Ten people took their own lives in prisons in the South West during 2015 as the suicide rate behind bars remained at an alarmingly high level, figures seen by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (Thursday 28 January).
They were among a total of 29 people who died in the region’s prisons last year, according to data published by the Ministry of Justice.
Four people took their own lives in Exeter prison. Two people died by suicide in Bristol prison and two more in Guys Marsh prison. Deaths by suicide were also recorded in Dartmoor and Erlestoke prisons.
Job Seeker Allowance (JSA) figures released on 18 January show that Exeter has the lowest levels of unemployment since current records began in 1992.
This allowance is payable to people under pensionable age who are available for, and actively seeking, work of at least 40 hours a week.
Figures for the Exeter Local Authority’s region in December 2015 when compared to equivalent figures in December 2014 and December 2005 show how things have changed in the city in the last year and in the last 10 years:
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man died following a collision near Barnstaple.
John Spurling (pictured), 58, from Barnstaple, who was driving the car invovled and was the only occupant in the vehicle, died at the scene.
The car collided with a hedge and rolled on the B3232 between Charlacottt Cross and Prospect Corner near Newton Tracey at around 11.30am on Sunday 24 January.
The car involved was a blue and red DRK, a two-seated and three-wheeler open-top vehicle. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.
Tony Hogg is one of nine police and crime commissioners backing a private members bill being debated in the House of Lords tomorrow that would lower the drink driving limits in England and Wales. The bill, sponsored by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, would reduce the current limits from 80mg alcohol/100ml blood to 50mg alcohol/100ml blood – in line with most other European countries. England and Wales currently has the highest allowed levels in Europe. Mr Hogg, said: “The evidence is clear, the risk of road traffic injury and collision increases rapidly with alcohol consumption. “Yes, we need...
Castle Drogo is holding a volunteer open day on Saturday 6 February from 11am until 3pm for anyone who would like to find out more about getting involved.
This is the most exciting time in the history of Castle Drogo since its initial construction. After receiving funding in 2012 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Interreg, a European grant, the building project is now over half way. More volunteers than ever are needed to share the exciting interpretation that has been created.
Laurence Harvey, Volunteer Coordinator, says: “There are lots of opportunities at Castle Drogo,...
Another weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for Devon.
Further spells of heavy rain are expected to develop across the region during Friday evening, persisting overnight, before clearing away to the south during Saturday morning.
The heaviest and most prolonged spells of rain are likely to be over high ground.
Forecasters are warning that there could be further localised flooding and disruption to travel.
The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “A cold front is expected to become slow moving across the region during Friday evening and night,...
A pioneering project is transforming the delivery of cancer follow-up care for people receiving treatment at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The Living With and Beyond Cancer project, involving the hospital, FORCE Cancer Charity and Macmillan Cancer Support, aims to provide support for patients from the point of diagnosis and redesign their follow-up care to help them take back control of their lives.
As part of the project, patients treated for cancer at the RD&E are already benefiting from support services provided by local cancer charity FORCE.
Fast paced adaptation of Josh Kilmer-Purcell's best-selling autobiography I Am Not Myself These Days
Written and performed by Tom Stuart, directed by Nick Bagnall, produced by Fuel
‘Heartbreaking and brilliant’ EdFringe Review
At the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe the extraordinarily compelling tour-de-force performance of Tom Stuart, in his own adaptation of the best-selling memoir, became one of the talking points of the Festival. Audiences were visibly moved by the story of alcoholic drag queen Aqua desperately trying...
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter is backing his squad to show their strength in what will be a gruelling run of fixtures for all 12 clubs in this season’s Aviva Premiership.
Today's (SUNDAY) trip to Worcester Warriors marks the start of ten, unrelenting weeks of top-flight action for the Chiefs, who currently sit second in the standings and have just booked themselves a place in the last eight of the European Champions Cup for the first time.
There will be some out there who would look at the challenge ahead with an air of intrepidation, but not Baxter who, like his...
Flybe has today confirmed the launch of new direct flights from Exeter Airport to Norwich Airport in East Anglia, saving hours on the equivalent journey by road or rail.
The new flights will operate six days a week from 24 March with one-way fares starting from just £17.49 including taxes and charges, available at flybe.com
The new route is being supported by the Government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund. This supports routes that might not initially be commercially viable, giving airlines time to build passenger numbers and deliver more sustainable services.
