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. . . We can have Dixon of Dock Green, but then he's not a real Pc, is he?
SIMPLIFICATION (Reminder)
From now on, we are inserting a link to the details
of what is [ CLICK HERE ]
AUGUST 2007 Milford & Barton – Pc Del Jones July saw a great variety in the weather conditions in our area; this in turn has had an impact on crime and Policing in the area. The very bad weather during the early part of the month without doubt assisted in reducing the number of recorded offences. Where as the sun shone just in time for the Milford Music Festival which was a great success from a Policing point of view. No recorded crimes and a large quantity of alcohol seized from underage youths helped to ensure that the event ran smoothly. No arrests were made and on the whole the event passed off without major incident. BURGLARY Burglary is one of the most worrying and upsetting crimes that can occur. Fortunately the burglary rate in this part of Hampshire is very low and we are continuing to work hard with other agencies to reduce the opportunities available to burglars. I have increased the number of patrols in the late evening particularly in areas that have been targeted in the past. With the result that again in July no dwelling burglaries were reported on my beat. ASSAULTS Once again in July there have been no reported assaults. THEFT Overnight of 1/2 July, two males using a small yellow van were seen acting suspiciously near to Milford Junior School, the following day builders working on site reported the theft of scrap metal from the site. Later in the same week lead flashings were stolen from the garden of an address in Northfield Road, Milford. No persons were seen on this occasion. Overnight on July 16/17 four solar powered lights were stolen from the garden of an address in Wavendon Ave, Barton. During the evening of July 17 a caravan and its contents were stolen from Laundry Lane, Milford. On July 28 two Goldfinch birds were stolen from a pet shop in Barton. These birds were valued at £150 for the pair. If you witnessed any of these incidents please call New Milton Police on 845 045 4545. DAMAGE Happily, once again the number of reported damage offences remains low. There have been a number of minor damage incidents in the centre of Milford village which I know have caused some residents concern. I will continue to monitor the area and if possible will dedicate some additional time to this area to try and prevent the trend escalating.
JUNE 2007 No Entry
MAY 2007 BURGLARY Once again the numbers of dwelling burglaries remains low with only two reported offences during the month of May. Between 10.00 and 16.00hrs on the 24th May unknown persons attacked premises in Sea Road, Barton. The offenders removed a padlock from a gate at the side of the house allowing them access to the rear where they forced open the conservatory doors. Once inside cash, jewellery and electrical items were stolen. Just after 14.00 on the 31st of May a burglary occurred at a house in Manor Road, Milford on Sea. Offenders gained entry to the house by forcing open a ground floor window. Once inside jewellery, electrical items and documents were stolen. Police have since arrested two males in connection with this offence; they are current on bail whilst further enquiries are conducted. In addition to the dwelling burglaries there have been four non-dwelling burglaries: these are buildings not lived in and include sheds, garages, outbuildings and beach huts. At some time prior to May 4th a shed on Grebe Close, Milford was entered and tools were stolen. Overnight on May 5th / 6th a shed in Barnes Lane, Milford was entered and a lawnmower stolen. The following night May 6th / 7th offenders gained entry to a pharmacy in Old Milton where a quantity of prescription medication was stolen. Enquiries into this matter are still ongoing. ASSAULTS In a complete turnaround from last month’s figures there was only one reported assault during the month of May. This took place on May 10 at Laundry Lane, Milford and involved two adults who were known to each other. The offender has since been arrested. THEFT There were five reported thefts on the beat during the month of May. One of these incidents took place at Milford School overnight on May 13th / 14th where the building site was entered and industrial brackets were stolen. Later in the month on the 25th /26th an outboard motor was stolen from the Keyhaven Yacht Club. DAMAGE The trend in minor damage reports has continued into May with a similar number of reports to last month. There appears to be no specific pattern to theses incidents. Reports taken during May include damage to windscreen wipers in Bramshaw Way / Ellingham Road and damage to plants in the same area. Damage was also caused to a shelter in Marine Drive on the evening of May 21st.
APRIL 2007 Milford & Barton - PC Del Jones
Community Beat Officer Report & Neighbourhood Watch Bulletin
April 2006 Milford and Barton – PC Del Jones
We have raised this issue many times in the past and make no apologies for repeating ourselves. It is clear from recent incidents reported in New Milton and Milford that these people are still operating in our area. Please report to the police any persons seen going door to door canvassing for work, or if you think an elderly person is being taken advantage of. Remember to get any registration numbers where vehicles are involved. ‘Bogus’ callers fall into four main groups:
Remember!
HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO SAY ‘NO’. IF IN DOUBT – KEEP THEM OUT! CALL THE P0LICE – DIAL 999. If you are the organiser of a vulnerable group and would like a talk regarding ‘Cold Callers’ please contact PS Dave TANNER at New Milton Police Station. Credit cards - beware I would take this opportunity to give a warning about the security of your credit cards. We are still getting a steady trickle of reports where bank cards have been cloned and used to withdraw money from accounts. Criminals can only obtain your card’s details with your assistance. They need to know your pin number and discover the information recorded on the magnetic strip on the back of the card. The details on the magnetic strip can be obtained by the use of a simple device that could be attached to a cash machine in the street, or held out of sight in a shop or a restaurant. For this reason check the cash machine before you use it, and if there is apparently some device fitted over the card slot then do not use the machine, but report it to the police. When using your card in shops and restaurants never let staff take your card out of your view. Crime Twice in the last month a premises in Angel Lane has been “visited” in the early hours of the morning by persons attempting to break into garden sheds and vehicles. On both occasions the offenders were disturbed by the occupant and they made off in a vehicle towards the A337. Fortunately they left empty handed on both occasions. We are continuing with our enquiries to locate these people and the vehicle used. In a similar incident earlier in the month a garage in High Street, Milford on Sea was entered by force and gardening tools to a value of £2500 stolen. A cash point card from a wallet, stolen in the area, was used at several local cash point machines where the offenders were able to withdraw cash because the owner of the wallet had left his PIN number in the wallet. Please keep PIN numbers secure and separate from your bank cards. If you have trouble remembering the PIN numbers they can be changed by your bank to a more memorable number. Despite additional patrols Beach huts are still being damaged at both Barton and Milford although not to the same degree as on previous years. Cold Callers As you will have read from the introduction, cold calling has again become an issue locally. Whilst we have set up a pilot scheme in Barton we must still be aware that cold callers are operating in all areas of our community. Two recent examples occurred in Milford on the same day during March. At about 8.30 in the morning a male called at a house in Keyhaven Road, this male claimed to be working for the water board and asked to inspect the drains. Fortunately, the occupant was suspicious of the male, refused him entry and checked his identity with Water Company. They were able to confirm that no members of staff were due to carry out work in the Milford area that day. Later the same day two males called at another Milford address whilst the occupant was out. On his return they claimed to have undertaken some gardening work. This work was neither required nor requested, but the resident paid the money so that the men would leave. It would appear that very little, if any work had been completed by these men. Cold calling can affect us all, it’s not just the vulnerable and elderly who fall victim to these people. If you have any concerns about callers contact the Police at the time so we can attend and check their identity etc. Credit cards - beware I would take this opportunity to give a warning about the security of your credit cards. We are still getting a steady trickle of reports where bank cards have been cloned and used to withdraw money from accounts. Criminals can only obtain your card’s details with your assistance. They need to know your pin number and discover the information recorded on the magnetic strip on the back of the card. The details on the magnetic strip can be obtained by the use of a simple device that could be attached to a cash machine in the street, or held out of sight in a shop or a restaurant. For this reason check the cash machine before you use it, and if there is apparently some device fitted over the card slot then do not use the machine, but report it to the police. When using your card in shops and restaurants never let staff take your card out of your view. Crime Twice in the last month a premises in Angel Lane has been “visited” in the early hours of the morning by persons attempting to break into garden sheds and vehicles. On both occasions the offenders were disturbed by the occupant and they made off in a vehicle towards the A337. Fortunately they left empty handed on both occasions. We are continuing with our enquiries to locate these people and the vehicle used. In a similar incident earlier in the month a garage in High Street, Milford on Sea was entered by force and gardening tools to a value of £2500 stolen. A cash point card from a wallet, stolen in the area, was used at several local cash point machines where the offenders were able to withdraw cash because the owner of the wallet had left his PIN number in the wallet. Please keep PIN numbers secure and separate from your bank cards. If you have trouble remembering the PIN numbers they can be changed by your bank to a more memorable number. Despite additional patrols Beach huts are still being damaged at both Barton and Milford although not to the same degree as on previous years. Cold Callers As you will have read from the introduction, cold calling has again become an issue locally. Whilst we have set up a pilot scheme in Barton we must still be aware that cold callers are operating in all areas of our community. Two recent examples occurred in Milford on the same day during March. At about 8.30 in the morning a male called at a house in Keyhaven Road, this male claimed to be working for the water board and asked to inspect the drains. Fortunately, the occupant was suspicious of the male, refused him entry and checked his identity with Water Company. They were able to confirm that no members of staff were due to carry out work in the Milford area that day. Later the same day two males called at another Milford address whilst the occupant was out. On his return they claimed to have undertaken some gardening work. This work was neither required nor requested, but the resident paid the money so that the men would leave. It would appear that very little, if any work had been completed by these men. Cold calling can affect us all, it’s not just the vulnerable and elderly who fall victim to these people. If you have any concerns about callers contact the Police at the time so we can attend and check their identity etc. Milford School There have recently been many concerns about the safety of the children attending the school. Most concerns relate to speeding vehicles and parking in the bus lay bys. We have begun a program of regular speed enforcement in the area with a view to reducing the risks faced by our children on their way to and from school. In relation to the bus stops, my colleagues and I will continue to monitor the situation and where necessary will issue fixed penalty notices.
March 2006 MILFORD & BARTON - Pc Del Jones Burglary Although there was a marked reduction in the number of dwelling burglaries in February, a number of offences were recorded involving outbuildings and commercial premises. On the 12th of February staff disturbed two males who had broken into Carrington Motors. Staff gave chase but the offenders evaded them by driving away in a light coloured vehicle. Staff later discovered a cash box missing from the premises. At the beginning of the month, in Becton Lane, a building site was broken into and an industrial power washer stolen from within a locked storage container. The following week, in the Milford area, a commercial premises was entered and a number of stone statues stolen. If you have any information about this or any other crime you can call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Vehicle Crime A vehicle parked in a pubic car park at Barton was broken into and items stolen from within. The owner was away from the vehicle for only a short time. As a result of Police enquiries two persons have now been arrested and property has been recovered. Damage Several reports of damage were reported in February, in particular, fences along footpaths in the Barton area. Residents are encouraged to call the Police at the time if they see damage being caused. In Milford Village a vehicle was damaged whilst parked near to the junction of Sea Road and River Gardens, both wing mirrors were broken off. Also in Milford a vehicle parked in Lawn Road had it's windscreen and one of the headlights smashed during the evening of the 11th of February. Beach Huts February saw the launch of Beach Hut Watch, a scheme where Police and Beach Hut Owners patrol the area on a rotational basis to reduce the instances of damage and Anti social behaviour around local beaches.
February 2006 Burglary Although there was a marked reduction in the number of dwelling burglaries in February, a number of offences were recorded involving outbuildings and commercial premises. On the 12th of February staff disturbed two males who had broken into Carrington Motors. Staff gave chase but the offenders evaded them by driving away in a light coloured vehicle. Staff later discovered a cash box missing form the premises. At the beginning of the month, in Becton Lane, a building site was broken into and an industrial power washer stolen from within a locked storage container. The following week, in the Milford area, a commercial premises was entered and a number of stone statues stolen. If you have any information about this or any other crime you can call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Vehicle Crime A vehicle parked in a pubic car park at Barton was broken into and items stolen from within. The owner was away from the vehicle for only a short time. As a result of Police enquiries two persons have now been arrested and property has been recovered. Damage Several reports of damage were reported in February, in particular, fences along footpaths in the Barton area. Residents are encouraged to call the Police at the time if they see damage being caused. In Milford Village a vehicle was damaged whilst parked near to the junction of Sea Road and River Gardens, both wing mirrors were broken off. Also in Milford a vehicle parked in Lawn Road had its windscreen and one of the headlights smashed during the evening of the 11th of February. Beach Huts February saw the launch of Beach Hut Watch, a scheme where Police and Beach Hut Owners patrol the area on a rotational basis to reduce the instances of damage and anti-social behaviour around local beaches.
January 2006 MILFORD & BARTON - PC Del Jones Assault During the month of December nine assaults were reported for my area, all relatively minor and most at Barton. In a change in the recent pattern, only two this month were as a result of domestic disputes, but unfortunately once again, the majority of these assaults were drink fuelled. On the 04/12 a member of staff at the Gun was assaulted together with a customer who came to her aid, and as a result a person has been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries. Another assault occurred at a restaurant, and two more were in the street, with one or both parties in drink. Four of the remaining assaults were between people that knew each other. Burglary Seven dwelling burglaries have been reported for the month. I reported last month that a trend was developing, particularly in the Barton area, and as result we have spent a great deal of time and resources in the area. I am pleased to be able to say that the trend seems, for the time being, to have shown a halt. However, I can not stress enough the importance of home security and the need to maintain a careful watch for suspicious activity in your area. Criminal Damage There were six reports of damage for the month of December. One incident involved a vehicle being scratched in the High Street, Milford on the 11th Dec. Another incident of damage in the High Street has been dealt with by a colleague and persons have been arrested. Theft Of the nine reported thefts in December, the most public concern came from the theft of a charity box in Byron Road, Barton. A resident who had decorated their house with Christmas lights to raise money for a local charity had the cash box stolen from outside the house. The box contained about £50 in cash which was due to go to people with disabilities. If you have any information about this or any other crime please a call us or you can call crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 Vehicle Crime Three vehicle related offences were reported, including the theft of a purse from a car in Keyhaven, where the offenders smashed the car window and stole it from the glove box. A bank card from this theft was later used to purchase fuel at the Tesco Store in New Milton.
December 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC Del Jones Assault During November eight assaults were reported for this beat. Once again, the majority were as a result of domestic disputes. The common factor in most of these cases was that one or both parties were in drink. Burglary In the month of November there were four reported dwelling burglaries, all in the Barton area. At the time of writing there have been a further two in the same area at the beginning of this month. In response to this we have increased our patrols in this area. The offenders appear to be targeting premises where the occupants are obviously not at home. Simply putting a light or radio on in the house whilst you are out is often enough to deter the would-be burglar. Criminal Damage Although there were six reports of damage for November, there is no particular trend to report. If you have any information about this or any other crime please a call us or you can call crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 Beach Huts For the first time this year, I am pleased to be able to report that there were no reported beach hut crimes in November. However, several huts were damaged by bad weather. We are still looking for more volunteers to join ‘Beach Hut Watch.’ If you have a dog, why not volunteer. I’m sure “Shep” would love a few extra walks each year!! If you are interested please contact me at New Milton Police Station to find out more 0845 045 4545. I plan to launch the scheme in early January just in time to rescue you from the sales!! Other Matters Numerous calls were received in November from concerned members of the public reporting suspicious door to door callers. We are always interested to see who is going ‘door to door’ and would like to find out what they are selling or offering to buy. If callers are genuine they will have checkable identities and will be more than willing to have them verified. If you have any concerns about a caller at your home, give us a call 0845 045 4545 for advice or to ask an officer to call. Many doorstep callers leave a leaflet or card behind this is always of use to us so please retain them.
October 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC Del Jones Burglary There was one reported burglary in Milford for the month of October. This occurred whist the occupant was away for a few days and the burglary was discovered by a neighbour. With the darker evenings now with us, it is important to ensure that the security of your home is maintained. Remember – Locks, Lights & Lookout! Criminal Damage Most incidents of criminal damage seem to tie in with closing time at local public houses. On the 19/10, between the hours of 5pm and 6.30pm the words “Nice Motor” were scratched into the paintwork of a blue BMW convertible parked at Shorefield Holiday Park, Downton. If you have any information about this or any other crime please call us on 0845 045 45 45 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Beach Huts Although “Beach Hut Watch” has not been formally launched, I have increased the numbers of patrols in the evening which seems to be having some impact. We are still looking for more volunteers to join the scheme. It will not cost you anything and it is great excuse to get away from the TV for a while! If you are interested please contact me at New Milton Police Station to find out more on 0845 045 45 45.
Other Matters
August 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC Del Jones Burglary Unfortunately this month I have to report that four burglaries occurred in houses on my beat, three of the four occurring in Milford village. Overnight on the6th of August a property was broken into in Deans Court, where the offender forced open a ground floor window in order to gain access. On the 9th of August a male was disturbed inside a property in the High Street, Milford. He made his excuses to the occupier and left. Despite an extensive search of the area by Police he was not located. On the evening of the 28th of August another property in the High Street, Milford was entered and items of jewellery stolen. Finally, between the 25th and 29th of August a property in Lymington Road was entered and property stolen. In addition to the above, prowlers have been reported in several areas including Richmond Court in Milford, where burglaries occurred earlier this year. If you have any information about this or any other crime please a call us or you can call crime stoppers on 0800 555 111 Criminal Damage There have been nine reports of damage this month. The times and locations of most of these reports would indicate that damage was caused just after closing time at local public houses. There are no specific areas concerned and no trends appear to be developing at this time. Beach Huts The good weather and lighter evenings have seen more activity on the beaches and coastal paths on my beat. It is good to see so many of you out enjoying the sunshine. Unfortunately, others have sought to spoil our pleasure and19 beach huts have been broken into. The majority of these were on Barton beach, where 13 were broken into overnight on the 31st of August. From the method used by the offenders to gain entry, there would have been a considerable amount of noise and yet there were no calls made to the Police. Most of the damage caused to huts on Hordle Cliff was to provide wood for bonfires and barbeques. The NFDC have to provide advance permission for any person to have a fire on the beach. As part of ‘Safer Streets’ patrols have been monitoring the beach area and checking those with fires to see what they are burning. If you see such a fire there is a good chance that the fuel is coming from nearby beach huts. Please call us to report them 0845 045 4545. I, along with the Beach Hut Owners Association, have sent out details of the New Beach Hut Watch Scheme to all local owners with a view to starting the scheme in the next few months. Anyone who would like more information can contact me at New Milton Police Station. Milford Carnival This year saw a change in the style of the evening entertainment, with no beer tent and no live music on the green after the carnival. Following the procession the green cleared very quickly. My colleagues and I were then free to deal with any incidents that arose. I am pleased to be able to report that there were no serious incidents or disturbances. No arrests were made, although 11 seizures were made of alcohol from those underage. Four persons were searched under Drugs legislation, and 1 person was warned for an offence under the Public Order Act for swearing at a Police Officer during the carnival procession. Only one crime was reported on the evening of the carnival and that can not be directly liked to the event. All in all a very enjoyable carnival this year which was very well attended. Other Matters In the little spare time I have, I am researching the Policing history of both the Barton and Milford areas. If anyone has any photos, documents, old uniforms or any other useful information please contact me at New Milton Police Station. July 2005 MILFORD & BARTON - PC DEL JONES In total for the whole beat there were 43 reported crimes during July, this compares with 50 crimes for July 2004. It should be remembered that Milford, being a holiday area and attracting large numbers of holiday makers, both day trippers and campers, as a result does have a higher level of reported crime than some of the other beats. Burglary There was only one burglary during July and that took place in Cliff Rd, MOS during the early morning of the 10/07. Once again it was an opportunistic crime, as the householder had left a window open and the offender entered and stole hi-fi equipment. Vehicle Crime As in June, July saw more thefts from motor vehicles. Four incidents were reported to police and of these 4 were in Barton on Sea. On the 06/07 a car was entered during the morning in Marine Drive and a wallet and phone taken. At lunch time on the 08/07 at Hordle Cliff an attempt was made to force open a boot. During the late morning of the 09/07 another car had its window broken and credit cards and another phone were stolen – a red car was seen to drive away at speed. Remember – do not leave items of value in your car! Youth issues We did receive report of a large gathering of youths on the beach front on the 17 July. Although they did not commit offences, the very presence of large groups causes unease. During the summer season please report any groups that appear too boisterous so that they can be given passing attention.
June 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC DEL JONES Last month saw the first upward move in the recorded crime figures for twelve months, and that was just a marginal 20 incidents, an increase thatwas expected, May being one of our busiest months. The figures for June show that we have resumed the downward trend. Recorded crime forJune in the New Milton Police area was 148 reports, which compares to 285 reports for the same month in 2004 – a 48% fall! For the first six months of the year, recorded crime is one third lower than for 2004. ‘Ethical’ Crime recording We are told that there are ‘lies, damn lies and statistics’, and that being the case we all quite rightly understand that figures do not give the full story. However, Hampshire Constabulary is committed to ‘ethical’ crime recording. That means that we stick to the nationally agreed standard for recording crime, and that we do not massage the figures. Sometimes, following the national standard can give a distorted impression, for example, because we record all assaults that are reported to us, however trivial, Hampshire is well up in the league for violent crime according to the statistics – which of course is far from the truth. Our commitment to ethical crime recording should give the public confidence in the statistics we quote, and whilst they are not the ‘whole’ story, they can be relied upon as an accurate guide.In a recent survey of New Forest residents, 51% expressed the view that they thought that this police area had the highest crime rate in the county, when in actual fact, it has the lowest! Low reported crime means that, once again, we have little of note to bring to your attention. However, when crime is low it allows officers to make more contact with the public and to give more time to preventative work, which hopefully will in itself continue the downward trend of crime in our area. Burglary Again this month the numbers of reported burglaries was low with only three reports within the last 30 days, of which two were dwelling burglaries and the other was a shed, broken into at Milford Primary School. Vehicle Crime There were a number of thefts from vehicles this month where damage was caused in order to get at items left on display. People committing these crimes appear to be targeting car parks in the area, particularly on the Cliff top at Barton. Youth issues There is still a great deal of concern about the numbers of youths gathering in Milford, and in particular, on the cliff top. I have received many complaints of drinking and general anti-social behaviour. Whilst I am working with local licensees to reduce the amount of alcohol available locally, most young people appear to be bringing it with them from home. General Matters This month I have been helping a relative deliver leaflets door to door, both locally and in New Milton. I am still amazed by the number of people who leave their cars on driveways with the windows open and the keys in the ignition. I have been to houses where the key to the front door was left in the door. Other houses where the occupants are obviously away had not cancelled the milk or had the post collected by friends or relatives. The Police often face an amount of criticism for crime rates locally, but we can all do our bit by securing our property against the opportunist criminal. Burglary This month has seen two reports of non dwelling burglaries in Barton on Sea. Tools and electrical items have been removed. Overnight on the 19th to the 20th of May a burglary occurred in the Keyhaven area of Milford where a quantity of valuable items were stolen the total was believed to be in excess of £20,000. Two Police Officers who were on a routine patrol in the early hours of the same morning stopped a vehicle on the outskirts of Lymington. Whilst checking the males’ details, furniture was located for which the male could not account he was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Police were able to locate the burgled premises and inform the 84 year old female occupant before she was aware that the offence had taken place. The male was charged and remanded in custody awaiting sentence. Vehicle Crime Only one vehicle reported broken into this month where electrical and hand tools where stolen. This occurred on the 31st of May, in Barton. Youth issues The better weather has resulted in large groups of youth gathering along to cliff top at Milford (Hordle Cliff) at the weekend in the evenings. As a consequence there has been an increase in the number of minor damage reports and litter being left in the area. These youths are often in possession of alcohol most of whom are underage. We have actively targeted theses and a quantity of alcohol has been seized. It would appear the most of the youth are coming to the village form Lymington and New Milton although some local youths have been spoken to. Drugs Stop checks by Officers on patrol in both Milford and Barton have again yielded small quantity’s of drugs. Some of which have been as a result of information passed to us from the public. If you have information about any crime you can call Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111. Beach Huts There are still a number of reported incidents at beach huts both in Milford and Barton. Unfortunately, we are at the time of year when groups gathering on the beach are setting fires and using the beach huts as fire wood. Historically, people have blamed youths for this damage but this is not always the case as other beach groups have recently been spoken to by myself and dealt with for lighting fires. I am still working hard to get the Beach Hut Watch up and running. Suspicious / Bogus Callers Once again this month there have been several incidents of salesman “cold calling” at address in both Barton and Milford. These people offer services to the house holder by using hard sell techniques. Householders have been put under a great deal of pressure to accept quotes from these people who then undertake poor quality work at greatly inflated prices. We have received numerous complaints from residents, who have been outraged at the methods used by these firms. In response to these complaints we have stopped and checked a great number of salesmen and workers over the last month as a result a number of people have been arrested. We have been working closely with other official organisations to assist us in dealing with these people such as Trading Standards and the Inland Revenue. In order to get the message across to the residents of Barton (where most of these incidents were taking place), we sent out warning leaflets to every household in the area, these were delivered by hand which was a huge undertaking. In order to achieve this we enlisted the help of the Neighbourhood Watch (including some from other areas), the Special Constabulary, Community Safety Officers and even Mrs PC Jones had her arm twisted into lending a hand. A big thank you to all those who helped it was wonderful to see the residents all working together deal with an issue that affected the whole community. As a result of their hard work and the pressure applied these people have now moved on.
May 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC DEL JONES April saw the number of reported incidents for the Milford and Barton Beat area fall to 20 from March’s figure of 34. Bogus/suspicious callers There have again been several reports this month of door to door callers offering to buy items such as antiques, gold, coins and medals. These people often put pressure on residents to sell items, and often for a less than fair price. If you are unsure about a caller ask for some formal identification that you can verify. If they are genuine they will be happy to provide it. If you are still not happy then give us a call. There have also been some concerns about charity collectors offering to take away unwanted items of clothing and bric-a-brac. It has been alleged that some of these people have then been reselling the items for their own profit. People can check whether a charity is genuine be contacting the Charity Commission Contact Centre on 0870 333 0123 or by visiting www.charity-commission.gov.uk. Burglary The number of dwelling burglaries has, thankfully, reduced again following an increase in both foot and mobile patrols in the Barton area. However, there has been an increase in “walk in theft”. Insecure doors and windows give the opportunist thief an ideal target. Please secure them when not in use. Youth issues During the weekend that the fair was in town there were an increased number of calls to the Police about nuisance and vandalism in the roads leading up to Fawcett Field. Although we respond to these calls it is important that we are called at the time of the incident. There have been several occasions this month when the phone calls have come in the following day reporting damage. Drugs We have continued to conduct checks on persons and vehicles in the area and as a result several arrests have been made. The sale and use of illegal substances is something which we will continue to target, to make our towns and villages safer places to live. Beach Huts Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending the Annual General Meeting of the New Forest Beach Hut Owners Association along with the Sector Inspector, John HEATH. There were many interesting issues raised, one of which being the effectiveness of patrols, both by the Police and private security employed by the NFDC. At this meeting I briefly outlined my plans for a ‘Beach Hut Watch’ in order to improve communication between the Police and Beach Hut Owners, and most importantly, to assist in the reduction of crime and Anti Social behaviour on our beaches. April 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC DEL JONES There were 34 reported offences during March. Damage There was a cluster of incidents of damage in the Christchurch Rd area on the night of Friday 11/03, particularly near to the convenience store. Some of the damage was caused when car badges were removed. It has been some years since we had a spate of such damage and had hoped the badge craze would not reappear. If you see youngsters hanging around car parks or parked cars in the evening please be alert to this type of crime. Vehicle crime There were two incidents of theft from cars in Milford during the month, and both occurred during daylight hours. On the 05/03, in the High St car park, a car had a window broken and a handbag was stolen. On the 12/03 in Norris Gardens another car was forcibly entered and a bag of CD’s were stolen. Breaking into a car is quickly and easily done, so make sure that you remove all visible valuables. Burglaries There have been four burglaries committed in the Barton on sea area . All appear to have been committed in the evening, and all four premises suffered a forced entry through rear facing windows. Several beach huts were also forcibly entered.
March 2005 MILFORD & BARTON – PC DEL JONES Burglary There has been a dramatic increase in the number of reported burglaries this month. Barton on Sea has been particularly badly affected. Nine of the sixteen house burglaries reported during the month of February took place there. The offenders seem to be targeting houses where the occupants are obviously away from home. Although we are actively investigating these matters, residents can also do their "bit" by improving the security around your home. This needn’t be difficult or expensive. Leaving a light on whilst you are out is fine but if you are away for any length of time a light that is constantly on is like a welcome note for burglars indicating that no one is home to turn lights on or off. Electrical timers are available from most good DIY shops or electrical retailers. These can be set to various times, allowing lights to come on at random times. These kind of switches can also be used on radios. If you are worried about leaving your home unoccupied, a house sitter could be the answer. As well as being a deterrent for the burglar a house sitter could feed the cat and water your plants. Again this need not be expensive. I know from experience that younger (responsible) family members often want their own space and would jump at the chance to help. If none of the above is practicable then at least tell your neighbours, and the local Police station, that you are going to be away and give details of how you can be contacted and/or name a key holder for your house in case of emergency. Damage There have been a number of reports of damage in Milford Village. Two in particular involve damage/theft of signs outside of houses in the village. This follows a series of similar incidents late last year. Would anyone with any information please contact me on 0845 045 4545. Drugs This month we have has several reports of used syringes being found in local toilets, both in Barton and Milford. Apart form the legal implications of drugs misuse there is also a health and safety factor to consider. If you find any of these needles please do not touch them and call the NFDC Customer Services who will arrange for their safe disposal. Beach Huts Only one report damage to a beach hut this month. General Matters Several reports this month that bags of rubbish left out for the bin men are being removed. For what reason? Identity theft is becoming one of the largest problems we face. It can affect us all in some way, either directly as result of theft and deception or by way of increased bank charges. The most seemingly innocent junk mail can disclose personal details about you and your finances. Think about what you threw away last month! A statement from the bank or cash point machine? A letter from a credit card or loan company? Even a domestic bill containing direct debit information. Just because you don’t want it anymore doesn’t mean that others can’t make use of it. Please give serious consideration to shredding your financial waste.
NEW MILTON & AREA Reported crime for February totalled 159, against last February’s figure of 281. All categories of crime continue to show a marked fall in incidence on last year, with the one exception of burglary. Three different areas of the Sector have suffered, and there is reason to believe that we have more than one burglar at work. The Beat officers will go into more detail in respect of their own areas, but in total we have had sixteen burglaries. Nine of these burglaries have been in Barton on Sea, a further four in the North Milton area, and the remaining two in Sway. In nearly all cases, access was forced to houses where the offender could get to the back of the property where he could not be observed. New ‘Pub Watch’ Scheme At the meeting on the 3rd February local Licensees agreed to form a ‘Pub Watch’ Scheme in the New Milton town area. This scheme basically allows the licensed trade to adopt a united front to deal with violent and troublesome customers. In essence, if a person is excluded from one premises then he may well find himself excluded from them all. We had the example of the scheme in Romsey, which has been up and running for a year now. It has proved to be a great benefit, not only to the Licensees themselves, who have seen a reduction in the problems on their premises, but also to the community, which has seen crime in the town centre halved. A further meeting is planned for the 9th March, when the scheme will actually get going and Licensees will have the opportunity to ‘sign up’ to it. As previously stated, initially the scheme will centre on the town area where at present there is the most interest. However, it is thought vital that the licensed premises in the outlying areas come on board so as not to leave a haven for those who are banned from ‘Pub Watch’ premises. It has been very encouraging to see the enthusiasm that the proposal of the scheme has generated amongst the town’s Licensees, and credit needs to be given to them for their responsible attitude towards their role in our community. Concerning the proposed ‘flexible’ opening hours that will be allowed under the new licensing laws, it is only possible, at this time, to say that the consensus amongst our local Licensees will be that they are likely only to seek to extend their opening times to mid-night. They would particularly wish to have that option at weekends and during the summer months.
THE TOWN CENTRE - PC STEVE JENNINGS There were just 18 reported crimes in the town centre for February - last year during the same month 61 crimes were reported. This is a very low rate of crime for a town centre and I do hope that it reassures residents and town centre users that New Milton is a safe and pleasant place to live and work. The 18 reported incidents are a mixed bag of minor crime. There is nothing amongst them that warrants hi-lighting in this report. Pub Watch I would raise the matter of the ‘Pub watch’ scheme again, as it particularly affects the town centre area. It is our experience that most of the crime in this area – when we have any to report – is drink related. This scheme, which is supported by the staff of the three licensed premises in the town, will tighten further our control over would-be trouble makers. The Romsey experience, where the scheme has operated for the past year, bodes well for the future here in New Milton. Whilst we cannot realistically hope to see further major reductions in crime, our figures being so low anyway, we can perhaps hope that this measure will see them stabilise at this low level during the busier summer months. The next step. It is anticipated that the next logical step for the town centre will be to build on the goodwill and consensus that we have found amongst our Licensees, and extend the ‘watch’ idea to the shops in the town. This will be a bigger undertaking and will not, I fear, meet with the universal support of everyone. However, that is our aim and we will be encouraging retailers to join us in it.
NEW MILTON WEST - PC COLIN STRATTON AND WPC JODIE BOSWORTH Another relatively quiet month. Reported crime fell from 52 for February last year, to 30 Damage On the evening of the 19/02, around 1.00 am, a group of 9-10 youths aged between 15 -18 years, walked through from Carisbrooke Ct into the Stem Lane area and en-route they caused a considerable amount of damage, mostly to windows. If anyone can assist with any information that might enable the offenders to be identified, it would be appreciated. Davis Field to the North Milton Estate Concern was expressed by a resident of Davis Field concerning the use of electric scooters, which were being ridden onto the estate from North Milton over the railway foot-bridge. The owner of one of the scooters has been spoken to and his parents advised regarding offences being committed. We will keep our eyes open for others using these scooters. In addition, if any of the local motorcycle nuisance is being caused by motorcycles provided with the assistance of the New Forest Council Grant Scheme, then steps will be taken to review the grant available to the driver/owner.Assaults During the month of February we have had only 6 reported assaults, and as was previously the case, the majority were between family members.
NEW MILTON EAST - PC SAM BLAKE-WATKINS I have just taken over the beat from Ray GAIT, now retired. I previously worked out of Lymington for some time, and I am now getting to grips with ‘Beat’ work and quickly trying to improve my knowledge of the Ashley area. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns regarding this beat or would just like to make my acquaintance. Burglary There were 4 reported burglaries during February in the Brooke Ave/ Barrs Ave area. Three of the four had had a window forced at the rear of the premises and the fourth had an insecure window. I would urge everyone to take reasonable precautions to address the security of their property and report any suspicious behaviour to the police, particularly in the evenings. An investigation is obviously currently underway, and local residents should please come forward with any information that they may have which might assist. Vehicle Crime In addition to the 4 incidents of damage to, or theft from, vehicles reported last month, there have been a further 8 incidents during February. Two of these were definitely theft related, as items were stolen once entry had been gained by breaking a window. The vehicles were parked in the street – Ash Tree Close and Frampton Close. The remaining 6 incidents involved damage, either to a window or to tyres. Three of the vehicles were in Andrew Lane and a fourth in Thornham Rd. Neither of these two streets is likely to suffer from ‘passing’ trouble, and so it is likely that the offender(s) live in the area. Any suggestions as to who might be responsible would be gratefully received.
HORDLE BEAT - INCLUDING SWAY, EVERTON & BASHLEY In the continued absence of PC.BESZANT from work at the present time, this months report is presented by PC Steve JENNINGS. During the month of February 22 crimes were recorded for the whole Beat. These crimes were mainly committed in the Sway area, and no crime reported for either Bashley or Everton villages. Damage There were nine reported incidents of damage in February and seven of them were in Sway. The on-going juvenile nuisance problem in the village is behind most of Sway’s reported crime. Patrols continue to be directed towards the village. We have identified the main offenders and visited parents and are gathering evidence towards obtaining ‘Behavioural Contracts’ or ‘Anti-Social Behaviour Orders’ in respect of each of them. This process does take a little time, but it is effective and relies on evidence of the local community telling us what's going on, Therefore Any information concerning the anti-social behaviour of persons that you can name will assist us in obtaining these orders. The other two reports of damage were for Hordle, both involved damage to vehicles, one on the garage forecourt and the other in Elvin Close. These two reports were the sum total of reported crime for Hordle during the whole month. Vehicle Crime During the month there were two incidents of theft from vehicles parked in forest car parks. It is usually dog walkers and visitors to the Forest who are the victims of this crime, I would remind you all again not to leave items of value in your car, wherever you park it. Burglary On Thursday 24/02, during the morning or early afternoon, two burglaries were committed in the Sway area. One at Durnstown and the other at Tiptoe. In both cases windows were forced open. Once again, unrestricted access to the rear of the property was an issue. If you live in a rural or isolated area please be suspicious of strangers, particularly if you see them entering or leaving a neighbouring property and, of course, report sightings to the police. There were also two non-dwelling burglaries during the month. One at Pitmore Lane, over night of the 17/02, where a secure barn was forcibly entered where, amongst other things, a horse box and mini tractor were stolen. The second incident was another illegal entry to the Sway Youth Centre overnight of the 24/02. On this occasion a window had been left insecure but nothing was either stolen or damaged.
If you would like to make any comment regarding the content of the Bulletin, or you have information that would enable us to target our patrols to address your local problem, your input would be welcomed. You can leave a message for either PS Dave TANNER or PC Steve JENNINGS on 0845 045 4545 ‘Crimestoppers’ – 0800 555 111 [ BACK ]
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