Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has issued another report, this one on increasing efficiency in the police service. It focuses on collaboration and how forces in England and Wales share services. I was very pleased, but not at all surprised, to see Kent featuring as case study for its work in the Serious Crime Directorate and especially as the Directorate's performance has exceeded its target in 2011 - 2012. A staggering 53 organised crime groups were dismantled and a total of 319 offenders were charged with Class A drug supply offences. Well done to the officers and staff for their professionalism and hard-hitting attitude.
I personally think collaboration is the way forward, especially given the financial constraints all forces are now facing. We also have to brace ourselves for another round of cuts when the second Comprehensive Spending Review is announced. Collaboration between Kent and Essex is truly pioneering and I'm proud to say that we are recognised as the national leaders in this area of work.
Last week I also met with HMIC to catch up on the integrity report. There were a few action points from the initial visit, which overall gave a clean bill of health for both the Force and Authority, in this important area for public confidence. We have already addressed all the national recommendations, so I'm please to report on a very successful HMIC visit.
It's the countdown to the Olympics and I'm looking forward to it. My husband was lucky enough to get 4 tickets for equestrian events which he loves. It's great to see all the bunting up in Maidstone and it gives a real community feel. I expect the town will be packed on the 19 and 20 July to welcome two torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame. One of the torchbearers is a Detective Sergeant at Kent Police what a fantastic opportunity and a lifelong memory.
I meet with the Chief Constable regularly to be briefing about the police preparations for the Olympics. The force is certainly in a state of high readiness and planning has been underway for this event for a long time. It's estimated that 100,000 extra people will be travelling through the county each day during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
However, I'm confident that police and partner agencies have put plans in place to ensure the Port of Dover, the Channel Tunnel and Ebbsfleet International railway station - which will give a direct route into Stratford during the Games - and Kent's roads and coastline are kept safe. It should be a very exciting time for the country and the highlight of the summer, especially now that Andy Murray failed to raise our hopes at Wimbledon yesterday.
Yet someone has raised our spirits here and I am delighted that our Thanet PC Darren Reed has been highly commended by the NFU Mutual at a National award ceremony last week. It's fantastic to see his work as part of the Rural Partnership Team recognised for his hardwork to tackle heritage, wildlife, and rural crime. Well done Darren.
And finally, if you're in Dover on Wednesday then why not pop along to the ASDA store. We will be in the foyer talking to shoppers about their policing priorities and raising awareness of Police and Crime Commissioners.
Follow Ann Barnes on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PoliceAuthority
Source: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
Cruise, Holmes reach settlement in divorce case - msnbc.com
By BY JAKE COYLE
AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes reached a settlement on Monday, legally sorting out their divorce with the same speed that kicked off their much-scrutinized romance seven years ago.
Just as Hollywood was settling in for what was expected to be a long and nasty separation, lawyers for the couple said the pair settled less than two weeks after Holmes unexpectedly filed for divorce.
"The case has been settled and the agreement has been signed," Holmes attorney Jonathan Wolfe said in a statement. Cruise's rep Amanda Lundberg confirmed the settlement.
Representatives for Holmes and Cruise declined to elaborate on the agreement.
"We are thrilled for Katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life," the statement from Holmes' attorney said. "We thank Tom's counsel for their professionalism and diligence that helped bring about this speedy resolution."
In a joint statement, Cruise, 50, and Holmes, 33, asked for privacy for their family with 6-year-old daughter Suri.
"We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri's best interests. We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents," read the statement from Lundberg and Holmes representative Nanci Ryder.
The resolution was notably quick, particularly in Hollywood terms. By way of comparison, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are still negotiating a divorce for an August 2011 marriage that lasted less than three months.
"A quick settlement indicates that they were able to agree that they'll both do some co-parenting," said Steve Mindel, a managing partner in the Los Angeles firm Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt and Klein who has handled bi-coastal divorce cases.
Mindel said the next step would be for Holmes or Cruise to file to have their status changed to divorced, but that the actual financial and child custody details won't get filed in court unless there's some later dispute.
The rapid settlement saves the couple from a public battle that was sure to be covered vigorously by the celebrity news media, which had already shifted into hyper-drive.
In the already voluminous tabloid reporting, Holmes had been portrayed with overwhelmingly more sympathy. The emerging narrative, whether true or not, was of a locked-away Holmes breaking free from the servitude of a strange, corrupting marriage.
Us Weekly reported that the couple "fought viciously" over Scientology parenting. The Daily News trumpeted Holmes entering "a new phase." A TMZ headline blared "Tom treated me like a robot."
That may also be the most convenient view of a relationship that even at its start spawned "Free Katie!" T-shirts. In 2005, the couple publically announced their relationship in Rome, famously celebrated it on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and got engaged on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They were wed in Nov. 2006 at a castle in Bracciano, Italy.
Cruise's lawyer Bert Fields has said they were letting "the other side play the media until they wear everyone out." The Church of Scientology, too, didn't want to be portrayed as the schism between the couple.
The quick settlement and joint statement may put out some of that fire.
"I don't think either of these high-profile celebrities want their dirty laundry aired in technically a public forum," said Russell I. Marnell, an East Meadow, N.Y.-based divorce lawyer who's also licensed in California. "Those kind of factors certainly would lend themselves to try to encourage a resolution."
Cruise has two children with his previous wife, Nicole Kidman. The actor was also previously married to Mimi Rogers. This was Holmes' first marriage.
Their divorce case lasted less than two weeks, but Mindel said that's not uncommon for high-profile breakups: "There's too many incentives on both sides of the equation for settlement."
When actress-singer LeAnn Rimes' husband filed for divorce in December 2009, it only took a day before the couple filed a judgment. Actor-comedian Russell Brand's divorce from singer Katy Perry took a little over a month to resolve, while director Cameron Crowe and singer-guitarist Nancy Wilson resolved their 2010 divorce in less than three months.
Cruise and Holmes may have saved more than just their dignity by not fighting out their divorce in court. A drawn-out custody battle would have likely cost more than a million dollars in legal fees.
"What jumps out at me is how quickly they were able to resolve a multi-million dollar (financial case) and custody issues," likely to be particularly complicated for a couple whose work can take them all over the world, said Paul Talbert, a partner in a New York City matrimonial-law firm that isn't involved in the case.
Said Mindel: "The question's going to be did they have enough time to flesh out how they're going to resolve future disputes."
___
AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: www.msnbc.msn.com
End of hosepipe bans for Kent water users - Kent Online
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The final hosepipe bans in Kent have been lifted.
South East Water and Veolia say the recent heavy rain means supplies have recovered.
Restrictions were brought in back in April following two really dry winters.
A South East Water spokesman said the ban followed record low levels of groundwater supplies following the two-year drought. But rainfall since April has meant the underground aquifers are now recovering.
Paul Seeley, South East Water’s asset director, said: “We are pleased to be able to lift the restrictions and return to a normal service for customers.
"We would like to thank them for their support while they have been in place; their efforts have helped to keep demand for water well below levels normally experienced at this time of year.”
Three other companies – Sutton and East Surrey Water, Veolia Water Central and Veolia Water Southeast have also announced they are lifting their temporary use bans.
A South East Water spokesman said record-breaking low groundwater levels were recorded back in March at one of its measurement points at Duckpit Farm, near Canterbury.
Since then the region has experienced an exceptional amount of intense and prolonged rainfall, which has boosted groundwater levels at Duckpit Farm by around 15ft between April and June.
Paul Seeley
said: “The increase in our underground resources brought about by
the abnormally heavy spring rainfall is most welcome.
"Normally, only winter rainfall recharges the aquifers and so this recharge is unusual, and has seen some of the highest increases in water levels ever recorded in our area at this time of year."
Nigel Beaven, of Veolia, said the ban was initially placed after two years of very dry weather.
He added: "That left our aquifers, which is really the underground chalk natural reservoirs, where Veolia Water and Veolia Water South East get most of their water, extremely dry. Water levels were historically low.
"Since then we have had unprecedented weather, as I'm sure everyone now knows.
"It's taken a while for that water to actually get down into the ground, but it has actually now, and our groundwater levels have actually recovered quite a bit - although I would stress that they are much lower than normal."
At its height in part of the Veolia region, water levels were at least as bad as the scorching summer of 1976, with the driest weather for about 100 years.
Monday, July 09 2012
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kh9871 wrote:
Lemon, the ban was on using a hose fed by a public water supply - nothing more. You could have legally attached a hose to a rainwater container* (filled by rainwater), although no doubt there will be examples of that getting the nosey neighbour element curtain-twitching.
*or but with 2 t's - profanity filter written by idiots
09 Jul 2012 1:27 PM
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Lemon wrote:
Does this mean I can legally use a hose to pump the floodwater out of my basement?
09 Jul 2012 12:30 PM
Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce case has many unknowns - Los Angeles Times
For all the heavy media attention that has surrounded the Katie Holmes-Tom Cruise divorce over the last week, few solid details have emerged about the case itself. And legal experts said it could take some time for more information to emerge.
Holmes filed for divorce in New York, and some legal experts said it would make sense for Cruise to file his own case in California, which is the couple's main residence. But so far, that appears not to have happened. Both sides have said little publicly about the split and whether any private negotiations are ongoing.
Last week, one of Holmes' attorneys released a statement saying she has no plans to seek any type of emergency custody arrangement or spousal support.
PHOTOS: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes through the years
One of Cruise's attorneys, Bert Fields, told the BBC that Cruise is considering his own legal moves but was not specific.
A source familiar with the divorce proceeding said Holmes is hoping to avoid a public fight and is not going to fight over money but is concerned about how the couple's 6-year-daughter Suri is raised.
The source, who talked to The Times on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the case, said Scientology and what role it would play in the upbringing of the couple's daughter, Suri, was a key factor in the split. Cruise is a prominent Scientology member.
PHOTOS: Celebrity splits of 2012
On Tuesday, a Scientology lawyer denied media reports that members of the church were monitoring Holmes' movements. "There is no truth whatsoever to the [report] that the church of Scientology has sent anyone to follow or surveil Katie Holmes," said Gary S. Soter, an attorney from the church.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Kent captain demands better output with bat (From News Shopper) - News Shopper
Kent captain demands better output with bat
9:40am Monday 9th July 2012 in Sport By Jim Palmer
KENT’S batting must evolve with the shortest format of the game if they are to win the T20 cup again, said captain Rob Key.
The 2007 champions won four of their 10 Friends Life T20 games, with one washout to finish fourth in the South group.
Sussex Sharks, Hampshire Royals and Essex Eagles all progressed to the last eight.
Kent still had slim hopes of making the quarter-finals going into last week, but a thumping win against Surrey at the Kia Oval on Thursday was undone 24 hours later by a 23-run home loss to Essex.
But the Spitfires at least registered a consolation three-wicket victory over Middlesex at Uxbridge on Sunday in their final game to end on a positive note.
Skipper Key said: “We have been so hot and cold in this competition, it is a shame.
“We have got a bit to do in T20.
“There are encouraging enough signs. An inconsistent year isn’t necessarily a problem if you are putting it right in years to come.
“The game has changed since probably 2007.
“Someone will come in early and try to hit everybody for four or six from the word go.
“I think that is something we have got to find, it is just getting up to speed with modern day cricket.
“We have to start evolving with T20 cricket.”
He added: “We have done alright with the ball, I don't think we have ever hurt people with the bat.
“When we have won games, it has been with an outstanding bowling performance.
“This is something we need to look at – at the explosive starts, at the explosive players coming in.”
The Spitfires were able to take positives from the competition, where a number of younger players showed their potential.
Hartley opener Sam Billings, 21, was one of the Spitfires’ best batters.
He made his maiden T20 fifty against Essex at Chelmsford and averaged 24.
Bexley’s Adam Ball, 19, took the most wickets (12) for Kent, while 22-year-old Sam Northeast's form saw him rise to the top of the order and top the averages with 27.42.
Farnborough-born off spinner Adam Riley, coming in after James Tredwell was called up for England, took two for 15 against Surrey.
Key said: “We have probably got seven, eight, nine young players keeping Kent going and taking us further.
“This is very encouraging.
“These guys are only going to get better.”
Key was also full of praise for opening bowler Mark Davies.
The captain added: “All bar one day with Matt Prior, who smacked everyone around this year, he has played a lot of good cricket and shown Durham, who released him last year, what they have missed.
“He has been one of the most consistent performers in the T20 this year.”
Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt
Source: www.newsshopper.co.uk
Upbeat Wright ticking to t20 rhythm - ECB
Source: www.ecb.co.uk
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes reach divorce settlement 2 weeks after split - Metro.co.uk
The pair brought proceedings to a speedy conclusion, Holmes’s lawyer, Jonathan Wolfe revealed.
‘The case has been settled and the agreement has been signed,’ he said.
‘We are thrilled for Katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life.
‘We thank Tom’s counsel for their professionalism and diligence that helped bring this speedy resolution.’
Earlier in the day, the pair released their first joint statement asking for privacy: ‘We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri’s best interests. We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other’s commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other’s roles as parents.’
The declaration came after reports of a temporary truce being called while their lawyers struck a deal.
The Mission: Impossible star, 50, made it crystal clear that there would be no agreement without him having significant contact with his daughter.
Six-year-old Suri was the ‘deal-maker and the deal-breaker in his divorce with Katie’, according to TMZ.
Cruise had insisted the settlement provided ‘meaningful, significant contact’ with his daughter. ‘She is the primary concern in his life,’ sources told the celebrity website.
Tom’s long-time lawyer, Bert Fields added: ‘The Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes case has been settled with a signed agreement. Tom is really pleased we got there, and so am I.’
For the past few days, lawyers for both sides were holding marathon meetings trying to negotiate the terms of the settlement and keep it out of court.
There is no word yet on whether the 33-year-old Batman Begins star will get any of Cruise’s £180million fortune or whether she was awarded sole custody of Suri.
Holmes took everyone by surprise when she filed for divorce a fortnight ago, ending their five-year romance.
Source: www.metro.co.uk
