Crime Reduction Partnership Last year the Lewes District Crime Reduction Partnership started to introduce Local Action Teams (LATs), bringing local people together to identify and solve local, crime-related issues. This year, all LATs have their own budget for the first time, which means local people can decide where money is best spent! To date, there are five main LATs in the District Newhaven, Peacehaven & Telscombe, Lewes Town, Rural Areas and Seaford. On occasion, smaller LATs are formed to tackle very specific issues. Part of the role of the two Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators, who are part of the Community Safety team at Lewes District Council, is to co-ordinate and support the Local Action Teams (Contact details are on the back page of the newsletter). The first LAT set up in the District was Newhaven LAT, chaired by Penny Shimmin, NCDA. Newhaven LAT has funded a domestic violence drop-in, anger management courses at Tideway School and LATS GO LIVE MC-ing workshops at the Hillcrest Centre. The Seaford Local Action Team (LAT) is now officially up and running. See over the page for more information. Councillors Marina Pepper and Liz Lee (who is Chair of the Peacehaven LAT), have organised a youth festival in Peacehaven. This involved a free running demonstration followed by workshops and a temporary wind-powered youth café, where healthy cooking demonstrations, free bike health checks and hip hop dance took place. It was a fantastic success says Marina, The young people have now formed a youth action group to make more exciting things happen locally for young people. The Lewes LAT is taking forward initiatives on De Montfort Estate. It is supporting a community flat and various activities held there. Consideration is also being given to assisting the YMCA to run a youth club. The club offers a distraction from antisocial behaviour and reduces the fear of crime for both the young people and the residents of the estate. It is also looking at issues around the High Street and Malling estate. The Rural LAT is also very active and has contributed funds for a project raising awareness about alcohol misuse amongst the young people in Ringmer. It has also helped fund an awareness day which involved young people increasing the knowledge of how to ride their mini motorcycles safely. The LAT is also supporting a Speed Indicator Device project. Welcome to the December edition of the Crime Reduction Partnership Newsletter. Issue 2 By Louisa Young Community Safety Team To find out more about your Local Action Team or to report incidents of anti social behaviour, please contact Julie Thompson (Anti Social behaviour Co-ordinator for the Seaford, Peacehaven and Newhaven areas) or Alistair Parkin (Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator for the Lewes Town and Rural areas).
Page 2 Seaford Local Action Team The Seaford Local Action Team (LAT) is now officially up and running and consists of members from a number of different authorities, including the police, youth development service, housing department, mediation service, local councillors, community leisure and Lewes District Council s Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator. The aims of the group are to: Create a team of people who can work together to provide solutions to Anti-Social Behaviour and other issues in the Seaford area, Address local issues as and when they arise, Act as a network for people to communicate with other relevant authorities, Open up the lines of communication within the community. The first Local Action Team meeting was held on Wednesday, 19 th October 2005 to discuss issues arising in Lexdon Drive, Seaford. The meeting was a great success with a number of actions being put in place to address the immediate problems. The main Seaford LAT will be meeting on a monthly basis to address all issues that have been raised by the community and the Council. Immobilise Mobile Phone Theft To deal with mobile phone theft, a new national mobile phone database has been created by the Home Office. It will block stolen and lost mobile phones so that they will not work on any UK network. This will now make a stolen phone worthless and therefore stealing it pointless. To register your mobile phone on the free National Mobile phone website visit www.immobilise.com. So, if your mobile phone has been stolen or lost, even if it is a pre-pay handset, call your network service provider or call 08701 123 123 to get your phone blocked across any network. The relevant numbers are : Orange: Contract: 07973 100150 Pre-pay: 07973 100451 Vodafone: Contract: 07836 191191 Pre-pay: 08700 776655 O2: Contract: 08705 214000 Pre-pay: 08705 678678 T-Mobile: 0845 412 5000 Virgin Mobile: 0845 6000 789 3: 07782 333 333
Sussex performs superbly Page 3 Newly published figures from the Home Office s Police Reform Unit rank Sussex as the top South East force in a number of key user satisfaction surveys! The figures are based on nationwide comparisons covering victims of various crimes. The latest results show that Sussex was placed highest in the South East, when victims were asked for their overall rating of the service they received. When asked how satisfied they were with the first contact made with the police, the victims scores rated Sussex the third in the South East. In the other two categories how they were treated and how well they were kept informed Sussex came top of the regional list. Deputy Chief Constable Joe Edwards commented: These are quite outstanding results which speak volumesfor the service our people are provided with day in and day out these figures give us a benchmark to do even better in the future. Keep burglars out! Secure your home this winter! With winter evenings approaching, it is time to focus on keeping your home secure. Leaving your home during the hours of darkness, without putting on lights or drawing the curtains shows that there is no one at home. Unfortunately, every year sees a spate of early evening burglaries associated with the clocks going back. Tips to secure your home: Use an automatic time switch or an indoor light, either in a room that cannot be peered into from the road, or upstairs. Regularly change the timings on the switch. Put a time switch on a radio that has been turned on to a chat station. Regularly change the timing on the switch. Fit security lighting, either dusk to dawn energy efficient lighting that will come on automatically as dusk sets in, or brighter passive infrared activated lighting drawing attention to movement. Ensure that gates or access to the rear of the house are locked and secure. Don t forget to lock your shed. Your tools could be used to break in to your house. Trim overgrown plants don t give burglars a hiding place. Secure windows, paying particular attention to those on the ground floor and above flat roof areas. Use locks and bolts and keep all your keys out of sight and out of reach. Intruder alarms are an effective deterrent against burglars. Before choosing a system ensure it is the one most suitable for your needs. Trust your instincts. If you see anything suspicious, let the police know. If you think a crime is about to happen or is happening call 999. Join a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. For details of a local scheme or to start a scheme please phone 0845 60 70 999 and ask for the Crime Prevention Co-ordinator in your area.
Page 4 Shop Watch Update Seaford Shopwatch now has 52 members. At the last meeting on the 4th October exclusion notices were issued to two residents of Seaford, banning them from entering any of the 52 shops. Warning letters were also sent out informing two other residents of Seaford that the police are aware of their Anti- Social Behaviour towards the shopwatch members. If they continued the police would consider issuing them with an exclusion notice. Newhaven Shopwatch now has 32 members. Newhaven shopwatch is in need of a volunteer chair person and secretary to run Newhaven Shopwatch. If you are interested in this role please contact Stephen Dickinson on; 0845 60 70 999. Lewes Shop Watch Lewes shopwatch scheme has 34 members. There have been 14 people banned from the shops for theft or anti social behaviour. The next Lewes shopwatch meeting will take place on Tuesday 10th January 2006 at 6.15pm at Lewes Police Station. If you would like to join Lewes shopwatch, contact Andrew Harwood on: 08456070999 ext 63236. Tips to keep thieves away from shops at Christmas! 1. Put Smile you re on CCTV posters on display in the shop, even if you don't have the CCTV system. 2. Lock the till after each use to prevent a till snatch. 3. Consider a cheap CCTV system, which can cost as little as 30. 4. Consider mirrors in secluded areas of the shop. 5. If not already a member, join the Shopwatch scheme! Farm Watch Sussex Police have started a new scheme called Farm Watch, dedicated to helping the farming community combat theft and criminal damage to their farms, outbuildings, equipment, animals and land. The aim of this scheme is to target those who enter farm property as trespassers and commit criminal offences against them. Any farmers interested in joining the Farm Watch scheme should contact PC AD347 Stephen Dickinson at Newhaven Police Station on 0845 60 70 999 or email on stephen.dickinson@sussex.pnn.p
Issue 2 Vehicle Security Page 5 Most crime against cars, motorbikes and bicycles can be easily prevented. Below are tips on how to keep your car and motorbike safe: Cars Motorbikes Lock the doors and close the windows when you leave the car even if it is just for a short time. Don t leave anything on display. Remove the stereo if you can, tuck in the wing mirrors and put the aerial down to discourage vandals. Never store your car s documents in the car. An immobiliser or steering lock can help secure older vehicles. Keep your car keys in a safe place, even in your house so that someone breaking in cannot steal your car too. Always lock your bike and set the alarm. When leaving your bike for some time, try to lock it to something secure. At home, you can fit special attachments to lock your bike, too. Use a motorbike cover. Have the vehicle marked with its vehicle identification number (VIN). Bicycle security Get your bike security marked! Local police stations are offering a marking kit for your bike for 1.50 which includes stickers, marking kit and instructions for how to mark your bike. For a kit please contact your police station on: 0845 60 70 999 and ask for a Police Community Support Officer or the Crime Prevention Officer. Bicycle Security Tips: Get a good bike lock (D locks or combination locks are the best). Lock your bike to something secure like a bike rack or lamppost. Lock up removable parts (for example, wheels, seat) or take them with you. Think about having your bike security marked or engraved.
Bogus Callers Most people who call at your home will be genuine. But sometimes people turn up unannounced with the intention of tricking their way into people s homes. They are known as distraction burglars or bogus callers. You should always be aware when someone you don t know calls at you door. Bogus callers may be smartly dressed and claim to be from the council, the police, health organisations or gas, water or electricity companies. They can be convincing and persuasive. They may be men, women or even children. Bogus callers could use any story to get you to let them enter your house. Tips on how to keep safe when someone calls at your home: Keep your front and back doors looked, even when at home. Fitting a door chain or spy hole will help you check who the caller is. When you open the door check their identity card. Call the company they say they are from if you are not happy with who or the company they say they are from. Only let them in when you are absolutely sure that they are genuine. If you want further information about bogus callers, please phone your local crime Prevention Officer on 0845 60 70 999. New Member of Staff for the Community Safety Team! Community Safety welcomes 24-years old Julie Thompson to the team. She is the new part- time Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator for the coastal areas. Julie works Mondays, Fridays and Wednesday mornings. She is looking forward to working with the community in trying to reduce anti- social behaviour and stresses the importance of working together to reach a common goal. We need the public s help and ask those who experience Anti social behaviour first hand to come forward and report incidents to their local action team. Please see below for contact details. Contact the Community Safety Team on: Carina Hinkley Community Safety Officer carina.hinkley@lewes.gov.uk Tel: 01273 484336 Alistair Parkin Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator alistair.parkin@lewes.gov.uk Tel: 01273 484339 Louisa Young Administrative Assistant Community Safety louisa.young@lewes.gov.uk Tel: 01273 484394 Julie Thompson Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator julie.thompson@lewes.gov.uk Tel: 01273 484339