I do hope that you’ve all had a lovely Christmas.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank, wholeheartedly, all those who have worked through the festive period to keep our loved ones cared for and safe, and to all the people who gave up their Christmas to volunteer to make sure that others who are lonely or would not have been able to celebrate, are able to do so. We’ve a great community spirit in Mid Sussex and I’m grateful to all those who volunteer or help in any way to enhance people’s lives. It really does make such a difference.
I am looking forward to hosting my 6th business breakfast in March which will centre on food security, farming and wider rural issues. If you are a food or rural business and would like to join in, please do email me. This will follow the three local business events held last year which focused on being a Disability Confident Employer, Rural matters, and AI and Digital. I am so grateful to all the hosts, sponsors and the speakers who all gave up their time, without whom these events could not take place.
As New Year approaches, I’m so pleased the Government has announced a key new package of measures to tackle the despicable crime of spiking, which will include research into self-testing kits, more training for door staff and better education for young people, to raise awareness. There will also be coordinated police action to crackdown on spiking during key weeks of the year – an approach that has proved successful in tackling other crimes, such as knife crime. Crucially new legislative changes which will clarify, without any doubt, that spiking is illegal and which I have personally fought for, with separate guidance, set in law, to provide a clear, unequivocal definition of what spiking is. As a mother of two girls, and a victim of spiking myself who has spoken out, I greatly welcome these changes to help women and girls feel safer and support our night-time economy.
Finally, I wish you all a very happy new year.