Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team

63 Vehicles Checked As Gloucestershire Police Target Rogue Traders

A man wanted in connection with rogue trading offences dating back four years has been stopped in an operation which checked 63 vehicles in Gloucester.

A 39-year-old man from Ledbury, Herefordshire, was arrested on suspicion of fraud, money laundering, and breach of the Consumer Regulation Act yesterday as part of a national crackdown on fraudulent traders.

The man, who was wanted by police forces across the south west, was today being questioned in Devon.

He was among four people arrested yesterday after the constabulary teamed up with partner agencies in support of Operation Rogue Trader.

The day of action involved the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology as well as stop-checks on vehicles travelling along the A417 in and out of Gloucester between 10am and 6pm.

Vital intelligence was gleaned on six other men linked to vehicles and business addresses suspected of trading standards offences.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of a 50-year-old Gloucester man who had failed to appear in court to face charges of driving with excess alcohol. He will appear before magistrates today.

A 38-year-old man from Evesham was arrested on suspicion of benefit fraud and 34-year-old man from Gloucester arrested for breach of bail conditions.

Six men wanted on magistrates’ court warrants for non-payment of fines were also caught.

One driver was found using illegal Red Diesel and fined £250, while ten drivers were found carrying illegal waste without a licence. Twelve were caught without a valid tax disc.

Among the other motoring offences detected were two cars without MOT, two drivers without a licence, seven with no insurance, and a motorcycle rider without a helmet. Two offensive weapons were also confiscated.

Customs and Excise, magistrates’ court officers, benefits investigation services, the DVLA, the Environment Agency and Trading Standards assisted with the operation, aimed at tackling distraction burglaries by identifying vehicles used by criminals and unregistered traders. 

Some 63 vehicles  were stopped throughout the day as police worked to reinforce the message that such crime will not be tolerated in Gloucestershire and to make offenders think again about trying to exploit vulnerable residents in the county.

Detective Constable Leigh Bickerdyke said: “Although police nationally have seen a reduction is distraction burglaries this still remains very much an unreported, but high priority crime. 

“Gloucestershire Police take door step crime very seriously as it targets the most vulnerable members of our society.  A crime prevention campaign has been set up to promote awareness of doorstep crime and to ensure that the public are aware of the best crime prevention advice. 

“These criminals are highly organised and because of this police are often left reacting to offences rather than proactively targeting criminals.  Today’s operation has been set up to specifically target offenders of door step crime to send a clear message to these offenders that this element of crime is taken very seriously and positive action will be taken.”

Yesterday’s operation is being supported in Gloucestershire by a crime prevention campaign that began on May 21 and sees officers visiting a number of venues to offer advice about how to avoid becoming a victim of doorstep crimes and how you can help elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours.

Posters advertising the dates are currently displayed around the county. The posters use images, designed by local school children, to emphasise the important crime prevention message.  Crime prevention messages are also being aired on local radio station, Heart FM, throughout the campaign.

Eddie Coventry, Head of Gloucestershire County Council’s Trading Standards, said: “Rogue traders cause significant loss and distress to consumers. Many of the typical complaints reported to us result from work being agreed during an unsolicited visit to someone’s home.

“We would recommend that people shop around and actively seek out a local trader to carry out work at their home, rather than trusting someone who knocks on their door looking for work.

“By working together with other services on this type of operation, we send out a clear message that we take rogue trader complaints very seriously and that we will take action to protect local people from them.”

DC Bickerdyke concluded: “I hope today’s operation will keep this type off offending in the foreminds of the public and that they will feel positive about reporting their experiences to police. 

“Gloucestershire police will remain vigilant in dealing with this criminality and would like to thank our partner agencies for their assistance with this operation.”

Brockworth Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Drugs Offences Following Warrant

On Tuesday, June 8, officers from the Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team executed a drugs warrant at an address in Avon Crescent in Brockworth.

A quantity of class B drugs, believed to have a street value of approximately £200, was recovered and a 23-year-old man was arrested and later charged with possession of cannabis. He has been bailed to appear at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on July 5.

The SCT take all reports of the use or supply of illegal drugs very seriously and would like to encourage the community to report any information to them by calling 0845 090 1234. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Speeding Drivers Beware

The Cheltenham Road Safer Community Team (SCT) are encouraging drivers to watch their speed by warning them that six officers are now trained to use the speed gun. 

The SCT will use the speed guns around the area at varying times to help keep the roads safe for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. 

New CCTV Cameras Aim To Help Reduce Anti-Social Behaviour In Brockworth, Churchdown and Innsworth

  Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team (SCT) have recently taken possession of two new mobile CCTV cameras which they hope will assist them in preventing anti-social behaviour.

The cameras have been funded by the Tewkesbury Community Safety Partnership and are an updated version of the cameras which the SCT have been using for the past two years.

Affectionately nicknamed Bill and Ben, the two new cameras are redeployable, wireless and are able to be fixed to street lamps. They will be placed in areas where there have been reports of anti-social behaviour.

PC Mark Peart said; “Our old cameras have proved to be a useful tool in tackling anti-social behaviour throughout Innsworth, Churchdown and Brockworth and we’re pleased to now have this updated version.”

The cameras can act as a deterrent and can also be used to identify those involved in anti-social behaviour so that the local policing team can take positive action to address their behaviour and the impact if has on local residents.

PC Peart continued; “Incidents of anti-social behaviour have seen a reduction of 21.4% in the area we cover over the last three months when you compare it to the same time in 2009 but we are eager to see this number fall further.

“We want local people to feel safe within their community and these cameras are just one of a number of actions we are taking to reduce anti-social behaviour.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who witnesses any sort of anti-social behaviour to report it to the SCT so that we can address your concerns.”

You can report incidents of anti-social behaviour to the SCT on 0845 090 1234 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cheltenham Road East Officer Declared Beat Officer of the Year

We are proud to announce that an officer from the Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team has been awarded the title of Beat Officer Of The Year 2010.

County Council Funded Officer PC Mark Peart was announced as the winner of the accolade at a special ceremony held at Police Headquarters, Quedgeley, on Thursday April 29.

To read more about his award click here.

Young People Encouraged To Help Tidy Up Churchdown

The Churchdown Neighbourhood Partnership, in collaboration with the local policing team, are encouraging young people to tidy up Churchdown and help bring an end to anti social behaviour. Find out more by reading the press release here.

Meet Your Local Policing Team

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from the Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team (SCT) will be at the Police Information Points (PIP) at various times and dates throughout this month.  This enables members of the community the chance to ask any questions and discuss any local policing issues.  

PIPs are a two-way communication point between the Police and the public, which enable residents to keep themselves up to date with local Police initiatives and appeals by displaying posters, leaflets and information.

For more information on Police information Points in your area please click on your relevant community ward page below - 

PIP Dates

Become a Key Individual

Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team is committed to improving the influence local people have on our response to local problems.
 
We're looking for people to join our Key Individual Network (KIN). We want to know your thoughts and opinions on a range of issues that affect your neighbourhood. You don't have to belong to any other organisations or be involved any more than you want to. As a KIN member we will ask you to give us occasional local feedback, which in turn helps us to gain a more informed understanding of our community.

Main roles of the KIN

• Widen the consultation between the police and the local community.
    
• Give prompt information about significant changes in local tension and provide information of local issues.
    
• Enable community members to influence local policing and for the police to get increase information about issues affecting our neighbourhoods. 

Benefits of the KIN

• Improves the quality of life for you and your neighbourhood.
    
• Provides a medium for the resolution of issues that arise within your neighbourhood.
    
• Provides an opportunity for the community to influence how their area is policed.  

Once you become part of the KIN

Your personal details will not be used for any other purpose, or passed on to anyone else. You will be invited to meetings concerning setting priorities within your neighbourhood, and these take place every quarter. Outside these meetings we will carry out the majority of communication by phone, post or email.

You can resign from the KIN at any time.

If you are interested please call 0845 090 1234 and ask for Cheltenham Road East SCT alternatively please e-mail Cheltenham Road East SCT

Anchor Staying Put

Cheltenham Road East Safer Community Team work closely with ‘Anchor Staying Put’, a local based and locally funded home improvement agency, which provides help to allow elderly and vulnerable residents to remain in their own homes.
All residents who reside in the Tewkesbury Borough Council area are entitles to use the scheme, which will also offer confidential advice and assistance.
The scheme will offer anything from repairs to improvements to the property and full details can be found by clicking on the below link to the website.

http://www.stayingput.org.uk/agency/tewkesbury/aboutus.htm

Useful Web links:

Traffic

Car parking offences

As of the 5th November 2007 the responsibility for enforcing certain parking offences came under the control of Tewkesbury Borough Council. If you have any complaints in relation to parking problems please ring John Horsey on 01684 295010, or e-mail him at john.horsey@tewkesbury.gov.uk.

Please contact the stakeholder manager Jon Kay on 01452 425000 or e-mail him at jon.kay@gloucestershire.gov.uk. Jon covers Both Golden Vale and Glevum West Communities. 

Jason Humm to cover Brockworth and Hucclecote. E-mail jason.humm@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Nick Peters to cover Churchdown, Innsworth, Down Hatherley, Witcombes, Badgeworth, Shurdington, Staverton and Boddington. E-mail nick.peters@gloucestershire.gov.uk

The stakeholder manager for Severn Banks is Jenny Wilks she can be contacted on 01452 425000 or e-mail her at Jenny.Wilks@gloucestershire.gov.uk