NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2012

 

To display the May Newsletter click here

 

 

 

 

 

An apology

We are very sorry that the printed version of the December newsletter did not arrive. This was due to a mix-up about payment of postage costs. This has now been resolved and normal service should be resumed.

 

Happy New Year to you all

Gordon Bull

 

 

 

Message from the new District Commander

Firstly I would like to say how pleased I was to be appointed as the new DistrictCommander for Lewes. My aim is to ensure that we continue to deliver a high quality policing service to those that live and work in Lewes district, as well as building upon the strong partnership arrangements that currently exist.

 

From a crime perspective burglary continues to remain a priority even though the numbers recorded are still relatively low. Vehicle crime, shoplifting and metal theft appears to be the current specific risk areas in relation to recorded crime, along with theft from person which specifically relates to purse and mobile phone theft in each of our towns. These are areas that can be addressed in partnership and I am looking forward to exploring ways that we can tackle and reduce the levels of these crimes in the coming weeks. Please be reassured however that Lewes district is a very safe place to live and work.

 

I am also extremely keen to ensure that the community feels they can contribute to the way that the policing is delivered in their area. There are already a number of ways that our staff can be contacted but I will continue to look for new ways to make that contact more efficient. How we contact you is also very important and I would ask those that have online access to consider registering for our Community Messaging Service. You can do this via the Sussex Police website at www.sussex.police.uk (at the top of the page Register for Alerts’). This will allow you to receive policing messages that will provide information including local incidents, meetings and events relevant to your postcode area.

 

I look forward to working closely with the community to keep our district a great place to live, work and visit.

 

Kind Regards

Chief Inspector Jason Tingley

Lewes District Neighbourhood Policing

Commander

 

 

 

What can Neighbourhood members do about metal theft?

This is a matter for everybody in the community, but Neighbourhood Watch can lead the way.

 

Firstly, we all need to be alert to the situation and keep watch for vans and trucks driving around our streets looking for the opportunity to steal metal, and reporting the details to the local police (101) or Crimestoppers (0800 555 111). No item of intelligence is ever too small; it might be the final piece of the jigsaw and in some cases there might even be the possibility of gaining a reward.

 

Secondly, be aware of workmen removing metal items in the street. The thieves are using uniforms, stolen vans etc. One witness recently reported that they did not look like real workmen - they were working too fast. Thirdly, members also need to be on the lookout for unlicensed venues where stolen metal is cleaned up, often by burning of the covering and where the identifying marks are removed, before being taken to the licensed dealers. The police and local authorities need to know.

 

Finally, members who live in the vicinity of licensed and unlicensed sites must be alert to vehicles turning up outside the normal working hours. Again details should be passed to the local police.

This is a problem that affects us all and can lead to deaths

Keep a watch out for suspicious vehicles and workmen.

Pass ALL information to the police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible.

 

 

 

Litter

There has been in increase across Lewes District of cases of litter and fly tipping (the council distinguish between the two by categorising fly tipping as an amount larger that a dustbin liner). There are a number of things we can all do:

• You can report the location to your local council by phone or on-line at
    
http://frs.accesseastsussex.org/faultReport /faultCategory.aspx

• If you know the cause of the problem (e.g fast food outlet not providing litter bins, children on their way too and from school) tell   the council

• Arrange for your scheme members to pick up the litter by arranging a litter-picking day – leaving the litter there leads to further litter.

 

You might feel that it is the council’s job, but in times of cut-backs they might not get round to it very quickly and it is good to take some responsibility for your own environment

 

 

 

Contacting Sussex Police

We reported in an earlier newsletter that the national telephone contact number is now 101, replacing the old 0845 number. There are a number of advantages to the new number including ease of remembering how to make non-emergency contact with the police and the fact that the cost is fixed at 15p per call, lower than most calls to the old 0845 number. However, there is another, free, way to make contact and that is by email. An advantage of using this approach is that those making the report have a record of it and you will be given a reference number by return email that applies for any future use.

 

The address is :contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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