8th April 2008

Nip garden crime in the bud this spring With spring fast approaching, officers from West Mercia Constabulary have been sowing the seeds of crime prevention at garden centres across the county. Local Policing Teams from across Herefordshire were joined by staff from Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership at the weekend to urge people to review and improve their garden and shed security. The arrival of spring can herald an increase in thefts from garden sheds, so it is important that people take the time to ensure their valuables are stored securely. And while levels of such thefts in Herefordshire still remain relatively low, opportunistic thieves don’t need much invitation, so why give them the chance? To help householders, West Mercia Police has produced a crime prevention advice leaflet, which gives handy tips on how people can make their gardens and sheds more secure and prevent burglars from breaking in. This is available to download from the Force website and from Local Policing Teams. In addition, special packets of seeds, produced by Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership and featuring top crime prevention tips on the rear, were distributed at the weekend to shoppers at the garden centres. Any flowers that bloom as a result should help provide a colourful reminder to householders to keep their gardens secure! PC Charles Naylor, Herefordshire Division’s Crime Reduction Officer, said: “While many people take steps to protect their homes and the property inside them, they often leave valuable equipment such as power tools, mowers, garden tools and bikes in unsecured sheds or in sheds that are not strong or secure enough to protect the items from thieves. “Garden crime, while remaining at relatively low levels, is still an unfortunate reality but by taking some simple steps you can keep your property safe. We are advising people to look at how secure their garden is and if necessary make some adjustments to help ‘weed out’ the garden thieves. “People should also take stock of what they keep in their sheds - in some cases valuable items might be better stored inside the house for added security.” Here are West Mercia Constabulary’s top tips on how to make a garden more secure: · Gates, fences and walls should be kept in good repair to stop intruders getting in. · Grow ‘defensive planting’ (prickly plants, bushes and shrubs) close to vulnerable areas such as windows, fences, boundary walls and drainpipes. · Most garden sheds are not designed for safe storage and should not be used to store expensive equipment such as garden tools, mowers, mountain bikes and power tools. If you have no where else to store valuable equipment, take measures to secure your shed by using a closed shackle padlock or invest in an alarm. · Don’t leave ladders and tools lying around in your garden - these could be used to break into your home. · Mark your garden tools and equipment with your postcode using SmartWater, a UV pen or similar device. Make a note of the serial numbers on your equipment and consider taking photographs of the items stored in your shed so you have a record in case your shed is burgled. · Check your household insurance policy carefully to ensure it covers garden and shed equipment and whether any minimum security standards apply. Garden security is part of the force’s Safe & Secure campaign, which provides people with advice about how they can make their homes, gardens and cars more secure. For more details, please visit West Mercia Constabulary’s website www.westmercia.police.uk, which also provides crime prevention advice for your home and vehicle. To report a garden crime please call the non emergency police number 08457 444888.

10th April 2008

Identification Officers Tony Charles and PC Alan Link (left) and Inspector Paul Crow and Warrant Officer Ken Rock (right) receive their awards from Assistant Chief Constable Peter Wright (centre). Top criminal justice performers honoured Four members of staff from Herefordshire Division have been rewarded for their dedication and commitment to servicing criminal justice within the county. The four, who all work as part of the Safety and Justice Department at Hereford Police Station, were presented with certificates in recognition of performance delivery at a recent meeting of the West Mercia Criminal Justice Board, held at the Left Bank in Hereford. Ken Rock was praised for his tireless efforts as a Warrant Officer for the division, while Identification Officers Tony Charles and PC Alan Link were thanked for their contribution for making the unit at Hereford one of the top performing in the area. In particular they were praised for their work in introducing the PROMAT electronic identification system, which has replaced traditional ‘live’ ID parades and proved invaluable in securing increased numbers of convictions. Inspector Paul Crow, meanwhile, was thanked for his leadership of the department, which has been recognised nationally as beacon of outstanding performance for criminal justice delivery. All four were presented with their awards by West Mercia’s Assistant Chief Constable, Peter Wright.

11th April 2008