Matson and Linden Safer Community Team

Police Drop-In Session in Linden

July 20 2010

Linden police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are holding a drop-in session for residents in the area on Thursday, July 22.

The event is being held between 7pm and 9pm at St Stephen’s Church on Bristol Road.

PC Pete Curtis said: “This is a great opportunity for local residents to come and have a chat with members of the local Safer Community Team and discuss any issues they may have. 

"We always want to hear what people think about community mattersso there will be a chance for people to enter a prize draw if they complete a small questionnaire regarding local issues."

Refreshments and crime prevention information will be available on the night.

Matson and Robinswood Residents Help Police with Speed Tests

 July 16 2010

Residents from Matson and Robinswood joined police officers from the local Safer Community Team (SCT) to help carry out speed tests in the area last week.

As part of the event, local people with concerns about speeding in the area were invited to a briefing on how to use the handheld speed guns and be safe at the same time. They were then given the chance to use the speed guns with police to record the speed of passing vehicles.

Motorists who were caught speeding were given words of advice and a letter outlining the issue.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Hamid Charafi said: “This was the first session of its kind we have held in the area. It gave residents a chance not simply to take our word for the work we are doing but to come and get involved themselves.

“Since the issue was raised as a priority we have been working towards running regular sessions with residents to identify problems areas.

“I hope it shows that we as a local team listen to the concerns raised and work together with the community to combat them.”

Cannabis Found During Raid In Cecil Road

July 12 2010

Police from Matson and Linden Safer Community Team (SCT) found cannabis plants during a raid in Cecil Road in Gloucester over the weekend.

Officers from the SCT executed a search warrant at a house at the address on Friday, July 9 under the misuse of drugs act.

During the search a small number of cannabis plants were found growing inside the property.

A 32-year-old local man was arrested and later given a formal police caution in connection to the raid.

PC Pete Curtis, Community Beat Officer for the area, said: “The appropriate actions were taken in this case and the cannabis promptly destroyed, which means more drugs off our streets.

“Drugs can blight our communities and operations like this should give people confidence that we will take action wherever possible to address any issues raised.

"If people have concerns about drugs in their community, they should call us on 0845 090 1234."

Officers Attend Linden School Fete

 On Saturday, June 26, PC Pete Curtis and PCSO Emma Elliott attended Linden School Summer Fete.  

The officers had a stall at the event where they provided crime prevention advice and spoke to local residents and children from the school. 

PCSO Emma Elliott said "One of the main attractions for the children was being shown inside the police van, as well as receiving colouring pencils, stickers and balloons from us.

"It was well attended and we hope to have broken down some barriers between us and the local community.

"We look froward to coming back next year."

Crime Prevention Surveys

Some of you may have been a victim of burglary recently, and it is not a nice experience.  

PCSO Emma Elliott said: "All members of the Matson and Linden Safer Community Team are trained to carry out a crime prevention survey on your property.  This involves a PC or PCSO attending your property, having a look around and offering advice on securing your house and any outbuildings.  

"If you would like to have a crime prevention survey, please contact us on 0845 090 1234 or use the 'Contact Us' tab at the top of the page."

Linden PCSO's attend Breakfast Club

PCSO's Emma Elliott and Asha Patel attended Linden Primary Schools Breakfast Club on Wednesday 30th June.  This is a great way for the children to get to know us on a more informal level, and to interact with them in a relaxed environment.  

The Linden Safer Community Team are working hard to build stronger relationships with their local schools and this is a fantastic way to go about it.  We hope to attend the breakfast clubs as often as we can.

Crime Down By 14.9% In Gloucester

Crime in Gloucester is down by 14.9% compared to last year, according to the latest annual figures.

For more information, read the full press release by clicking here.

Matson and Linden News Updates

Community Fun Day At Summer Madness.

Members from the Matson and Linden Safer Community Team (SCT) attended Summer Madness at Redwell Road, Matson on Sunday, June 20.

A family fun day set up by Street Games City Council and Together In Matson, it was attended by a number of families and included events like Wii Challenge, Play Rangers and Bungee Run.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Chris Jenkinson said: “The day was a great success and Matson and Robinswood Community officers were there to give crime prevention advice and ‘mini copper’ t-shirts to the young children.

“The event was a great way to engage with the residents and their families in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.”

Officers Attend Moat School Fete

PCSOs Hamid Charafi and Chris Jenkinson attended the Moat Primary School Summer Fete on Saturday, July 3.

Officers brought along a police car and Mini Copper T-shirts for the children while Hamid and Chris were promoting the tag rugby sessions they run with children from the school.

Crime prevention and security advice was also given out to parents.

PCSO Hamid Charafi said: “A number of children attended the stand and had a go at wearing police hats and getting in the police car.

“The day was a great success and both Chris and myself were narrowly beaten in the ‘wellie wanging’ tournament!”

Tackling Barriers Tag Rugby Scheme

Officers from Matson and Linden SCT attended Linden School to introduce a new scheme ‘Tackling Barriers’ to interested pupils.

PCSO Chris Jenkinson said: “The scheme’s aim is to provide tag rugby sessions for pupils from Year 4 up to Year 6, led by members of the SCT.

“It allows officers to get into the schools and provide fun tag rugby sessions with the pupils hopefully breaking down any barriers between police and the pupils.

“The pupils get to have fun with the local police team and get to know the officers in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.”

The session was run as taster for more events next year throughout primary schools covered by the Matson and Linden SCT.

Members of the SCT have been trained in coaching tag rugby by a scheme in partnership with Gloucestershire Constabulary and Rugby Football Union.

Officers Attend Transition Days At New Gloucester Academy

In partnership with Gloucester Academy based at the Central Technology College site on Cotteswold Road, PCSOs from the team have been attending the new Year 7 transition days.

These events are run every Thursday for a period of time for the current Year 6 pupils who will be attending the Academy as new Year 7 students. The session have been great fun with the theme as ‘First Contact’. PCSO Hamid Charafi and Chris Jenkinson joined in with the students learning about other cultures and having fun learning Salsa and The Haka!

PCSO Chris Jenkinson said: “The team are very grateful for the invite to assist in these sessions. It is a great way to break down barriers and help create good relationships with students and the SCT.

A PCSO attends the college every week to hold a Youth Information Point at the school so that students can raise any issues with the team. By taking part in the transition project the students will get to know the officers who they will see and hopefully feel more comfortable approaching them with their issues or just for a chat and advice.”

PCSOs Join In At Sports Day

PCSOs Hamid Charafi and Chris Jenkinson attended Robinswood Primary School to assist in their Sports Day on Wednesday, June 30.

Hamid and Chris helped pupils in each event and also provided drinks for parents who attended to offer their support to the pupils.

PCSO Hamid Charafi said: “The day was great fun with the team being able to improve already good working relationships with the school and pupils.”

Community Pride Day took place at The Lampreys

PCSO Chris Jenkinson, lead officer for the priority of anti-social behaviour around the garages assisted with representatives from Gloucester City Homes, Lovells and residents of the Lampreys.

This time was used to improve the area by repairing fences and garages as well as planting new flower beds and clearing out the brook which runs through the area.

Gloucester City Homes also put up a number of CCTV cameras to help combat any anti-social behaviour in the area.

PCSO Chris Jenkinson said: “The whole area saw a massive improvement from the work carried out in the day and the garage area, especially, improves the appearance of the areas to those passing by.”

Gloucestershire CVOC Tag Rugby Tournament - Moat School

May 21 saw the annual Gloucestershire Constabulary/Child Victims Of Crime Tag Rugby tournament. PCSOs Hamid Charafi and Chris Jenkinson took a team from Moat Primary to the tournament.

PCSO Charafi said: “The pupils performed very well in a tough group. The team made it through to the Plate final after a string of very impressive games and drew the final 2 – 2, losing the plate on try count back. Every member of the squad played a massive part in the team’s success and represented the community and school excellently.”

Each member of the squad was presented with their medals and certificates by Inspector Mark Soderland as well as the runners-up shield in a celebration assembly held at the school. For more information and photos from the event please see link under useful links at the top of this page.

Cool Kidz Crew - Junior Street Wardens

April 19 & May 10 saw the Cool Kidz Crew, Junior Street Wardens, take to the streets to have a walkabout the community to highlight any improvements that they believe are required to improve the areas they live in.

The children raised some issues around seating in green space areas in Matson especially around the play park in Evans Walk as well as looking into providing more play parks for residents of Penhill Road and surrounding areas.

Matson SCT Officers Assist in Street Games

PCSO Hamid Charafi and Chris Jenkinson continue to support the street games sports sessions being held every Tuesday at the Redwell Centre by the street games team from Gloucester City Council. Chris and Hamid attended regularly through out April and the start of May. This scheme has helped to reduce the level of anti social behaviour reported to Police over the last two years especially during the summer months.

To help combat anti-social behaviour within the community PCSOs from the Matson and Robinswood SCT will be assisting in running Street Games sessions throughout their area. The Street Games sessions are run by Gloucester City Council and details and timetables are available from the useful links on this page or via sports.development@gloucester.gov.uk.

The sessions involve multi-sport activities which vary at each site but aim to include a variety of the following: football, basketball, tennis, tag rugby, quick cricket and rounders.

The sites which hold these sessions in Matson and Robinswood are the Redwell Youth Centre every Tuesday 4.30pm - 6.30pm and the new games area at Central Technology College every Wednesday 4pm - 6pm

Matson And Robinswood Junior Wardens Learn Dangers Of False Alarms At Police Contact Centre

 Matson and Linden SCT showed junior wardens around the Constabulary’s contact centre in Quedgeley at the beginning of May.

The children, part of the Junior Warden Scheme set up by Gloucester City Homes, Robinswood Primary School and the local SCT, were shown around the building, which takes all the emergency and non-emergency calls that come into the force.

Police Community Support Officer for Matson and Robinswood Chris Jenkinson said:  “This was a great way for the wardens to see how Police are deployed and make them aware of the risks in false calls. The children enjoyed the visit and found it very valuable, asking a number of great questions.

“Strengthening our relationship with children in the community is key to improving confidence and trust in the police which is why this sort of thing is so vital. The junior wardens have played their part in shaping our policing priorities and have been extremely helpful when assisting us in our work in the community.”

On Monday 7th June at 4pm to 5pm

Members of the Safer Community Team will be at the Matson Library available for any member of the community to come in and ask any advice or raise any concerns with the team members.

This is a great way to meet the local team and have your concerns listened to.