A man has been arrested following a rape which took place at around 12.30pm today in the male toilets at Castle Green in Hereford.

Following on from our article earlier HERE

Officers responded to the report immediately and an extensive search of the area was undertaken to locate the suspect. As a result of the search a 50-year-old man has been arrested this evening on suspicion of rape, and he remains in police custody.

The toilets remain cordoned off while the investigation continues.

Detective Inspector Catherine Taylor, said: “I know that incidents of rape and sexual assault can be alarming for the local community, especially when there is a large police presence like there was today. I hope that the swift arrest of the suspect in this case provides some reassurance that we take reports of this nature incredibly seriously.

“I’d like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while we carried out our searches this afternoon. You may see an increased police presence in the area this evening and overnight, and I’d urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.”

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police told Hereford Voice;

"Police officers received a report of a rape which had taken place at about 12.30pm in the male toilets at Castle Green in Hereford today (April 17).

A scene guard is currently in place at the toilets and an extensive search of the area is underway to locate the suspect"

95% of parents are offered their preferred primary school

Parents in Herefordshire join those across England today (Monday 17 April) with finding out which primary school their child will be attending in September 2023.

Herefordshire Council has made 1729 offers of places in primary schools across the county with the following parental preference success rates:

First preference: 1643 offers, which is 95% of the total offers

Second preference: 55 offers, which is 3.2% of the total offers with a cumulative success rate of 98.2%

Third preference: 10 offers, which is 0.6% of the total offers with a cumulative success rate of 98.8%

The balance of places offered, which is 21 (or 1.2%) were to parents whose preferences could not be met and their offer was for the nearest school to their home address with available spaces.

Last year, 96% of parents received their first school preference and 99.1% received a place in one of their three preferences.

As in previous years, Herefordshire schools continue to be a net importer of pupils, with more pupils from neighbouring counties requesting places in the county’s schools than Herefordshire pupils requesting places in other counties.

There are currently 15 Herefordshire primary schools with waiting lists and 58 have available spaces.

The council has continued to promote its online application service this year, which was used by 97% of applicants.

Last month the Lions club donated £500 to the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Emma Grey their CEO writes;

‘The Lions support will directly help fund our rapid response air ambulance-led service, enabling us to save countless lives’

‘With your support, the highly skilled doctors and critical care paramedics deliver hospital-level clinical interventions and medicine at the incident scene, giving patients the best possible chance of recovery and survival’

‘Our essential service relies on donations from kind-hearted people such as the Lions and your fundraising as we do not receive Government funding for our daily missions.’

‘Without you, we would not be able to carry out 4,500 vitally important missions by air ambulance helicopter or critical care car each year."

"Again, thank you for your support, it means a great deal to us and the 12 patients we treat daily."

The photo shows members of the Club presenting a cheque for £500 to Nicole Bee from the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

PC Andy Boardman

In a statement a spokesperson said;

"It is with immense sadness that we can confirm a serving West Mercia Police officer has sadly died whilst on duty.

PC Andy Boardman was taken ill and collapsed whilst on duty in Broseley, Shropshire, yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 11 April). He was just 43 years old.

Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “This is a terrible shock for everyone that knew Andy and my thoughts, and the thoughts of all of us at West Mercia Police, are with his wife, Luci, their two daughters and all his family, friends and colleagues.

“Andy was a familiar and friendly face across the communities he served and well-liked by his colleagues across the whole force. Today we are flying our flags at half-mast as a sign of respect.

“Andy was responding to an incident alongside paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service when he was taken ill. I want to pass on our sincere thanks to the paramedics who did everything they possibly could for Andy and to the officers that were with him.”

Andy joined West Mercia Police in 2015, having started his policing career in 2007 with West Midlands Police. Prior to joining the police Andy served in the Armed Forces for seven years.

During his service with West Mercia Police he worked in Kidderminster, Stourport and most recently within the Safer Neighbourhood Team for Broseley and Much Wenlock.

Andy’s wife Luci has asked us to pass on her thanks to all their colleagues and members of the public who have sent her and their family kind and thoughtful messages of support"

The Courtyard team are delighted to announce that Estelle van Warmelo has won Best Director for Beauty and the Beast in the UK Pantomime Association’s Pantomime Awards 2023.

L-R: Ellis Kerkhoven, Estelle van Warmelo and Madeleine MacMahon with the Best Director award for Beauty and the Beast at the UK Pantomime Awards

Beauty and the Beast was nominated for two awards this year: Best Script (Lyndsay Maples) and Best Director (Estelle van Warmelo).

"What an honour it is to receive this award from the UK Pantomime Association!” says Estelle van Warmelo, “I'm enormously pleased for the whole Courtyard team who have worked tirelessly and devotedly on all the in-house productions since The Courtyard began.

Panto is difficult to get right, and every year we strive to improve, develop and bring freshness and quality to the show, a challenge our writer Lynday Maples tackles with aplomb alongside the rest of the creative team. I'm particularly grateful for the support Ellis Kerkhoven and Madi MacMahon have given me personally over the past two years. Bringing them into the directing department has helped us through an enormously difficult time while raising the bar on the integrity of the show. I'm delighted to acknowledge that this award reflects the strength of our department, not just a single person.

Huge thanks to the UK Pantomime Association, John Good Ltd for the award and to Ian Archer for letting me go wild every year. Having that artistic freedom is a rare gift from a producer so I'm grateful for his faith in me. Here’s to next year!”

The Courtyard prides itself on producing, writing, and directing its professional annual pantomimes in-house. Many members of the cast return to The Courtyard year after year and the seasoned writer and director have been working together on these productions for over 10 years.

The Pantomime Awards are the industry recognised awards for celebrating the best of this British theatrical institution. Judges are selected from a range of backgrounds for their knowledge and passion for pantomime. During the judging process, judges watch and mark the show based on a wide-ranging criteria covering all elements of the pantomime, for which they write a detailed commentary.

Following its’ best-selling year ever, The Courtyard’s pantomime for 2023/24 will be the classic tale of Dick Whittington. Spirited hero Dick and his feline friend pack up their handkerchief to embark on an epic adventure seeking fame and fortune. Their magical rags to riches tale will take audiences on an exciting journey to London Town… but will the streets be paved with gold?

As part of The Courtyard’s commitment to inclusivity, there will be a range of accessible performances including Relaxed, Dementia Friendly, BSL signed and Audio Described performances.

Tickets for Dick Whittington are on sale now and can be booked via Box Office in person, by calling 01432 340555 or online at courtyard.org.uk.

Three days of racing to be crowned the Pinkbike Balance Bike World Champion at the UK's biggest mountain bike festival!

Date: 24-27th of August (August Bank Holiday Weekend).
Venue: GT Bicycles Malverns Classic Mountain Bike Festival at Eastnor Deer Park, Herefordshire. HR8 1RQ. England.

Riders Ready, let's go racing!! Children aged from 2 to 5 years of age are invited from all around the world to race in this fun and competitive competition. Race categories are split between both boys and girls in their age category. There are three days of racing with Quad Eliminator, Slalom and Downhill. Enter every race to be in with the chance to be a World Champion!

Race 1 Friday 25th of August – Balance Bike Quad Eliminator 
Four riders on the BMX style start gate, elbows out and go! This is action-packed head-to-head racing down into the main arena. Riders will fire out of the four-man start gate at the same time, battling elbows high into the first corner. The course will be fast and flowing with plenty of passing places for the skilled and the brave. The top two racers from each round will go through to the next heat, a simple elimination format as we head to the super finals! 

Race 2 Saturday 26th of August – Balance Bike Slalom 
Racing one at a time down the slalom course, the race is against the clock! This is action-packed racing as riders fire out of the BMX style start gate and around the coloured gates. The fastest four from each category will go into the super finals.
The super finals will be based on one race, racing dual slalom head to head. Gate pick goes to the rider that qualified fastest.

Race 3 Sunday 28th of August – Balance Bike Downhill 
Downhill is the Formula 1 of mountain bike racing. The purest form of racing with riders racing against the clock. The course will be fast and flowing with plenty of corners for the riders to showcase their skills.

The festival weekend is free to children aged 12 and under as are all the Fair Ground rides, Pump Track, Air Bag and Slack Lines. 

If you require any further information regarding the Pinkbike Balance Bike World Championships at the GT Bicycles Malverns Classic, or to enter your child into the races please check out the website - https://malvernsclassic.com

Hereford Voice have been advised today that Lloyds Pharmacy within the Sainsbury's store at Barton Yard in Hereford will close on the 22nd.

We have also been advised that is no replacement pharmacy planned at the store.

Do you use this pharmacy?

A force-wide week of action to target individuals who cause the most harm in their communities saw West Mercia Police officers arrest more than 100 people.

Operation Justice focused on individuals persistent in their criminality arrested for a range of offences including theft, drugs, domestic violence, recalls to prison, stalking, underage sex, criminal damage, harassment and revenge pornography.

Local Policing Areas in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire were actively involved in raids during the week which ran from March 27-31.

Chief Superintendent Paul Moxley, who oversaw the operation, hailed it as a success that made local communities safer places to live.

Chief Superintendent Moxley said: “This was a concerted force-wide operation across our five Local Policing Areas which resulted in 103 arrests for 183 offences, with 38 people charged so far with a multitude of offences.

“A number of individuals are still being investigated on suspicion of outstanding offences. The aim was to track down those suspects who thought that they may have evaded prosecution, those who have gone to ground and those who continue to blight local communities with their unacceptable anti-social behaviour.”

West Mercia Police have released an image of a man who they believe may be able to help with enquires after a 17-year-old boy was bitten by a dog in Hereford.

The incident happened yesterday (Sunday 2 April) at around 4.30pm at the rear of The Oval on the junction of Spofford Street.

The teenager was approached by the dog, which was on a lead, before it bit him on the face. The dog is described as large Bull-type dog, with short black fur and wearing a green harness.

Officers believe the man in the image may have information that could help with the investigations.

Anyone who may know the man in the image, or has any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the South Wye Safer Neighbourhood Team by emailing herefordsouthside.snt@westmercia.police.uk.

In a message issued by West Mercia Police the spokesperson for the force said;

"Hereford Police Station is currently closed as a precaution after what is believed to be a hand grenade was handed in by a member of the public. Explosive Ordnance Disposal have been informed and are attending the scene assess the device and ensure it is disposed of safely"

This fabulous map has been created by our Old Hereford Pics member Chris James Birse, in an interview today he told Hereford Voice;

"The idea started when I was writing a fantasy novel. I needed a map to go at the front of the book and rather than pay someone to do it, I thought I'd give it a go myself. It turned out well; so I drew some real-world locations like Scotland and Wales in this fantasy style for a bit of fun and posted them online. The response was brilliant and so I've since turned my attention to Herefordshire.

This has been great fun to do since there's simply so much history in the area which lends itself perfectly to being depicted in the classic fantasy style. The response from the public was fantastic too back when I was asking for ideas to put on the map. From the hundreds of hill forts, castles, barrows and standing stones, to the more mythological features such as the Mordiford Dragon, the Marden Mermaid and the witches of Garway Hill - everyone's feedback has been added to the map where possible"

If you would like to purchase this wonderful fantasy map follow this link https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1437362192

West Mercia Police Statement 

We are proud to officially announce that we have exceeded the uplift recruitment target set by the Home Office in 2019. We now have 2494 officers – the highest number in our force history.

A record number of police officers are now serving Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire communities, as officer numbers hit a new high.

In 2019 a government campaign, known as Uplift, was launched to recruit 20,000 officers nationally and the force was given a target to hire 290 extra police officers. Thanks to our recruitment efforts and investment by the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion, we have now not only reached this target, but exceeded it by 19. 

This investment in additional officers means that, from today, we have a headcount of 2494 officers within West Mercia Police – the highest number in our force history. Since 2016, police officer numbers in West Mercia have increased by 508. This has been made possible as a greater proportion of the police’s budget has been focused on front-line service delivery.

Reaching this landmark moment has been a collective effort across the whole force with officers and staff working to recruit the right people, carrying out thorough vetting and properly train new officers. The benefits are already being felt across the communities of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire

Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “This is a fantastic achievement and great news for the communities we serve. These new officers will be vital in helping us protect people from harm and deliver an excellent service that the public deserve. We’re ensuring this investment increases visibility across our communities and helps us get the best possible outcomes for victims of crime.

“As a result of this recruitment drive we are now a more representative force as well and we have achieved a long-standing of having 35% female representation across the force. We’ve now revised our target and reset it at 50% as it’s important we continue to be ambitious to achieve a more balanced level of representation.

“Officers from ethnic minority backgrounds have also increased, from 2.4% in 2019 to 3.3% today and so we continue to work to be a force that is truly representative of the communities we serve.”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “I am extremely proud to see police officer numbers at their highest level in West Mercia Police’s history.

“As the voice of the public in policing, I have listened and delivered on calls for more officers to be visible and accessible in the heart of your communities.

“Since I was first elected in 2016, I have overseen a year-on-year increase in police officer numbers and while the force has now hit this momentous milestone, I am funding a further 40 officers - exceeding the Government’s target.

“As PCC, I will continue to champion a journey of reform in West Mercia Police to ensure you feel the benefit of the increase in officers, working to meet your priorities.”

Our efforts to recruit police offices will not stop post Uplift. We are committed to our recruiting and resourcing plan for 2023/24, where we have committed to recruiting an additional 40 officers whilst also maintaining our uplift numbers. This makes sure we have enough police officers in the right roles to keep our communities safe.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police told Hereford Voice

'Officers were called around 3.20pm today (Monday 27 March) to a concern for someone’s safety and welfare at a home in East Street, High Town in Hereford.

The incident has now been brought to a safe resolution and we would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding'

Hereford Voice were invited to attend the extraordinary meeting held by Belmont Rural Parish Council at The Left Bank Village last night.

In attendance was Herefordshire Council leader Mr David Hitchener, Jesse Norman's PA, a Superintendent and Inspector with additional officers from West Mercia Police, a representative from Hereford Medical Group and local Councillors. There was no representation from Serco or the hotel.

There was a reasonable turnout of about 100 people in total.

At times the debate got heated as people expressed their concerns and frustrations about Asylum Seekers being accommodated on a full board basis at the Three Counties Hotel on Belmont Road, Hereford.

Some people welcomed the opportunity to give these people Asylum while many others raised some genuine concerns with their questions and worries.

Some people and new councillors also used this as an opportunity for some political point scoring which did not go unnoticed.

The panel were often unable to provide answers to many of the questions being asked and promised to attempt to answer as many over the coming weeks. In fairness, the Home Office have provided very little information.

Hereford Voice suggested to the panel that maybe it would be an idea to call another extraordinary meeting in the coming 6-8 weeks to return with as many answers to these questions as possible. By then the hotel guests will have settled in and the Council and representatives will be in a much better position to respond. Furthermore, MP Jesse Norman and MP Bill Wiggin will have more notice than just the week that they were given to attend.

Fresh Out of the Oven - News for Hereford’s Pizza Lovers

Hereford City Life sat down with local pizza restaurant, The Broad Street Pizza Works, to find out more about the recently announced changes to their business.

In this post on social media, this popular eatery shared that they would be moving from their home on Broad Street and handing the keys over to another foodie businesses, as they work toward new projects in a new location. But what does that mean for us pizza lovers?

With a menu of ultra-cheesy deep-pan and sourdough pizzas, plus drool-worthy sides, The Pizza Works first captured the hearts of local foodies when they opened back in 2021. With a bold, retro colour palette and striking design features, The Pizza Works transformed the old Ask restaurant into a contemporary dining experience that welcomed everyone, including four-legged friends!

Change sounds scary, but fear not! Nicola, owner of The Pizza Works, assures us that this move doesn’t mean that the brand you’ve come to know and love is vanishing forever - far from it. With plans to team up with their sister restaurant, Sensory & Rye, The Pizza Works brand has lots in store for the future that will be sure to keep Hereford’s foodies very happy. Lips are sealed for now as the details are finalised but rest assured that something exciting is heading your way and we will share updates with you as soon as we can.

“Of course, we are super sad to go - thinking of the final day next Saturday makes me feel all choked up, for sure, but it is really exciting news and we can’t wait to get stuck in to our new project and next phase!” – Nicola Hassenpflug

The Pizza Works will close its doors today! (Saturday 25th March) so if you want to satisfy your cheesy-cravings before then, be sure to book a table! Head to their website or call 01432 483044 to make a reservation.

So, what will the future look like for dining on Broad Street? For those concerned about where they will get a pizza-fix after the 25th March, don’t be! Local restauranteurs A Rule of Tum have been confirmed as the brand new owners taking on this great venue as a home for Leaven Pizza!

Source | Hereford City Life

The good news is that the Leaven Pizza will be moving straight in!

Three men found guilty of the murder of a 51-year-old man in Kington, Herefordshire, have been sentenced at Worcester Crown Court today (Friday 24 March).

The three men were sentenced as follows:

• Ajay Price who is 21 years old from Canon Pyon in Herefordshire - Life imprisonment with a minimum term 15 years. 
• Luke Bellis who is 30 years old form High Street, Kington - Life imprisonment with a minimum term 17 and a half years.
• John Lock who is 35 years old from Greenfields, Kington - Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. 

The sentencing follows each man being found guilty of the murder Carl Dyche from Kington on Thursday 2 December 2021. The trial heard how Carl was assaulted in his own garden in what was a completely unprovoked attack.

On the night of the attack, three men climbed over the back gate to Carl's garden where they set about attacking him with sustained and repeated blows. The attack was so harrowing Carl’s wife and son attempted to intervene. Unfortunately, Carl had been so badly beaten that he later died in hospital as a result of his injuries.

Detective Inspector Chris Percival, who led the police investigation into Carl’s murder, said: “This was a deeply upsetting investigation for the family as Carl was senselessly beaten in a brutal and unmotivated attack in front of his wife and young stepson. Bravely and with the upmost dignity, both Carl’s wife and stepson provided evidence which helped reach the guilty verdicts. While invaluable, it was an incredibly difficult task for a grieving family, especially those who witnessed this harrowing event in person.

“Understandably this has been an incredibly difficult time for Carl’s family and close friends and I would like to again offer my sincere condolences to them. While today’s sentencing will not bring Carl back, I hope it does at least allow his family to finally begin the grieving process.”

About Emergency Alerts

On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service.

Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby.

In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe.

The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert.

Reasons you might get an alert

You may get alerts about:

• Severe flooding
• Fires
• Extreme weather

Emergency alerts will only be sent by:

• The emergency services
• Government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies

What happens when you get an emergency alert

Your mobile phone or tablet may:

• Make a loud siren-like sound, even if it’s set on silent
• Vibrate
• Read out the alert
• The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

An alert will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more information.

You’ll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts.

What you need to do

When you get an alert, stop what you’re doing and follow the instructions in the alert.

If you’re driving or riding when you get an alert

You should not read or otherwise respond to an emergency alert whilst driving or riding a motorcycle.

If you are driving, you should continue to drive and not respond to the noise or attempt to pick up the mobile phone and deal with the message.

Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. If there is nowhere safe or legal to stop close by, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, tune into live radio and wait for bulletins until you can find somewhere safe and legal to stop.

It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding.

If you cannot receive emergency alerts

If you do not have a compatible device, you’ll still be informed about an emergency. The emergency services have other ways to warn you when there is a threat to life.

Emergency alerts will not replace local news, radio, television or social media.

If you’re deaf, hard of hearing, blind or partially sighted

If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert.

Alert languages

Emergency alerts will be sent in English. In Wales, they may also be sent in Welsh.