Shepperton & Halliford - My Neighbourhood - Surrey Police

Welcome to the latest Shepperton and Halliford web page update.

Firstly, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year. Looking back we are very encouraged with how things have gone over the past year and we have certainly built on our links with the community during this time.

Here are just a few examples of how we responded to the concerns of people within the community throughout 2009:

You told us:
We have concerns about youths meeting up in large groups in the parks and outside shops etc

We took action:
We spoke to residents and shop keepers to find out when the problem was occurring and tailored our beat patrol to be in the areas at the appropriate time. We took positive action against any person found to be engaging in anti-social behaviour and also engaged with their parents where necessary.


You told us:
Youths in Shepperton do not have enough to do.

We took action:
We ran the highly successful Shepperton Youth Football Programme. The programme was held over a three week period during the summer providing professional football coaching sessions for local youths.


You told us:
We want our local neighbourhood team to be more contactable.

We took action:
In addition to our panel meetings we set up regular police surgeries. These surgeries are now held regularly throughout the year in our police office on Shepperton High Street.


You told us:
Vehicles are travelling at excessive speeds in the area.

We took action:
We undertook training to qualify to use the hand held speed recording equipment. Since then we have started to use the device on the roads you have told us about.


Although the list above is not exhaustive, it does highlight just some of the work we have carried out over the last year. Unfortunately, all things are subject to change and after spending four and a half years on the beat in Shepperton I have decided to take up an investigation role in another part of the county and I expect to start this role in the early part of 2010. I can assure you that I did not take the decision to move on lightly as I have really enjoyed my time here in Shepperton. PCSO Clarke will continue with the work we have been carrying out in the past and we expect to able to introduce the new PC for the area in the very near future.

Drive SMART:
Drive SMART is a Surrey Police and Surrey County Council partnership campaign focusing on education and changing driver behaviour to encourage more considerate driving.
The campaign targets a range of driving behaviours that negatively affect the lives of other road users or local residents. These include tailgating, bad or inconsiderate parking, using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel, speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and generally thoughtless or reckless driving.

Bogus Callers:
A lot of bogus callers will claim to be trades people and tell you they’ve noticed a problem with your roof, driveway, windows etc, offering their own service to fix it. They might also claim to have noticed something untoward in your back garden or somewhere else to encourage you to leave your home. Beware because they might have an accomplice waiting to slip into your property while you’re distracted. This type of crime is quite rare and you can help further reduce the chance of it happening by following the advice below:
• Before opening your door, check who’s calling. Use a spy-hole or door chain.
• Check the caller’s appearance. Genuine utility workers will generally wear a uniform and drive a company-signed vehicle.
• Ask for identification, which should include a photo.
• If in doubt, phone the company and check, using a number from the telephone directory, not given by the caller. Genuine staff from utility companies won’t mind waiting or will call back later.
• If you are worried, don’t be afraid to say NO. If you are at all concerned, call 999 immediately.
• Many distraction burglars prefer to target elderly people. Please look out for your elderly relatives and neighbours and pass this advice onto them.

Car Crime Prevention:
• Lock the doors, windows, boot and sunroof every time you leave your car.
• Use the vehicle’s security devices.
• Don’t leave valuables in you car. Take them with you at all times.
• Make a note of serial numbers. Without them, your valuable items are untraceable.
• Keep driving documents and personal correspondence at home.
• Lock the car and remove your keys from the ignition at petrol stations. Keep the keys with you.
• Call the Police if you see anyone acting suspiciously

Useful contact details for our partnership agencies:
Spelthorne Borough Council
Graffiti Hotline - 01784 446326
Noise Control - 01784 446270
Environmental Health - 01784 446293
Abandoned Vehicles - 01784 446442
Street Lighting - (Surrey County Council) - 08456 009009
Parking Service - 01784 459355 (i.e. Parking Attendants)
Spelthorne Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
Crime Reduction Advice - 01784 444269
Anti-Social Behaviour Advice - 01784 446322
Mediation North Surrey - 0870 7514311

Housing Associations:
A2 Dominion - 0845 408 6666
Metropolitan - 01932 787147
Thames Valley Housing - 0208 607 0607
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Arson advice (non-emergencies) - 01737 242444

Other partners:
Surrey Crimestoppers - 0800 555 111
Spelthorne Neighbourhood Watch - 01784 446420
Victim Support - 01784 446202

Thank you for all your support over the last four and half years and best wishes for the future.

PC Andy Pearcey and PCSO Clare Clarke

Written by FIN: 11704

Welcome to the latest Shepperton and Halliford web page update.

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who attended the November Panel Meeting. Despite the bad weather on the evening there was a good attendance at this last meeting of 2009 and we had the chance to go through some of the actions we have taken over the last year. Many of the issues we deal with often have to be tackled over a period of time and we invariably work alongside our partner agencies when seeking resolutions to your concerns. While we have had numerous successes over the last year, we are conscious that we need to keep working on and concentrating our efforts on the issues that affect the people on our beat.

At the meeting we discussed the incidents of youth related disorder that had been reported by residents living around the Greeno Park. While these reports were relatively low, even during the summer months there was a spate of damage being caused to the children's play area in the park. By co-ordinating our patrols ensuring we were in the park at the appropriate times and by working with our partners at Spelthorne Borough Council we managed to have a good impact on the levels of disorder and we will continue to monitor and patrol this area through the darker evenings.

You told us:
Vehicles travel too fast along The Towpath and Docket Eddy Lane and that the current speed limit at the location should be reduced to 20 mph.

We took action:
We forwarded the concerns onto our Casualty Reduction Officer, PC Mick Pritchard. Mick will now be placing some speed recording equipment at the location to measure the speed of vehicles travelling along this stretch of road. After these results have been reviewed a decision will be made as to whether the change in the speed limit can be considered further.

Much of our time lately has been used to try and seek resolutions to neighbour disputes. These disputes are very difficult to resolve as it often comes down to one persons word against the other, often without any independent witnesses involved. If you are involved in dispute with a neighbour you may wish to contact the North Surrey Mediation Service. The Mediation staff help people to explore problems in a safe, sensitive and confidential manner; solutions acceptable to everyone are then able to be reached without the added anxiety and expense of legal intervention.

The Mediation service can be contacted on the following:
Web: www.mediate.me.uk
Email: help@mediate.me.uk
Tel/Fax: 0870 751 4311


Operation Carlside Targets Bogus Callers:
An operation was held earlier last week (3rd December) to target bogus callers in and around Shepperton. We always see a peak in these incidents at this time of year, so we have been working with Surrey Trading Standards and VOSA (the Vehicle Standards Agency) to stop suspicious vehicles and people that we think might be involved in this type of crime, and disrupt their activities.
Before I tell you how successful we were, I'd like to explain how bogus callers operate. There are two main types of bogus callers: distraction burglars and rogue traders. Both callously prey on the trust of elderly and vulnerable members of our community - taking valuables and cash, and leaving victims shaken and nervous in their own home.
Distraction burglars use a variety of ruses to enter properties and distract the occupant. Cons include pretending to work for a utility company, local authority or even the police; asking to use a toilet or phone; or asking the victim to walk into their back garden to look at some damage to a fence or tree, or to retrieve a lost ball. While the resident is busy, an accomplice searches the house for jewellery, cash and other valuables.
Rogue traders turn up and offer to carry out work (such as replacing a roof tile) at a low cost, then keep finding more work that needs to be done - at greater and greater expense. The work is usually unnecessary, and is poorly done. The victim is then pressured for hundreds of pounds payment for the work. Offenders have even been known to drive victims to the cash point to take out the money.
We were very happy with the success of the operation:
• We stopped 29 vehicles in total (concentrating on the sort of vehicles we know bogus callers drive).
• We issued two fixed penalty notices for driving without an MOT.
• We will be prosecuting a driver for using a mobile phone while driving, and another for driving without insurance.
• Our colleagues at VOSA looked out for vehicles which needed to be fixed before they were considered roadworthy.
• We have also been working in the local community to identify people we consider to be particularly at risk of bogus callers, and provide them with useful information on how to protect themselves.
It can be very difficult to catch bogus callers in the act. By clamping down on the sorts of vehicles they are known to drive, and by working closely with our partners and the community, we hope that we have given the message to anyone considering this sort of offence in Shepperton that it will not be tolerated.

Christmas Crime Prevention:
With Christmas fast approaching, please make sure you don’t let your Crime Prevention Guard down – we want you to enjoy the festive season and not become a victim of crime.

When shopping
• Make sure your purse or wallet is secure and kept out of sight.
• Do not leave shopping bags – or other signs of shopping such as wrapping paper – on view in your car.
• Always close car windows, engage your steering lock and lock the doors.
• Park in well-lit areas of an attended car park.

At home
• Don't leave presents under the Christmas tree in view of the window.
• Dispose of packaging carefully, particularly for expensive electrical items.

If you are going away
• Tell key-holders or neighbours you will be away and ask them to keep an eye on your house.
• Use timers to switch on lights, radio and TV so it looks as if you are at home.
• Cancel milk and newspapers.
• Securely lock all doors and windows.

While out on the town
• Don't leave bags over the back of your chair.
• Keep your purse or wallet close to your body.
• Make prior arrangements for getting home. Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you’ll be back.
• Don't get into an unlicensed taxi.
• Don't drink too much – you could become a target for crime.


Useful contact details for our partnership agencies:
Spelthorne Borough Council
Graffiti Hotline - 01784 446326
Noise Control - 01784 446270
Environmental Health - 01784 446293
Abandoned Vehicles - 01784 446442
Street Lighting - (Surrey County Council) - 08456 009009
Parking Service - 01784 459355 (i.e. Parking Attendants)
Spelthorne Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
Crime Reduction Advice - 01784 444269
Anti-Social Behaviour Advice - 01784 446322
Mediation North Surrey - 0870 7514311

Housing Associations:
A2 Dominion - 0845 408 6666
Metropolitan - 01932 787147
Thames Valley Housing - 0208 607 0607
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Arson advice (non-emergencies) - 01737 242444

Other partners:
Surrey Crimestoppers - 0800 555 111
Spelthorne Neighbourhood Watch - 01784 446420
Victim Support - 01784 446202

PC Andy Pearcey & PCSO Clare Clarke

Written by FIN: 11704