CommunitySafe.gov.uk

The West Barnes Ward Panel met last week and decided our priorities for the coming 3 months will be controlled drug use, thefts from motor vehicles and burglaries to houses, garages and sheds. Controlled drug use-we have received reports of drugs being used in the Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields car park and area around Shannons Corner. Thefts from Motor Vehicles- while number plate thefts have lowered there have been several incidents of vans being broken into and tools stolen. These have occurred mainly in the B&Q car park and other car parks on the Wyvern Estate. Burglary to Houses- we keep this as a priority although we are only averaging 1 a month on the ward. Sgt Chapman arrested a man suspected of committing a burglary in Seaforth Avenue earlier in the year and he has been charged with the offence. Burglaries to Garages and Sheds-there have been a few over the last 3 months with tools again being targeted. Over the next 3 months the team will be working towards preventing and detecting these offences. Recent news The Action in Merton Event over Thursday-Friday 22nd/23rd July 2010 arranged by Merton Borough Council was a success with several departments from the council, NHS, parental support groups and the Police attending the area around Shannons Corner. A ‘Payback’ group was arranged to paint over the graffiti in Blagdons Alley. Street cleaning teams have also been in the area clearing dumped waste and other graffiti. On the Thursday the West Barnes Safer Neighbourhood Team contributed by running an Automatic Number Plate Recognition operation on Burlington Road resulting in 2 vehicles being seized having been driven without insurance. Three further penalty notices were issued. While this was going on officers from other Safer Neighbourhood Teams patrolled the area handing out vehicle crime prevention letters to visitors to the Wyvern Industrial Estate and local residents. The following day we conducted a joint operation with Trading Standards speaking to all the traders we found in the area and checking they were abiding by the relevant legislation. No rogue traders were found but following information passed on by trading standards that day a company was given an on the spot fine of £300 by the Council Enforcement Team for leaving building waste in Elm Walk. New Initiative: Meet the Streets Reported Crime across the Metropolitan District is on the decrease however, the “Fear of Crime” is still ever present and tackling this is seen as one of our greatest ongoing challenges. The Safer Neighbourhoods strategy continues to develop excellent communication links within the community, and reassure the public of the continued work of your SNT to combat crime/anti-social behaviour. To this end Merton Police have created a strategy with the objective of visiting every household and retail business premises on the Ward over the next 12-24 months period. The aim is to increase awareness of the SNT’s and our ongoing work and success’s, enhance communication links, advise residents of established Neighbourhood Watch groups or start one if the street is not covered, and continue the CommunitySafe project. West Barnes SNT will be starting this strategy shortly. In the forthcoming weeks the team will be rolling out the Meet the Street initiative in Belmont, Cavendish, Consfield, Byron, Cobham and Stanley Avenues. The next drop-in surgery that the team are holding is at Krispy Kreme, Burlington Road on 24th August 2010 between 11 and 12am. If you would like to contact the team about any matter then please use one of the methods below. Sgt Graham Chapman West Barnes Safer Neighbourhood Team 0208 721 2454 email: westbarnes.snt@met.police.uk Crime Stoppers Confidential Reporting Number 0800 555 111