Leckhampton Community

PCSO Julie Lewis writes -

There have been a number of dwelling and non-dwelling burglaries in the area and I urge all residents all residents to secure their homes when going out, gardening, moving to other parts of the house or retiring to bed. Currently 50% of all burglaries are through unlocked and open doors & windows.

I would like to remind all residents at this time not to leave any item on display in their cars.  Please do not leave anything on show, such as sat navs, mobile phones or loose change. A jacket or blanket in the car looks to you like a blanket, but to a thief looks like a cover for something far more valuable.

It is very important that residents continue to be vigilant. If you have any suspicions or see something or someone you consider to be suspicious, please do not hesitate to report it on the non-emergency no. 101, or if you believe something may be in progress call  999.  

A flavour of a few of my recent activities

Street Surgeries

I have carried out numerous ‘targeted’ Surgeries which have been very successful. There has been good attendance from residents in those areas, who have been able to find out what has been going on in their road, share information with me which may have come to light, receive free crime reduction advice and literature. They are proving to be a very effective way of meeting the local community where the residents can share their views and concerns with me directly.

Neighbourhood Watch

I am very pleased to report that we are referring more and more people to our Neighbourhood Watch Field Officer who are interested in becoming Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators, with a good mixture of age groups wanting to become involved.

We have new schemes in the following roads

• Naunton Lane
• Highwood Avenue
• Church Road (2 new schemes in this road)

If you would like any information about Neighbourhood Watch, you can contact me, or William Carpenter, the Field Officer. His email address is William.carpenter@gloucestershire.police.uk.

Leckhampton Childrens’ Centre:

I recently met with Katy Aubrey, the Early Years Practitioner, based at the Leckhampton Childrens’ Centre which is situated behind Leckhampton Primary School.  She has started a ‘Baby Group’ at the Baptist Church in Pilley Lane on Monday afternoons between 1-2pm.

Anne Willetts, their Field/Community Worker and the lead for Leckhampton is also based there together with Tracy Bond who is a Parent Support Worker across Charlton Kings and Leckhampton. She works with 6 schools: the Infant and Junior Schools and also Balcarrus Senior School.

You can receive advice, support, and signposting to services for children and families at the centre.

Schools

I continue to carry out morning and afternoon patrols around the schools in the community. It’s always a pleasure to meet parents and children. This is also a time for me to monitor the parking and encourage those dropping off and collecting the children to think carefully about where they park, and to always consider the safety of all the children and other road users.  The local policing team (LPT) has issued letters to the primary schools in the area reminding parents/guardians of their responsibilities when dropping off and picking up their children from school.

• I am in contact with the Council’s Parking Enforcement Officers who will also be making spot checks around the schools.
• Parks and Open Spaces 
• Throughout the summer the LPT has carried out targeted patrols of known hotspots on Friday and Saturday nights under Op Khan.
• Presentations were given at local schools prior to the school holidays reminding young people of the impact of committing offences
• Extra patrols were undertaken on GCSE release night, with members of the County Council accepting an invitation to join the patrols
• We have continued to work with the licence holders at all the Off Licence premises within the area of the SCT

We would like to thank all residents for their vigilance and for contacting us when problems arose - this enables us to deal with any issues promptly and effectively.  

Some other Activities

Daily foot patrol

• Crime reduction surveys requested by householders
• NHW/Residents Association meetings
• PCSO Reassurance Visits
• House to house enquiries and follow-up visits/enquiries.
• Welfare checks
• Targeted Street Surgeries
• Attendance at the Sue Ryder Autumn Fayre
• Attendance at Cheltenham Learning Disability locality meeting where PC Love explained the Cheltenham 'Keep Safe Scheme' for people with learning disabilities
• I have recently undertaken joint patrols with Cheltenham Borough Council Street Scene enforcement officer, Brian Daughtry
• I will be visiting the Emmanuel Brownie group as well as Leckhampton Cubs
• I have been invited to the Emmanuel Church Youth Group to discuss the fear of crime
• The Emmanuel Church Youth Group 'Fuse 180' - contact: sarahpowellscc@gmail.com