July 2008 Archives

By Tom Lawrence

Brent Council has used controversial spying laws to monitor more than 300 residents without their knowledge, the Wembley Observer can reveal.

Local authority spooks have employed a variety of covert surveillance techniques to spy on noisy neighbours, people who let their dogs foul in parks, benefit cheats, underage drinkers and businesses that flout trading standards laws.

Large groups of youths causing trouble on the streets of Harlesden will be broken up by police, after a dispersal zone was introduced in the area.

PCs and PCSOs can separate gangs causing anti-social behaviour in Fry Road and Chadwick Road and ban them from returning for 24 hours.

By Tom Parnell

A Brent college is encouraging students to fly out to an island for the latest extension to its campus.
The College of North West London's new facility includes an outdoor amphitheatre, business park and relaxing garden and waterfall.
However, visitors will not need to move from their classrooms to explore the extensive grounds, as it is all online.
The further education college, which has campuses in Wembley, Willesden and Kilburn, has become the first in the country to have its own operational island on the worldwide web.
Gas and heating lecturer Martin Biron rented 4,000 square metres of space in virtual world Second Life to explore the possibilities ofrunning an online 3D classroom.
He then persuaded the college to support a programme of exploration anddevelopment, which led to it renting 65,000 square metres of land in the the programme and attracting as many as 15,000 visitors in a month.
Visitors can fly through the air using an avatar or humanoid figure of their own choice to represent them inside the virtual world creating a game-style virtual reality environment for educational use.
Second Life opened in 2003 with properties entirely built and owned by its residents, who range from IBM and the NHS to Honda and lighting manufacturer Osram.
The virtual 3D environment is designed mainly for social and entertainment purposes, and has 11 million registered users worldwide who can do anything from watch a rock concert, shop or just have a chat with friends.
Visitors to the college's island can play chess, visit the garden and waterfall, check out the outdoor amphitheatre or enter the public sandbox to build their own 3-D objects.
There is also a business park where companies with college links can set up exhibitions to support students.
Mr Biron has installed a veritable giants house with an interactive central heating system that plumbing, gas, and heating and ventilation students can access and study.
Visitors can fly round the virtual central heating and hot water system, turn on taps and follow the movement of water through the pipes.
The house also features a U6 diaphragm meter to allow students to take a gas reading from a virtual appliance and get instant feedback on whether they are right.
Mr Biron said: The technology is so refined, its amazing - you can create anything you like. Second Life offers an excellent platform as a distance learning tool to support a blended learning approach.
It can be instantly accessed by students in a classroom or anywhere on the planet to undertake learning and assessment in their chosen field.
"Additionally, it supports their individual develop of IT and design skills.
We have set up a picture gallery from the Colleges recent Industry and Competitions Day, where visitors can walk through as though they were in a real gallery, and we are talking to other areas of the College, especially Art & Design, with a view to displaying their work.
Second Life can be accessed free on www.secondlife.com.

Police are appealing for help in tracking down a missing woman who may be in Brent.
Carol Gilroy went missing from her home in Hemel Hempstead on July 8. Police believe she may be in the north-west London area, possibly Brent.
She is 38-years-old, white, 5ft 10ins tall with a large build, curly shoulder length brown hair and a tanned complexion. She was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt, a Gap hooded jumper, navy Adidas tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.
Police are concerned for her welfare. If you have any information, please contact Hertfordshire Constabulary via the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222.

A veteran school governor has been recognised for 30 years of dedicated service at this year's Teaching Awards ceremony.
Penny Witham, who has been the chair of governors at Brentfield Primary School in Stonebridge for 10 years, and a governor there for 30, was presented with a distinction in the Department for Children, Schools and Families' (DCSF) Award for Governor of the Year.
Accompanied by her two daughters and grandchildren, Mrs Witham was cheered on by a 400-strong audience after being nominated for the award by Brentfield head teacher Paola Riddle.
Mrs Witham said: "I was delighted and surprised to be nominated, it's very flattering.
"I think they were hoping to keep it a secret but the judging panel had to visit the school to talk to everyone so I found out."
The national awards, which are now in their 10th year,celebrate teaching and learning and reward the dedication of unsung heroes who transform young people's lives.
Thirteen regional ceremonies have been held across the country,culminating with last week's final in London.
There were winners in 10 categories, including outstanding new teacher,primary and secondary head teacher of the year, special needs teacher of the year and lifetime achievement.
The Teaching Awards is open to every educational establishment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland teaching pupils between the ages of three and 18.
The closing date for 2009 nominations is March 1 2009. For more details log on to www.teachingawards.com.

Utility companies that take too long to carry out repairs on the borough's roads are being hit with hefty fines from the council.
Gas, water and electricity firms had to fork out more than £300,000 last year for overrunning their allocated time slots. And they will continue to face financial penalties for disrupting people who live and work in Brent.
Councillor Daniel Brown, lead member for highways and transportation, said: "We realise the inconvenience that is caused when a road has to be dug up for utility work and we don't want people to suffer for longer than they have to.
"Although we recognise that the work these companies do is also important, the fines give them a real incentive to keep to the agreed schedule so that traffic jams, noise and other problems to the local transport scene are kept to a minimum."
The companies will be able to get an extension when unforeseen circumstances mean that work takes longer than planned, but will they need to fully justify this to the council before it is agreed.

More than 1,500 young musicians from Brent Music Service took part in a concert at Wembley Arena.
Picked from schools across the borough, the pupils played a variety of music from around the globe at the World in One Borough event on July 2.
There were appearances from the Brent Youth Orchestra, Brent Young Musician of the Year, David Wong, and Shlomo the human beatbox artist.
Post-show coverage is available at www.BrentMakesMusic.com.

Police have said the condition of a man hospitalised after being stabbed in Willesden is improving.
Police were called at 4.18am on Friday (11) to reports of a disturbance at flats in Brenthurst Road.
Police and London Ambulance Service attended and discovered a 29-year-old man from Harlesden suffering stab wounds to the back and abdomen.
He was taken to a north London hospital where his condition is no longer critical - it is now described as serious but stable and improving.
Detectives from Brent Borough are investigating.
A 24-year-old woman was arrested at the scene in connection with the stabbing and was taken to Wembley police station. She is now bailed to return in early September, pending further inquiries.

By Tom Lawrence

A man was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed in a vicious knife attack, during the early hours of Friday (11) morning.
Police were called to Brenthurst Road, in the Church End area of Willesden, at 3.30am and discovered the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds
The man, who is believed to be in is 20s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a life threatening condition.
Brent CID have launched an investigation into the incident and have arrested a 24-year-old woman for attempted murder.

A hospice charity is looking for volunteers to help staff its shops and bring in much-needed funding.
Shop helpers are needed for St Luke's Hospice shops in Pinner, Harrow, Harrow Weald, South Harrow, Wembley, Kingsbury, Rayners Lane, Burnt Oak, Stanmore and North Harrow.
Volunteers only needs to commit to four hours, one shift per week, 9.30am to 1.15pm or 1.15pm to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
Responsibilities include serving customers, sorting through donated items and steaming clothing, there is something for everyone.
The shops make a substantial contribution to meeting the costs of providing Hospice care at Kenton Grange.
Training will be provided and volunteers get a 10 per cent discount.
To find out more call 0750579275 or visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.