POLICE

Malmesbury**Rural **Ashton Keynes and Minety*
Neighbourhood Watch

Police News January 2010

from Sergeant Martin Alvis,
Neighbourhood Policing Team Wootton Bassett, Cricklade & Malmesbury Community Area

 Firstly I am very pleased to report that the festive season went by very quietly. The weather has obviously made a significant impact in the day to day business of many people, however it has remained business as normal for all the emergency services as we continued to respond and deal with our routine task. Many people have stated we must have been rushed off our feet with all the collisions in the snow; however this was not the case. The good thing with snow is you can see it, well hopefully. It is when the roads are just covered in ice when the collisions tend to occur. So remember, this time of year we are prone to quite harsh conditions. So please slow down and allow yourself extra travelling time.
Many of you will remember over the past 15 months we have held beat surgeries on Thursday afternoons, in the three stations within our sector, Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury and Cricklade. Due to a lack of attendance at these surgeries, less than one person a month attending, it has been decided to stop running them. This will give the Officers more opportunity to get out within their communities and attend to their calls. However Wootton Bassett Police station now has a PIP, Police Information Point. This is a drop in information point that is kindly staffed by Police volunteers. The PIP is open every Mon, Wed & Fri 1000-1400, not including public holidays. Visitors will be able to make general enquiries of the Police and if necessary report crime via a phone link. Document production will not be available; this remains with the larger stations of Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Marlborough and Melksham.

Malmesbury Town Update

PC Sam Bussey and PCSO Dee Curran
 Malmesbury Town has seen a relatively quiet period over the last couple of months - crime and reports of anti-social behaviour have been very low. 
The main concern over the last month has been the appalling weather conditions.  However, at the time of writing this report, the forecast is for milder temperatures, so hopefully road conditions will start to improve. 
In this current quarter, we are continuing with our current Priority Plan - working to ensure that the Station Yard car park continues to be free of crime and anti-social behaviour.  You may have noticed that Wiltshire Council have already removed a large amount of vegetation, which has really opened up the area.  I am aware that new lighting is on the agenda and CCTV is being discussed for the area.  This is all very positive and by keeping this as a Priority for the next quarter, we will continue to patrol and monitor the situation.
You will have read in the Sergeant’s message that the Beat Surgeries held on Thursday evenings, have now closed in Malmesbury.  We are, however, very keen to attend meetings, events and clubs in the local community.  Please make contact with us by telephone, e-mail or letter, if you would like us to attend.

Malmesbury Rural Update

Pc Louis Bowden
Firstly A Happy New Year!
The rural patrol strategy remained in place and despite the terrible travelling conditions we were still able to provide a visible presence within the villages surrounding Malmesbury. There has been a series of Cotswold roof tile thefts in the area and most recently in the neighbouring area of Ashton Keynes where tiles were taken from the parish Church roof. Malmesbury Police are working closely with neighbouring forces, arrests have been made and enquiries are still ongoing.
A dwelling burglary occurred in the Burton Hill area of Malmesbury on New Year’s Eve, a male has been arrested and charged for the offence and is due to attend court later this month.
 The NPT priority will remain to provide visible presence and reassurance as we still have travelling opportunist thefts and burglaries sporadically occurring in the area.  Please remain vigilant and be conscious to secure out buildings, sheds, stables, tack and vehicles including 4x4's and quad bikes.
 Landrover vehicles and other high performance 4x4 vehicles are being stolen force wide. If any suspicious vehicle or persons are seen please note the number plate and descriptions of persons present and phone the police immediately.
 If you believe that a crime may be about to happen, is in progress or has just occurred then be confident in your suspicions and phone 999 immediately and report the incident to the police.
 The rural neighbourhood policing team work closely with the rural crime team, horse watch and farm watch and we are able to provide you with relevant security advice.

Ashton Keynes & Minety update

Ashton Keynes and Minety NPT tel 0845 408 7000
Email: ashtonminetynpt@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
 Happy New Year to you all!
New priorities have been set for the Neighbourhood Policing Team area after consultation with the local community.
 1.    Parking outside the school, Minety – numerous complaints from teachers/parents/carers and residents in regards to the parking of parents and carers picking up and dropping off children at the school. These include blocking drive ways and obstructing the pavement.
 2.   Speeding, Minety – the speed of vehicles travelling along Silver Street and Hornbury Hill towards Upper Minety.
 3.   Traffic related issues - Oaksey – the weight and speed of traffic using the road through Oaksey.
 There has been a spate of ‘bin surfing’ along the B4696 from Braydon cross roads to Ashton Keynes, B4040 from Cricklade to Minety and along Silver Street/Sawyers Hill in Minety. Bin surfing is where the passenger/s of a car select a wheelie bin, the vehicle then drives off along the road towing the bin until it is let go causing damage and/or spilling its contents all over the road. If you see or hear this happening please call the Police on 0845 408 7000. We are taking this very seriously as apart from being extremely anti-social bins are being found in the middle of the road and along the main routes causing a real hazard to drivers. Police are patrolling the area on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to try and identify/catch any offenders.
The Holy Cross Church in Ashton Keynes has had tiles stolen from the roof over the weekend of the 8th-10th January. Offenders are believed to have parked in the lay-by next to the church to load the tiles more easily. If you have seen anyone in the area acting suspicious or you saw this taking place please contact either PC Simon Akers or PCSO Sam Walsh by telephone or email as given below.
Even though we have highlighted parking at Minety School as an issue we are aware this is a problem at all schools on the area. Just to clarify, both sides of the zig zags outside the schools need be kept clear of any vehicle, except school buses and taxis, for the safety of children attending school.
Anyone dropping off or collecting children from school is not to park on pavements, obstruct driveways or park on the corner of a junction.  To do so is not only dangerous to pedestrians and road users it is also inconsiderate and illegal and will be dealt with by way of prosecution and possible towing away of the offending vehicle.

Each school on the area has been issued letters from the Police to issue to parents who contravene these rules and details are then passed back to the team. The team will also be attending each school on a ‘random’ basis at the start and end of school to monitor the situation and deal with anyone who contravenes this.

Lastly we have received some complaints in regards to horse riders riding along the road with dogs running unrestrained along behind. This is not only an offence but is very dangerous to other road users.

During the recent spell of bad weather there have been very few reports of collisions. There have been, on the other hand, a few reports of anti social behaviour in Ashton Keynes. This has included youths throwing snowballs on the High Road at passing vehicles. The youths involved have been spoken to in company of their parents. There has also been a window smashed by a snow ball in the village which the team are currently investigating.
 

Neighbourhood Watch “Column

Ian Mace Malmesbury Community Sector Co-ordinator
01666 822691 ian.mace@tiscali.co.uk
 A Happy and safe New Year to you all.
 We have had a hiccup in the global “warming” with snow and freezing temperatures, but full marks and praise to our emergency services for responding so well. Praise also to those citizens that made contact with the elderly and more vulnerable in our community, to check that they were OK and not short of essentials.
Good news on the crime front as snow leaves footprints, so in the morning you can see if anyone has been around. Not good conditions for thieves (every cloud has a silver lining).
So let us look forward to the spring season, with thoughts turning to our gardens. We’ve had our garden machinery serviced and we are ready to go!  So are opportunists, thieves are forever on the look out for the unlocked shed or garage.
 Neighbourhood Watch is always looking for new members, why not do your bit in 2010. If you want to play your part, then contact me, or a member of our local police force.
 Communication is the key to NHW, communicating up and down. This goes totally awry when members change their contact details (eg their email address) and do not inform us.  I have several NHW contacts whose email “alerts” bounce back “undelivered”. If you have changed contact details, please let us know.
 Make one of your New Year Resolutions to “do my bit!”Have a great, crime free 2010!