COMMUNITY EVENTS AND LOCAL NEWS
9 Mar 10, 7.30pm, Onehouse Parish Council Meeting, Church Rooms, Forest Road, Onehouse, with PCSO Steve Pendergast

10 Mar 10, 7.30pm, Wetherden Parish Council Meeting, The Pre school, Stowmarket Road, Wetherden, with PCSO Steve Pendergast

16 Mar 10, 7.30pm, Elmswell Parish Council Meeting at Blackbourne Hall,Blackbourne Road, Elmswell, with PC Luke Swain

17 Mar 10, 7.30pm, Haughley Parish Council Meeting, Ron Crascall Pavilion, Haughley with PC Graham Haygreen

18 Mar 10, 7.30pm, Gt Blakenham Parish Council Meeting, Gt Blakenham Village Hall, with PCSO Cat Howard

19 Mar 10, Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) Public Tasking Meeting from 6.30pm, at MSDC Offices Lecture Theatre, Needham Market, for members of the public to attend and assist in setting forthcoming police priorities for the Mid Suffolk South area.

All are welcome as this is your chance to put your concerns about any Criminal or Anti-Social issues that you may have.

ADVANCED WARNING OF NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK MEETINGS

Just to give you all plenty of advanced warning the next Network meeting for Mid Suffolk South, Neighbourhood Watch has been arranged for 7.15pm, Thu 22 Apr 10, at the usual venue, Mid Suffolk District council’s lecture theatre, High Street, Needham Market.

For those present at the meeting you will recall the date had been set for, Tue 20 Apr 10, but there is a local town council meeting on, so the meeting has been put back 2 days.

The next Neighbourhood Watch Network meeting for Mid Suffolk West, Neighbourhood Watch has been arranged for 7.30pm,Wed 21 Apr 10, at the same venue as last time, Elmswell Fire Station, School Road, Elmswell. A speaker from Victim Support has been lined up to attend and give a presentation at this meeting.

REMINDER OF THE MID SUFFOLK SOUTH POLICING PRIORITIES SET AT THE LAST PUBLIC SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM (SNT) MEETING 17 FEB 10.
1. Road Safety Issues in Thurston - Excess speed in Barton Road IP31 and problems with parking in School Road around the Primary School IP31 especially around school dropping off/picking up times.

2. ASB/Fly Tipping on the Barham Pits, Barham IP6 0PF. This priority was set on 21st January 2010 and agreed by all partners to remain

3. Indiscrimate parking outside the Woolpit Health Centre IP30 9QU is causing problems with everyday traffic and in cases has been dangerous to other road users.

To see further details of these priorities click on the following link to the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) site. http://www. onesuffolk.co.uk/SaferSuffolk/MidSuffolkSouth/

The next public meeting is on 19 Mar 10, at MDSC, Council Offices, 131 High Street, Needham Market, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. All are welcome to attend.

CRIMES THAT HAVE OCCURRED YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP SOLVE
Barham
Theft From a Motor Vehicle - Mill Lane, between 10pm and 10.45pm, 26/02/10, Offenders forced the side panel on a green Volvo horse box and as they were siphoning off fuel, they were disturbed and fled leaving the container they were using at the scene and diesel to overflow. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to Sgt Colin Curtis at the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team and quote Crime Ref: ST10/683.

Bramford
Burglary - Paper Mill Lane, between 9pm, 01/03/10 and 9am, 02/03/10, Offenders forced entry to a local residential property. Nothing was stolen. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to DC Richard Morgan at Stowmarket CID and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/691

Burglary - Paper Mill Lane, between 5.30pm, 25/02/10 and 1.10pm, 01/03/10, Offenders forced entry to a local residential property and stole items of jewellery. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to DC Richard Morgan at Stowmarket CID and quote Crime Ref: ST10/677.

Burglary - Paper Mill Lane, between 9.45pm and10.32pm, 01/03/10, Offenders forced entry to a shed at the rear of a local residential property. Nothing was stolen. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to DC Richard Morgan at Stowmarket CID and quote Crime Ref: ST10/711.

Burglary - Paper Mill Lane, at around 10.25pm, 03/03/10, Two males gained entry to a house by unknown means and stole a bracelet and an iPod, the males were disturbed and ran from the property. They are described as white, in their mid teens, 5 foot 8 inches tall and of slim build. One was wearing a light coloured top and the other wore a baseball cap. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to DC Richard Morgan at Stowmarket CID and quote Crime Ref: ST10/717.

Combs
Theft – Mill Lane, between 8am and 11am, 27/02/10, Offenders entered a local field and removed a quantity of felled logs, then drove off in a blue 4x4 vehicle. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) Martlesham Heath, Police HQ and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/697.

Great Blakenham
Criminal Damage – Mill Lane, between 7.20pm and 9.20pm, -01/03/10, Offenders dented the front bonnet of a black Audi A3, left parked and secured within the local village hall car park, by jumping up and down on it. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to Sgt Colin Curtis at the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/754.

Needham Market
Burglary - Lion Lane, Needham Market between 6pm 05/03/10 and 8.30am, 06/03/10, Offenders broke into a business garage by smashing glass in a door and stole cash. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to the Crime Investigation Bureau (CIB) CIB) Martlesham Heath, Police HQ and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/747.

Norton
Theft - Prospect Road, Norton on Sunday 28/02/10, a quantity of heating oil was stolen from a tank at the rear of a residential property. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to Sgt Colin Curtis at the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/673.

Ringshall
Theft Stowmarket Road, between Mid-day, 23/01/10 and 2pm, 06/03/10, A quantity of heating oil has been stolen from a tank at the rear of a local property. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to PC Amy Yeldham at the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team and quote Crime Ref: ST10/753.

Tostock
Burglary - Church Road, between 6pm, 03/03/10 and 6.50am, 04/03/10, Offenders entered the rear garden of a local property and removed a chicken coop, containing 2 chickens. The coop was later found abandoned by the side of the road at the main entrance to the property. As the coop had sustained damage to the roof, it is believed that the Offenders tried and failed to load the item into the back of a vehicle and left it behind. However, the 2 chickens were removed. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to Sgt Colin Curtis at the Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/720.

Please note two similar incidents have been previously reported in this Newsletter, both of which occurred on Church Road. Firstly between 3pm, 15/02/10 and 6.30am, 16/02/10, where 7 chickens, two coops and equipment were stolen.

Secondly between 7pm, 25/01/10 and 8am 26/01/10, where 3 blue Jersey hens and equipment were also stolen.

If you own any poultry, please make sure you secure your co-ops and all entrances within your property, to prevent any unauthorised access.

Attempted Burglary - Church Road, between 7pm, 03/03/10 and 8am, 04/03/10, Offenders entered the yard of a local farm and tried to jemmy open a portakabin door. Nothing was stolen. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to PC Jonathon Filler at Stowmarket Police Response Section, Stowmarket Police station and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/723.

Woolpit
Robbery - The Street, between 8.30pm and 8.40pm on Tuesday 02/03/10, an Offender entered a local retail premises and demanded money from a member of staff, who then handed money over. The offender is described as being a white male, aged around 17-25, approximately 5’6” tall, wearing a black puffer-style jacket with the hood up, black jogging bottoms and black trainers with stripes on them. Police would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the incident or who has any information. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to DC 1442 Richard Morgan at Stowmarket CID and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/702.

Theft Woolpit Business Park, Woolpit between 4pm, 24/02/10 and 11am, 03/03/10, entry was forced to a large container situated on a business park and a large roll of copper was stolen from within. Calls in relation to this incident should be made to PC Luke Swain at Mid Suffolk South Safer Neighbourhood Team and quote Crime Ref: ST/10/713.

CAR SEIZED BY POLICE IN STOWMARKET AFTER A SECOND SECTION 59 WARNING
Stowmarket Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) seized a car after the driver received two section 59 warnings in less than 12 months.

The car was seized on Ipswich Street, Stowmarket in the evening of Sunday 28th February.

Officers can issue a warnings under section 59 of the Police Reform Act for careless driving both on or off-road, or if the vehicle is likely to cause harassment, alarm or annoyance to members of the public. A driver will receive one warning and if caught offending again within the next 12 months, their car will be seized - with a £150 charge to the driver for removal and additional charges for storage of the vehicle.

If the driver does not pay to get their vehicle returned, the car is either sold or crushed. On this occasion, the driver has paid for the car to be released.

A/Sgt Barry Abbott if Stowmarket Safer Neighbourhood Team says, “The public have identified the anti-social use of motor vehicles as a priority for the SNT to address at the last public neighbourhood policing meeting. All officers have the power to issue section 59 warnings and they act as a robust deterrent to motorists who endanger and intimidate others with their careless driving.”

For details on the next public neighbourhood policing meeting, visit the SNT website at http://www.safersuffolk.org.uk

CANNABIS FACTORY LOCATED AT STOWUPLAND
In the Newsletter for Stowmarket dated 22/02/10, it was stated that a Cannabis factory was located on Gowle Road, in Stowmarket, it was also further stated that where there is one, there is usally always at least one other located near by.

On Monday 01/03/10, a second Cannabis factory was identified on Gipping Road, Stowupland.

Police urge members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity that may relate to a cannabis factory. The following tips may help people identify a cannabis factory:

· The windows of the property are permanently covered from the inside (or curtains always drawn)
· Visits to the property occur at unusual times of the day or night
· People often do not live in the premises and only visit to maintain them
· Very little or no furniture left within the property
· There may be a vent protruding through the roof or a rear window
· There may be a pungent smell coming from the premises
· There may be noise coming from the equipment, such as cooling fans
· A large amount of pots and lights may be moved into the premises when the factory is set up
· In terraced houses, shared walls may appear wet to the touch
· Large amounts of soil and pots in back gardens

The guide ‘Keeping illegal drugs out of rental properties’ is available to letting agents and landlords, giving an opportunity for them to gain one to one advice from Safer Neighbourhood Team officers. If you require a copy of the guide, or any further information or guidance on this subject, then please call Suffolk Constabulary’s Drug Reduction and Prevention Officer on 01473 613500.

Please Note another Cannabis factory was also located in Rickinghall on 5 Mar 10.

PLEASE NOTE
If your area has not been included on this Newsletter then it is highly likely that no crimes occurred, however, it should be borne in mind that Suffolk Constabulary are unable to list crimes where the complainant has declined publicity over the incident or where enquiries are at a stage when to include such information may judicially prejudice a case.

Please note that crime details published on this Neighbourhood Watch News Letter are designed only to give an indication of crime in the area and are not to be relied upon as being an accurate and up to date indication of the crime in the Mid Suffolk area.
 

WHO TO CONTACT
If you have details about any of the aforementioned crimes, or indeed details of any crimes or suspicious incidents/events, then please contact your local Police Station via the central switchboard on 01473-613500 and either ask for the officer concerned or the police station who are dealing and if possible the unique Crime Reference Number. If you or the person who has given you this information doesn’t want to call the police then please call the confidential 24 hour Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111. Thank you.

BURGLARIES WITHIN THE MIDSUFFOLK AREA - MAN CHARGED
A man has been charged with ten counts of burglary, following incidents across Suffolk in February and March 2010. Mark Davis, aged 50 and of Mendlesham Road in Brockford has been charged with burglaries at -

· The Co-Op in Laxfield on March 3 where cigarettes worth £400 were stolen;
· Washbrook Service Station on February 25 where £1,450 cash was stolen;
· Lumberjacks in Bramford on February 22 with intent to steal;
· Snax at Ellenbrook Road in Ipswich on 19 February where £600 worth of cigarettes were stolen;
· Cracknells Garage at Thurston on February 15 where £1,500 worth of cigarettes were stolen;
· Cracknells Garage at Thurston on February 19 where £1,500 worth of cigarettes were stolen;
· Mustard Pot vets in Needham Market on February 4 with intent to steal;
· Mellis Primary School on February 3 where £100 cash was stolen;
· The Magpie Inn at Stonham Parva on February 18 where cash was stolen; and
· Norton Service Station on February 25 where cigarettes were stolen.

Davis has also been charged with two firearms offences. He was charged on Thursday 4th March and appeared before Bury Magistrates on Friday 5th March where he was remanded in custody to appear before Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday 16th March.

MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHIEF CONSTABLE
Suffolk Constabulary has been praised after improving the quality of service it offers local people.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) – the independent body responsible for monitoring police performance nationwide – has upgraded the Constabulary for the way it delivers against the ten standards of the Policing Pledge.

The news comes as overall crime in the county has shown a decrease, compared with the same period last year.

HMIC graded the Constabulary as “poor” following an inspection last summer, which examined performance against the 10 points of the Pledge.

As a result, the Constabulary was one of nine forces to be re-inspected earlier this year.

The force is now assessed overall as “fair” and was upgraded in all four of the areas re-inspected by HMIC, including a “good” for delivery of Pledge Point 8 which covers keeping local people informed about progress on local crime and policing issues.

Suffolk’s Chief Constable Simon Ash said: “This is excellent news – and underlines how our officers and staff are committed to providing local people with a quality policing service.

“I am particularly pleased that we have seen an improvement in the way we keep local people informed about the work we are doing to keep their communities safe, whether through the local media, our websites or newsletters.

“And I am delighted that our Safer Neighbourhood Team tasking meetings are now open to the public, giving local people more opportunity to tell us their views, influence our priorities and get involved.

“If people know who their officers are, what is being done to make their community safer and how they can influence what is dealt with, it will go a long way to further raising their confidence that the police and local councils are tackling concerns at a local level.

“However, there are still areas where we can improve. In the year ahead, we will continue to further embed the ethos of excellent customer service into all areas of our work while concentrating on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour with local councils and other partners.”

In their conclusion, HMIC inspectors said that the Constabulary had improved its delivery of Pledge points 8 and 10.

They added: “… much progress has been made in identifying areas where more work is needed to fulfil their Pledge commitments; this is driven by the strong leadership of chief officers, the police authority and senior managers. HMIC also considers that further improvements are highly likely.”

Suffolk Police Authority Chair Gulshan Kayembe said:

“We are delighted with the decision of HMIC to re-grade Suffolk Constabulary in relation to their performance against the National Policing Pledge.

“The Authority has worked alongside the Constabulary, monitoring the work of the Pledge Taskforce, and we are delighted that their excellent work in improving service has been formally recognised.

“The Authority commends the work of staff and officers across all departments for their dedication and commitment to improving performance. We will continue to monitor this, working with the Constabulary to ensure that the improvements that have been made are lasting, resulting in a more effective and efficient police force for Suffolk.”

MONDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2010