News

Caught on Camera: Fly Tipper Filmed and Fined Thousands

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On Monday, March 4, 2024, the Hereford magistrates heard about an incident that occurred around 1:30 PM on June 20, 2023. Two witnesses observed pallets being thrown from the back of a lorry into the hedge of a layby. Intrigued, they exited at the next junction and returned along the A40 to document the fly-tipping. The enforcement officers from Herefordshire Council’s Community Protection team reviewed the footage and successfully traced the offender using the lorry’s vehicle registration.

Caught on Camera – fly tipper filmed and fined thousands – Herefordshire Council

The individual responsible was Valentin Ene (31) from Kingsdown Close, Basildon. Ene explained to the officers that he needed to empty his lorry to collect goods from a business in Hereford. This task was part of his work as a lorry driver. Unfortunately, Ene failed to appear for his initial court hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued. On Monday, March 4, 2024, Valentin Ene appeared before the Hereford Magistrates court, where he pleaded guilty to both fly-tipping and failing in his duty of care.

Charles Yarnold, Herefordshire Council’s Head of Public Protection, says: “Every year, tens of thousands of pounds of council tax payers’ money is spent on clearing up fly tipping and unlawful waste disposal. Thank you to the members of the public who assisted in providing the evidence in this case which demonstrates our excellent community spirt and will to keep our county a beautiful place in which we live and work.”

Valentin Ene received a fine of £1,600. Additionally, he was directed to cover costs amounting to £814.09 and a victim surcharge of £640, resulting in a total payment of £3,254.09.

The maximum penalty for fly-tipping is a £50,000 fine and/ or five years imprisonment.

Drone used by Herefordshire to catch flytippers

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A drone is being used to catch fly-tippers in Herefordshire | Hereford Times

The drone has proven to be an effective tool in collecting evidence of fly-tipping in secluded areas, revealing the true scale of unlawful waste dumping that often goes unnoticed from the ground.

The Herefordshire Council’s community protection team employs the drone to conduct investigations into reported cases of fly-tipping and related offenses.

The drone is maneuvered by a certified pilot with full training, capturing high-resolution footage that will aid in the legal action against individuals committing environmental offenses.

CCTV cameras set for £200k upgrade

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Stratford-upon-Avon CCTV cameras set for £200k upgrade – BBC News

Stratford-upon-Avon is set to enhance its surveillance capabilities with a £200,000 investment aimed at upgrading CCTV cameras. This initiative is backed by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will lead to significant enhancements in the CCTV infrastructure managed by the Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

The upgrade plan includes the replacement of five existing cameras across Stratford upon Avon, Bidford on Avon, and Henley in Arden. Additionally, the introduction of eight new mobile cameras will bolster the current security measures.

BT Telephone line shutdown implications for security systems

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Openreach (the provider of telephone infrastructure in the UK) is shutting down the old telephone network and replacing it with a new All IP upgrade.

The All IP and Exchange Exit programmes (openreach.co.uk)

The UK is undergoing a significant technological shift.

Analogue to Digital Transition:
The traditional landline phone network in the UK, known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), is being phased out by 2025.
The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has set out a program for phone companies to transition from the old analog copper network to an entirely digital phone system over IP (Internet Protocol) by 2025.
This transition involves upgrading landline services to new digital technology using an internet connection, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Digital Voice, or All-IP telephony.
The change aims to improve call quality, offer new features (like anonymous caller rejection and three-way calling), and ensure a more efficient and reliable communication system.
What It Means for Consumers:
For most consumers, this change will be straightforward.
If you already have an internet connection, the migration may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband router instead of the traditional wall socket.
Telecoms companies will contact their customers ahead of the migration, so you don’t need to take any action until your provider reaches out to you directly.
Remember, nobody will lose their landline service due to this transition, and there will still be an option for a ‘landline only’ service if someone prefers not to purchase a general internet connection. The move to digital technology will enhance communication capabilities and pave the way for a more reliable and efficient phone network in the UK.
However Intruder alarms and security systems usually use legacy equipment designed for ‘copper’ pstn and not IP. It is recommended all systems are upgraded to utilise the new communication lines.

Mobile provider 3G shut off

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The mobile service providers have announced that the 3G network will be shutoff in favour of 4G and 5G services. While this doesnt usually cause a problem for mobile handsets (as these are usually less than 3 years old) other devices using these networks are usually considerable older and not thought of to upgrade or replace. Intruder alarm signalling systems are one of these systems. If your alarm system is using 3G for its signalling it will be unable to work after the below dates

Vodafone 3G has shutdown its 3G system We’ve switched off 3G | Vodafone

EE 3G has started its shutdown We’re Switching Off Our 3G Network (ee.co.uk)

Three 3G has started its shutdown Our plans to switch off 3G | Support | Three

o2 will start its shutdown in 2025 Virgin Media O2 to begin switching off 3G in 2025 with enhanced customer experience as network evolves – Virgin Media O2

If you’re already using a newer 4G or 5G device, you shouldn’t need to do anything. Some 4G devices might still need a software or settings update to ensure its operation. Your provider will tell you if that’s the case and explain how to make the updates needed.