East Herts Rural Team Newsletter January 2015 2 With another year having passed, the New Year always presents opportunity for reflection. The year has presented challenges, both internally and externally for the Constabulary, both at local and county level. Hard work strategically against budget restraint has enabled the numbers of staff allocated to deliver neighbourhood policing to rural areas of East Hertfordshire to be maintained. Additionally, I found it satisfying to see the profile Rural Crime raised, with rural crime now specifically listed of the Constabulary’s operational policing plan for 2014-2015. At local level, 2014 started with extreme weather resulting in widespread flooding adversely affecting many local communities. This tested emergency service resolve to the full and I thank all those who supported the services in minimising the impact of the situation. The summer months saw the usual community and public events such as Standon Calling, village and community fetes, Buntingford Classic Car show to name but a few. It was pleasing to get away from the office and interact with local people and talk about local issues. 2014 was also notable for its commemorative events relative to the ’great war’ 1914- 1918. The team supported colleagues with the Royal Anglian march through Hertford Town centre in July, commemorative plaque unveiling in High Cross in October as well as supporting an increasing number of Remembrance Sunday events in November. 2015 will present its own challenges but I am confident the organisation will rise to this challenge. Locally, my aim and that of my team will be to focus on preventative measures. Our Police and Crime Commissioner, Mr David Lloyd uses the phrase ‘everybody’s business’ when delivering his vision on policing. We can all participate in making life for the criminal that little bit harder, maybe by fitting that stronger padlock on your shed, marking and recording serial numbers of property. Using available sites such as immobilise to register items of value. Contact your local PCSO to register on our Online Watch Link (OWL) where you can receive timely messages and links to other information. Finally on behalf of the team here at Buntingford, I thank you all for your continued support and wish all of you a very Happy New Year. Ps Duncan Wallace East Herts Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team. 3 AREAS COVERED Buntingford Town Including Buckland, Chipping, Westmill and Aspenden are covered by PC 2232 David Miller and PCSO 6285 Aaron Pender. Buntingford Rural East Including Wyddial, Anstey, Meesden, Brent Pelham, Furnuex Pelham, Stocking Pelham, Albury, Great Hormead, Little Hormead, Hare Street, Dassels, Hay Street, Braughing, Braughing Friars, Cockhampstead, Puckeridge and all villages in Standon Parish are covered by PC 1587 Bob Hunt, PCSO 6666 Amanda Higham and PCSO 6260 Tom Clark. Buntingford Rural West Including Dane End, Green End, Haultwick, Little Munden, Great Munden, Levens Green, Nasty, Cromer, Ardeley, Benington, Walkern, Cottered and Throcking are covered by PC 553 Les Bridger and PCSO 6135 Steve Blanks. Hertford Rural South Including Stanstead Abbotts, Great Amwell, Brickendon, Hertford Heath, Wadesmill, Thundridge, High Cross, Colliers End, Old Hall Green, Latchford, Barwick, Standon Green and Wormley West End are covered by PC 2175 Dean Watson and PCSO 6633 Neil Major. Hertford Rural North Including Watton at Stone, Aston, Datchworth, Waterford, Stapleford, Tewin, Little Berkhampstead are covered by DC 1783 Kirsty Richardson and PCSO 6161 Sally Brookes. Bishop’s Stortford Rural Including Little Hadham, Much Hadham, Widford, Gilston, Hunsdon, Cradle End, Perry Green, Wareside, Eastwick are covered by PC 334 Nicky Hunt, PCSO 6666 Amanda Higham and PCSO 6633 Neil Major 4 Police Contact Details EMERGENCY / CRIME OCCURING NOW .................... 999 Non-emergency number ................................ 101 NAME AREA CONTACT NUMBER Insp 1274 Chris HUNT Bishop Stortford, Hertford, 01992 533 127 Sawbridgworth and Buntingford Sgt 1714 Duncan East Herts Rural team 01992 533 328 WALLACE Pc 1587 Bob HUNT Rural East 01992 533 329 PCSO 6666 Amanda Rural East 01992 533 329 HIGHAM Pc 553 Les BRIDGER Rural West 01992 533 330 PCSO 6135 Steve Rural West 01992 533 329 BLANKS Pc 2232 David MILLER Buntingford Town 01992 533 327 PCSO 6285 Aaron Buntingford Town 01992 533 327 PENDER PCSO 6260 Tom CLARK Standon Parish 01992 533 330 PC 2175 Dean WATSON Hertford Rural South 01992 533 329 PCSO 6633 Neil MAJOR Hertford Rural South 01992 533 329 DC 1783 Kirsty Hertford Rural North 01992 533329 RICHARDSON PCSO 6161 Sally Hertford Rural North 01992 533 329 BROOKES PC 334 Nicky HUNT Bishop’s Stortford Rural 01992 533 160 To receive a copy of the Buntingford Newsletter by email, please contact [email protected] 5 CONSTABULARY WEBSITE You will find advice and stories on the website as well as contact numbers for your local Neighbourhood Policing Team. www.herts.police.uk DEAF, HARD OF HEARING? If you or someone you know is deaf or hard of hearing, there is an emergency text messaging service that is now in use to allow you to contact the Emergency Services. Please text 07786 207 091 including who is needed - Police, Fire or Ambulance, where they are needed and what the problem is. SCAM WARNING Hertfordshire CC Trading Standards is warning residents to avoid a scam claiming to be the People's Postcode Lottery after a Hertfordshire couple have recently lost money to this con. The addresses being used for the scam are at Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Herts and Madrid, Spain. The genuine People's Postcode Lottery is not based at any of these locations. A letter is sent to you, out of the blue advising of a win of £225,000 and to call a phone number to claim the winnings. On ringing, money is required upfront to release the winnings and then a very convincing letter from the HMRC is sent to explain that a further fee is required to release the big cheque. If you receive one of these letters please keep it and the envelope so that we may track how it is coming into the country. Please send it to The Scams Team, Hertfordshire CC Trading Standards, Mundells, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1FT If you have responded to the letter and sent money, please contact Herts Trading Standards about the matter on 01707 292652. Please ensure that you, your family and neighbours don't fall victim to these clever cons, if you haven't entered a lottery you won't have won anything. If anyone asks for a fee upfront to claim a prize, it's a con. If you're in any doubt about any similar item of post that comes through your door, please speak to family and friends to check it out or call Trading Standards on 01707 292652. BREAK TO SHEDS Recently, there has been an increase in break to sheds in the area. Ardeley and Little Berkhamsted have been affected. In many instances, nothing was stolen but damage has been caused by offenders breaking locks to gain entry. Please take note of the following advice: 6 Take a note of serial numbers on all items kept in house or sheds and outbuildings. Take photographs of high value items Register items for free on www.immobilise.com Check garden boundaries to make sure all complete and secure - the recent spate of shed breaks has seen offenders gain entry via fields at back of properties Mark items with house name or number and postcode Keep gates and sheds locked - two hasp and staple locks near top and bottom For further information, contact your local PCSO. HOME SECURITY External doors and windows Locks depend on the quality of wood in the door. Consider getting a builder or joiner to secure the door frame to the brickwork before fitting any extra locks. Mortice locks add extra protection to your doors. Choose locks that conform to British Standards (BS3621) or one that has at least five levers. Check the door is thick enough to accept the lock and keep its strength. Speak to a qualified Locksmith for more advice. Mortise bolts are useful, but not suitable on doors you regularly use to leave your house. Patio doors can be protected by fitting purpose-made locks or a security bar. A qualified Locksmith will give you more information on this. French windows: the lock securing one door into the other is only as strong as the door. Fit mortise bolts to the top and bottom of each opening door. Bolts should be fitted to go into the frame – not the other door. Window locks that pull the window into the frame with a key are normally stronger. Do not leave the key in the lock though. Double glazing: check that it is not just the handle that stops a window from opening. You should need a key to unlock the window. Look for the following British Standards when choosing double glazing – BS7950 (security performance) and BS7412 (window performance) GRANTS OF UP TO £500 AVAILABLE FROM EAST HERTS DISTRICT COUNCIL 7 East Herts Council’s Community Activities Fund will provide grants to cover general running costs of voluntary-run organisations – insurance, hire costs, marketing/publicity, utilities, staff, transport costs for day trips out are all eligible. Deadline to submit an application is 30 January 2015 and 2 March 2015. Go to http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=27130 to download an application form and the Terms and Conditions (at the bottom of page). We encourage all community and voluntary organisations to apply and take advantage of the opportunity to bid for a grant of up to £500. Simply make your case on the official application and obtain an endorsement from your East Herts District Councillor.