East Herts Rural Team Newsletter January 2015

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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 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, 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 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.

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AREAS COVERED

Buntingford Town Including Buckland, Chipping, and are covered by PC 2232 David Miller and PCSO 6285 Aaron Pender. . Buntingford Rural East Including , Anstey, , , Furnuex Pelham, , Albury, Great , Little Hormead, Hare Street, Dassels, Hay Street, , 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, , , Levens Green, Nasty, Cromer, , Benington, , and Throcking are covered by PC 553 Les Bridger and PCSO 6135 Steve Blanks.

Hertford Rural South Including , Great Amwell, , , Wadesmill, , 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, , Waterford, Stapleford, , Little Berkhampstead are covered by DC 1783 Kirsty Richardson and PCSO 6161 Sally Brookes.

Bishop’s Stortford Rural Including , , Widford, , , Cradle End, Perry Green, , Eastwick are covered by PC 334 Nicky Hunt, PCSO 6666 Amanda Higham and PCSO 6633 Neil Major

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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]

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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, , 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, 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 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. Applications for projects that provide a service for vulnerable people and applications from organisations that have not received a grant from the Council before are priorities for us but we will consider funding projects that benefit the wider community.

In the past, we have funded such organisations as: Havers Community Church, Ware Town Partnership, Cottered Carpet Bowls, Buntingford Scout Group, and Friends of Tewin.

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact Claire Pullen, Engagement and Partnerships officer (Grants) East Herts Council on 01992531459 or [email protected]

The Force and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire are launching a new website, HertsReunited, which will help reunite members of the public with their lost and stolen property.

Occasionally, we come into temporary possession of property which is suspected to have been stolen, but we are unable to locate its true owner. Likewise, sometimes we are made aware of property which has been found in Hertfordshire, but the owner is unknown. Users of the website can now record items they have lost or found and search the website to see if we have found their stolen or lost property.

Items may be advertised on the website by Hertfordshire Constabulary for around 30 days or an appropriate period until the true owner is identified.

HertsReunited can be found by visiting www.hertsreunited.co.uk.

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STAYING SAFE TOGETHER

Join more than 70,000 people who are helping to protect our local communities in Hertfordshire

Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives ever. Now involving more than 70,000 households in Hertfordshire, it is based on the simple idea that you and your neighbours can help to reduce crime and create a safer and better place to live, work and play.

By being a good neighbour, you can help make your community more secure by looking out for your neighbours; keeping an eye on their homes when they are out; watching out for those who are elderly or vulnerable; and receiving and sharing crime prevention advice to help keep you and your neighbours safe and your homes and property secure.

Neighbourhood Watch members receive regular local policing updates and alerts from their local policing team via email, or by telephone if preferred, using Hertfordshire’s OWL system.

Your local policing team will keep you informed about what is happening locally and how you can help, for example to look out for stolen property or help find missing people. They will also tell you about local policing events; update you about crimes, incidents or concerning trends in your area; alert you to appeals for information or witnesses; and keep you up-to-date with the latest crime prevention information and advice to share with your friends and neighbours to help you to keep yourselves and your property safe.

Neighbourhood Watch members can do as much or as little as they like. You can also volunteer to be a street coordinator, looking after a number of homes and acting as a point of contact.

There are several ways you can join: visit www.OWL.co.uk to register online; email your local Watch Liaison Officer at [email protected] or call the police non-emergency number (101) and ask to speak to your Watch Liaison Officer.

Please remember, if you are already a member of NHW and receive OWL messages, to let us know if your contact details change.

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Useful Links & Telephone numbers

Anti Social Behaviour and Projects officer East Herts District Council – Julie Pomfrett – 01992 531423 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) Environmental Crime Team – 01992 655261 Dog Control Officer East Herts District Council – Linda Last – 01992 655261 Parking Services – 01992 655261 Abandoned Vehicles – 01992 655261 Youth Connexions – Russell Cairns – 07889288944 (Mon-Fri 12 noon-7pm) Trading Standards – Susan Shanahan – 01707 292429 Hertfordshire Highways fault line – 01438 737 320 NFU Helpline – 0870 845 8458 RSPCA: Animal neglect advice line – 0300 1234 999 RSPCA: Farm animal welfare line – 0870 753 8333 South Anglia Housing association – 0845 600 1543 TER: plant / machinery register – 01225 464 599 Victim Support – 0845 30 30 900

http://www.hertscrimestoppers.org.uk/

http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/

http://www.hertsdirect.org/

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

http://www.highways.gov.uk/

http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/travel_news.jsp

http://www.nfu.org.uk/

http://www.stolenhorseregister.com/

www.hertsdirect.org/tradingstandards

http://www.rspca.org.uk/home

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BUNTINGFORD SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

Unoccupied Premises Form

Address -

Owner -

Contact Details –

Dates From To

Is the property alarmed? Yes / No

Key holder Details

Key Holder Name -

Key Holder’s phone number -

PLEASE RETURN TO: PCSO 6666 Amanda Higham 1 Police House Road, Buntingford Hertfordshire. SG9 2DB 01992 533329