(Histon & Impington, Orchard Park, Cottenham, Oakington, Rampton, Milton, Waterbeach, Landbeach and Chittering)

Welcome to the Histon area update, following some face-to-face consultation with local residents we have changed our parish updates to fall in line with your local “neighbourhood”. These updates will focus on your entire neighbourhood, and will give you a bigger picture of crime and disorder in and around your village and more information as to how to protect yourself from being a victim of crime. I hope these updates will also open out some of the work being carried out on your doorstep

Over the last few months we’ve seen a shift from metal theft that is now subject to tighter regulation, as metal dealers must make electronic payments to customers. Unfortunately criminals will always find a way to make money, and have turned their attentions to fuel theft. In the last month there have been some significant thefts of motor fuel from commercial operations. I am sad to say that even multinational businesses are vulnerable , and over 30,000 litres of fuel was taken in one night from a petrol station locally. Residents with heating oil stored on their land need to think carefully about investing for the future in more secure tanks, automatic lighting and alarms. We are fortunate in many ways to live in a low crime area compared to rest of the UK. What that means however is that only limited officers are allocated by the home office to cover a vast area. Fuel theft can occur in any of our villages and towns pretty much any time, and the reality is that no number of patrolling PCSOs and Constables can totally prevent this kind of rural crime. If you’d like more advice about protecting your fuel tank you can get more info online by contacting our crime prevention officer on the numbers below.

There has been a noticeable rise in crime in Milton over the winter, a number of patterns in crimes have emerged including thefts of number plates, thefts from cars and fuel thefts. Those of you who read eCops will know that we have disrupted local drugs supply recently having executed a search warrant at a house in the village. Having had a small success this is not a battle that we have won, and I ask that residents don’t think twice about calling 999 if you see something suspicious. Milton’s industrial estates are also very vulnerable, and have fallen victim to recent break-ins. Criminals are within striking distance of the A14/ M11 and A10, so every second counts, your early call can make a big difference.

In the last few months we’ve arrested three people for cycle theft along the guided bus way, all were involved in separate incidents of theft and due to their ages have been subject to juvenile cautions and warnings. We have also arrested a man for graffiti damage along the bus network in Histon. Our patrols along the bus way over the winter have produced a wide variety of results, including the above, and we have been encouraged by messages of thanks from the public whilst we have travelled along the network to try and reassure commuters. The implementation of lighting and CCTV this year is a good step forward. I urge a word of caution however, having met several lone pedestrians on the network, lit up from several hundred meters away by ipods, mobile phone and even a tablet device. The network is safe place to commute along, but people must exercise sensible precautions, such as not displaying valuable items. We have also had a crack down on cycle lights on the bus way. It is a bridleway, and as such a highway so cyclist must have working lights.

In Cottenham we have been working closely with South Cambridgeshire District Council housing officers and local young person’s services to nip some problems with anti social behavior in the bud. I understand there has been concern about some damage in the Telegraph Street area. It remains important to tell us about any emerging problems as soon as you can, as early intervention is always more effective.

Parking in Cottenham and Histon remains a constant frustration for residents and police officers alike. A concentrated push on enforcement in December and January seems to have had little effect so far. In Cottenham a number of highways improvement recommendations have been passed to County Highways and the Parish.  Pinch points around local shop and fast food outlets are a real issue for many residents we talk to. Of the tickets we have issued, certainly in the last three months, the majority are local residents. Keeping these restricted parking areas safe is everyone’s responsibility, and I continue to encourage people to call 101 to report illegal parking. In the mean time, we have recently organised a working group in Cottenham comprising of representatives from the Parish Council, residents and business owners.

I have been in regular contact with Annington Housing and the Defense Infrastructure Organisation in regards to their properties around Waterbeach Barracks. The situation is now greatly improved with several security measures now in places such as alarms and security patrols. Two arrests have been made in relation to the theft of copper tanks, and work continues to try and convict these people.

Update on your local priorities: At this quarter’s panel meeting I presented updates on our last four priorities, set by the public from the meeting and online survey feedback. You can find the latest report here.

At this quarter’s meeting held at Histon Pavilion the public asked us to tackle the following issues:

• Parking Cottenham High Street –Working group of residents, councilors’ and businesses.
• Road Safety – A14 Junction, use of mobile phones, jumping red lights and cutting up cyclists.
• Speeding – Landbeach High Street, Out side Waterbeach Primary School, Histon High Street and Histon Rd Cottenham

The next panel meeting will be held on Tuesday 9^th July at Cottenham Village College 7:30pm onwards. If you can’t make it we will be sending links to an online survey where you can make your views known. Sign up to ecops (as below) to receive this link, of visit our website.

Contact:

The South Cambs Police team are proud that we have number of ways for you to keep in touch with us.

–          You can talk to us in person at our panel meetings or by calling 101 and asking to talk to your local PCSO.

–          By emailing histon.npt@cambs.pnn.police.uk.

–          You can follow us on twitter @southcambscops and @sgtrogerson

–          You can sign up to “ecops” and get regular email bulletins from your local team

–          We also conduct face to face consultation by door knocking in your village one a month.

–          We conduct quarterly online consultation, the links can be found on our web site, and we are very pleased to have worked with local village colleges to talk with young people about their views on local policing, crime and anti social behavior.

I hope you have found this article useful, if you do have thing you’d like to talk with us about please get in contact.

Sgt Paul Rogerson

Three priorities were adopted at the April meeting. Attendees views, online survey data and opinions collected from face to face surgeries were used to decide what local police should focus on. ( A report on the last three month period, crime and ASB update can be found here)

1) Parking Cottenham High Street – A group of about 20 residents met with Sgt Paul Rogerson before the main panel meeting. A number of views and concerns were raised by residents. James Rowley from the Parish Council also attended and noted comments from residents. A working group is to be formed between residents, Parish Council and local businesses will be invited to attend. During the main meeting discussion continued about the issues caused by illegal parking. Residents drive ways are being used by Co-op and bakery customers, parked cars are also blocking safe access in and out of drive ways. General unlawful parking on yellow lines continues to be dangerous and makes the sharp corner difficult to navigate. An email and postal update will be sent to residents in the near future in regards to the working groups first meeting. (The panel were advised that marked police vehicles have been seen to park on yellow lines in this location. Specific occasions have been identified as Police officers responding to violent shoplifters. Residents are encouraged to ask questions about this, either on-line or by phone).

2) Road safety – Concerns were raised on-line about the A14 junction with Bridge Road, Histon roundabout. Motorists jumping red lights, using mobile phones and cutting up cyclists will be addressed. Parking in Herewood Close was raised by Histon and Impington Parish council, Sgt Rogerson is to meet with the residents group to talk about what more can be done.

3) Speeding – A new site was identified at the meeting via an online report, speeding out side Waterbeach Primary School was adopted as an enforcement site. Landbeach also complained about speeding through the village, but expressed that this is likely to improve in the short term as construction of the new cycle path starts. Work on Histon Road Cottenham will continue, but will be supplemented by speed enforcement on the High Street which was raised by attending residents.

Other matters raised.

– Damage to the cross keepers hut in Histon continues, this is linked to the graffiti series.

– Cllr Gymer asked if Police were planning to deal with year 11 leavers parties as they did last year. Insp Savage confirmed that this would be continued, year 11 leavers dates had been requested from all the schools.

– Attendees asked for police to consider increased patrols in green spaces, recreation grounds and parks as the weather improves. Histon and Impington Parish informed the panel that areas prone to graffiti were also showing signs of underage drinking and smoking,

– Oakington Parish Council thanked officers for their presence on the guided bus, this has gone down very well with residents and asked if it could continue.

– Cottenham residents expressed concern for a new group of young males who were causing a nuisance going door to door, running into roads and in one case bullying other young persons. Sgt Rogerson was able to update that he believed this group had been caught involved in anti-social behaviour and had also been reported to the educational welfare officer for truancy. PCSO Fuller is also working with families on Smithy Fen to help prevent further problems.

Next meeting:

The next Histon Panel meeting will be held on Tues July 9th 2013 at Cottenham Village college, 7:30 start. An online survey link will be posted here two weeks before the meeting.

In the mean time if you wish to raise other issues call 101 tweet us @southcambscops or email histon.npt@cambs.pnn.police.uk