Homelessness - a growing problem

Sleeping rough in doorways and alleyways in town, ever tried it? I hope you never have to.

With a growing number of people homeless in the UK, the plight of the homeless is now starting to touch us all. Following the Big Sleepout in January, I decided to go the extra mile, to sleep rough all weekend in Northampton town centre. No food, no water, no money. My aim was simple, to help raise awareness and much needed funds for the Northampton Hope Centre.

I have to say, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

The Hope Centre is a drop in centre for the homeless, providing much needed support and advice to over 100 people every day.

Please watch my story...

Space Weather - what does it mean?

Space Weather--the popular name for energy-releasing phenomena from the Sun and its effects on planetary systems. Space weather conditions can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and endanger human life or health.

The government have placed a risk referred to as ‘Space Weather’ onto the National Risk Register (NRR), an ‘invisible’ public document that is intended to inform citizens of potential risks to society. The risk was assessed by officials in the Cabinet Office as being moderate to high; this followed a House of Commons order to publish the findings and recommendations of a Defence Select Committee hearing.

Against the recommendations of the report, the government has elected not to nominate a single department or minister to be responsible in the case of a severe space weather event, despite the fact that other countries are proactively warning their citizens. Read More..

So what is this risk?

In summary a severe ‘space weather’ event as they are referred to will play havoc with the national grid system. Ground induced currents will burn out electrical transformers whether they are on or off, which means a complete failure of the national grid. Read More..

No grid means, no electricity; our taps won’t run, our toilets won’t flush, our cookers won’t work, there will be no heating or lighting. Mobile phone networks won’t operate and shops will remain closed, ATM’s won’t give us our cash, and petrol pumps won’t pump. With little food or water people may start to panic.

The National Grid admitted that in the event of an extremely severe storm, long term blackouts could be a possibility. They went on to say that replacing a transformer can take two or more months depending on the availability and location of spares. In this extreme event scenario the National Grid estimates that the probability of disconnection would affect 91% of Great Britain as a whole.

In the House of Commons report it states ‘The National Academy of Sciences has estimated that if a magnetic storm that occurred in May 1921 was repeated today 130 million people in the US would lose electricity and more than 350 transformers would be at risk of permanent damage’. Avi Schnur, Chair of the EIS Council added that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had estimated that the duration of the impact would be 5 to 10 years. He thought it would be fair to say that the conclusions about the UK would not be better.

The ‘reasonable worst case’ for a severe space weather event is based on the Carrington Event which occurred in 1859, which saw some of the largest space weather phenomena ever recorded, however many other events have since been recorded. But with our dependency on electricity never has the threat been so great.

The danger has been prioritised by the Cabinet Office as the sun enters the most active point in its 11-year cycle – its solar maximum, which is also coupled with another super cycle which experts believe only occurs every few hundred years.

Mark Gibbs, one of the Met Office's representatives on the panel, told the Observer newspaper earlier this year that he could not "go into details" about the repercussions of an occurrence of the most damaging type of space weather, but added that a solar storm could induce currents in power lines leading to a failure of the main grid; meddle with the components in planes and ultimately provoke a major civil emergency.

The UK government published a response to the Defence Committee’s report on the developing threat of Electro-Magnetic Pulses (EMP) produced by space weather. The report stated that EMP poses “known and significant” risks to the UK infrastructure, including the National Grid and satellite networks.

The government has still not started to warn its citizens, despite being elected to serve and protect them.

The National Grid has already started to change the design requirements for some of its transformers and increased its power reserve capacity in an attempt to withstand power fluctuations, but at a cost to its customers who will see an increase of around £7 per household next year, along with other taxes rises as the government stumps up cash too.

The House of Commons report concludes with this rather concerning statement;

The consequences of EMP events must be addressed specifically: generic civil contingency plans which address blackouts and temporary loss of electronic infrastructure caused by a range of events are not sufficient. Space weather is a global threat and may affect many regions and countries simultaneously. This means that there is scope for mutual assistance, but also that there is no safe place from which it can be assumed that help will come. It is time that the Government began to approach this matter with the seriousness it deserves.

Would you want to know if we were to be without electricity for 2 months or more? Find out how you can help prepare yourself and your family with 5 simple steps:

Food

Water

Shelter / Warmth

Security

Medical

LATEST NEWS:

Home Office decline Freedom of Information request, citing Space Weather is a matter of 'National Security' - 2012 click to read their reply

Home Office latest Freedom of Information request, Home Office position remains the same - 2014 click to read their reply

The Freedom of Information Act is there to help ensure transparency, as the Act carries a presumption in favour of disclosure, but it also provides exemption provisions which may be used to either withhold information in specified circumstances, or to neither confirm nor deny that information is or is not held. Some of these exemptions, referred to as ‘qualified exemptions’, are subject to a Public Interest Test.

The Home Office in this instance have said that the subject of space weather is a matter relating to national security and have chosen not to disclose any information. Concerning to say the least.

The National Grid admitted that in the event of an extremely severe storm, long term blackouts could be a possibility. They went on to say that replacing a transformer can take two or more months depending on the availability and location of spares. In this extreme event scenario the National Grid estimates that the probability of disconnection would affect 91% of Great Britain as a whole.

Useful Space Weather Links: Read more...

Energy

Many of you will know that I launched At Cost Energy but due to ill health I was not able to continue with the venture. At Cost Energy was about selling energy at the price it is bought from suppliers, plus a very small overhead to cover the costs of running the business.

At Cost Energy was set up as I believe gas and electricity are a necessity to live, not a luxury! I challenge why ANY company should be allowed to profit from something that in my opinion, is a basic human right. As the name suggests we were to offer gas and electricity AT COST, no hidden extras, no flashy London offices, no pretty water feature in reception, no shareholders, no director bonuses, just the same gas and electricity you use currently, but AT COST!

I hoped At Cost Energy would allow me to fulfil my passion to help people, starting initially with energy, with the view of reducing fuel poverty in the UK.

My belief that energy is a basic human right has NOT changed, however what has changed is my ability to change the industry on my own. I have always maintained that public pressure will bring about the change necessary to reduce energy costs, not me.

So..do you really care about the rising cost of energy? I mean, really care? At what point will YOU actually do something about it?

If you feel strongly about the cost of energy, then quite simply…do something about it! Petition the people in your street and collect their signatures, involve your MP, involve your local newspaper and radio station…just ring them tell them what you’re doing and why. All we need is ONE motivated person in each street in the UK, and before you know it we’ll have one of the largest petitions the country has ever seen.

Go on, what are you waiting for? If enough people get involved, I pledge to pick up the gauntlet once more.

Policing

I left school with little more than a swimming certificate, destined to become an unemployed statistic, one of life’s failings. I managed to get through my early teenage years, but it wasn’t without encountering some tough situations, so how, given my upbringing did I change my life? On reflection, I actually give credit to the efforts of the police at the time, without a father figure in my life, they helped me realise that my actions had consequences.

My respect for the police, or should I say the officers I met, was borne out of mutual respect and empathy. The advice given was practical, motivational and inspiring. They were able to relate to me, using their skills of ‘feel, felt, found’. The message got through and my self-belief grew. I knew that one day I would be successful and during my early career I contemplated becoming a Police Officer.

Becoming a Special Constable in 2003 I had many opportunities to relate to troubled young people. Their attitudes soon changed when I relayed my childhood story, how the police influenced my life and the success I now enjoy. Alas the constraints and pressures on modern day officers means that ‘old school’ style policing is disappearing. We’re losing sight of the fact that behaviour breeds behaviour. During my 7 years of front line policing in Northamptonshire I experienced the good, the bad and the very ugly in terms of policing performance. Read More..

I set up PoliceWitness.com with my business partner ex Assistant Chief Constable Alan Featherstone. Our interest is to make our roads and communities a safer place. PoliceWitness.com liaises with the police to provide a very unique service. We have a proven track record of holding bad drivers to account on behalf of concerned motorists who are fed up with drivers who flout the law, who put others at risk and have now chosen to record their journeys with a dash cam.

PoliceWitness.com seeks to encourage active community policing where normal members of the public can take steps to ensure they do not become victims of crime, anti-social behaviour or dangerous driving and alike. PoliceWitness.com provides an easy and effective way to report the incidents that you capture on video. PoliceWitness.com liaises directly with the Police on your behalf to evidence and report the incident in a format they know and can act upon. Meaning more chance of justice for you and safer roads and communities for us all.

As a former candidate for the role of Police & Crime Commissioner I am naturally aware of the governments intentions to promote community policing, to encourage activists and to try and reconnect the police with the people. (*see Home Office link to ‘Policing in the 21st Century: Reconnecting police and the people’). PoliceWitness.com mirrors these intentions and objectives, and success stories such as disqualified drivers, driving courses, fines issued prove that we, the public can make a huge difference in the absence of police officers on our streets. This sets a precedent and sends a message to all drivers who flout the law.

As Sir Robert Peel once said “The police are the public, and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen…”

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/consultations/policing-21st-century/policing-21st-full-pdf?view=Binary *