783 had received their second dose.
The figures come from the government website which the public can consult here.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-21 15:32:49
Cases of Indian variants increased by 2,000 in the space of a week (Photo: Getty Images)
Cases of the Indian Covid variant have increased by more than 2,000 in the space of a week, according to the latest figures from Public Health England (PHE).
Weekly data shows that there are now a total of 3,424 cases of the B.1.617.2 variant in the UK, with most cases concentrated in the North West and London, although ‘clusters are now appearing across the country.
The figures go back to May 19 and mark an increase of 2,111 cases from the previous week.
On Thursday May 20, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that infections had risen from 2323 on Monday May 17 to 2967.
In England, 3,245 cases have now been confirmed, along with 136 in Scotland, 28 in Wales and 15 in Northern Ireland.
The figures come amid reports that for three weeks in April and May, eight local authorities in England – including Blackburn with Darwen, where cases are high – did not have access to all data on positive tests in their region, more than 700 cases. have not been reported or traced locally.
The BBC said a report into the reporting problem from one of the councils involved concluded that the rapid spread of the Indian strain within its border was “exacerbated by the sporadic failure of the national testing system and of traceability ”.
However, Downing Street has denied that the “temporary delay” in NHS testing and traceability to alert local authorities in sensitive areas of positive cases has contributed to the spread of the Indian variant.
The government said only a small number of authorities were involved and the problem was “quickly resolved”.
Where have cases been found?
The North West of England has recorded the highest number of cases of the variant, with Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Bedford among the most affected.
Surge tests and vaccinations are currently underway in six new parts of England to try to control the spread, including Bedford, Burnley, Hounslow, Kirklees, Leicester and North Tyneside. That’s in addition to Bolton and Blackburn.
In Scotland, the Scottish authorities are taking similar measures in Glasgow and Moray.
In the last week in Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, 26,094 vaccinations were administered, while another 75,000 were delivered.
Dr Meera Chand, the director of Covid-19 incidents at PHE, said essential people in the worst-affected areas who had yet to receive their second dose of the vaccine came forward as soon as it was offered.
She said: “This is vitally important in light of our current assessment that (B1617.2) has developed rapidly in England and may be highly transmissible.
“PHE will continue to monitor all variants closely, paying particular attention to the impact on hospitalizations and deaths, which will help us understand the protective effects of the vaccine.”
PHE also said it was investigating another new variant after 49 cases were identified, mostly in Yorkshire and the Humber region.
So far, there is no evidence that it causes more serious illness or makes vaccines less effective.
The latest figures come as a member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) warned the country could see the start of a third wave of the pandemic.
Professor Andrew Hayward, an infectious disease expert at University College London, said he was “very concerned” about the rise of the Indian variant and further measures may be needed to bring it under control.
He said it would become evident over the next one to two weeks whether localized outbreaks of the variant became more generalized.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: ‘Obviously we are doing everything we can to contain the spread of this, but it is likely that more general measures may start to be needed to control it.
“So while I think we always thought we would have another wave of Covid, the size of that wave will depend a lot on the transmissibility of the variant that causes it and the proportion of the population that was vaccinated when it was. shots.
“Fortunately, we have had a good proportion of the population vaccinated, but there are still people who are not vaccinated in the high risk groups, the vaccine is not 100% effective, and even in the higher groups. young people, if you get lots, thousands, or hundreds of thousands of cases, then you would expect a lot of hospitalizations and deaths as a result.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-21 06:28:52
Data released by the government shows 34 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Bedford today (May 20).
This high number of new cases is still a drop from yesterday’s figures where 50 cases were confirmed in just 24 hours.
Surge testing has started in the borough due to the peak of confirmed Covid cases in the area linked to the more transmissible Indian variant.
34 new cases of Covid were confirmed in Bedford on May 20
Due to this outbreak, Bedford still has one of the highest infection rates in the country. After today’s results, the infection rate is now 127 cases per 100,000 people.
In comparison, the national average is much lower, currently it is 22 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. No deaths from the virus have been confirmed in the past 24 hours in Bedford. A new patient has been admitted to a Bedfordshire hospital, who is in pain after testing positive for Covid.
In central Bedfordshire, 13 new cases of Covid were confirmed today and no deaths linked to the virus have been recorded. In Luton, 22 new cases of the virus have been reported, no deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test have been confirmed.
New UK figures show 2,874 other confirmed cases of Covid across the country and seven new deaths linked to the virus. The latest vaccination information released by Public Health England shows that 70.7% of the UK adult population have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine and 40.3% of adults have received second doses. In total, this represents 37,250,363 first doses administered since the start of deployment and 21,239,471 other second dose injections.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-20 15:40:22
Surge testing and Covid vaccines will be expanded to six new areas of concern in England in a bid to tackle the spread of the Indian variant of Covid (Photo: Charlotte Tattersall / Getty Images)
Surge testing and Covid vaccines will be extended to six new areas of concern in England in a bid to tackle the spread of the Indian variant of Covid, Matt Hancock announced.
The Indian Covid variant has now been found in a plethora of locations across the country, with the government identifying the six concert zones by analyzing sewage and travel patterns.
“ Determined to do all we can so that this new variant does not jeopardize our recovery ”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said early evidence suggested the Indian variant of Covid – also known as B.1.617.2 – spreads more easily from person to person than the one discovered for the first time in Kent.
Mr Hancock said ministers were “determined to do everything possible to ensure that this new variant does not jeopardize our recovery”.
Other surge tests and vaccinations will therefore now be introduced in:
Bedford
Burnley
Hounslow
Kirklees
Leicester
North Tyneside
Tracking travel patterns, along with wastewater analysis, helped identify where the variants were in the country, and also where they were at risk of spreading.
Nearly 3,000 cases of the Indian variant have now been identified in the UK, up from around 2,300 on Monday (May 17).
Mr Hancock said: ‘The weekly case data in Bolton is now 283 per 100,000 and it doubled last week.
“There are now 25 people at Bolton Hospital with Covid – the majority are unvaccinated, almost 90% have yet to receive two vaccines.”
The Health Secretary also urged people to receive their Covid vaccine when asked to do so.
He said current data “shows the importance of getting vaccinated, not once but twice.”
“ Make sure we stay ahead of the virus with very vigorous action when administering vaccines ”
England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam said scientists will know more about the transmissibility of the new Indian variant by “next week”.
Professor Van-Tam also said the jab rate over the next few weeks would be crucial to ensure the Prime Minister can lift all Covid restrictions on June 21.
He said at a press conference in Downing Street on Wednesday (May 19): “I personally present this as a direct race between the transmissibility of this new variant… and the administration of vaccines.
“The NHS is doing everything it can to boost this, and that’s the challenge ahead of us over the next two to three to four weeks, to make sure we get ahead of the virus with very vigorous action on it. administration of vaccines. . “
NHS England has now confirmed that people aged 34 and 35 will receive an SMS on Thursday (May 20) or Friday (May 21) asking them to show up for their Covid vaccine.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-20 06:30:54
Surge testing in Bedford is expected to begin tomorrow, May 20, as the number of Covid-19 cases rises in the borough.
From Thursday May 20 to Friday May 28, mobile test units will be operating in Bedford as the first phase of surge testing begins.
And everyone – adults and children – who live in the Kingsbrook, Cauldwell and Queens Park areas of the Borough of Bedford and the Village of Wixams are strongly encouraged to get tested – even if they don’t have symptoms. .
Surge tests are being rolled out in the Borough of Bedford
This will help identify cases and ensure people self-isolate with the right support.
These areas of the Borough of Bedford were chosen based on a thorough analysis of the spread of Covid-19 in recent days.
Government figures show the borough of Bedford currently has the third highest Covid-19 rate in the country, with 128 cases per 100,000 population, surge tests are being rolled out in parts of the borough from Bedford.
Testing and self-isolation if necessary, along with measures such as hands-face-space-fresh air and adherence to national guidelines, will help control the spread of the virus, while allowing for a better understanding of the new. variant.
Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson said: ‘The numbers we are seeing locally are really concerning, with cases expected to double about every five days in the Borough of Bedford.
“I am happy that the government has agreed to deploy this surge test.
“These tests in these four areas will help us identify cases, track how the virus is spreading in our communities and slow the spread.
“We hope as many people as possible will be tested in this first week of surge testing, so please, if you live in Kingsbrook, Cauldwell, Queens Park or the Wixams come and take a PCR test and help.” to keep your community. sure.”
Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for NHS Test and Trace, said: ‘As part of our proactive sequencing work, we have identified cases of Covid-19 variants in a number of regions across the world. England. A small proportion of these cases are unrelated to international travel, suggesting that there are cases in the community.
“PHE and NHS Test and Trace are closely monitoring the situation and appropriate public health measures, such as increased testing and contact tracing, are being put in place as necessary.”
Aliko Ahmed, Regional Director of Public Health England East of England, added: “The UK has one of the best genomic systems in the world, which has enabled us to detect the variant here in Bedford. I urge everyone to come up with a test to do this to help us monitor the virus in our communities and help suppress and control the spread of this variant.
“Most importantly, people continue to follow the advice that is in place – limit your number of contacts, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, keep your distance, and cover your face. If your test is positive by any method, you must self-isolate to stop the spread of the virus. “
Where will the tests take place?
During this first phase of surge testing in the Borough of Bedford, the mobile test units will operate from Thursday May 20 to Friday May 28 daily at the following sites and times:
> Oasis Beach Pool, Cardington Road, Kingsbrook, Bedford, MK42 0BZ (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
> John Bunyan Sports and Fitness, Mile Road, Cauldwell, Bedford, MK42 9TS (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
> Enterprise House, Old Ford End Road, Queens Park, Bedford, MK40 4PF (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
> Seasons Garden Center, Bedford Road, Wixams, MK45 3HU (8:30 am to 6 pm)
Mobile test units accept people by car and on foot, and no appointment is necessary.
Everyone who lives in the Kingsbrook, Cauldwell and Queens Park areas of the Borough of Bedford and the Village of Wixams are encouraged to take a Covid-19 PCR test during this week.
Further collection and drop-off points for testing will be available in each of the areas from Friday at London Road Surgery, Cauldwell Community Center on Althorpe Street, Queens Park Community Center and Lakeview Village Hall at Wixams and those- these will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. .
Mobile test units and collection / depot sites will operate throughout the weekend.
Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test online or by calling 119.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-19 22:40:07
To date (May 19), Bedford has registered 49 new cases of the coronavirus, with a total of 13,993 people now diagnosed with the deadly virus, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.
However, the government has revised historical data on cases in England.
On his website, he said the introduction of a new system had disrupted the removal of cases where a positive rapid lateral flow test was followed by all negative lab tests performed within three days.
As a result, 561 more cases have been deleted today.
There was one death in Bedford (485) and none in Central Bedfordshire (570) and Luton (499).
Central Bedfordshire has 11 new Covid cases with a total of 16,171, while Luton has registered nine with a new total of 20,848.
Meanwhile, Buckinghamshire now has 31,764 cases of Covid, Hertfordshire 77,764 and Milton Keynes 20,239 cases.
The new figures are recorded between 5 p.m. the day before and 5 p.m. and unfortunately do not include the number of patients who have recovered from Covid-19.
In the UK, to date, 36,985,505 people have received the first dose of the Covid vaccine and 20,870,453 have received their second dose.
Nationally, the number of coronavirus cases has increased by 2,696 and now stands at 4,452,527. The number of deaths increased by only three to 127,694.
The figures come from the government website which the public can view here
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-19 15:33:41
The government was not as prepared as it could have been for the Covid pandemic, the National Audit Office found (Photo: Shutterstock)
The government was not as prepared as it could have been for the Covid pandemic, the National Audit Office (NAO) found.
The spending watchdog said when the coronavirus first hit the country in early spring last year, the government “lacked detailed contingency plans to deal with the ongoing situation.”
This included identifying those who needed to protect themselves, as well as dealing with massive disruptions to schooling, the NAO said.
The NAO also said there had been problems setting up employment support programs and that communications had not always been clear and timely, guidance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) changing 30 times until the end of July 2020.
The report also states that there has not always been a clear audit trail to support PPE contract award decisions.
However, the NAO report said there were also examples of “impressive” national and local responses, including the successful deployment of the Covid vaccine.
The NAO said that in the future, officials should make better use of data, improve the resilience of key services and take a better approach to prepare for crises.
“ The risk of worsening inequalities ”
As of March of this year, the government had spent £ 372 billion to help tackle the health crisis, with the NAO now warning that money spent so far in response to the pandemic could impact sustainability long-term public finances. .
The NAO has now urged ministers to come up with ideas to avoid “widening” the inequalities caused by the pandemic.
The report states: “While the response to the pandemic has allowed new lessons to be learned from what has worked well and what has not worked well, it has also exposed existing loopholes within society, as the risk of worsening inequalities, and within the public, service delivery and government itself. “
NAO chief Gareth Davies said: “COVID-19 has forced the government to respond to an exceptionally difficult and rapidly evolving threat. There is much to be learned from the successes and failures of the government’s response and this report is our first contribution to that. treat.
“Applying these lessons is not only important for the remaining phases of the current pandemic, but should also help better prepare the UK for future emergencies.”
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-19 05:26:50
Formerly known as The Woburn Hotel, the pub and restaurant is reopening under a new name tomorrow (May 19).
The Woburn Hotel has rebranded as The Woburn, it will now be under the stewardship of the Oakman Group.
The hotel on the premises will also be reopening for business, creating 60 new jobs according to the Oakman Group.
The property contains 48 hotel rooms and seven cottages which sit within its courtyard, alongside the pub. None of these spaces have been used commercially in over a year, due to lockdowns and restrictions enforced during the pandemic.
Christine Wondracek, who previously oversaw operations at the White Hart in nearby Ampthill, has been named general manager for the project. She commented: “It’s been like waking up a giant who’s been hibernating for a year.
“My team and I have been discovering so much about this wonderful place, which has responded to our makeover and all our TLC. It’s a joy to watch it come alive again and all it needs now is the buzz that comes from looking after our guests whether they’re dropping in for a drink or staying overnight.”
Guests are asked to use a designated car park and will be directed towards it by staff. The Oakman Group has renovated an outdoor area, previously used for parking, which now seats 100 guests, organisers promise its weatherproof and it contains heated awning.
The Woburn, head chef, Matt Stokes and general manager, Christine Wondracek
The interior of the pub has been renovated as well, a spokesperson said it has been ‘transformed with a focus on comfort and relaxation’.
The Oakman Group’s CEO, Dermot King, said: “I think The Woburn could easily become the jewel in the Oakman Group’s portfolio of historic pubs and hotels. Our design and management teams have worked tirelessly on this initial refurbishment so that we could open this week, in time for the summer.
“With local attractions re-opening, and staycations on the agenda, The Woburn is perfect for those looking for a much-needed mini-break. We think our regulars will be surprised and delighted at how we’ve given each of the areas their own individual character and I’m sure they will quickly find their favourite corner to meet their friends and families.”
The pub has been strategically separated into different rooms with specific features including: the bar, the bar lounge, a champagne and cocktail lounge, a drawing room, dining room and a al fresco dining space in the courtyard.
Oakman Group’s CEO Dermot King & executive Chairman Peter Borg
In total the indoor section of the pub and restaurant can seat 140 people, with cocktails, local ales such as Hornes, teas and coffees available. As well as serving hot food throughout the day, a special afternoon tea service will be launched, including a choice of home-made cakes and loose-teas.
New head chef, Matt Stokes, who has been promoted from another Oakman pub, the Betsey Wynne in Swanbourne, added: “We’re open from breakfast until late, and all our dishes are all cooked from scratch.
“Our menu has an all-encompassing range of healthy, freshly prepared, responsibly sourced dishes, some cooked on our Josper charcoal grill, that I’m sure will please every palate and diet in the region. As well as our Mediterranean-inspired dishes, we are also offering some great British classics and a special kids’ menu. For our daily specials, Woburn’s venison will be a regular feature.”
The a first look at the new interior design at The Woburn
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-18 18:12:01
