Slough

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to a robbery in Slough.

The incident happened between 6pm and 7pm yesterday (19/1) in Wellington Street, Slough close to the pedestrian subway.

The Slough victim, a 19-year-old man walked past a number of Asian men who were standing by some vehicles, when one of them made a comment to him.

He was then assaulted by a number of the men during which £70 and his mobile phone was stolen. The victim’s friend, a 22-year-old man, was also assaulted.

The victim suffered a fractured nose, swollen left eye and minor cuts and bruises. His friend suffered a bump to the head.

The Slough offenders are 17-20 years old.

Det Con Stefanie Day, who is investigating the incident, said: “I am keen to speak to anyone who witnessed this incident which happened on a main road. I am also keen to trace a driver who stopped to check if the victim was ok.”

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact Det Con Day, in Slough CID, via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Slough Borough Council yesterday (17 January 2012) released a new management structure proposal.

The proposal has, today, been given to all Slough council staff within areas affected if the new structure is given the go ahead. The formal consultation on the proposals will begin on 20 January.

The new structure reduces the number of Slough directors from four to three and the number of senior managers from 17 to 12.

If agreed in its entirety, the proposal and reduction in posts will save the council £500,000 a year.

Staff directly affected have a month to respond to the consultation if they wish.

The proposal takes account of the voluntary redundancy of Slough Director of Education and Children’s Services, Clair Pyper. Under the proposals, teams who are currently part of the department would report to other directors.

After the consultation period is over, and the responses have been considered, a decision whether or not to proceed will be made by the chief executive, Ruth Bagley and leader of the council, Rob Anderson.

Ruth Bagley, Slough chief executive, said: “We are still facing major changes because of cuts in public sector funding and because government’s expectations of local government are changing.

“In particular in the education arena, government policies are causing many changes very quickly with schools rapidly become academies and local authority involvement becoming much less.

“The proposal is designed to reflect the changes taking place, to reduce costs and also maintain the capacity to face and adapt to future change.”

Councillor Rob Anderson, leader of the Slough council, said: “These latest management restructure proposals are part of our ongoing work to make Slough Borough Council more efficient and fleet of foot in the new world local government has to operate in.

“Since the coalition government first announced funding cuts to local authorities, the cabinet has said where possible savings should be taken from management tiers and back office, while protecting the front line, and this is the next stage of the ongoing work.

“There are huge changes taking place in the relationship between local authorities and education provision, and as a council we have to be prepared for this.

“The government has not given a clear indication about what the structure may look like in future, but this structure proposal supports changes which are in the pipeline already.”

Slough Borough Council

A convicted Slough criminal who hid thousands of pounds in nappies has had it legally confiscated.

Thames Valley Police found £7,620 in cash hidden in nappies at Answer Yaqoob’s house in Hatton Avenue, Slough, as part of an on-going inquiry that stemmed from him becoming involved in a minor parking matter and on-going neighbourhood dispute.

At around 12.15pm on 25 July 2010, 28-year-old Yaqoob got into a verbal altercation with a man over a minor parking issue and on-going problems in his Slough street. During the incident, Yaqoob verbally threatened the man, telling him he was going to shoot him in the legs.

Yaqoob went back into his house and returned with what was described as a small revolver. He then used this weapon to threaten another person, holding the gun to his head and demanding to see the first Slough victim. Yaqoob also threatened to blow up the first victim’s house. Yaqoob then left the scene but was arrested by police shortly afterwards.

As part of their investigation, officers searched Yaqoob’s Slough address where they found a firearm buried in the garden. They also came across a concealed cupboard behind the sofa, which contained a large quantity of cannabis made up into deal bags, together with cigarettes.

When officers discovered cash hidden in nappies, they seized it under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It was not counted at the time but placed in a tamperproof property bag which was then sealed and handed to Thames Valley Police Economic Crime Unit (ECU) who began an investigation into the derivation of the cash.

Last Thursday (12/1), a hearing took place at Reading Crown Court when Yaqoob, now aged 29, argued the cash was not concerned in criminal activity, producing witnesses and documents to show it was derived from legitimate sources.

Chris Yoxall, financial investigator from the ECU, said: “This was disputed by police, and His Honour Judge Ross ruled the money had not been legally obtained, granting the confiscation order.

“This case clearly shows our commitment to deprive criminals of their assets and to remove the profit from crime. This demonstrates the ability of the police to seize cash and put the matter before the courts, and in this instance the court clearly felt that there was sufficient evidence to confiscate the cash.”

Yaqoob is currently serving a prison sentence totalling ten years, after he was convicted last year.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday 14 March 2011, receiving six years for being in possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and four years for being in possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply class B, namely cannabis. He also received six years, to run concurrently, for being in possession of a prohibited weapon.

At the time of sentencing, Det Con Gareth Warr issued the following statement: “I am really pleased with this sentence, which highlights the seriousness of being in possession of a firearm and threatening other people, even though no-one was injured in this instance. It also sends out a clear message that drug-dealing will not be tolerated in Slough.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

The owner of a food takeaway in the centre of Slough, found to be filthy and have poor food safety controls on several occasions, has been fined £4,533.15 after being prosecuted by Slough Borough Council.

Mrs Regina Alam of the Slough Kebabish takeaway on Park Street, Slough pleaded guilty to 11 food hygiene offences at Slough Magistrates Court yesterday (12 January 2012) including:

failing to keep the premises and equipment clean and in good repair
having untrained food handling staff
failing to ensure staff were wearing suitable and clean protective clothing
failing to have in place a system to control food safety hazards

Slough Officers found there was a significant risk of cross contamination from poor cooking practices and the premises so unclean that scrapings of dirt were taken from two refrigerators and the floor.

In addition, cooked chickens were being left out for more than 15 hours, rice dishes were being sold up to eight days old and there were no filters in the mechanical ventilation system.

Mrs Alam had also failed to comply with hygiene improvement notices served on her by Slough Borough Council’s environmental health officers despite being given advice and one-to-one coaching.

The offences were discovered during multiple visits by the council in November and December 2010 and February 2011.

Mrs Alam was fined £200 for each offence with a victim surcharge of £15. Slough Borough Council was also awarded costs of £2318.15.

Levine Whitham, Slough senior environmental health officer, said: “It is disappointing that despite our best efforts there was a prolonged and total disregard for food safety standards, we felt we had no option other than to prosecute.

“We do everything we can to ensure people’s health is not put at risk while buying and eating food in Slough and we hope Mrs Alam and other food business owners will learn from this.”

Councillor James Walsh, commissioner for health and wellbeing said “Food outlets have a responsibility to their customers to ensure food served is safe, and this was clearly not the case at these premises.

“There is no excuse for unclean practices in food preparation and I am pleased that a large fine has been levied in this case.

“Perhaps now other food proprietors in Slough will think twice about the importance of good hygiene and food safety to their business and the health of the town.”

Slough Borough Council