News

Immigration control separates family

Published

7 years ago

June 16, 2014

A PEMBROKESHIRE hotelier has been forced to set up a brand new local tourist business on his own whilst his wife awaits a Visa to enter the UK.

As the British Government is forced to tighten working visas, during the current climate of immigration hysteria, it seems that a family are caught up in the red tape that is forcing them to live apart, separating a devoted Asian born mother, Koi Leng Chi (Jan), 47, from her young children who have British dual citizenship, along with her husband of 21 years who is a British National. Mr Rummery started by telling The Herald, “There are probably many people in the same situation. I’m extremely grateful that my late appeal has been recognised and we are now waiting for a court hearing. There was one part of the criteria that didn’t fit for the Spouse Visa. It was simply that I wasn’t here working (when we applied) earning £18,600 per annum. having invested and contributing to the community, I still can’t honestly put down that I’m earning £18,600. She (my wife) just can’t get inside the border under any circumstances. Tristram is 17 and in the first year of his A levels; a crucial time for the family unit. My 11 year old is in the first year of secondary school. He misses his mum and the bond with him and my wife is very close. The younger one is a concern. The older son is more independent, but he has his own frustrations about what is happening here. The idea was, rather than go back to Surrey, where we have a house that we sold to move our resources here, we would be here with my family. This property came up as an opportunity last year. We applied for the Visa (for my wife) in January 2013. It was refused in June/July 2013. Immigration wanted it, I think, that I had a job first and then she came over. We immediately appealed. The only area we had to explain was that I was still in Kuala Lumpur and not in the UK. It didn’t make much sense to do it that way round: I figured set up the family first and then when the time is right then resign in the Malaysian job and then take up the work in the UK. It was very difficult to fit their criteria, as I wasn’t in the UK earning that £18,600. Am I supposed to invest my money in a business in Malaysia or should I invest it here in the UK?” He talked about the adverse affect this is happening on his family life. “We are a close knit family. There is now due to be a court hearing that could be in 6 months time and that is only the first step. This whole thing could be dragged out over two years. My wife is staying with friends throughout the process, not knowing how long this thing is going to take. We are just a family who wants to live together, I and my two sons are British subjects, we (me and my wife) married in Hong Kong when it was under British rule. There is this article 8, that maybe can come in on humanitarian grounds: a mother’s rights to be with their children”.

News

MP calls for cut in beer duty for pubs

Published

4 mins ago

October 23, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

PRESELI MP Stephen Crabb has written to the Chancellor ahead of next week’s Budget calling on him not to increase alcohol duties and to cut the tax on draught sales to help stop pubs going out of business.

Mr Crabb is one of more than a 100 MPs calling for a cut in the ‘keg tax’ to help pubs compete more fairly with supermarket sales of alcohol.

Currently, beer drinkers have to pay around £1 in tax for every pint they drink in a pub, which is the highest rate in Europe and nearly twelve times higher than in Germany.

Commenting on the letter, Mr Crabb said: “Pubs are at the heart of so many of our communities and when a pub closes down something special is lost. That is why I am calling on the Chancellor to reduce the beer duty from the keg. A cut will not only bolster our much-loved pubs across our towns and villages, but also have a knock-on boost for British agriculture and employment.

“Over a hundred Conservative MPs and I hope that after a difficult period the Chancellor will give our pubs and clubs something to raise a drink to this budget.”

News

County lines intensification week sees drug supply disrupted into west Wales

Published

16 hours ago

October 22, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police carried out 11 raids during a week of action tackling county lines drug gangs.

COUNTY LINES intensification week (Monday, 11 October to Sunday, 17 October) saw officers carry out warrants, intercepting vehicles potentially involved in the supply of drugs, and working with partners to raise awareness of drug-related crime.

Seventeen people were arrested during the week, with crack cocaine (0.8grams), heroin (77g) and cocaine (6g) seized.

The value of those drugs is estimated to be around £4,500, while officers seized £6,500 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Also seized were an extendable baton and an ammunition magazine.

Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Cotterell said: “The county lines intensification week was successful for Dyfed-Powys Police, and we had a number of excellent results thanks to the proactive work of officers and police staff across the four divisions.”

As well as the front-line warrants and police work, a lot went on behind the scenes, leading to:

More than 2,000 people educated about County Lines and exploitation during the intensification week in the community and partner agencies.
Some 50 letting agencies/estate agents educated about the dangers of criminality, such as County lines activity in rented properties.
More than 150 businesses educated about county lines, with an emphasis on those who provide mobile top-up services and the use of ‘burner phones’.
50 ‘at-risk’ or vulnerable children, young people and adults received targeted safeguarding support on a 1-2-1 basis and in group settings.

DCI Cotterell added: “Few people are aware of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to support victims, or the measures we put in place to stop people from becoming repeat victims of drug-related crime.”

“It is very important to us as a force that while we act on all new intelligence to disrupt county lines, we also take a victim-oriented approach to working with those affected by these gangs to protect them from becoming repeat victims.”

News

Pembroke Dock: Pensioner sentenced to 20 years for child sex offences

Published

19 hours ago

October 22, 2021

Carli Newell

A PENSIONER from Pembroke Dock has been given an extended sentence of 20 years in prison with a further year on licence after being found guilty of historical rape of a child in the 1980s.

Barry Lake, aged 70, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court today (22 October) having been found guilty of 10 counts of rape of a child and two charges of gross indecency with a child last month.

Lake, now of Newton-le-Willows in St Helens, had denied all 12 charges relating to offences between January 1986 and January 1989.

Lake was first questioned by Dyfed-Powys Police in April 2020 in what would become an intensive and complex investigation.

Investigating officer DC Claire Lewis said: “Lake denied all charges, putting his victim through the ordeal of a trial.

“As they have done throughout the investigation, they showed great courage and dignity in the face of adversity to help us convict their abuser.

“This was a long and intensive investigation with a lot of work to achieve this outcome today.

“This sentence shows that it doesn’t matter how long ago a victim has suffered sexual abuse, we as police are here to listen and take seriously any person who has suffered any form of sexual abuse albeit a day or 35 years after.

“Please do not be scared to come forward, we are here to listen to you.

“Once again, I would like to commend the victim for their bravery for coming forward and achieving this outcome today.”

After serving 20 years in prison Lake will serve another year on licence.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.