Hadleigh Sector Neighbourhood Watch newsletters

Ø Screen your tank with Fencing or Hedges.
Ø Close and Secure any perimeter gating
Ø Conceal/Cover any external oil pipe work/fuel lines
Ø Install Dusk to Dawn security lighting
Ø Install lockable caps supported by closed shackle padlocks (consult tank supplier)
Ø Regularly check your fuel levels, Consider installing a sensor that is monitored from inside the home
Ø Consider installing a tank alarm/security device (consult your tank supplier)
Ø Join a NHW scheme & keep an eye out—telephone immediately if you see anything-suspicious 999- Note vehicle Index Numbers and descriptions of suspicious persons.
Ø Further useful advice from Heating Oil users can be found on http://www.boilerjuice.com/blog.php

Ø Further advice ring Suffolk Constabulary MAIN switchboard number 01473 613500 & ask for the Crime Reduction Officer for your area, further help on Crime Reduction can be found by logging on to Suffolk Constabulary Web page which is--- http://www.suffolk.police.uk/Crime+Reduction/ and also http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Ø Please note because some storage containers are metal and some are plastic –any security measures that directly affect the Tank or Pipe work should be done in consultation with your Heating Oil tank supplier

Ø Although specific company names and products are mentioned this should not be taken as an unequivocal endorsement of the product or supplier by Suffolk Constabulary.

Heating Oil Still Going
A real problem still, heating oil being taken from unsecured oil tanks. In the past few weeks there have been seven or so occurrences of oil going. It would appear that it is being siphoned off into either a tank on the back of a van or into containers inside a van.
Please be vigilant when you see vehicle near to you or your neighbours property, make a note of the time of day, the colour of vehicle and if possible any registration number. If at all suspicious then dial 999, let's catch these people.

Lead Being Taken
You may have read that lead is being stolen from local churches, well it is, but it is also being taken from homes and businesses within the Babergh area. It would appear that if an attempt is made and the thieves are unsuccessful, they will almost certainly return to complete the job at a latter date. If you have lead flashings on your property, what can you do protect it? High visibility post code marking is a possibility, or there are several DNA type paint products on the market that can be used to code and identify it.

Spring Security
Suffolk Police are issuing advice to help keep your property safe, as the evenings get lighter now the clocks have gone forward and the weather improves. Criminals can take advantage of insecurities and the increase in time spent outdoors, but there are simple measures you can take to protect your property.

A spokesman said, “It may be tempting to leave windows and doors open as it gets lighter and warmer – but this is an invitation to enter your property for a burglar, who will take advantage of the easy access. Whether you are inside or outside in the garden, keep doors and windows secure so only you can get in and out.

“The same applies to your garage or shed – once you've removed the lawnmower, tools or barbeque you're using, lock it behind you. Never leave items of value unattended in your garden, and don't leave them on display through a window either. Mesh or bars can be fixed on shed and garage windows to conceal your property and deter criminals from breaking in.”

Keep vehicles in secure garages where available, or parked in an open, well lit area. Keep hedges and shrubs cut back and fences, gates and walls in good repair. Make sure items such as bicycles, ladders and motorized vehicles that can be locked, are. Lock smaller items in cabinets, and always keep keys safe and out of sight. Houses, sheds and garages can also be alarmed.

Security mark items - Suffolk Police hold regular property marking events around the county, or equipment can be purchased to do this yourself. Take photos of any valuable items, these pictures could help trace them in the event that they are stolen.

You can also register with a free database called Immobilise. This national system is used by most police forces, including Suffolk – all you need to do is enter the serial number of your phone, computer, MP3 player, bike or anything else with such a code, and update the system if it is lost or stolen. If the police seize stolen property, or an item is found, officers can search the database to find out who the item belongs to, and your property will be returned. You can also use the system to find out if a second-hand item you want to buy is stolen.

“I would also appeal to people to be vigilant – let us know if you see any suspicious persons or vehicles. Any suspicious activity should be reported to police on 01473 613500 or 999 if a crime is in progress, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Further information on home security can be found on our website www.suffolk.police.uk Some district and borough councils offer home security checks and upgrades, which are free or discounted to certain members of the community. Shed alarms are available from police stations at a cost of only £8, and free advice on home security is available from your local Crime Reduction Officer on 01284 774313.

Warning Of Credit Card Scam
Suffolk Police are urging hoteliers and members of the public to be extra vigilant, following reports of a credit card scam.

Officers have received two reports in Suffolk in which a male, claiming to be from the police, has contacted a hotel or guesthouse. He has asked the hotel for names and contact numbers of customers who are due to stay or have recently stayed at the premises, stating he needed to get in touch with them because there had been a credit card scam.

The customers have been contacted by the male, who has then claimed to be from the hotel. They are told that there has been a mistake and their credit cards details had been shredded and the male has requested their credit card details over the phone.

Officers are urging members of the public and all staff in hotels and guest houses countywide to watch out for this scam to be wary about giving personal information to anyone unknown to them or have not checked out.

If you think you have been a victim of this or a similar scam, please contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500

Can You Help Find Co-ordinators
The following villages in the Babergh district have NO Neighbourhood Watch schemes, Aldham, Assington, Bures, Burstall, Chelsworth, Chilton, Erwarton, Great Wenham, Hitcham, Kettlebaston, Monks Eleigh, Semer, Shelley, Little Wenham, Wattisham, Woolverstone.

Do you know of anyone who might be interested in taking on the mantle and helping the community?

If you can think of anyone the please let me know and I will make contact with them.

A TIMELY REMINDER ~ Bogus and Doorstep Callers
Now is the time of year that the tree and garden workers wake after their winters break and start doorstep calling. Often these people will target the elderly and vulnerable, but not always, we can all be caught unawares.
Here are a few simple steps to follow when you get an unexpected caller.
1. Fit and use a door security chain every time you open the door, and ensure your back door is locked before going to the front. It's not unknown for accomplices to be going through the back door while you are answering the front door.
2. ALWAYS ask for identification, that you can verify. Do not let the caller into your house until you have verified the caller's identification.
3. Check the identification of the caller by ringing his/her employer. Use the telephone number from your local telephone book (or utilities bill if from one of those companies).
4. Do not agree for anyone to carry out work in your house until you get a second opinion as to whether you actually need the work done.
5. Do not agree to any work if the caller says “We are only in the area today”.
6. If you agree to buy any goods or services from a doorstep seller, AND you did not invite the doorstep seller to call, then you may have a short period of time to cancel the contract after it has been signed. Keep all the paperwork in a safe place.
7. In order for the contract to be completed successfully by both parties, the trader must serve you a notice of your cancellation rights. This will be in the form of a printed document giving you details of how to cancel the contract.
8. Generally the goods or services must be over £35 in value in order to cancel the contract. There are other circumstances where you have no rights of cancellation. Further information on this can be obtained from your Trading Standards Department telephone number 0845 040506 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
9. Never keep large sums of money in the house and keep purses and wallets out of sight and not near the door.
10. Keep a list of your credit card numbers and important documents in a safe place in case of loss.
Free security advice is available from the Police Crime Reduction Office or from your local Safer Neighborhood Team contact 01473 613500.

ALCOHOL CONFISCATION CAMPAIGN – SUFFOLK
A countywide crackdown on crime and disorder caused by underage street drinking has seen more than 240 bottles or tins of beer, more than 40 bottles of cider and a quantity of other alcoholic drinks seized across the county.

The national ‘confiscation of alcohol campaign', which ran from Friday 8 to Sunday 24 February, saw officers across the county stepping up patrols in areas where there has been alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and seizing alcohol from underage young people drinking in public.

Alcohol – including 28 bottles of alco-pops, 20 bottles of spirits and 17 bottles of wine - was confiscated and groups dispersed where crime or anti-social behaviour was suspected. The parents or guardians of anyone under 18 who was found to be drinking were notified.

As part of the campaign, special ‘litmus-style' test kits were used across the county, after a successful pilot scheme in the Kesgrave area. This was a valuable tool that was successfully used to detect alcohol – in one instance concealed in a Cherryade bottle, which was duly confiscated.

Superintendent Jon Brighton, West Area operations manager, said the campaign had been a success across the county.

"All officers who took part in this campaign found it extremely worthwhile. We have been able to seize alcohol from young people, potentially cutting the chances of disorder and anti-social behaviour and at the same time we have spoken to them about the implications of drinking alcohol. Officers patrolled in areas highlighted by Safer Neighbourhood Teams as places where young people were believed to drink or anti-social behaviour is a concern, and the results have helped inform our work and we can target the places where issues have now been identified.”

Inspector Matt Dee, who oversaw the campaign in the east and south of the county, said it had been of benefit.

“Clearly there have been a number of items seized and the initiative has been well publicised nationally which may well have deterred young people from engaging in the consumption of alcohol over the half term holiday.

“We have worked with partner agencies in a constructive manner engaging underage drinkers, providing clear educational advice on health and the social implications and consequences of drinking in addition to the legalities surrounding sales.”

HADLEIGH NETWORK CO-ORDINATORS MEETING
A reminder that there is a meeting of all the Hadleigh Neighbourhood Watch Network Co-ordinators to be held at Hadleigh Town Hall on Wednesday 2nd April at 7.30pm. Schemes are asked to try and ensure that a representative attends to make sure their views and any concerns are aired.

If your not sure if this means you then please contact your CWLO Tony Simpson on 01284 774313 or Tony.Simpson@suffolk.pnn .police.uk

Can You Help Find Co-ordinators
The following villages in the Babergh district have NO Neighbourhood Watch schemes, Aldham, Assington, Bures, Burstall, Chelsworth, Chilton, Erwarton, Great Wenham, Hitcham, Kettlebaston, Monks Eleigh, Semer, Shelley, Little Wenham, Wattisham, Woolverstone.

Do you know of anyone who might be interested in taking on the mantle and helping the community?

If you can think of anyone the please let me know and I will make contact with them.

20 Years Of Crimestoppers
To mark its twentieth anniversary, the UK charity, Crimestoppers, has given its www.crimestoppers-uk.org website a complete makeover. From the middle of January, the new site that uses the latest in online technology, has gone live.

Crimestoppers is also delighted to announce that FACT (The Federation Against Copyright Theft) has come on board as site sponsor for three months. Since last October, FACT has been working in partnership with Crimestoppers to encourage reporting of criminal activity in audio-visual piracy and to draw attention to the serious impact counterfeiting can have on wider communities.

The new website has been designed by Precedent Communications and features a number of enhanced features, such as case studies, a crime prevention area, polls and information in different languages.

One of the special features is a purpose-built appeals management system designed specifically for police forces to enter appeals into a central database. Users can monitor the appeals through sophisticated search methods and then send valuable and potentially life-saving information to Crimestoppers quickly and anonymously.

The search functionality for the popular ‘Most Wanted' section ( www.crimestoppers-uk.org /mostwanted/ ) - where visitors can help solve crimes - has been vastly improved where you can now search by crime type, region, postcode and specific appeal. RSS feeds are also an option if you want to be kept up to date with new appeals in a specific region.

There is an increased emphasis on local news which can now be accessed from any page on the site. A survey carried out by Crimestoppers, showed that more than 70% of visitors to its site were looking for local information.

Crimestoppers' CEO, Michael Laurie CBE, said: “For twenty years Crimestoppers has relied on the public to use the 0800 555 111 telephone number to report crime anonymously and we hope that through this new website even more people will be aware of our charity and how they can help to remove criminals from our streets.

“I am delighted to welcome FACT on board as our first-ever site sponsor. We share a common interest in tracking down serious criminal activity in piracy and copyright theft.”

Kieron Sharp, FACT Director General, added: “FACT is delighted to continue to support the work of Crimestoppers which has been a valuable partner for us already. Audio-visual piracy is criminal activity and such activity brings harm to local communities by attracting other crimes and much of the trade in counterfeit DVDs is controlled by organised criminal networks.”

Basic Information
Crimestoppers is an independent charity dedicated to solving crimes and taking criminals off the streets. Around 17 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every five days is charged with murder.

Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received nearly 960,000 calls with useful information, resulting in over 80,000 arrests and charges. Over £100 million worth of property has been recovered and over £144 million worth of drugs.

Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.

About FACT
The Federation Against Copyright Theft is the UK's leading trade organisation established to protect and represent the interests of the film and broadcasting industry against copyright and trademark infringements.

Established in 1983, FACT works closely with statutory law enforcement agencies to combat the growth of pirate DVDs, film and other forms of broadcast material including the increasing threat from online/internet based piracy. FACT has been accepted as a prosecution authority and engages in criminal prosecutions in its own right.

The maximum penalty for offences of film piracy is 10 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Proceeds of Crime Act legislation now also enables confiscation of assets and goods obtained through criminal activity.

NHW Public Liability Insurance
All Neighbourhood Watch schemes registered with Suffolk Constabulary have free Public Liability Insurance (PLI) underwritten by Ansvar Insurance Company Ltd. This policy was due to expire on 11th January 2008, however Ansvar has agreed to extend the existing Policy from 12th January 2008 to 31st March 2008 inclusive, and a new Policy will then be arranged for 12 months from 1st April 2008.

More information and contact numbers in case of enquires can be found on the Neighbourhood Watch page of the Suffolk Constabulary website NW Public Liability Insurance Update 2007/2008

Success for Stay Safe In The West
Extra police patrols in key areas of West Suffolk helped deter violent crime across Christmas and the New Year.

Hotspot areas in Newmarket, Haverhill, Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury were identified and extra officers patrolled between 1st December and 1st January. They were joined by police horses on Newmarket High Street on 1st and 22nd December.

Pubs also displayed information on getting home safely after a night out and responsible drinking, and street banners were displayed in Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds, funded by the Western Suffolk Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

Between 30th November and 1st January, there were fewer serious violent offences committed in public places in the west, with a 9.4 per cent reduction year on year. In total, 38 fixed penalty notices were issued throughout the west of the county during the campaign, and 113 people have so far been charged with committing a violent offence.

Superintendent Jon Brighton says, “I'm very pleased there was no increase in serious violence in a public place. We put extra officers on the street at key times and in areas where trouble can flare, and this has helped us to reduce these types of crime.

“Whilst violent crime in general rose (by 6.5 per cent), this is largely down to having more officers in key locations to proactively deal with anyone committing disorder. If you take away those offences which can be dealt with by way of fixed penalty notice, levels of violence in a public place actually fell.

“I was particularly pleased with the public's response to the police horses in Newmarket. When they patrolled along with local officers on 1st December no public order problems were reported in the town. We will be working with our partners to bring the horses back during 2008.”

Suffolk Police and Trading Standards also carried out test purchasing operations in Forest Heath and Sudbury, as part of the Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership's “Put A Cork In It” campaign.

In Sudbury, five shops were visited by two underage “customers”. Four shops refused to sell alcohol but one, a small supermarket, did sell to both volunteers and the member of staff who authorised the sale was given a fixed penalty notice. Trading Standards will now carry out follow up work in respect of this store.

In Forest Heath, a pub, a bowling alley, a petrol station and four shops were visited in Brandon, Beck Row, Mildenhall and Newmarket. None of these premises served the underage volunteers.

Supt Brighton continues, “I am very pleased that only one outlet sold alcohol to underage volunteers – with our partners we will continue to routinely check stores that break the law and those which we receive information about. Young people who buy alcohol may then go on to commit crimes or behave anti-socially, so by refusing to serve them pubs, clubs and off-licensees can do their bit to reduce crime and give out the message that underage drinking is unacceptable.”

Police Target Underage Drinkers To Combat Antisocial Behaviour
A countywide crackdown on crime and disorder caused by underage street drinking has been launched by Suffolk Police.

The ‘Confiscation of Alcohol' campaign, which runs from 8th to the 24th February 2008, will see police officers and community support officers proactively targeting local areas where young people gather. Those who are found to be underage drinking will have the alcohol confiscated and groups of young people will be dispersed where alcohol related crime or disorder is suspected.

As part of the campaign, special ‘litmus-style' test kits will be used countywide, allowing officers to detect the presence of alcohol in any pre-mixed drinks. The parents or guardians of anyone under the age of 18 who is found to be drinking will be notified.

For those areas that already have ‘alcohol designation orders', which prevents the consumption of alcohol in public places in that location, anyone found to be drinking alcohol may be stopped and the alcohol confiscated. If they fail to comply they can face a fine or arrest.

Inspector Ben Cook, from the Crime Reduction Unit, said: “The aim of this campaign is to work towards the reduction of alcohol related crime and disorder by young people. Any reports of underage drinkers will be investigated and any known hotspots countywide will be targeted. This, we hope, will tackle this anti-social behaviour and any associated crime and disorder.

“However, this is not just about confiscating alcohol from underage drinkers… we will try to educate young people that their behaviour is not only anti-social, but is also putting themselves at risk of other offences such as assault. Officers will also give appropriate advice on the health risks associated with irresponsible drinking.”

During this campaign, officers will be gathering information on young people's ability to access alcohol locally and follow up enquiries will be made. Any adult found to have knowingly supplied alcoholic drinks to a person underage runs the risk of an on the spot fine or even prosecution. Any licensee found to be selling alcoholic drink to underage people are committing an offence and their license may be at risk.

Eastern Business Pages 2008
The delivery of the above will take place with effect from the 12th February and is expected to take two to three weeks to complete and will be done by distributors using their own private motor vehicles.

Distributors are instructed not to leave these on doorsteps where at all possible. Any concerns over the delivery of this publication please contact Lesley Hall, Project
Co-ordinator on 01904 606300.

Can You Help Find Co-ordinators
The following villages in the Babergh district have NO Neighbourhood Watch schemes, Aldham, Assington, Bures, Burstall, Chelsworth, Chilton, Edwardstone, Erwarton, Freston, Great Wenham, Hitcham, Kettlebaston, Monks Eleigh, Semer, Shelley, Little Waldingfield, Little Wenham, Wattisham, Woolverstone.

Do you know of anyone who might be interested in taking on the mantle and helping the community?

If you can think of anyone the please let me know and I will make contact with them.

Back Again
Another year starts and let's hope that we can all continue to help reduce and prevent crime in our communities. Remember to be vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious.

Recycle Your Old Mobile Phone For Suffolk Charities
Did you or a member of your family receive a new mobile phone for Christmas? Is the old phone now sitting in a drawer gathering dust? Your old phone can be turned into cash for Operation Santa Claus

Suffolk Constabulary for a number of years has supported SGR FM's charity, Operation Santa Claus. All the money raised by Operation Santa Claus is used in helping charitable causes in Suffolk make a difference to our county; in the past 12 months Operation Santa Claus has helped over 150 local charities with grants of various sizes.

You can continue to help Operation Santa Claus by donating your old mobile phone. For every phone donated, £10 will go to the charity. Operation Santa Claus is working with Recycle Your Mobile, all you have to do is drop your unwanted mobile phone (minus the SIM card!) into a special Freepost envelope and into a postbox.

WANT AN ENVELOPE?

If you've got any mobile phones then e-mail
louise.gregory@gcapmedia.com or give SGR FM's Charity Manager Louise Gregory a call (01473 467544) and a bag will be sent to you.

For more information about Operation Santa Claus, visit the SGR FM website

High Sheriffs Award Scheme
In 2007 The High Sheriff launched the High Sheriff's Community Safety Fund in partnership with the Suffolk Foundation. This fund is held in charitable trust by the Suffolk Foundation and will be supported by fundraising and donations and hopefully grow year on year.

The High Sheriffs' Award Scheme rewards initiatives that address crime prevention, good citizenship and community safety. Each year, the High Sheriff of Suffolk makes awards to non-profit groups working for the benefit of the people in Suffolk and gives recognition to those who are tackling local problems and giving of their time and effort voluntarily. The Suffolk Foundation can offer grants to kick-start or assist in the development of a project.

The Awards scheme consists of the High Sheriffs' Award, the Crimebeat Award and the Suffolk Volunteer of the Year Award.

The High Sheriffs' Award encourages and recognises work that young people (between 8 and 25 years old) undertake to improve their communities and lives. Of particular interest are projects that address citizenship, community safety and crime prevention, tackling such issues as:

· Bullying
· Vandalism and Arson
· Anti-Social Behaviour
· Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Awareness
· Homelessness
· Internet Safety
· Knife Crime
· Road Safety
· Personal Safety
· Community Cohesion, especially with the elderly and minorities.

Projects that originate from, are developed by and undertaken by young people will also automatically be submitted to Suffolk's annual Crimebeat Award. The winner of which will be put forward to the prestigious National Crimebeat Award.

If you know a school or youth group in Suffolk involving young people up to the age of 21, who have recently completed or are currently working on a citizenship project, please encourage their supervising adult to nominate their group. Closing date for nominations is
31 January 2008. For nomination form contact The Suffolk Foundation, Old Reading Rooms, The Green, Grundisburgh, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6TA Tel: 01473 734120
info@suffolkfoundation.org.uk

Eastern Business Pages 2008
The delivery of the above will take place with effect from the 12th February and is expected to take two to three weeks to complete and will be done by distributors using their own private motor vehicles.

Distributors are instructed not to leave these on doorsteps where at all possible. Any concerns over the delivery of this publication please contact Lesley Hall, Project Co-ordinator on 01904 606300.

Can You Help Find Co-ordinators
The following villages in the Babergh district have NO Neighbourhood Watch schemes, Aldham, Assington, Boxford, Bures, Burstall, Chelsworth, Chilton, Edwardstone, Erwarton, Freston, Great Wenham, Hitcham, Kettlebaston, Monks Eleigh, Newton, Polstead, Semer, Shelley, Little Waldingfield, Little Wenham, Wattisham, Woolverstone.

Do you know of anyone who might be interested in taking on the mantle and helping the community?

If you can think of anyone the please let me know and I will make contact with them.

If You Need Any Help With Neighbourhood Watch
Tony Simpson
Community Watch Liaison Officer
Police Station
Acton Lane
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 1 QN
01284774313
tony.simpson@suffolk.pnn .police.uk

POSTAL SCAM- BEWARE
There is currently a chain e-mail circulating, warning of a postal scam where a card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on a premium rate number and that you would billed £15 for the phone call.

Trading Standards have confirmed this is an old message – the telephone line was in fact closed down in December 2005 and the company involved were fined £10,000.

Please ignore these chain e-mails and do not forward them on – place them where they rightly deserve – in the junk bin!

More information on this case can be found on the PhonepayPlus website or directly by clicking the following link Information on postal scam chain email

SUFFOLK ROADSAFE ROAD SAFETY WEEK
5 - 11 November 2007

Suffolk Roadsafe partnership is made up of Suffolk County Council, Police, Fire Service, SafeCam, Ambulance and the Highways Agency. Officers from each service will be involved in Road Safety Week events throughout the county.

The partnership challenges Suffolk's road users to make our roads safer!

How YOU can meet the challenge:

• Keep within speed limits
• Don't drink and drive
• Always wear a seat belt
• Switch off mobile phones while driving

To download the Road Safety Week flyer (pdf) click here

Competition for Road Safety Week

To encourage road users to be more aware of safety during the week we are offering 50 emergency roadside kits as prizes. All you have to do is email us with the answer to the following question:

"At what speed would you generally be expected to travel on a residential road with street lights?" (New Highway Code rule 124)

You must be over 17 years old and reside in Suffolk to be eligible for this competition, for full terms & conditions click here

To enter the competition click here

GHOSTLY TIME APPROACHES
Police are appealing to young people and their parents to take a responsible attitude to Halloween this year, and appealing to the general public to be a little more tolerant of the high spirits of young people celebrating this event.
A series of posters have been produced which addresses the issues surrounding Halloween. These posters will be put up around the county and have been widely distributed to schools and businesses.
One poster is designed for those people who do not want to take part in the celebrations to put in their window. It states, “The occupants of this house kindly ask you not to call on Halloween. Please respect our wishes.” Copies of this poster can be printed directly off the Suffolk Police website using the following link:
Halloween poster for homes (this opens in a new window 65.8kb (pdf))
It is hoped that the privacy of those people who clearly indicate that they do not wish to be involved in Halloween will be respected.
A second poster is designed to encourage retailers to be responsible with regard to the sale of eggs. They are being asked not to sell eggs to young people on the 29th, 30th and 31st of October. The damage caused by egg throwing will be treated as criminal damage and those caught throwing eggs will be prosecuted, if found guilty, they face a criminal record.

Halloween poster for shops
Another poster asks parents to think about the safety of their children and asks if they would normally let their children call on a stranger's home unsupervised.

Halloween poster for homes

On the lead up to Halloween on 31st October members of the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be visiting schools with the aim of educating school children on how to behave responsibly within the community and to be respectful to other peoples wishes.
Inspector Ben Cook, Crime Reduction Officer for Suffolk Police said, “We hope that this year people will take a responsible attitude to Halloween.
“Thanks to continuing support from the local media, members of the public have responded well to our requests for them to act responsibly over the last few years. By repeating the measures that worked last year, we hope to keep the number of disturbances to a minimum.
“There will be extra patrols throughout the county, the helicopter will be deployed and each area has a specific set of initiatives for tackling any disturbances caused by unruly celebrations.
“We don't want youngsters to think we are picking on them and trying to spoil their fun. Indeed I would also like to appeal to the public in general to be a little more tolerant of the antics of those celebrating Halloween.”

PLANTS THAT WALK!
If you have plants/shrubs in large pots or containers outside your premises then please try and make sure they are secured in some way.

In the past couple of weeks there has been a number of these items stolen.

Also there was an attempt in Raydon to remove from the outside of a house some large mill stones. This was at 8.30pm one evening, so please be alert to this type of offence.

HALLOWEEN NEWS

Police are appealing to young people and their parents to take a responsible attitude to Halloween this year, and appealing to the general public to be a little more tolerant of the high spirits of young people celebrating this event.

A series of posters have been produced which addresses the issues surrounding Halloween. These posters will be put up around the county and have been widely distributed to schools and businesses.
One poster is designed for those people who do not want to take part in the celebrations to put in their window. It states, “The occupants of this house kindly ask you not to call on Halloween. Please respect our wishes.” Copies of this poster can be printed directly off the Suffolk Police website using the following link:
Halloween poster for homes (this opens in a new window 65.8kb (pdf))
It is hoped that the privacy of those people who clearly indicate that they do not wish to be involved in Halloween will be respected.
A second poster is designed to encourage retailers to be responsible with regard to the sale of eggs. They are being asked not to sell eggs to young people on the 29th, 30th and 31st of October. The damage caused by egg throwing will be treated as criminal damage and those caught throwing eggs will be prosecuted, if found guilty, they face a criminal record.
Halloween poster for shops (this opens in a new window 53kb (pdf))
Another poster asks parents to think about the safety of their children and asks if they would normally let their children call on a stranger's home unsupervised.
Halloween poster for parents & guardians (this opens in a new window 136kb (pdf))

On the lead up to Halloween on 31st October members of the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be visiting schools with the aim of educating school children on how to behave responsibly within the community and to be respectful to other peoples wishes.
Inspector Ben Cook, Crime Reduction Officer for Suffolk Police said, “We hope that this year people will take a responsible attitude to Halloween.
“Thanks to continuing support from the local media, members of the public have responded well to our requests for them to act responsibly over the last few years. By repeating the measures that worked last year, we hope to keep the number of disturbances to a minimum.
“There will be extra patrols throughout the county, the helicopter will be deployed and each area has a specific set of initiatives for tackling any disturbances caused by unruly celebrations.
“We don't want youngsters to think we are picking on them and trying to spoil their fun. Indeed I would also like to appeal to the public in general to be a little more tolerant of the antics of those celebrating Halloween.”

CRIMESTOPPERS LAUNCH YOUTH WEBSITE- SHADOW CS
The charity Crimestoppers has launched today a new interactive youth website www.shadowcs.co.uk aimed at young people aged 11-16+.
Young people will be able to view the website and discuss issues focused around crime that affect them and their communities. The website has games, competitions, reviews, celebrity gossip as well as chat forums and a section which offers a guide to the law.
What makes Shadow CS so unique is that young people can completely personalise and customise the site to their own personal taste, and it also has the option of allowing up and coming musicians to up-load their music to the site as long as the content relates to crime and the community they live in. There is also a chat forum where young people can ask for advice and guidance on all issues around crime anonymously.

Although Shadow CS was the brainchild of Crimestoppers youth team, it was the young people across the UK who helped develop the website with their views and opinions on the content, design and the layout of the website.

AUTISM ALERT CARD LAUNCHED
An Alert Card to help people with autism is being launched in Colchester to help the emergency services, and the public, quickly recognise that they are dealing with someone who has the condition. The card has been produced by local charity The Essex Autistic Society in partnership with Suffolk Constabulary and Essex Police and will be available free-of-charge to anyone across the region that has been diagnosed as having an Autism Spectrum Condition.

The need for the card was identified after several incidents highlighted the difficulty people with autism face with police and other emergency services. Preliminary trials in the Colchester area have gone very well and the feedback from parents and other family members has been extremely positive. The cards feature the Essex Police and Suffolk Constabulary crests and have space for two contact numbers to call in case of emergency. They also offer some simple advice to the reader on the behaviours that might be exhibited by the individual when in a stressful situation.

Simon Ash, Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary said that “the scheme and the ongoing training that the Essex Autistic Society provides will help raise awareness amongst our officers of the issues that affect people with autism, enabling Suffolk Constabulary to offer a better service to this section of our community”

The cards were officially launched at The Essex Autistic Society's Head Office in Colchester on Monday 1st October to coincide with the start of Autism Awareness Week. Local MP's, senior officers from the police and other emergency services, local and county councillors and social services representatives from Essex and Suffolk were present at the launch.

If you would like more information on The Essex Autistic Society or would like to apply for an alert card please call 01206 577678 or visit www.essexautistic.org.uk

FOCUS ON BUSINESS CRIME
Suffolk Police Authority will be holding a Business Forum at Suffolk Constabulary headquarters on October 16th 2007, starting at 6pm.

The forum, which will be the first of its kind in Suffolk, will focus on business crime and how it affects local businesses. It will give local business owners a great opportunity to put forward the issues they are facing directly to the Chief Constable and the Chair of the Police Authority.

Crime against business is not a ‘victimless' crime. Not only does it affect the owner, it can be traumatic for their staff who depend on it for their livelihood. The impact on customers in terms of the increased costs that can occur as a result of business crime can have damaging effects on local communities and also act as a barrier to growth.

“Offences committed against businesses will not be tolerated in Suffolk. We will continue to work closely with the local business community to combat this type of crime and to play an active part in supporting the development of our local economy” says Simon Ash, Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary.

National research suggests businesses have mixed perceptions about business crime and their experiences with the police in addressing such crime. For example, it is claimed that many businesses that are the victim of crime do not report it to the police. However if the police are not informed of such crimes they cannot allocate the resources to tackle them.

This new forum will be the first step to achieving that and will also be an opportunity for everyone to work towards combating business crime together.

If you are the owner of a local business, or represent the business community and are keen to build closer links with Suffolk Constabulary in fighting business crime then, you need to attend this event.

To reserve your place please contact Ian Rands, Business Manager on 01473 782773 or email ian.rands@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

HOUSE BURGLARIES
There has been a slight increase in house burglaries in the last two weeks in and around the Babergh area.

Houses targetted have been in mainly rural areas and the premises have been unoccupied.

Entry has been via the rear of the premises and no doubt a vehicle used to get to and from the locations.

Please be aware when you are out and an about, report anything suspicious, or at least make a note of any vehicles that appear parked in strange places. PROTECT IT REGISTER IT CAMPAIGN
Suffolk Police are joining forces with online property database Immobilise to help keep property safe and reunite stolen items with their rightful owners across the county.
Many items of identifiable property are either lost or stolen each year. By taking the time to register property on the Immobilise database, people can take a positive step towards reducing the crime, as their property would be identifiable to all law enforcement agencies across the country. This in turn will help the police reunite property to their lawful owners and will also help to catch criminals.
Almost any possession with a serial number can be registered for free, including:

* Mobile phones
* Ipods, other MP3 players and games consoles
* Laptops, computers and PDAs
* Satellite navigation and in-car equipment
* Bicycles

Watches, jewellery, art and antiques can also be registered for a small fee. Users who upgrade can also add photos and certificates of ownership to their account.

Inspector Ben Cook, Suffolk Constabulary's Crime Reduction Officer says: "Many items of property we recover from criminals are not restored to their rightful owners, as without information on serial numbers or property marking we do not know who they belong to. We will now be routinely checking the Immobilise database, which will give us an additional method for locating the owners of property.

"Spending five minutes registering details of your valued possessions on immobilise.com means your details are instantly available to us and all other forces across the country. If an item is stolen you can update your record to tell us, so if we or any other force find your MP3 player, sat nav or bike, we have proof it belongs to you, not the offender. With the theft of such items becoming increasingly common, this database is a valuable tool to hit back at these criminals and bring them to justice.

"The Immobilise data base can also be used before purchasing second hand electrical items. By checking the CheckMend facility on the website before buying, it is possible to identify a stolen item. My message is to never buy any item that has not got its serial number displayed, as I can not think of any reason why they would need to be removed legitimately."

Suffolk Police have produced a leaflet to help people gather information on their property to add to the database. These are being handed out at schools, colleges and businesses. When people register on www.immobilise.com database they also get the chance to win one silver 4GB iPod Nano per week for the next ten weeks, thanks to support from Bennetts Electrical and the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit.
To enter the draw and a chance to win one of ten iPods go on the www.immobilise.com website and register your identifiable property; ensure you tick ‘Suffolk Police' when you get to the section ‘where did you hear about immobilise?'

Members of the public can print off a copy of this leaflet, which provides advice and guidance for registering property and being eligible for the raffle. Alternatively this guide is available by contacting Julie Dennis on 01473 613994 or julie.dennis@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

SPORTS CLUBS - BEWARE THE BURGLARS
In recent weeks there have been a number of burglaries to sports clubs and similar premises in the Babergh area.
Please be observant around these types of premises especially after dark.
If you see anything suspicious then do not hesitate dial 999

Protect it, Register it Campaign
Suffolk Police are joining forces with online property database Immobilise to help keep property safe and reunite stolen items with their rightful owners across the county.
Many items of identifiable property are either lost or stolen each year. By taking the time to register property on the Immobilise database, people can take a positive step towards reducing the crime, as their property would be identifiable to all law enforcement agencies across the country. This in turn will help the police reunite property to their lawful owners and will also help to catch criminals.
Almost any possession with a serial number can be registered for free, including:

* Mobile phones
* Ipods, other MP3 players and games consoles
* Laptops, computers and PDAs
* Satellite navigation and in-car equipment
* Bicycles

Watches, jewellery, art and antiques can also be registered for a small fee. Users who upgrade can also add photos and certificates of ownership to their account.

Inspector Ben Cook, Suffolk Constabulary's Crime Reduction Officer says: "Many items of property we recover from criminals are not restored to their rightful owners, as without information on serial numbers or property marking we do not know who they belong to. We will now be routinely checking the Immobilise database, which will give us an additional method for locating the owners of property.

"Spending five minutes registering details of your valued possessions on immobilise.com means your details are instantly available to us and all other forces across the country. If an item is stolen you can update your record to tell us, so if we or any other force find your MP3 player, sat nav or bike, we have proof it belongs to you, not the offender. With the theft of such items becoming increasingly common, this database is a valuable tool to hit back at these criminals and bring them to justice.

"The Immobilise data base can also be used before purchasing second hand electrical items. By checking the CheckMend facility on the website before buying, it is possible to identify a stolen item. My message is to never buy any item that has not got its serial number displayed, as I can not think of any reason why they would need to be removed legitimately."

Suffolk Police have produced a leaflet to help people gather information on their property to add to the database. These are being handed out at schools, colleges and businesses. When people register on www.immobilise.com database they also get the chance to win one silver 4GB iPod Nano per week for the next ten weeks, thanks to support from Bennetts Electrical and the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit.
To enter the draw and a chance to win one of ten iPods go on the www.immobilise.com website and register your identifiable property; ensure you tick ‘Suffolk Police' when you get to the section ‘where did you hear about immobilise?'

Members of the public can print off a copy of this leaflet, which provides advice and guidance for registering property and being eligible for the raffle. Alternatively this guide is available by contacting Julie Dennis on 01473 613994 or julie.dennis@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

Sports Clubs - Beware the Burglars
In recent weeks there have been a number of burglaries to sports clubs and similar premises in the Babergh area.
Please be observant around these types of premises especially after dark.
If you see anything suspicious then do not hesitate dial 999

Fed Up With Speeding Vehicles In Your Village?
SID (speed indicator display) which flashes the speed up in lights of vehicles passing it – then gives a smiley face for correct speed or a frown for fast drivers- is available from the County Council website. You can request it from the site or call 0845 606 6067.

Neighbourhood Watch Week
You may not be aware that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the inception of Neighbourhood Watch in England and Wales . We are looking for NW schemes that celebrate their 25th (or more) year as a watch scheme. If you think your scheme is as old as this please contact Tony 01284 774313 or email- tony.simpson@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

The “National Police Steering Group for Watch Issues” and the “United Strategy Group for Watch Issues” (representing the movement), had their inaugural meetings in June and July 2007 respectively.

Following those meetings, it was decided a “Neighbourhood Watch Week” should go ahead in the week commencing 15th October 2007, to coincide with an initiative being run by the Home Office called “Not in my Neighbourhood”. If you would like to have a street event (eg. property marking with UV pens, or Photo records of your valuables being done, – all free, or if you would like to promote the crime reduction products for sale (alarms etc,) or if you have any other ideas – please contact Tony.

Distraction Burglaries
Distraction burglaries are always a problem.
Information from members of the public led to the apprehension of three offenders and a vehicle in the north of the County recently but we're still being targeted by a different group.

Can you please help us to make life more difficult for them by ensuring that you and in particular any more vulnerable people you know have their door chains properly fitted and follow three simple actions with regard to unexpected callers before admitting any such callers to their home they can help us to deter these offenders.

STOP - Think about whether anyone is expected. Make sure the BACK DOOR is locked

CHAIN - put the chain on before opening the door

CHECK - Ask for caller's ID. Check it by phone - with chain still in place and caller waiting outside.

Sheds
Sheds appear to be another target so don't tempt the thief by leaving high value items on display and do take advantage of our shed alarms to close yet another door on the criminal. Working together we can have a real impact.

Remember shed alarms are on sale at most Police Stations at a cost of only £8.

SAFEkey
At the recent Suffolk Executive Committee Meeting of Suffolk's Neighbourhood Watch (SNHW), it was announced that £2,000 has been given to SNHW from Suffolk SAFEKey.

Suffolk SAFEKey, a keyholder service launched by Suffolk Constabulary in 2006, has attracted nearly 2,000 members in its first year.

The scheme is based on a keyholder service that has received Home Office recognition as an example of good practise in a review of local policing.

The service is essentially a database containing detailed information of nominated keyholders for a property. A keyholder is a trusted person such as a friend or family member who lives nearby to the property, who can gain access in the absence of the person registered as living or working at that property.

At the time of its launch it was agreed that £1 from every joining fee would go directly to SNHW. In addition to the £2,000, money from Suffolk SAFEKey will be funding community safety and crime prevention initiatives throughout the county in 2007.

Inspector Ben Cook, Force Crime Reduction Officer at Force Headquarters Martlesham Heath said:

‘Suffolk Neighbourhood Watch are an integral part of greater policing family, and play an important part in community safety and crime prevention. So I'm delighted that through Suffolk SAFEKey, the Constabulary are able to give this money to the Suffolk 's NHW.

I'm aware that some SNHW teams have really supported the launch of Suffolk SAFEKey in its inaugural year. So it's nice to be able to recognise this support.

Suffolk Constabulary has confirmed that it will continue to contribute £1 from every membership to SNHW throughout 2007

In an effort to support those people wishing to promote Suffolk SAFEKey, the Constabulary has put together marketing information pack for 2007. These contain leaflets, posters and leaflet holders that can be placed in prominent places throughout the local community such as libraries, community centres, and business reception areas.'

For just £11.75 (inc VAT) per residential property and £41.12 (inc VAT) per Non-residential property per year, people can gain the peace of mind by knowing the police will be able to contact the relevant trusted people during an emergency at their premises.

If you are interested in promoting this service through your Neighbourhood Watch Group, then please contact Suffolk Constabulary's Business Liaison Manager, Leigh Jenkins on Leigh.Jenkins@suffolk.pnn.police.uk or call 01473 782725.

Alternatively if you are interested in joining Suffolk SAFEKey and wish to know more about the service please go to www.suffolk.safekey.org.uk or call 0870 145 4440 (calls will be charged at the national rate).

Inspector Ben Cook

If you need any help with Neighbourhood Watch
Tony Simpson
Community Watch Liaison Officer
Police Station
Acton Lane
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 1 QN
01284774313
tony.simpson@suffolk.pnn.police

Help Prevent Vehicle Crime
In recent weeks there has been an increase in vehicle crime in the Babergh area.

Cars and vans are being broken into and CD players and satellite navigation systems once again appear to be the target of these thieves.

What can you do?

Make sure that the vehicle is actually locked. Seems a silly thing to say but there have been occasions when vehicles have been left insecure.

If the vehicle is alarmed make sure it's switched on.

If you have a garage then why not use it. Many people use their garages as storage space for things other than vehicles. Why not have a summer clear out and make sure you can put your car away and out of the reach of these people.

If you cannot put it away, then if your stereo/CD has a removable front then take it of and take it indoors.

Remove anything from the inside of the vehicle that is on show and put it in the boot out of the sight of a potential thief.

Can you be of help with any information about these crimes? If you have seen anything in recent weeks or see something in the future then let the Police know. If you see something happening dial 999, or if you think of something later on that you think may be of help then ring 01473 613500. There is also Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Do You Own A Shed?
Does it contain valuable gardening equipment?
Is it marked so that it can be identified?
Do you have a photograph of each item?
Do you realise the actual cost of replacing them all should they go missing?

A good idea would be to purchase a shed alarm.
These are available at most Police Stations in the Babergh area at a cost of only £8 each. They are easy to fit and are a good deterrent to thieves.

Metal Metal Metal
This is now becoming a valuable commodity.

There is of course many types of metal, but now with the world wanting more of it the prices have increased and it is something that when collected and sold has a very high value.

Don't give people the chance to take metal that belongs to you in what ever form it might be, i.e. scrap or in the form of equipment that can be perhaps melted down for cash. Make sure that anything you need is secure and put away and not on show to the casual passer by.

If you have people enquiring about taking old metal away, take a note of any vehicle number that they might be using, you never know!

Rave On, No, Let's Stop Them
Suffolk has seen an increase in the occurrence of raves across the County.

The expectations of local residents and landowners are sometimes beyond the capability of the police resources available.

At the same time, the impact on communities is often far-reaching and much greater than immediately seen and failure to take action may lead to the county being seen as a 'soft touch' by ravers.

Even the smallest of raves can impact upon people many miles away and larger raves have even greater impact, more people means more debris, damage and subsequent clear up costs.

What to look out for are unusual vehicles checking out the venues beforehand, unloading of electrical generators etc.

If seen anything suspicious then inform the Police 01473 613500 is the number to call.