News in Brief
THE POLICE HAVE told Oxford City Council that beggars in Oxford are using The Big Issue magazine as a front for demanding handouts.
A code of conduct is being drawn up for sellers of the magazine, to help clamp down on begging in the city centre. It will state that the magazine can only be sold by vendors wearing the right badges, from regular pitches and that they must not approach people and intimidate them.
Inspector Henderson said: "The Big Issue is a valuable tool for homeless people to get off the streets but we're holding talks with the organisers in Oxford to make sure that beggars are not taking advantage and affecting those who want to sell the magazine legitimately."
Three masked men armed with knives robbed a newsagent's in Blackbird Leys on Friday morning.
According to the manager this was the third time the shop had been robbed in the five years he had worked there.
The three men threatened the manager and a woman working behind the post office counter. They then tried to force their way into the post office but failed. Instead they began stealing cash from the news counter and were seen escaping in a blue Saab car.
Witnesses should call Oxford CID on 01865 266000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
A senior fellow in public health at Oxford University has backed the controversial MMR vaccine.
Professor Sian Griffiths said all her children were given the triple inoculation against measles, mumps and rubella and that there was no evidence that the jab was linked to autism.
Griffiths, who is also President of the Royal College of Physicians' Faculty of Public Health, said: "Half a billion children across the world have had the vaccine and it has decreased the deaths from measles, mumps and rubella." Death from measles in the UK has been wiped out.
Griffiths' comments come amid debate about MMR, which many parents have boycotted. Instead, they want the choice to give their children three individual injections, which is not allowed by the NHS.
14th Feb 2002