A drunken driver was found to have smashed into a parked car in Leigh, before then threatening to arrest a police officer.
The GMP Leigh, Atherton & Hindley policing team took to social media yesterday to explain the court result of 29-year-old Luke Halliday, who denied being “intoxicated” after he crashed into the car by the side of a road in Leigh earlier this month.
When he refused to take a breathalyser test, he was then arrested by police – but, a confused Halliday is then said to have told the officer that he was arresting him instead.
Halliday – of Brentwood Grove in Leigh – appeared in court yesterday and pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and driving with excess alcohol, subsequently seeing him banned from driving for 26 months and made the subject of a nine month community order.
He was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation, and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
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In a Facebook post – which appears to have caught the attention of hundreds of local residents – GMP Leigh, Atherton & Hindley said: “Luke Halliday, aged 29, Brentwood Grove, Leigh pleaded guilty today to assaulting an emergency worker and driving with excess alcohol.
“Halliday was arrested at the scene by a Transport Unit officer after crashing his car into a stationary vehicle which was parked on the side of the road in Leigh earlier this month.
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“Despite his protestations to the contrary, it was apparent that the driver was intoxicated and was arrested for refusing to provide a breath sample [and] despite insisting he was not intoxicated, Halliday then informed the police officer that he was arresting him.
“It was explained to him this is not how it works.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt when he crashed and now a dangerous driver has been taken off the roads for a considerable period of time.”
Featured Image – GMP Leigh, Atherton & Hindley | Pxhere
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Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Seven people arrested in Salford over plans to conduct coordinated mass shoplifting campaign
Emily Sergeant
Seven people have been arrested in Salford over plans to be part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign of ‘high end’ retailers and supermarkets across the country.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), it is believed the group had been training for ‘non‑violent direct action’ in Salford as part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign, where they were intending to steal goods from high‑value stores and major supermarkets across the country, and then redistribute them to places such as food banks.
Working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service, officers arrested one male and six females in Salford yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 April) on suspicion of conspiracy to steal.
They all remain in police custody for questioning.
It has been reported in multiple sources, such as the BBC and the MEN, that the individuals arrested are believed to be part of the Take Back Power Action Group.
Take Back Power Action Group describes itself on its website as a ‘nonviolent civil resistance group’ that is aiming to ‘put the 99% in charge’ through citizen’s assemblies.
“We are ordinary people from all walks of life who believe that in order to fix Britain, taxing the rich is an essential first step, and we want ordinary people to decide how,” a statement on the group’s website declares.
Speaking following the arrests over the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “This joint operation with the Metropolitan Police has resulted in the arrests of seven individuals who we believe were planning to take part in coordinated national activity targeting high‑value retail stores.
“We are taking robust action to disrupt this type of organised criminality, and it will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
The Manc -
19th August 2021 
