18/07/2013 BBC Oxford News

Crime in the region is down despite police basing austerity measures. A

fire ripped through a supermarket. Meet Trevor who is befriending

They are having to cope with cuts of �36 million yet Thames Valley's

police ability to cope with crime has not been affected. While both

forces are cutting down overall staff numbers they are committed to

increasing the proportion of officers on front-line duties.

These reports are looking at how our police forces have coped since the

spending cuts were introduced in 2010. Thames Valley already have

lower costs. They have had to work hard to drive out inefficiencies.

They are looking at things like the costs of goods and services. They

are working more closely with Hampshire for things like firearms

units and dogs unit will stop inspectors say it is because the

force took decisive action to use a call they have managed to make these

cuts, but Crane has still fallen, and public satisfaction is still

up. # train has still fallen. There was a lot of concern when

these cuts were imposed. Do these figures show that the concerns were

unfounded? These forces have had positive results.

There are more cuts to come. Concern will continue.

A toddler playing in a park needed hospital treatment after picking up

a paper wrap bots to contain drugs. Police are warning parents to be

vigilant. -- paper wrap that was thought to contain drugs. The boy

was kept overnight in hospital for observation and his condition is not

serious. This is a big open space. Lots of people use it. They should

be thinking about other people. It is dreadful. You are in the park

enjoying the day and suddenly there is a risk. That is as scary factor.

The number of women having abortions in the region has increased by one

third over the last four years. The increase has been mainly among

20-year-olds to 24-year-olds and the over 35 's. A supermarket has been

damaged by fire. Fire broke out at the store in

Kidlington this morning. Firefighters say the damage would

have been more severe had they not arrived on site so quickly. The fire

station is just across the road. The severe heat caused shelves to buckle

and the products to disintegrate. Investigators are hoping CCTV

footage will help them confirm the cause of this fire. At this stage it

is thought to be accidental rather than deliberate. When we turned up

we find that the windows were blackened.

There was a lot of heat coming through. We had to force entry

inside. We found a rapidly developing fire on the ground

floor. These fires are particularly dangerous because of the amount of

combustibles present and also because of the layout. It is

difficult for our crews in those type of buildings.

The high Street had to be closed temporarily this morning. News of

the fire spread quickly. Last week we had the seizure round the corner

from where I lived. Now we have a co-op.

A spokesman said they would work hard to reopen the store quickly,

but at the moment it is not possible to see when that might be.

The store was empty when the fire started. There has been a huge

amount of damage inside. What officers above buildings alongside

the consequences could have been worse had the fire service not what

they are within one minute of the alarm being raised.

Staff at Radcliffe Hospital are putting the finishing touches to a

new baby care unit. It will open in two weeks time. Our reporter has

been to meet one mother who credits the hospital with saving the life of

her son. Daddy 's hand was over in your

head. Finley was born prematurely. He needed specialist care and

round-the-clock monitoring. The team at the John Radcliffe Hospital were

able to give him a fighting answer. They supported our family throughout

that entire time. Our family has been so fortunate to have this so

close to us. At the hospital new machines are being checked ready for

babies to arrive here soon. The numbers born prematurely are

steadily increasing. The need for more space was urgent. Once this

unit is fully open babies will be coming in with very special

requirements. Each of these cots will have a nurse monitoring the

babies 24-7. It is hoped this will be a hub for

the entire region. New mothers can come here rather than travel miles

away. It can be destructive for families wherever they are. You have

to try and make things as good as you can for parents. Nursing staff

say the extension will make their working life much easier. It will be

amazing for the nurses. They are so excited about moving in. The unit

will be open in July 29. Commercial flights from Oxford to

Edinburgh and Dublin are being axed following a dispute between the

airport and the operator. Minoan Air says it is with drawing its services

following a disagreement with the airport's management. Yesterday an

aircraft was blocked in by trucks. A spokesperson for the airport said it

is disappointing. Electric cars are still not comment

but an energy company wants to find out how it might cope in the when

more drivers are plugging in their cars rather than filling up at

petrol stations. The project funded by Ofgem will test the local

electricity grid. Our reporter tells us more.

You still do not see many on the road but it is predict its more

people will drive electric cars. That means more money to be charged.

The people behind the project are hoping they will be apt to ten

people using electric cars and bringing them home to charge. We are

looking at different environments. Rural environments, urban

environments, they are all different. We are also looking at

the commercial aspect. You make drive to work and charge your

vehicle at work. There are only 3000 fully electric cars across the

country. Letting them into not does not beget huge impact on the

national grid. The number is set to double this year. Energy companies

will lead to cope with demand and possible surge is. To charge one

electric car is equivalent at the moment to have your electric shower

on for eight hours. We are trying to manage the impact of people putting

the kettle on as normal and including the use of electric cars.

Ten people have signed up to the trial will stop I am interested to

see the technology. You do not see too many electric cars on the road.

I live quite close to the factory. Drayson Racing will install charging

points at their actively for staff on the trial. We believe that

electric vehicles are the future. We would like to see an increase in the

number of people driving these vehicles. The energy company hopes

to build an electricity network fit for the future will stop a new

chapel at an Oxfordshire college has been shortlisted for a knack

protection award. -- for an architecture award. It has