Your neighbourhood 

Burghfield neighbourhood update

Update for April

Here is the latest neighbourhood update for Burghfield from Neighbourhood Specialist officer (NSO) PC Perran Bateman

Crime figures for the area from December 2009 to February 2010 all crime has fallen by 12 per cent. This reflects the reduction in reported crimes from 82 to 72.

Crime statistics that show number of crimes per 1000 people has indicated a decline for the months of November (2009), December and January (2010). However in February there was a marginal increase that was largely due to an increase in burglaries totalling 22 for the month. The average number of burglaries for the last three months is 16. Vehicle crime, violence against person and robbery were all recorded as the lowest totals for the last three months (December 2009 - February 2010).

There have been 23 incidents of anti-social behaviour reported in the month of February. This is below the annual average of 31 incidents per month. Two alcohol seizures were recorded for the month which remains at a very low level.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested for burglary following a police operation and warrants in Burghfield Common, he is currently on police bail.

Our neighbourhood priorities are speeding in Burghfield Common area this remains unchanged. Speed enforcement is being carried out by both our Roads Policing Department, and your local neighbourhood team.

Beech Hill is being closely looked at by the Safer Roads Team and Thames Valley Police to explore other ways to reduce speeding.

Our second priority is burglaries in Mortimer in particular burglaries to sheds, garages and out-buildings. Dedicated patrols are still being carried out in all these areas to try and deter and catch any offenders. The neighbourhood team will look at holding public consultation early in the summer to determine whether this issue is still a concern for residents.

The neighbourhood team has recently met with the Youth Offending Team (YOT) to assist in planning the return of a young offender back into the community. Meetings have also been held with the Family Resource Services (FRS) to assist the team dealing with young people who have a troubled home life or who are not engaging appropriately with their school commitments. There is a monthly liaison meeting that includes the YOT, family social services team and senior school teachers.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Steve Innes attended the Garland School governor’s meeting in his role as a community governor. The role is to act as a community liaison contact and to manage the schools safeguarding policy to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.

We will be holding ‘have your say’ opportunities on the following dates:

Thursday 15 April at Burghfield Parish Council from 7pm

Saturday 17 April, the team will be holding a street briefing in Stephens Firs at 6pm

Monday 19 April at the Co-op, Clayhill Road, Burghfield from 10am

Monday 19 April at Budgens Victoria Road, Mortimer from 11am

Thursday 29 April at the Royal British Legion, Burghfield there will also be a crime prevention talk from 2.30pm

The team have recently recoved stolen goods to the value of £2500 that were found whilst out on patrol. Some of the stolen items to the value of £1000 were able to be returned to their owner including a strimmer and leaf blower. The other items recovered include pedal cycles, a circular saw and other electrical items, we have not had any owners come forward to claim these items.

The team will be attending the Burghfield May Fayre on Sunday 9 May and the Mortimer Fun Day in on 3 July. Further details will appear on the parish notice boards in the coming weeks.

The PCSOs will be meeting the Mortimer Scouts after Easter to assist them gain their Crime Prevention badge.  

On the evening of Friday 19 March a young swan took up residence on Burghfield Bridge and stopped traffic in both directions. The incident was attended by PCSOs Steve Innes and Robert Hubbard-Clark they managed to remove the swan from the road and it was safely returned to the canal. The team have also previously dealt with a white Wallaby back in November last year an Ostrich and Roe Deer so we are becoming quite familiar with the local wildlife!

For futher information on your local neighbourhood team you can contact us via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively you can visit the Thames Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk