Speed Restriction Enforcement and Traffic Control Measures in Eardisland
Eardisland is still a PACT priority for speed enforcement and the NW campaign continues. The progress and research made by the NW team, and the future direction of this campaign was discussed and reviewed at the November meeting of the Parish Council.
Early feedback from the Community Led Plan has confirmed that speeding and traffic control is a matter of significant concern for many of our parishioners. As a result the NW Team was delighted to learn that the Parish Council is considering the viability of implementing a Speed Indicator Device (SID) in the village during 2012, and that Cllr Miller is heading up this project.
Partners and Communities Together (PACT) comes to Eardisland!!
PACT surgeries offer an opportunity for police to meet local residents in an informal way so that concerns and information can be exchanged and local priorities established. The NW Team are delighted that the monthly PACT meetings introduced to Eardisland last November have proved to be very successful and the police team are determined to continue with this excellent opportunity. As a result the following surgeries are planned for Thursdays from 3.00-4.00pm at the Village Shop on:
2 February 2012
1 March 2012
29 March 2012
If you have any concerns please share them with the local police team at this time.
The new telephone number 101 to contact West Mercia Police has proved an instant success!!
From November 2011 the system changed so that you can dial 101 when you want to contact your local police to report less urgent crime or disorder and for general police enquiries. For example:
• If your car has been stolen
• If your property has been damaged
• To report a minor traffic collision
• To give police information about crime in your area
By adopting 101 it makes it easier for people to report crime and ease the pressure on the 999 system. The early feedback from the Eardisland community and the local police is that the new scheme is proving to be both effective and efficient. Calls from landlines and mobile networks cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day or how long you are on the phone. The service is available 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. If you happen to be deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment then you can access the same service via textphone on 18001 101.
In an emergency, always call 999 if there is a crime in progress, if someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life, or when violence is being used or threatened.
Seasonal Crime Trends
1. Car Crime in Leominster !
Over a four-day period in January there were 17 incidents of car crime in Leominster. Vehicles that were targeted were parked both in residential areas and in car parks. The main reason for these crimes has been to steal property located inside the vehicle and usually Satellite Navigation (SatNav) devices. It might sound obvious, but make sure you lock the doors and shut the windows and sunroof of your vehicle whenever you leave it unattended. Some additional tips:
* Remove your Sat Nav and its holder, and wipe away any suction marks on the windscreen as these could suggest to a thief that a Sat Nav is stored in your vehicle.
* Never leave any valuables in your vehicle - not even in the glove-box or boot - and keep ALL other possessions out of sight.
* Use an approved steering lock or gear clamp, and remember to set your immobiliser and alarm if you have them.
* Register your stereo, laptop, Sat Nav and any other property on a free online property database such as www.immobilise.com. It only takes a few minutes and could help police trace your property if it's lost or stolen.
2. Reported Burglary and Criminal Damage
There have been a number of such crimes reported in villages near to Eardisland. They include:
• An offender has approached Pembridge village Hall, smashed a rear door open, gained entry and stolen a cash-tin. One male has been arrested and questioned and enquiries are ongoing.
• Recently vacated buildings in Weobley and Pembridge have had windows smashed and entries forced.
• A cast iron letterbox was stolen off the front gate of a property in Titley.
• Two men forced an entry into a public house in Shobdon but fled when the alarm system was activated. CCTV has picked up images of the two offenders and enquiries are ongoing.
Police Issue Heating Oil Theft Advice
As winter sets in, West Mercia Police is giving people advice on how they can avoid having their heating oil stolen. With the cost of fuel remaining high, oil tanks have become a target for thieves. Last year there were 176 thefts recorded across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire where tanks were drained of oil. Some useful advice:
• Hide your oil tank so you are not a target for thieves in the first place: if they can't see it, then they won't know it's there.
• Plant shrubs or install fences to conceal your tank from view - especially if you live close to the road. If your property is more secluded, deter thieves from entering your property by installing lockable gates and maintaining any perimeter fencing.
• Check your tank's oil levels on a regular basis. Be extra vigilant of tankers or large vehicles close to your property. Note down any registration numbers of vehicles you think look suspicious and report them to the police.
• Where possible, install security lighting that covers your tank and the immediate surrounding area. If your tank is openly accessible to all, consider moving it to an area or building where it is better protected.
West Mercia Police has produced a leaflet detailing all this advice which is being handed out by a number of oil distribution companies at the same time as they make fuel deliveries to their customers.
SCAM letter from Hong Kong
This latest SCAM letter advises the potential victim that someone from abroad has a significant amount in cash that they want to bring to the UK, but need a bank account to do it. It also indicates that a sum of money needs to be in the account before the money can be transferred into it, and the letter then asks for the details of this bank account. These sorts of letters will usually say it is because of a recent death of a person abroad where there has been no next-of-kin and that the same surname is shared. Letter scams sound too good to be true and so don’t be tempted by scams to make easy money.
Do not send money to unknown individuals to release further funds, however believable the story sounds, and never give out your bank details in response to such an email or letter.
Anyone who has given out bank details in a situation like this should contact their bank immediately. Those who might have lost money to a scam like this should report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Keith Mitchell (Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator)
