Royston Community Team

Rural Watch

July 2008

Covering Arbury, Ermine, Weston & Sandon Wards.

There are around 150 laws designed to protect wildlife in the UK and many more global controls that we have adopted. So there is no definition of wildlife crime but it could include:

· Disturbing or killing wild birds

· Taking birds eggs

· Poaching

· Stealing wild plants

· Badger persecution

· Destroying bat roosts

· Ill-treating wild animals

· Trapping wildlife illegally

· Poisoning wildlife illegally

· Illegally importing, exporting or trading in endangered species

· Use of endangered species or body parts in Traditional Medicines

Dealing with wildlife crime has always been and still is difficult for the average police officer. Most officers do not receive any specific training in this specialist field and often require help from other agencies.

In the late 1980's police forces throughout Britain recognised the need for a specialist with some expertise in wildlife matters to take the lead in enforcing the growing number of laws protecting our wildlife. Hertfordshire has 36 wildlife crime officers, these are officers who work in a wide range of departments through out the Hertfordshire Constabulary and have an interest in wildlife. Many of these officers will specialise further and will have deeper knowledge in different categories such as, badges, bats, reptiles, birds of prey and mammals.

Fortunately tack theft has been very low recently but that is no reason to become complacent. Firstly please be vigilant about this issue and make sure that your equipment is secure. Hertfordshire constabulary is now able to mark your tack (free of charge), this will not only make your equipment easier to track down (if you are unfortunate enough to lose it!) it will also deter people from stealing the item in the first place. PCSO Brabrook can attend your stable or livery yard and security mark most items. For further information or to organise an appointment please call – 01438 757935.

No speed checks this month due to the device being sent for annual maintenance.

With the school holidays nearly upon us and the warm weather trying ever so hard to stay with us, now is a good time to let you know about some activities planned for the younger ones in Royston. For the past three weeks CHILD UK has been in the Memorial Gardens organising sport activities on a Friday evening and this will continue until 18^th July. Further activities are also planned throughout July and August including Detached Youth Workers, Outdoor Play for 5 to 13 year olds and Summer Youthforia (Trips and Activities for 12 to 19 year olds).

It is hoped that these activities will engage with the young people in the town during the school summer holidays. There will be additional Police Patrols and again we ask that residents report any nuisance to ourselves so that we can robustly and effectively deal with ensuring a summer of peaceful nights!

Recently PCSOs TOMSETT and KELLY apprehended a young male in Serby Park. This male received a fine for urinating in a public place and a caution for possession of cannabis. This behaviour will not be tolerated and Police will deal robustly with this type of behaviour.

PC MARINA, PCSOs KENNEDY and BRABROOK continue to provide high visibility policing in the Rural area. Theft of fuel continues to be a problem and we have increased patrols at key times targeting suspicious vehicles and people and patrolling vulnerable locations. Please continue to report any unusual vehicles in your villages.

Royston Town and the Rural area remain a low crime area and by working together we can ensure that it remains that way.

If any of you want to contact me, please do so on 01438 757926 or via e-mail at: peter.frost@herts.pnn.police.uk

G4E; - Ashwell, Hinxworth, Bygrave, Newnham & Caldecote

Thieves siphoned the fuel from an Austin Mini parked in Back Street, Ashwell between Sunday, 1^st and Wednesday, 4^th, June. (Crime no. G4/08/566). The same vehicle was targeted again overnight of Friday, 20^th, June. (Crime no. G4/08/616).

Thieves stole the fuel tank from underneath and Isuzu Tipper whilst it was parked in Ashwell Street, Ashwell during the early hours of Wednesday, 11^th, June.

(Crime no. G4/08/581).

A ladies handbag and its contents were stolen from a caravan situated in Bluegates Farm, Ashwell End, Ashwell at approximately 2.30pm on Wednesday, 11^th, June. The bag was later found in the lane nearby however several items from the handbag are still outstanding. (Crime no. G4/08/582).

Between 7pm and 7.15pm on Saturday, 14^th, June, vandals damaged a metal sculpture situated at the entrance of a property in West End, Ashwell. (Crime no. G4/08/594).

Patrolling Police Officers arrested a 30-year-old male for dangerous driving after they were faced by him driving towards them on the wrong side of the A505 dual carriageway. The driver then failed to stop for Officers when requested, which culminated Police following him into Cambridgeshire and then Bedfordshire before he stopped. (Crime no. G4/08/621).

G4D; - Barkway, Barley, Reed, Nuthampstead, Newsells, Kelshall & Therfield

A barn and a shed situated in Cokenach Estate were broken into sometime overnight of Sunday, 1^st, June. Two quad bikes were stolen from the barn and a quantity of power tools was stolen from the shed. (Crime no. G4/08/544 & G4/08/545).

A 12 year old boy received a Police reprimand after he caused damage at an address in Odsey on Tuesday, 3^rd, June. (Crime no. G4/08/549),

A vigilant neighbour was alerted by the sound of breaking glass to two males attempting to break into a house in The Street, Kelshall at 12.40pm on Wednesday, 4^th, June. The witness advised the Police that he has seen to males, one of who had ginger coloured hair, running away from the property. Another witness has reported seeing a blue Ford Focus car in the area at the time and we believe that this may be the car used by the would-be-burglars. (Crime no. G4/08/554).

At 1.25pm on Wednesday, 4^th, June, a male used a screwdriver to force a ground floor window of a house in Barkway. Whilst the male was snooping around inside the house, the occupants returned home and on realising there was someone inside, they alerted the Police. The male then exited the house via a second floor window onto a flat roof making good his escape. Some money along with a number of ornaments was stolen from the house. (Crime no. G4/08/555).

A Suzuki van parked on a driveway in London Road, Barley was broken into between 11am and 12pm on Friday, 6^th, June. A Bosch Hammer drill and a Makita drill were stolen from within. (Crime no. G4/08/575).

During the course of Thursday, 19^th, June, thieves attempted to break into a house in Smiths End Lane, Barley. It would appear that they abandoned their attempt and left the area empty handed after the burglar alarm at the property activated.

(Crime no. G4/08/606).

A thief stole the catalytic converters from two vehicles parked on a driveway at Reed between 4am and 4.45am on Tuesday, 24^th, June. (Crime no. G4/08/634).

G3C; - Sandon, Wallington, Rushden, Clothal & Weston

Thieves stole the fuel tank from underneath an ‘Isuzu’ lorry parked in Woodlands Meade, Weston overnight of Monday, 2^nd, June. (Crime no. G3/08/313).

Considerable damage was caused to a Vauxhall Omega parked in Post Office Row, Weston when paint stripper was poured over the bodywork. The incident occurred overnight of Saturday, 7^th, June. (Crime no. G3/08/323).

Total for 2003 – 2004 = 80

Total for 2004 – 2005 = 26

Total for 2005 – 2006 = 6

Total for 2006 – 2007 = 17

Reported Hare coursing Incidents in our area.

	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	April
03-04	3	13	28	3	8	13	9	3
04-05	4	13	4	0	4	0	1	0
05-06	0	3	0	0	1	1	1	0
06-07	0	4	4	6	1	0	2	0
07-08	3	10	4	6	9	2	4	3

Number of Hare Coursing and Nuisance Vehicle Patrols Carried Out.
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
07								3	3	3	0	3
08	9	5	6	8	8	2

Last time we attended

RUSHDEN	20/02/07	SANDON	26/03/08
THERFIELD	26/03/08	REED	05/03/08
BARKWAY	16/05/07	BARLEY	04/02/08
KELSHALL	21/04/08	NUTHAMP	01/05/07
ASHWELL	06/02/08	BYGRAVE	04/02/08
CALDECOTE	05/01/07	WESTON	13/03/08
RADWELL	29/04/08	WALLINGTON	20/02/07
HINXWORT	14/02/08	CLOTHALL	09/05/07

Area	Last Meeting	Next Meeting	Location and Time
G4E	8^th May 2008
G4D	12^th February	9^th October 2008	8pm Reed Village hall.
G3C	20^th May 2008

Locality

Members

Martin Dingemans, Howard Marshall, Simon Holtom, Robert Law, Teddy Faure-Walker, , Steve Jarvis, Andrew Young, Tony Hunter, Peter Shuttlewood, Keith Bone Christine Schwick, Janette Kingsley.

Meeting

22/12/07

Tasks set

1. High visibility patrols in daylight hours at weekend in a bid to Reduce Incidents of hare coursing, Nusience Motor cycling and Nusience 4 X 4 use.

2. Continue with crime prevention and evidence gathering thus keeping crime as low as possible.

3. Continue with speed checks by PCSO’s to monitor vehicle speeds; enforcement was not considered a good use of resources.

Please click on the below link to meet some of the people we wish to becomes friends with.

http://www.herts.police.uk/CCTV/gallery.htm

Rural Watch

Jan

RUSHDEN

SANDON

THERFIELD

ASHWELL

BYGRAVE

CALDECOTE

Please click on the below link to meet some of the people we wish to becomes friends with.