The Community Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is the latest development in child protection and protecting vulnerable members of our community.

Also known as Keeping Children Safe the scheme is going live in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary on 31 January 2010.

The scheme means that for the first time parents, carers and guardians of children under 18 can contact police directly and ask if a person who has contact with a child has a record for sexual offences against children.

Anyone can register a concern about a person, using the scheme. If it is found that the person in question does have a record for sexual offences against children then information may be given to the parent, carer or guardian as a protective measure. Read the rest of this entry

Dumfries and Galloway Council has decided to continue charging for Blue Badges. The original decision to charge £20 for a Blue Badge was made during the budget setting process in February 2010.

A motion to withdraw the £20 charge was brought to a full meeting of the Council on Friday 28 January. The vote was close, but went against the motion and in favour of an amendment to continue charging.

Councillors were told that the £20 represents a contribution towards administration and will cover only the partial cost of providing a badge. The badge is not a charge for parking and offers a facility that can be used elsewhere in Europe as well as in most of the UK.

Chair of the Social Work Services Committee, Councillor John Dougan, said, ‘A number of people representing groups who had lobbied on this topic were able to attend the meeting. It is encouraging to see that people are prepared to participate in and observe discussions about Council services. Consultation about services has formed a large part of this year’s budget discussions and Council officers and members are happy to involve interested groups to achieve fair and effective policies. Council officers are committed to working with DG Voice as the primary representative organisation for disabled people in Dumfries and Galloway as we implement the Council’s decision.’

There had been a moratorium on charging the £20 since a challenge was made on the impact assessment of the policy that was done at the time of the budget. This has been resolved with the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Council’s Social Work Services department will now go ahead and write to anyone who has been in receipt of a badge since 1 April 2010 to explain that the £20 is now due.

A team of 14 swimmers from Dumfries and Galloway schools travelled to Tollcross in Glasgow for the Brodies Scottish Schools Swimming Finals on Saturday 29th January 2011. Swimmers entered a qualifying event held at DG One Leisure Complex in October 2010. Based on the results from that event, swimmers are then put forward for the finals at Tollcross. Only the top 20 in Scotland are selected to swim in the age group events and the top 10 in Scotland for the open events.

The medal winners were from Dumfries and Galloway were:-

- Lee Emmerson from Dumfries High School Gold in 200m Back and Gold in 200m fly( New Brodies Scottish Schools Record)

- Shannon McClelland from Wallace Hall Academy, Bronze in 200m Breaststroke. Shannon also finished 4th in 400m Individual Medley (open event)

- Chris Lowther from Dumfries Academy Bronze in 200 fly, Chris also finished 7th in 200m Back

- Josh Mitchell from Rephad Primary School Silver in 50m Free.

Overall there were 12 top ten finishes from 23 swims.

Dozens of pre-1974 cars have set off from Glasgow as the city acts as one of several European starting points for the 2011 Monte Carlo Classic Rally.

Competitors from four continents set off in 49 cars from the city’s Blythswood Square at 1830 GMT.

Glasgow previously served as a starting venue for racers from 1949 until 1973.

Cars which have set from Glasgow included classic Jaguars, Healeys, Lancias and Mini Coopers.

The drivers will travel 2,000km from the city to Monte Carlo in Monaco – a journey expected to take about two days.

Tonight around 20.45 the cars came through Dumfries en route to Carisle

The actual route through the UK is A77/ A76/ A75/ A7/ M6/ A6/ A66/ A1/ A14/ M11/ M25/ A282/ A2/ M2/ A2 and onward to Monte Carlo

In a web-interview on the BBC website, Queens Chairman, David Rae today outlined the current situation the club faces due to the number of postponed matches over the last few months. He explained to BBC reporter, Giancarlo Rinaldi that this period of virtually non-existent income has resulted in a serious situation, but stressed that administration is not on the cards. Fans have launched a campaign to raise £50,000 to help the club weather the hard times and Davie expressed his appreciation of those efforts. He encouraged fans to turn out in force to home games for the rest of the season.

Not only has the club suffered through the absence of cash through the turnstyles, but catering revenue, programme sales etc., have also been hit. Never in living memory have so many games been affected by bad weather, despite the investment in a £12,000 set of protective covers a couple of years ago, he said.

He indicated that the club is having to seriously consider turning the team into a part-time side, but if that was the case, it wouldn’t be implemented until April at the earliest.

The full interview is available on the BBC website via the following link: bbc.co.uk.

Police in Dumfries are appealing for witnesses to an incident which took place around 1600 hours on Wednesday 26 January, at the telephone box outside the Post Office in St Michaels Street in Dumfries.

At that time two men were seen at the phone box in what may have been an attempt to break into the money box. The men left the scene in a black coloured Ford Fiesta car. Police are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the men, who spoke with English accents, to get in touch. Police would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen any other suspicious behaviour around any other telephone boxes in the region recently.

Contact police on 0845 600 5701 or any police officer. Information can also be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police have now named the man killed in a road crash on Monday 24 January 2011 on the A75 road near Springholm, as 22 year old Mark David Roderick Hoare from Bromley Street in Bately, West Yorkshire.

Come along to this community event tomorrow, Thursday 27th January, and have a chat with friends and one of our friendly advisors could save you energy and money on your energy bills.

Take the Eco-Driving challenge on our driving simulator that will be available on Queensberry Square and see how much money you can save whilst driving. Also receive a free TV PowerDown plug to start saving energy.

Dumfries Customer Service Centre

52-60 Queensberry Square

Dumfries

DG1 1BF

10:00am – 4:00pm

7 Productions, Australia are looking for host families in Scotland for the next series of ‘World’s Strictest Parents’. The fly on the wall series pairs head strong Aussie teens with strict overseas parents and this time, we’re coming to Scotland.

If you consider yourself a strict parent with a passion for strong parenting and the need for rules and discipline, we want to hear from you. All we require is a family with two children or more, ideally in their teens, who are willing to be filmed over the space of a week.

For more information and an application form please e-mail -

parentsUK@7productions.com.au

or call 07407 488272

The Scottish SPCA has appealed for information after a cat was found dead having apparently been shot three times with an arrow.

The cat was found in a layby on the B722 road between Eaglesfield and Annan.

A member of the public spotted the cat lying at the edge of the road on Monday 17 January.

Scottish SPCA Inspector Janet Proudlock said, “Our enquiries have been ongoing and the post mortem revealed that the cat had wounds in its neck, shoulder and leg caused by an arrow from a crossbow or bow and arrow.

“This was a very cruel act which would have caused the cat a great deal of pain and suffering.

“The cat was a healthy black adult male with white paws and chest.

“We would urge anyone who has any information about the incident to contact us.”

Anyone found guilty of causing an animal unnecessary suffering can face a fine of up to £20,000, up to 12 months in prison or both.

Anyone with information is urged to call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999