News

After another recent spate of criminal damage in the area of the The Mead and Aerodrome Road in Hawkinge, PC Trevor Moody is distributing 'Graffiti is Criminal' leaflets to homes in the affected areas.

Apart from it causing a nuisance the graffiti  is costing the area hundreds of pounds and the cost will be passed on to the council tax payers he explains.

A copy of the leaflet is published below.

PC Moody would like anyone  who can help with his inquiries to phone him on 07980 770583 or if people wish to remain anonymous to use the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

Would you leave £200 cash on your car dashboard when you leave it to go shopping?

That is the question being posed by Det Insp Kenny Ingram of South Kent Police’s Tactical CID unit and comes after a number of Sat Nav systems have been stolen from cars in the South Kent area.

Det Insp Ingram said “No one would dream of leaving cash on their dashboard, so why do people leave expensive Sat Navs in unattended cars?�

Kent Police is warning motorists to be wary of people who offer Sat Navs for sale in pubs and other public places, as they could be helping to fuel the criminal market in these gadgets.

Officers are targeting known car criminals and carrying out extra police patrols in car crime hot spots and car parks.

Det Insp Kenny Ingram said: “Like most opportunist crimes, the theft of Sat Navs can be avoided:

“Where it’s portable keep it safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and suction pads, with you when you leave the car. And remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these.

“Don’t leave the equipment in the glove compartment - thieves will usually check there first.� He added.

Elderly and vulnerable residents can feel safer in their homes by signing up to the 'Nominated Neighbour Scheme'.

Village bobby, PC Trevor Moody and community warden, Tanya Clark are hoping the initiative will help to cut crime and make people feel safer in their homes.

The scheme is about asking community-minded people to double check the identity of callers who visit the home of their vulnerable neighbours. A vulnerable neighbour can be someone that is elderly and lives alone, it can be someone who has a disability whether physical or through illness or it be can as a result of an accident.

Those residents that are at risk will display a card to unrecognised and unexpected callers that will ask the visitor to call at their Nominated Neighbour's house.

Identification of the caller will be verified by the neighbour and they will accompany the caller back to the vulnerable residents home and, if required, will assist the resident in dealing with the caller's intended business.

This is a simple scheme and it encourages a community to work together to fight one of the most cowardly of crimes. The message is also simple 'do not allow anyone into your home who you do not know'.

By displaying the card there is no need for any conversation to take place between the resident and the caller. All genuine callers will be more than willing to go to the Nominated Neighbours house.

Should you require any further information contact PC Trevor Moody 07980 770583 or Community Warden Tanya Clark 07811 271303
 

NEW CHILDREN'S SEATBELT LAWS COULD COST YOU £500

From next Monday (18 September 2006) there will be changes to the Child Seatbelt Laws and all children must travel in an appropriate child car seat. 

The new legislation comes into force to help prevent child deaths and injuries and applies to all children until they reach the age of 12 years or 135cm (4ft 5in) tall, whichever comes first.

The new legislation has been brought in to make sure that the right restraint is used according to the size of the child. 

Adult seat belts are not designed for children under a certain height and it is important to keep the 'lap' part of the seatbelt as low as possible over the stomach. If the belt sits too high there is a risk of damage to internal organs, as well as the child slipping out in the event of a crash.

For a lot of families this will mean making sure an older child uses a booster seat or booster cushion where previously they may have used an adult seatbelt.

Drivers have the responsibility to ensure that children are properly restrained and if drivers don't comply with the new regulations there is a risk of a £30 fixed penalty notice. If the case goes to court, the maximum fine is £500.

Chief Inspector John Frayne: "These new laws will increase children's safety when travelling on the roads and it is predicted that around 2,000 child deaths or injuries will be prevented nationally. All too often we see the tragic consequences when road safety regulations are ignored by drivers and we will be making sure these new laws are policed effectively."

Under the new regulations there is an exemption for 'an unexpected necessity', which allows a child of three years or more to wear an adult belt on a short journey when no appropriate child seat is available. However, children under three years of age must always sit in a child seat. The only exception is when travelling in the rear of a taxi, or in an emergency vehicle. 

The new law will apply to police cars carrying children in non-emergency or pre-planned situations.

The new regulations do not cover buses/minibuses, where seated passengers aged 14 years and above must use seat belts where fitted. 

The government will bring forward a requirement for all children aged three years to 13 years to use seat belts (or child restraints if they are available) for these vehicles in the near future.

Checklist:

Check the height of the child - children up to 135cm in height (and under 12 years old), need to use a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. 
Before buying or using any child restraint, check the label to make sure it is suitable for the child's weight. 
Check that any restraint is securely fitted and suitable for the car it is to be used in. 
Get expert advice - many retailers have trained in-store experts who can advise on the best kind of car seat for a child and can demonstrate how to fit it. 
More information
For full details of the new regulations and how it will affect you, visit the Department of Transport website THINK! Road Safety.

FREE SECURITY MARKING OF YOUR VALUABLES...

PC Moody would like to remind everyone that during the school holidays, his weekly surgery held on Wednesday afternoons at the Community Centre will be offering villagers the opportunity to have their valuable possessions security marked, free of charge. 

Bring along cycles, small electrical goods, cameras and mobile phones and they can be security marked on the spot. 

If anyone has larger items, contact PC Moody and he will arrange to security mark the property in you home. 

PC Trevor Moody can be contacted on 07980 770583.

CRIME FIGHTING INITIATIVES

Your home or car could be hot property for opportunist criminals during the current heatwave, if left insecure. 

Kent Police is urging people not to leave unattended windows or doors open to help ensure property remains safe and secure while temperatures remain high. 

Open doors and windows can tempt thieves into your home or car and police are advising householders and motorists to follow a few simple measures to prevent a burglary or theft. 

'While the chance of being burgled is low in Kent, people should always ensure their home is kept secure. There have been occasions where homes have been broken into with thieves taking advantage of the warm weather,' said Acting Inspector John Merritt. 

'When it is hot people will obviously want to keep themselves and others who may be vulnerable to the heat in a cooler environment, but it is also important to keep your home, car and belongings secure,' he added. 

'Always make sure you don't leave windows open in unattended rooms and remember to close windows at night. Don't leave any valuables near to windows and never where they can be seen from the outside. 

'Householders should also be careful not to leave doors open whilst they are in another part of their house or garden.  Ensure that doors are locked and secure and make sure areas of your home that are unattended for any length of time are not accessible by intruders. 

He continued: 'Motorists should ensure their cars are secure and any property kept out of sight. Close windows, the sunroof and lock doors whenever your vehicle is left unattended, even though it may be tempting to leave these open in hot weather. Never leave your children or pets unaccompanied in your vehicle.' 

Keeping your vehicle secure doesn't just apply in towns and villages but also if you park in remote rural areas or beauty spots to enjoy the countryside or seaside. Do not leave any valuables in vehicles if at all possible and certainly not o­n display. 

By taking a few simple home security precautions the opportunities for criminals will be greatly reduced: 

·        Always lock all your doors and windows. Don't leave unattended areas of your home or garden accessible to thieves.

·        Never leave keys in hiding places outside your home – burglars know where to look.

·        Don't leave property in a porch, even if the door is usually shut.

·        Don't leave expensive items o­n windowsills where they could be seen from the street. 

·        Property mark your valuables.  You can use a UV pen or etching tool to mark property with your house number and postcode.  This will make it easy to identify and will act as a huge deterrent to thieves.

·        Where possible fit an alarm.

·        Be extra vigilant when enjoying the good weather outdoors. Areas that you leave unattended and not secure for even the shortest time can attract unwelcome attention.

·        Ensure your car is securely locked when leaving it unattended. Make sure you close all the windows, doors and the sunroof even when it is tempting to leave them open in the hot weather. Don't leave valuables in your vehicle and never leave children or pets unaccompanied in a vehicle.

·        If you are going away o­n holiday or leaving your home for any length of time, use timers o­n your lights (they are inexpensive and easy to set up).  Also, cancel your milk for the duration of your absence and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post so it doesn't build up o­n your doormat. 

To report a crime contact Kent Police o­n 01303 850055.  If you have information about any crime you can also call Crimestoppers o­n 0800 555 111.

SHOP WATCH TO FIGHT CRIME IN HAWKINGE

A scheme to keep violent troublemakers out of Hawkinge shops is to be introduced in the village.

Folkestone's Shop Watch initiative is being extended to cover the village and will help shopkeepers and publicans to exclude known shoplifters and criminals from their premises.

The Shop Watch scheme is run under the Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime. Any business which joins the scheme is given files and photographs of known troublemakers. They also have Shop Watch radios to talk to other traders or the police.

If you would like to know more, telephone 01303 850522

BEWARE OF PARCEL DELIVERY SCAM

Trading Standards are warning that a number of people have reported receiving leaflets through their letterboxes implying that a parcel is awaiting collection. 

The leaflet asks them to telephone an 090 number for further information. The call, which is charged at £1.50 per minute, is likely to last a number of minutes.

Kent Trading Standards is aware of similar scams and is concerned that people may be taken-in by this scam particularly as some might be expecting parcels in the run-up to Christmas. 

090 numbers are charged at a premium rate and it is very unlikely that genuine delivery companies would use this type of number. 

If anyone receives one of these leaflets they should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 for further advice. 

They may also wish to report the matter to the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services at www.icstis.org.uk or on 0800 500 212'.