Agenda item

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team – Inspector Tina Osborn

·       Parish Councils and Community groups

Written Updates

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

·       Police – NPT Update, Road Safety Report, Spot the signs campaign, VAWG quarterly update

·       Fire & Rescue – YouTube Video

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda and received the following verbal updates:

Neighbourhood Police Team – Inspector Tina Osborn

In addition to the written update, Inspector Osborn provided a summary of recent operations and areas of focus:

There had been a series of van thefts across Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset. The team had worked closely with the other force’s CID to tackle a spate of similar crimes across all areas. A recent operation was successful in arresting 4 individuals who were interviewed in relation to approximately 120 offenses. A significant amount of property was recovered from their vehicles and properties.

Speed checks in Winterslow and Woodfalls had been carried out where there was a perception of speeding, with support for the work of the Community Speedwatch groups to continue.

Acted upon reports of vehicles being driven with no insurance.

School patrols had taken place to engage with parents, children and teachers.

Vehicles were ceased during an operation relate to immigration, after reports around delivery drivers. This would be repeated again in a couple of months.

During July and August there were a number of dwelling burglaries, resulting in 2 arrests and an ongoing investigation.

Questions

In relation to E bikes and antisocial behaviour, it seemed there was a spectrum of bikes from motorbikes to electric bicycles, how do we differentiate the term?

Answer: Really difficult to separate the types of vehicles. The electric scooters were illegal if on public land. As with any vehicle, an e-scooter needed to have plates and insurance if on the road. It was important to report issues with E-Bikes to us so that an officer can visit and do patrols. It was about the community reporting issues so we can build a picture and target areas.

I have seen 2 people on one scooter, and nothing has been done. If we report can we take photos of the riders?

Answer: If these incidents are not reported, its hard for us to target it or respond.  Please report and provide the location, time, date and description of the people on it. We can form a pattern of behaviour. Don’t put yourself in danger but if you can take a picture without them noticing then we do accept that,

A recent scam involved an elderly person being asked to write a cheque. This was circulated locally through the community and the person was able to get the cheque cancelled.

Answer: We work with Trading Standards and pass information to them when it is received and together we can target crimes like these.  

I am aware of an incident where people who test drove a car which was for sale, managed to clone the key and came back later to steal the car. Was there anything people could do to protect themselves from cloning?

Answer: The Faraday pouches were a deterrent, however the offenders use a device to clone the signal. Don’t leave your car keys by the front door as they can clone through the door. There are measures that can be taken to limit the risks.  

I have a key pouch and they are good, however I recommend you test them regularly as they do deteriorate after a period of time.

We have seen reports of car parking machines where the QR codes have been covered with a scam sticker, so that people paying to park, using the QR option are paying someone else. Have you ever caught any of these?

Answer: Normally that type of investigation is handles by the Fraud dept.

Cllr R Clewer noted that he had requested Highways to look at getting a raised QR code with bumps to help prevent the stickers being applied.

Cllr R Clewer noted that he had been asked about nail bars, vape shops and Turkish barbers with regard to action. How should concerns be reported by the public on this?

Answer: There was an operation with Trading Standards where we closed one store and 3 other locations where we ceased an amount of tobacco. If there were concerns of shops where children were thought to be being sold products we would work closely with Trading Standrds.