Issue 8 November 2014

Schools now equipped In the Public Eye PC MIKE Dawber has been named the Best Country to spot the signs of CSE Crime Fighter for the North West. PACKS containing key information on He received the honour spotting the signs of child sexual exploitation at NFU Mutual’s annual have been sent to schools across the county. awards ceremony at Saddlers Hall in London on Thursday, The move is part of a campaign by Cheshire October 9. Constabulary and its partners to raise awareness to Mike has helped deliver a protect young people across Cheshire. range of crime prevention Each pack contains key information and advice initiatives which have led for teachers and those working with young people to a significant reduction in on the signs and behaviours associated with CSE. farm crime in the Knutsford This is to complement the work already taking area, as well as devising place in schools across Cheshire. the Knutsford Rural Watch scheme. DCI Nigel Wenham, from the Strategic Public Meanwhile, the Estates & Protection Unit, said: “Child sexual exploitation is Police & Crime Commissioner John Dwyer Facilities team, based at our an issue that Cheshire Police and its partners take added: “I take this matter very seriously and have Winsford HQ, won a national extremely seriously and it is important that we called together leaders from all of the organisations environmental award. all continue to work together to deliver a greater who have a role to play in tackling child sexual The accolade recognised understanding of this complex subject. exploitation. Our role is to ensure everything that the Constabulary’s efforts “The latest phase focuses on schools. It is about can be done, is being done and will continue to be to deliver sustainable and raising awareness of the issue amongst teachers done by all agencies at all levels.” environmental initiatives in and others working with young people, encouraging A further meeting of leaders, chairs of child its day-to-day business. Our submission included a them to familiarise themselves with the signs and safeguarding boards and other agencies will be held case study about a project to in December to review progress. behaviours associated with this issue.” reduce costs when disposing of cannabis plants and other waste materials, which was costing around £36,000 a More wanted offenders are swept up in operation year, but has now reduced costs to almost zero. THE return of an operation As well as officers on the as possible so the victims can see Elsewhere, the Police to track down offenders ground at all times of the day and justice being done. & Crime Commissioner evading justice proved a night, harbouring letters were “This operation showed once and Chief Constable have huge success, with 173 sent to those who were believed more that officers won’t take been hosting community engagement events in the arrests. to be assisting offenders and no for an answer when it comes county. The operation was carried out reminding them of the possible to tracking down and searching consequences of their actions. To date, two successful at the end of September across property where an offender events have taken place in Cheshire. Superintendent Pete could be. Crewe and Macclesfield, with The type of arrests were very Crowcroft said: “Operation “The message to officers was the next at Widnes on 3 diverse, from road traffic matters, Hatay is what policing is all about that no stone should be left December. and burglary, through to drugs ensuring that those who evade unturned.” Visit the Constabulary related offences. justice are locked up as quickly website for further details. ‘Tis the season to be on your best behaviour

NEXT month, Cheshire Constabulary targeting criminals involved in acquisitive will launch ‘Operation Blue Christmas’ crimes, such as burglary, theft and vehicle as part of a crackdown on crime during crime. To do this we will have high-visibility the festive season. patrols across the county, and officers will be The majority of people will enjoy the taking direct action against criminals.” Christmas period with their family and In addition to acquisitive crimes Operation friends sensibly. But, unfortunately there are Blue Christmas will also target organised a small number of people who use the festive crime, anti-social behaviour, drink driving and season as an opportunity to commit crimes domestic abuse. and behave inappropriately. The force is also committed to tackling Assistant Chief Constable Mark Roberts violent crime over the festive period along said: “I want to send out a clear message to with crimes fuelled by alcohol. anyone planning to go out in Cheshire over And local neighbourhood officers will also the festive season that bad behaviour will not be on hand to offer crime prevention and be tolerated. home security advice for local residents and valuables and ensuring all doors and windows “We recognise that Christmas is a time to businesses. are locked, can help make your home less have fun, and we’re here to support members Stronger Communities manager Andy attractive to possible criminals. of our community to ensure that everyone Williams, added: “I would like to ask residents “The overall aim of this operation is is able to have a safe and enjoyable time to work with us as part of this operation to make Cheshire safer, and by working throughout the holiday season. and take steps to make their homes and together we can all help to achieve that.” “Operation Blue Christmas covers a businesses more secure. Operation Blue Christmas run throughout number of areas, but we will be specifically “Simple changes, such as marking your the festive season and into the New Year. Chief Constable lays down challenge to officers

CHIEF Constable Simon Byrne has to excel at and what we need to do less of, Ethics.” issued a series of aspirations he wants then set our priorities by thinking radically.” The Chief’s Conference brought together officers to strive to meet by March He added: “The criticism of targets is that leaders from across the Constabulary to hear next year. they can create perverse behaviour and I how change is needed to meet the significant Mr Byrne outlined these during his latest realise the risks, but we have to balance the financial challenges we face. Chief’s Conference in September. risks, doing nothing is even riskier. Mr Byrne also set out a list of priorities for He would like victim satisfaction up to “What we do is important but we need to the Constabulary. 90%, public confidence in police up to 78% have consistency. They include being visible, providing a swift and 90% of emergency incidents to be “The targets are there to provide priority response when the public needs us most, and attended within 15 minutes. and to give a sense of ambition – they the ‘We Come To You’ promise of being there He also hopes to see shoplifting down by are not to be worshipped as an end in for people when and where they need us. 8%, burglary in a dwelling down by 5.9%, theft themselves. He would also like to ensure officers down 4% and criminal damage down by 8.2%, “They should help us to have an informed deal with crime and anti-social behaviour among other targets. performance conversation about the service effectively, solving more of the cime that He said: “We can’t keep going at the rate we are providing to the public and need to causes the most harm, and deliver better we’re going, we need to decide what we want be set within the context of the Code of victim care than last year. Mental health initiative to roll out Forcewide

AN INITIATIVE that allows & Crime Commissioner and sub-regional practitioners to offer insight into the leaders’ board. mental health of people who come into Inspector Kate Woods said: “Police contact with the police is to be rolled officers often come into contact with people out across the county this month. who suffer with their mental health so it’s Operation Emblem has been running in the vital we know and understand the symptoms Northern area since December 2013. It sees and how best to deal with the individual. a mental health nurse attend incidents with a “Training sessions have been taking place police officer to offer advice, and reduce the across the force to raise awareness of the amount of people being arrested for section issues and to ensure that when we come 136 Mental Health Act taken unnecessarily to into contact with such individuals we have hospital for treatment. the confidence to best manage the situation It is an initiative supported by the Police and deal with it appropriately.” Western news

• Cheshire police are running a new initiative aimed at keeping the people of Chester safe when they are out enjoying themselves at night. Operation ‘Take A Breath’ involves supplying door staff at certain locations with breath testing equipment to test the levels of alcohol on anyone who they believe has had too much to drink, before entering the premises. The initiative aims to encourage responsible drinking and to educate people about alcohol-related harm. • Stars of the British Superbikes visited Chester ahead of the Oulton Park round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championships in October. Triple champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne was joined by a host of riders to meet officers of the Cheshire and North Wales Police Bikesafe initiative, a police-led motorcycle project. The workshops explore the main riding hazards that face a biker, and also help discover a rider’s strengths and weaknesses and encourage further training. • Retailers in Northwich can feel reassured after a campaign targeting shoplifters was launched. Operation Elne, led by the Special Constabulary, saw officers conduct patrols in uniform and plain clothes to tackle retail crime, reduce anti-social behaviour and reassure the public. Officers had immediate results with the arrest of a shoplifter and recovery of stolen goods. Eastern news

• A pensioner who indecently assaulted boys at a private school in Cheshire in the 1970s has been jailed. Keith Cavendish- Coulson, of Crookham Court in Berkshire, pleaded guilty to 42 counts of indecent assault at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 5th November. He was sentenced to 6 years and 9 months behind bars. Police investigating sexual abuse at near Holmes Chapel in the 1970s arrested Cavendish-Coulson in August 2013. The 71-year-old had previously worked at the school teaching French during the 1970s. As the case unfolded it became clear that the 25 victims in this case had been subjected to regular abuse by Cavendish-Coulson either at the school or at their home if they were being privately tutored. • Five suspected drug dealers have been arrested after Cheshire Police raided three houses in mid-Cheshire. Officers found significant amounts of drugs and cash during the raids at premises in Congleton and Middlewich. Inspector Sue Mills said: “In the space of just a few days the results have been encouraging and we will continue to build on this success. This week of targeted action was borne out of weeks of intelligence gathering, resulting in a series of drug warrants aimed at tackling those involving themselves in drug dealing and supply. We are by no means complacent, and we know there are still people out there involved in the supply of drugs. Targeting these individuals who are a blight on the local community remains a priority for us and we will continue to pursue them.”

Northern news

• Police & Crime Commissioner John Dwyer has agreed in principle to progress the relocation of Widnes police station to John Briggs House as local people are in favour of the move. 94% of people who responded to the public consultation, which ran for 4 weeks during September, agreed that the relocation of Widnes police station is appropriate and 97% (217 people) agreed that John Briggs House is accessible for local people. • More than 100 police officers, PCSOs, Special Constables and police staff took park in Operation Crossbow 2, a joint cross- border operation conducted with Merseyside Police. The intention was to deny criminals the use of the roads, to identify and prosecute traffic offences, and to build relationships with the community and partners. The primary tactic was to utilise both mobile and static ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) to identify offences, together with targeting hot spots of criminality in both policing areas. The operation, led by DCI Paul Beauchamp, was a great success, and resulted in more than 700 vehicles stopped,14 arrests, 35 vehicle seizures, 30 fixed penalty notices, one person fined for red diesel, eight notices issued by trading standards and five people reported for benefit fraud. • Scores of youngsters attended a movie night organised by officers in East. The diversionary event, the third held this year, was staged in October at High School and was aimed at getting young people off the streets and give them something to do in the evening. It was organised by PCSO Steve Dodd and the team at Warrington East Neighbourhood Policing Unit, and funding was secured to cover the costs with cinema snacks also provided. Public to have greater Two Years In Office

• November 21 marks two years since say on punishments the Police & Crime Commissioner took his oath of office.

COMMUNITY Remedy has been • Crime has continued to fall across introduced as part of the Anti-Social Cheshire and is at its lowest levels Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act since the 1990s. 2014 to give victims of low level crime and anti-social behaviour a greater say • The programme to recruit 100 in how offenders should be punished. officers is well on track and they are During the summer, John Dwyer Police set to be in place in the new year. & Crime Commissioner asked the public what punishments they thought would be • More than £500,000 of victim a suitable alternative in cases where it is services have been commissioned considered that a community resolution is including a restorative justice hub, more appropriate than going to court. mediation services and a victims’ Mr Dwyer said: “I was delighted that over information pack. 500 people took part in the survey and as a result of the feedback, I have now published • Over 100 Special Constables have my Community Remedy Document that recruited and Cheshire currently victims and police officers will use to discuss has the highest ratio of Specials to the offence to see if a community remedy commissioning an aftercare service to regular officers in the North West. would be appropriate. victims of sexual assault or rape in Cheshire “Victims will be able to choose from a that helps them to cope with their trauma • £30,000 has been invested in list of options, including having the offender and to recover as fully as they are able. participatory budgeting in Runcorn. repair the damage, replace stolen property, In a funding alliance with public sector Ten projects were funded, including a unpaid work in the local area, a face to face partners, the service provider will be job club, lunch club for isolated older conversation, letter of apology, mediation or commissioned to provide full time people and an education programme a combination of several options.” independent sexual violence advice and for young people not in education, Meanwhile, the Commissioner is inviting initial counselling services for men and employment or training. community groups and organisations to bid women of all ages in Cheshire. for a share of £60,000 to provide support to Mr Dwyer said: “It is vital to understand • Nine Police Contact Points in situ, victims of hate crime. what experiences victims have had and what with four more planned by the end Organisations who work with diverse their needs and expectations are from the of November. They give the public community groups are invited to pitch for a police and the services that are provided. access to a range of information presented in an FAQ touch screen share of the money to add value to existing “My office has held meetings and focus format, and the ability to contact the services across the Cheshire policing area by groups with victims of rape and sexual Constabulary via telephone, video supporting victims of hate crime and helping assault and I have commissioned an technology or webchat. them to cope and recover. independent research company to conduct Mr Dwyer is also in the process of an in-depth study of the needs of victims.”

Youth Ambassador’s Update Future initiatives

The selection process for PCSOs in Cheshire has been changed to include • The Working Together community the views of young people. It has come as a result of a review of the selection engagement events hosted by process undertaken by Youth Ambassador Dominic Rogers. the Chief Constable and Police & Students from observed the PCSO selection Crime Commissioner will continue process which included interviews incorporating scenarios and questions early next year. The next event is directly from the young people. at Riverside College, Widnes from Dominic said: “I’ve been working with the Constabulary’s HR department 6.30-8.15pm on December 3. to see how young people can get involved in the selection process. Getting • The Emergency Services Carol them involved in the PCSO process is the first stage, which I hope to Concert, jointly organised by continue to develop alongside young people from across the county.” Cheshire Constabulary, Cheshire Meanwhile, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children and Young Fire & Rescue Service and the North People has released its report on relationships between children, young West Ambulance Service., will take people and the police, and mentions the Constabulary’s good work. place on 2 December at Chester Dominic added: “It’s great the positive work that’s already happening in Cathedral. Cheshire has been highlighted, as well as the steps being taken to continually improve relationships between young people and the police.”