RECENT PRESS RELEASES

JANUARY 2007

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICERS

IT’S a new year and new faces are pounding the streets of Chester, Vale Royal, Ellesmere Port & Neston.

More Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) have joined the ranks of Community Action Teams (CAT) all across the Western policing area.

It means the number of PCSOs has now more than doubled and there are more than 30 PCSOs on the beat in the Western Area. More intakes are planned in the coming months taking the total number of vital uniformed support officers in the area to at least 50 by June 2007.

Chief Insp Brian Roberts has been driving work to secure funding for the additional resources. He said: “These extra officers are a massive boost for the area. PCSOs play a vital part in neighbourhood policing and I’m confident communities will soon start to feel the impact of them.

“The fact that so many different types of organisations have contributed funding to these officers highlights the widespread support that is out there for them. This is really good to see. I think it also shows communities taking ownership of their problems and a commitment to solve them.”    

Agencies such as schools, councils, supermarkets and local businesses are among those which have contributed cash for PCSOs. The police force has also provided funding.

The primary role of the officers is to develop positive relationships with local people and act as a focal point for community concerns, tackling those everyday quality of life issues which impact most on people.

Amongst other powers they can confiscate alcohol from underage drinkers and combat illegal parking. They can issue Local Authority tickets for litter offences, graffiti and fly-posting. 

Other problems they address are cycling on the footpath and vehicles being used in an anti-social manner, such as mini-motos, which they have the power to seize.

Chief Inspector Roberts said: “The important thing to remember is that PCSOs are dedicated to dealing with the concerns of a community. In the cases where external agencies have funded an officer, the PCSOs work closely with those organisations so they are aware of the issues which are affecting them.

“They can then work together to solve those problems. Officers funded by police alone still work in this way however they can be used more flexibly in that they can be moved to different areas and communities.”

A combination of police officers, PCSOs and special constables provide a highly-visible presence in the Neighbourhood Policing Units (NPU) which make up the Western Area. Each member of the team uses their particular knowledge, training and expertise for the benefit of local people. 

PCSOs will only be withdrawn from their dedicated area of patrol in the event of a very significant policing need so they are a constant reassuring presence in the community providing local solutions to local problems.

Every NPU in the Western Area is benefiting from the PCSO recruitment programme.

The most recent officers to complete training have recently landed in their Community Action Teams. They will work in company with their CAT colleagues for a period of time before working independently.

To find out more about contributing towards community policing contact Chief Insp Brian Roberts by emailing brian.roberts@cheshire.pnn.police.uk

 

'TO GOOD TO BE TRUE'

CHRISTMAS may be over but the cash is still rolling in for some sellers – thieves.

Gifts in the shape of MP3 players, vehicle satellite navigation systems, car stereos, mobile phones, digital cameras, lap tops, games consoles and bicycles were just some of the treats unwrapped by many less than a month ago.

Sadly, the items are also on the wish list of thieves and in recent weeks they have been taking every opportunity to stock up their stores.

Police in Chester, Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port & Neston want people to help combat the problem by taking their business elsewhere if approached by someone with a “too good to be true” bargain.

Western Area Crime Reduction Advisor Keith Parsonage said: “We are forever giving people advice and information on how to keep their property safe and I’ve no doubt most people take this on board. They property mark their items, leave their homes and vehicles secure and keep their eye on their personal items when out and about.

“What we want people to do is make it even harder for criminals by refusing to buy from them. If we are to put a stop to crime we must work together and send out the clear message that theft will not be accepted by the police or members of the public.”

People who buy stolen goods are not only lining the pockets of the thief they buy from. They may be contributing to the wider criminal network of drugs, burglary and violent crime as police records show people convicted of theft often have links in these areas.   

Buyers are also giving up their consumer rights – a stolen item which does not function properly cannot be taken back to the store and replaced nor is a thief likely to give a person their money back.

“Everyone likes a bargain and we all like to save money where we can so understandably, people will be tempted if they are offered a top-of-the-range item at a cut down price.

“Most of the time, if an offer seems to be too good to be true it is. My advice to people if they suspect they are being offered a stolen item is to just say no.

“Think about where an item has come from. How did the thief get it? Does that phone belong to an innocent teenager who has been mugged? Has a home been broken into and ransacked in the search for that digital camera?

“These type of questions should give people all the encouragement they need to refuse when offered cheap goods.”

PREVIOUSLY - LAST YEAR

Having a Say on Policing

Community Action Meetings (CAM) are now on the calendar in the community after months of planning and preparation by the Northwich Community Action Team (CAT).

The meetings are an important phase of a project designed to get residents engaged in identifying and addressing the issues that are making life in their community a misery.

They give residents the opportunity to vote on the areas they want the police to tackle and are supported by other important processes including residents’ surveys and Cat Walks.

Surveys have already been completed and they show that many people (more than 13%) have no major issues of concern. Others would like to see issues of litter, speeding and nuisance youth tackled.

Cat Walks, which involve a team of people taking to the streets to identify signs of physical and social disorder, are yet to take place.

Police Community Support Officer Barbara Stock is leading the Castle project. She said: “The first CAM takes place on Thursday November 2 at 7pm at Holy Trinity Church Hall off Waterloo Road. During the meeting, we’ll be showcasing the results of residents’ surveys and be inviting residents to tell us their views on life in Castle.

“We will then pick a priority area which myself and my colleagues in the CAT will focus on in coming weeks. If the issues of concern are not entirely police-related, then we’ll do our best to work in partnership with the agencies which can help.

“This is an excellent opportunity for people to have a real say on how local police work and I hope lots of people, from all age groups, take advantage of the opportunity by coming along.”

The meeting invite has not only gone out to members of the public. Representatives from partner agencies such as local councils and agencies such as housing trusts and the Probation Service are also encouraged to attend.

To find out more about the CAM process in Castle leave a message for PCSO Stock on the CAT dedicated answering facility on 0845 458 6392. All calls are returned as soon as possible.

A CSI FOR DAMAGE OFFENCES

A NEW weapon is helping crack criminal damage cases in the latest phase of the Crackdown on Criminal Damage campaign.

A Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) dedicated to attending criminal damage crime scenes alone is now at work throughout Vale Royal, Chester and Ellesmere Port (Western Area).

It’s the first time Cheshire force is believed to have ring-fenced the talents of a CSI to concentrate on one crime type alone and it is hoped the move will see the number of criminal damage offenders brought to justice boosted.

Det Chief Inspector Andrew Southcott is leading the Crackdown on Criminal Damage campaign. He said: “Criminal damage incidents account for a significantly large number of the “all crime” category.

“The Crackdown campaign is all about changing that and having forensic experts on our side means we are headed in the right direction.”

Phil Done is the CSI in the unique role. He works full-time and attends offences of criminal damage where it is believed forensic evidence can be secured.

He’s a recently-retired police officer who spent more than 20 years working as a CSI in Macclesfield.

He said: “People would be surprised to know just how much information can be gathered at a crime scene. The technology we have at our disposal today means we are better than ever at solving crime. In many cases, we make massive developments on the strength of forensic evidence alone.  

“I’m confident over the coming weeks we’ll be able to bring many criminal damage offenders to justice with the help of forensic evidence.”

The criminal damage element of Cheshire Police’s Crackdown campaign was launched in August and officers in all six of the Neighbourhood Policing Units which make up the Western Area are involved.

The area-wide action is aimed at meeting national targets which state Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), which the police are part of, must cut crime figures by 15% by 2008.

In Vale Royal, criminal damage offences account for around 45% of all crimes and in Chester and Ellesmere Port the figure stands at around 35%, meaning any reduction will be a significant step towards meeting the target.

Progress is already being made and 177 criminal damage offences (up until Oct 5) have been detected across the Western Area since the campaign began.

Cllr Nora Dolphin, Cheshire County Council Executive Member for Community and Communications, said: "Different agencies bring different powers to the table. For example, Trading Standards are continuing to conduct operations to reduce the under-age sales of alcohol in areas identified as criminal damage 'hotspots', and colleagues from housing providers are taking steps to reduce the amount of false reporting of criminal damage against their housing stock."

"The thing everyone linked to this campaign has in common is a commitment to use our individual agency's strengths, whatever they may be, to be effective in reducing the problem."

TACKLING CRIMINAL DAMAGE

POLICE and partners are joining forces to make a breakthrough in smashing criminal damage trends in Vale Royal.

Crackdown on Criminal Damage will see persistent offenders targeted and no time wasted in positive action being taken against those who fail to take heed of warnings to toe the line.

Police in Winsford, Northwich and Western Rural Neighbourhood Policing Units are taking part in the crackdown.  

The area-wide action is aimed at meeting national targets which state Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, such as Vale Royal Community Safety Partnership, must cut crime figures by 15% by 2008.

In Vale Royal, criminal damage offences account for around 45% of all crimes which means any reduction will be a significant step towards meeting the target.

DCI Andy Southcott, crime manager for the Western Area, is leading the Crackdown on Criminal Damage campaign. He said: “Although criminal damage is a problem which is often seen as pretty minor when compared to crimes such as robbery and arson, it has a real detrimental impact on a community.

“Smashed windows, graffiti, deliberate damage to cars, destroyed play areas. They have a knock-on effect in terms of people’s perception of an area and the way an environment is treated. There’s also the effect on victims of criminal damage offences to be considered.

“It can be pretty devastating to have property which you value and look after wrecked by mindless vandals or drunken yobs.

“This campaign is all about letting the culprits know we won’t tolerate their behaviour and if they choose to commit criminal damage offences both the police and partnership agencies will do everything in their power to bring them to justice.”

Detailed analysis of the criminal damage problem throughout the Western Area has already taken place and repeat offenders, victims and hot spot areas have been identified in preparation for the crackdown.

Here’s a snapshot of the areas being focused on by the officers in the Vale Royal NPUs:

Northwich – Witton and Castle

Western Rural – Helsby

Winsford – Winsford Dene, Winsford Wharton and Winsford Verdin

Four different types of damage fall under the criminal damage umbrella – damage to vehicles, damage to dwellings, damage to other buildings and other damage.

Crackdown on Criminal Damage is focused on reducing offences in all categories and each NPU inspector has a detailed plan on how this will be achieved.

A Neighbourhood Policing Unit Inspector said: “Obviously, the tactics used will be very similar in the different communities because we are all dealing with the same types of issues. On the enforcement side of things, we know who the problem people are and over the coming weeks they’ll definitely be feeling the pressure of the campaign.

“We’ll be making visits to people suspected of persistent criminal damage and making sure they are brought to the attention of the multi-agency group which regularly meets to discuss issues such as Anti-social Behaviour Orders and tenancy agreement breaches.

“In addition, we’ll be working alongside the Western Area Licensing Partnership Team to address factors which are seen to contribute to criminal damage such as drunkenness and underage drinking.”

A whole host of measures will support the actions outlined by the inspector including high-visibility patrols, support for repeat victims of criminal damage, undercover observations to identify culprits and increased security measures at vulnerable sites.

The campaign is being funded by cash from the police and other agencies which make up community safety partnerships in the Western Area such as county and borough councils, housing trusts and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.  

They too are making great contributions to the campaign and have been involved in the preparations from day one.

John Roberts, Community Safety Manager with Vale Royal Borough Council, added: “Each agency in the partnership has different tools at its disposal when it comes to dealing with criminal damage.

“Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, eviction notices, penalties for breaching tenancy agreements and criminal proceedings are just a few of the options on the table nowadays.

“All the organisations in the partnership are dedicated to meeting the reduction target. I’m confident communities affected by criminal damage and offenders who commit offences will soon start to feel the impact of our work.”

Judith Burbidge, Winsford Area Housing Manager at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, added: “We realise that the neighbourhood you live in is just as important as your home and we are committed to developing safe and secure neighbourhoods for all our customers.

We are pleased to be working on this campaign with our partners across Vale Royal to improve the quality of life for our customers”.

Crackdown on Criminal Damage work has already begun and over the coming weeks, members of the public will begin to see posters and leaflets in their community highlighting the work.

Residents are encouraged to get involved by providing police with information about those responsible for committing criminal damage offences by contacting Cheshire Police 0845 458 0000.

To pass on information to the police anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11.

To report illegal fly-tipping, graffiti or litter contact Vale Royal Borough Council on 01606 862862.

 

Bogus Callers

UNFORTUNATELY you can’t be sure that everyone who knocks on your door is who they say they are.

Bogus callers, as they are sometimes called, can be very convincing and very persuasive.

Police across the country receive hundreds of calls everyday from people who say someone suspicious has called at their home or who is doing the rounds in their neighbourhood.

A scan of calls made to Cheshire Constabulary in the last week alone shows that on February 7, a man knocked on the door of a Greenall Road home in Northwich claiming he was checking all homes in the street.

He said the drinking water supply had been contaminated yet he had no identification and United Utilities later confirmed they had no workers in the area at the time.

Later in the week, on February 9, two men in a silver car were acting suspiciously around the Wincham area. They appeared to be checking out the CCTV systems of firms in the neighbourhood.

This is just a snapshot of the types of incidents being reported and there are no doubt many other similar stories which go untold across the length and breadth of the UK.

They all have one thing in common – they highlight the need for people to stay on their guard.

Sadly, stories of pensioners being tricked out of money for maintenance work which is never completed and tales of a thief sneaking through an open back door and stealing a handbag  as their associate keeps the caller busy at the front are not unheard of.

Fortunately, the majority of offenders never get their foot through the door. Their claims that their car has broken down and they need to use the phone or that they need to read a meter are quickly dismissed by wise residents who ask for ID or simply tell the caller they do not let strangers into their home, no matter what the reason.

Western Area Community Safety Network Officer Dave Owens said: “Every time there’s a knock at the door, be on your guard, especially if you are not expecting anyone.

“Genuine callers won’t mind if you ask them for ID and they won’t have any objection to waiting a minute or two while you make a call to their firm if they claim they are from a utility company. In these situations, it’s important to remember to use a phone number from one of your own letters, not something you have been given by the caller.

“Sometimes, a stranger will knock at the door offering some type of service, hedge cutting, work in the garden, driveways or something similar.

“Our advice is to never agree to have work of any type done by someone who cold calls. No contracts should be signed, no cash handed over, no agreement of any type should be made with someone who knocks at the door.

“Genuine companies don’t use these cold calling tactics to drum up business so when traders do approach work in this way alarm bells should immediately start ringing.”

There are a few simple steps people can take to stay one step ahead of the game when it comes to beating the distraction burglar and suspicious caller.

LOCK – Keep your doors and windows locked, even when you are at home.

STOP - and think, are you expecting anybody? Do they have an appointment? Make sure the back door is locked. Some thieves work in pairs, while one knocks at the door, the other  sneaks in the back while the front door is being answered.

CHAIN - put this on before the door is opened. This will enable people to keep control of the situation.  The only time the door chain/door bar should be put on is when someone is physically at the door, otherwise members of the family will not be able to gain access if the householder falls ill or needs to get out in an emergency.

CHECK - ask for an identification card, take it and look at it carefully. Close the door and call any organisation involved if you are not sure. Find the numbers you need in the phone book or on your last bill, not the number that is on the card.

If in doubt, don’t let them in. If they have been have refused access and won’t go away, call the police.

If you are in a life threatening situation, or a crime is in the process of being committed, call 999.

Illegal Parking Goes Under the Spotlight

WINSFORD residents want police to rev up efforts to tackle motorists who park illegally.

Residents living in and around the Grange Estate voted in favour of initiatives to drive down problem parking at a recent Community Action Meeting (CAM).

Local bobby PC Keeley Powles and Police Community Support Officer Matthew Hood, who manage the meetings, are now pro-actively targeting drivers who park dangerously, inconsiderately and illegally.

PC Powles said: “Residents who attended the meeting voted in favour of making problem parking a priority for us and we’re now getting out and about as much as we can, raising awareness of the problem.

“The main complaint is about drivers who park on double yellow lines, on pavements, on corners of blind junctions, generally in areas where it’s dangerous to do so. I’d urge   everyone to take a minute to consider the position they are leaving their vehicle in each time they park. It only takes a second to think “Am I parked inconsiderately or dangerously?”

We’re issuing yellow advisory notices to motorists who are contributing to the problem and hopefully these will have a positive impact. The notices aren’t a fine, nor do they mean a person will get points on their licence, they are simply a warning.

“It’s important to point out however that we will resort to fines and penalties if the warnings are ignored and drivers continue to flout parking rules.”

Problem parking is the latest complaint selected through the CAM process which officers are tackling. The discussions about the concerns also touched upon the inconsideration of drivers making deliveries in Delamere Street and officers are urging van and lorry drivers to also take time out to think about the effect their driving is having on others.

PCSO Hood said: “The meetings are really effective in giving members of the public a say on the issues their local bobbies tackle and I’d urge everyone who cares about their community to get involved.

CAMs are part of a relatively new police-led process designed to get people more involved in identifying the factors that are affecting their quality of life. The process also involves teams of auditors taking to the streets in exercises dubbed Catwalks on the lookout for physical signs of problems and residents’ surveys.

The results from all the perception work – both the Catwalks and the surveys - is showcased at CAMs and residents use them to help them decide which areas they think police should tackle.

A variety of people make up the team which gets out and about on the Catwalks – residents, young people from the local school, police officers, Police Community Support Officers, housing officers and councillors are to mention just a few of the representatives who have been involved in the process in the past. In Winsford, the Grange Residents’ Association has played a vital role in the process.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the whole process should contact PC Keeley Powles or PCSO Matthew Hood on 0845 458 6391. Please note this is a recording facility which allows callers to leave messages for the CAT. Messages are regularly checked and responded to.

Don’t Be Left In The Dark…..Switch On To Timely Crime Reduction Advice

The ‘must have’ item this season is a simple timer switch from a Do-It-Yourself store - and it could prove to be ‘ALL’ important in beating the burglar this autumn.

As the nights draw in burglars will be using the cover of darkness to prowl between properties, targeting those that look empty from the outside.

But Crime Reduction Advisors across the Force are staying one step ahead with an ‘ALL’ important campaign getting underway this week- ‘Alarm, Locks and Lights’.

Posters and leaflets are being distributed locally to reinforce the message that the best way to deter thieves is to make your property look like there’s someone home when you’re out.

Crime Reduction Advisor Keith Parsonage said: “A house in darkness is an easy give away, not just to the professional burglar but to the opportunist thief. A simple timer switch can put a stop to that.

“Most burglaries happen when the occupants are out and the most likely period is evening or at night. The shortening days of autumn and the clocks going back makes it easy for a burglar to see who’s at home and who’s not.

“If you walk down the street after 4 o’clock you will see which of your neighbours are at work, picking up the children from school or are just out.”

Timer switches give the impression that someone’s home by turning on lights or radios when you’re out. They’re simple to use, relatively cheap and can bought form most DIY shops.

In a bid to reduce burglaries this autumn crime reduction advisors are advising local residents to heed their advice.

Keith added: “Don’t be left in the dark about home security. Remember the ‘ALL’ important catchphrase- Alarm, Locks and Lights. Buy a timer switch and use it.”

Residents are also being encouraged to take advantage of the Safer Homes questionnaire on-line at the Force web site. Find out how secure your home is by visiting: www.cheshire.police.uk.

POLICE are urging residents to be on their guard against rogue traders after receiving reports of a suspicious incident at a Weaverham home.

A man, purporting to be a builder and the buyer of a local property, approached a Station Road resident on July 3 at around 1.45pm.

After striking up a conversation with the elderly lady, she asked if he would be interested in any gardening work. The man said he would be able to lay down some gravel and make some improvements before offering to go and collect the materials. The lady handed over £300 and the man has not yet returned.

Pc Glynn Evans, based at Northwich Police Station, said: “Although this incident is a little different from the norm in that the man didn’t directly ask for money or voluntarily offer his services, we believe he has no intention to do the work and don’t think the money will be seen again.

“This incident is being investigated and in the meantime I’d urge everyone to be vigilant. 

Our advice is to never agree to have any work done by people who call at homes unannounced. Trustworthy, legitimate companies don’t need to target customers in this way and I’d advise anyone who gets an unexpected knock at the door to immediately be alert.”

The only details known about the man who accepted the woman’s cash is that he travelled in a large blue van.

Pc Evans added: “Most people who call at homes are genuine and nine times out of ten we know when to expect someone. But sometimes, people turn up unannounced with the intention of tricking their way into people’s home or conning them into handing over money for poor quality, substandard work.

“That’s why it’s important to always think carefully before opening the door. If it’s a face you don’t recognise, offering some type of product or service, close the door.

“In addition, keep windows and doors locked, even when people are at home. Thieves won’t think twice about walking through an open back door to steal a purse off a worktop or climbing through an open window to snatch some car keys off a coffee table.”

The other advice for staying safe is: 

        Lock – Keep front and back doors locked, even when at home.

        Stop – Stop and think if anyone is expected before answering the door. Check that any back door is locked with the key taken out. Look through the spy hole or window to see who it is.

        Chain – Put the door chain or bar on if opening the door and keep it secure while talking to the caller. (Normally, when the door is shut and locked and the person is at home, leave the chain off in case access is needed in an emergency.)

        Check – Check the details of any caller before letting them in. Do not agree to any work being done or sign a contract until after speaking to someone else.

© Copyright 2002, Vale Royal Community Safety Partnership.
Last modified: January 2007
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