Your neighbourhood 

Burghfield neighbourhood update

Update for November

Burghfield neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer Steve Innes.

Autumn has started relatively quietly in the local parishes and I hope that this trend continues.

Earlier in the year there were a number of reports of criminal damage during the early hours of the morning, between 1am and 3am, which included catapult and air weapon damage to properties and vehicles.

Mortimer Library has had windows broken and damage to the tennis court fencing on the fairground. However we have had dedicated patrols in the area and have since had no further damage reported.

We have issued a number of Section 59 warnings for the nuisance of trials bikes being ridden illegally on private land. Once this warning has been issued, if a subsequent offence takes place within twelve months, the vehicle will be confiscated. Successful action has been taken in Sheffield Bottom conservation area and Cottage Lane. Seizures of vehicles have also taken place in Mortimer and Burghfield villages.

A joint operation with British Transport Police resulted in a number of arrests of people who were interfering with motor vehicles in Mortimer Station car park.

PCSO Steve Pengilly and I had 20 community events in our diaries from May through to September which reached a thousand residents across our local parishes. These included a visit to all the local schools and pre schools in Mortimer, Burghfield and Sulhamstead. We also continue our meet and greet at Burghfield Co-op, and the Mortimer Surgery, as well as our regular parish visits.

A number of drugs education talks were also organised at the Willink School and I hope that funding can be secured to enable this program to continue in the future.

The Mortimer police station is due to re-open during October and we are currently seeking local volunteers to assist us staffing it during two hour sessions in the morning and afternoons Monday through Saturday. Please contact me if you are interested via the non-emergency number 0845 8 505505.

PC Simon Easton has been appointed as the new Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO) for the area. He takes over from PC Matt Allen who has been managing the area for the last eighteen months.

In terms of crime reduction please do remember not to leave valuables on display in your vehicles and be sure that you deadlock your UPVC doors if your property is fitted with one. Please do not rely on lifting the handle from inside to lock it as thieves can open that handle via your letter box.

For more information, or to contact a member of the team, please call us via the non-emergency number 0845 8 505 505.