TSP 610188
No. 155 • March 1995 • Circulation 15,000
Swindon
KAR HIRE
MOVING HOUSE? Sack Trucks / Blankets / Ties /
MOVING
Distributed in West Swindon, Haydon Wick, Woodhall Park & Abbey Meads
SELF HOUSE? DRIVE CARS - VANS - MINI-BUSES
The positive news force in West and North Swindon and the swindon wide what's on guide
Seek an interview with a vampire and you could get a job
Pressure on school skipping kids A scheme to persuade truants to attend school spreads from the town centre to West Swindon from 1 March. Truancy Aware, launched in November last year, Involves staff in local shops and leisure facilities in asking children if they should be at school. The project is coordinated by Swindon Police Community Liaison Officer PC Ian Home who is well known by primary school children for his 'Stranger Danger' talks and in secondary schools with his ARE YOU 'Streetwise' discussions. SURE YOUR "Responding to truancy is so CHILD IS AT SCHOOL important; the murder of a Cardiff TODAY? girl out of school in late January should make everybody concerned," said PC Home. "The temptations of crime or the Ian Home, putting over the message
danger of becoming a target is obvious. But having seen so many youngsters disadvantaged in the job market because their school attendance has been inadequate, we must do everything we can to make sure children are in school when they should be. It's sad to see so much unfulfilled potential, often amongst so many intelligent, able people" PC Home said the aim of Truancy Aware was to create an atmosphere of deterrence through a partnership between parents, schools and local businesses. Story continues on page 3
Community officers taken off the beat
A vampire with aspirations is looking for an assistant to help Policemen who should be on foot, patrolling the streets are being kept behind a desk because of cutbacks. him project his personality. New government cutbacks on help since the station went opera- wanting to see somebody. It's incivilian employment by the police tional on 6 February has forced means that the public enquiry desk senior officers to provide someat the new Westlea station is either body to handle enquiries between un-manned or covered by a police 9am and 4pm, six days a week. Operations Manager Chief Inofficer. The4 million station is the main spector Martyn Meeks said the lack point of information and help for of resources for civilain back-up the whole of west and north Swin- was putting severe pressure on his ability to provide police coverage don. There is cash to pay civilian staff in the community and at the stabetween 4pm and 7pm. However tion. "We've had members of the Continued on page 2 demand from the public wanting public turning up in the rain and
The fame of Dr Aculard Hemlock, alias Phil Walker of Freshbrook, is spreading across the land and he needs somebody to take his unique magic and illusion horror show to the top. Phil, 29, soon to be made redundant after twelve years as a motor mechanic with the RAF, discovered his show-biz talents three years ago.
convenient if we're not open during the day, and very unhelpful if somebody has travelled over from Haydon Wick or Stratton. "Unfortunately we've had to take officers away from neighbourhood duties and put them behind a desk. The response car is always available but it means our cover on the ground is now even thinner." All callers to the station are being logged to measure use.
EXPRESS
* Cycles
CYCLES
* Repairs * Accessories * Parts
* Servicing
S
1,000S OF BIKES & BITS IN STOCK
L LW 0% Finance*
selected models
7'
ivi
17
(Subject to status; Written quotations on request: Not available to under 8s; Finance over 6 months; Typical example: bike cash price £200, no deposit. £200 over 6 months = £33333 per month 0% pm, 0% apr)
96-99 MANCHESTER ROAD SWINDON • TEL: (0793 534907