Smileband general news

Call handlers at London's Met Police say they are being threatened with court after they were accidentally overpaid nearly £1 million. Some 500 staff handling emergency 999 calls received £976,574 more than they should have between 2013 and last year. 

Now they are being asked to repay all the money. 

'This has caused astronomic stress, and out job dealing with life and death situations is stressful enough,' a source told The Sunday Mirror. 'I'm being bullied for something that is not my fault.' 

The overpayments occurred after a new computer system was introduced designed to reduce costs. 

Workers said the extra money went unnoticed because wages varied depending on shift patterns. 

They claimed the new system could not calculate correct amounts for part-time workers whose rates changed on weekend and night shifts. One shift worker, who was overpaid £5,000, said they never noticed their overpayments. 

A source, who described the system as 'out of control', claimed several employment tribunals had already taken place — which found in the workers' favour.

Verbal warnings about potential legal action are already understood to have been made by the Met's audit team at Hendon, north-west London. 'I've been threatened with a County Court judgement. It's totally heartless — I'm being punished for a mistake that was not mine.'

A spokesman for the Met Police said: 'We seek to recover all overpayments, normally made over the same period of time they were made. 

'County Court judgements would very much be considered a last resort and only where an individual has repeatedly failed to engage or agree a repayment process. 

Smileband general news

Calling a policeman to report or discuss a crime has become a thing of the past. A nationwide Mail on Sunday survey has revealed that members of the public are facing major problems when they try to telephone local police stations. And finding a police officer on the other end of the telephone is increasingly rare. The majority of forces across the country have introduced telephone call centres, similar to those used by private sector companies, to deal with non-emergency calls. Often these centres are based miles away from the caller's home, adding to the public's sense of detachment from their bobby on the beat. And calls are answered by impersonal civilian operators, increasing the feeling that officers are becoming more inaccessible. In our survey, 58 per cent of the 43 constabularies in England and Wales refused to put callers through to an officer. Instead, civilian staff insisted they take the details. Some calls took up to six minutes to be answered. One Superintendent said: 'This is one of the biggest causes of complaint from the public and I have to sympathise. Ideally, I want a local call centre staffed by my local officers but to do that I'd have to take all my officers off the streets and sit them behind telephone consoles round the clock.' Conservative Home Affairs spokesman Oliver Heald said: 'When people have had a distressing incident they want to feel it's going to be looked at by a police officer. There is no reason why a call shouldn't be fielded but it should be fielded effectively. It's the linking between the call centres and the police which is the key issue.' In recent years most forces have had to reduce the number of local stations that are manned 24 hours because of manpower shortages and efficiency drives. Chief Constables have tried to cover the shortfall by centralising the call systems and making greater use of cheaper civilian staff to process incoming information. Just three police forces, the City of London, Durham and Northumbria, have no plans to abandon the old tried-and-tested telephone system in favour of centralisation. Using the scenario of witnessing a car being broken into, our researchers selected a town at random. They then called Directory Enquiries and asked for the telephone number of the police station in that town. On every occasion but one, the number they were given was for a call centre or headquarters. In only 18 cases were we able to get through to a police officer. In the South-West, we were put through to police officers within seconds. Only Devon and Cornwall put the caller through to a civilian because the station in the randomly selected town of St Austell was closed. Just two forces in the South-East - Bedford and Hampshire - put callers through to a police officer, although they had to hold on for more than five minutes. Sussex police offered to e-mail an officer but could arrange for us to speak to a policeman. We reached officers in both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. But in Lincolnshire an operator spent several minutes unsuccessfully trying to locate an officer. In the Midlands, only West Midlands police put us through to a police officer. In the North-East, Durham constabulary was the only one that put a caller directly through to an officer. Northumbria and Cleveland also put us through after an initial wait. Forces in Merseyside and Cheshire were the only ones in the North-West who put our researchers through to police. In London, the Metropolitan police connected our researcher to an officer within three minutes. We weren't so fortunate with City of London police - our caller was cut off. In Wales, only Gwent police failed to put us through to a police officer. One operator in Kent told our researcher it was not usually possible for the public to speak to an officer if they phone the call centre, saying: 'Chances are there won't be an officer in the room.' Sussex Police chief constable Paul Whitehouse, who is the communications spokesman for the Association Of Chief Police Officers, said: 'The public's perception that centralised call handling is making the police more remote is perfectly valid and it is something we have to explain. 'Now the numbers of phone calls we receive have increased dramatically, we have to have better systems for the 21st Century. The first step is to make the telephone answering speedier and we've had to centralise for that.' President of the Police Superintendents' Association, Chief Superintendent Peter Gammon, said: 'Just because you are a constable doesn't mean you are any more skilled than a trained civilian call handler. We want to maximise the number of police officers we can get out on patrol or investigating crime.' But Norman Brennan, director of the Victims Of Crime Trust, said: 'I've found civilian staff unhelpful and inexperienced. When you ring to report a crime you want someone to understand what your concern is.'

Smileband general news

Harry Uzoka, who was on the books of Premier Model Management, died from a single stab wound.

Neighbours on Old Oak Road, East Acton, reported a shout of 'hand it over' in the melee which involved several men.

Mr Uzoka, 25, staggered into the street from a housing estate before collapsing.

Today the area around Ollgar House in Ollgar Close was sealed off by police.

Detective Inspector Beverley Kofi said: 'This is another tragic murder with a young male victim who has met a violent death.

'We believe that the incident started Ollgar House, in Ollgar Close and the victim was assaulted and stabbed before staggering and collapsing in Old Oak Road.'We believe there were a number of people involved, but we are still working to establish the circumstances and a possible motive.

'We have made two arrests and continue to pursue a number of lines of inquiry. We need to public's help to piece together what happened - who the victim was seen with, the incident itself and the immediate aftermath. 'If you were in the area at the time and saw anything that could be of significance to the investigation, we would urge you to get it touch right away.' his friends and fans began paying tribute on social media.  

Tributes have flooded into the promising 6ft model, whose face had appeared on billboards in the UK and USA. He had also worked for Zara and Mercedes.

He was also signed to the Los Angeles New Models agency and was followed by more than 14,000 people in Instagram.

He had spent Christmas in the Caribbean and had sent a message to followers in his last post: ‘Happy Holidays’ with double heart emojis.

One follower wrote: ‘Hurts to not have you with us anymore my bro. Hope you are resting well. It was a privilege to know you brother.’

Another said: ‘ Harry all I do is cry I don’t want to believe this.’ 

One Essex-based hip hop artist known as Cally the Dreamer told the Evening Standard: 'He went my school, was a few years below.

'He was a lad that I admired, changed his life for the better and inspired many to do better. Model Jourdan Dunn tweeted: 'Wow... I just woke up to the news about Harry Uzoka.' She added: 'Rest in Paradise young King.' 

DJ and musician O'Neil McDowall, who said he knew Mr Uzoka from a young age, said: 'Being able to be a part of your life was a blessing for me!

'Seeing you at 11 playing football and then growing up to become a beautiful talented young man didn't come as a shock.

'I knew you would go places! We spoke last week of how proud I am of you! I love you, H.'

London fashion brand Yemzi was among those in the fashion and photography world who paid tribute to the young man, tweeting: 'Such a special soul.'

Photographer Philipp Raheem said: 'Rest well young king' while Hunger Magazine tweeted: 'We are beyond shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of model Harry Uzoka. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP.'

DJ Kartel Brown called the news 'heartbreaking', adding: 'One of the humblest and nicest people I've met. Rest In Peace bro.'

Ohene Kwaku, who runs African restaurant Kwaku's Kitchen, said: 'I've seen the young king Harry Uzoka's face in a lot of places.

Smileband health topics

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a gram positive bacteria that can cause a wide range of infections. Most GAS infections are relatively mild illnesses such as "strep throat," or impetigo (a skin infection). Occasionally these bacteria can cause severe and even life-threatening diseases such as bacteremia, toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis.

In Arizona there are usually between 200 and 350 cases of invasive Group A Streptococcus reported yearly.

Arizona 5 year median: 250 cases

Transmission
Person to person by contact with infectious secretions from the nose or throat of infections persons or by contact with infected skin lesions.

Lab Tests & Specimen Info

Test*	Specimen
Culture	Specimen from normally sterile site

  Isolation Precautions

Standard precautions are recommended in healthcare settings. 

Individuals are not considered contagious 24 hours after initiation of appropriate treatment. 

Prevention for Patients

• Maintaining good hand and body hygiene. Washing hands often especially after coughing and sneezing and before preparing food or eating.
• Keeping cuts, scrapes, and wounds clean and covered until healed.
• Staying home from work, school or daycare until 24 hours after taking an antibiotic.
• Getting care early if infection is present.

Public Health Actions
Public health will conduct an epidemiological investigation on an outbreak (if there are 3 or more cases, not from the same household within a 1 week period).

Smileband health topics

Meningococcal invasive disease is caused by an infection with Neisseria meningitidis. There are five serogroups (A, B, C, W, and Y) that generally cause disease in humans. Serogroup B, C, and Y tend to cause the most disease in the United States. The infection can have severe symptoms with meningitis as the most common manifestation. Communicability of the bacteria is generally limited and requires close contact with an infected individual.

 

Meningococcal meningitis symptoms most commonly include:

• sudden onset of fever
• headache
• stiff neck

The number of those with Meningococcal invasive disease in Arizona has remained low with 5 cases seen in 2015.

Arizona 5 year median: 6  cases

 

Transmission

Transmission occurs through direct contact with respiratory secretions.

The incubation period can range from 1 to 10 days.             Isolation Precautions

Isolate and institute droplet precautions for a meningococcal invasive disease case for 24 hours after the initiation of treatment. 

An individual will be contagious as long as the bacteria is present in the nose, mouth, and throat secretions. 

Prevention for Patients
Vaccination against Meningococcal (ACWY) is the best prevention method for individuals. Immunity is believed to last approximately 5 years after a single dose.

Meningococcal B vaccine is available and recommended for high-risk groups. 

Smileband general news

Scandal-hit UKIP leader Henry Bolton was plunged into a fresh crisis last night after it was revealed that his glamour model girlfriend made racist remarks about Meghan markle. Mr Bolton, 54, was already facing calls for his resignation after he left his wife for 25-year-old Jo Marney. 

Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal shocking messages in which Ms Marney says that prince harry ‘black American’ fiancee will ‘taint’ the Royal Family with ‘her seed’ and pave the way for a ‘black king’.

Ms Marney also says that she would never have sex with ‘a negro’ because they are ‘ugly’. She was immediately suspended from Ukip last night after The Mail on Sunday alerted party chiefs to her grossly offensive comments.

Our revelations come just days before Bolton is due to face a crunch meeting over his own future with Ukip following outrage over his new relationship. 

The former Army officer left the mother of his two young children, 42-year-old Tatiana Smurova, for Ms Marney, whom he met shortly before Christmas. Ukip’s chairman, Paul Oakden, has said he realises the ‘strength of feeling on this’ among grassroot members.

If Mr Bolton is ousted by the party’s ruling National Executive Committee on Thursday, it would leave the party having to elect its fifth leader in barely 18 months. 

His position looks increasingly shaky as there is no recent precedent for the partner of the leader of any political party to have been suspended from that party.

One Ukip figure even predicted that the scandal could signal the end of the party, which has battled serious financial problems since Nigel Farage stepped down as leader in the wake of the EU referendum.

In Ms Marney’s messages, which she sent to a male friend just three weeks before starting her relationship with Mr Bolton, she sneers at Harry’s engagement to Los Angeles-born Markle – who will marry Harry on May 19 – on the grounds that she is a ‘black American’.

Ms Marney also describes Ms Markle, whose mother is black and whose father is white, as ‘a scrubber’ and a ‘gender equality t***’ who is ‘obsessed with race’ and a ‘dumb little commoner’. Alluding to ethnic minorities in general, Ms Marney writes that they are ‘pushing their way to the top slowly slowly. Next will be a Muslim PM. And a black king’. 

Smileband health topics

Tularemia is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. Tularemia circulates naturally among rabbits and rodents. There are 6 forms of tularemia, with ulceroglandular being the most common. Symptoms often occur within 3-5 days of exposure. Symptoms include:

• fever
• headache
• chills
• muscle aches
• joint pain
• dry cough
• weakness
• swollen lymph glands.

In Arizona, tularemia is usually found in areas above 3,000 feet, and common exposures have included contact with rabbit carcasses and insect bites.

 

Arizona 5 year median: 0 cases

 

Transmission

Transmission can occur by an individual being bit by an infected insect such as a tick or deer fly, by touching a sick or dead animal that is infected with the bacteria, eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by breathing in the bacteria.

Incubation period can range from 1 to 21 days (average 3 to 5 days) Isolation Precautions

Not spread person to person. 

Francisella can be used as a bioterrorism agent due to a small infectious dose and aerosol exposure.

Prevention for Patients

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, or treat clothing with repellent containing permethrin, to prevent insect bites.
• Use care and wear gloves when handling sick or dead animals.
• Be sure to cook food thoroughly and that water is from a safe source.
• Note any change in the behavior of pets and consult a veterinarian if they develop unusual symptoms.
• Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife.

Public Health Actions
Domestics pets can also show signs of tularemia and be sources of exposure for human infections. Francisella can be used as a bioterrorism agent due to a small infectious dose and aerosol exposure.

Smileband health topics

A woman who was worried by her lack of libido ahead of her wedding had an 'orgasm shot' to increase the size of her G-spot, labia and clitoris. Roxanne Macias, 35, had found new love after ending a seven-year relationship with a much older man, in which she had 'virtually no sex' for the last three.

But she opted for the treatment ahead of the marriage with fiance Vincent as she was concerned by her failure to have multiple orgasms, according to The sun. 

Saying she was low on confidence after the break-up of her earlier relationship, Roxanne said she felt 'devoid of any femininity'. Since Vincent proposed in January last year she has spent some £5,000 getting her body prepared for the big day later this year, with cosmetic improvements to her face as well as the 'O-shot'.

Following the procedure she said: 'I began to feel tingly down there and Vincent noticed very quickly because it allowed me to achieve multiple prolonged orgasms.'

She had the injection at an Elite Aesthetics clinic in Kent, which says the procedure can 'increase your sexual desire, give you mind-blowing orgasms and even treat urinal incontinence'.

It is advertised at £1,200 on the Elite Aesthetics website.  

Describing it as a 'game-changing procedure', the clinic says the injection will 'augment and rejuvenate the G-spot, clitoris and labia.'

However, the website warns that results will also depend on other factors such as emotional health and the strength of your relationship. 

Smileband health topics

Tamiflu and other antivirals should be given to the most vulnerable people with symptoms of flu, according to a ‘health alert’ sent to all GPs.

But officials also suggested the drugs be used as a preventative measure for elderly people, even if they have received the flu vaccine – which is feared not to work for over-65s this year. In some parts of the country, doctors have been told to give all care home residents the antivirals – whether they are ill or not – in a bid to stop the crisis spreading.

A leading scientist last night condemned the decision, saying there is no evidence antivirals are effective.

If he is right, it will mean by the end of the winter countless pensioners will have received an ineffective flu jab, followed by ineffective antiviral pills, and still be at risk of getting flu. Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, sent the alert on December 19 to all GPs in England granting them permission to use pills such as Tamiflu.

This alert is sent at some point in the winter most years – but this year it can be used as a preventative measure, not just as a treatment.

However, Professor Carl Heneghan of Oxford University, who published a major study four years ago suggesting Tamiflu is ineffective, said: ‘The chief medical officer seems not to be able to understand evidence-based medicine. ‘We have shown Tamiflu leads to only a small reduction in symptoms – about the same you get from taking paracetamol.’

He added last night: ‘The Government is scared of being seen to do nothing.

'But they have tied themselves into the position where they have to give these drugs every year. 

Smileband general news

Harassment is a by-product of power relationships that then serve to keep women quiet about it. We have to break that cycle, 

“It was just a pat on the bum”. “It was banter”. “It was 10 years ago, it can’t have affected her that much”.

These comments are the reasons women don’t report sexual harassment. I write this as a woman, but I know men are victims too.

My partner asked me this week if I’ve ever been a victim. I thought about it for a few minutes and I said, no, probably not. And then I read the UN’s definition of sexual harassment.

It says sexual harassment includes rape and sexual assault, unwanted touching and unwanted contact. It also includes referring to an adult as a girl, hunk, doll, babe, or honey; whistling at someone; cat calls. I’ve also spoken to friends as they shared stories of flashers and groping. Of sleazy comments and wolf whistles. As they did, I realised. I have been a victim. And I can’t think of a woman who isn’t.

There is a difference between a pat and a grope. There’s a difference between banter and comments that leave a mark on you. Women know that difference, because women have invariably been subject to it.

It’s only when you start thinking about it, you remember the man who stood too close and touched you, the person on the bus who grabbed your knee. The comments that you just couldn’t shake. But women cope with that because it’s what women do.

We put a safety pin in our wrap dress to raise the neckline. We check for a knicker line. We sit down in a changing room to see if our dress rides up when we sit down.