WATCH WORD
For
Leicester & Leicestershire
Newsletter of CITY & COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH – (LEICESTER & LEICESTERSHIRE)
Working in SUPPORT of LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE.
Charity No. 1072275
Issue 46/2016
The City & County Neighbourhood Watch is here to represent the concerns of members and their families. We operate entirely outside the police chain of command, so we can always promise an independent and confidential service
Working in SUPPORT of LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
CITY & COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH (LEICESTER & LEICESTERSHIRE)
SAVE THE DATE! - THURSDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2017 - 7.30pm
CITY & COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
MEMBERS YEARLY MEETING
ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH HALL
Have you visited City and County Neighbourhood Watch (Leicester & Leicestershire) Website recently?
www.neighbourhoodwatchleicester.net
Keep up to date with the latest news: Number of articles (as at 21 November 2016)
LOCAL NEWS – Blaby District: 89 – Charnwood Borough: 226 – Harborough District: 169 - Hinckley & Bosworth Borough: 202 - Leicester City: 1,018 – Leicestershire County: 226 – Melton Borough: 98 – North West Leicestershire District: 258 – Oadby & Wigston Borough: 113 – Rutland County: 21
EAST MIDLANDS NEWS – Derbyshire: 2,318 – Lincolnshire: 983 – Northamptonshire: 1,397 – Nottinghamshire: 792
NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY - 201
CARD DEFENDERS
As contactless cards have become more common across the UK so too have incidents of Electronic Pickpocketing, with criminals using handheld card readers to 'skim' payment details and sensitive information without the victim realising.
The Card Defender is an intelligent card sleeve holder that contains Radio Frequency ID blocking technology that prevents cards from being read, combatting incidents of Electronic Pickpocketing, Card Fraud and Identity Theft.
Available from City & County Neighbourhood Watch Association (Leicester & Leicestershire) for the price of a stamped addressed envelope. WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT THESE CARD DEFENDERS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO REGISTERED MEMBERS OF CITY AND COUNTY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION. If you wish to join City & County Neighbourhood Watch Association, application forms are available by sending your name and address to
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
Vehicle Crime – Cars
· Leaving items on display in the car, for example, handbags, jackets, laptops and mobile phones, are an appealing target for thieves. Take them with you, or put them out of view whenever possible. Always remove your car stereo if you can.
· Make sure that doors are locked, windows are closed and keys are removed from the ignition when you leave the car even if it’s only for a moment. On icy mornings, never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
· In the home, store car keys in a safe place out of sight and away from windows and doors. Seeing keys within a property can present an attractive opportunity for thieves.
· All car equipment - whether you can remove it or not - should be permanently marked, in a visible place, with the vehicle’s registration number or another unique identifying number linked to a recognised database.
· If you have a garage, use it. Always lock your car and garage. Remove satellite navigation devices where possible, including the support cradle and cables. Wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard.
· Installing a 'Thatcham' approved immobiliser or investing in a steering lock can deter thieves.
· Retract car aerials and tuck in wing mirrors to discourage vandals.
Using public car parks
When using public car parks, try to park in a Park Mark® Safer Parking facility. These facilities have been vetted by the Police and have measures in place to create a safer environment for both you and your vehicle. Look for the Park Mark® logo or search online at www.parkmark.co.uk for a list of locations
If you can’t find a Park Mark® car park, try to avoid parking in places that are unlit, unattended, have easy access and are hidden from public view
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
#LivesNotKnives amnesty comes to a close
Issued on 18/11/16 at 3:50 p.m.
More than 100 knives have been taken off the streets of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland during Leicestershire Police’s knife amnesty.
Machetes, Samurai swords and meat cleavers are among the 193 knives handed in during the amnesty, which ran for four weeks as part of the #LivesNotKnives campaign.
Superintendent Kerry Smith, said: "We are really pleased with the response we have had to the amnesty. Every knife handed in is one less that could be used in a crime.
“The amnesty may have finished but our work to stamp out knife crime is ongoing. We continue to work with partners to highlight the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.
“An education pack has been created for students in their first year at high school – a time when children may start to fall in with the wrong crowd or act on peer pressure.
“We will also continue to work with licensees to have our posters displayed in busy areas and promote the use of our knife arches as a condition of entry to their premises.”
The knives, handed in will be used along with thousands of others that have been surrendered or confiscated nationally, to create an eight meter high Knife Angel sculpture.
The sculpture is being made by Alfie Bradley in collaboration with the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire. It is intended to increase awareness of knife crime and will include engraved messages from victims’ families and friends.
It is planned to be unveiled on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, London, next year.
Clive Knowles, chairman of The British Ironwork Centre, where the sculpture is being made, said: “Having the support of Leicestershire Police brings us one step closer to our campaign becoming truly national.
“Our aim is to remove a quarter of a million knives and weapons off the streets of the UK and we can only do this with the full support of all 43 police forces.
“The monument will raise awareness of the UK’s knife crime epidemic and show the effects on not only individuals but families affected and society as a whole.”
More information on the sculpture can be found on the Knife Angel Facebook page
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
Kayleigh film wins third award
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Issued on 17/11/16 at 8:09 a.m.
Kayleigh’s Love Story has picked up its third award in as many months.
The film received the Gold Award for the Best Digital: Online Video/Film/Viral Advert or Campaign in the Drum Cream Awards at a ceremony in Birmingham last night (Wednesday 16 November).
The Drum is one of the largest Marketing and Advertising website/magazines in the country.
In the last few weeks the film has also won the Best Promotional Film from the Royal Television Society and the Bronze Award from EVCOM.
The film focuses on the last two weeks of the life of 15-year-old Measham schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood who was groomed online and subsequently raped and murdered in Ibstock last November.
Produced by the Force’s Communications department in association with Affixxius Films of Loughborough, it is currently being screened to secondary schoolchildren aged 11 and above in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Since school screenings began on September 21, a team of specially-trained PCSOs have shown the film nearly 900 times to more than 18,000 children in the force area, prompting more than 20 disclosures from young people about CSE and online grooming.
It is anticipated that the film will be posted online on the Force’s Facebook site in January 2017 once school screenings are completed.
Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister said: “There’s a tragic poignancy about this award being announced within hours of the anniversary of Kayleigh’s horrific murder last November, and without doubt this is a film we would never have wanted to make.
“But is it so terribly important that something good comes from Kayleigh’s death, and the film provides a vital legacy in that it serves as a warning to all children and parents and helps us to raise greater awareness of CSE.
“This latest accolade from industry experts is a mark of the quality and care that went into the film’s production and is a tribute to everyone who produced it to those and who are helping to screen it to local children.”
Tim Cabrelli, senior partner at Affixxius Films, said: “It is difficult to be ‘proud’ of a piece such as this due to its content and, although its technical and artistic execution is testament to the immense talent of the Affixxius Films team, we’re delighted to win The Drum Cream Award award but hope that it is recognised for its message above all else.
“We really appreciate Leicestershire Police and Kayleigh’s parents giving us the opportunity to tell this tragic story and hopefully prevent anything like this happening again”.
Forces throughout the UK are also screening the film to officers and staff, to partners, and to children.
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
Police urge public to "lock it or lose it"
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Issued on 16/11/16 at 8:00 a.m.
Leicestershire Police is urging vehicle owners to think about their vehicle security during the darker nights following an increase in theft from cars and vans.
During the 28 days to 27 October 2016, there were 712 reports of theft from motor vehicles across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland, an increase of 33.8% on the same period last year.
Detective Inspector Helen Nurse, the force lead for vehicle crime said: “There has been an increase in all types of thefts from vehicles across the force area. Some of the vehicles have had their windows smashed or their locks forced but others have been left insecure. Thieves are trying car doors and stealing items such as laptops, wallets and sat navs which have been left on display.
“These offences typically take place overnight when owners have left their vehicles on a driveway or on the road. We are urging vehicle owners not to leave anything on display. Our message is clear 'leave it on show, expect it to go'."
To help protect your vehicle against thieves, Leicestershire Police are giving the following advice:
• leave it on show expect it to go! Always remove valuables from your vehicle
• remove sat navs including the support cradle and cables. Wipe away any suction pad marks
• don’t leave tools in vans overnight
• make sure that doors are locked, windows are closed and keys are removed when you leave the car, even if it’s only for a moment
• on icy mornings, never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running
• park your vehicle in a well-lit spot that is visible to others, or covered by CCTV
• if you have a garage, use it. Always lock your vehicle and garage • consider fitting a metal cage to your catalytic convertor or have it etched
• register any vehicle equipment such as CD players, in-car DVD players, and sat navs for free with immobilise.com
For more advice visit the vehicle crime webpage or follow #leaveitonshowexpectittogo and #LockItOrLoseIt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
LEICESTERSHIRE POLICE
POLICE
SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM
EASTERN COUNTIES NPA
MELTON RURAL NORTH
The Melton rural north neighbourhood beat covers around 40 rural villages on the northern side of Melton Mowbray. At its most northern extreme it includes Normanton and Bottesford villages, which are cushioned between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
The beat is bordered by the villages of Scalford, Long Clawson, Hose, Harby, Barkstone le Vale, Normanton, Harston, Croxton Kerrial, Buckminster, Sewstern, Wymondham and Saxby to mention just a few.
Each dedicated neighbourhood team is supported by the Special Constabulary.
Your dedicated neighbourhood team
Sgt Paul Kear
Collar number: 923
I joined Leicestershire Police in 1993 and have worked across the entire force area at some point. I have been at Melton Mowbray since October 2011, policing all the neighbourhoods during this time. I work with a great team of officers and partners, between us we try our best to solve problems and hopefully make a difference for the better in all Melton's communities.
· Send an email to your neighbourhood team
· Leave a voicemail for Sgt Paul Kear by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 0923.
PC Mark Longden
Collar number: 210
PC Mark Longden joined Leicestershire Police in 1988 and spent several years working in Leicester City centre before specialising in several different departments at Force headquarters.
In 1998 he moved to Melton LPU and took over responsibility for beat officer policing in 17 villages situated around the village of Somerby on the south side of Melton before moving to the Belvoir Neighbourhood.
"Maintaining a sustained visible police presence is my main focus, which in turn will allow me to address the local issues of the villagers. Their concerns will be high on my agenda along with the reduction of crime and public reassurance."
· Send an email to your neighbourhood team
· Leave a voicemail for PC Mark Longden by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 0210.
PCSO Donna Varley
Collar number: 6643
I joined Leicestershire Police as a PCSO in 2016, since then I have been based at Melton Police Station , I'm currently working from the Bottesford beat office and in December I shall be joining the Melton Town Centre team.
· Send an email to your neighbourhood team
· Leave a voicemail for PCSO Donna Varley by calling 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in the identification number 6643.