 Local Police News
February 2007
Operations/Developments
FIVE Cuddington men have been made the subject of Anti-social Behaviour Orders.
Shaun Bebbington, Scott Carter, Jamie Davies, David Horton and Craig Lamb are all now subject to the orders. All the orders are three years in length with the exception of Horton. His ASBO lasts for two years.
The orders were made upon application by local police working in partnership with Vale Royal Borough Council Community Wardens.
Awareness leaflets highlighting the conditions of the orders and the areas of the community the young men are prohibited from are now being prepared.
The local media have also carried details of the case and more coverage is expected in the March 7 editions of the Mid Cheshire Chronicle and Guardian.
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LATEST additions to the police family are certainly making their mark in Northwich.
Many homes in Winnington are now equipped to outsmart the burglar thanks to a delivery of free property marking technology.
Police Community Support Officers helped install the kits at a number of houses on Monday (Feb 26) proving they are a vital resource in all elements in the fight against crime.
A number of police staff members and local Community Action Team PC Mike Jepson were also involved in the giveaway programme in the community which has a thriving Home Watch scheme.
The support from the PCSOs meant police could cover lots of ground in a short space of time, meaning more people benefited from improved security.
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CRIMINAL damage culprits in Vale Royal are receiving the message loud and clear that destructive behaviour will not be tolerated by police and their partners.
Letters designed to make repeat offenders aware of the risks of re-offending are being issued as part of the Crackdown on Criminal Damage campaign.
The letters make it clear to those “convicted of criminal damage on more than one occasion” that police and agencies such as local councils and housing associations are aiming to reduce problems by targeting those who continue to commit criminal damage.
An extract from the letter reads: “We are prepared to do everything within our powers to ensure that perpetrators of criminal damage are identified, targeted and brought to justice.
“It is now your choice as to whether you become a further conviction statistic and an example of our success in reducing this offence.”
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Southcott is one of the police officers leading the Crackdown on Criminal Damage campaign.
He said: “The police alone cannot solve criminal damage problems. Many agencies involved in community safety have responsibilities and this letter, which is endorsed by all the agencies involved in the crackdown, shows everyone is committed to doing their bit.
“The consequences of repeat offending are now more serious than ever – people can lose their rented homes, we can severely restrict freedom with orders such as Anti-social Behaviour Orders, people can also end up in jail.
“These letters make this clear. They warn people what they are up against. Hopefully, this will encourage them to change their behaviour and think twice before causing damage to property and vehicles.”
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ONE of Winsford Police’s latest recruits may be a new face to the Force but he’s no stranger to the problems communities face.
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Mark Watt joined the Community Action Team earlier in the year.
He already had a fair share of experience under his belt in handling tricky situations, drunken, rowdy behaviour and vulnerable people after spending time as a nightclub boss, a court bailiff and a mental health worker.
Now he’s putting all his skills to good use on the Greenfields Estate where he is the local PCSO.
Mark said: “I see working with local people as key to the fight against anti-social behaviour. Many people all across the country have worries about aggressive and intimidating behaviour and we must work together if we are to combat it.
“Parents, young people, housing trusts, councils, businesses – everyone can do something to help and when everyone is working as one, communities quickly start to develop into places where people feel safe and secure. Areas which people are proud of. A place they are happy to see their children grow up.”
Mark’s main aim over the coming months is to integrate into the community. He’s keen for everyone to know who he is, how they can get hold of him and what he can do to help.
He is part-funded by Weaver Vale Housing Trust which is reflected in his posting as an officer with responsibility for the housing estate.
Many PCSOs are similar to Mark in that they are funded by various streams, including the police.
This enables them to be ring-fenced to a particular community and they are only taken away from working in that community if there is a significant policing need.
“It’s a real bonus being attached to a particular estate because it means I can focus my efforts. I strive to stay in touch with all the sectors of the community to ensure I’m always up-to-speed with what’s going on and looking at any problems which may be causing concern.
“The fact that I’m a member of the Winsford Community Action Team is vital because it means I can access police resources. So if there’s an issue with say a spate of criminal damage, I can work with my colleagues to target the area with things like high-visibility patrols and observational work,” said Mark.
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MOTORISTS should park up illegal and anti-social habits to avoid a fine.
PCs and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) in Winsford Community Action Team are dishing out warnings to drivers who flout parking laws by leaving vehicles on double-yellow lines, in areas they are obstructing the traffic flow, in restricted bays – anywhere they shouldn’t.
Warning notices are already being issued to offending motorists and over the coming weeks those who fail to take heed of the warnings will be fined.
PCSO Matthew Hood, who has been involved in the work, said: “We’ve already issued fines to some people who are clearly flouting the laws and we’ll continue to do so. There are of course occasions when motorists genuinely aren’t aware their parking is causing a problem. That’s where the warning notices come in useful.
“The important thing for people to bear in mind is why we take this kind of action. Not only are people telling us they are fed up with this type of behaviour, there are safety issues to consider.
“When people park inconsiderately, they are putting the safety of other road users at risk. And it’s not just other motorists. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, everyone using the roads and pavements must change their behaviour when they come across obstructions and this opens up the potential for accidents to happen.”
All areas of Winsford are regularly being pro-actively targeted by officers looking out for illegal and inconsiderate parking.
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IT’S the end of the road for law-breaking motorists in Vale Royal now that a specialist roads policing team has been launched.
A number of Targeted Patrol Team (TPT) officers have undergone extensive roads policing training and are now busy putting their foot down against offenders.
The TPT is dedicated to responding to emergency calls and the shift system of those who have undergone traffic training has been tailored to ensure there are always road specialists on duty 24, seven.
The roads policing officers are first and foremost dedicated to answering calls for emergency however when road-related emergencies occur, the specialists are assigned the call.
In addition, they work pro-actively to target criminals who use the roads, drivers who use their vehicles illegally or anti-socially, banned motorists, dangerous drivers – anyone who shouldn’t be on the road.
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CATS are pouncing on burglars in Winsford.
The town’s Community Action Team is warning thieves who target homes they will be caught and prosecuted.
An operation designed to catch and deter offenders is already underway and high-visibility patrols are regularly taking place to ensure criminals get the message they will not be tolerated.
The use of high-visibility officers in hot spot areas at key times is just one element to the operation.
Efforts are also being made to raise security awareness in the community and improve security measures by installing Smart Water in a number of homes.
Plain clothes teams are included too running regular surveillance operations and information gathering exercises in an attempt to identify and gather evidence against offenders.
Insp Ian Gallagher said: “There are elements to our work which we can’t give too much detail about because we don’t want to jeopardise its effectiveness. The main thing to point out is that there is a tremendous amount of work going on to address burglary.
"Winsford is a safe place and this work will make sure things stay that way.”
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Facts and figures
FIGURES for the numbers of crimes recorded in Vale Royal up until February 27, 2007 make interesting reading when compared to Feb 2006.
In Northwich, the number of all crimes recorded stands at 252 this year compared to 325 in Feb 2006 with monthly targets being beaten in the violent crime, vehicle crime and burglary targets.
In Winsford, the number of all crimes recorded in Feb 2007 stands at 170 compared to 288 in Feb 2006. Monthly targets are being achieved in the categories of violence, vehicle crime and criminal damage.
It’s a positive picture in the Vale Royal communities which sit in the Western Rural Neighbourhood Policing Unit with 98 crimes recorded in Feb 2007 compared to 151 in Feb 2006.
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Police officers/staff
WINSFORD Community Action Team officer Di Woodward, who has an MBE, has been nominated for Cheshire Woman of the Year. The winner is announced next month. Watch this space!
On February 28, Cheshire Ladies’ Hockey team played Northants at home in Crewe in a Police Sport UK fixture. Cheshire thrashed the opposition 6 – 0. The win has now placed the team in a semi-final match and a step closer to bringing home the team’s first silverware.
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Looking Ahead
Forthcoming Community Action Meetings…
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Location
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Date
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Time
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Officer
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St John’s Church, School Lane, Hartford, Northwich
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March 6
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7pm
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Police Community Support Officer Karen Nixon
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Tarporley Community Centre,Tarporley
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March 8
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7pm
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Police Community Support Officer Emily Benson
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Rudheath Youth Club, Gadbrook Road, Rudheath, Northwich.
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March 15
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7pm
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PCs Leanne Huddart and Rob Astbury
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Grange Court,Grange Estate,Winsford
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March 27
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7pm
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PC Dan Barlow
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Barnton Memorial Hall, Townfield Lane, Barnton, Northwich.
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April 10
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7pm
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PC Rob Stopford
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Holy Trinity Church Hall, Waterloo Road, Castle, Northwich.
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April 11
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7pm
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PCSO Barbara Stock and PC Kelly Warburton
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Anyone with information about crime should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or Cheshire Constabulary on 0845 458 0000.
If there is any information you would like to see in the Vale Royal edition of On the Grapevine, or if there are any comments you would like to make, please contact Donna Bell, Cheshire Constabulary public relations officer for the Western Area on 01244 614280 or 07768 300 917. Alternatively email donna.bell@cheshire.pnn.police.uk All Donna’s contact numbers have answer machines which are checked on a daily basis.
Anyone with information about crime should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or 
Cheshire Constabulary on 0845 458 0000.
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