MORE than 200 orders are in force banning troublemakers from drinking in Nottingham's streets and visiting its shops and car parks.See our full rogue's gallery HERE

The bans are aimed at curbing abusive and intimidating behaviour and shoplifting.

Figures out today show the number of antisocial behaviour orders and other orders have increased markedly since 2007. Since April last year, 543 orders have been imposed on people to control behaviour. Around 200 orders are still active, though some stretch back before that date.

The 543 total compares to 153 between April 2006 and April 2007.

Officers from the city's Community Protection team released pictures and details naming 22 of the most recent people to be given orders.

They include Angela Shand, 40, of Basford, who spat at a police officer.

Her Criminal Antisocial Behaviour Order bans her from carrying an open container of drink in the city centre, going into Debenhams and even from going to Nottingham Magistrates' Court unless she has an appointment.

Richard Antcliff, head of neighbourhood enforcement at Community Protection, said: "With this kind of behaviour you often know who the perpetrator is and can act.

"I have heard the argument that orders are seen as a 'badge of honour' so many times, but in the cold hard light of day, when we've taken action that might mean they can't even associate with their friends, the vast majority of that talk is bravado."

A TERMINALLY-ILL pensioner who was calling for a change in the law to make assisted suicide in the UK has died.

George Martin, 86, died in his sleep at around 3am yesterday.WATCH George Martin pleading for a change in the law

In the build up to his death, Mr Martin had resorted to starving himself to death out of frustration that it was illegal in the UK for people to be helped to die.

He had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and for the last 21 days of his life survived off just water and liquid morphine for his pain.

Last week, Mr Martin, of Westwood, near Selston, spoke to the Post and made a heartfelt plea for the law – which was set down in the 1961 Suicide Act – to be changed.

Yesterday, his daughter Sara Martin, 49, said: "He was a lovely man who lived his life to the full, and for what he believed in.

"He was pleased that his story got so much exposure; he just wanted to get the message out there and try and improve things for vulnerable likeminded adults like himself.

"If there could be a meaningful debate or even a law change then that really would be a true, lasting memory for dad.

"He died very peacefully in the end, but in the last couple of days he deteriorated very rapidly. It's been an emotional day."

Mr Martin, who had four children, wanted assisted suicide to be made legal in the UK, so people who were of sound mind and faced with the onset of death could choose to be put to sleep.

After his story was published, more than 300 people voted in the Post's poll and agreed that Mr Martin should be granted his wish and the law should be changed, as is the case with several European countries including Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands.

Speaking to the Post, Mr Martin, who was brought up in a deprived area of Elephant and Castle in London and went on to become a successful chartered accountant, said: "I am of sound mind, I have loved my life, and feel very proud of many things, not least my family, but now I want to be allowed to die with dignity."

Campaign group Dignity in Dying said the current law caused Mr Martin to "suffer unbearably".

But wanting to die, in the event of terminal disease, was not a frame of mind Mr Martin had adopted because of his current circumstances.

Back in 2004 he made a "living will" following advice from Dignity in Dying, and in it he documented his desire to refuse medicine should he ever be taken seriously ill.

Mr Martin, who required 24-hour care and weighed less than six stone in the build up to his death, had diligently updated this will with his signature every year, as evidence that his resolve remained unchanged.

Mr Martin had four children, two of which have died during his lifetime, and he was married to Mary Martin who also died 21 years ago from a brain tumour aged 64.

He will leave legacies to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, while the remainder of his estate will be left to the Chartered Accountants Benevolent Association.

A TEENAGER today denied murdering a baby.

Scott Gladwin, 19, who comes from the Huthwaite area, is accused of carrying out the crime in 2010.

He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in front of Judge Michael Stokes QC this morning.

Wearing an orange sweatshirt and navy blue jogging bottoms, he confirmed his name and entered a not guilty plea to the one charge.

He was remanded in custody to attend his trial on Monday, October 28, which is estimated to take between four to six weeks.

There are no major delays in  Nottingham city centre as commuters head home this evening. There are delays of around 6 minutes on Derby Road and 10 minutes heading north-east on Western Boulevard.
Buses are running as normal according to Nottingham City Transport and Trent Barton. On the trains, the 17:45 service from Nottingham Station to Liverpool Lime Street has been delayed.

* See www.thisisnottingham.co.uk for all the latest travel news.

The new pope has been revealed as Pope Francis I. Live Updates, Video, Reaction: New pope announced

Photo from Wikimedia under Creative Commons.

A NEW Pope has just been elected. I hope he serves his flock as well as previous Popes.

I am an agnostic but I follow the Roman Catholic Church's fortunes as much as any member of that church.

My late first wife was a devout member of the RC fold and was sustained and succoured by the church.

She developed rheumatic fever as a teenager and knew that her time on earth was limited. The Church was her prop and support during her final days.

Despite my not being a member of any church, I believe that they do a good job for mankind.

COLIN D CAMPBELL

Scalford Drive

Wollaton Park

MANY of those pictured in your paper as being "banned" (Post, March 13) are members of the homeless fraternity. Or at the least those who drift in and out of homelessness.

The main reason for their condition being addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The big problem is that the State in its wisdom fails to get to grips with this, preferring to rely on various local government agencies.

Meanwhile the men and women involved are given cash and free accommodation. This is in effect sponsored fecklessness.

It is a policy that merely perpetuates the problem.

These people appear regularly at Housing Benefit Offices to be sent time after time to homeless hostels, who wherever possible place them in social accommodation.

In a good proportion of cases antisocial behaviour and reoffending quickly renders them homeless once more. Often after prison sentences.

Until a better system is devised – one that does not involve funding their habits and, in the case of males who have fathered children, absolving them of any moral or financial responsibility – the problem will simply grow.

We have a generation that has, in some instances, chosen this lifestyle either by default or choice.

This does not mean that the system does not work in all cases, but that it fails to differentiate between those who are sincerely want to better themselves and those who take to a devil-may-care life of low-level banditry, infesting the streets of the city and funding their lifestyles further with petty crime.

However, these people are human beings and someone's children. Many are fathers or mothers. They are being failed by a system that expects them to respond to politically-correct chats based on failed psychology and regular monetary handouts in the hope that they will reform or simply go away.

ANTHONY O WILKINSON

Clifton Road

Ruddington

IT seems that alcohol now has the same place in British culture as guns in that of the United States.

Any proposal to regulate the use of either is met with the most outrageous claims from, not only those with a vested interest in their sale, but also many of their irrational customers.

To suggest that any attempt to control the use of either guns or alcohol constitutes an interference with civil liberties is nonsense – and a complete distortion of what freedom of the individual ought to mean in a rational society.

In neither the United States or Britain is the complete prohibition of either being proposed.

However, the abuse of both clearly constitutes a serious curtailment of the civil liberties of many other citizens.

JACK MILLER

Orford Avenue

Radcliffe on Trent

WITH regard to the the article on the government banning drinking in the street (Post, March 13) we are skating on thin ice when we can't enjoy an ale outside just because of the misbehaviour of a minority.

There are already laws in place to control that minority. We are effectively turning into a Nazi state as our Government is dictating everything to us.

PETER JOHN PEARSON

Wordsworth Road

Daybrook

IN view of the extremely cold weather we have been having, and the chaos caused by the weather in Europe, could it be that we have been too successful with our drive to control the climate?

After all, the Met Office, NASA and, that fount of all knowledge regarding the future weather, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, on whose authority our government bases its policy of CO2 reduction, have all had to admit that the average global temperature has not risen significantly since 1997.

Is it, perhaps, time for the Government to revise this policy, and emulate a character in a certain comic opera by introducing a plan to extract sunbeams from cucumbers, in order to redress the balance?

I'm sure that such a scheme would be just as effective as that now so successfully completed by the thousands of wind turbines on which so much money has been wasted, sorry invested.

In any case, I dare say that many market gardeners would be only too happy at the prospect of the millions of pounds in subsidies that would inevitably be forthcoming.

G L ROBINSON

Steedman Avenue

Mapperley

ROBERT Crosby accused me of spreading misinformation at the expense of the public sector (Letters, February 5).

Well, instead of shooting the messenger, Mr Crosby should ask how many people are employed by government and whether it is cost-effective and practical to retain battalions in the public sector?

Readers will be aware the country has just lost its triple A credit rating and it is now valued at AA1. That may not seem a great loss, but as the Government borrows the equivalent of £400,000 a minute it will be interesting to see if the cost of the loans escalates.

The bulk of the borrowed cash pays for the enormous government bureaucracy consisting of six million plus employees. As big as the number is, it excludes many groups that are not counted in the public sector, but who are dependant on the government for most of their earnings

Higher and further education colleges employ 530,000 and are listed in the private sector, even though most of their funding comes from taxation.

Network Rail employs 33,000, and is counted in the private sector, even though it is a nationalised company in all but name.

Downsizing of local government is long overdue as collectively councils account for about 25 per cent of the nation's expenditure and that is not sustainable.

Taxation pays the instalments, but government borrowing is increasing when wages are being cut and tax receipts are falling, hence within a couple years taxes may not meet the nation's pledges. So, without radical fiscal reforms the credit rating could be downgraded to 'D', meaning junk status. By then the economy would be bankrupt.

Mr Crosby, this is the stark economic reality, not misinformation!

NIGEL J STARBUCK

Carnarvon Close

Bingham

H ELLO, faithful readers. It has been another busy week at KAM as we take on more car gremlins. We would advise that if you are having problems with your car, our talented technicians will be happy to carry out any checks that you may require.

What may seem like a little problem that you can ignore may turn out to be detrimental to the health of your car.

Call KAM today for your free spring check.

Our Long Eaton depot was the scene of engineering heroics this week. It was another busy morning at KAM as we continued to hunt for those elusive car faults. Superman Sundeep and the boys were getting ready for the challenges to come when we received a call from Mrs J.

"Kev, I just don't know what to do any more," she said. "My car just isn't driving like it used to. I have had this problem for a while now and I need it sorting as soon as possible."

Mrs J explained that such were the problems at the beginning of the week that she had stopped driving the vehicle. It was now Saturday and she was in need of the KAM team's help. "I just didn't have time during the week, Kev, but I think my husband is becoming a little tired of ferrying me around."

Mrs J explained that she could not figure out the problem with her Toyota Prius.

We assured her that we would find the faults and that she would not be without her car for too long.

Senator Shaun made his way to Mrs J's house to retrieve the car and, a short while later, returned.

Mrs J was in a rush to have her car back to normal but was not in a rush to go anywhere on this particular day. So she made herself comfortable in our warm waiting room with a hot coffee and a selection of televisual treats as we got to work.

Shaun then started his vigorous testing to try to locate the fault. A very short road test was all that was needed to get to the bottom of this week's conundrum. Here at KAM, our technicians are fully qualified and will not rest until all faults are found and fixed – and after a few moments, the famous words rang out: "We've got it, Kev."

As we had suspected, the clutch was worn. We informed Mrs J of the damage and explained the work that would need to be done. She then asked a few questions, which we were happy to answer, and we continued to the replacement.

We ordered the new clutch from our suppliers and it arrived very promptly. Shaun then fitted it and all that remained was the road test. Mrs J asked to be taken on the test so that she could be sure that the fault had gone.

Back at the depot, she could hardly contain her glee. "Kev, I just really want to thank the KAM team. My car drives like a dream. The KAM team really are heroes."

Remember, our team of dedicated and hardworking staff at the branches in Sutton, Long Eaton, Bulwell, Beeston, Belper and Stapleford, along with our bodywork shop, are open every day of the week, excluding Sundays, while the lads at our Sawley and Heanor workshops are at your service seven days a week.

So until next week, faithful reader, drive safely and keep it shiny side up.

Dr Kev

A CALVERTON wife has thanked the Post for helping find a woman who came to her seriously ill husband's aid.

Chris Jackson, 59, was taking a wreath to his mother's grave in Bulwell Cemetery on Christmas Day when he found himself unable to breathe.

He waved at four people in a passing car for help but they ignored him. But three other people in the cemetery called an ambulance.

It was feared he had suffered a heart attack, but he was diagnosed with a pulmonary edema which means his lungs had filled up with fluid and, after three days in the cardiac unit at the City Hospital, he was allowed home.

Mr Jackson's wife Sally, appealed to the Post to help her track down the three good Samaritans so the couple could say thank you properly.

She said: "We had no way of contacting the people who helped Chris and were so desperate just to say thank you.

"A lady, Diana Shepherd, rang us and it turned out her mother had seen the piece in the Post and told her to ring us as she was one of the people who helped Chris. We arranged to meet her and presented her with a bouquet to express our thanks."

Mrs Jackson added: "You can imagine how I felt. This was my husband 13 miles away and I needed to be there with him. Diana and the couple stayed with him until the ambulance arrived."

Miss Shepherd, 51, was visiting her father's grave when she saw Mr Jackson collapsed on a bench.

She said: "I just did what anybody would do in that situation. I wanted to make him feel better for seeing a friendly face. I know what that situation is like because my dad died from a heart attack in a public place.

"After my mum saw the piece in the Post I couldn't believe it referred to me. But I called them and they asked me round for coffee and gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers."

She added: "It was very emotional."

City: Three consultants from Nottingham University Hospitals are to help shape NHS policy in critical care and major trauma.

Bob Winter has been announced as the national clinical director for Emergency Preparedness and Critical Care; Professor Chris Moran is the national clinical director for Major Trauma; and Adam Brooks is the chairman of the National Clinical Reference Group for Major Trauma.

They will provide expert advice and support research to the national medical directorate when the NHS Commissioning Board comes into full effect from April 1.

City: Two sport students from Central College Nottingham have been named as captain in their respective teams for the British Colleges of Sport East Midlands Region championships.

Aimee Farmery will captain the East Midlands female football team and Ryan Lord the men's hockey team.

The National Championships take place at Bath University on March 22-24. In all, 27 students from Central College will be representing the East Midlands.

St Ann's: A Notts charity which runs free play sessions for children is asking for people to help run it. Playworks, of Alfred Street North, is looking for new trustees, including a chairperson, secretary and treasurer.

The organisation runs activities including street play and free play sessions for families in the school holidays. Anyone interested in the roles is asked to contact Pam Wisher on 0115 958 9199 for an informal chat.

"I'M sure there used to be gun turrets on the gate there," Silent Witness screenwriter Nigel McCrery says, pointing at his old school gates.

A lot may have changed since Mr McCrery started at George Spencer School (now Academy) 47 years ago, but memories of his schooldays are still relatively fresh.

"There weren't actually any turrets there," he adds quickly, spotting his comments being noted down.

Mr McCrery's career has seen him work with household names like Dennis Waterman, Amanda Redman and David Jason.

It all seems faraway from the school, where he opened a new centre for pupils with dyslexia and other special educational needs yesterday.

The writer, who is dyslexic, said: "They were difficult times, difficult and different – there were some teachers who really had passion for their subject and I enjoyed learning what they had to teach, but the majority of it wasn't fun.

"In fact, I'm pretty sure I only got my job in the police because I was big and ugly and they wanted me to deal with rowdy people.

"I left school destined not to do very much – people with dyslexia weren't treated very well and just left to finish and get on with their lives outside the school. I'm glad things are much much different now."

The Nigel McCrery Learning and Inclusion Centre cost £1.2 million. It has classrooms and meeting rooms for one-to-one tuition and discussions for children who need help and advice away from the school. The money came from the Department for Education.

Despite years away from Notts, Mr McCrery still has a soft spot for the area.

"It's home. I can remember going to places like the Bell in Beeston and playing darts. Or going to town and having to walk back from Beeston because the buses had finished.

"They always used to stop at around 11pm at night and it always seemed such a long walk back, with the drink not helping."

But Mr McCrery's trip to Stapleford wasn't all about nostalgia. He was keen to see better support for dyslexic people.

He said: "You can't let it hold you back – you better note this down and tell everyone – you can still achieve if you have dyslexia. Everyone should be aware of this.

"There is help available and spaces like this shows how support has moved on."

Have you overcome a learning difficulty? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampost.co.uk or tell us your story at thisisnottingham.co.uk

CATHOLICS across Notts have welcomed the election of a new Pope.

White smoked emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Rome on Wednesday night as Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected.

Crowds of more than 100,000 people had amassed in St Peter's Square for the papal conclave, and the successful vote was the third attempt to find a majority consensus.

The Bishop of Nottingham, the Right Reverend Malcolm McMahon, gave his blessing to the appointment.

He said: "I welcome very much the election of Pope Francis. As a priest and a bishop, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has amassed a great wealth of pastoral experience which he can now share with the universal church.

"I am sure that Pope Francis will spread the good news of Jesus Christ in all that he says and does, using his words wisely to promote in particular the Church's social teaching, giving a message of peace and justice which the world needs to hear more than ever."

The new Pope spent his first day at the helm of the Catholic Church meeting residents in Rome, held a Sistine Chapel Mass and met local schoolchildren and commuters heading to work. He also started the process of appointing senior staff at the Vatican.

Father Geoffrey Hunton, Dean and Parish Priest at Nottingham's St Barnabas' Cathedral, said: "I was very surprised they had come to a decision so quickly.

"There's a humility about him and that is important."

Father Hunton added: "The challenges and tasks are guiding the church so it is loyal to the gospel.

"I hope there will be a good reaction."

Seventy-six-year-old Pope Francis I, from Buenos Aires, is the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to be pontiff.

Joseph Hopkins is the lay chaplain at the University of Nottingham and Christ the King school in Arnold.

He said: "I was watching and I was very surprised. When they were reading it out I was trying to work it out.

"It's interesting reading about him – it sounds like it's going to be a very good papacy.

"I'm quite excited to see how he builds on the previous work."

Mr Hopkins added: "I think we're losing our missionary zeal – we've been too easy to give up our faith."

A WAR veteran is drumming up support for the elderly on a charity song set to storm the charts.

Derek D'Hooghe, 89, is playing drums on the track, See Yourself, which is raising money for a charity called Contact the Elderly.

It is being performed by 150 members of the Anchor Community Band, which is made up of residents of care homes run by Anchor in the UK.

A signaller in the Second World War, and a former professional drummer, Derek had to put down his rhythm sticks two years ago after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

He now lives at Annesley Lodge Care Home, in Hucknall, where he was invited to perform on the charity single.

"I love playing the drums and time doesn't make a difference," he said. "I can still play at the age of 89

"It's a really powerful song because the words are telling younger people we are exactly the same as them, but just a bit older. It's also very catchy."

His daughter, Sally Dury, said her father had a number of other instruments, such as shakers, triangles and tambourines, which he lent to others who played and sang along.

"He has never really stopped playing the drums.," she said.

"He played in Liverpool, whilst he was in the Army and then mainly in Nottingham – at the Palais de Danse, Victoria Ballroom and the Odeon – with the Rube Sunshine band.

"I am sure that he could have given Ringo Starr a run for his money in his heyday because hearing him play at nearly the age of 90, he still has the rhythm and passion in him."

Annesley Lodge manager Alice Thring said everyone involved was looking forward to adding their voice to the single. "Derek is so happy about performing on a record, especially as it's for a charity that helps other older people," she said.

"Derek and the other members of the Anchor Community Band have worked so hard.

"I hope the people of Nottingham will support them by downloading or buying the record when it is released later this year."

Contact the Elderly helps lonely elderly people maintain their social life, with volunteers hosting monthly Sunday tea parties.

Director Keith Arscott said: "Over the past four months, Anchor has been working tremendously hard with Contact the Elderly to get this innovative project off the ground.

"The money raised will be invaluable in helping us to extend our vital lifeline of friendship to more isolated older people.

"We are extremely grateful to Anchor and can't wait for the single to be released."