Your neighbourhood 

Katesgrove neighbourhood update

Update for August

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

Drugs remain a neighbourhood priority and we are continuing to use our stop and search powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act to try to tackle this.  Following a stop search check of a vehicle in Southampton Street on July 3 a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug.  He has been released on police bail until 13 August.  In the past month there have been two other drugs related arrests in the Katesgrove area.  This is good news and shows that the high visibility patrols by police and the Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are disrupting and deterring this type of behaviour on our streets.

Vehicle crime is another priority issue in the neighbourhood and figures available on the Thames Valley Police website show that this type or crime continues to fall.  In the Katesgrove area there were 34 reports of theft from vehicles between April and June this year which is 24 fewer than in the same period in 2008.  There were 10 reports of theft of vehicle which is 9 fewer than in the same period last year.  I think we have seen a reduction in auto crime as a result of a number of successful operations targeting car thieves by use of trap cars and targeted patrols.  This has helped to prevent and deter individuals from committing this type of crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour is the third priority for the area.  Recently we have been made aware of anti-social behaviour in and around Park View and the junction with Elgar Road.  In conjunction with Catalyst Housing Association we are looking at issuing Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) to those involved.  An acceptable behaviour contract is between one or more local agency and an individual outlining what he or she should or should not do.  

The crime figures on the website show an increase in the number of reported incidents of anti-social behaviour between April and June this year compared to the same period last year.  In the past couple of months we have received quite a few calls from residents concerning the use of quad bikes being ridden by a rider without a helmet and in an anti-social manner.  For a quad bike to be ridden on a road the rider is required to hold a full driving licence, insurance, tax and MOT.  However, the rider is not required by law to wear a helmet.

Following a report of a burglary in progress in Sherman Place on 21 July, a 25-year-old man was arrested and charged with a burglary offence. He has been remanded in custody at this time.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Rodney Holmes and Kayleigh Baker have been working with the Environment Agency this month following reports of people fishing without a licence.  The males were removed from the location and their details passed to the Environment Agency.

Katesgrove Neighbourhood Action Group has a new chairman. This position has been taken over by Maria Soulsby, the head teacher of New Christ Church Primary School.  We would like to thank Kath Langdale the former chairman for all her help and support over the past year.  If you would like to attend the Neighbourhood Action Group the next meeting will be held at New Christ Church Primary School on Thursday 10 September at 7pm.

In line with the Policing Pledge the team have held two recent street briefings.  One was held in Tippetts Rise and the second at the junction of Alpine Street and Edgehill Street.  The street briefings provide the community with the opportunity to meet and speak to their local policing team.  So far, we have had a good response to the meetings and look forward to meeting more people over the next few months.  Our next street briefings will be held on Sunday 9 August at 6pm in Hagley Road and Sunday 23 August at 6pm in Waterloo Rise.

The next police surgery is on Wednesday 26 August 2009 between 12pm and 1pm at the Katesgrove Community Portakabin.