Today Lincolnshire Police join the nation in raising awareness of stalking, and highlighting how people can get the help and support they need.

Detective Superintendent Martyn Parker, Head of the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, said: “Stalking is defined by fixation and obsession. A victim is likely to feel vulnerable and isolated, feelings which will, no doubt, have been compounded by the restrictions faced over the last year.

“It is vital that stalking is a priority. It is vital that victims seek help. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If it’s not an emergency, call 101. If you need someone to talk to, you can call the Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300.”

The National Stalking Prevention Week begins today (19 April) and runs until 23 April. During the week police will be taking to social media to share information on the characteristics of stalking, and how we, and other organisations, can help.

They will also raise awareness of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). These were introduced to protect victims under the Stalking and Protection Act 2019, with the orders made possible from January 2020. We are able to immediately arrest anyone breaching an SPO and this could result in up to five years imprisonment.

Detective Superintendent Martyn Parker explained, “SPOs are a vital safeguarding tool for Police. SPOs offer an effective means of managing a suspect through use of prohibitions and requirements.

“SPOs allow an opportunity for early intervention in a stalking case, before the criminal threshold is met, and can also be used at any point during the course of an investigation up to the point of conviction. 

“Officers will consider applying for an SPO at the start of each stalking investigation, be it a case against a former partner, family member or stranger.  

“A person who breaches an SPO without reasonable excuse commits a criminal offence and we are committed to taking proactive and urgent action where this is the case.”

Stalking facts and figures 

• There are FOUR signs of stalking. The behaviour of a stalker is Fixated, Obsessive, Unwanted, Repeated.  
• There are currently eight SPOs live in Lincolnshire.
• 1523 crimes of stalking recorded between 01/04/2020 and 31/03/2021.
• 36% of these offences related to a domestic stalking situation.
• One in five women and one in ten men have experienced stalking at some point since the age of 16.*

Help and support 

If you have concerns for yourself or someone you know please call police on 101, or 999 if it’s an emergency.

For more details, please follow the link to advice about stalking and harassment 

You can also seek support and information by calling the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300. More information is available here from the Suzie Lamplugh Trust 

 *Source: Office for National Statistics – Crime Survey for England and Wales 2018/2019  

Three lads, Sean Footitt, Graham Canham and Rob Holbrook, who all work for EMBC doing building control for SKDC, Rushcliffe and Newark and Sherwood All enjoy a good walk so have agreed to raise a bit of money for a good cause.

Aware that the last year has been tough for everyone, physically, mentally and financially. but this will be for charities lsuch as Macmillian Cancedr Support which can only run from people’s donations.

Due to covid and the lockdowns, this hasn’t happened for almost a year now. But any little bit you can spare, even £1 would go to help Macmillian keep helping the people they support.

Macmillan help 1000s of people a year with the battle with cancer, so this is just one small we can help them to carry on helping the people who really need it.

They are taking part in the Hike a Marathon through the Lake District National Park. Starting in the beautiful grounds at Dalemain House the route follows the Ullswater Way with stunning views across Ullswater Lake. 

This got cancelled last year but MacMillian have issued a email saying it will be going ahead this year on the 19th of June 2021**

All three are walking in the memory of former family and friends.

To support their challenge go to….

Team EMBC fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support on JustGiving

A man was seriously injured following a crash on the A1 near Grantham yesterday afternoon.

The van driver, in his 60s, was involved in a collision on the A1 at Barrowby at 3.15pm yesterday, (Saturday)

Emergency services attended the scene. The man was cut free by Grantham firefighters and attended by paramedics.

 Although his injuries are said to be serious, they not believed to be life threatening

Traffic between Barrowby and Gonerby Moor was halted in both directions for two hours.

Police say no other vehicle was involved and that a man was seriously hurt.

A spokesman said: “Anyone with any information can call us on 101, quoting incident 273 of April 17.”

The road was fully reopened by 5.30pm.

Richard Lake David Lake (left) Private Richard Lake (right)

A Grantham soldier’s almost completed 30 marathons in 30 days to help fundraise for two veterans charities and make a world record attempt in the process., says Lincs FM.

He’s doing it while carrying a rather hefty backpack with 28 kilograms in there.

Private Richard Lake was inspired to raise the money after his friend Simon suffered a life changing injury and had to leave the army. He’s got two more days to go, and is aiming to raise £5,000.

It’s all in aid of charities that help those who can no longer serve.

Richard Lake has been walking with a 28 kilogram backpack each day down Grantham Canal

Private Richard Lake told Lincs FM: “I’m walking 26.2 miles minimum everyday with a Bergen backpack weighing 28 kilograms. It’s 28 kg because Simon served 28 years in the Army. So for each year that he served I put a kilo in the Bergen”

“Simon’s been a family friend of ours for years, and he suffered a life changing injury in 2015 and suffered mental health issues. I’ve had the same mental health issues as Simon, not as bad as Simon though. And I wanted to show to him that he’s appreciated by all of us, we all love him dearly”

“I’m doing it for two charities, Battle Back Golf, and Detecting for Veterans – which is basically the same as battle back golf but they’re using metal detecting to help them get back into society really , and help them cope with their mental health and PTSD”Richard LakeDavid Lake, Private Richard Lake, Simon Auckland

Simon Auckland is the inspiration for the world record attempt and fundraising drive. He says:

“Rehabilitation through the sport of golf is amazing. It’s amazing what such a little white ball can do for your mental health. I play golf with people who’ve got double leg amputees, single leg amputees. All different kinds of life changing injuries and illnesses. When we’re on a golf course – it’s like we’re back in again, the banter and the camaraderie – it’s amazing”

And on the Richard’s challenge he says “It’s crazy! he’s a crazy man but I have great admiration for him”

Two fire crews from Grantham were called to Gorse Road, Grantham, around midnight.

This was due to a hedgerow fire, which they extinguished using a hosereel jet.

The chairman of SOS Grantham Hostal said today the Judicial Review outcome in the case of Jayne Dawson v. United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust ( ULHT), announced publicly this week, is a welcome vindication of the concerns of Jayne Dawson and other local people reliant on Grantham and District Hospital, whose outpatient, inpatient and A&E services were snatched from them in June last year.

At that time, in response to the pandemic, ULHT decided to make Grantham & District Hospital a Covid-19 free only ‘Green site’.

The controversial decision, was made by a Hospital Trust board already in ‘special measures’. 

Coun Charmaine Morgan says: “The judgement was clear, that under no circumstances, even a pandemic, is it legal to make key decisions about health services without proper consultion.

“Whilst the judge believes action was taken in good faith, neither adequate time nor sufficient information were provided by ULHT to the community. Nor were we given an opportunity to influence the decision to turn Grantham into a ‘green’ site in the first place. This decision had a huge impact on the 120,000 people. 

“Inpatients and outpatients from the Grantham and District Hospital catchment area, which includes Sleaford, Newark, Melton Mowbray and villages in- between found the doors to the hospital closed virtually overnight.

“Thousands were displaced and forced to travel to other sites including Nottingham and Peterborough for care.

“This judgement should make all hospital trusts sit up and listen. 
SOS Grantham Hospital are proud to have supported Jayne Dawson as witnesses in the legal case against ULHT.

“Jayne remained steadfast despite personal ordeals this year.”

Mrs Morgan sai that as a result of having campaigned for Grantham and District Hospital for over a decade, Solicitors Irwin Mitchell called for SOSGH to help with supporting evidence.

She said they used it wisely to build such a strong case that ULHT have decided not to appeal the decision.

Mrs Morgan said: “Our community is indebted to them. We will be pleased to support Irwin Mitchell again if necessary in future. We would like to publicly thank Jayne and all who subsequently worked with SOSGH gathering evidence to support Jayne’s case at a critical time, especially all who came forward to be witnesses.

“The judge was mindful of the experience of local people and recognised the impact the decision has had on our community.” 

She said she has gone through the judgement in detail but main points are:
1. ULHT failed to consult, which they are legally obliged to do.
2.Whilst recognising the decision was made in good faith, had they consulted, there could have been a different outcome. Would GDH become a ‘green site’? 
3.Thousands of people in the Grantham area were negatively affected by the decision. The actual loss of service without consultation has been far worse than any ‘stress’ caused by ULHT breaking the news of the changes. 
4.Unless ALL services are fully restored, not only are our most vulnerable most at risk, but the future of our hospital is at stake.
Unfortunately there is still much to fight for. The hospital trust have not fully restored the services that were on site in June 2020. 

ULHT announced a plan to restore some services in March. Although welcome, yet again, in March 2021 ULHT did not properly consult over its future plans for the hospital.

She said: “We were given 1.5 working days to respond. 

“Key services were lost in June 2020. All must be fully restored, but some are missing from the ULHT restoration plans announced in March 2021.  There have been no subsequent assurances the missing services will be fully restored.”

They include:
A. The Acute Care Unit – a fully supported unit for short and longer stay patients must be returned 
B. Long stay medical wards – which had support of specialist consultants including cardio, stroke recovery and respiratory. We had up to 76 beds which changed seasonally and catered for winter pressures. 
C. Full training facilities –  Return all trainees including core/integrated medical trainees and all the facilities used for training including lecture theatres and 1:1 mentoring. 

Without the restoration of theses services:-
Critically ill patients, including cancer patients are not being operated on at GDH because there is no ACU on site and other hospitals have backlogs. They are not supporting these patients. How many local patients have/will die unnecessarily as minor surgery only has been allowed at GDH? Patients admitted via the A&E will be transferred elsewhere if longer term acute care is needed. 
Our most vulnerable elderly and chronically ill residents are at risk and facing painful long distance journeys away from their families when long hospital stays are required. We have accounts of people refusing care elsewhere faced with such an ordeal. Visitors are hugely helpful providing emotional and practical support to such patients. 
The trainees are vital for the future of our hospital. They are also staffing the specialist wards as they learn. Their loss impacts on the viability of future plans for GDH and staffing levels now. 

Coun Morgan continued “We are seeking legal advice as to whether the failure to FULLY restore services would amount to key changes. The loss of services referred to is hugely concerning.  ULHT still have an opportunity to review their plans. We hope they will. 

“However, if necessary, SOSGH will be prepared to support a further court case should Jayne, or anyone else affected, wish to pursue this matter. 

“Our call for A&E 24/7 also remains. Our A&E at night was removed in August 2016 by ULHT without public consultation at 2 weeks notice. This outcome brings into question the legality of that decision too.

“We have to remain vigilant. It is clear from past experience that whilst public campaigning helps, it has taken legal action to make ULHT rethink their plans. SOSGH are willing to support any such action again if necessary. We would far rather however that ULHT reassessed their plans and followed due process in future.

“Better still, actually listen to our concerns, fully restore and maintain Grantham and District Hospital services for the benefit of all. 

CLICK ON PICTURE ABOVE FOR VIDEO

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage following a serious collision on the A52.

They believe this was a single vehicle collision and involved a white Suzuki Splash.

The collision happened in the westbound lane on A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday 16^th April.

The driver of the car, a 19-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

Police would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage and hasn’t already come forward. Or anyone who witnessed the vehicle as it travelled prior the collision taking place.  It is believed the vehicle has travelled from Grantham on the A52 Barrowby Road before the collision,

If you can assist with the investigation, please contact us in one of the following ways:

By calling 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.

By emailing force.control@lincs.pnn.police.uk – remember to put quote the incident number of 420 of April 16.

The re-opening of Springfield Road railway bridge after four months led to traffic chaos last night.

The removal of ‘road closed signs, led to lorries heading for the A52 leaving Harlaxton Road at KFC instead of the Sankt Augustin Way/Wharf Road route.

At one stage, four lorries had reached the nearly repaired bridge, realised they were unable to pass beneath it, and were forced to turn around using side streets.

One rsident said: “Once again there is poor signage for people turning right off Harlaxton Road.

“We need either chains or more advanced laser devices to stop them entering in the first place.

All pictures by Callum Smedley.