Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly has called on central government to step in and give the county’s force a fairer share of funding.
The police chief said that he was hopeful that the government would loosen the purse strings for Lincolnshire over the next six months, adding that he should receive more information within the next few weeks.
Campaigns for fairer funding for the force have been ongoing since previous Chief Constable Neil Rhodes and former Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick were in post.
Their successors, Skelly and current PCC Marc Jones, have continued the campaign, with the latter warning earlier this year that frontline officers and staff could be reduced unless the government provides more money.
Bill Skelly told Lincolnshire Reporter: “People will be aware we have an issue with funding for Lincolnshire Police and we are hopeful that over the next six months we will see the government stepping in and giving us a fairer deal that we absolutely expect we should get.
“Am I confident? Well we have had the Policing Minister and the Home Secretary here to talk about the work that is going on in Lincolnshire, so we’re certainly on the government’s mind.
“Whether that translates into the cash we’ll have to wait and see.”
Empowering communities and reducing harm
Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
The Chief Constable was speaking alongside the launch of his ‘Distinctively Lincolnshire’ strategic plan on Tuesday, November 21.
The new document outlines Lincolnshire Police’s commitment to support the Police and Crime Commissioner in the aims of the Police and Crime Plan:
Community safety and prevention in partnership
Listening, responding and being accountable
Protecting and supporting victims and the vulnerable
Policing that works
Bill Skelly added: “The mission of the force is to empower and involve communities working to prevent and reduce harm.
“I see the role of policing in our county as playing a leading part in making the lives of our public as safe as possible.
“We have been involved in things such as policing and responding to domestic abuse and sexual crime and these areas are the ones we are going to concentrate on.
“We have also seen growth in the digital space online with things that happen to people and their vulnerabilities, particularly with young people.”
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An investigation has been launched after a person died in a house fire in Boston on Monday afternoon.
Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue said six crews from Boston, Spalding, Horncastle and Donington attended the scene to extinguish the fire on Tooley Street at 12.17pm on May 10.
The fire service announced the tragic news on Monday evening, saying: “Emergency services in Lincolnshire are sadly reporting the death of a person following a house fire in Boston earlier today (Monday). Fire and police investigations into the cause have began and are ongoing.”
They added that a man was also treated for smoke inhalation.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
A video captured at the scene shows smoke billowing out from badly damaged windows at the property, while a road was closed for some time causing traffic to build up in the area near Skirbeck Road.
The Prime Minister has confirmed the third step of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown will go ahead from May 17, including indoor mixing with other households and eating and drinking inside restaurants and pubs.
Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the rule of six or two households will still apply, and maintaining a distance is advised.
Pubs, restaurants, cinemas and other venues will be able to operate indoors and foreign holidays will also not be restricted any more, with the introduction of the traffic light system.
University students will be able to have face-to-face lessons so long as they are tested twice a week and care home named visitors will increase from two to five.
College and secondary school students will also not be required to wear face coverings in communal areas.
Boris Johnson speaking on Monday.
Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals — and this will also apply to other types of events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Step four will not begin until at least June 21, where all limits on social contact are set to be lifted and all remaining premises, including nightclubs, will be able to open.
In Monday’s Downing Street Press Conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Today we are announcing the single biggest step on our roadmap, and it will allow us to do many of the things that we’ve yearned to do for a long time.”
He added: “We remain on track to move to step four, on June 21.”
A barber shop in Lincoln was broken into over the weekend with CCTV footage showing an someone using a tool on a step ladder to try and gain access into the property where windows were smashed.
Razvan Ionut Georgescu runs The Barbers House at 58 High Street near the corner of Cranwell Street, which was broken into at around 2.20am on Saturday, May 8.
He told The Lincolnite that two people broke his window glass and took a piggy bank containing around £20 before running away.
He also thanked police for attending and making the window safer using a piece of wood.
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said officers are investigating the incident of criminal damage.
No arrests have been made at this stage, but anyone with information is being urged to call police on 101 quoting reference number 21000251925.
The Lincoln Pride event has been cancelled for a second year running due to COVID-19.
The event was cancelled in 2020 and organisers said the 2021 event will not go ahead either.
Organisers said in a Facebook post: “We understand this will be a huge disappointment to many. However, safety is our main priority and holding such a large event in uncertain times is not something we believe to be viable.
“Our event is costly and takes many months to plan. Without the guarantee we can go ahead with the full event as normal, and having been unable to conduct our usual fundraising this past year, we do not feel it is possible to put the event on this year.
“We are happy to announce that we are working with the local council and authorities to bring to you some smaller events later in the year to keep the Pride spirit alive in Lincoln, and we are already well under way with planning Lincoln Pride 2022!
“Take care, stay safe and we will see you in 2022, when we expect Lincoln Pride to be fully restored to its former glory! ❤️🧡💛💚”
Commenting on the announcement, Tracey Twist said: “Just means next year will be even more amazing.”
Darren Thorius commented: “Understandable given the circumstances, just gives us more reason to make 2022 the biggest pride yet.”
Megan McMahon agreed and said: “So sad to hear this, but right decision.”
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