Latest news with #RochdaleBoroughCouncil
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rochdale street wins 'alleyway of the year' for 2025
A protected alleyway has been crowned the best in its borough for the eighth year in Littleborough were recognised by Rochdale Borough Council as part of its annual Alleyways in Bloom event gives residents the chance to "share their love of gardening" by decorating the gate-protected spaces, which were installed in 2017 as part of a council scheme to reduce crime and Simpson, from Shaftesbury Avenue, said he was "delighted" to have once again impressed the judges. 'Thriving community' Shaftesbury Avenue alleyway was described by the council as "a vibrant, attractive and tranquil area" featuring seating, a fairy garden, and an "appealing archway".Mr Simpson said: "While receiving such recognition is gratifying, the value of our protected alleyway extends beyond competitions."Since the gates were installed in 2017, our community has collaborated to establish a safe and welcoming environment for all residents, both current and future."In Castleton, Barry Flynn joined with neighbours in Smalley Street to enter the competition for the third year and secured the runner-up said: "The gates have helped turn a once unused and problematic space into a thriving community garden, which we are continuing to develop and improve."We're delighted to have been chosen again as an example of how alleyways like these can be transformed into a safe haven and welcoming space that not only look great but offer a place for peace and relaxation."The sites at Shaftesbury Avenue and Smalley Street are two of more than 600 protected alleyways across the borough. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Warning after ‘cheap' Botox from overseas that can cause ‘permanent disfigurement and scarring' discovered in UK salons
Plus, advice for choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure FACE IT Warning after 'cheap' Botox from overseas that can cause 'permanent disfigurement and scarring' discovered in UK salons BRITS have been warned to be vigilant when buying "cheap" anti-wrinkle and filler injections after unlicensed products with a "very serious risk of injury" were seized from UK salons. The 'Botox' products, that had been imported from overseas, couldn't be identified due to insufficient labelling, and pose a risk of permanent disfigurement and scarring. 1 The products were seized from five business premises in Rochdale by Rochdale Borough Council Credit: Getty Rochdale Borough Council said it had found the unlicensed products at five business premises in the town where Botox and fillers were being advertised. All related items were seized by the council's public protection team and the businesses were referred to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has the power to prosecute. The products were found as part of routine checks by trading standards and environmental health officers to ensure Botox wasn't being administered to under 18s. Names of the businesses cannot be revealed at present, but no evidence was found of underage customers being given the cosmetic injections. According to national statistics, more than 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year. Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council, said: "While there's no issue with wanting to look younger, it's really important you do your homework beforehand with these types of treatment - especially given what our officers found. "Know who your prescribed is and who will be administering your treatment. "The unlicensed products we've uncovered potentially posed serous health and safety risks, so it's very important you stay vigilant." The council also urged anyone considering cosmetic procedures to check what training and experience providers have and what their insurance arrangements are to avoid further potential issues. And businesses have been reminded about their legal responsibilities in administering Botox and filler by way of injection for cosmetic purposes. Skin doctor reveals the anti ageing tip that really 'turns back time' and the Boots buy that's 'Botox in a bottle' Botulinum toxin, which is commonly shortened to Botox, is a prescription only medicine in the UK and can only be administered by or under the supervision of a qualified medical professional. This includes doctors, dentists, and nurse or pharmacist prescribers who have completed specific prescribing courses. In the UK, a face-to-face pre-consultation with a qualified prescriber is now mandatory, following a change in regulations effective from June 1, 2025. The person giving the injections doesn't have to be the same person who provided the prescription, but the prescriber must ensure the person giving the injections is trained and can do so safely. It's also important to be aware Botox injections can cause a range of side effects, from common and mild to rare and severe. Common side effects include bruising, swelling, and pain at the injection site, as well as headaches. More serious potential side effects include drooping eyelids, crooked smiles, muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. Allergic reactions are also possible, although rare.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Warning after ‘cheap' Botox from overseas that can cause ‘permanent disfigurement and scarring' discovered in UK salons
BRITS have been warned to be vigilant when buying "cheap" anti-wrinkle and filler injections after unlicensed products with a "very serious risk of injury" were seized from UK salons. The ' Botox ' products, that had been imported from overseas, couldn't be identified due to insufficient labelling, and pose a risk of permanent disfigurement and scarring. 1 Rochdale Borough Council said it had found the unlicensed products at five business premises in the town where Botox and fillers were being advertised. All related items were seized by the council's public protection team and the businesses were referred to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has the power to prosecute. The products were found as part of routine checks by trading standards and environmental health officers to ensure Botox wasn't being administered to under 18s. Names of the businesses cannot be revealed at present, but no evidence was found of underage customers being given the cosmetic injections. According to national statistics, more than 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year. Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council, said: "While there's no issue with wanting to look younger, it's really important you do your homework beforehand with these types of treatment - especially given what our officers found. "Know who your prescribed is and who will be administering your treatment. "The unlicensed products we've uncovered potentially posed serous health and safety risks, so it's very important you stay vigilant." The council also urged anyone considering cosmetic procedures to check what training and experience providers have and what their insurance arrangements are to avoid further potential issues. And businesses have been reminded about their legal responsibilities in administering Botox and filler by way of injection for cosmetic purposes. Skin doctor reveals the anti ageing tip that really 'turns back time' and the Boots buy that's 'Botox in a bottle' Botulinum toxin, which is commonly shortened to Botox, is a prescription only medicine in the UK and can only be administered by or under the supervision of a qualified medical professional. This includes doctors, dentists, and nurse or pharmacist prescribers who have completed specific prescribing courses. In the UK, a face-to-face pre-consultation with a qualified prescriber is now mandatory, following a change in regulations effective from June 1, 2025. The person giving the injections doesn't have to be the same person who provided the prescription, but the prescriber must ensure the person giving the injections is trained and can do so safely. It's also important to be aware Botox injections can cause a range of side effects, from common and mild to rare and severe. Common side effects include bruising, swelling, and pain at the injection site, as well as headaches. More serious potential side effects include drooping eyelids, crooked smiles, muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. Allergic reactions are also possible, although rare. Choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure The NHS offers of useful list of steps to follow when it comes to choosing who will do your cosmetic procedure. They should have the right training, skills and insurance to safely carry out the procedure. Book a consultation Always book a consultation with the person who will do the procedure before making your final decision. You should ask them: how many of these procedures they've done what qualifications and training they have if they're a member of a relevant professional association that shows they meet set standards in training and skill about the most common complications of the procedure what aftercare you can expect and who will look after you what to do if something goes wrong or you're not happy with the result how much it'll cost, and if it'll cost extra to have further treatment if needed They should then tell you exactly what the procedure involves and what to expect after. Do not pay for a procedure until you've had a consultation to make sure it's right for you. Check the person is qualified You can see if someone is qualified by checking they're registered with a suitable specialist association and trained in the right procedures.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Botox warning after unlicensed injections seized
A warning has been issued after "cheap" anti-wrinkle and filler injections bought from overseas were seized. Rochdale Borough Council said it had found the unlicensed products - which had no English labelling or instructions - at five business premises in the town where Botox and fillers were being advertised. It said some of the products could not be identified due to poor labelling, posing a potentially "very serious risk of injury". The businesses were referred to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which has the power to prosecute. The council said the products were found as part of routine checks to ensure Botox was not being administered to under 18s. It said it could not reveal the names of the businesses at present, and added that there was no evidence found of underage customers being given the cosmetic injections. 'Stay vigilant' Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader of the council, said: "While there's no issue with wanting to look younger, it's really important you do your homework beforehand with these types of treatment – especially given what our officers found."Know who your prescriber is and who will be administering your treatment. The unlicensed products we've uncovered potentially posed serious health and safety risks, so it's very important you stay vigilant."The council also urged anyone considering cosmetic procedures to check what training and experience providers have and what their insurance toxin, commonly shortened to Botox, is a prescription only product that is regulated by the states customers must first take part in a face-to-face pre-consultation with the prescriber of the Botox product to check their medical history. The prescriber must either be a doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber or pharmacist person administering the injections does not need to be the prescriber, but the prescriber is required to ensure they are properly trained. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Powys County Times
13-06-2025
- Powys County Times
Seven men face ‘lengthy' sentences for sexual abuse of teenage girls in Rochdale
Seven members of an Asian grooming gang are facing 'lengthy' prison sentences after they were convicted of the sexual exploitation of two white teenage schoolgirls in Rochdale. Social services and police apologised for their past failings surrounding the victims who were abused in the town between 2001 and 2006 after a jury returned unanimous verdicts on Friday against the defendants. Both girls were treated as 'sex slaves' from the age of 13, said prosecutors, amid 'deeply troubled home lives' as they were given drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, places to stay and people to be with. Soon after, they were expected to have sex 'whenever and wherever' the defendants and other men wanted, in filthy flats, on rancid mattresses, in cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. Girl A told the jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court that she could have been targeted by more than 200 offenders as her phone number was swapped but said 'there was that many it was hard to keep count'. She told local children's services in 2004 that she was 'hanging around' with groups of older men, drinking and taking cannabis, the court heard. Giving evidence, Girl B said she was living in a local children's home when she was preyed on by market traders Mohammed Zahid, 64; Mushtaq Ahmed, 67; and Kasir Bashir, 50 – all born in Pakistan – who were stallholders on the town's indoor market. She said she presumed various agencies knew what was going on as police regularly picked her up after social workers labelled her a 'prostitute'. Girl B told the hearing she had since read her file held by Rochdale social services which, she said, stated she had been selling herself for sex from the age of 10. Following the verdicts, Sharon Hubber, Rochdale Borough Council's director of children's services, said: 'We know that these convictions are unlikely to erase the memories of the abuse these women were subjected to as children, but we hope they do bring some form of closure. 'We know that more could and should have been done by the people who were working here at the time, and for that we are truly sorry.' Detective Superintendent Alan Clitherow, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'There was information at the time that police and other agencies could, and should, have done something with and we didn't. 'The way those victims were dealt with at the time is indefensible and inexcusable. 'We have made comprehensive apologies for that. We're not perfect but we are very much improving now on how we manage these investigations.' Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker added: 'I know that our past failings have meant there are people who doubt the police's commitment today to putting grooming gangs behind bars where they belong. 'Let me be clear – time is no barrier to justice, and we are actively working with dozens of survivors on numerous investigations to ensure no offender gets away with this. When you are ready, we will listen. 'Our dedicated, child sexual exploitation, major investigations team has almost 100 investigators working every day to listen to victims and to bring cases to court.' Father-of-three Zahid – known as Boss Man – gave free underwear from his lingerie stall to both complainants and also money, alcohol and food in return for the expectation of regular sex with him and his friends. In 2016, Zahid was jailed for five years in an earlier grooming gang case after he engaged in sexual activity in 2006 with a 15-year-old girl whom he met when she visited his stall to buy tights for school. Bashir did not attend the current trial as jurors were ordered not to speculate why but it can be revealed that he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way. Police are actively seeking Bashir and say they are 'determined to find him no matter where he thinks he can hide'. It can also be reported that co-defendants Mohammed Shahzad, 44; Naheem Akram, 48; and Nisar Hussain, 41; were remanded in custody with their bail revoked in January before the jury was sworn in. Police received intelligence that the three Rochdale-born taxi drivers were planning to leave the UK and had already paid a deposit for their transport, the court heard. All three denied the accusation but Judge Jonathan Seely said the court was not prepared to take a risk that they, too, would abscond. A seventh defendant, Pakistani-born Roheez Khan, 39, also featured in another previous Rochdale grooming trial in 2013 when he was one of five men convicted of sexually exploiting a 'profoundly vulnerable' 15-year-old girl in 2008 and 2009. Khan was jailed for six and a half years for engaging in sexual activity with a child and witness intimidation. After three weeks of deliberations by the jury, Zahid, of, Station Road, Crumpsall, was convicted of raping Girl A and Girl B, who did not know each other, on multiple occasions. Jurors also found him guilty of offences of indecency with a child and procuring a child to have sex. Ahmed, of Corona Avenue, Oldham; and Bashir, of Napier Street East, Oldham; were convicted of multiple counts of rape and indecency with a child, in relation to Girl B. Shahzad, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale; Akram, of Manley Road, Rochdale; and Hussain, of New Field Close, Rochdale; were convicted of multiple counts of rape against Girl A. Roheez Khan, of Athole Street, Rochdale, was found guilty of a single count of rape against Girl A. Judge Seely told the men they all faced 'lengthy' prison sentences as he remanded them in custody ahead of sentencing on a date to be fixed. All the perpetrators were prosecuted as part of Operation Lytton, an ongoing investigation since 2015 by Greater Manchester Police into historical child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.
