As Facebook, Bebo and eBay top the popularity charts on Vodafone Mobile Internet, Vodafone UK has today changed the way it structures its price plans to include access to the internet and email on their mobile as an integral part of the monthly price plan.

The move means that pay monthly customers will no longer need to buy an additional internet bundle for £7.50 but instead every plan will automatically include internet access. The new plans will give Vodafone customers reliable and fast unlimited* access to their favourite social network sites, email and the whole of the internet when out and about in the UK. Vodafone customers will now have even greater confidence to browse the mobile internet without the worry of additional charges, no matter what monthly plan they choose.

Price plans start at £25 and customers who select a £40 or higher price plan will also for the first time have the choice of unlimited texts, unlimited landline calls or unlimited Vodafone to Vodafone calls.

“Our customers want simplicity and services that are easy to select, buy and use. Today with our new price plans Vodafone customers have the confidence to browse for as long as they need with no extra costs when checking their e-mail, visiting their favourite social networking sites or making a final bid on eBay,“ said Ian Shepherd, director of consumer for Vodafone UK. “This will make Vodafone not only the network of choice for voice and text but also the internet. And what’s more, all customers who visit a store to sign up to the new plan will benefit from Vodafone’s simple two minute set up for email so that they can leave the store up and running.”

Since launching the internet on mobiles last summer Vodafone has witnessed the growth in consumers’ appetite for email, instant messaging, and social networking as well as more general services such as Google search. Favourites for customers include quick access to Facebook, MySpace or Bebo to share pictures and news, YouTube to check out videos on the move, and fast connections to eBay to make that last minute bid. (see tables below)

Top 4 searches on the Vodafone Mobile Internet (VMI) (ranked by most searched first)

• Facebook
• Bebo
• eBay
• Windows live Hotmail

Top 10 mobile internet sites on VMI (ranked by most visited first)

• Facebook
• Google
• BBC
• MSN
• Bebo
• Sony Ericsson
• Yahoo
• MySpace
• Windows live Hotmail
• YouTube

Notes

*subject to a fair usage policy of 500MB / per month

The following can be used as a guide for approximate usage, which may vary slightly according to different handset and browser functionality:

• Streaming three 90 second video clips from YouTube would be the equivalent to (=) 4.5MB
• Download one 3 minute movie trailer from Odeon = 3MB
• Browse 50 Internet pages = 1MB
• Find your way to the restaurant using Google Maps = 0.6 MB
• Check for updates on Facebook and upload a message = 0.1MB
• Check your emails and reply = 0.5MB
• Read breaking news on the BBC (4 pages) = 0.1MB
• Place the winning bid on eBay (10 pages) = 0.25MB

Deaf Awareness Week starts next week (5 – 11 May 2008) and Kent Fire and Rescue Service will be pushing ahead with its campaign to raise awareness of the free service it provides to fit specially adapted smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Smoke alarms provide early vital early warning of a fire by emitting a loud noise when smoke is detected. But people who are deaf or hard of hearing need additional ways of making them aware the alarm has been activated, such as through vibrating pads and/or a flashing strobe light.

Joyce Grant, who recently had a specially adapted alarm fitted at her Smarden home by KFRS community safety officers when they carried out a home fire safety check, said: “My newly fitted alarm provides a much greater peace of mind. I wear a hearing aid during the day but when I remove it at night to sleep, I wouldn’t hear an ordinary smoke alarm sounding. The special flashing light unit by my bed will definitely wake me up in the event of a fire.”

Head of Community Safety Stuart Skilton said: “I would like to remind everyone of the importance of having a working smoke alarm in their home. Deaf Awareness Week is an ideal opportunity for those who know someone or live with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing to make sure they have alarms that meet their safety needs, as often standard smoke alarms are unsuitable, especially during hours of sleep when hearing aids are removed.”

He continued: “A home fire safety check takes about 30 minutes to carry out, we will visit your home to identify potential fire hazards, offer fire safety and prevention advice. We will check you have suitable working smoke alarms and fit them for free where needed. We also have an important partnership with the Deaf Services Bureau and Hearing Impaired Kent (HI Kent) to ensure we can assist their assessment officers by supplying and fitting appropriate smoke alarms in homes where people have hearing difficulties”

To arrange a free Home Fire Safety Check or to find out more, simply call Kent Fire and Rescue Service for free on 0800 923 7000 or visit the website www.kent.fire-uk.org.

The eighth annual Compost Awareness Week will be celebrated nationwide from May 4 until May 10 and Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council will be supporting the week by holding promotional events and activities during the week.

Compost Awareness Week aims to encourage more people to recognise the benefits of home composting and the great results that can be achieved by using peat free composts containing recycled materials.

More than one third of the contents of an average UK household bin can be home composted, not to mention all the garden waste that can also be added to a compost bin.

Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It’s easy to make and even easier to use. And composting at home for just one year can save global warming gases equivalent to all the CO2 your kettle produces annually, or your washing machine produces in three months.

Household waste and garden waste can be combined in your compost bin to make excellent compost. For example, grass cuttings can be mixed with shredded confidential paper work, egg boxes and scrunched up newspaper to produce fantastic results. Fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells and shredded garden waste can all be added to the compost bin.

To learn more about home composting, come along to one of the Compost Roadshows, have a look at the composting exhibition, speak to informative advisors and volunteers and try your hand at winning prizes. A Bosch AXT 2200 Rapid shredder will be up for grabs for all visitors who enter the competition. Every visitor will receive a free packet of sunflower seeds.

Friday, May 9:    Angel Place, Worcester    10:00 – 15:30
Saturday, May 10:     Hereford High Town        10:00 – 15:30

Special promotions will be running at local Household Recycling Centre throughout the week.

Compost bins can be ordered from as little as £12. Go online at www.recyclenow.com/compost or call 0845 077 0757 to order your bin. Everyone that orders a compost bin during Compost Awareness Week will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 of National Garden Vouchers.

For more information about our other waste prevention initiatives log on to www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk or call the Mission Impossible hotline on 01905 766883.

Nottinghamshire Police has today released its crime figures from 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2008, which show crime in Nottinghamshire at its lowest for almost 20 years.

The total number of crimes recorded in Nottinghamshire in 2007/08 fell by more than 11,000 to 124,880,which means crime in Nottinghamshire is as its lowest level since 1989 - the time of fall of the Berlin Wall - when the force recorded 105,640 crimes.

It also means that this is the fifth consecutive year that Nottinghamshire Police has achieved a reduction in overall crime.

The force is continuing to make a significant impact on the level of crime in the county, with almost all recorded crime categories showing significant reductions.

The force has seen continuing reductions in the levels of acquisitive crime being committed in the county. Burglary Dwelling has fallen again, also for the fifth consecutive year, with 9,639 crimes recorded in 2007/08.

This is 980 fewer offences than the previous year and means that Burglary Dwelling is now also at its lowest level since 1989, when the force recorded 8,092 offences.

Recorded Vehicle Crime (Theft of and Theft From a Motor Vehicle) has also seen impressive reductions, falling by more than 2,500 offences in comparison with 2006/07.

Again, this is the fifth consecutive year that vehicle crime has fallen, and available data shows that it is at its lowest level since 1985 (please see Notes to Editors).

Violent Crime has continued to fall, with 2,596 fewer crimes recorded compared with 2006/07, and all three categories within Violent Crime (Violence Against the Person, Sexual Offences and Robbery) have shown considerable reductions.

The number of Criminal Damage offences has also fallen considerably, with more than 3,500 fewer offences recorded in comparison to 2006/07.

The only offence category that has shown an increase is Drug Offences, which has risen by almost 700 crimes across the force. This increase has been welcomed by the force as evidence of its continuing drive to tackle drug dealing and drug-related crime in the county.

In particular, the work of officers involved in Operation Glacier, which has been targeting street-level drug dealers across the county, has had a significant impact.

Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Steve Green said: “I’m delighted with this year’s performance figures. Crime in Nottinghamshire has been falling steadily for the past five years and these results clearly highlight the continuing improvements being made by Nottinghamshire Police.

“I’ve always known that we have had the people and the commitment to make a difference, and these figures are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone working for the force.

“With the continuing co-operation of our partner agencies, who have played a significant part in these achievements, I am confident that crime in Nottinghamshire will continue to fall.

“No-one within the organisation will rest on their laurels and the force will continue to work closely with both its partners and the public of Nottinghamshire to drive down crime in the county.”

Welcoming the news that crime in Nottinghamshire has continued to fall over the past year, Cllr John Clarke, Chairman of the Police Authority, said: “The Authority is particularly pleased to note that in key areas such as Violent Crime, Burglary and Vehicle Crime, performance continues to improve and that crime in Nottinghamshire is now at its lowest level since 1989.

“Nottinghamshire is definitely safer, with less crime and more detections.  This will be Steve Green’s legacy and he should be proud of his achievements.

“For a long time we have said that the police cannot work in isolation so it’s good to see that our partner agencies have really come on board and worked with us to both prevent crime and bring people to justice.”

A new interpreting service is helping Kent’s firefighters to tackle potential language problems when working in the community.

All Kent Fire and Rescue Service appliances now carry a special Language Identification Card which allows limited-English speakers to identify their language and, through a freephone telephone number, crews are able to use the Telephone Interpreting Service to communicate efficiently.

The service can interpret in over 170 languages and is open to all KFRS staff who need to have phone or face-to-face contact with members of the community that have trouble communicating. It can be accessed via a home owner’s telephone line, without any cost to the householder, and can be used if no other help – like an English speaking relative or neighbour - is available to assist.

Assistant Director of Community Safety Steve Griffiths said: “When firefighters first arrive at the scene of a blaze or a road traffic collision, it is important to quickly establish the facts and let members of the public know what is happening.
This service means an interpreter is available in less than 60 seconds which will help in circumstances when our crews or community safety staff are having difficulties talking to people with a limited knowledge of the English language.
We already carry out a number of initiatives aimed at particular communities in Kent and Medway and we hope this service will further strengthen our relationship with residents of all backgrounds by allowing our staff to continue carrying out an excellent job.”

David Elgar from Language Line, the company behind the translation service, said: “Language Line Services is proud to be forging relationships with Kent Fire and Rescue Services and helping to meet their ambitious community initiative objectives. We work with the majority of Fire and Rescue services in the UK and endeavour to share and promote best practice”.