North Cotswolds Safer Community Page

Crime In The Cotswolds Falls by 24%

Crime has fallen in Gloucestershire for the sixth year in succession. To read the details about the 2009/2010 crime figures for your area click here. 

New Inspector Welcomed To The North Cotswolds

A new neighbourhood policing Inspector has joined the North Cotswolds Safer Community Team (SCT).

Inspector Brian Clifford will now oversee neighbourhood policing in the Bourton on the Water, Chipping Campden, Moreton in Marsh and Stow on the Wold communities.

Brian has been working for Gloucestershire Constabulary for 21 years and began his career working in the Cirencester area. He has since worked in a number of areas including neighbourhood policing, roads policing, air support and the training department.

He has just returned from a two year secondment with the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) where he was awarded a Chief Constables commendation for his work as the national lead for crime mapping.

In joining the SCT he will continue the work the team have been doing with residents and business in the community to tackle the issues that are of most importance to the people that live and work in the area.

Inspector Clifford said; “The team here in the North Cotswolds already carry out a lot of positive work engaging with the local community and working with our partner agencies to tackle the concerns of the residents. I am looking forward to leading the team and continuing to improve the public’s confidence in their local policing team.” 

North Cotswolds Police Win Criminal Justice Board Award

  The North Cotswolds Police Safer Community Team (SCT) were honoured for their work in tackling crime at the Local Justice Awards earlier this month.

Gloucestershire's Lord Lieutenant, Sir Henry Elwes, presented the team with their award on Thursday May 6 at a celebration evening at the Hatherley Manor Hotel.

The award recognised the team for “going the extra mile” for their local community and for their outstanding contribution and commitment to working with offenders, in addition to their normal duties.

Sergeant Martin Jones from the SCT said; “We are all incredibly honoured to have received this award. Every single member of our team is dedicated to doing all we can keep people in the North Cotswolds area safe from harm and we are particularly proud of our work in preventing young people from offending.” 

Each of the officers in the team have built up skills to get to the route causes of youth crime and to work with young people to prevent it from happening. One way they did this was by devising a lesson that could be presented to young people encouraging them to respect their local environment by emphasising the impact criminal damage and anti-social behaviour can have on not only victims but the community as a whole. The lesson also encouraged them to have the courage to stand up against drug and alcohol abuse.

The SCT have also gone beyond their policing role to support other agencies involved in the criminal justice process and have a 70% success rate with young people previous involved in anti-social behaviour.

Their work has often involved restorative justice and encouraging young people to get help keep their community safe and pleasant. This has been shown with a number successful events they have organised to clean up neighbourhoods such as ‘litter picks’ at local parks and fence painting to cover graffiti.

As a result of the team’s work and their work with their partner agencies crime in the area continues to drop. Incidents of criminal damage in the North Cotswolds have seen a reduction of 25% since the start of 2007 and reports of youth related anti-social behaviour reports have reduced by 21%. 

Stow Fair Summary

Gloucestershire Police are reassuring residents in Stow-on-the-Wold and those that attended this year’s Fair that there were no incidents of criminal damage, theft, burglary or anti social behaviour during the event on Thursday, May 13. For more details click here. 

Cotswold Authorities Set For Stow Fair

Since the last Stow Fair in October 2009, Gloucestershire Police and Cotswold District Council have continued to work with Stow residents and other agencies to ensure that this week’s Fair runs smoothly for those taking part and with minimum disruption for local residents.

The Fair will take place on Thursday May 13, 2010.

Chief Superintendent for the Cotswold and Stroud Division of Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gary Thompson, said; “Ensuring the Fair runs safely for all of those involved is at the heart of all the work we do with our partner agencies in the run up to, and the day of, the Fair.”

The Fair, which is held in May and October each year in Stow on the Wold, attracts a large number of visitors and can have a significant impact on the surrounding towns and villages. 

“Following the previous two events we were pleased to be able to report that there were no incidents of anti social behaviour or public order offences reported in Stow and Maugersbury during the Fair,” continued Superintendent Thompson.

“This year we continue to work with other agencies, including the Fair’s organisers, to keep disruption to a minimum. Keeping people safe from harm is the focus of all operations surrounding events in the county. We are also present to offer reassurance to both local residents and visitors.”

Gloucestershire Constabulary will again be adopting a high profile approach to policing the Stow Horse Fair and, as in previous years, will be carrying out high visibility patrols in and around Stow both on the run up to, and the day of the fair, to make the event as safe as possible for both residents and visitors.

Chief Superintendent Thompson added, ““Our high visibility approach to policing the bi-annual Horse Fair has proved a great success with both Stow residents and visitors in recent years and is something we develop and improve on with each event.”

Cotswold District Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Barry Gibbs, commented: “As each year goes by, we see an improvement in the joined-up working behind the scenes. Hopefully, this will result in yet another peaceful and well managed event.  I am particularly grateful to the Police for the work they have done in providing secure arrangements for all those affected.”

The Council, in consultation, with police and local representatives, has taken the decision to close the Maugersbury Road car park from 7.30am on Monday May 10th. The car park will remain closed until Friday May 14th. It is hoped that the closure of the car park will ensure Maugersbury Lane remains clear of vehicles and traders for the duration of the Fair, providing a safer environment and allowing continued access for local residents and emergency vehicles.

In addition to the usual extensive clean-up arrangements, the Council will be providing a specialist cleaning crew on Friday morning. Also, as a safety precaution, a team of two will operate on Fair day, collecting glass bottles which are deposited in Stow Square and on Sheep Street.

Moreton In Marsh Business Owners Encouraged To Meet Their Local Policing Team

Police in Moreton In Marsh are encouraging local business owners to come and meet their local policing team at an event next week. For more info click here. 

Police Encourage Residents To Say No To Cold Callers And Rogue Traders

Click here to read how the SCT are working with residents to say no to cold callers and rogue traders.

Moving towards a Fair Deal for Stow

Local community leaders, representatives of the police and Cotswold District Council are encouraged by the recent improvements in the running of the twice yearly Gypsy Gathering known as Stow Fair, and are working together to continue this upward trend.  

 To find out more click here. 

Can You Give Us Any Information?

The intelligence officer for North Cotswolds police has made an appeal to the community asking them to continue working with the local policing team.

PC Alison Palfrey took on the role as Local Intelligence Officer for the North Cotswolds in January this year.

Talking about her new role she said; “My role as local intelligence officer involves talking to local residents, gathering information, assessing it and working with my colleagues to take action, where appropriate, in order to keep the area a safe and pleasant place to live.”

PC Palfrey already has a lot of local knowledge, having previously worked in a reponse car for the North Cotswolds area.

She said; “Whilst our regular patrols give us a good view of what’s happening in the area our best source of information are members of the community. We’re eager to encourage local residents to keep giving us information, reporting crimes and telling us about any suspicious activity no matter how small it may seem.

“The information we gain from working with the local community plays a huge role in both stopping and preventing crime from anti social behaviour and criminal damage to drink driving and drugs offences. All information given to myself or my colleagues is treated very seriously and in the strictest of confidence.”

PC Palfrey and her colleagues at the North Cotswolds Safer Community Team can be contacted on 0845 090 1234 or by using this form. 

Man Arrested Following Warrant At Sherborne Address

A man was arrested last week on suspicion of drugs offences last week after police carried out a warrant at an address in Sherborne.

The warrant was carried out at a property on Haycroft Road on Friday February 5 where officers recovered a large amount of cannabis.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of drugs supply and has been bailed to return to Stroud police station on March 26.

A 23-year-old woman was given a caution for possession of cannabis.

Anyone with any information about the use or supply of illegal drugs is urged to report it to the Safer Community Team either in person, by calling 0845 090 1234 or by using the contact for HERE. You can also give information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0845 090 1234.

Your help needed, following Disorder in Bourton On The Water

Were you in Bourton town centre on the evening of Saturday February 6? If so you might be able to help us with our investigation into a disturbance. Read more here.

Crime Prevention Packs

Free Home Security Packs for NW Members in the Cotswolds 

Neighbourhood Watch members in the Cotswolds are being offered free home security packs, which provide useful advice to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

The packs, which have been provided by the Cotswolds Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership, contain information on crime-proofing your home, joining or setting-up local Neighbourhood Watch schemes and how to combat bogus callers. In addition, residents can fill out a self assessment form, to check how secure their homes are.

Also included are some discount vouchers for home security products from B&Q, Focus and Homebase. PC Mark Godsland, Crime Reduction Design Advisor for the Cotswolds, explains, ‘Home owners in the District should follow the simple advice offered in these packs, which will help to identify where home security could be improved and how to get involved in local Neighbourhood Watch schemes.’

The packs are available now through your local Police Safer Community Team or from the Neighbourhood Watch Office at Stow Police Station.

Note for Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators-why not obtain a bulk supply of these packs for distribution to your members?

Neighbourhood Co-ordination Groups

Neighbourhood Co-ordination Groups are your chance to have a say in setting priorities for the local police and council authorities to deal with in your area.The Groups meet at 3 month intervals and are attended by the local Police Team and Council Representatives who will listen to your concerns.The panel consists of local representatives of groups like Neighbourhood Watch,Parish Councils,Residents Associations and Youth Groups.They will vote on up to 3 priorities for the Police and Councils to work on and report back to the  the next meeting with a progress report. If you wish the Group to consider a matter which effects your local community then contact a member of your Policing Team. Details on how to do this are contained on this website.