Avon and Somerset Police are stepping up their efforts to cut knife crime. A driver who videoed himself admitting he was drunk at the wheel before killing a woman in a crash near Wincanton has had his prison sentence increased. Fundraising to support the family of a Somerset jockey who died earlier this month has topped 54 thousand pounds...and more
Avon and Somerset Police are stepping up their efforts to cut knife crime. Speaking at a Crime Commissioners Performance Board meeting, Chief Constable Sarah Crew said her officers would launch a high-profile proactive operation to tackle knife crime better. She added that the “unreasonable” use of stop and search powers was not the solution but rather tackling the root causes of why people carry knives, and the greater use of knife surrender bins.
A driver who videoed himself admitting he was drunk at the wheel before killing a woman in a crash near Wincanton has had his prison sentence increased. Anton Hull was jailed for six years at Taunton Crown Court in November last year for causing the death of Sarah Baker in August 2022. The Attorney General's Office referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal, claiming it was unduly lenient. At a hearing held in London, three appeal judges agreed, and increased Hull's sentence from six years to nine years and three months.
Fundraising to support the family of a Somerset jockey who died earlier this month has topped 54 thousand pounds. 25-year-old Keagan Kirkby was part of champion trainer Paul Nicholls' team and worked at his yard in Ditcheat, near Shepton Mallet. He was killed at a point-to-point, after being thrown from his horse.
Somerton Town Youth Football Club is running a boot swap scheme. The idea is to help parents buy boots for children who play football at grassroots level.
The Ferne Animal Sanctuary has opened a new store in Crewkerne. The outlet in Falkland Square will be officially opened on Friday, February 23rd at 11 am by local MP Marcus Fysh.
People in Somerset are being asked to take part in a new survey about alcohol use. Yeovil's MP Adam Dance will lead a debate in Parliament today on NHS dentistry. A Yeovil runner has been selected to represent England at a national endurance championship... and more
It's claimed the increasing availability of drugs such as ketamine and cocaine has normalised drug use among young people in Somerset. The trial of a man accused of killing his one-month-old son in Chard begins today at Bristol Crown Court. A stone pillar outside the Langport Arms Hotel in Langport has been replaced after it was destroyed in a car crash... and more
Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the three aircrew from RNAS Yeovilton who died in last week's helicopter crash in Devon. Two men have been arrested and stolen vehicles seized following a major multi-agency operation in South Somerset. An event highlighting opportunities for women in the aerospace industry has been held in Yeovil... and more
The public will be consulted on how best to spend fifty million pounds of government funding to tackle flooding in Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police are backing a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities. New welcome signs have been installed at entrances to the Mendip Hills National Landscape... and more
The government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen Somerset’s flood defences. A woman from Stoke-sub-Hamdon has been banned from driving for 14 months after admitting drink-driving. Somerset Council has been told it must improve its adult social care services... and more
Plans for a new railway station in Langport remain stalled in Whitehall, according to Somerset Council. Plans to build 50 new homes in Broadway, near Ilminster, have been refused. The new water fountains in Yeovil’s Triangle, in Lower Middle Street, are being switched off during very hot weather because of safety concerns... and more.
A new NHS dental practice in Crewkerne says it won’t start operating at full capacity until July due to staff shortages. Somerset Council says it has no plans to show England matches in the World Cup on the Big Screen in Yeovil town centre due to safety concerns. A Somerset family has been thanked after completing a 73-mile walk raising money for a third world charity... and more
An investigation continues today into the crash of a Royal Navy helicopter, based at RNAS Yeovilton, in which all three aircrew were killed. Somerset Council has confirmed that a new operator will take over several leisure centres across the county. The new live-action Masters of the Universe movie, filmed in Somerset, is released this week...and more
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