Speed Watch & Crime updates, Xmas precautions

Speed Watch News

Throughout the Colchester area Community Speed Watch Checks resulted in:

1,120 first warnings,
70 second warnings, and
10 requiring further action (officer visits and possible enforcement).

The West Bergholt Speed Watch team undertook the 10th highest number of speed checks out of the 60 teams and will have contributed much to those numbers.

Mick Green of Essex Police’s Casualty Reduction section, further reported to the Speed watch groups:

BRAKE week was a great success and I can’t thank you enough for all your effort during the week despite the rain! 53 groups were visited, if you were not one of them then I can only apologise I understand that demand was greater than the officers available, but on that note our new Community Engagement Sergeant Graham Freeman will be tasking his Community Officers with arranging more CSW visits in the new year.

The Casualty Reduction section are trialling a new speed detection laser that records the offence which is then processed in the back office the offender then receives the details in the post. This device is capable of detecting hundreds of offences per hour and is now being used to great effect.

December’s activity is largely around drink and drug driving offences as we move towards the Christmas period, if you know of a regular drink driver or pick up any information we would love to hear from you, information will of course be treated in the strictest confidence.

Adam Pipe the Casualty Reduction Section manager continues to forward information via Twitter if you want to receive these tweets then log on and connect with him.

Crime Update

The Essex Watch Liaison Officer has reported on crimes committed between 9th to 15th December including one local crime, and offers a range of ‘Festive Security Tips’.

New Church Road

This “Burglary in a building other than a dwelling” took place between late afternoon on 6th & early morning on 9th December. Suspects unknown have gained entry to secure class room by forcing the door, no search made, property removed from within.

Festive Security Tips

With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, you are probably in the process of buying presents and stocking up on supplies for the festive season. However, at this time of year rich pickings can be found.

We want you to be able to relax and enjoy the festive season, so here are some useful tips to ensure that you don’t become a victim to an opportunist thief.

Make sure gifts and valuables, wrapped and unwrapped, are out of view and not visible from any windows. This applies in the car as well as in the home.
Photograph valuable property and log any serial numbers. Don’t store the information on a laptop, as that might be stolen too – keep it on a memory stick in a safe place.
Don’t put gift packaging out for recycling or leave it sticking out of your bin – thieves will notice boxes for branded products like laptops, TVs or accessories that could indicate an expensive piece of kit somewhere in the house. The safest thing to do is to break down any cardboard boxes or fold them inside out so that you cannot see the branding. You can then store them out of sight inside your home until you can dispose of them at a local recycling site.
Mark any expensive gifts you receive for Christmas with a UV pen or property marking service. This will make it harder for burglars to sell the items and allow police to return them to you. Call your local policing team on 101 for advice about property marking products. You can register your property with www.immobilise.com which is endorsed by a number of police forces.
Lock all doors and windows, leave a light on and draw the curtains when you go out at night. Keep your doors and windows locked from the inside even when you are inside your home.
Visible burglar alarms, exterior security lighting, timer lighting switches and leaving the radio on help to deter thieves and give the impression that somebody is at home.
Bolt and padlock garden gates and make sure you don’t leave ladders out, or other things that burglars could easily use to climb on. Remember to lock your garden shed and store your tools inside; it stops burglars using your tools to break into your house. Consider fitting extra padlocks to gates, sheds and garages. Don’t keep presents in the garage or shed.

If you’re going away, we always recommend asking a trusted neighbour to pop in to your home every now and then to turn the lights on and off, draw the curtains, collect the mail and make the house look occupied. It goes without saying, make sure everything is properly locked up before you leave and the burglar alarm – if you have one – is set. We advise cancelling your newspapers, magazines and milk deliveries. We also recommend that you don’t advertise the fact you are away from your home on Social Networking sites – thieves use Social Media too!

You don’t have to be a member of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme to be a good neighbour, and even if you don’t have much contact with your neighbours, Christmas could be the perfect time to break the ice, have a friendly chat and get to know them a bit better.

Burglars wander around looking for chances. The best opportunity for the police to catch them in the act is for you to spot them before they break in. Wherever you live, remain vigilant and if you see anything suspicious, call 999 immediately. You can also call 101 to contact your police in a non-emergency situation.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has also produced a guide on how to keep safe during the Festive season, which can be viewed and downloaded here:

http://www.ourwatch.org.uk/resource_centre/document_library/festive_season_safety/

December 10, 2013December 9, 2013

Neighbourhood Crime Reports – 8th December

The latest Neighbourhood Crime Report issued by Essex Police identifies one crime in the West Bergholt & Eight Ash Green area over the past fortnight (and none in the prior fortnight).

4th December – Colchester Road

Burglary in a dwelling

Suspects unknown have gained entry to second floor flat by means unknown, tidy search made and items removed from within.

Tips for a Crime Free Christmas Shop

The tips for a crime free Christmas shop start before you leave your house, after all you don’t want come home to find the house broken into.

Garden tools securely locked away in the shed – Burglars will be happy to use your tools to break into your house.
Create the illusion your home is occupied – Radio and lights on a timer in rooms you would normally occupy, there is even a device called “Fake TV” that flashes a series of lights when it gets dark that looks like the TV is on.
Lock up properly, not just your windows and doors in the house but also any gates and outbuildings.
Choose a “Park Mark” car park where you can http://www.parkmark.co.uk/. By choosing a Park Mark® Safer Parking facility you are visiting a car park that the Police have vetted and has measures in place to create a safer environment for both you and your vehicle.
Leave nothing in sight within your car, remove the “Sat Nav” cradle and clean the mark on the windscreen.
When you lock your car with the remote, look for the light flash confirmation or better still try the door handle before leaving the car.
Now you’re starting your shop, watch your purse, wallet, mobile phone and handbag especially in busy places; don’t leave them on display in bags or on counters while you pay and while you’re paying, ensure that no one is watching you entering your PIN when making purchases or withdrawing cash.
Time to stop for lunch or a cuppa, don’t drop your guard. Mobile phone on the table, shopping by the chair, wallet or purse visible coat, jacket or handbag over the chair, a thief sees it, a thief will steal it.
Need to offload some of those purchases in the car, look around are you being watched? Back to (5 & 6) above again.
Time go home, don’t fall for any distractions while you load the car, i.e. “you dropped some money” pointing to cash on the ground, holding a map “can you tell me the way to….”. While you are engaged, the second person steals from your car on the other side.

You can get further crime prevention advice by contacting Stephen Armson-Smith the Colchester Crime Prevention Officer using the Police Non Emergency number of 101 and then extension 430386 or see http://www.essex.police.uk/home.aspx “Be Safe” tab or “My Neighbourhood” tab.

December 4, 2013December 4, 2013

Drink Driving & other Xmas crimes?

Drink Driving

Adam Pipe, the Casualty Reduction Manager at Essex Police is asking all Speedwatch groups, and other community-minded folks, for any support they can give to the Xmas drink driving campaign. Such support is always much appreciated and could help save lives. He says:

We always look to the support of the community in providing us with intelligence relating to possible known drink drivers within your communities and this information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

As always you can stay in touch with our daily operations via following my Twitter page @EPAdamPipe.

As their poster cautions – drink-driving can have devastating consequences, don’t take the chance, make sure you arrange your lift home in advance.

Seasonal Fraud On-line

Criminals are always present in our lives and Christmas is no exception. The City of London Police recently issued a document detailing 12 top seasonal frauds being conducted on-line and how to protect yourself from them:

Shopping On-line? Beware bogus shopping sites – some may have nothing to deliver, others are shifting counterfeit goods;
Auction Sites are safe aren’t they? Only if used in the safest way and using trusted sellers.
Email links and attachments? Click them at your peril
Booking a holiday? If the price seems too good to be true it probably is.
E-card or e-virus? Many e-cards are safe – but not all are!
Social network special gifts & offers? Often just trying to capture personal data with nothing to offer at all.
It’s good to give to charity isn’t it? Of course it is – but make sure it is a legitimate on-line donation.
Paying on-line for presents and services? Safe only as long as you take precautions.
Transfer the money now to secure your purchase? Despite the financial institution involved, the ‘seller’ might be running a scam.
Voucher codes are good news? Possibly, but open to fraud as criminals spread ‘ransomware’ viruses.
Must-see event and cheap tickets? They might only be cheap because they don’t exist.
Paying with your mobile? Highly convenient but subject to hacking if not careful.

Read more about how you can protect yourself in 12 Online Frauds of Christmas.

November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

Neighbourhood Crime & Personal Safety– 17th November

The latest Neighbourhood Crime Report (17th November) shows only one reported crime for the Eight Ash Green and West Bergholt Area:

13^th – 14^th November – Fiddlers Folley

Criminal Damage to a vehicle.

Suspect unknown has caused damage to the victims vehicle by scratching all panels on the nearside of the vehicle. Suspect has also caused 2 dents to panels on the nearside by unknown means.

Personal Safety at Christmas

The Essex Police Neighbourhood Watch coordinator for the area has also warned about the risk of crime in the 6 weeks leading up to Christmas and has recommended the attached document, published by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, as useful reading to ensure your personal safety:

Personal Safety during the Festive Season

November 15, 2013

Neighbourhood Crime Reports – 10th November

Whilst the village no longer has an active Neighbourhood Watch Group the groups in the Borough as a whole remain active and the Essex Police Watch Liaison Officer produces periodic reports on crime in the area. Despite no longer having an active Neighbourhood Watch in the village, we still receive these crime reports and as we do so, we will update you on recent crimes committed within the area covered by our Neighbourhood Policing Team (i.e. Eight Ash Green & West Bergholt). The latest reports to 10th November reported the following:

28th – 29th October – Nayland Road

Burglary in a building other than a dwelling.

Suspect unknown has gained entry into the bed and breakfast annex of the main building by means unknown and causing no visible damage, suspects have then used bodily force to break through the connecting door of the grade two listed premises causing damage to the door and surrounding wall, selective search, cash only removed.

30th – 31st October – Mumford Road

Attempted Burglary in a dwelling (Indictable).

Suspect unknown has attempted to gain access through the front door, no access gained and no property taken. Front door and frame damaged.

31st October 2013 – Donard Drive

Burglary in a dwelling.

Suspect unknown has entered via the rear patio door which was not locked so no forced entry. Suspect has then gone upstairs and removed items and money belonging to the victim from the master and spare bedroom before leaving the property.

November 12, 2013February 15, 2019

Poo problem – dog fouling

There are often complaints about the problem of dog fouling in the village. Most dog walkers do take responsibility for clearing up after their dog and it is the few who don’t that create a bad image for all the others.

There was a problem recently at the doctor’s surgery. A dog had been allowed to foul just outside the surgery and an unwary visitor had trodden in it and then unbeknown walked it through the surgery. This was a very unpleasant task for the staff to clean up afterwards as well as a hygiene issue.

All dog walkers should have, by law, a plastic bag with them and use this to pick up the poo and place in one of the many dog bins strategically placed around the village.

Dog mess on the pavements, in the hedgerows or on the streets is very unpleasant, unhealthy and unnecessary.

Please remember that no dogs are permitted on the Lorkin Daniell Field and this includes all areas around the Orpen Hall. Dog wardens will apply fines for offenders.

PLEASE ALWAYS CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG

November 6, 2013

Are you at risk from burglary?

West Bergholt residents suffered 3 burglaries or attempted burglaries last week and Essex Police are cranking up their efforts to cut the incidence rate. Their operation has identified a number of burglary hotspots in and around Colchester with parts of West Bergholt having been identified as a hot spot recently, in particular the hot areas in the West Bergholt and Eight Ash Green beat are:

Mumford Road,
Donard Drive,
Upton Close,
Lexden Road,
Chapel Road,
The Avenue,
Queen’s Road,
Spring Lane,
the Spinney,
The Retreat.

Members of our local communities can help the police by keeping vigilant, and through reporting any suspicious activity, which could relate to burglaries. To report non-emergency incidents, or to give non-emergency information, please telephone 101, and, as always, dial 999 in an emergency. It also pays, of course, to make sure that your property is locked, of the three recent incidents one was a result of forced entry, another no forced entry was necessary since a patio door was unlocked whilst the third was unsuccessful an attempt at forced entry left some damage but no entry was gained.

Information about suspicious persons, suspicious activity and related vehicles, will help Essex Police to keep crime Down!

October 15, 2013September 10, 2016

SpeedWatch Report

Speedwatch Report

Many readers will know that West Bergholt have a SpeedWatch Group. This is a group of volunteers, trained by the police to use an approved radar speed device. Members are able to go, at a convenient time, to approved sites and monitor the speeds of the traffic. Any motorist exceeding a threshold speed has their vehicle details written down, with time and date, and this is passed to Essex Police. The keeper of the vehicle will then receive a letter from the Police asking them to obey the speed limits in future. The Police state:

“Persistent high violators will be targeted by Essex Police resulting in prosecution.”

Intimidating

Many people have been concerned about the speed of traffic along the B1508, Colchester Road, and Lexden Road in particular. Lorries and other large vehicles can be particularly intimidating where the footpaths are so narrow. Most of these vehicles are not exceeding the speed limit, but even then they create frightening turbulence.

The rail company paints yellow lines on the platform, to separate people from the trains. Most of our footpaths are not wide enough to allow such a gap. The B1508, Colchester-Bures Road in West Bergholt has similar issues. Many people also complain about the skip lorries. Again most of these are within the limit, but when we went at 6 am on September 30th, the first one we saw was doing 44 mph, in a 30 mph limit! Miraculously all the others were within the limit.

Town Event for SpeedWatch

A Town event was held in Colchester on 18th September 2013, which involved several speedwatch groups. I would like to share with you the final results for the day;

Road Safety staff gave advice and showed education videos to 51 offenders at enforcement sites, 300 people on community wheels outside the Town Hall with road safety staff and staff from the fire brigade giving advice, and 66 drivers were recorded traveling between 36 mph and 49 mph in Fingringhoe, Langenhoe, Peldon and West Bergholt by your local Community SpeedWatch Teams who conducted 5 sessions during the day.

One resident reported to me that their cat had been killed by a speeding and hit-and-run driver. It could easily be a child or an old person next time!

Nuisance to drivers?

If you are a motorist who regularly speeds and thinks we are a nuisance, I would just ask you to do a simple experiment. Try driving within the speed limit and see how much longer it takes. Inevitably we have to slow for junctions and traffic lights, so the actual maximum speed has a surprisingly small effect on total journey time.

If you would like to come and join us, please let me know, so that you can receive the police training. Once trained members can go when they are able to find another volunteer(s) to join them.

Anthony C Robin
Spring Lane,
01206 571910.
[antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]

June 25, 2013September 10, 2016

Speedwatch Campaign

Are you concerned with Speeding traffic through the village?

Your Village needs YOU.

Many people in the village have complained about the speed of some motorists as they drive through the village. Speedwatch is a small group of volunteers who have been trained by the local Police, and who are able to check speeds of vehicles using an official radar speed gun. We are able to go, when we are able, to locations which have been assessed as safe, and to note the details of cars or other vehicles travelling above a speed threshold. These motorists will then receive letters from the Police.

The two villages of Eight Ash Green and West Bergholt work jointly on this and our locations include the A1124 (Halstead Rd), Spring Lane, B1508 (Colchester Rd), sharing people and equipment. Any session requires a minimum of two volunteers but extra people are helpful to collect details. If you could spend a hour or so, when convenient to you, and would be interested in joining us, then could you let me know as soon as possible. If we receive enough volunteers, then we can arrange another training session with the local police.

We are not anti-motorist, most of us are motorists ourselves. We aim to get all to obey the speed limits, for the safety of all road users. There are many places with restricted views in these villages, one motorist well in excess of the limit at one of these motivated me to get involved with this project.

If you are interested and would like to join us, please contact me as soon as possible by phone on (01206) 571910 or email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Anthony C Robin

April 9, 2013

Nick Alston visiting to seek views on police & crime

On 15^th April, the Police Crime Commissioner, Nick Alston will be visiting Colchester and holding a public meeting at the Council Chambers at the Town Hall, High street, Colchester CO1 1PJ from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Please come along to hear Mr Alston’s plans for Essex and give your views on local policing.