Cheltenham Neighbourhood Team taking part in Cocooning Day in Oakley

The Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team is taking part in a cocooning day as part of the response to arsons and anti-social behaviour in Oakley.

This will see officers embark on the estate from 10.30am to 3.30pm on Wednesday (2 June) along with colleagues from a number of partner agencies.

The event follows a spate of arsons and anti-social behaviour over recent months and officers will be teaming up with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) colleagues to engage with the local community.

As well as Police and GFRS, there will also be a number of people present from Cheltenham Borough Council and the Cheltenham Town Community Trust.

Acting Inspector Steve Benbow said: "Cocooning is a great way to focus on one particular area, literally wrapping it with resources and making sure that we reach every resident to provide crime prevention and fire safety advice.

“Over the last few months there has been an increase in ASB, including criminal damage and arson on the estate and hope that this event will lead to greater confidence and reassurance in the community, residents signing up for Community Alerts and Neighbourhood Watch as well as an education opportunity from our colleagues at GFRS about the serious dangers of starting fires.

“This is half term week so we are hoping to attract younger residents on the street and we will also be having our Crime shop there and bicycle marking too.”

Cllr Flo Clucas, cabinet member for safety and communities at Cheltenham Borough Council said: “Next week, a new chapter starts in Oakley.

"This event will encourage the community to come together, have new experiences and help, with a real community focus. We’re pleased to be working with the Police, Fire Service and trust, and hope this will give everyone the opportunity to rebuild the community we all love.”

Kev Adcock, Local Risk Manager at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are pleased to be working with the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team and partner agencies at this event. Causing deliberate fires can have serious consequences as they can delay our response to other incidents, meaning that lives could be lost or property damaged.

“We hope that by engaging with people on this estate we will be able to warn about the serious dangers of starting fires and help to reduce incidents of arson and anti-social behaviour.”