Neighbourhood News - Winter/Spring 2007 - Issue 31

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAMS

There have been a number of significant changes to the way in which the Fareham area is policed. Since late November, the officers who provide an initial response to incidents have been based at Park Gate. This means that they start their duty at Park Gate and are then deployed to cover specific areas around the whole Fareham division. These officers are known as Targeted Patrol Teams and they provide an initial response to incidents 24 hours a day.

The old style Community Beat Officers have now been replaced with what are called Safer Neighbourhood Teams. Fareham Division has been divided into five areas, to align as practically as possible with council ward boundaries. Each of these areas has a team assigned to it, consisting at present of a Sergeant and several Constables, although the number of officers will be increased in due course and will be bolstered in the new year by the introduction of Community Support Officers. These officers patrol their areas, predominantly on cycle or on foot and deal with the long term issues that affect the lives of the residents in those areas. These include matters such as youth nuisance, damage and antisocial behaviour. Problems will be tackled in conjunction with the Fareham Community Partnership.

As with the Community Beat Officers, the SNT Officers can be contacted via mobile phone for non emergency matters. Rather than individual officers having a phone, each team has a phone which will be carried by whoever is on duty. These numbers are for issues such as passing information, advising officers of non urgent matters on their beat and general communication involving the area the officer covers. If there is an officer on duty, the phone will be answered. In all other circumstances, the public should ring 0845 045 45 45 or in an emergency 999.

Sergeant Pat Dawson
Details of the SNT's are as follows:-

SNT 1 Park Gate West Locks Heath/Park Gate Titchfield Common Warsash/Sarisbury/Whiteley	SNT 2 Park Gate East Stubbington/Hill Head/Segensworth Titchfield (including Catisfield)	SNT 3 Fareham West Highlands/Heathfield/South Fareham (except East of Gosport Road)	SNT 4 Fareham North Town Centre and North Fareham Wallington and Salterns	SNT 5 Portchester    including Down End
Sgt 5224 Sitch PC 109 Wild PC 126 Wilson PC 1410 Colman PC 2736 Tarvin Mobile 07757 211528	Sgt 2164 Mills PC 142 Channing PC 23445 Evans PC 23463 Mann Mobile 07757 212459	Sgt 2340 Burt PC 2737 Cupper PC 37536 Heath PC 21263 Hooley Mobile 07757 137068	Sgt 2906 Martin PC 1003 Cummings PC Browne PC 3832 Way Mobile 07757 137595 & 07757 120174 (town centre)	Sgt 5539 Dawson PC 2537 Higgs PC 3718 Hockley PC22044 Glendenning Mobile 07757 138053

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Fareham and district Neighbourhood Watch Association will be held at 8.00pm on Thursday 29th March 2007 at Holy Rood Church Hall Gosport Road Stubbington Please come, support the meeting and perhaps bring a friend or neighbour. Everyone welcome

Walking to Health in Fareham Fareham's walking to health is smart, it keeps you fit and young at heart The walks are short, the walks are long, be you young or old please come along. One boot for beginners to ease you in, two boots and you'll wear a triumphant grin. Three boots and you'll trot as never before up grassy slopes or shingled shore Volunteer leaders will guide you to places, no need to rush - we're not at the races. Do come along, in fact I insist and place your name on our mailing list Rain or shine, snow or sleet, We're here to help you on your feet. RC Portchester Anyone wanting more information should contact KATIE ROM, Health Development Officer on 01329 236100

Spring Clean for your NHW STREET SIGNS Dilapidated NHW signs are often said to indicate an inactive scheme but the cost (approx £25) for new ones is prohibitive in many cases. Self-adhesive plastic overlays to cover faded paint with an expected life of about 7 years, are now available. These overlays cost £1 at the moment. So, if you want to smarten up your signs very inexpensively, let us know in the office by calling 0845 045 4545 ext 641267 and leave a clear message and contact details on the answerphone and someone will get back to you. No Deal !! If you want to stop drug dealing in your neighbourhood but do not want to talk directly to the police, you can call Crimestoppers. They are teamed up with all the agencies and organisations that want to make your community a safer place to live. Drug dealers do not wear labels, but you know better than anyone else what is going on. To arrest a dealer the police need to build up a jigsaw of intelligence. Your call might be a crucial missing piece or it could start a whole new puzzle. As more information comes in, the ring round the dealers gets tighter. Crimestoppers is free, your call is not recorded, traced or billed. nor is your number "captured", so no one will know you have phoned. You can't be interviewed or be called to give evidence. To find out more call us on 0800 555 111. If you call us with information, these are the kind of questions we will ask. You will not know all the answers. What to look for -DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK Premises - What's the address? What type of building? Who owns it? How do people access it? Do any children live there or visit? Are there any pets? People - Male or female? Approximate age? Height? Hair? Eyes? Glasses? Complexion? Facial hair? Visible scars, marks or tattoos? Weight and build? Clothing style? Vehicles - Colour? Type? Make/model? Body type? Licence number or part of it ? Tax disc current? Driver disqualified? Activity - How long has this been going on? If they work, do you know where? What made you notice them? How are they contacted by users? Is there a special day or time when users come? How do they turn up? What do they sell? Can you describe it? Do you know where they are kept? NO ONE WILL KNOW YOU PHONED 0800 555 111

Capital Security Systems Ltd Your Local NSI/NACOSS Gold Alarm Installer Local Office 02392 673737 Capital Security offer a full range of audible-only and monitored intruder alarm systems with competitive packages especially for members of Neighbourhood Watch. For further information, please visit our website at www.capitalsecuritysystems.co.uk or Freephone 0800 614778 to arrange a free survey

SPRING IS COMING

Spring is a wonderful time of year to be out and about on your bike -the lengthening days, improving (hopefully!) weather and the need to work off the winter excesses all make you want to dust off your two wheeled faithful friend. However, beware! Bike thefts have continued to increase across the area, many from back gardens, sheds and cycle racks. Fareham's Community Safety Partnership has run a thought provoking poster campaign, illustrating the relationship between bike thefts and the financing of drug habits, to raise awareness. Our best advice to you is to make sure you buy a 'Sold Secure' lock, which has been rigorously tested to high standards. Although these locks are a little more expensive than other less sturdy varieties, the long term benefit will be invaluable! We also advise that you lock your bike whenever and wherever you park up, whether this be at home or further afield.
Safe and happy cycling!
The Community Safety Team,
Claire Benfield, Community Safety Officer, Fareham Borough Council. Tel: 01329 824495

Further thoughts from the Crime ReductIon Officer
Around 300 cycles are stolen each year from the Fareham & Park Gate police areas. At an average value of £200 this equates to £60,000.
Approximately one third of these are stolen from the gardens of houses and our records show that 99% of these are not locked. Of the remaining cycles stolen from public places one third were unlocked.
Many of these cycles are stolen in very short periods of time when their owners nip into a shop for a few minutes. Often the cycles are owned by young people.
It is important that cycles left either in gardens or public places are ALWAYS locked to a substantial object even if left for only a few minutes.
Finally, use a decent lock with a 'SOLD SECURE' logo which indicates that it has been tested to resist attack.
Make a note of the frame number of your cycle - this will assist in identification if it should be stolen.
TW

Many thanks to Crime Reduction Officer Tony Walters for statistics, help and advice throughout the year

CYBER CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE Three easy steps to follow so that you can use the internet without the risk of important data like credit card details being stolen. 1. Install a computer FIREWALL. This software will ensure that offenders can't use the internet to access your machine and steal data. 2. Install ANTI-SPYWARE. Computer criminals try to infect their victims machines with programs called spyware, which lurk unseen while they hunt for sensitive data. 3. Carry out regular SYSTEM UPDATES to strengthen security. Companies like Microsoft offer regular online updates to patch up any security weaknesses. Finally a computer needs to be serviced and maintained just like a car otherwise problems will develop. So if you are worried about crime on the internet go to www.getsafeonline.org and get some expert advice. Taken from The Sharp End - January 20O7

Worried about banking scams ? Check out www.banksafeonline.org.uk (Brought to you by APACS)

Police Link Officers for Deaf people - Hampshire Constabulary

Access to the Police can sometimes be a problem - especially when English is not your first language. Imagine waking up in a country where you don't speak the local language and nobody there speaks yours.

Trying to communicate with shopkeepers, bus drivers or bank staff may make things difficult for you. But what if you were trying to communicate with a Doctor, trying to call for an ambulance or contact the Police? Then what would you feel? Isolation? Frustration? ALONE !

For many deaf people, those feelings can be experienced here in the UK, everyday. Foreign language users can be accommodated relatively easily with the wide range of telephone interpreting services available but Sign Language users may find the Police somewhat less accessible.

The Disability Discrimination Act, 1995 has focused our attention on 'Access' but it must be remembered that this means much more than how you get into a building or up the stairs. 'Access' includes access to information and access to service.

Someone who understands many of these issues and is working to address them is Sgt Glen Barham MBE of Hampshire Constabulary.

Apart from providing a non-emergency point of contact for deaf people using Minicoms, fax, email, SMS (Mobile Text), Sign language, Deafblind Manual and Lipspeaking skills, PLOD has also worked to set up an Emergency SMS Text Service for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight where deaf people and speech-impaired people can text a message for help to a speed text number, 80999. This is received in the Police Control Room as an email and is actioned or passed to the other Emergency Services if necessary. Since its launch in December 2004, over 100 'calls' for help have been received and Hampshire is also working with the Department for Communities & Local Government, London to seek a national solution i.e. one free national number for all emergency non-voice calls.

Deafness is catered for under the Disability Discrimination Act. However, some deaf people do not see themselves as Disabled People. What PLOD says is, "Deafness is a difference; and a difference is only disability when a barrier is put in Its way".

Police Link Officers for Deaf people are also available for Speech Impaired people.

More information about Police Link Officers for Deaf people can be found at www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/advice/plod.htm
or you can email Sgt Glen Barham on deaf.link@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

D0 YOU WANT A TAMPERPROOF TAX DISC HOLDER FOR YOUR CAR? If so, please send a SAE with your request and a cheque for £1.00 (per holder) made payable to:- "Fareham & District Neighbourhood Watch Association" to the NHW OFFICE Fareham Police Station, Quay Street, Fareham PO16 ONA Alternatively, telephone 0845 045 45 45 ext 641267 and leave your request along with your name, address and telephone number. You will be notified when the tax disc is ready for collection from the front desk at Fareham Police Station. on payment in cash of £1.00 per holder. Please put cash in a sealed envelope clearly marked for "N.H.W OFFICE" Sincerest apologises to everyone who wanted to buy a tax disc holder before Christmas after we had SOLD OUT ! New supplies are now available and people whose names are on our waiting list will be contacted shortly.

BE AWARE that letters are circulating the area from EUROMILLIONS LOTTERY S.A. where the addressees name has supposedly been attached to lottery tickets and consequently won a substantial sum of money in the lottery etc. To claim this prize you are required to make an international phone call (cost ?) and also to complete forms requiring both personal and banking details, even your next of kin! ! ! !