Plymouth

Crown Prosecution Service considers charges on Thomas Orchard case

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering a charges including corporate manslaughter against Devon and Cornwall Police over the death of Thomas Orchard.

Mr Orchard died after being held in police custody on 3 October 2012 where an emergency restraint belt was stapped across his mouth as a ‘...

Budding local gardeners and families are being invited to help prepare for spring at a new community garden in North Prospect.

An army of volunteers is needed to join Plymouth City Council teams at The Beacon, Foliot Road, this Saturday to plant hundreds of daffodil bulbs and strawberry plants in the flower beds around the building.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet member...

The beginning of Parliament week saw Members of UK Youth Parliament (MYPs) for Plymouth, Harry Samuels and Matt Currie, travel to London on Friday 15 November, along with 296 Members of UK Youth Parliament, to debate the issues most important to young people today.

They gathered on the green benches, in The House of Commons, and discussed the five issues voted for by nearly a quarter...

Police officers are appealing for residents in the Ernesettle area of Plymouth to call police if they find a knife in or near to their gardens.

The appeal follows a serious assault in a property in Rochford Crescent in the early hours of 16 November 2013.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Officers investigating are asking...

Police are appealing for witnesses following reports of a bogus police officer stop-checking vehicles. Officers are aware of two incidents in the Plymouth area where the driver of an unmarked Volvo has attempted to stop other drivers for "traffic offences". A man, dressed in plain clothes, has been using a silver-coloured Volvo V70 which has been equipped with flashing lights and a siren. In...

Two Somerset men have pleaded guilty on four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to two sheep and two cows.

Derek Oatley, 71, and his 68-year-old brother Terrance Oatley, of Moor Lane Farm, Draycott near Cheddar, appeared at Yeovil Magistrates Court following an investigation led by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards.

Their investigations were in response to complaints...

Devon and Cornwall police are to get £300,000 from the government to increase the practice of Restorative Justice as a punishment for some crimes.

Tony Hogg, the Police & Crime Commissioner will be given the funding over the next two years (£114,535 in 2013-14 and £185,000 in 2014-15).

Mr Hogg said: “Restorative justice is in some ways a simple subject and in some ways a...

Five Devon councils have taken legal action against their councillors for not paying council tax, nine times over the last four years.

Mid Devon, North Devon, West Devon district councils, Torridge council and Plymouth City Council have had to take action against their own members.

Councils also sent 76 first-reminders to councillors to prompt payment between 2009 and 2013....

Major damage was caused to the electricity sub station which powers three schools on the Wood View Learning Community Campus following a serious flood on Monday (18 November).

The sub station powers Woodlands School, Whitleigh Primary and Sir John Hunt Community College.

The emergency plan was triggered and parents informed immediately that the schools would not be open as...

GPs in the South West have said they are under extra pressure due to patients coming to them rather than dentists with concerns over oral health.

According to a poll conducted by ComRes, 82 per cent of GPs based in the South West believe that too many patients are turning to them for oral health advice instead of a dentist which is increasing pressure on general practices.

The...