Monday 24 November 2008

What does the PBR mean for East London?

You may have seen and heard a lot about the PBR in the news today?

The pre-Budget report is the government’s chance to explain to us what the Budget next year will look like.

Just last week it was reported that families in East London have the highest debt.

A survey, conducted by Callcredit found that the E1 to E17 postcodes are the most debt-heavy in the country; additionally, places like Tower Hamlets are one of the most deprived in the country, with high unemployment rates and many families on benefits.

Are there any goodies in the PBR for East London? You be the judge:

The price of commodities in shops is likely to go down, with a cut in VAT from 17.5% to 15%. The government also plans to get poor families to pay less tax. For example, it has in place changes to income tax that will see people who earn £10,000 save about £118.

Pension credit will rise in April from £124 to £130 a week for individuals and from £189 to £198 for couples.

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MISSING FAMILY SAFE AND WELL ... IN GERMANY

Good news from the Northumbria Police today is that Missing mother Natalie Bracht and her five daughters have been found. The family is safe and well in Munich, Germany.

As reported in last week’s blog, Natalie left her home in Sunderland, and was reported to have been spotted in Shoreditch.

Monday 17 November 2008

Concern for mother and missing girls


A family is being sought by the police after they were reported as missing.

The mother and her five daughters left Sunderland in May and are believed to have come to London before moving elsewhere.

The Hackney Gazette says the family (pictured) were in Shoreditch, Hackney, in June.

Mick McCracken of Sunderland City Council, said: "They appear to have been moving around the country without any means of support, we don't know whether the girls have been at school or if they have any unmet medical or other needs. We all want to know that [they] are safe and well."

If you’ve spotted this family, please call the Missing People charity on 0500 700 700or the police on 0800 555 111.

Monday 10 November 2008

Teenager slain on Ilford High Street


Only a few weeks ago I mentioned that Ilford is becoming less safe (see Mon 13.10.08).

For now just walking on the High Road might cause some to shudder, such as the friends of the teenager Nabil Bakurally (19) who was stabbed to death there this weekend.

Nabil (pictured) is the 28th teenager to have died in a violent incidence in London this year. The Evening Standard says he was killed in a suspected row with a group of rival Asian men in the area, adding that that tensions between Mauritian and Indian teenagers in the area have been high for weeks and Nabil may have inadvertently been drawn into the feud.

If this is true, are these particular Indian v Mauritian ‘gang’ problems known to the police and what is the Asian community in Ilford doing to diffuse them?

Why wait for someone to be murdered for the problem to be brought to the surface?

Tuesday 4 November 2008

A Barking meltdown




Those people in Barking and Dagenham who made their way to this year’s Molten Festival were enthralled this weekend by the fireworks display. The annual celebration also includes music, art and other outdoor activities.