Page 37 - Londra Gazete Sayı 1104

4 LondraGazete.com/English Londra Gazete, 05 May 2022

TfL announces

Elizabeth line opening

THE long-awaited Eliza-
beth line, which fell years be-
hind schedule and went billions
over budget, will start running
through central London on Tues-
day May 24.
Wednesday’s announcement,
Study: Nearly nine in ten London which is subject to final safety ap-
provals, had been eagerly awaited
car thefts go unsolved by police but the chosen date is slightly ear-
lier than many expected and will
NEARLY nine in ten car cases have been closed by the act as a precursor to the Queen’s
thefts go unsolved in London, Metropolitan Police without a platinum jubilee celebrations.
according to analysis by the suspect being identified. There are hopes that the
Liberal Democrats. Liberal Democrat assembly 96-year-old monarch, after whom
Data has revealed the Met- member Caroline Pidgeon also the line is named, will be able
ropolitan Police closed 89 per found more than 10,000 cat- to be involved in the opening in
cent of car theft cases last year alytic converter thefts were some way, either on May 24 or at
without even identifying a sus- recorded by police in London a later date.
pect. during 2021. The opening day was selected
It also found just 2.4 per The Liberal Democrats sent in recognition of post-pandem-
cent of vehicle thefts result in a Freedom of Information Act ic “Tuesday to Thursday” office
someone being charged. (FOI) request to every police working patterns to allow as
This, the Liberal Democrats many Londoners as possible to such as Liverpool Street, Totten- week.
say, is the worst record of any force in the country and found share in the celebrations. ham Court Road and Paddington The journey from Paddington
the startling findings about
police force in the country the Met closing police stations The line will initially operate of a size never before seen in Lon- to Canary Wharf will be cut to
amid calls for the Metropolitan in three sections - the western don. 17 minutes, compared with more
Police to set up a car theft task- across the city. section between Reading, Heath- However, Bond Street is not than 30 minutes by Tube at pres-
force. A spokesperson for the Met- row and Paddington, the central ready and trains will run through ent.
Separate analysis of Home ropolitan Police told the Stand- section between Paddington and without stopping until “later this The central section will close on
Office statistics by the Liber- ard: “We recognise the impact Abbey Wood, and the eastern year”. Sundays for several months - oth-
al Democrats has found that that motor vehicle crime can section between Liverpool Street The £1bn fleet of 70 nine-car- er than on June 5, which is part
the Met closed 24,499 vehi- have on victims, especially and Shenfield. riage trains will run every five of the jubilee bank holiday week-
cle theft cases in 2021, and in those who rely on vehicles for The central section includes 10 minutes in the central section, end - to allow further testing and
21,757 of these no suspect was either means of employment spectacular new stations, some from 6.30am to 11pm six days a upgrades.
identified. or the routine of daily life.
Just 598 cases resulted in a “We are working closely with
suspect being charged or sum- partners and local neighbour-
moned. hood groups including neigh- More than 100 Post Offices close
Over the past five years, a bourhood watch schemes to
as workers strike in row over pay
total of 124,548 vehicle theft tackle this crime type...”

POST Office workers at more
Mini-heatwave as temperatures than 100 branches have walked
soar to 23C out during a one-day strike in a
dispute over pay.
The 114 Crown Post Offices will
close for a 24-hour period, with
THE UK is set to swelter in a ing a “brief” heatwave.
mid-May heatwave as tempera- It comes after a pleasant April no cash deliveries or collections
tures are expected to soar from that has seen average maximum from the 11,500 sub-post offices
the weekend onwards. temperatures above normal for around the UK.
The Met Office has said that the month, with showers few and Members of the Communica-
the springtime heat won’t be far far between. tion Workers Union (CWU) are
off from popular European holi- The UK had around a third less striking over a pay freeze for
day destinations, as the mercury rainfall than its average for the 2021 and the offer of a 2 per cent
surges into the 20s. month, according to the Met Of- increase from April this year,
Meteorologist Marco Petagna fice, with England and Wales the alongside a £250 one-off lump
said the weather could get “very driest UK nations. sum.
warm” later this month, peaking Southern England was particu- Union officials said the offer
at around 23C in the south of larly dry, the forecaster said, with was “exceptionally poor”, espe- cially as RPI inflation has reached action and would be open as nor-
England. just 36 per cent of its average cially as RPI inflation has reached 9 per cent. mal.
“Temperatures are several de- rainfall. 9 per cent. The dispute involves counter Images posted on social media
grees above where they should be The hottest temperature this The dispute involves counter staff, as well as those in clerical, showed workers on the picket
at this time of year,” he said. year so far was on Good Friday staff, as well as those in clerical, administration, and call centres. line outside closed Post Office
He added there was a “small in St James’ Park, London, where administration, and call centres. The Post Office said the vast branches across the UK, includ-
chance” that temperatures could the Met Office recorded a high of Union officials said the offer majority of its 11,500 branches ing in Glasgow, Belfast, London,
rise into the mid-twenties, mean- 23.4C. was “exceptionally poor”, espe- were not affected by the strike Derbyshire and County Durham