Southcote Neighbourhood Team Report

Update for February
Here is the monthly update for the Southcote neighbourhood from neighbourhood specialist officer PC Peter Duffy.

The three priorities for the neighbourhood are anti-social behaviour, drugs and traffic/speeding.

Anti-social behaviour – PC Mark Giles and I dealt with three teenage boys in Virginia Way on Saturday 2 January after they were acting in an anti-social manner towards officers. Their details were taken and officers spoke with the parents regarding their behaviour. On Tuesday 19 January Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Amelia Sergent stop searched two teenage boys in Coronation Square, following reports of them smoking tobacco and throwing firelighters near to the shelter at the location. Words of advice were given and no further action was taken.

Drugs – At the time of writing this report there have not been any reported drug offences in the Southcote area in January. The neighbourhood team is still working to gain intelligence to target drug dealers in the area. If members of the public have any information on those involved with the supply of drugs in the area I would urge them to contact the team on 0845 8 505 505 or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Traffic/speeding – On Thursday 7 January PCSO Paul and I were on foot patrol in Prospect Park when we heard the loud sound of an engine revving coming from the car park area. On approaching the area a quad bike was seen to be driven in an anti-social manner by skidding around the car park.

The vehicle was stopped and the men with the vehicle were spoken too. The quad bike and the rider were issued with a Section 59 warning for the manner of the driving. This means the next time the vehicle is seen to be driving in a anti-social manner it could be seized by the police.

The level of domestic burglaries in the Southcote area has risen slightly this month. There have been seven burglaries and one attempted burglary in January, at the time of writing this report. Offenders have been gaining entry by placing an implement through the letter boxes and then opening the door from the inside.

I would urge residents to make sure they double lock their doors from the inside and keep valuables out of sight. On a more positive note a 15 year boy from Southcote was arrested and charged for a burglary in the west Reading area, handling stolen items and going equipped to steal.

I was involved with other officers from the Reading west neighbourhood in an operation working nights to dispute and target burglars across the area. A number of vehicles and people were stop checked which helped us gain intelligence.

The latest crime information available through the Thames Valley police website shows that total number of crimes between October to December has fallen by 20.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2008. The total number of vehicle crimes between these periods has fallen by 46.4 per cent in and burglary has fallen by 22.2 per cent.

On Thursday 21 January PCSO Paul attended a presentation by the crime reduction charity Nacro. Run in partnership with the army, it is a 15 week course designed to help 16-18 year olds considering a career in the military. It helps develop vital skills such as fitness, basic and key skills.

On Tuesday 5 January the neighbourhood team carried out a street briefing at Haywood Way. We were hindered by the heavy snow which came down as we started the briefing. The team knocked on all the doors along Haywood Way, spoke with residents introducing ourselves and listening to any issues. The main concern was the alleyway from Haywood Way leading to Cockney Hill. Some residents were worried about it being an easy escape route for criminals. We provided reassurance by explaining the location is regularly patrolled. Street briefings were also carried out in Fontwell Drive and Pentland Close.

The next Street briefing is on Thursday 4 February from 6pm at north end of Circuit Lane.

Meet your local neighbourhood officers and have your say on policing priorities and concerns in your local area.

Find out more about Have Your Say meetings.

Type: Street Meeting
Date: Sunday, 28 February 2010
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Venue: Silchester Road
Contact: PCSO Paul

Type: Police Surgery
Date: Wednesday, 03 March 2010
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Venue: Southcote Housing Advisory Centre
Contact: PCSO Paul

Type: Street Meeting
Date: Sunday, 14 March 2010
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Venue: Virginia Way
Contact: PCSO

Type: Police Surgery
Date: Monday, 22 March 2010
Time: 10:00 - 12:00
Venue: Southcote Housing Advisory Centre
Contact: PCSO Paul

Type: Street Meeting
Date: Sunday, 28 March 2010
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Venue: Bute Street
Contact: PCSO Paul