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Firefighters and council join forces to raise fire safety awareness

News

Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are joining forces for a fire safety awareness event on the Cornhill tomorrow. The event aims to educate residents about common causes of house fires and promote smoke alarm installation.

Key details:

  • The event runs from 10:00 to 14:00 BST on Tuesday 20 August

  • Council housing teams and firefighters will offer advice on reducing fire risks

  • They'll share tips on fire prevention indoors and outdoors

  • Council's housing and tenancy support teams will be present

Why it matters: House fires can be devastating, but many are preventable with proper awareness and precautions. This event provides an opportunity for residents to learn directly from experts about keeping their homes safe.

Common causes include:

  • Discarded cigarettes

  • Unattended candles

  • Cooking accidents

What they're saying: "We want to provide advice to the public on the simple checks we can all do to reduce the risk of fire in our homes, and to stress the importance of having working fire alarms," said Councillor Alasdair Ross, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing.

The bottom line: This event offers Ipswich residents a valuable opportunity to learn about fire safety from local experts and potentially prevent future tragedies.

Former Ipswich Town striker charged in £600k cannabis smuggling case

News

Former Ipswich Town striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged with attempting to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through a UK airport.

The big picture: The 33-year-old, who spent two seasons at Portman Road from 2011 to 2013, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in Scotland following the seizure of approximately 60kg of the drug at Stansted airport.

Jay Emmanuel Thomas playing for Ipswich Town
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas playing for TownAlamy

Key details:

  • Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, was arrested Wednesday in Gourock, Inverclyde.

  • He's accused of attempting to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through Stansted airport.

  • Border Force officers found approximately 60kg of the drug in two suitcases from Bangkok.

  • Emmanuel-Thomas is set to appear at Carlisle magistrates court Thursday, charged with importing class B drugs.

60kg of cannabis
60kg of cannabis was seizedNCA

JET's Ipswich career: The journeyman joined Ipswich in 2011 for £1.1m from Arsenal, scoring nine goals in 75 appearances for the Tractor Boys. He left Ipswich in 2013 in a swap deal with Bristol City. He most recently played with Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship.

The bottom line: The NCA warns that cannabis smuggling into the UK carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence, contradicting misinformation some couriers receive about facing only fines.

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