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Lambourn neighbourhood update

Update for January

Here is the latest neighbourhood update for Lambourn from Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO) PC Claire Drewitt:

On behalf of the Hungerford Neighbourhood Police Team we wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year. Let’s hope the weather gets warmer soon!

Our first neighbourhood priority is drugs and is targeted at the illegal use of drugs on the streets by youths. Although only a small number of people are involved we are targeting those who we suspect have involvement in this kind of activity.

This past month we have seen fewer of them in their usual hangouts, although this may be due to the adverse weather we have been experiencing. Not all youths cause ASB, but if you see a group out and about and are unsure what they are up to, please do call us via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505 so we are able to ensure that no offences occur.

We have been busy working on our priority of hare coursing last month and it is pleasing to report that following arrests from two separate incidents seven people were charged with the offence and found guilty by West Berkshire Magistrates Court, all those involved have been fined.

Speeding is our third priority and this was discussed at a recent meeting with the Shefford Action Group.

As a result of the meeting we will be working in partnership with the group on two particular issues; one is the speeding through the village and on the A338 at busy times and the second is the use of the road by motorbikes at weekends and their inappropriate speeding through the village. We had planned to undertake speed enforcements in the village last month, but unfortunately both times we had to call it off due to the snow, we will be looking to do this in the near future.

On 3 December Roads Policing Officers carried out road safety checks in partnership with West Berkshire Council Road Safety Officers on Hungerford Hill, Lambourn. During the course of the hour long check eight Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) were issued for not wearing a seatbelt, three FPNs were issued for driving whilst using a mobile phone, and one FPN for no MOT. In addition all offending drivers were breath tested in support of the Tispol Christmas Drink Drive campaign.

The latest crime statistics, which are available on the Thames Valley Police website, show that overall crime figures in the area have increased by 7.4 per cent in the three month period September to November with 116 reports compared to 108 in the same period in 2008. Overall, however, crime figures remain low in the Lambourn area.

Vehicle crime has risen with an average number of incidents reported per month of 6.7 compared to 4 for the same period in the previous year. We urge you all to be vigilant and do not leave any valuables in your vehicle overnight or when it is unattended.

We are pleased to advise that the number of anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents in the area has continued to decrease. The latest figures show a 56.9 per cent reduction in the three month period September to November at only 25 reports compared to 58 in the same period in 2008. This is extremely encouraging and is due in part to our regular police patrols in the area.

Our next partnership meeting will take place at Hungerford police station on 6 January at 1pm. This meeting is a multi-agency meeting combining social services, housing and young family services. These meetings are an opportunity to share information and problem solve.

Our ‘open morning’ at Hungerford Police Station on 10 December was well attended by the local community. We have received some positive feedback about this and it is likely that we will hold another one in the summer months. We are also looking at holding an open morning at the Lambourn police office at a date to be confirmed. Remember that Hungerford police station is open to the public from 9am -1pm Monday to Friday and Lambourn police office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am-1pm.

On a final note, the roads have been very icy of late, please allow extra time for your journeys and keep safe.

You can contact any member of the team by calling 0845 8 505 505. To find out more about them please visit the Thames Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk and follow the neighbourhood policing links.