See the latest Neighbourhood Updates for our area.
POLICE SURGERIES
HAVE YOUR SAY MEETING
A Have Your Say Meeting is being held
on Monday 6 February 2012,
outside Sonning Common Primary School, Grove Road, Sonning Common,
between 8:30am and 9:30am.
Please come along, this is your opportunity to speak with your Neighbourhood Officers to discuss any local issues of concern you may have. If you are unable to attend but wish to speak with your Neighbourhood Officers, please call 08458 505 505.
ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES
If you own and/or run a business in the Thames Valley area and are concerned about social unrest, this leaflet from the Thames Valley Police offers advice to businesses.
UPDATE ON THE WORK OF OUR LOCAL POLICE TEAM
from Mark Harling – Sector Inspector
29 October 2011
I wanted to update you with regard to the success that your local police team are having in various areas of their work and also to update you on some changes which are taking place.
Crime Update
I have made some calculations with regard to the numbers of crimes that have happened in the Henley area and I am pleased to say that for the same period last year (1st April – 19th October) we have seen a reduction of 23%. You may remember my anxiety a little while ago when we were experiencing a slight problem with burglaries to people's homes. This did cause me concern and ourselves and colleagues from across South Oxfordshire pulled together in order to prevent and solve this particular problem. We now have a 19% reduction in burglaries and 64% of burglaries have been solved. However I am far from complacent – and we are on the alert for other burglars to come to the area. Over the past couple of weeks there have been a few burglaries – 2 of which have had cars taken so we need to be on our guard. What I do want to do is reassure you that we are constantly on alert but need people to ensure that their homes are secured. Thankfully (for the purposes of burglary) the colder weather has arrived and people will be keeping their doors and windows closed (and hopefully locked). There are still opportunists look for chances though so please continue to be security conscious.
Neighbourhood Action Group/Community Safety Group
I am keen to re-introduce a hybrid of the Neighbourhood Action Group or the former Henley Area Community Safety Group to the Henley Sector as I see it as a useful vehicle to deal with local issues and get buy in from local people. With this in mind there will be a group formed for the Henley Sector and I hope to start this in November. However these types of meeting, although valuable can be time consuming, not only for the police but more particularly for partners and local people and the buy in of all is essential to make them work. For some partners it is not just the Henley Sector they work with but the whole of South Oxfordshire and when re-introducing a meeting such as this, I need to be mindful of that. I hope to be able to bring together a group of people who will be able to offer advice, guidance and assistance to areas of the Sector where their experiences and knowledge will help to solve specific problems. With the right people this could be another way to help us achieve our aims.
Vehicle Crime
Thames Valley Police is improving the way it responds to vehicle crime. For some time now neighbourhood teams have been visiting victims of vehicle crime in their area to gather information and intelligence, identify lines of inquiry and provide advice and reassurance. The teams focus on incidents that do not require an immediate or urgent response, and visits are made via appointment at a time convenient for the victim – this may be several days after the incident is first reported to the police. Emergencies and crimes in progress are always dealt with by patrol officers and prioritised accordingly. Starting this month, the Force will be deploying neighbourhood teams (police officers and PCSOs) earlier in the process, so that we attend these incidents more quickly than we would otherwise have done. This change is an opportunity for early inquiries to secure better witness and forensic evidence, identify offenders and reduce crime. Neighbourhood teams, including PCSOs, are expected to attend reported vehicle crimes in their area as soon as possible during the same tour of duty. Patrol officers will also be deployed to these incidents where appropriate. All PCSOs have received training about the law concerning vehicle crime, as well building on their existing abilities to identify lines of inquiry and evidential opportunities. We recognise that neighbourhood teams have a number of priorities and commitments. They will be expected to communicate with the victims and use their professional judgement and common sense to balance the need for prompt attendance with other priorities.
Crime Reduction Event
The 15th October saw us holding a Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Reduction event in the car park at Tesco. Carol Rudd (NHW Adminsitrator) and Malcolm Wills (Crime Reduction Advisor) organised it. The event was a success and a great show of the police and community working together to help make Henley a safer place to live. Volunteers arrived at 7am to help put up a large marquee which was provided by the Leichlingen Twinning Association. The event was run and organised by the police and Neighbourhood Watch volunteers.
The aim of the event was to raise awareness of recent burglaries in the Henley area and to advise residents on what they can do to make sure their homes are safe and secure. Crime prevention advice was given out and residents were asked to sign up to the FREE Thames Valley Police Community Messaging Service www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org so they could be kept informed of any crime in the area and receive information on local events and opportunities to meet their neighbourhood policing teams. Residents can receive messages by telephone or email direct to their own home.
- We spoke to over 250 people on the day.
- 57 local residents have signed up to the Thames Valley Police Community Messaging Service.
- 180 people showed an interest in the Community Messaging Service and said they would apply online to receive messages.
- 12 residents have requested information on setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
This was a very successful day!
Neighbourhood Team
We have reviewed our teams and the way that we work and we think that we can make some improvements to the way that we provide Neighbourhood Policing. The Henley Sector will be divided into three geographic areas with the following officers attached to them:
Henley Town, Harpsden and Shiplake – Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Vicky Sims (Vicky.Sims@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk)
and PCSOs
Janice Smith (Janice.Smith@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk), Helen Anderson (Helen.Anderson@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk) and Claire Hewett (Claire.Hewett@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk).
Goring, Goring Heath, Woodcote, South Stoke, Whitchurch, Mapledurham, Checkendon, Stoke Row, Highmoor, Nettlebed, Pishill & Stonor, Swyncombe – Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Barbara Taylor (Barbara.Taylor@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk)
and PCSOs
Colin Boyes (Colin.Boyes@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk) and Mark Bell (Mark.Bell@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk).
Sonning Common, Kidmore End, Binfield Heath, Eye & Dunsden, Rotherfield Peppard, Rotherfield Greys, Bix & Assendon – Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Carl Churchill (Carl.Churchill@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk)
and PCSOs
Tim Forrest (Timothy.Forrest@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk) and Mike Rawnsley (Michael.Rawnsley@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk).
The Neighbourhood Sergeant will continue to be Graham Pink and he should be the main point of contact for you in order to prevent delay. His contact details are Graham.Pink@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk and his telephone number is 07800 702860. If Graham is on leave or away from the office he will have an 'out of office' message diverting you to another member of the team.
In addition to the above officers we will continue to have the following Neighbourhood Officers – PC Julie Greenough (Julie.Greenough@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk) PC Steve Finnis (Steven.Finnis@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk) PC Matt Holland (Matthew.Holland@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk) and PC Becky Tanner (Rebecca.Tanner@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk).
The Neighbourhood Officers will have the responsibility to cover the whole Sector for the purposes of crime and neighbourhood related matters. They have also got certain types of crime that they are responsible for having an overview of for the Sector which include thefts of cycles, burglaries to non-dwelling premises, metal thefts, criminal damage and dangerous dogs.
Mark Harling
Sector Inspector – Henley on Thames – South & Vale LPA
Telephone: 08458 505505
Address: Thames Valley Police, 4 Greys Road, Henley on Thames, Oxon RG9 1RY
POLICE NOTICES
Theft of metal objects
6 January 2012
This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.
[Reference: M 06/01/010]
There have been several incidents recently where metal items have been stolen from gardens and driveways.
I don't want you to be alarmed but would like you to be aware that this type of theft is happening as most thieves are opportunists and there are ways to stop any further offences from happening.
The majority of thefts have happened during the day when people have left metallic items in insecure areas, like scooters or metal toys in the garden and scrap boilers or fridge freezers in drives.
I would like to reassure you that we are doing all that we can to catch whoever is responsible but, in the meantime, letting you know so that you can secure your items by storing them away or removing them from sight to help prevent you from becoming a victim of crime.
If you have any concerns then you can speak to a member of the neighbourhood policing team via 101. I would also like to encourage you to report any suspicious behaviour or information which could help the police via the non-emergency number 101, or if you don't want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Rape – Chazey Heath
11 November 2011
Thames Valley Police is renewing its appeal for information in connection with the rape of a girl in Chazey Heath last week.
Officers were called at about 12.30pm on Thursday 3 November, after reports that a 15-year-old had been raped while walking her dog in woodland off the A4074 Reading Road.
Det Insp Mark Johns said: "As part of our renewed appeal, we have compiled two E-fits of the offenders with the victim and I am urging anyone who recognises these men, or who knows anything about this incident, to come forward and help us with our enquiries.If you were in the area at the time and saw two men matching this description then we want to hear from you. Did you see where they went? Did you see them getting into a vehicle?
"Thames Valley Police is determined to catch the men responsible for this crime, but we need the public's help to trace these men. I would also like to reassure the local community that the local neighbourhood team continues to carry out increased patrols in the area and I would urge any residents who have any concerns to approach them and discuss these."
One of the men is described as white, 5ft 5ins and aged between 20 and 23-years-old. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a white polo top.
The second man is described as mixed race, 5ft 7ins, aged between 20 and 23-years-old and had a one-and-a-half inch diagonal scar on his face under his right eye. He was wearing a blue Ralph Lauren polo top and cream trousers.
See E-fits of the men the police are looking for.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don't want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Burglary – Gallowstree Common
This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.
[Reference: M 04/11/006]
On Thursday 3rd November, between 15:15hrs and 15:30hrs, a property in Wood Lane, Gallowstree Common, was burgled. Offender(s) smashed a rear patio door to gain entry and stole a laptop computer, camera and lens.
If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message. Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Thames Valley goes live with 101
Thames Valley Police is due to go live with 101, the new national single non-emergency number on 14 November 2011, which will replace the 0845 8 505 505 number. Both numbers will run side by side until the end of March, but if demand for the 0845 8 505 505 number drops it may be discontinued earlier.
Calls to 101 (from both landlines and mobile networks) cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day the call is made, or the duration of the call.
Everyone calling the police for non-emergency matters will now know exactly how much a call will cost them, and can be assured of equal access whether they are on a pay-as-you-go mobile or a home landline.
The routing will be based on the same system as 999 calls. If a caller is using a landline the routing will be based on the caller's postcode and the call will be directed to the same area's force. If a caller is using a mobile, the call will route using the mast that the phone is transmitting from.
If a call is made to 101 within a force area that has not yet 'gone live', the caller will hear a recorded message telling them to redial using the relevant non emergency number.
Robbery – Sonning Common
This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.
[Reference: M 17/08/024]
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a motorist was robbed at knife-point in Sonning Common on Monday 15th August...
At about 11.30am, a 36-year-old man was driving a white Isuzu van along the B481 Peppard Road, near to the Bird in Hand pub, when a blue Nissan Micra driving behind the van flashed at him and signalled for him to pull over.
The victim pulled over and three men got out of the Micra. A passenger from the Micra approached the driver's window and told him he had a puncture. As the victim got out of the van, two of the men grabbed hold of his arms, while the third took a six inch knife from his pocket and threatened him.
The victim and the cab of the van were then searched. The thieves stole a mobile phone; a wallet containing bank cards, a driving licence, a cheque and cash; a gold ring and silver chain; and change from the glove box. They then drove off in the Nissan Micra. The van was not stolen.
The two men who grabbed the victim are white; the man with the knife is black. There are no other descriptions of the offenders available at this stage.
PC Ian Leese, from Didcot CID, said: "The victim was not injured in this incident but has been left very shaken up. I would like to appeal to anyone who saw these two vehicles parked on the Peppard Road Monday morning, or anyone who has any information about the robbery, to come forward.
"I would also like to reassure residents that this type of crime is very rare in Sonning Common and that officers are carrying out a thorough investigation to catch those responsible."
Anyone with any information should contact PC Leese via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don't want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Crime Reduction Advisor
This is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police.
[Reference: M 04/08/010]
We are sorry to inform you that Julia Wheeler who was the Crime Reduction Advisor for the Henley area has left Thames Valley Police.
Malcolm Wills the Crime Reduction Advisor based at Wallingford Police Station, who some of you may have already met, will be covering the South Oxfordshire area with effect from 1st August, 2011. He can be contacted on 01491 821519 or by email malcolm.wills@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Malcolm will be prioritising on dealing with vulnerable people, including high risk domestic abuse victims, distraction burglaries, house burglaries and repeat victims, as well as organising events and long term projects to tackle hot spot areas and serious crime.
To find out more about Thames Valley Police in your area, please go to their website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk.
If you have information about crime but do not want to speak to the police, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.