Welcome to your Thamesfield Ward Safer Neighbourhoods Team newsletter
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Welcome to the Thamesfield SNT newsletter. In these newsletters we aim to introduce you to your local policing team, provide you with current news about what we’ve been doing and what is going on in our ward and relevant crime prevention advice. Your comments and feedback are always welcome
Your Thamesfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team Officers are:
PS 53WW Roger Chapple
PC 220WW Peter Odelusi
PC 241WW Stuart Paton
PCSO 7227WW Julie Kirk
PCSO 7196WW Sophie Wood
PCSO 7189WW Doug Cameron
SPCSO 7106WW Dimitri Cassar
THAMESFIELD NEWS – WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?
Firstly, we would like to say goodbye and good luck to PCSO Gerald Baffoe-Bonnie. He is now in training to be a serving Police Officer. He has been with us since 2006 and has been an integral part of the team and will be sorely missed by many.
In the beginning of October, we had an evening with most of Thamesfield’s Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators, along with Wandsworth Council’s Community Safety Officers. This allowed coordinators to meet each other, share ideas and crime Prevention/watch ideas.
We have had a number of property marking events in the
last couple of months, with the intention of encouraging as
many people as possible to mark all their property with a
UV pen (house no / postcode) & register it on
Immobilise.com. These were well attended & we hope that
this advice spreads further. For more information, please ask.
During the two-week period over Halloween and Bonfire Night, we increased our patrols to tackle the anti-social behaviour that is often associated with this time of year. Putney SNT officers conducted 460 stop & accounts and 210 stop & searches, resulting in 14 arrests for various offences. More importantly, this had a tremendous impact on the ward and borough as a whole, resulting in 365 fewer firework calls, which is a 71% reduction from last year.
In November, Thamesfield SNT officers took part in what was the biggest Remembrance Day Parade in Putney in recent times. It was an honour for us to be part of such a moving tribute.
Our role is to address the non-emergency, local community issues that affect your quality of life. We need you to help us to keep Thamesfield safe, so please stop us and speak to us if you see us walking or cycling around.
DON’T LET YOUR CHRISTMAS BE SPOILED BY CRIMINALS!!
While Christmas cheer is rife for the majority of people, this time of year can become a haven for thieves! Take these few tips on board to protect yourself during the festive season!
KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE
- Keep all presents/gifts out of sight until as near to Christmas as possible
- If you have hidden larger items, such as bicycles, in a shed or outbuilding, make sure they are secure
- Take the frame numbers of new bicycles and the serial numbers of all new electrical equipment and register them for free on immobilise, the National Property Register
- REMEMBER… EMPTY BOXES LEFT OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE WILL ADVERTISE THAT YOU HAVE NEW GOODS INSIDE!!
OUT SHOPPING?
- Pickpockets have more of a chance to steal from you
when the shops are crowded!
Don’t make it easy for someone to steal all those presents you’ve bought - Shop during less busy periods of the day/week
- Stay alert and vigilant of your belongings
- Make smaller shopping trips rather than doing it all at once. If you have too many bags you will be too busy trying to hold onto these to be aware of anyone stealing from you.
- Carry your wallet/purse close to your body (inside your jacket if possible) and don’t carry too much
- If you use a chequebook, keep your cheque guarantee card separatly.
- If you travel by car, make sure you park in a well-lit area, lock all doors and windows and do not leave presents in view.
GOING OUT FOR THE EVENING? Or
IF YOU GO AWAY FOR THE HOLIDAY PERIOD…
- Use automatic timers for lights & ask a trusted neighbour to watch your home.
- Cancel newspapers and milk if you have them delivered and either redirect your mail through the Post Office or have your neighbour take mail into the house.
STRANGERS AT THE DOOR - Genuine delivery personnel usually have uniforms and marked vehicles and should not need to come into your home.
- Charity collectors will have identification and will not be offended if you ask to see it.
- If you are not sure, but want to make a donation, ask whether these can be made in other ways, perhaps through a bank.
OUT ON THE TOWN?
With parties and celebrations, bars and restaurants are often very crowded…
- Don’t leave bags over your chair and keep your wallet close to your body.
- Busy places make it easier for the sneak thief so be alert at all times.
- Make prior arrangements as to how you will get home.
- Avoid any potential disturbances on the street, and stay with friends if you can
- Avoid getting a mini-cab on the street even when having difficulty ordering one
- Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you will be back
PUTNEY TOWN CENTRE BUSINESS WATCH RE-LAUNCH
Following a great deal of work behind the scenes, Thamesfield SNT (in partnership with Wandsworth Council Community Safety Division and Sainsbury’s) organised the re-launch the Putney Business Watch.
All the retailer stores in the town were asked to show support and commitment in helping reduce retail crime, especially in the 'run up to Christmas'. Over 30 stores both large and small attended to discuss what they could do to help police and the council deal with shoplifters, robbers and counter-fit money.
As a result of the meeting, the Putney Business Watch is sharing between stores, photos of known thieves and other suspicious people in a coordinated plan to reduce crime and disorder to make the shopping experience in Putney safer.
Sergeant Roger Chapple of Thamesfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team said
‘The re-launch of the Putney Business Watch will serve to strengthen ties between the local police, retailers and town centre management and increase participation of all concerned. The photo sharing scheme is a simple yet efficient method of passing information that will help to reduce the opportunity for people to commit crime in Putney, and a successful Business Watch is key to preventing and detecting crime, which is beneficial to all concerned. Thamesfield SNT (Safer Neighbourhoods Team) are committed to assisting our retailers and those that shop in Putney to make it a more pleasant and safe place to live and work in.’
Stephen Wallace, Putney Town Centre Manager said
‘The introduction of the Business watch photo-sharing scheme by the police will help further strengthen the efforts being made by companies and Wandsworth Council to fight retail crime in Putney. The combined effect of sharing images of suspects already convicted of retail offences, the councils Retail Radio system and closer coordination between shops, police and CCTV provide extra layers of security to help deter thieves from Putney and make shoppers experience in the town that much more enjoyable this Christmas. ‘
THE NEXT THAMESFIELD PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
TUESDAY 6TH JANUARY 2009 AT 7PM IN ST MARY’S CHURCH
We encourage as many Thamesfield residents to attend as possible as this is an excellent opportunity to come and meet with us and discuss any policing, community concerns you have! We look forward to seeing you there!
December 8, 2008