Your neighbourhood 

Katesgrove neighbourhood update

Update for November

Here is the latest update for the Katesgrove Neighbourhood from Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Stacy Bancroft:

I am starting this month’s update with some really positive news. The average number of crimes in this area has fallen from an average 108 reported offences, for the months July and September last year, compared to 72 reported offences, during the same months this year. This is a reduction of approximately 33 per cent.

The three priorities for the Katesgrove area are anti social behaviour, theft offences and drugs.

Anti-social behaviour – I reported last month that during September there were a number of reports regarding the use of mini-motorbikes and scrambler bikes in and around the Kennet Island development and that we had increased patrols and issued a number of Section 59 Warnings.  It would appear we have successfully targeted those involved as this month we have not received any complaints in relation to this.  

Crime figures on the Thames Valley Police website show that anti-social behaviour in the Katesgrove area has decreased from and average of 46.3 incidents per month to 41.7. The is a reduction of 10.1 per cent.

Theft – Last month I explained how the theft priority will include burglary offences.  The average number of burglaries in this area has fallen from 9.3 to six, which is a 35.7 per cent decrease.  However, at the beginning of this month there was a sudden increase in the number of burglaries in the area, with13 incidents reported within a two week period.  

To tackle this problem the team increased patrols at night with a high visibility and plain clothes presence, stop searching people and vehicles in the area.  Officers from the Priority Crime Team also posted crime prevention leaflets through all the houses with UPVC doors reminding residents to double lock their doors.  Since then there has been a reduction in the number of burglaries with only one being reported in the last two weeks of the month.

Drugs is the third priority for the Katesgrove Neighbourhood.  On Monday 12 October a warrant issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act was executed at an address in Lynden Mews.  During a search of the address a susbstance suspected to be Class A drugs was found.  A 30 year old male was arrested from the address.  He has been bailed to return to Loddon Valley police station on17 November

Environmental issues – The next Environmental Visual Audit is on the 24 November and will be covering the Katesgrove Lane and Pell Street area.  There will be a guest appearance by London Irish Rugby Club.

Partnership Activity-

PC Richard Noone and I visited Katesgrove Lane Primary School this month, and took a Police car in to show the new nursery children.  The children were very excited about seeing the car and were given the opportunity to sit in it and turn on the lights and siren.  It was really good to be able to interact with the children and answer their questions about being a police officer.

Dates of future meetings-

We have several street briefings planned this month.

On Saturday 14 November we will be at Kennet Island between 10am and 2pm and then between 4pm and 5pm at Pell Street.  The street briefings are an ideal opportunity for residents, businesses and people in the area to meet and speak to their local neighbourhood police team

The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) has also had a change of venue.  This will now be taking place at the new Hilton Hotel, Kennet Island on Thursday 19 November 2009 at 7pm.

Good News:

Some good news for the team, we now have a Neighbourhood Office in Aveley Walk.  The office will provide the team as a base to work out of and will be used for police surgeries and meetings.  The first police surgery at the office will be on Monday 23 November between 12pm and 1pm with Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Rod Holmes.

Non Priority/Planned Activity:

This month members of the team have received training on how to use the laser speed devices.  Although not a current neighbourhood priority for the Katesgrove Area, it is a common complaint from residents about vehicles driving at speed in the area.  This month I am planning to use the device around the area where we have had reports of excess speed.