Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Proposals to cut police funding will "destroy morale", according to the secretary of Leicestershire Police federation.

The government wants forces to increase the amount they contribute to officers' pensions, which could see a reduction of 10% in police funding.

Secretary of the federation, Matt Robinson, said: "It destroys morale. It makes people have second thoughts about joining the service or remaining in it.

"They want to do their job but very often they’re shackled by the cuts, by the reduced numbers and they just can’t do it."

Image source, Leicestershire Police Federation

The Home Affairs Select Committee has said the police service is at risk of becoming "irrelevant" as neighbourhood teams are stripped back and many crimes remain unsolved.

In a statement, the Home Office said: "We will work with police forces and fire and rescue services to understand the impact this change will have upon them."

A rise in protection plans for children leaves councils claiming they are pushed "to the brink".

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A housebuilder has been ordered to pay almost £12,000 after causing "extensive" damage to a protected tree.

D J Atkinson Construction Ltd, of Grassmoor, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to causing damage to the root system of a cherry tree protected by a tree preservation order between January and September 2017.

The company was fined £6,000, ordered to pay £5,776 in costs and £170 victim surge charge at Northern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Image source, Chesterfield Borough Council

The tree is on the site of the former Ringwood Centre, in Brimington, which was demolished to make way for 37 homes.

Chesterfield Borough Council said the builder had received a caution for one offence of "failing to adequately protect the tree".

It said it decided to prosecute when the company "caused further, more extensive damage to the tree by removing the protective fencing and allowing mechanical digging within the root protection area."

Image source, Chesterfield Borough Council

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A man has been taken to hospital after he was found injured in the Burton Road area of Littleover.

Police and the ambulance service were called to reports of a "medical emergency" at a private address.

Image source, Google

A spokeswoman for East Midlands Ambulance Service sent two paramedics in ambulance cars, a crewed ambulance and the air ambulance was also there.

A man was taken to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Police are currently investigating.

We'll bring you more on this when we get it.

Police estimate Ivan Graham helped move £35m worth of drugs through a house.

East Midlands Today

Nottingham's childcare boss has been giving evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA).

Alison Michalska, corporate director for children and adults at the city council, said she offered "heartfelt apologies" for the "truly dreadful" care received by a child who was abused by his foster father and rarely visited by a social worker.

She said the council now recruits and retains more social workers so children in foster homes are visited more frequently than they used to be.

Image source, IICSA

The hearing also heard Ms Michalska say it was "absolutely dreadful" that a worker at the notorious Beechwood Community Home reportedly warned a boy not to tell police he was sexually abused or he would be moved from the home.

She said if it happened now, the staff member would be removed.

The inquiry chair, Alexis Jay, also rebuked the authority for submitting late evidence today, describing it as "very unsatisfactory".

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

An independent think tank has said prospects for children and young people in Nottingham are the worst in the UK.

The Youth Opportunity Index, published by the Learning and Work Institute, ranked Nottingham as 150th out of 150 local areas, while Nottinghamshire came out mid-table, at 73rd.

Nottingham City Council said the report highlights that a "fairer and more balanced approach" needed to be taken by the government in how it funds deprived areas.

It said the findings of the report were "regrettable" but they were not surprised.

Elsewhere in the region, Derby ranked 124th, Leicester 132nd and Derbyshire ranked 50th.

Top in the East Midlands was Rutland, ranked at 17th.

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Take a look at how Leicester's Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre would look after a £7m expansion in 2020.

The plans involve a two-storey extension to include two new cinemas, a new bar, open-air terrace and digital art gallery.

Third party content may contain adverts.

The Arts Council has provisionally awarded £4.17m to the expansion - the largest allocation it has made in the East Midlands this year.

The funding is subject to the centre raising the rest.

Leicester City Council has also committed £1m to the Phoenix 2020 project.

Councillor Piara Singh-Clair, deputy city mayor, said: "Phoenix already generates around £2.6m spending by visitors into Leicester's economy.

"Since it moved into the Cultural Quarter nine years ago Phoenix has more than doubled its visitor numbers to around 220,000 a year.

"This expansion will help to attract more visitors to the area and to the city and will boost Leicester's reputation as a centre for the arts and creative industries."

Arthur Gumbley, 87, died in hospital three weeks after being attacked at his home.

First-year student Ed Farmer died after a cardiac arrest caused by excessive alcohol.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Chesterfield will face Billericay Town in the first round of the FA Cup, external after the Essex side beat Taunton Town 1-0 in their replay last night.

The tie will take place during the weekend of 9-12 November.

Image source, PA

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police are looking for a youth who allegedly approached a lone woman in Nottingham and asked her for sexual favours while pleasuring himself, external.

The woman told police it happened on the footpath between Maidstone Drive in Wollaton and Sandy Lane in Bramcote at about 14:00 yesterday.

The suspect was described as Asian, about 5ft 8in, dressed in jogging bottoms and aged about 16-18.

Image source, Google

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A person was arrested at Leicester railway station last night for possession of an offensive weapon.

British Transport Police Leicestershire described the knife as "a dangerous weapon", which had been "removed from our streets" by their officers.

The suspect was charged and was due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court this morning.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Speed camera vans will be parked on the A52 between Derby and Nottingham tomorrow to make sure drivers are observing the 40mph limit through roadworks.

The stronger action was prompted by complaints that many motorists were ignoring the speed reduction, which has been in place for several months.

BBC Weather Watchers

Wow - this is how sunrise looked in Beeley Moor, near Chesterfield, this morning. Photo by Mike Swain.

Image source, Mike Swain

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Leicester has been given a £6.2m grant by the European Union to pay for projects aimed at bringing down greenhouse gas emissions.

The city council successfully bid for the cash from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and will use a large chunk to fund changes to the city layout - including the London Road project already under way - to make it more efficient to walk and cycle across.

Taxi firms will also be offered financial help to upgrade to greener vehicles and solar panels will be added to St Margaret's bus station and the Haymarket and New Street car parks.

Image source, Leicester City Council

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "The funding will allow us to accelerate improvements for cyclists and pedestrians in the city centre and provide more safer and attractive routes linking key attractions."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving after a motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Derby last night.

Police said a van and a motorcycle crashed on the A6 between Duffield and Allestree at about 19:30. The rider died on his way to hospital.

Image source, Google

Derbyshire Police said the incident had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to contact between the motorcyclist and police officers after the crash.

The force added there had been no police pursuit prior to the collision.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

More than 40,000 people are expected at the annual Diwali lights switch-on in Leicester on Sunday.

The "festival of lights" will take place between 17:30 and 19:30 along the Golden Mile on Belgrave Road.

Image source, Reuters

The city's celebrations with music, dance and an aerial fireworks display are thought to be one of the largest outside of India.

Chief Constable Simon Cole and Crime Commissioner, Lord Willy Bach, are expected to join the large crowds before taking to the main stage alongside local dignitaries to light up the area.

Image source, Reuters

Ch Supt Andy Lee, of Leicestershire Police, said: “We would like to wish all those celebrating a happy and safe Diwali.

"Festivals such as this provide a fantastic opportunity for our local communities to come together and celebrate as one."

Mr Lee urged people to "celebrate safely" during the event.

Image source, PA

Known as the festival of light, Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains on 7 November.

It is one of the most significant cultural events for these communities and celebrates the victory of good over evil.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

One of England's leading meat retailers has been told to improve its labelling after an inspection in Derby uncovered problems.

Crawshaws - which has more than 50 stores in the Midlands and north of England - was found to be freezing meat at its Rotherham factory but not telling consumers about the practice.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that products that have been frozen and defrosted must say so on the label as thawing it a second time at home can make it less safe.

Image source, Crawshaws

The Rotherham inspection came after the Crawshaws store at Intu Derby was given a one-star hygiene rating by inspectors. Problems identified included food being kept at unsafe temperatures, evidence of flies on meat and general uncleanliness.

Inspectors also found evidence that meat had been frozen at the Rotherham factory.

Aside from the labelling issue, FSA inspectors gave the Rotherham factory a "good" rating for hygiene - the highest possible rating - and found "no major or critical non-compliances".

Crawshaws said the problems identified in Derby in July had been rectified and the outlet had a new manager.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Debenhams has posted record annual losses and said it will close up to 50 stores, putting 4,000 jobs at risk.

The troubled department store chain has shops in Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Mansfield and Chesterfield.

It has 166 branches and previously said it planned to close 10 stores.

Image source, Reuters

In the year to September the department store group lost £491.5m, against profits of £59m the year before.

The retailer is not releasing a list of the stores at risk of closure.