May 2010 Rutland Commanders Update
11th June 2010, Insp Johnny Monks
Hello to all,
Here is my personal monthly police update :-
The main focus of my Policing Team is keeping Rutland a safe place to work and live. We really do have a low amount of crime and anti social behaviour (ASB).
Crime and ASB are Down:-
Since the beginning of this reporting year (April 1st) we have had thirteen burglaries this is seven less than last year for the same period. ASB has also been reduced by eighty one incidents this is a 50% reduction on last years ASB.
Positive news:- money taken from criminals given to charities.
Over the last twelve months I have given approximately £2500 to local worthy causes/Charities, I have been able to do this under the Proceeds of Crime Act, in which criminals can have their illegal earnings and possessions, such as money, houses and cars, taken away - even if they are not convicted of the crimes they have committed. It was set up in 2002 to act as a deterrent by stripping criminals of their assets. A percentage of the money each Force recovers is returned to them and can be given to local worthy cause or charities.
It has been really rewarding to be able to put something back into a community by giving money to a worthy cause, with money seized from criminals. I am pleased that the police now have this power.
Rural Crime:-
Unfortunately we have had an increase in Tractor and Plant thefts in the last month. We have 200 farms within Rutland that may be affected by theft of the Tractors/Plant, and I have therefore given my support to the rural community with extra patrol activity.
I have launched a new campaign to tackle this growing problem of theft of agricultural machinery and heavy plant.
Called 'Operation Iron Acton,' dedicated patrols have been put in place to target rural locations and so called 'hot spot' areas. Officers will be stopping tractors and other farm vehicles if they see them being driven on the roads, to ensure drivers are going about their lawful business. If they are, they will be given crime prevention advice by officers to prevent them falling victim to this type of crime. The patrols will run between June and September.
I have met with farmers from some of the largest farms across the county as well as senior figures from the National Farmers Union to talk to them about the problem and discuss crime prevention strategies.
In Rutland in the last twelve months, twenty five tractors/items of plant have been stolen. Eight of them have been recovered because they were fitted with a tracker device.
On 19th May 2010 a JCB teleporter, worth £60,000, was stolen from Manton. It was recovered by police in Bedfordshire the next day because it had been fitted with a tracking device. A 50 year old Turkish Lorry driver was arrested on suspicion of theft of this JCB plus another JCB also found on his lorry.
We've seen a slow increase in the numbers of heavy machinery being stolen from rural farms and locations and we know that they can be taken out of the country very quickly and sold abroad. We are working with officers in Melton and surrounding Forces to tackle the problem by targeting areas where offences are known to have taken place.
I am putting out extra resources dedicated to tackling this problem and those officers will patrol in villages, and surrounding areas, to check vehicles and look for anything suspicious. This may result in members of the public being pulled over who are doing nothing wrong but we hope they will be reassured that we are tackling this area of crime and will not mind us offering some crime prevention advice.
Road Safety:-
In May I ran a road safety week (Operation Chorus) in partnership with Safer Rutland Partnership the Fire and Rescue and RRC road safety team.
Local Police officers were deployed in the county in plain clothes to spot drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving. During the five days we prosecuted fifteen drivers for talking and texting on their mobile phones whilst driving. One driver was summons to court after a check on his license indicated that he had already had nine points and was not eligible to be given another three points and a sixty pound fine. He now finds himself with the prospect of being banned from driving at court. I hope you agree with me that driving whilst using a mobile phone is extremely dangerous and I will continue to prosecute drivers who break this Law.
Community News, ending on a really positive note:-
Half term fell in line with National Family Week this year between 31stMay and 6th June. My Officers were involved in several events throughout the week to promote relationships between ourselves and our young people of Rutland.
We teamed up with the Rutland County Council and the Rutland Youth service to provide children with activities in Oakham and Uppingham towns and Belton and Ryhall villages.
My Officers also attended the Rutland Show at Burley and the 150th celebrations for the Cadets at St Georges Barracks in North Luffenham. This year, the weather was great, which was the icing on the cake for a successful and thoroughly enjoyable week of events.
Johnny Monks
Police Commander of Rutland
I also run a very successful Joint Action Group, please find a copy of the minutes
JAG OPEN SESSION
Thursday 27th May 2010
Oakham Police Station
Attendees:
Leicestershire Constabulary: Inspector 1526 Johnny Monks, PS 624 Lee Morris, PC 4074 Sue Cockerill, CIC 8019 Hugh Crouch
Oakham Town Council: Joyce Lucas, Alf Dewis
VAR: Neil Moverley, Fiona Loft
Spire Homes: Catherine Lynch
RCC: Tracey Dean, Leanne Wrentmore, Jonathan Munt, Rebecca Hicks
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue: Nigel Shaw
de montfort Housing Society Ltd: Randford Williams
Consultant - JAG Review: Brian Livesey
Apologies:
Oakham School: Viv Lamb
Youth Offending Service: Julian Robertson
RCC: Olivia Stapleton, Jackie Difolco
The previous minutes were reviewed and accepted.
1. Beat Exception Reports
PS Morris has requested community intelligence from all Beats.
Oakham Town and Barleythorpe:
1.1 There are continued reports of ASB in the Derwent Drive area near to the railway line. Investigation will be undertaken to ascertain who owns the wall/fencing in order to make it secure.
Action: Leanne Wrentmore
Rutland North Beat: 1.2 There have been a few instances of ASB, theft, and damage including plant theft; a burglary was reported in Market Overton involving plant material, resulting in a press release by Inspector Monks and analysis of CCTV footage and forensic evidence found at the scene.
- 1.3 The sewage treatment works at Cottesmore have been targeted for a second time resulting in damage to fencing surrounding the works.
- 1.4 Three individuals have been given a Section 9 due to ASB at the quarry in Casterton.
- 1.5 Two Exton based youths have been given a Section 59, one of which breached an ABC.
- 1.6 ASB has been reported in Parkfield Road, Ryhall in the form of water bombs and involving a residential dwelling.
- 1.7 Complaints have been received with regard to the location of the chip van in Ryhall. The Beat Team will monitor the situation.
Action: PS Morris
Rutland South Beat:
1.8 It has been reported that thefts from motor vehicles at Rutland Water have decreased during the week and increased at weekends.
Uppingham: 1.9 There have been reports of disruption associated with the recent student exclusions by Uppingham School, this is being closely monitored by the Beat Officer.
2. Problem Solving Plans
Rutland South Beat:
2.1 The new problem solving plan to reduce ASB in Barrowden has resulted in a letter of thanks being received from the Parish Chair. Action has been taken against offenders and constructive policing has reduced the level of ASB in the area.
- 2.2 The Plant theft problem solving plan remains high
on the agenda. A press release has been given and a male has been arrested in connection with a plant theft incident.
2.3 The problem solving plan for Rutland Water has combined high visibility policing with a clear message not to leave valuables on display in vehicles.
Rutland North Beat:
2.4 The new problem solving plan at RAF Cottesmore resulted in a young male who was departing the bus from CBEC being stopped due to underage smoking.
2.5 A new problem solving plan will be implemented for the quarry at Casterton, to work in partnership with Lincolnshire police to prevent further ASB. Work will also be undertaken with the quarry owner in order to secure the perimeter fence, which has undergone damage due to recent ASB.
Oakham Town and Barleythorpe:
2.6 The current problem solving plan concerning ASB on Derwent Drive involving stones and debris being thrown onto the railway track and reports of individuals climbing over the wall onto the track has progressed. Funding has been agreed and action is being taken to identify the owner of the wall/fencing to arrange for it to be secured.
2.7 A new plan to clean up Oakham has been implemented, in which grafitti and other ASB damage will be repaired using the Community Payback Programme. A list of areas in Oakham requiring work is to be collated.
Action: Joyce Lucas, Alf Dewis
2.8 A new plan to clean up Uppingham and the surrounding area has commenced, which will use the Community Payback Programme to clean up areas affected by ASB. A list of current requirements is to be collated.
Action: Neil Moverley
3. Partner Updates
Rutland County Council:
3.1 An Involved programme will be running for local young people to provide free ½ term activities commencing on 1st June in Uppingham and on 2nd, 3rd and 4th June in Oakham.
3.2 Big Pink Heart Foundation is a campaign commencing in June, which incorporates 2 projects, a theatre project and a reading project to educate with regard to ASB and encourage interaction between different age groups within the local area.
- 3.3 The mobile youth bus is currently out and about in local villages.
- 3.4 There remains an issue with pornography on mobile telephones. A problem solving plan is to be identified to combat this.
Action: Leanne Wrentmore
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue:
3.5 There will be a continuation of the Mobile Phone Campaign at the Rutland Show, at which Leicestershire Fire and Rescue will have a Road Safety themed stall. There will be demonstrations on a car simulating those undertaken on the roadside during an RTA and free stickers to focus upon distraction to drivers being the cause of accidents.
Oakham Town Council:
3.6 It has been suggested that Youth Workers and the Youth Bus visit Princess Avenue, Exton and Derwent Drive, Oakham, to assist with the prevention of ASB.
3.7 Portfolios will be collected at the beginning of July in respect of the Community Respect Shield. A prize of £200 will be given to the winning school by CPRE.
3.8 There are still issues with ASB including underage drinking on Royces Wreck and moving the tyres located on the wreck into the road. An update is to be given to the Beat Team for them to continue to monitor the area.
Action: PS Morris
VAR: 3.9 A thank you has been received regarding the Access to Services Roadshow, which visits local villages to promote services and give advice.
