Hesters Way Safer Community Team

Team Members

PS Paul Simmons
PC Chris Joel County Council Funded officer
PC Charlie Griffin County Council Funded officer
PC Ian Yarrington County Council Funded officer
PC Chris Holdsworth County Council Funded officer
PC Christian Butler County Council Funded officer

PCSO Morag Gordon represents the Community of Swindon Village
PCSO Jennifer Bellis represents the Community of Hesters Way
PCSO Wayne Lippett represents the Community of Fiddlers Green and Springbank
PCSO Mike Edwards represents the Community of St Marks
PCSO Steve Wilkinson
PCSO Gordon McGaugie
PCSO Janet Emery
PCSO John Chapman
PCSO Victoria Fisk
PCSO Ryan Wheeler
PCSO Richard Hill

SO Ashleigh Stephens
SC Paul Wilkins
SC Phil Williams
SC Chris Birtwhistle
SC Adam Worley
SC John Young
SC James Andrews

Neighbourhood Coordination Meetings Minutes

The minutes of the Neighbourhood Coordination Meetings held on Monday 22nd February are now available to view on our website and can be accessed via the following links:

Hesters Way, Springbank and Fiddlers Green Communities - http://www.hwpartnership.org.uk/NCG%20HW%20S%20FG%20Minutes%2022%202%2010%20final.doc

St Marks Community (including St Peters) - http://www.hwpartnership.org.uk/St%20Marks%20Neighbourhood%20Coordination%20Meeting%20minutes%2022.2.2010%20final.doc

The next meetings have been arranged for Tuesday 11th of May as follows (please note the change of day and slightly earlier time of the morning meeting) :

Hesters Way, Springbank and Fiddlers Green Communities - 10.30am to 12.30am at St Silas Church Centre, Hesters Way Road, Cheltenham

St Marks Community (including St Peters) - 2pm to 4pm at Oasis Youth Centre, Coronation Square, Cheltenham. Further information on these meetings, including dates of future meetings, papers from previous meetings, SARA action reporting templates and links to useful information can be viewed on our website via http://www.hwpartnership.org.uk/neighbourhood%20coordination.htm.

Hester’s Way Police Support Free Breakdancing Sessions For Young People

Hester’s Way Police have been working with the Gloucestershire Youth Service and an urban dance company to offer free breakdancing sessions to young people in the area. For more, read the press release by clicking here.

Latest Hesters Way Community Newsletter

Our latest Community Policing newsletter has just been printed and will be delivered. It is designed to provide you with details about your Safer Community Team and keep you updated about what we are doing to reduce crime and disorder and promote safety in Gloucestershire.

This edition reinforces the Constabulary’s commitment to the Policing Pledge – our contract with the public that outlines the standard of service you can expect from us.

These newsletters will be available at key locations within your community. If you require a copy please speak to your Safer Community Team who will ensure you receive one or where you can collect one. To view your Communities newsletter online please click here.To view your Communities newsletter online please click here.

Hesters Way SCT News - February 2010

Operation Like

The Hester’s Way Safer Community Team carried out an operation mid February to highlight the importance of keeping homes and vehicles secure. 

We were shocked and disappointed by the number of people that do not appear to be following simple crime prevention methods.

Inspector Erik Sherwood said; “Just a few simple crime prevention methods such as not leaving items on display in your car and keeping your front door locked can significantly reduce the opportunities for thieves to steal from homes in the area.

“As part of Operation Like we have been delivery leaflets to addresses in the area advising people about the quick and easy steps they can take to help avoid becoming a victim. Whilst we’ve been delivering them in the early evening we have also been trying the doors of addresses and have been shocked to discover how many people had left their houses insecure.”

Whilst patrolling the Persimmon Gardens and Arle Farm area of Hester’s Way found thirty homes without their front doors secured and five vehicles that had been left unlocked.

“Simply turning a door handle to see if it’s open is exactly what a potential burglar will do so don’t let them be ‘lucky’ at your house,” urged Inspector Sherwood.

“Our policing team run regular operations and carry out patrols to both prevent burglaries and catch offenders by residents also need to help stop these crimes by taking responsibility for their home security. We would also like to encourage people to talk to our Crime Reduction Officers who can offer you a variety of tips and advice on how you can keep your home and property safe. You can contact them by calling 0845 090 1234 and asking for Damon Blandford or Tim Cuthbert.”

• Don't leave valuables on display where they can easily be seen through a window
• Photograph items of jewellery, antiques and other items that may be difficult to describe.
• Always back up home computer records on disc and store them safely in case the computer is stolen.
• Mark valuable items with an indelible marker with your post code
• Consider purchasing a safe for storing valuables
• Don't keep large amounts of cash at home
• Dispose of all receipts and utility bills carefully to avoid criminals using your identity

Lets Off Road!

Although the weather at the moment is cold and wet, it won't be long before it warms up and people start getting their motorbikes out. Many will ride them as intended but there is a minority who will be using them not as intended nor where is safe or appropriate.

Hester's Way traditionally has had a problem with mini-motos, scramblers, pit bikes and mopeds being raced around the parks, alleyways and even the roads by youths who clearly have no respect for others or regard for their own safety. Other things missing usually include, helmets, lights, insurance and most annoyingly an exhaust!!

Hester's Way Police are unique in having off road motorcycles at the station and Officers trained to ride them in many areas who, as in previous years, will be patrolling on them again.

We can go and will go anywhere, targeting the areas that have been highlighted as a problem, tackling anti social behaviour wether it involves vehicles or not. We will be at a number of community functions throughout the year, so anyone can come and meet the riders and have the opportunity to ask any questions.

We're not just here to 'chase the bikes around' though.

This picture shows one of our bikes at the top of Robinswood Hill in Gloucester. We were called over especially to hunt for a missing elderly woman. 4x4 or quad bikes would not fit and it would take too long to search on foot. Even the helicopter couldn't search the area like we could so we attended and searched the paths and undergrowth. She was found safe and well a few hours later.

Youth Projects in the Pipeline

CHELTENHAM’S GOT TALENT – This is a talent competition for young people from primary schools across Cheltenham, to dazzle the community with their own performances promoting positive community messages.

TAG RUGBY – A primary school in Hesters Way will be chosen to take part in a tag rugby tournament in May.  A mixed team will be entered and trained by local PCSO’s prior to the tournament.

GAP TIME (time focused on youths involving themselves in their local community) – An initiative that gets the local young people to speak to the community and get involved in changing ‘perceptions’ that the public have of youth today.

GAP TIME (time focused on youths involving themselves in their local community) – Young people will be spending time with members of the elderly community in Hesters Way, helping to break down barriers between the elderly and youth in the local area.

Become a Key Individual

Hester’s Way 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 on average 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 wish at any time to amend your KIN details, for example if you change telephone numbers, please contact paul.simmons@gloucestershire.police.uk

If you are interested please call 0845 090 1234 and ask for Hester’s Way SCT

Considerate Parking

Hesters Way Safer Community Team has spoken with local residents who have indicated that inconsiderate parking is a large problem within the local area.

Hesters Way SCT would like to ask all drivers to think about where they are parking.

• Please avoid blocking footpaths, always allow enough room for either a childs push chair or wheel chair
  to pass safely by.
• It is an offence to obstruct the road and park within 10 metres of a junction, as this is hazardous to other
  road users.
• If you obstruct a drop kerb it can mean that wheel chair users and the less able are unable to dismount
  the curb safely.

If you do any of the above you could be issued with a with a fine.

Your vehicle will be more secure and less likely to be damaged if it is on your driveway rather than parking on the road. This will help keep the roads safe for local residents.

Please think about where you park.  Be a considerate motorist.

Registering Your Property With Immobilise

Immobilise makes your goods easily traceable by police should you be unfortunate enough to have them stolen. The information will be kept confidential and it is a good way of recording the details of your valuable property for insurance purposes. For further information regarding the benefits of registering your property please visit www.immobilise.com.

Please follow the below instructions to begin registering your property:

Visit www.immobilise.com

Click the Register Now button.

Type in your email and the security code as requested
then press continue.

Your account has now been created. You can now start adding items.

Click the + Add your first Inventory Item button.

Select the Item type by clicking the edit button found on the top right of on the Item Type header.

Enter the item details by clicking the edit button on the
Item Detail header.

Identifiers such as serial numbers can now be added
in the same way.

If you have images of your property, these can now be added.

The information will be kept confidential, and when you have completed entering the information about
your item click the Finish making changes and return to my account

You can now register other items as and when you wish.

Concerned about crime in your area?

Then have your say on policing. The Neighbourhood Coordination Meetings area chance to have a say on what will be the policing priorities for your area. They provide the opportunity to meet members of the Safer Community Team as well as local councillors and other agencies involved in setting the community priorities.

Next Neighbourhood Coordination Meeting: 11th of May 2010

Hesters Way and Springbank 11am – 1pm Venue to be confirmed

St Marks 2pm - 4pm Venue to be confirmed

The minutes of the recent Neighbourhood Coordination meetings held on Thursday 13th August 2009 can now be viewed by clicking the relevant link below, along with other information including future meeting dates which may be of interest, click here:-
Hesters Way, Springbank and Fiddlers Green communities, click here
St Marks Community(including St Peters), click here

Mobile Police Station

The Mobile Police Station will be in Tanners Lane on Tuesday 30th of March and Wednesday 31st of March between 5 and 8pm.

To see where and when the Mobile Police Station will be in your area visit our SCT diary Hesters Way SCT Events Diary. These events are ideal opportunities to meet your local PCs and PCSOs to discuss any issues you may have.

NEW DATES ADDED! We also have a number of Police Information Points in your area, to see when they will be staffed please click this link Police Information Points and consultation with the community