Forest North Safer Community Team

Team Members

PS 1256 Clemett

A4136  Corridor

Pc Nick Assirati
PCSO James Pearce
PCSO Sean Clarke
SO Jayne Jones
Sc Peter Escolme

A48 Corridor

PC Sian Roberts
PCSO Lucy Webb
SC Dawn Thomas
SC Elle Macleod
SC Paul O’Brian

Cinderford Area

PC Paul Gale
PC Duncan Sleeman
PCSO Dawn Teague
PCSO Sue Pritchard
SC Kirsty Drew

Newent Area

PC Brian Howard
PCSO Louise Borg-Littleton
PCSO Stuart Cunningham
PCSO Julia Mounsor
PCSO Tania Shuttleworth
SC Elizabeth Folly

Blakeney Community Event

On Thursday 11th March at 7pm, Blakeney Viillage Hall is hosting a community evening.

This will include representatives from the Police, Two Rivers Housing, Parish and District Council, Blakeney surgery and many others.

This is an ideal opportunity for all members of the community to come together and discuss any local issues within a friendly and local setting. A free ploughman's supper will be provided along with tea and coffee.

Further information can be obtained from PCSO Lucy Webb.

Forest North SCT Work With Local Schools To Tackle Speeding

Officers from the Forest North Safer Community Team joined forces with two local primary schools to tackle speeding on the A48.

Operation Fonzales Two took place on the morning of Tuesday February 23 and involved pupils from Blakeney Primary School and Soudley Primary School.

To find out more about this operation please click here .

Forest North - The Digital Switchover

With the run up to to the change from Analogue to digital there are concerns that we could see an increase in door stop crime within our local area. The following is a selection of crime prevention advice which everyone should be aware of.

The change over is being managed by a company called www.digitaluk.co.uk. Digital UK have assured us no householder will be called upon UNLESS a pre-arranged appointment has been made.  

Help the aged have also produced a downloadable information sheet at advice and support - are you ready for digital switchover?

What is digital switchover?

The Government is changing the way the UK receives television signals.

Many people currently receive analogue signals to view their television. These will be phased out and replaced by digital signals by 2012.

To carry on watching television, you will need to choose a service provider. You may also need new equipment to enable your television to receive digital signals.

Will it be expensive?

Prices will vary depending on which service you choose but there are two ways of going digital:

• A one-off payment with services such as Freeview, Freesat from the BBC and ITV, or freesat from Sky.
• A monthly subscription with services such as Sky TV or Virgin Media.

Will I be able to carry on using my television?

In the majority of cases people will be able to carry on using their existing television, even if it is a black and white one. Only in rare cases will people not be able to convert their television over to digital. If you have an old TV, without the large rectangular SCART socket in the back, you should ask for a set-top box with an RF modulator built in.

If you have more than the five standard channels or get your TV via Freeview, freesat, satellite or cable then you are already enjoying the benefits of digital TV.

Is there any help available?

The Switchover Help Scheme can provide eligible people with assistance to convert one TV to digital.

You’ll be eligible if you are 75 or over, registered blind or partially sighted, entitled to certain disability allowances, or have lived in a care home for six months or more.

Please note that the West TV Area will go digital on 24th March 2010 and the Central Region not until April to June 2011.

Fatal Road Traffic Collision in Drybrook

Forest North - Hopebrook School Visit

Children from Hope Brook Primary in Longhope spent the afternoon learning about safe cycling with PCSO James Pearce. They took part in an interactive presentation where topics included what to check on your bike and what clothing to wear before riding off. They learnt about Operation Dazzle, a road safety Operation aimed at cyclists to ensure that each cycle is equipped with adequate lighting.

The children saw pictures of how bikes can be overloaded with shopping and other items and we discussed the consequences. This initiative was started after two children in the Longhope area were unfortunately knocked off their bikes while cycling on the pavement.

Advice from the Road Safety Unit of the County Council is that children should be encouraged to cycle on the pavement in a safe manner in the Forest of Dean until they have completed cycle training in years 5 & 6. Those who do cycle on the pavement will be at fault should they collide with anyone or anything and we ask that parents ensure their children are aware of this.

Latest Forest North 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.

Gloucestershire County Council Contact – Bethan Mickiewicz

As the Area Lead Officer for Community Engagement for Newent and Cinderford, I am the main contact for any issues involving the County Council that are agreed as priorities by our communities.  This can include issues such as flooding, parking, street lighting, road condition, footpaths, recycling, schools, Trading Standards, road safety and more.  It is my job to ensure the right county council services are engaging with our local communities, working to help meet the priorities agreed by them at the quarterly Neighbourhood Panel Meetings.  Through working together with the Police Safer Community Team and the Forest of Dean District Council and other partners, I hope we can really make a difference to people where they live, making their neighbourhood a safe and pleasant place to be.  As part of this role I will attend community meetings or identify relevant County Council officers who need to attend help discuss community concerns.

Bethan can be contacted at Gloucestershire County Council on 01452 426673 or by e-mail at bethan.mickiewicz@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Forest North - Theft of Heating Oil/Advice

The theft of domestic heating oil has been a problem for a number of years but the sudden increase in oil price has seen the number of reported thefts increase significantly.  This is a national problem that has a greater effect in rural communities who do not always have the luxury of mains gas supplies.  The problem will be with us for as long as oil prices remain high.

Some recent reports have suggested that thieves are using unmarked tankers to remove oil from domestic premises, which means they do not look suspicious. So please be on the lookout for this kind of vehicle.

The following suggestions may help prevent theft of oil:

1. Fit a good quality close shackle padlock to the filler cap and drain tap.

2. Make access to the tank more difficult using fences, trellis, walls or defensive planting.  There is a leaflet available on the subject of defensive planting and if you would like a copy please ring the number given below.

3. Carefully positioned security lights can make theft more difficult.

4. Lockable Metal enclosures are now available to completely surround the tank (cost about one tank full of oil at current prices)

5. In extreme cases re-positioning the tank closer to the house can make a difference.

6. A remote level indicator positioned somewhere in the house can give early indication of a sudden drop in oil and oil levels should be monitored regularly particularly during periods of low use.

7.  Do report suspicious activity anywhere near your or neighboring property.

8.  A new wireless alarm has recently become available which will activate if the filler cap is opened.

Further information can be obtained by contacting your local Crime Reduction Officer on 0845 090 1234.

Local Surgeries

Each community has its named officer as you can see by our website. PCSOs are the eyes and ears of our community, as well as providing high-visibility reassurance patrols they are absolutely key in gathering intelligence.
 
Your information matters!!
 
Please talk to your local PCSOs, what you tell them is fed into the Police intelligence systems and allows Police Officers to take pro-active action to combat the problems that you are concerned about. This may lead to the execution of drugs warrants, arrests, stop searches and many other initiatives.

Smartwater

The last area for Smart Water in our region has been successfully canvassed and final orders are awaited. This will complete coverage across all of the Forest of Dean. 

Smart Water can be dabbed onto items or sprayed onto anyone entering a property illegally and can be used in conjunction with an alarm system

Smart water was launched in the area last year, and is also now a feature in all schools in the Forest of Dean. It has been a resounding success in reducing burglaries. The insurance companies state that some £120,000 has already been saved in claims as a result of implementing a Smart Water strategy in Forest schools. All custody suites in Police Stations now have ultra-violet light arches through which suspects walk. These lights highlight the slightest contact they may have had with the product. 

Domestic sized Smart Water kits are still available through the Neighbourhood Watch Office in Cinderford on Tel 01452 335570. For those of you interested in purchasing a home protection pack of Smartwater for £15 please contact either Chris Parkes Neighbourhood Watch on 01452 335569 or PC Bob Lloyd on 01452 335569.