News

Neighbourhood Watch are warning residents that it is the time of year when telephone scams  come to the fore.

They say there are currently a number of different scams doing the rounds.

"Please remember never to give any information of your banking details to anyone. The banks do not need to know your details, remember they issued you with them. You do not need to verify anything for them that even includes the security code on the bank of your debit/credit card," they warn.

"Just be very mindful of any phone calls or emails you might receive requesting these details. Can I recommend that if you do receive unwanted phone calls you register with the Telephone Preference company and you also make sure that you have anti-virus software on your computer."

Pubs and clubs throughout Folkestone and Dover are being targeted in an operation to crack down on the supply of drugs and possession of alcohol by under-age drinkers.

Special Constables have been working with Licensing officers and police dog handlers and a number of customers have been searched, with four people already arrested and given formal cautions for possession of drugs.

A number of young people were also found with alcohol, which was confiscated.

The operation comes at the start of Kent Police's Safer Winter campaign, which is aimed at safer socialising during the festive season.

PC Steve Alexander, Licensing Officer said: "We will be out in large numbers from now until the new year to deal swiftly with the minority of people who cause disorder and loutish behaviour."

A woman with an "absolute adoration of cats" has been fined £2,395 for trying to smuggle three into the UK  according to press reports.

Jennifer Briggs (39) was stopped and arrested at Dover's Eastern Docks on October 13 after animal welfare officers received an anonymous tip-off that she was smuggling cats.

She admitted three counts of unlawfully landing an animal at Dover Port at Canterbury Crown Court last week.

Judge Timothy Nash told her: "You are not just irresponsible, you are utterly selfish.

"To satisfy your own obsession about cats, you quite happily tried to bypass the important quarantine rules you know exist.

"The fact it has cost you money serves you jolly well right and it's going to cost you more money and that's the price you will have to pay."

The court heard that Briggs, formerly of South Fen Road, Bourne, had one Sphinx cat with a microchip and passport which did not relate to it and two rare Kohona cats.

Daniel Jerome, mitigating, said Briggs had an "absolute adoration" for cats and had owned Sphinx cats for years and she desperately wanted a Kohona – of which there are only 22 in the world because they don't breed well.

He said Briggs, now of Bedfordshire, could not wait to go through the lengthy process to import the cats so short-circuited things by smuggling them in.

She flew the cats from America to Germany, where they were driven to France.

The Kohonas cost her £2,500, there was no fee for the Sphinx, and the quarantine bill would be about £4,500.

Popular Hawkinge PC Trevor Moody is no longer responsible for policing within the village.

PC Moody is now working as the dedicated neighbourhood policing officer for the area of Elham and Stelling Minnis.

The responsibility of policing in the village rests with the newly appointed Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Sarah Wallace. Kent County Council Warden Tanya Clark's role in remains unchanged.

Hawkinge Parish Council Chairman David Callahan said: "Trevor was respected in the community and did a fine job. His presence will be missed.

"I am concerned about the lack of police cover for the village with just one PCSO responsible for Hawkinge," Cllr Callahan said.

Visitors to Folkestone's new shopping centre at the weekend will be able to find out how Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are working in their neighbourhood.

A team of PCSOs from Shepway neighbourhood policing unit will be on hand at the ASDA supermarket on Saturday (1 December) to give out free trolley coins, purse chains and information leaflets.

Shoppers will be able to find out who their local PCSO is and how Kent Police is working with the Shepway Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) to make the town safe.

People can also talk about their concerns regarding crime and anti-social behaviour and PCSOs will offer advice about how to keep safe while shopping.

Acting Sergeant John Weller said: "PCSOs are making a real difference in the communities they patrol and we want to raise awareness of what they do and how they can help."

"There will be maps showing who's who in Shepway and the CDRP have provided freebies to give away, so I hope we reach a large number of people," he said.

Eleven dog owners have been fined £50 in the last month for not clearing up after their pets.

The fixed penalty notices were issued by Shepway Council’s Environmental Community Officers who collared three owners in Cheriton Recreation Ground, four in Wear Bay Road, three on Sandgate Beach and Riviera and one in the Lower Leas Coastal Park.

The council team will continue to step up patrols in problem areas like Cheriton Recreation Ground to try and combat the problem.

Cllr Rory Love, Cabinet Member for the Environment said people had the right to enjoy the district’s parks and open spaces without worrying about treading in dog mess.

“Most owners are responsible but it is the selfish few who are spoiling it for everyone else. Letting a dog foul a pavement is bad enough but it is beyond my comprehension how any owner can walk away when their dog has fouled a recreation ground where children and young people play.”
 

Police resumed their search today (17 November) at a Margate house where they have already found the bodies of two teenage girls who went missing 16 years ago.

Peter Tobin, 61, said by media to have once owned the house, has appeared in court accused of murdering 15-year-old Vicky Hamilton, whose body was found there on Monday.

Yesterday, detectives found remains of a body they believe to be that of Dinah McNicol, who was 18 when she vanished after failing to return home after a music festival.

Dinah never reached her home in Essex after leaving the music festival at Liphook, Hampshire, in the summer of 1991.

Vicky Hamilton's remains were found in a sandpit in the house's garden, police have said. She disappeared from Bathgate, West Lothian, in Scotland, also in 1991.

Tobin has appeared at a private hearing at Linlithgow Sheriff Court in Scotland accused of Hamilton's murder.
 

Seven shops in Folkestone and Dover visited in a test purchase operation by Kent Police and Trading Standards officers were caught selling alcohol and fireworks to children.

The operation was held over the recent half term holiday and five of the retailers sold alcohol and two retailers sold fireworks to the underage actors that were used in the sting operation.

Part of the Safer Autumn campaign, the operation had been set up to tackle anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder which tends to go up slightly over half term, Halloween and bonfire night.

It followed community intelligence from residents and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) about certain premises suspected of selling booze and fireworks to kids.

Licensing Officer, PC Steve Alexander said: "Drunk youths cause a strain on resources especially on Friday and Saturday nights causing a nuisance and fear of crime. Certain shops do not help the situation preferring to add profits to their tills without considering the consequences to either the children they sell to or the wider community."

Meanwhile Mark Rolfe, Trading Standards Manager for East Kent said: "Many businesses take a very responsible approach to ensure that children do not purchase alcohol from them. Some, however, do not, and operations of this type play an important part in preventing children being caused harm by having access to alcohol and also in protecting communities from anti-social behaviour which can result.

"Our message to businesses is clear, check for proof of age and if you are in doubt over the young person's age do not sell alcohol to them." He added.

The retailers that were caught selling to children will be dealt with by Trading Standards legal department and Kent Police is considering making an application to the Local Authority for a review of their licences which could result in it being suspended or revoked."

Anyone with information about the sale of alcohol to children should contact their local neighbourhood policing team, details of which can be found on www.kent.police.uk

They can also call Consumer Direct on 0845040506 or log onto www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent/youcanhelp.htm. You do not have to give your details.
 

A van driver who threw a polystyrene cup and paper towels out of the vehicle's window is being sent a fixed penalty fine by Shepway District Council.

The Hawkinge neighbourhood policing team received a complaint this morning (23 October) about a van driver who threw a polystyrene cup of tea out of his window.

The van driver's actions in The Mead, Hawkinge outraged a local resident who phoned PC Trevor Moody to complain.

PC Moody made enquiries to trace the company who owns the van and spoke to a depot manager who said the driver would be subject to disciplinary action for bringing the company into disrepute.

A Shepway District Council spokesman said they are sending the driver a fixed penalty notice for littering of £50 which could rise to £80 if not paid within 14 days.
 

Neighbourhood Watch are warning residents to be aware of a spate of distraction burglaries in Shepway following a report last Thursday of a male caller purporting to be a Police Officer.

Since then there have been a further five incidents within the Shepway area.

On Friday evening (12 October) between 8.30pm and 9.00pm a male broke into a property in Tolsford Close, Etchinghill. When challenged he claimed he was a Police Officer.

On Saturday 10.50am and 11.10am a male posing as a Water Board official stole cash from a property in Greenfields, Sellindge.

Again on Saturday between 11.30am and 12 noon 2 males posed as builders at a property in Cobden Close, Hythe and stole cash.

Between 6.55pm and 8.00pm on Saturday evening a window was forced at a a property in Bartholomew Street, Hythe. The householder was out at the time.

Again on Saturday evening between 7.00pm and 8.00pm a male broke into a property in Blackhouse Hill, Hythe and when challenged by the elderly victim he stated that a neighbour had asked him to pop round and check on her.

Kent Police are asking you to be very vigilant and not to let any unknown callers into your property. Only open the door if you have a chain in place. If you are offered ID take it, shut the door tight and read what is on the ID. If you are unsure ring the police to check on 01303 850055. Under no circumstances should you let them into your property.

Please make sure that your elderly and vulnerable neighbours are aware of this advice and also make them aware of the Nominated Neighbour scheme.

Details can be obtain from Sally Coleman 01304 218151, your PCSO or KCC Community Warden Tanya Clark 07811 271303.

If you have any information that would help Police solve this crime please ring on 01303 850055.