Broomfield & Kingswood: Crime Information

The area N.H.W. AGM was held on 10th November 2011, 7.30pm at the Kent Police College. Local representatives attended and wrote this report

Crime figures and Police report by PCSO Kirby: In the last month:- Burglary other than dwelling, 16/12/11- 20/12/11, Leeds Castle; Langley (1) - Theft by employee; Ulcombe – (1) Criminal damage; Leeds (3) - Theft in dwelling, Theft, Arson; Sutton Valence (7) -Theft from motor vehicle 3, Criminal damage 2, Burglary 1, Vehicle interference 1; East Sutton 0.

PCSO Kirby confirmed that he would be remaining working in his current area of Maidstone rural, including this Parish. There had been one speed monitoring session carried out on Lenham Road in the last month.

Cllr Evans would be meeting with Lorraine Hemphrey, Police NHW Co-ordinator on Monday 16th January regarding the future of NhW in the Parish

Clerk reported having received telephone confirmation 4/1 from the previous NhW Main Co-coordinator, Mrs Rose-Marie Bowker, to the effect that she was no longer involved with Parish Watch. Mrs Bowker had received a ‘phone call from a resident early morning 4/1 reporting a suspicious incident and she thus requested that an article be included in the March edition of the Parish magazine, Website, etc. asking that she no longer be contacted in regard to NhW issues, reports, etc.

‘Operation Cubit’ removes untaxed vehicles from the streets of Maidstone

Operation Cubit is a joint operation run by Maidstone Borough Council in partnership with Kent Police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. (DVLA). It took place between 15 and 17 August 2011. During that time 18 vehicles were removed from the streets and another two drivers paid an on the spot fine.

Any vehicles found, or reported to be untaxed or abandoned during the operation, are checked with the DVLA, then clamped and removed to be stored in a secure compound. Vehicles can be removed from the public highway, council land and from private land with the land owner’s permission

Owners have to pay a charge to get their vehicle back. Any vehicle that is not claimed within 14 days is destroyed in a crusher into the shape of a cube, hence the name of the operation ‘cube it’.

Police Constable Warren Jarvis from Kent Police said: “Operation Cubit is an excellent example of how Kent Police works with the local council to tackle a problem that blights local communities. We have run this operation for a number of years now and continue to punish those vehicle owners who think it is acceptable to use an untaxed vehicle.”

Maidstone Council Cabinet Member for the environment, Cllr Marion Ring, said: We have got zero tolerance when it comes to litter, fly tipping and abandoned vehicles. If they go unchecked they can lead to a downward spiral. Operation Cubit removes abandoned vehicles before they become a target for further anti social behaviour.”

As from Monday 14th November 2011 there is a change to the Phone Number that you should use to contact your local Kent Police for non emergency calls.

101 is the new national non-emergency number to contact Police in your area. Residents in the Kent policing area should call 101 to contact their local officer, make an enquiry and to report non-urgent crimes. The current non emergency number (01622 690690) is being phased out.

if your car has been stolen,
if property has been damaged,
if you suspect drug use or dealing,
to report a minor traffic collision,
to give information about a crime or criminals in your local area.

Each call will never cost more than 15p. Callers will be put through to Force Control Room in Kent and not a national call centre.

As always, dial 999 in an emergency when life is in danger or a crime is in progress.

Advice from Kent Police comes after a number of thefts where valuables were stolen from cars, having been left clearly on display in unattended vehicles.

As part of the Kent force’s ‘Stay Safe’ campaign, which focuses on helping the public avoid becoming victims of crime, officers are reminding motorists to take all their belongings with them when they leave their vehicles.

Inspector Jerry Prodger from the Maidstone Neighbourhood Team said: “Motorists can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime by ensuring they take all their belongings with them when they leave their vehicles. Items such as satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, or even loose change are an easy target for criminals. Thieves will often look for marks on the windscreen where a satellite navigation device has been previously attached so its good practice to ensure this kind of mark is wiped away.

“In the summer months some motorists leave their windows slightly open to let cool air in and thieves will look to take advantage of this. Our advice is to take your valuables with you and fully secure the vehicle before leaving it unattended.”

The launch of the ‘Cold Calling Control Zone’ took place at the Village Hall Coffee Morning on Saturday, 7th May 2011 – many thanks to the Village Hall Committee, and in particular the Coffee Morning organisers, Beryl Andrew and Pat Lyne, for allowing this to take place. We have now joined ranks with several other Parishes in the Borough of Maidstone that have already become Zones and are finding it of great use in reducing the number of uninvited door knockers.

The information in regard to these Zones was first brought to the attention of our previous NHW Main Co-ordinator, Rose-Marie Bowker, by long-time resident, Ann Smith, who had seen notices advertising same in Bedfordshire. Rose-Marie brought it to the attention of the Parish Council, who in turn liaised with Lorraine Hemphrey at Maidstone Police Station, bringing Ann’s idea of making this Parish a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ to fruition. A good team effort and a big ‘thank you’ to Ann and all concerned.

Attended by some 70-80 residents, Lorraine outlined the ‘pros and cons’ in regard to ‘Cold Calling Control Zones’ and answered a number of questions from residents. Lorraine has provided window / door stickers entitled ‘Remember!’ for every household in the Parish – you will need to peel the backing off to display the orange sticker. You will find one contained within this edition of the Parish Magazine - thanks to Editors Jan Enever and Caroline Jenkins in this respect. Please fill in the relevant reference numbers of Gas, Electricity, Phone, Water Companies, etc. and be sure to display your sticker. Lorraine is also arranging for ‘Cold Calling Control Zone’ notices to be displayed at various locations around the Parish warning unwanted callers that they are not welcome in our neck of the woods!

If you have a chain fitted to your door, please make sure you use it! If you don’t have a chain but would like one, Lorraine can provide information whereby you can have one fitted free of charge - please contact her on 01622 604395 for full details.

Additionally, Lorraine has provided details of an associated Scheme called ‘Nominated Neighbour’, aimed primarily at the elderly or infirm. In brief, this means that you will have a ‘Nominated Neighbour’ card to show unrecognised callers, asking them to call at a nearby nominated and trusted friend or neighbour of your choice who, if they have any doubts, would contact the Police on your behalf. Lorraine has provided me with a number of information leaflets and cards in this respect and if you would like a pack and think you would benefit in this way, please ring me on 01622 842183 and I will drop one off to you. I will also have some available at the forthcoming Parish Pensioners’ Outing on 7th June.

And finally – Lorraine has also provided us with valuable information in regard to the Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ Scheme. This Scheme brings together a list of gardeners, plumbers, builders and many other types of businesses from all over Kent, which have been individually vetted and checked for trustworthiness and compliance with consumer protection laws. Once such traders have been accepted on to the Scheme they are permitted to display the ‘Buy with Confidence’ logo and are constantly monitored by Trading Standards to ensure their standards are not slipping.

For further information and details of firms you know you can trust, visit KCC’s website at: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or ‘phone: 08484 04 05 06

Members of the Parish Council and residents alike, would like to thank Lorraine for giving up her time to attend and conduct the launch of the No Cold Callers Zone’ on 7th May and for all the additional help and advice she has provided.

A fuel-oil tank alarm may prevent theft of oil from your storage tank. See a sample alarm product information sheet. [

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If you have the occasion to call the Police because of an incident that is happening in your area and you do not wish a Police attendance at your address, please tell the operator. Kent Police aims to attend every call, particularly those that report Anti Social Behaviour, but there are going to be occasions where you do not wish a visit. The operator will most probably ask you, but if they do not, you will have to tell them.

Also, do all co-ordinators know who their local PCSO is and have you met them? If not please email kcm.maidstone@kent.pnn.police.uk or call into the Neighbourhood Watch office on 01622 604395 and we will arrange for them to call on you.

Separately, Kent Police Neighbourhood Watch are exploring the possibility of issuing identification cards to all our Co-ordinators. The aim of this is to make it easier for you to identify yourself when calling on neighbours in your Watch. The purpose of this message is to find out what the take up will be. Unfortunately there maybe a small charge to cover the administration costs and you will have to call into the Police Station to have your photograph taken.

We would like to know your views on the matter. To let us know please email kcm.maidstone@kent.pnn.police.uk or call Lorraine on 01622 604395 as soon as possible.