7 minute read
Safer Melbourn
cambridgeshire
www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/safermelbourn/
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What is Melbourn’s problem?
Melbourn has the highest number of reported incidents of anti- social behaviour (ASB) in our policing neighbourhood, and the fact that this has consistently been the case for some time, has come to the attention of Cambridgeshire’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
The CDRP, which is chaired by the County Council, monitors problem areas in the county. It recognises that the ASB problem in Melbourn is deep rooted, and therefore suggested that a Problem Solving Group (PSG) be set up, with a membership comprising parish, district and county councillors, district and county council officers, the police, youth workers, and Neighbourhood Watch. Working together in a positive and creative way, the PSG is looking for possible solutions to reduce ASB problems in the village. This will include, for instance, examining the feasibility of carrying out physical changes to the ASB “hotspots” to reduce their appeal to the troublemakers, and the possible provision of enhanced youth work resources.
It is still early days for the PSG, but for it to be successful it must have a true picture of what’s going on in the village. The police provide information on reported incidents and it is very important that incidents of ASB are reported by residents whenever possible, but what about the problems that go unreported?
The village website www.melbourncambridge.co.uk has just launched ‘Speakers’ Corner’. This gives people the opportunity to comment on issues of village life, including (although by no means limited to) problems you may be having with ASB. Although these comments will be anecdotal, they will have value to groups such as the PSG as it could give a fuller picture of what is going on. It is also possible that solutions might be suggested that had not been previously considered.
Of course important issues should always be reported to the relevant authorities, but if you have matters relating to village life that you think need to be aired, please let us all know by going to Speakers Corner and having your say. Speakers Corner can be found at www.melbourn.org.uk/speakers-corner/ Stephen Cambery Melbourn Neighbourhood Watch Melbourn’s Problem Solving group (PSG) has just launched its own website so if you would like to know more about the group go to: www.melbourncambridge.co.uk/problemsolving/ If you suffer from Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in the village and would like to bring it to the attention of the Problem Solving Group, there is a contact form on the site. If you are not on the Internet you can either call the police non emergency number 0345 456 456 4 and ask to speak to Melbourn’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, or contact Melbourn’s Parish Clerk, both will pass on messages to the group.
Melbourn NPT team
The advice below will help to reduce the risk of becoming a victim following a high number of recent activities of shed burglaries in the area. • Postcode your property and keep a record of the serial and model number of your equipment. Lock valuable items such as bikes even though they are stored in a shed and outbuilding. Take photographs of valuable equipment. • Erect a strong fence to make it more difficult for burglars to get into your back garden. A thick hedge around your garden, ideally dense and prickly, is just as good as a fence for keeping out intruders. Gravel garden paths. Walking on gravel is quite noisy and will alert you to someone on your property. Ensure your garden gate is secure. Try to keep hedges and fences in front gardens low. The burglar’s fear of being seen is an important factor. Ensure tools and garden equipment are locked securely out of sight.
In an emergency, when a life is in danger or there is a risk of violence or serious injury or when a serious crime is being committed please call 999. For all non-emergencies, general enquiries and to report crime please call 0345 456 456 4. To give information anonymously about crime, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
www.cambs-police.co.uk/myneighbourhood/ecops/index.asp
• Hare coursing remains a priority for the force’s Rural Crime
ActionTeam. • Hare coursing is illegal and extremely disruptive for the rural community. • Officers use a number of tactics to tackle the problem, including intelligence gathering, high visibility patrols and using the force helicopter. • Anyone with information regarding hare coursing should contact the Rural Crime Action Team on 0845 456 4564 or email rcat@cambs.pnn.police.uk.
Neighbourhood Policing Priorities
Following on from the panel meeting at Melbourn Village College on 20th October, the priorities set for our policing team are as follows: 1 Liaise with the British Transport Police about ticket machines being vandalised and cash boxes being stolen at railway stations in Shepreth /Foxton / Ashwell / Meldreth. 2 Anti-social behaviour in Shepreth village, concentrating around the elderly and vulnerable. 3 Anti-social behaviour in Melbourn village around High
Street / Vicarage Close and the Moor. 4 Speeding issues in Fowlmere / Foxton / and Steeple /
Guilden Morden and Royston Road.
Officers will give feed back on this work at the next panel meeting 19 on January at Bassingbourn Village College at 7.30pm.
Crime report for Melbourn
Total crime in Melbourn remains stable with the previous period. Three dwelling burglaries were reported during the 3 month period. These appear to be relatively spread out across the ward and no trends were identified between them.
Non-dwelling burglaries in Melbourn are much lower than the same period last year. The offences occurred over the months of July and August. Offenders tended to target garden sheds in Melbourn for bicycles. In one of the offences, metal walking frames were stolen and were later recovered at the children’s playground on Clear Crescent.
Similarly, throughout the months of July and August, pedal cycle theft increased to four cycles stolen (three offences in July and one in August) from only one reported in the previous three month period. The majority of the offences occurred in Melbourn (3) with one offence reported in Heydon.
On 8th July 2009 two vehicles were stolen from outside properties on Norgetts Lane and Clear Crescent (both of which are in close proximity). Both vehicles were recovered within a fortnight in Melbourn and Meldreth respectively. In addition, a further attempt to steal a vehicle was reported on the High Street during the following day on 09/07/2009.
ASB in Melbourn has increased from 71 incidents reported in the previous period to 100 reported in the latest three month period. This is more than double the number of incidents reported in the same period last year. August recorded the highest level of incidents during the period with 50 reported (July – 15 incidents and September – 35). This is likely to be related to the weather as July was a very wet month in comparison to August. Ninety-four of the ASB incidents were situated in Melbourn with hotspots on The Moor and the High Street reporting 27 and 20 incidents during the period respectively. These incidents were all youth-related and consisted mainly of problems caused by their mass congregation on these thoroughfares, their underage drinking, abusiveness, fighting, and misuse of vehicles in the ward. It would appear that incidents of this type are still being reported despite the summer holidays being over.
Melbourn Police Station
Melbourn Police Station opening hours have changed as follows:
Mon. 10.00 – 12.00 19.00 – 21.00
Tues. 10.00 – 12.00
Thurs. 10.00 – 12.00
The office is staffed by volunteers at the above times, but this is always subject to change. non EMERGEnCy PHonE nuMBER 0345 456 456 4 or 0845 456 456 4
Increase in burglaries
In the week from 29th September to 6th October there were six dwelling burglaries in the Melbourn Neighbourhood area. The offences were spread over a large geographical area, but it is unusual to have an increase in offending of this nature so this increase has been linked as a series. Offences have occurred in Shingay cum Wendy, Great Chishill, Melbourn, Guilden Morden, Heydon and East Hatley.
The burglaries were most likely to have taken place in the evening or late afternoon, but there were also two daytime offences. Property stolen was varied, but included; jewellery, laptops, televisions, cameras and cash. Items were also reported stolen from a garage. Four of the six offences occurred in isolated areas, whereby the properties had high boundaries and were secluded from sight. Given that the offences occurred at isolated properties, any vehicles parked on the roadsides close to isolated driveways should be considered as suspicious.
Please pass this message onto your Neighbourhood Watch members, and if anyone has any information please contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team by telephone 0345 456 456 4. If you see activity occurring what you deem to be suspicious then please report it immediately using 999. Holly Chandler
