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FRAUD
Did you know there's a difference between 'identity theft' and 'identity fraud'? Even more bizarre is that one is a crime and the other isn't!

According to the credit card fraud prevention service (CIFAS), identity theft is the 'misappropriation of the identity of another person'. In other words, someone impersonates you for whatever reason – usually to obtain goods and services in your name.

This often affects your credit rating and can result in you being turned down for a loan or credit card or even a mortgage. Strangely, this isn't actually a crime in the UK at the moment although the Government is considering making it one.

It only seems to become a crime when that identity is actually used to obtain goods and services by deception at which point it becomes known as identity fraud.

Unfortunately, identity frauds are hidden in the statistics for crimes of deception or theft so the differences become rather merged.

TAX CREDITS
More than 80 million calls have been made to the Inland Revenue over new payments introduced by Chancellor Gordon Brown for families with children and folk on low incomes.

But staff have been unable to cope after problems with phones and computers and a staggering 17 million frustrated callers were simply greeted by the engaged tone.

The Treasury insisted 5.8 million people were now benefiting from the Child and Working tax credits which were introduced in April 2003.

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WATER COMPANIES PLAN PRICE INCREASE
Water companies argued that household water bills would need to rise by about Ł15 annually in the five years.

SNOOPERS
Government agencies will be able to access e-mail and phone data, under measures unveiled by ministers.

ASYLUM SEEKERS
The Government has announced it will stop sending asylum seekers to Derby - at least for the time being.

BEST VALUE REVIEW PROGRAMME
Derby City Council is to spend Ł40,000 on external consultants to review its sport and leisure department.

YOB RULE
For three years, Sallie Powell, who is deaf, has been subjected to daily intimidation and abuse from a gang of 20 youths who hang around outside her home.

COUNCIL UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITE
Derby City Council is unhappy with this site because of claims that the connecting Derby scheme has left the city looking like a 'building site'.

FAIRER CHARGING SCHEME
Derby City Council's scheme could leave some older and disabled people paying more for help they receive in the home.

BONFIRE THREAT
Mary Beadsmoore received a letter from the council accusing her of lighting a bonfire and threatening her with a Ł20,000 fine.

HOUSING BENEFITS
Derby's housing benefits backlog has been declared among the worst in the country.

HOUSING SHORTAGE
The number of people registered homeless has rocketed in the past year whilst the number of homes has plummeted.

TRUANCY
Derby College is using a text messaging sytem to fight truancy and improve communication with 2,500 students.

TOP 10 CITY
A group that had hoped to make Derby a top 10 city in the UK by 2020 has scaled down its vision.

HOME ZONE
Work on the first stage of a Ł1m scheme to create a new look for streets in Normanton is set to begin by the end of the year.

ILLEGAL PARKING?
A police mobile camera van was spotted apparently illegally parked in a busy Derby street during rush hour.

DERBY SKYLINE
It may come nowhere near to rivalling the famous view of Manhattan, but Derby's skyline could be in line for an illuminating makeover.

BUS STATION
Controversial plans to demolish Derby Bus Station are to go ahead, despite hopes of a reprieve through the new political alliance.

ALCOHOL- FREE ZONES
A ban on drinking in the streets, aimed at combating crime and anti-social behaviour in an area north of Derby city centre, looks set to be given the go-ahead.

FAST- FOOD
'Fast food' to some eateries means 'same day'. Walk into ANY chip shop at ANYTIME and whatever you want will never be ready.

JOYRIDERS
The vehicles of nuisance drivers who use streets and parks as race tracks could be seized under newly-introduced powers.

BEGGARS
Police are planning to use anti-social behaviour orders in a crackdown on nuisance beggars in Derby city centre.

SHOPPING
The shops here are much the same as in any other city with the same 'names' in the High Street.

SHOPPING RIP-OFFS
Holidays, Car Rental, Banks, Mobile Phones, Theatre Booking Fees and Restaurants.

PARKING METERS
Derby City Council has raised Ł665,000 - Ł40,000 more than expected from controversial parking meters and the cash is being spent on 14 items such as repairing street lights and improving roads.

CONGESTION CHARGING
Councillor Sara Bolton, said reports that Derby was considering introducing congestion charging were "nonsense" and "totally untrue".

COUNCIL TAX
Council tax bills for 2003/4 will increase in April by an inflation-busting 9.3 per cent taking the bill for a Band A property in Derby from Ł619.23 to Ł677.06 - an increase of Ł57.83 a year.

RIVERLIGHTS SCHEME
A controversial scheme to replace Derby's 70-year-old bus station and develop its riverfront is a step closer to being realised. The announcement that - after six years - the developer behind the Riverlights project is ready to apply for planning permission is a welcome relief for some.

FIVE LAMPS
An urgent review of the controversial Five Lamps traffic lights was approved by Derby City Council. It followed a motion calling for the review by the council's Tory opposition group.

WHEEL CLAMPING
Wheel-clamping is an example of inept administrators attempting to make their lives easier and solve their own mis-management problems by persecuting the people they have failed.

CONNECTING DERBY
The current traffic fiasco at Five Lamps will be repeated tenfold across the city if Connecting Derby goes ahead. The first planning application for Phase 2 is now out and needs to be objected to by Christmas.

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