October 2009
Northants Volunteer Bureau
A South Northants 50+ Forum is being launched with a completely free event at:
Towcester Town Hall, Market Square, Towcester - Monday 2 November from 2pm to 4pm.
As part of the Northants 50+ Network, the new Forum is aimed at giving older people in South Northants an opportunity to have their say and influence organisations and councils on how services are developed and delivered - while also having a lot of fun! Go to www.snvb.org.uk to find out more.
The programme will include health checks, Wii Fit demonstrations, a laughter workshop, information stands, guest speakers, refreshments and prize draw. Please pass on this information to any residents you know who might be interested in attending. We hope that you will come and join us.
Thank you
Date and Time:
Nov 2 2009 - 2:00pm
Venue:
Towcester Town Hall 22/10/09 Scam Mail
This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police on behalf of Trading Standards to all NHW.
Northamptonshire Trading Standards have advised us of a website called Think Jessica which relays the shocking facts behind Scam Mail involving elderly generation.
Criminals are accessing the homes, minds and bank accounts of millions of elderly people.
Scam Mail is NOT Junk Mail, registering with the Mail Preference Service, will not reduce or stop it from being delivered.
- Criminals worldwide are sending millions of scam letters into the UK.
- Scammers can have mail disguised with the Royal Mail printed stamp, to give it the impression it has originated from the UK.
- They hunt and prey on our most vulnerable.
- Scam mail tricks, befriends, threatens and often swears the victim to secrecy.
- After replying to the first "tempter" letter victims names are put on a lists which is sold to other criminals all over the world.
- A chronic scam victim is someone repeatedly taken in by scams. This may be because they are over trusting, socially isolated, or suffer from a mental incapacity such as confusion, memory loss or dementia.
- To receive over 100 letters a day is not unusual for a chronic victim
- It has been know that some victims will empty bank accounts and sell their homes to keep up with the scammer's demands.
- Victims can be harassed and threatened by phone calls.
For more information please visit the Think Jessica web site on http://www.thinkjessica.com
For further help and advice contact www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/northants or telephone them on 01604 707900
20/10/09 Smartwater
At a couple of recent Neighbourhood watch discussions, the question has been raised regarding our continued support for the SmartWater Forensic Marking system as part of our strategy to reduce burglary on the area. I can absolutely confirm that SmartWater is a key part of that strategy.
Any prisoner bought into our custody is checked for SmartWater before being placed in a cell. All our neighbouring Police Forces have exactly the same set-up to deal with criminals who operate cross border. All property either recovered from suspects or handed in as found property will be checked before it is booked into our property offices. Every patrol vehicle you see out on the streets and all burglary search kits have UV kit on board with an expectation of thorough use when checking persons, property or searching suspect's homes. Second Hand stores and Cash Converters in the area are being issued with UV lamps and signing agreements to checking property before they take it in.
Forensic marking is also a key part of our focused work aiming to reduce acquisitive crime on burglary hotspots. We have a sustained drop in burglary on the Thorplands are of over 55% since we rolled out SmartWater as part of a crime reduction project in April. More recently the Lumbertubs and Lings areas of Northampton have seen a 67% reduction in burglary dwelling against the same period last year. SmartWater again was one of the key measures rolled out as part of that project.
19/10/09 Burglary
This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police to all residents in Kings Sutton, Culworth and the surrounding areas.
Please be aware that the village hall in Cockley was broken in to sometime between 20:30 Thursday 16 October and 08:30 Saturday 17 October. In this incident the offenders removed wooden panels from the side of a shed to give access to the main village hall. Once inside the offenders opened the front door from within and removed a ride on lawnmower.
Please remember to secure all sheds, garages and out buildings, as they may contain items that could assist an offender in entering your home. If you have any information in relation to this incident please report using the dedicated Watch number 01604 432436 alternatively contact Northamptonshire West Police or Crimestoppers on the numbers above quoting WB/CMS/986/09.
Thank you
Meeting minutes September 2009
MINUTES OF THE 22nd MEETING OF AYNHO HISTORY SOCIETY HELD AT AYNHO VILLAGE HALL ON WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2009
Present: – Brian Reynolds - Chairman
Peter Cole – Secretary. At least 30 other members and guests attended.
1 Correspondence
The Secretary reported on a meeting of the Cartwright of Aynho Archive Trust. Sufficient money had been raised not just to save the Archive, but also to employ an archivist to list it all before putting the most interesting items it on the internet. He has now finished examining it, and has prepared a list of the contents.
Aynho Rightracks Roadworks
Attached is the plan of what is proposed for Aynho. This work is planned for January & February 2010. It will involve some road closures (a few days) during resurfacing work.
The work commenced January 25th on the stretch between Portway and Cartwright Gardens.
9/10/09 Burglary
This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police to all residents in the Kings Sutton and Croughton areas.
Please be aware that a distraction burglary took place yesterday evening at around 21.00 at a property in Hinton-in-the-Hedges whereby an elderly female owner discovered a male inside her home who claimed to be a security officer. Cash was found to missing from her handbag.
We would like to remind you, 'If you're not sure, DON'T open the door', you are never required to open your door. Legitimate callers will generally carry some form of identification, and be happy to show this to you.
If you are concerned about a caller at your door or suspect that distraction burglars or rogue doorstep traders are operating in your community, please call our dedicated Doorstep crime Action Network (DAN) number 0345 23 07 702. You can read about the tactics these criminals use at www.northants.police.uk/lookout
** PLEASE REMEMBER: If a crime is in progress you must call 999 **
If you believe you have any information in relation to this incident please report using the dedicated Watch number 01604 432436 alternatively contact Northamptonshire West Police or Crimestoppers on the numbers below quoting WB/CMS/894/09.
6/10/09 Halloween and Bonfire Night
Halloween
Calls to the police about anti-social behaviour have traditionally tended to increase during October and November, the Halloween and fireworks season.
Not everyone enjoys Halloween and the anti-social behaviour that comes from people playing pranks. The message is simple, have fun but if your behaviour is anti-social, it won't be tolerated. Some guidelines for people planning to trick or treat are: ·
Parents or a responsible adult should always accompany children to make sure they stay safe ·
Parents should identify neighbours who are willing to have "trick or treat" calls and make them aware of the time you plan to call ·
Discuss what tricks are acceptable with your children ·
Trick or treating is an activity for very young children and parents should discourage older children and teenagers.
As a general rule, if youngsters are old enough to trick or treat on their own, they are too old to do it. ·
Keep your tricks within the law - anything that results in damage is an offence and will be dealt with as such.
Do NOT approach houses with the 'NO Trick or Treating' signs. They are there for a reason.
Always keep to well-lit areas.
Wear bright clothing and always carry a torch.
Remember road safety
Lastly, Do not answer the door to unexpected or uninvited callers keep doors and windows closed and locked at all times of the day and night
Bonfire Night
Fireworks in the run up to Bonfire night, people who are thinking of playing with fireworks this year could get their fingers burned in more ways than one.
It is illegal to sell fireworks to anyone under 18 years of age. Maximum penalty of £5000 and/or six months in prison
It is illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am (Bonfire night extended until 12 midnight)
5/10/09 Burglary and Theft from Vehicle
This is a message from Northamptonshire West Police to all residents in the Brackley area of two recent incidents.
The lock of a steel storage container in the garden of a property in The Chestnuts, Hinton-in-the-Hedges was broken into between the hours of 09.00 Monday 28 September and 09.00 Friday 2 October and various items of garden equipment removed.
The window of a red hatchback Volkswagen Scirocco, registration E984DPM parked in Dairy Ground, Kings Sutton was stolen in the early hours of Saturday morning 4 October.
If you have any information in relation to the above incidents or if you should see this vehicle please report stating the location and direction of travel using the dedicated Watch number 01604 432436 alternatively contact Northamptonshire West Police or Crimestoppers on the numbers above quoting WB/CMS/845/09.
Thank you
