Leicester & Leicestershire s2

WATCH WORD For Leicester & Leicestershire Newsletter of CITY & COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH – (LEICESTER & LEICESTERSHIRE) Working in SUPPORT of LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE. Charity No. 1072275 Issue 14/2017 The City & County Neighbourhood Watch is here to represent the concerns of members and their families. We operate entirely outside the police chain of command, so we can always promise an independent and confidential service Working in SUPPORT of LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE

CITY & COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (LEICESTER & LEICESTERSHIRE)

SAVE THE DATE! - THURSDAY 7 TH SEPTEMBER 2017 - 7.30pm

CITY & COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

MEMBERS YEARLY MEETING

ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH HALL

Have you visited City and County Neighbourhood Watch (Leicester & Leicestershire) Website recently? www.neighbourhoodwatchleicester.net Keep up to date with the latest news: Number of articles (as at 3 April 2017) LOCAL NEWS – Blaby District: 119 – Charnwood Borough: 241 – Harborough District: 179 - Hinckley & Bosworth Borough: 208 - Leicester City: 985 – Leicestershire County: 219 – Melton Borough: 93 – North West Leicestershire District: 264 – Oadby & Wigston Borough: 93 – Rutland County: 11 EAST MIDLANDS NEWS – Derbyshire: 2,210 – Lincolnshire: 819 – Northamptonshire: 1,478 – Nottinghamshire: 745 NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY - 214

FACEBOOK GROUPS

Why not consider joining a Facebook Group for your Area. You will then be able to comment and discuss issues with others in your area, on topics that are of interest to you. Blaby District: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlabyNeighbourhoodWatchCCNWA/ Charnwood Borough: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CharnwoodNeighbourhoodWatchCCNWA/ Harborough District: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HarboroughNeighbourhoodWatchCCNWA/ Hinckley & Bosworth Borough: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HinckleyBosworthNeighbourhoodWatch/ Leicester City: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeicesterNeighbourhoodWatchCCNWA/ Leicestershire: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LeicestershireNeighbourhoodWatchCCNWA/ Melton Borough: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MeltonNeighbourhoodWatchCCNWA/ North West Leicestershire District: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthWestLeicsNeighbourhoodWatch/ Oadby & Wigston Borough: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OadbyWigstonNeighbourhoodWatch/

LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE

Marking 50 years since creation of the force as we know it

PC48 John Thornton (front) at his passing out parade

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Issued on 1/4/17 at 6:00 a.m.

Today sees the 50th anniversary of the amalgamation of Leicestershire & Rutland Constabulary and Leicester City Police who joined forces on 1 April 1967 to form Leicester & Rutland Constabulary.

In May 1966, Home Secretary Roy Jenkins used powers under of the Police Act of 1964 to announce that the number of police forces in the UK was to be reduced from 117 to 49. Jenkins proposed 30 amalgamations, one of which was the merger of the Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland forces.

Days after this announcement, Leicester Watch Committee received a formal letter from Home Secretary suggesting the two forces merged. While there was reluctance on both sides, the forces had a good working relationship. This was put to use as preparations for the merger began over the following months.

It was decided that Leicestershire & Rutland’s Chief Constable, John Taylor, would become the chief officer of the new force and, due to its central location within the county, Leicester City Police’s Charles Street Station was agreed upon as the new force headquarters.

Retired PC John Thornton had recently joined the county force. Over the years he has written up memories of his time with the force and remembers the amalgamation, and the lead up to it, well.

“I joined Leicestershire and Rutland Constabulary in 1966 as PC48. I was stationed at the old Braunstone Police Station and was still a probationer when the forces merged on 1 April 1967.

“Over the years I have written up memories of my time with the force and I remember the date well.

“March 1967 - Just prior to the amalgamation, I was to crew up for a full week on a motor patrol vehicle as part of my training. All probationary constables did this and I was very excited and really looking forward to it. Due to the forthcoming amalgamation some of the county patrol car drivers had been operating in the city centre driving the city cars, which were Ford Zephyrs (known as ‘Dagenham Dustbins’), and some of the Leicester City Police patrol car drivers had come out to the county to drive our Jaguars.

“Saturday 1 April 1967 - Amalgamation Day. The end of an era. On this day Leicestershire and Rutland Constabulary joined with Leicester City Police and the new name became The Leicester and Rutland Constabulary under the control of the county Chief Constable John A. Taylor.

“From day one changes began to take place, some of which were met with resistance from both sides. We at Braunstone were joined by a number of city constables. Our area became larger and took in a lot of the south side of the city which included a notorious council estate. We also received a different type of transport vehicle, called a general purpose van, which the city had used for many years. They were all black and commonly known as” Black Marias”. They had an electric bell on the front for emergencies and a single blue lamp on the roof. The vans were very useful for taking prisoners to the police stations and for carrying officers around as they had wooden slatted seats in the back and could hold eight people. I had to take another police test to be authorised to drive the van.

"My first trip out in the general purpose van was with an ex-city PC who I got on very well with. He was a little surprised as our first job of the morning was “cattle straying” in the Kirby Muxloe area. Some cows had escaped from a field and were calmly walking around various residential gardens. We managed to get the cows together in one garden and fortunately the farmer arrived and we moved them back to his farm together. The officer told me that was the first time he had dealt with any cattle and it looked like this county life is going to be very interesting.

“From this day, county policing changed somewhat. Various supervisory officers, sergeants and constables came to work at Braunstone police station from the old city force and they were not as relaxed as the county sergeants had been. In the city they were used to parading their constables in line 15 minutes before the shift started, inspecting their full uniforms and their accoutrements which were held out for inspection.

"They were checked to see if all officers were in possession of handcuffs, truncheons etc. and that pocket books were made up and all in order. We in the county were more relaxed on commencing duty. The sergeant discussed the needs of the day but in a far more relaxed atmosphere. However, after a while we found a happy medium and everyone adapted to the different ways.

“City officers enjoyed taking on some of the rural duties. Most of the county officers, certainly the younger ones (including myself, really enjoyed the faster moving work of the city. Lates and night shifts were now really busy with more problems in the city pubs at finishing time, nightly domestic disputes, fights on the local estates and problems on the late night buses. These were all incidents which we in the county had not had to deal with before.

“I recall one evening being taken in the general purpose van with three ex-city officers to a Braunstone housing estate, which before had been a city beat. Apparently the normal procedure was for the city men to sit and wait outside the old police emergency box in the centre of the estate. I asked why we were waiting there and I was told ‘just you wait and see’. Sure enough at about 11pm various women started arriving, some with their children and all with similar complaints along the lines of “the old man has just arrived home from the pub, drunk playing up”. We took down their complaints and then proceeded to the various addresses to speak to their husbands.

“The police service moved on and, once we had got used to the different ways of working, the county and city officers started to work really well together.”

To mark the occasion, you can purchase a pin badge to commemorate the joining of the forces, with all proceeds going to Care of Police Survivors (COPS), a charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers who have lost their lives on duty, rebuild their lives. Badges are £1 and are available from front enquiry desks at police stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Chief Constable Simon Cole of Leicestershire Police said: “It is important to remember the outstanding service given to local communities by so many men and women over the last half century.

“Times and technologies have changed but the essence of service and of selflessness continue. We are pleased to support the COPS charity as we celebrate 50 not out.” To read more about how the force has developed please see this blog written by Chief Constable Cole for author Stewart Bint.

NORTH WEST LEICESTERSHIRE

Drug crime sees North West Leicestershire District Council tenant evicted

A tenant has been successfully evicted from a North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) property after being convicted of drugs charges.

The joint investigation between the council’s Housing Team and Leicestershire Police saw the occupant of the property in Sharpley Avenue, Coalville, evicted on Friday 17 March.

Shane Shelton, 40, was convicted of possession with the intent to supply drugs at a case heard at Leicester Crown Court in May 2016.

During a separate hearing in Leicester County Court the council was granted possession of the property in January of this year.

Chris Lambert, Head of Housing at NWLDC, said: “We are committed to ensuring our district is a safe and enjoyable place to live, and taking action against tenants involved in criminal activity forms an important part of making that happen.

“The eviction of this tenant is a positive result and means that suitable new occupants can now be moved into the council property.

“We take all reports of criminal activity very seriously, and where appropriate we will use legal powers to protect the safety and comfort of other residents.”

Inspector Helena Bhakta from Leicestershire Police said: “This is an excellent result and testament to the close working relationship between ourselves and North West Leicestershire District Council. The message is clear - if you are involved in criminal activity you can put your tenancy at risk.”

Anyone who is aware of illegal activity taking place in a council property can contact police on non-emergency line 101 or report it to the council online at www.nwleics.gov.uk/housing or contact their Housing Officer.

Don't ignore tough new penalties for distracted driving Download high resolution image

Issued on 28/3/17 at 10:42 a.m.

Nearly 60 motorists were stopped across the four police forces of the East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpSS) during a national week long campaign targeting drivers using their mobile phone.

The week long campaign by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) between Wednesday 1 March and Tuesday 7 March was designed to highlight the introduction of tough new penalties for driving while using a mobile phone.

From March 1 2017, drivers will receive six points on their driving licence and receive a £200 fine. These changes will have a significant impact on young drivers in particular as they risk having their driving licence revoked following a first offence. Motorists will no longer be offered the opportunity to go on a driver awareness course.

EMOpSS provides roads policing and collision investigation to the communities of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. It also provides armed policing response, firearms training and specialist search skills and dog support.

Across the week the total number of motorists stopped were;

Leicestershire 16 Lincolnshire 16 Northamptonshire 10 Nottinghamshire 15

Total 57

Chief Inspector Mark Garthwaite from EMOpSS said; “The numbers of people stopped are higher than an average week because we had specific operations and Fatal4 clinics running across the week, however, the changes to the legislation have been very well publicised and so there is no excuse for anyone to think it is acceptable to drive and use their mobile phone.

“Our officers will continue to stop motorists whose behaviour risks causing serious injury, or death, to themselves or others. As the Government’s THINK! campaign says, when you are driving make your glove compartment your phone compartment and remove the temptation to use or check your phone while driving.”

Cadets get a taste of life in a different uniform The cadets, cadet leaders and soldiers after the training at Leicestershire Police Headquarters

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Issued on 27/3/17 at 4:51 p.m.

Forty police cadets were put through their paces by Army Sergeant Neil Seymour and his team, who ran an army training session at Leicestershire Police Headquarters on Saturday morning (25 March).

The session covered both mental and physical training, and aimed to give the cadets a taster of life in the army while demonstrating the level of fitness required from new applicants.

Sergeant Seymour led the event, and said: “It’s been a really productive morning, all of the cadets participated well and I hope they enjoyed themselves too.

"They worked against the clock to do a range of command and leadership exercises, helping them to quickly and efficiently solve tasks as a group. Then they moved on to the strenuous physical training activities, and it’s fair to say they gave everything.”

Volunteer Police Cadet Josh Stone, 14, participated in the event on Saturday and said: “The training was very physical and quite tiring; I gave it my best shot and had a great time.

"My favourite part was definitely the ‘gun run’, it was an obstacle exercise where we had to carry individual pieces of equipment along the length of the field, and crawl with it under a large army net. It was really fun.”

Parents were invited to stay and watch the event, which included a question and answer session with some of the recruitment soldiers.

Police Sergeant Paul Crewe organised the day, and said: “We feel very privileged to have had the army recruiting officers with us. The training was certainly tough, but the range of exercises and the teambuilding activities reflect the values and commitment that we encourage in the police cadets. The cadets thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and we will surely be inviting the army back for future training days.”

Applications to our Volunteer Police Cadet (VPC) programme are only open for another five days, and will close this Friday (31 March), so if you’re interested, or know anyone that might be, please submit your application forms before this date.

All of the details, including the application form, can be found on our website.

CRIME PREVENTION . Smartwater

It follows you everywhere but you won't know it; you can't escape it and you can't deny it - SmartWater is our latest weapon that will have criminals worried.

SmartWater is a forensic fingerprint that has revolutionised traditional property-marking by providing total trace- ability of stolen items and has the power to directly link criminals to crimes.

It raises the risk of capture and conviction for burglars, thieves and handlers and is being used in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Already successful in other parts of the country, SmartWater has a 100% conviction rate for all cases brought to court and burglary rates have greatly reduced in SmartWater zones.

How does SmartWater work? SmartWater Tracer is designed for the protection of general domestic items and commercial assets, such as ITInformation Technology. & audio/visual equipment, power tools, and hobby items including golf clubs. Its unique forensic fingerprint is almost invisible to the naked eye, fluoresces under ultraviolet light, and is virtually impossible to completely remove. It can be safely applied to jewellery and other sentimental items.

SmartWater Index is a revolutionary security system that uses state-of-the-art forensic science to deter criminals and protect premises. The system contains a unique DNA-style chemical code, created exclusively for individual premises– no two premises have the same SmartWater code.

Used extensively by the police service as part of their covert operations, SmartWater Index is activated through a low pressure spray system that is installed at strategic points within your premises. The system is triggered when a break-in is detected or a panic button pushed, spraying the criminal in a controlled manner with a harmless water-based solution.

SmartWater Index will remain detectable on skin and hair for weeks and on clothing indefinitely. The solution is invisible to the naked eye but any traces will glow brightly under ultraviolet light. If a criminal is caught with SmartWater on them, the unique forensic code provides the police service with an irrefutable link back to the scene of the crime.

Where can I find further information? Further information about SmartWater is available at www.smartwater.com

POLICE SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

HINCKLEY & BLABY NPA

Leicester Forest East, Kirby Muxloe and Glenfield

The Leicester Forest East neighbourhood beat covers a densely populated Leicester suburb made up of both urban and rural housing as it stretches west from the city along the busy A47 towards Kirby Muxloe.

It also covers the rural villages of Kirby Muxloe and Glenfield. The area is largely residential but continues to expand, with a number of new housing developments currently underway. Also within the village is the English Heritage owned Kirby Castle, along with a number of shops and three public houses.

Each dedicated neighbourhood team is supported by the Special Constabulary. Your dedicated neighbourhood team

Sgt Tim McKagan

Collar number: 2034

I joined Leicestershire Police in 2003 and worked in the city centre as a General Duty Officer until 2008 when I joined a local policing team as a beat officer. I spent the following three years on the local beat team before moving again in 2011 to the newly formed ‘Response’ hub covering the city area again.

I am very proud to be leading two local policing teams in Hinckley and Blaby Neighbourhood Police Area, a role I commenced in 2015.

The opportunity to continue to build on the fantastic work that has been achieved by everyone within the local policing teams, local communities and our partners is something I am delighted to have.

I firmly believe that together we can achieve a great deal and I will do my very best to ensure that we tackle effectively the concerns and issues that are raised by our local communities.

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for Sgt Tim McKagan by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 2034.

PC Ian Wardle

Collar number: 1686

Hi, I am PC Ian Wardle.

I joined the local neighbourhood team in 2016 having fulfilled many other roles within Leicestershire Police since joining.

I am looking forward to assisting the people of Leicester Forest East, Glenfield and Kirby Muxloe.

I am very focused on reducing crime and ASB in the area and aim to make myself as visible as possible to the local community. Please feel free to stop and chat anytime you see me about.

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for PC Ian Wardle by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 1686. PC Michael Payne

Collar number: 2127

I have been a Police Officer since 2005, and have previously worked at Hinckley Road police station and Beaumont Leys police station in a variety of roles. In September 2014 I moved to the Braunstone neighbourhood team.

I feel Braunstone and Rowley fields is a strong community that works together to try and tackle local issues and I enjoy being part of it

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for PC Michael Payne by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 2127.

PCSO Duane Wright

Collar number: 6107

I joined Leicestershire Police in June 2007 and since then have worked at Wigston, Blaby and now Braunstone Police Station, where I have been part of the beat team for Leicester Forest East, Kirby Muxloe and Glenfield since 2008.

I am committed to improving the area, keeping it safe and a nice place to live in, work or visit. If you see me around then stop me and let me know about anything I can do to improve the area or sort out an issue you have. You can also email me or leave me a voice mail message.

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for PCSO Duane Wright by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 6107.

PC Jodie Neal

Collar number: 4706 I am PC 4706 Jodie Neal. I joined Leicestershire Police in 2008. I have worked in numerous roles in the Force. I joined the neighbourhood teams several years ago, and I have recently joined Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forest East beat.

I am committed to reducing crime and Anti Social Behaviour and providing reassurance in the area you live.

If you see me out and about, please stop me for a chat and raise any issues which you might have.

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for PC Jodie Neal by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 4706.

PCSO Alex Wood

Collar number: 6186

Hello, my name is Alex, I am one of the PCSO’s covering the area of Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forest East. I am one of the newest members of the team as I joined Leicestershire Police as a Special Constable in 2015 then became a PCSO in August 2016.

I am keen to get out and about on the streets, tackling the problems at the heart of our communities. If you see me around please do come and say hello and have a chat…

And if it’s raining, invite me in, mine is tea, one sugar!

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for PCSO Alex Wood by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 6186.

PCSO Sheena Manek

Collar number: 6607

I joined Leicestershire Police in August 2016 and I am based at Braunstone Police Station, where I am part of the beat team for Glenfield, LFE, and Kirby Muxloe.

I aim to tackle the issues faced by the communities and keep the beat a safe and nice place to live. I aim to be as visible as possible, so if you see me around then please stop me for a chat and let me know about anything I can do to help improve the area. You can also email me or leave me a voicemail message.

 Send an email to your neighbourhood team  Leave a voicemail for PCSO Sheena Manek by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 6607.