Winnersh

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) that has a significant community impact. In particular, the team are looking at offences of theft from shops.

A robust approach to tackling retail crime in the Thames Valley has been introduced by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). Developed jointly with retailers, business groups and Thames Valley Police (TVP), the PCC’s Retail Crime Strategy sets out tangible actions to tackle shoplifting, retail crime and violence towards shop workers.
The strategy aims to support businesses and create a hostile environment for those who commit crimes in the local economy by focusing on 6 key pillars – Intelligence, Enforcement, Partnership, Prevention, Justice and Reassurance. It also includes the creation of a Business Crime Team within TVP to improve investigations and identify prolific offenders and, with the rollout of Operation Purchase, the Force’s operational response to retail crime, increasing the visible presence of police officers and PCSOs in retail spaces as well as improving the officer response to reports, particularly incidents involving violence towards staff.
A core aim is to enhance the collaboration between businesses and the police to better tackle retail crime in addition to the policing response. To help facilitate this, access is being provided to Disc – an online information-sharing and reporting platform which allows retailers to report and access information about crime such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour (ASB). The system, which can be accessed as an app, also makes reporting to the police faster and more efficient as users can submit a crime report directly through the platform, removing the need to call 101. We believe these measures will deliver a more visible, targeted and robust response to retail crime, increase the security and confidence of local businesses and help make high streets and retail spaces across the Thames Valley safer for the community.

Wokingham North Neighbourhood Policing Teams took part in national Anti-social Behaviour Awareness Week from 18th to 24th November. During the week, officers performed various walk arounds at reported ASB hotspots alongside the ASB Team from Wokingham Borough Council. Concerns were shared and heard, with plans set in motion to make improvements where needed to better disrupt and deter ASB in the area.

The Neighbourhood team have been providing a higher presence around identified targeted local shops, to deter shoplifting both during the day and evenings.

We have conducted targeted patrols around shops within the Winnersh area where we have been made aware of ongoing shoplifting issues. We are working with local shops to disrupt shoplifters, and to identify and deal with repeat offenders.

Concerns around the use of e-scooters and e-bikes

We have been making the public aware of rules around e-scooters through social media campaigns, ensuring people are aware that: privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land, they are illegal on any public highway, pavement or in a public space, and you cannot get insurance to ride them on the road.

We are working to identify areas affected by this issue and will target our patrols to discourage and, where possible, deal with riders. We will now be focusing on enforcing the laws around e-scooters.

The Neighbourhood team will issue section 59 warning notices to individuals using e-bikes in a manner which is causing or likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. If these individuals are observed again within a 12 month period, their bikes can be seized.

As it is not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.

If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.

If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.

Please be advised that If you breech the rules when using an e-scooter you could face a fixed penalty notice.The fixed penalty notice could include:
a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance
a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence

You could also be committing an offence if you are caught:
- riding on a pavement: fixed penalty notice and possible £50 fine
- using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding: £200 and six penalty points
- riding through red lights: fixed penalty notice, £100 fine and possible penalty points
- drink driving: the same as if you were driving a car, you could face court imposed fines, a driving ban and possible imprisonment

Concerns around general speeding and traffic complaints in the Winnersh area.

The Wokingham North Neighbourhood Team are organising an operation with Roads Policing to target the areas where speeding occurs the most and will be issuing tickets accordingly.

Community Speedwatch is a national initiative where proactive members of local communities join with the support and supervision of their local police to record details of speeding vehicles using approved detection devices. To join a local Community Speedwatch group and be involved in tackling speed related issues, please visit:
https://www.communityspeedwatch.org