Public faith in policing will be undermined if wrongdoers feel they can avoid a night in the cells, writes Record View.

The most basic function of the police is to keep the public safe by detecting and preventing crime. Not everyone arrested by officers needs to be temporarily locked up at a local station.

But to keep communities safe there is a clear need to remove some criminals from the streets when they are arrested. This means having a custody suite available for use.

Speak to any off-duty, rank-and-file officer, and they’ll likely tell you that’s easier said than done. Three times last year, the cells at Greenock police station were out of action.

That meant officers were forced to make time-consuming return journeys to Clydebank or Govan, where custody suites were available.

Many members of the public will likely be surprised that Police Scotland now opens new stations with no cells at all – Ayr being one prominent example.

The result, according to the Scottish Police Federation, is officers being discouraged from making arrests because there is no room to detain people.

Police Scotland say they are simply making use of other sanctions like fixed penalties. But opposition MSPs insist there is a problem with a lack of capacity to detain criminals in our police stations.

The situation has been exacerbated by the dozens of police stations which have been closed since the old regional constabularies were merged in 2013.

Police Scotland must take a long, hard look at its spending priorities. Top of the list should be ensuring there is space available in police stations to hold potentially violent offenders.

Public faith in policing will be badly undermined if wrongdoers feel they can act as they please and still avoida night in the cells.

Back to school

Nicola Sturgeon famously said she wanted to be judged on education. But instead the former first minister is now using public appearances to decry anyone who has the temerity to question whether pupils are really being given the best schooling possible.

The data doesn’t lie. The attainment gap between the richest and poorest pupils remains stubbornly high.

The music legend has shared a health update on social media following a coronary stent procedure

Sir Rod Stewart has withdrawn from the remainder of his US tour dates after undergoing heart surgery.

The 81 year old rock icon took to Instagram to reveal he will be taking four weeks off to recover following a coronary stent procedure.

“I’m already feeling better and very much on the mend,” he said. “I want to thank the doctors, nurses and everyone who has taken such wonderful care of me.

“I am deeply disappointed to miss these shows and sorry to let my fans down, but I look forward to getting back on stage and having a good time with you all again soon.”

His team confirmed Sir Rod was “doing very well” after the operation and had “returned to his normal daily activities.”.

The statement added: “On the advice of his doctors, he will take the next four weeks to recuperate and regain full fitness before returning to the stage. Unfortunately, this means he will be unable to continue his current tour dates.

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“Information regarding affected performances will be communicated by the respective promoters and venues.”

The announcement follows Sir Rod’s postponement of gigs in Cincinnati and Cleveland due to medical issues.

Cleveland’s Rocket Arena later announced the cancellation on social media, stating: “Following a period of monitoring, doctors have advised Rod Stewart to rest for at least 48 hours. As a result, his performance tomorrow night, August 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland has been cancelled.

“Rod is disappointed to miss the show and appreciates everyone’s understanding. He looks forward to returning to the stage soon.”

Health concerns have also led to the postponement and cancellation of several gigs throughout May and June.

In May, the ‘Maggie May’ hitmaker issued “apologies to my family of fans” via a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal after scrapping Nevada dates, explaining: “I am on vocal rest as I recover from a sinus infection.”

Less than a month later, he pulled the plug on his San Diego concert following a diagnosis of a respiratory infection which developed into laryngitis.

Earlier this month, the rock icon celebrated becoming a grandfather for the sixth time as his daughter Ruby gave birth to a baby boy called Levi.

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While the cafe is already proving successful, it was born out of a particularly challenging period in Becky’s life. The cafe aims to raise awareness of sexual violence, support survivors and help build a more informed and compassionate community.

Throughout her journey, which involved a serious and traumatic incident, Becky has met survivors, families and individuals who felt isolated, unheard and unsure where to turn after similar experiences. It’s something Becky can relate to. She felt compelled to make a difference in her own community.

Her main aim when opening the doors a few weeks back was to create a welcoming space where people could connect, access information, find support and feel part of a community. It’s something she was desperate for during the last few years.

“I was heartbroken, I didn’t know what to do,” Becky recalls of her last few years. “I felt so alone and lonely, I couldn’t talk to anybody around me. I switched off from the world. But that’s when I thought ‘what can I do to make a difference?’”.

Over the last few months, with the support of family, friends and local businesses, Becky and her team of volunteers have transformed an empty shop into a thriving community space.

Alongside coffee and light refreshments, they provide a space for local makers and small businesses to showcase their products, while also offering a welcoming environment where people can access information, support and connection.

Shelves lined with handmade cards, keychains, teddy bears and candle melts – all made and produced by local people – sit next to vital resources from organisations like Andy’s Man Club and The Maggie Oliver Foundation, giving customers, visitors and anyone needing someone to talk to an opportunity to do so.

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“I wanted to know how I could give back to people that have helped, and every shelf is a different person of business and we’re supporting them, because they support us. I love what we are building here.”

Becky continues to work alongside organisations supporting survivors and families affected by sexual violence, including The Maggie Oliver Foundation, and remains committed to raising awareness and advocating for positive change.

“The safe space we have created is not just [about] trauma and sexual assault, but I’m advocating for that in the background to get laws changed,” continues Becky.

“You could have lost someone, be going through something so terrible but as a human being when we ask ‘are you okay?’. It’s a thin question, nobody really cares, nobody talks anymore. We need to bring back communication. We’re doing that here.”

To ensure that people felt visible and able to connect, Becky has made sure the kitchen is a focal point so customers can engage directly with staff. Similarly, to ensure it’s open to all, she has kept the costs low so there’s an affordable option for everybody.

On the menu there’s a range of toasties from £3.50, plus jacket potatoes at the same price and with a number of topping options. They also serve omelettes with salad or baked beans, plus soup, sandwiches and salad bowls.

Many pop in for a brew, cake and a good chat, so their meal deal (£3) for a hot drink and a cake is catering for that. There’s also a children’s menu, plus a selection of freshly made baked goods.

Becky has used her life savings to bring She Remains Brave to life, something that not everybody could understand when she first set out to create the space. But now, many can see how important the space is for them and the community.

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“My husband said to me ‘I always felt like this place was meant to be here,’ and a lot of others have said that too. I’d never felt so lonely in my life, but here, I feel more confident now.”

While they can’t expand the food and drink options too much without the extraction fan, the landlord has bought the building, meaning they can grow She Remains Brave in the months to come. This will ensure they have more spaces for counselling sessions, community groups and any activity that will support the community.

“This is the way I’ve coped, it’s my coping mechanism. I can make a difference now.”

She Remains Brave, 5 Huddersfield Rd, Newhey, Rochdale OL16 3RU

Manchester United are reportedly in the market for a new left-back and could find the solution has already landed on their lap

Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge of Manchester United grows ever closer. Though there is still plenty of transfer business to be done.

United have already bolstered their squad in several key positions this summer, welcoming Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to their midfield ranks and back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Their pre-season results have also been stellar.

Carrick’s squad are unbeaten in their last three fixtures since opening the summer with a friendly defeat to Wrexham. Carrick’s side drew 1-1 against Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 and Rosenborg 5-0.

But for the new Premier League season, the club have made it no secret that left-back is a position they wish to reinforce. Arsenal could help out their top-flight rivals with this issue, as the Manchester Evening News rounds up the latest gossip emerging from Old Trafford.

Mourinho makes trio available

Jose Mourinho is reportedly willing to offload three players considered surplus to requirements at Real Madrid. United could be well placed to take advantage of one or more of those available assets.

According to Spanish daily AS, ‘The Special One’ has indicated he wants a squad of 20, plus the sidelined trio of Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy. However, Mendy is among those who could be moved on due to the heightened competition at left-back following Marc Cucurella’s arrival.

Mendy has no desire to depart the Bernabeu, yet his injury record has done little to instil confidence in Madrid. Former United prospect Alvaro Carreras is the other left-back option understood to be ahead of the Frenchman in the pecking order.

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Eduardo Camavinga finds himself in a comparable situation and has no wish to leave Real. United have previously been heavily linked with the midfielder and could capitalise on his versatility, given Camavinga has already demonstrated his ability both in midfield and at left-back.

The other Real name reportedly available is academy product Raul Asencio. United, however, are not currently thought to be actively pursuing reinforcements in central defence.

United have already endured considerable frustration with Luke Shaw’s persistent unavailability through injury over the years. For this reason, Camavinga may not be the only name at Real with a realistic prospect of making the move to United this summer.

Lewis-Skelly ‘offered’ to United and Chelsea

The £75million acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes looks set to trigger a knock-on effect at the Emirates Stadium. Reports have emerged that Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to both United and Chelsea this week.

Despite initially showing considerable promise as a left-back, Mikel Arteta deployed Lewis-Skelly in midfield throughout last season. The 19-year-old made some vital contributions towards the latter stages of the campaign as the Gunners secured the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.

As it stands, United have a pressing need for a new left-back as they seek a long-term replacement for Shaw. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall has been strongly touted as a candidate for that position, though the Magpies are reportedly unwilling to part with him.

Just before 6pm local time ambulances from Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga counties were dispatched to the Grafton Correction Institution after lightning sttic

At least 16 inmates were struck by lightning outside a correctional facility in Ohio, authorities said.

Just before 6pm local time ambulances from Lorain, Medina and Cuyahoga counties were dispatched to the Grafton Correction Institution.

A spokesperson for Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said: “Initial reports indicate a lightning strike occurred this evening while incarcerated individuals were returning from the evening meal.

“At this time, 16 individuals are being transported to an outside hospital for treatment, including one individual who was life-flighted. There have been no reported deaths at this time. We are continuing to assess and monitor the situation.”

Officials said the inmates were leaving one building and heading to another after a meal when they were struck.

All were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries although some of the patients were described as being critically hurt.

It came after Ohio was battered by powerful storms that flooded parts of the state with several feet of water killing at least one person.

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I love the beach. It’s my happy place. And there’s one spot that’s become my go-to when I need to escape London and be by the sea.

Aldeburgh in Suffolk regularly tops lists of the UK’s best seaside towns, and it truly deserves its flowers. 

It’s small, with an estimated population of just 2,348, and just a handful of shops on the high street. But it’s got everything you could need for a charming coastal getaway. 

I would know; I’ve been going there at least once a year for almost two decades.

The first time I went to Aldeburgh was on the eve of my 15th birthday. 

I’m now 32, and honestly, it hasn’t changed all that much in the last 17 years. That’s a good thing. 

I love seeing the same businesses thriving each time I visit, from the Aldeburgh Cinema to The Golden Galleon fish & chip shop.

There’s a gorgeous independent bookshop (with tote bags to rival Daunt’s), several charity shops, a couple of art galleries, an excellent deli and, of course, an ice cream parlour.

The food scene is exceptional. The Suffolk’s seafood restaurant has been featured in the Michelin Guide, the Thai Street Kitchen takeaway slots fill up faster than you can say Pad Thai on a Friday night, and Sea Spice is serving up dishes on par with some of London’s finest curry houses.

The star of the show, though, is the beach itself.

It’s a pebble beach, which means you’ll probably want to keep your shoes on instead of going barefoot, but otherwise, it’s pretty perfect.

Colourful houses line the seafront in pastel shades of pink, yellow, and blue, wooden fishing boats sit on the shingle, and the North Sea sparkles gloriously in the sunshine. 

If you get up before 9am, you’ll catch locals heading down for a dip, wearing dressing gowns and water shoes. Some swim in the bracing water, others merely float for a few minutes to wake themselves up.

Whenever I’m in town, I like to set an early alarm and take a cup of tea down to the sea.

First thing in the morning, the beach is gloriously empty, save for a few swimmers, so you feel you have the entire place to yourself.

There are plenty of walking trails, too, including a two-mile stretch of coast you can follow to the village of Thorpeness.

This will take you past the Scallop, a massive shell-shaped sculpture made from steel, that serves as a memorial to the composer, Sir Benjamin Britten, who lived in The Red House in Aldeburgh.

Walk in the opposite direction and you’ll find Slaughden, a hamlet just south of the town centre. It’s marshland, home to England’s largest Martello Tower, and Slaughden Sailing Club.

There’s a footpath you can take through the salt marshes, with the estuary waters of the River Alde on one side, and fields full of cows on the other. 

The area is home to several nature reserves, including Snape Marshes and RSPB Minsmere, if you want to venture further. 

I can’t say I ever do any strenuous hikes when I visit, though. Aldeburgh is for relaxing, and it’s truly a glorious place to kick back.

I breathe in the sea air, eat more than my share of great food, enjoy a drink at the pub or a bottle of wine from the Adnams store, and I read. 

A long weekend is an ideal amount of time, but you might find yourself wanting to stay longer. Aldeburgh has a way of reeling you in.

The town has captured my heart, hook, line, and sinker, and I’m already counting the days until I return.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

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The Northern Echo revealed last month that Dana Carr, 27, could be let out after serving less than three years of a nine-year sentence for allowing the two-and-a-half-year-old’s death, and child cruelty.

And Maya’s family have now called on the PM to “step up and make a decision for the good of families” after having to deal with the torment of potentially having to come face to face with Carr once she’s released from her jail term, maybe even as soon as in a few months.

Dana Carr (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY)

Mr Burnham said on Tuesday (August 11) that “I don’t want to see a single prisoner released early” as he claimed to have been “pressing every single day to go further” after saying he is “increasingly confident” the killers of PC Andrew Harper will not be released early from their sentences.

However, Maya’s great aunts, Gemma Chappell and Rachael Walls, have insisted that with every day that policies or decisions from the government change, “trust in justice and politics is eroded”.

“We’re left in limbo every day, not knowing if Dana Carr will be released,” said Gemma.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster, and we’re left in turmoil every day by all of this.

Maya Chappell (Image: FAMILY)

“The prison service and Ministry of Justice aren’t balancing this on a case-by-case basis; they’re trying to do a ‘one size fits all approach, and it’s not good at all.”

Gemma and Rachael have insisted that they “wholeheartedly back” the decision on PC Harper’s killers, and now want the PM to look into individual cases more carefully.

When asked about what their message would be to PM Andy Burnham, they said: “We want him to get a grip of the situation and not flip flop on decisions.”

“The justice system is an absolute joke.

“We want Andy Burnham to sit down with us and listen to families.”

Rachael Walls (left) and Gemma Chappell (right) (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Gemma, who is a current police officer and a former prison officer, knows the challenges of prisons more than most, but says that the thought of her and her family coming face to face with Carr in the street is “unimaginable”.

“To say that we could easily see her around Consett and the area is sickening,” said Gemma.

“And younger memebers of the family could see her as well, which is awful.”

Following Carr’s sentencing, she applied to have her jail term reduced in the Court of Appeal in April last year, but her plea was thrown out.

The Attorney General also received a request for referral for Carr’s sentence after it was called “unduly lenient” back in January 2024.

It was considered by then Solicitor General Robert Courts MP, who decided not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Image: Toby Shepheard/PA Wire)

Carr was jailed along with her ex, Michael Daymond, who was found guilty of Maya’s murder and child cruelty and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.

“Monster” Daymond shook defenceless Maya in her Shotton Colliery home in September 2022, and she died at the Newcastle RVI two days after.

Back in Westminster, the PM said he had “never taken no for an answer” as he confirmed he had ordered Justice Secretary Alex Norris to draw up plans to increase the number of cells available to keep more serious offenders behind bars.

Mr Norris had been asked to fast-track proposals to create “more headroom” in the prison system, including through deporting more foreign offenders, finding a solution for people on indeterminate sentences and using cells previously holding female inmates to accommodate male offenders.

Since last year, Maya’s family, alongside The Northern Echo, have campaigned for stronger safeguarding laws and legally required information-sharing about potential risks to children, including a new Child Risk Disclosure Scheme (CRDS).

The MoJ said that more than 18,000 offenders serving more serious sentences will not be released early and timelines for any individual early release have not been calculated yet.

Under the Sentencing Act 2026, those who previously would have been released at 40 per cent or 50 per cent of their sentence will now be eligible for release one-third of the way through their term.

Those who would previously have been released at the two-thirds point – typically for more serious offences – will now become eligible for release at 50 per cent.

He’s hailed father-in-law Gordon Ramsay as his inspiration and the man he ‘looks up to’.

And after spending a lot more time with the celebrity TV chef in recent months amid his fallout from his own family, Adam Ramsay-Peaty has picked up Gordon’s recognisable mannerisms.

‘There are moments when he is channeling his father-in-law so hard here that you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a retro episode of Hell’s Kitchen,’ one body language expert told the Daily Mail.

In July, the athlete competed in the Commonwealth Games at Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, where he was disappointed with his performance, as he failed to pick up a gold medal.

All eyes were on Adam as he appeared to blame the losses on the ‘s***’ he had been through this year, seemingly alluding to the estrangement from his parents Caroline and Mark. 

‘It’s hard because I know how hard I’ve worked,’ he said in a post-race interview. ‘I know the s**t I’ve been through, which is no fault of my own. It does take a toll.’

Adam Peaty’s ‘hero worship’ of father-in-law Gordon Ramsay has led to copycat poses in a ‘desire to impress him and bond with him’

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It is no secret that Adam looks up to Gordon, having previously told The Sunday Times: ‘He’s an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from’

During his interviews with the BBC, Adam, 31, included some non-verbal ‘twinning’ with Gordon, 59.

In one clip, he says he ‘wants to get lost in being a husband and father’ with his pregnant wife Holly as they prepare to welcome a baby girl – words that Gordon would approve of.

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail: ‘His pose and his aura mirrored Gordon Ramsay. His chest and upper arms are posed in a way to look huge to show strength, and he folds his arms, tucking his hands into his torso in the signature style of the TV chef.

‘There’s a very similar style of rocking side to side from one foot to the other in a Ramsay look of high-energy tinged with frustration, and the way he looks away with a frown to think and reflect before shrugging suggests a similar alpha energy.

‘Adam runs his hand through his hair and scratches the back of his head here as though puzzled by his results and the swearing, the staccato delivery with the ‘uptalk’ rise of the vocal tone as he says ‘I just think I deserved more’ was also reminiscent of Gordon’s verbal and tonal delivery.’

Judi said that Adam’s behaviour in these interviews suggests that he is aspirational in terms of seeing Ramsay as his role model.

‘Babies learn body language through mimicry, but when we mimic as adults we often admire or even hero-worship the person we’re copying,’ she said.

‘Adam might see Ramsay as having the kind of strength and presence he admires. He might see him as a father figure, or he might have a desire to impress him and bond with him.’

After spending a lot more time with the celebrity TV chef in recent months amid his fallout from his own family, Adam has picked up Gordon’s recognisable mannerisms

Both have shown their emotions on live TV, with Adam crying in a recent interview at the Commonwealth Games, and Gordon shedding a tear in the audience at Strictly 

Even the way Adam shows his wife, Holly Ramsay, affection in public, from a peck on the lips to rubbing her bump, was all actions Gordon did with his wife Tana

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The mirroring started long before the Commonwealth Games, as Adam has often been seen posing for photos, typically on a red carpet or by a swimming pool, in the same powerful stance as Ramsay.

Even the way Adam shows his wife, Holly Ramsay, affection in public, from a peck on the lips to rubbing her bump, was all actions Gordon did with his wife Tana.

It is no secret that Adam looks up to Gordon, having previously told The Sunday Times: ‘He’s an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from.’

In April, he also told BBC Breakfast: ‘[He’s] very inspiring. I think for him, it’s obviously a very different way of life in terms of the business he has to do and the businesses he has to run. 

‘I take a lot of guidance. I look up to him a lot…’ 

It is also believed that the pair bonded when Adam’s older brother Jamie was arrested over allegations he sent aggressive threats to the Olympian during his stag weekend in November.

Gordon was said to be ‘incredibly supportive’ during this time, after going through similar issues with his own brother and with Tana’s father.

Ronald Ramsay was jailed for ten months in Bali, Indonesia, in September 2007 after police found 100 milligrams of heroin in his pocket.

Tana’s father Chris Hutcheson was sentenced to six months in prison in June 2017 after he orchestrated a plot to hack into the celebrity chef’s company computers during a family feud.

Throughout her career Blanchett has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Actor Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globes, as well as nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award and a Tony Award.