WORK TOGETHER TO CRACK CRIME

Here's the full report delivered to the Brigg Neighbourhood Policing Panel's quarterly public meeting, held in the Angel Suite, by Insp Brett Rutty (pictured), head of rural policing.

Crime

Burglary to people's homes is always a priority for the police across the Division so it is of great concern when we have an increase in this type of offence. We have a target to reduce Burglary by 7.4%. A significant increase in crimes during June and July, impacting an all areas of North Lincolnshire, including the Rural area, has pushed us over our year to date target. Although we had several good arrests in July and August, resulting in offenders being remanded to prison we have drafted in additional force resources to respond swiftly to reports of crimes, provide a policing presence and to target offenders.
Vehicle crime, both thefts of and thefts from motor vehicles, although currently at a lower level than this time lastyear has shown an increase during the last couple of months. I would urge people to always secure vehicles and not leave items of value on display.
The Neighbourhood Team continue to focus on Criminal Damage, with a target to reduce this crime by 7%. The Brigg Team so far this year (to end of August) has had 157 crimes of damage which is 15 over target.
Incidents of Anti-social behaviour cause concern to the community and to the Neighbourhood Team. A 7% reduction target, numerically, means we aim to have fewer than 11 calls for service per week for Brigg and Wolds, 4 for Broughton and Appleby and 5 for Ridge Neighbourhood. The average number of calls per week, over the last 4 weeks, have been 14 at Brigg and Wolds, 5.5 at Broughton and Appleby and 6 at Ridge. However, 'hot spot' locations are identified and attention is paid to those areas by Officers, PCSO's and through the Respect Patrols on a Friday and Saturday evening.
Turning to the three Neighbourhoods making up that Brigg team area, I would like to provide an update on policing activity.
The villages of the Ridge Neighbourhood have received attention from PC Tracey Teal and PCSO's Kev Horsfall and Craig Tomlinson.
Focus on criminal damage reports is continuing especially in the Scawby area. There have been recent Graffiti offences and damage to motor vehicles which are currently under investigation by the Neighbourhood Policing Team. Follow up visits are being made to victims by the PCSOs who are doing an excellent job responding as soon as practicable to reports of damage.
The Ridge ward team have done a targeted leaflet campaign at Gainsthorpe, near Kirton Lindsey to increase the communities awareness of their responsibility in relation to parking vehicles during the hours of darkness without lights (this is a 40mph area). The message is to educate and seek cooperation with the legal requirements. This will be followed by an enforcement campaign if the request for compliance is not heeded fixed penalty notices will be issued.
PCSO Kevin Horsfall will shortly be rolling out the School Drawing competition initiative to all schools in the Ridge, Brigg & Broughton Wards. Kevin has put a lot of work into this action which will be aimed at raising children's awareness in respect of in car safety, which will tie in nicely with the current running seatbelt awareness and enforcement campaign, in the Humberside Police area.
Neighbourhood watch is a very useful organisation to help make the community a safer and better place in which to live and work. PCSO Craig Tomlinson has been in touch with all the Neighbourhood watch groups in the Ridge Neighbourhood and will maintain regular contact to progress our working partnership. A prospective Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator has been identified for a new group at Hibaldstow and details have been passed to Ken Bates.
The Ridge Nieghbourhood Action Team continues to be a success. The last meeting in July was again well attended, chaired by Cllr Neil Poole and had 21 members present. Only a small number of issues were raised but included parking markings (Scawby), street drinking (Messingham), fly tipping (Hibaldstow) and weed cutting (River Ancholme).
PC Vince Potter and PCSO Vicky Petty have been busy on the Broughton and Appleby Neighbourhood.
They have been actively involved in an investigation into an incident of disorder, resulting in damage being caused to vehicles and property at Trinity Court Broughton recently. Vince also instigated an investigation into a case of the theft of a purse from a ladies handbag at a local supermarket. Although the offence was committed at Scunthorpe the elderly victim is a Broughton resident and credit/cash cards from her purse were extensively used causing great distress to the lady. Vicky and Vince's enquiries and examination of shop CCTV systems resulted in a suspect being identified. The investigation is now being progressed by Crime Investigators.
Concerns have been raised about the contractors use of heavy plant equipment, particularly during school start and finish times at the former Bishop Burton College. PCSO Petty visited the site and was able to secure the cooperation of the contractors not to use heavy plant machines between 8 and 9 in the morning and 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
Another local issue concerns the West Wood at Broughton. The wood is private property but the owners allow local people to use them for walking and recreation. Due to the level of damage being caused to signs, inappropriate use of motor vehicles in the car park and woods and the litter problem the owners have intimated access will be denied if there is no improvement.
We would urge residents to respect the area and encourage teenagers to do the same or this local facility may be lost.
Vince and Vicky are keen to engage with local groups and organisations. They have recently delivered a talk on Neighbourhood Policing to the Broughton Branch of the Women's Institute and also address the local Beavers meeting.
They are currently working with residents and the Parish Council at Dragonby to try and secure funding to improve a play area in the village to address the needs of local children.
On the Brigg and Wolds Neighbourhood, the 3 main issues being tackled by Rob Armstrong with PCSO's Rob, Lisa and Lynsey are:

Hawthorn Avenue

Hawthorn Avenue in Brigg has been the scene of Anti-social Behaviour and calls for service in respect of disruptive tenants and teenagers causing a nuisance. The local policing team have been working closely with North Lincolnshire Homes, the local Neighbourhood Watch Group and Safer Neighbourhoods in an effort to resolve problems and increase confidence amongst residents. Joint visits have been carried out and a number of residents have been issued with 'Alert Boxes', which they can use if they feel threatened or there is an ongoing incident

Bigby Street

There continues to be concerns about Anti-social Behaviour and Criminal Damage in the Bigby Street area of Brigg, predominantly late at night on a Friday and Saturday. Although not resolved yet, the local officers have been working with Safer Neighbourhoods, and Alert Boxes have been issued to a number of residents, along with a CCTV camera and liaison with the Council CCTVto ensure a better usage of the current cameras in the area. Incident Response officers based at Brigg are aware of the problems and paying attention to the area too. A new Neighbourhood Watch Group is being set up and the Rob is liaising closely with the co-ordinator - who deserves our thanks from us all and the support given.

Youth Issues

'Youths causing annoyance ' continues to be a problem within several areas of the ward, often alcohol fuelled. Regular 'hotspot' areas are regularly patrolled by neighbourhood officers, PCSO's and receive attention from the respect patrols. Where alcohol is found, it is seized and disposed of.
Teenagers involved in these activities, if no criminal offences are revealed, have letters sent to their parents/guardians alerting them to their sons or daughter's presence and the problems and seeking their support in helping to reduce anti-social behaviour. A new lottery funded initiative set up jointly by Brigg, Broughton and Barnetby Councils, The 3Bs Project, has now started and aims to give the local youths something to do, by providing regular street based activities with trained 'youth workers', throughout the three areas.

SPEEDWATCH

Members of the Brigg and Wolds Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT) in liaison with the Road Safety Partnership have been involved in the setting up of a community based 'Speedwatch' project. This will use flashing signs which monitor speeds and warn motorists who are exceeding speed limits. It is intended that the devices will be deployed at locations which are not currently receiving attention under the road safety strategy but where a local speed related problem has been identified. This is still in the planning phase whilst funding is sought, but a pilot will be taking place soon in the low villages, between Worlaby and Bonby. Following evaluation of the pilot some work will be completed to establish processes and protocols for deployment of devices. This is a good example of how local concerns and issues can be raised through the forum of the Neighbourhood Action Team and a partnership approach can be used to find solutions.

By working together with partners and the community we can make a difference and help make the area not only be safe but feel safe.