Crime Prevention

Hello and welcome to 2023…

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, and Santa brought you what you asked for. For me it was my new grandson’s first Christmas, so was even more special and he had a great time as you’ll see from the photos.

A New Year:

So, with the new year comes new challenges, and I hope as usual to give you the relevant advice needed to keep yourselves, homes, and property safe from those who look to steal, damage and harm us.

To start with I’m looking to link up with various agencies and your local neighbourhood teams to set up events, drop in to already arranged events, warm hubs, coffee mornings etc so we can talk directly to you all and offer one on one or group advice, whether it’s chatting about simple measures we can all take to make ourselves less vulnerable or coming along to give talks to various groups who would like our input. Can I just say, no group is too small or large, if you want us, we can offer our services.

As usual I have the open invitation to come and visit your homes or businesses where I can offer advice. My role is crime prevention and if I can help one less person become a victim of crime then it can save someone from the horrible experience of being burgled etc, so please use me by contacting the below email address.

The Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS)

One of the agencies I work very closely with as your Crime Prevention Officer is the wonderful Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), and for Redcar & East Cleveland this means working in partnership with Colleen Simms, Karen Storey, and Sarah James. I cannot recommend these ladies enough, and the difference they make simply can’t be measured. So, what is Victim Care and Advice Service?

The Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) provide a range of services for victims of crime and their families on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Services are tailored to individual needs and may be delivered in a number of ways to reduce the harm caused by the impact of crime.

The Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS) provides free, independent and confidential support to victims of crime and their families.

VCAS Services

Trained staff provide the following:

Redcar & Cleveland Twinning Association is looking for new members to join them on a visit to our Twin Town Troisdorf in Germany in May this year; the Association was formed in 1990 and although our 30th Anniversary celebrations were postponed in 2020, we are now very much looking forward to staying with our German hosts again this year to mark 33 years of international friendship. See our website: www.redcarandclevelandtwinningassociation.org.uk for more information and pictures of past get-togethers in both Troisdorf and Redcar & Cleveland, as well as details of this year’s visit from 21st to 27th May at a maximum cost of £499 per member, including travel by coach and ferry as well as host accommodation in family homes.

Membership of the Association is available to individuals for £10 p.a. subscription, to families living together at the same address for £15 p.a. and to corporate bodies for £20p.a.

At the Association’s AGM in March we shall be looking forward to resuming activities here and in Germany. You don’t need to be German-speaking to join us, anyone is welcome with an interest in getting to know this wonderful area of Germany close to Cologne, Bonn and the River Rhine and of course its lovely people.

For more information, please contact the Association’s Chairman Pamela at chairman@redcarandclevelandtwinningassociation. org.uk

• A single point of contact.

• Support for all victims, who ask for it –regardless of whether the incident has been reported to the police.

• Focus on the victims, who have suffered greatest harm.

Services are tailored to help victims cope with the impact of crime as well as to help them recover from it.

What does VCAS do?

VCAS helps with issues identified by victims, which may include the following:

• Responding to immediate safety concerns and risks

• Providing emotional and practical support

• Offering advice, support and encouragement

• Promoting empowerment

• Considering the benefits of participation in restorative justice

• Helping with criminal injuries compensation claims

• Accessing support services

• Support for young victims.

How does VCAS deliver its services?

Services are delivered in a number of ways including the following:

• Home visits and face-to-face meetings

• Support and contact via telephone, text or email

• Providing victims of crime with a voice via advocacy

• One to one care for the most vulnerable

• Practical assistance and emotional support.

VCAs also delivers Friends against Scams awareness sessions.

Until 31 March 2023, a specialist Fraud Victims Advocate will be based at VCAS. The role works with victims of fraud to reclaim cash back from the banks and other financial agencies

Contact

For more information, contact VCAS in the following ways:

Tel: 0303 040 1099

Email: info@vcas.uk

Web: Victim Care and Advice Service

Rural Forum:

For those living and working in the rural communities, and just have an interest in what Cleveland Police are doing around this issue, we have our quarterly forum on the:

Wednesday 25th January 2023

10.30 – 12.30

Cleveland Central Headquarters (Hemlington)

Everyone is welcome, and if you would like the chance for us to hold a forum in your area this year then please just get in touch as we want to reach out to everyone and we know not all can make these forums due to travel / distance, but we’d love to let you have your say, and meet us all do we can update you with what we have done, going to but more importantly what YOU want from Cleveland Police and its partners. If you want any advice on home security then please email me at: crime.prevention@cleveland. pnn.police.uk (please ask for me by name)

Or visit our Crime Prevention Cleveland Police website at: https://www.cleveland.police.uk/cp/ crime-prevention/

Kind Regards

Paul Payne – Crime Prevention Officer for Redcar & East Cleveland

Email: crime.prevention@cleveland.pnn.police. uk

Emergency No: 999

Non-Emergency No: 101

CrimeStoppers: 0800 555 111 - Online: www. crimestoppers-uk.org

New Year cheer: £2 bus tickets for thousands of routes

• Millions across England can travel by bus for £2 thanks to £60 million Government funding to bring down the cost of single tickets until 31 March

• Passengers can save almost a third off tickets on average to help with the cost of living, with savings of more than 75% on some of the longest journeys

• The offer will apply to more than 4,600 routes in England, encouraging greater bus use and taking up to two million cars off the road

Millions of people across England can now save money and “Get Around for £2”, thanks to £60 million Government funding to cap single bus fares until the end of March.

From today (1 January) until 31 March 2023, over 130 bus operators outside of London will charge no more than £2 for their single tickets across over 4,600 routes, helping families, commuters and other passengers save money on travel.

With the average single bus fare for a 3-mile journey costing around £2.80 outside London, passengers will save almost a third of the single ticket price, with even bigger savings in some rural areas where tickets can reach over £5.

The initiative encourages people to get back on the bus to help the industry continue its recovery from the pandemic. It will also reduce CO2 emissions and tackle congestion by taking an estimated two million cars off the road.

Some of the biggest savings on the longest routes up and down the country thanks to the fare cap include a journey from Middlesbrough to Newcastle where the normal fare would be £8, making a saving of 75%.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:“By helping passengers outside London save almost a third off the average single bus ticket and taking two million cars off the road, the £2 bus fare cap is a fantastic way to start the new year.

“Buses are a key part of our vision for a clean, efficient and modern transport network that is affordable for everyone. That’s why we’re investing £60 million to encourage everyone to hop on the bus and ‘Get Around for £2’.” The scheme forms part of the Government’s Help for Households campaign, as the new cap can deliver real savings for those most affected by the rising cost of living.

This fare cap builds on the allocation of more than £2 billion to support bus services in England through the pandemic and a commitment to fund improved services, new bus priority measures and new electric or hydrogen buses as part of the ambitious National Bus Strategy, published in 2021.

Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said:

“More than a third of small firms consider public transport important to their business. It is therefore encouraging to see support on bus fares as we battle tough economic conditions. This move will likely encourage shoppers to go to towns and cities – just the fuel we need for economic growth.”

The Government will continue to work closely with bus operators and local authorities and consider future support to help passengers continue accessing reliable and affordable bus services after March.

Norman Baker from Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Affordable bus travel really is a win-win. Capping bus fares in this way will help struggling households, cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions, and inject new life into dwindling bus services.”