Matson and Robinswood Community

Sports AM update

  Sports Am continues to develop in Matson in partnership with Together In Matson and Gloucestershire Constabulary. The scheme is a free sports club run from the Redwell Centre in Redwell Road, Matson. The scheme is to encourage youngsters aged between 6-15 yrs from the area to get involved in playing sports and give them a place to go to socialise and have fun.  Sports AM runs from 10 am til 12.30 pm and is a drop in for youngsters to attend. Continental breakfast will be provided by the new local Tesco store for those that attend, all free of charge. While attending the children can also speak to their local PCSOs about any concerns they have and get any advice from workers from Together In Matson. The sessions are run by local PCSOs and members of Together In Matson. The children that attend choose which games they would like to play.

PCSO Jenkinson who has helped to set up the project stated “ It is great to be able to offer the children of Matson & Robinswood activities like this. It gives the youngsters a chance to play a number of sports in safe environment and offer them activities which prevent them getting involved in anti social behaviour through out the community. Schemes such as this one have proved to be successful in reducing anti social behaviour throughout Matson by over 24% over the past few years, which with this scheme we hope to keep improving on. The scheme has been backed by Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership at the council who have funded the purchasing of sports equipment to use. This shows great partnership working involving Together In Matson working with their local police team to help reduce ASB making improvements for the whole community. Matson is very lucky to have such a great facility as the Redwell Centre to be able to be used for such events.”

For anyone who would like to attend Sports AM please contact Luke Stokes at Together In Matson or PCSO Chris Jenkinson or PCSO Charlotte Simmons on 101 for a parental consent form.

Operation Dazzel in Gloucester Local Policing Area

Operation Dazzle will be lighting the way for people who ride their bikes with no lights. This initiative will run across the area to encourage those who don't have lights to get them or face a  fine. Please contact your local policing team on 101 to request further information and get your bike security marked for FREE!

Crime prevention for the winter months

Please be aware that during the winter months with the darker mornings and evenings as a community we can become more vulnerable to crime. Whether it being car breaks, shed or garage breaks. At this time we need to be more vigilant and more aware of securing our properties, out buildings and cars. 

At Home

• Don’t keep keys, money, phones or other valuables on a hall table.  Make sure these items are well out of sight and range of doors and windows as thieves use rods and hooks through letter boxes and open windows to reach keys and bags
• If you store larger presents such as bicycles in a shed make sure the building is secure
• Take the frame numbers of new bicycles and electrical equipment in case the worse happens
• Don’t leave empty boxes outside your home which advertises the fact that you have new goods
• Mark goods where possible with a UV pen / smartwater

If you’re going out

• Make sure you have locked all windows and doors
• If you are going out in the evening close your curtains so potential thieves can’t see in
• Leave a light and the radio on
• If you are going out in the morning and won’t be back until it is dark use an automatic timer for lights and radio

If you’re going away

Ensure all doors and windows are shut and locked

• Cancel all newspapers and milk
• Tell your neighbours/and or your Neighbourhood Watch Scheme that you will be away so they can keep an eye on your home
• Perhaps they can make sure any mail is pushed through your letter box
• Maybe a trusted neighbour could draw and pull the curtains of your home in the evening and morning, again, looking as if you’re at home
• Hide any valuables
• Use timers for your lights, TV and radio so it looks as if you’re at home

Your Community Engagement Team our here to help and offer any crime prevention advice you may wish. If you would like us to visit and carry out a home property safety survey please call us on 101. 

Matson and Linden Monthly Advice

• Home Security Advice - 

We would like to remind you about your home security. The amount of burglaries committed often increases during these difficult times, and we want to ensure that you are aware of what you can do to decrease the likelihood of you being affected by this crime. 

•                  Set light timers if you are going to return home after dark
•                  Always lock doors and windows
•                  Use deadlocks/bolts/door chains, where fitted
•                  Never leave door/window keys in or around the door/window

These are simple examples, but may be the difference between being burgled, or not. Your local Police Community Support Officers are available to provide a free Crime Prevention Survey on you property, which will provide you with more useful information in relation to home security. You may also find some on useful advice from the following link.

Garages and sheds also need to be double checked to ensure that they are locked with good quality padlocks, and consider metal grates over the windows.  It may be an idea to secure expensive items using security cable, or chains and padlocks.