MORNING EDITION: Social media 'school wars' warning to parents in Gedling borough

Good morning 🌅 Hello Thursday! Here's your daily email updating you on the latest news and information from across Gedling borough. See you tomorrow!

📱 'School wars' social media warning to parents in Gedling borough

The post lists a number of local schools and has been shared widely on social media platforms...

Nottinghamshire Police have issued a warning to parents over a 'school wars' social media post doing the rounds amongst teenagers. It has surfaced over recent days and urges violence among pupils.

It lists a number of secondary schools in the area and implies potential conflict between schools in a red versus blue 'school wars' contest.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: "We are aware of social media posts circulating linked to a national trend which is encouraging violence among pupils and referencing schools locally.

"While we are continuing to closely monitor the situation and are taking this matter incredibly seriously, at this time we have not received any reported incidents of violence involving children which are linked to this trend.

"As a precautionary measure, we will have a heightened presence in several areas over the next few days which will include reassurance patrols at schools.

Nottinghamshire Police said they were in close contact with schools and have been carrying out intelligence checks.

The spokesman added: "We will not tolerate violence and any incidents reported to us will be investigated accordingly. Anyone involved in incidents of violence and disorder will be robustly dealt with.

"As always, we would urge people to report any suspicious activity or concerns they have by calling us 101, contact us promptly or call 999 if a crime is in progress."

💉Gang with members from Gedling borough jailed for almost 90 years combined after peddling highly dangerous drugs including a ‘super heroin’ across Notts

A gang that included members based in Gedling borough who were responsible for peddling drugs including a ‘super heroin’ across the streets of Notts have been jailed for almost 90 years combined.

Two of the gang members, Shaun Lau and Daniel Yeboah, were already serving time for drugs trafficking and attempted to run their operations from their prison cells through an illegally obtained mobile phone device.

Police said their motive was 'pure greed', as they attempted to flood the streets of the county with drugs including ‘a super heroin’ mixed with the highly dangerous substance, fentanyl, the results of which can be fatal.

Yeboah, a prolific drug dealer, was found to be one of the wholesale suppliers of Class A drugs to the group and behind various importations of drugs into the UK, including the importation and supply of fentanyl. 

Both Lau and Yeboah continued the operation on their prison release.   

Lau, aged 37, of Burmese Road, Pinxton, had spent the best part of 20 years serving long prison sentences for drug dealing.

On his release in December 2023, he continued to operate a successful drugs business with the help of Shiero Marquis aged 36, of Oxclose Lane in Arnold. 

This included the set-up and management of a drugs line selling crack cocaine and heroin and the supply of bulk quantities of cocaine and cannabis. 

The court heard how Marquis was Lau’s right-hand man and when arrested in March 2025, his car was found to contain nearly six kilograms of cannabis. 

The drugs operation was estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Other key players included Lieran Dawes, aged 30, of Fraser Road, Carlton, whose role was to facilitate drug deals arranged by Yeboah from his prison cell.

Dawes was Yeboah’s man on the outside, responsible for storing bulk quantities of heroin and cocaine, fentanyl and other dangerous class B synthetic substances and collect cash for the purchased drugs. 

Raheeb Ibrahim, aged 29, of Redhill Lodge Drive, Redhil also played a significant role.

He helped operate Lau’s drug line, supplying heroin and crack cocaine to customers and lower-level dealers. 

At Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, March 4, the group were sentenced to nearly 90 years combined behind bars.  

Detective Inspector James McDonagh said: “Lau and Yeboah have shown a complete disregard for the justice system, brazenly running their drugs operations from their prison cells.

“On their release, they continued to peddle drugs, with no attempt whatsoever in changing their lives around.

“Both are not clever individuals. They have always found themselves caught by police, hauled back before the courts and straight back into prison.

“When we executed a warrant at Yeboah’s address, he came into custody wearing a football shirt with ‘Shota’ on the back. This was the name he referred to himself on incriminating mobile phone texts organising the drug deals.

“Their motives – sheer greed, with a complete disregard for the impact their crimes would have on their community.  

“Let this be a warning to those who think being a drug dealer offers lots of financial reward.

“It is short-lived. We will use all the powers at our disposal to shut you down, put you before the courts, and ensure you receive lengthy prison sentences. 

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Here's what's in store for today and tomorrow...

Today there will be some early low cloud, mist and fog clearing through the morning to leave a dry, mild and bright afternoon with some hazy sunshine.

Tonight it will be generally mild with cloud thickening into the evening, bringing a few outbreaks of rain.

🚆 OPINION - TONY CAVE: 'Much praise for new direct services to Lincoln'

The latest news from our local railways by train enthusiast and station adopter Tony Cave...

TIMEKEEPING

In January, I was on the platform to see 102 trains. Of these, 95 were on time or less than 4 minutes late (nearly 95%1), 4 were cancelled, one to Nottm missed out local stops, being late owing to problems in Stoke area, one as a result of storm Goretti and 1 a broken rail in the Lowdham area. After I left about 6 more trains had to be cancelled. I can say timekeeping is probably the best 1 have known over the past 20 years. This leaves 2 others - one 5 and one 10 mins. late. Looking back to January 2025 when I saw 63 trains, 2 were cancelled, 5 ran late, one up to 34 mins., and buses replaced trains on 4th & 5th January owing to engineering work.

DEMAND

Apparently evening trains from Nottingham to Carlton/Lincoln are very full, but from Lincoln they are less 'packed' than before as there are now 2 trains an hour. The connection at Nottingham for the Robin Hood Line now means a long wait. Travelling to Beeston from Carlton used to be around 17 mins., it is now 24 on most trains. Those travelling to Lincoln are 'very happy' with direct trains, no more going to Nottingham before you could catch a train to Lincoln.

This, forwarded to me was posted on Facebook: "It seemed busy this morning at 8.30! I'm certainly enjoying the extra flexibility that having an hourly service to Lincoln offers, and definitely using the train more often for my commute."

PUZZLING

Why is it that most Crewe trains lose 1 minute between Burton Joyce and Carlton? It is because they are cautioned at the signal near the loop road bridge? No-one seems to know why, as barriers are down and the Netherfield Junction signal is green. Extra fuel is used, and timings do not account for this. It also applies in the opposite direction.

Another 'bee in my bonnet' was the lack of 2 and 3 car stop boards on the station. These were advisory for drivers to know where to stop. Platform 2 at Carlton holds nearly 5 coaches. Well, they have now put them up, but nearly at the end of the platform, so 30 seconds are lost by passengers having to walk from the shelter, and more if a person is struggling to walk. Trains used to always stop where the passengers were waiting. On platform' they have put up an 'S car stop' sign, first on a lamp post, now at the end of the platform. As I understood it the S board was for a single car unit (i.e. like the 153 we used to have). No thought has been given to where the stop boards should be for the benefit of passengers.

NETHERFIELD STATION

I have only visited the station once this year, but hope to get more often when the weather improves. I have heard from a passenger who finds the 06.40 to Skegness a big improvement for him, as he used to have to make a journey to Nottingham to catch this train.

BRIEF ENCOUNTERS

Discover Europe by rail: Leger Holidays have a brochure with holidays on the Continent starting from London St.Pancras International station. https:// leger.co.uk/rail-holidays or Tel: 01709 223 483

Engineering work - 25th & 26th April, 2nd & 3rd, 9th & 10th May, a bus replacement on the Norwich trains from Peterborough to Norwich. Also some alterations to early Sunday morning trains at Carlton on 15th March, so check before travelling, as other work may affect services that I do not yet know about.

CONVERSATIONS AT CARLTON STATION

On February 5, it was a wet and bitterly cold day with an easterly wind. I went on the 09.34 to Newark to visit friends. On the return I caught the 12.10 and we picked one person up at Fiskerton and one at Burton Joyce. Arriving at Carlton there must have been at least 8 waiting, and 6 of us alighted, about as busy as Newark. Unfortunately I don't count as I use free passes. This is not unusual that passengers at Carlton exceed those of all the other stations between Rolleston and Burton Joyce. After all, the population in the Carlton area is probably more than Newark, but of course it is boosted by tourists, but we have a lot of people visiting local firms.

On January 1, two people got off the 09.34 to Lincoln. One remained on the platform, so after the 09.35 to Crewe left I went across to platform 2 (A day when I did not have to wait 2 or 3 minutes for a gap in the traffic!). Anyway, I asked if he was ok, and he said "Yes, I'm just waiting for the Netherfield train." I told him that Netherfield was just over the crossing and the time to Netherfield was walking time. Another day a person got off the 10.34 and tried to get across the road for the 10.35 Crewe train. He was too late fortunately as he thought it was a Netherfield train. I told him he was already in Netherfield, and to follow 2 other people who were also going to the car auctions.

Occasionally the screen above the Smart Kiosk will show 2 entries for a train. One shows it cancelled and the next entry shows it on time. What it means is that the train from Crewe has, been delayed or cancelled, but a fresh train is starting from Nottm. I have mentioned this to EMR. Before, a train was just shown cancelled, but appeared on time, sometimes being announced as cancelled when it is in the platform. One other 'surplus' announcement at 10.35 which said, 'We are sorry that the 12.35 to Lincoln is currently being delayed, calling at.... etc.' A lot can happen in the next 2 hours!

I have now noticed that the 5 and 7-car stop boards at both ends of the platforms have been removed. No chance of us getting London services.

Passengers who just use the app to check train times they want, do not see the bigger picture. I produce a summary timetable of trains from both stations, and have been telling people about the new direct hourly Sunday service to Matlock.

I was asked one day, "Is this platform 1?" It made me think, perhaps the platform numbers should be painted on the tarmac at the entrance, it would be difficult to miss this.

For a smooth journey, travel by train - no potholes!