Have your say grants - tackling rural crime and anti-social behaviour

 The New Forest has been granted £27,500 by Hampshire County Council to run a 'Have Your Say' grant scheme focussed at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour experienced in the rural communities in the New Forest. Community based groups and organisations, both formal and informal, are invited to make an application.

Look out for your elderly neighbours

 - that's the plea from the Safer New Forest Partnership in a bid to protect vulnerable householders from door-to-door rogue traders.

New Forest residents are urged to report doorstep sales people who use bullying tactics to get residents to sign on the dotted line for services, including replacement windows, driveway repairs and roofing.

The Partnership, which includes Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Hampshire County Council Community Safety Officers, is concerned that elderly people in particular may feel pressurised into letting sales people into their homes and may agree to costly, unnecessary and possibly fraudulent services.

Residents are reminded to ask for ID from callers at the door and not to let them inside their home if they are trying to sell something. If they are persistent or won't depart when asked, residents are advised to call the police by dialling 999 if it is an emergency, or call 101 for non-urgent incidents.

nccz

The other worry is that elderly residents may become the target for distraction burglaries where one person posing as a sales representative keeps them talking while an accomplice enters the home to steal money or property.

"Please be wary if door-to-door sales people call uninvited," said New Forest North Inspector Simon Tribe. "If you receive an unwelcome visit, close your door immediately and contact the police on 101 and if you have elderly neighbours, please check on them and warn them to do the same."

'No cold calling' stickers are available from New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council information offices or by contacting Community Safety co-ordinator Stephanie Bennett on 023 8028 5588, email stephanie.bennett@nfdc.gov.uk

Fuel oil theft alert

New Forest residents and businesses are urged to step up the security of their heating and diesel oil following recent thefts.

Thieves are targeting fuel tanks at farms, transport depots, businesses and homes in the forest due to the rising cost and the prolonged cold weather, which places an extra demand on heating. 

oil tank

Hampshire police advise:

• Secure your oil tank within a wall or fenced area. A metal cage or grille with a lockable access hatch to the filler cap will also improve security. Invest in a good quality closed-shackle padlock.
• Position your fuel tank as close to your house or office as possible - if it is near a path or road, then it is easier for the thief to target
• Security lights can deter thieves. Low energy dusk to dawn lights positioned close to the tank are inexpensive and effective. Movement detectors which operate security lights can also activate alarms.
• Oil level gauges which are automatically operated are now available which set off an alarm if the oil level in a tank suddenly drops or falls below quarter full.
• CCTV is a good deterrent to thieves, but invest in a high quality system which is capable of capturing pictures at night.
• Defensive planting around the tank is an effective barrier - thieves will be reluctant to clamber over prickly vegetation and any traces of blood or ripped clothing can provide police identify the offender.

New Forest Chief Inspector Tony Rowlinson said: "Thieves are actively targeting rural premises with heating and oil fuel tanks - don't become a victim, make sure your secure your property."

Anybody with information, or to report a theft, should contact the Police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency).

Alarmed Padlocks for sale

For details on the padlocks that are available to buy from NFDC Information Centres click here http://www.safer.newforest.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12231

The Safer New Forest Partnership has two priorities:

Intervention and Empowerment, and Crime Reduction.

Within the priorities are 9 objectives:

1. Reduction of anti-social behaviour
2. Reduction of arson
3. Reduction of domestic abuse
4. Reduction of acquisitive crime
5. Reduction of alcohol-related crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour
6. Delivery of 'Be Safe' weapons awareness
7. Delivery of Integrated Offender Management
8. Intervention and target hardening - social and locality
9. Communications and reassurance

All crimes and problems are tackled by the relevant agencies and authorities as part of their day to day work. Having these objectives focuses the partnership on developing and delivering improved responses. We work out our priorities and objectives from a strategic assessment  Strategic Assessment 2011  from which we develop What we are going to do - Rolling 3 year partnership plan. 

A monthly Operational Joint Action Group takes tactical actions against arising crime trends.

The little book of Scams (courtesy of London Metropolitan Police)

New Forest residents are beginning to report 'cyber crime'. Cyber crime is incidents where people have been defrauded or have become aware of an attempt to defraud them of money. This includes telephone or internet calling. The little book of scams also includes useful and interesting information on cold calling and rogue traders and is supported by Esther Rantzen. If you prefer to download the pdf document please click here Little book of big scams

If you would like to get in touch with us, perhaps you have an idea or a piece of work that might help us, or you disagree with the priorities or the work being undertaken please contact the Community Safety Co-ordinator stephanie.bennett@nfdc.gov.uk, 02380 285588.  Please also let us know if you have looked for some information and not found it here; this will help us continue to improve this website.