Good news and bad news

This week's blog is a bit earlier as my shifts mean I am off Thursday and Friday - time to get some stuff done in the garden and visit my grandchildren!

First of all, thanks to Ian and David for their comments - much appreciated, and I will try to keep the blog interesting and relevant.

Some good and some bad news this week.

First the bad news for Chapel. Since the beginning of the year there have been eight reports of vehicle crime in the Chapel development, Andersons Road area. Most of the cars that have been attacked were in the underground car parks. It may be that residents feel their cars are safer there and as such leave items on display. If thieves think there are easy pickings, they will break in to get them, and unfortunately that is what has happened. Residents are reminded not to leave items on display. I have had a chat with the management company, and we arranged a visit by our Crime Prevention Officer - John Bailey - who has advised of some improvements. The management company has sent a letter to all residents. PCSO Fiona Oates who looks after Chapel has also been down with some posters to remind people about vehicle security as well. There have also been seven boats broken into in American Wharf, and as that is very close to Chapel, it may be the same group of people responsible. On the good news for vehicle crime - these are the only vehicle crime reported in Northam and St Marys - normally it is spread all over.

On to cycle offences - the team have been busy. Since January 14 we have issued 13 fixed penalty notices for cycling on the pavement. Four of those were in Chapel Road where the member of staff from City College posted the comment on the blog mentioning it. Northam Road is the favourite place at the moment with 8 tickets since the 14th.

Another complaint from residents is the vehicle obstruction caused by thoughtless, or careless, parking in Northam Estate, Deanery Estate and Golden Grove. So far this year we have issued six tickets for the Deanery, 3 for Northam and 7 for Golden Grove.

Finally, we have just received the results of the Safer Neighbourhoods survey for October to December last year for Northam. This is where the Constabulary phones a number of residents to get their views on local policing. I was quite pleased with the results, here a few:

• 49% of residents said they were aware of a Safer Neighbourhood Team working in Northam.


• 33% said they saw an officer daily, 36% said they saw one once or twice a week.


• 47% said they were completely, very or fairly satisfied with level of foot patrols.


• 61% said they did not know how to contact their Safer neighbourhood Team, yet 56% said they felt they had an opportunity to make the Safer Neighbourhood Team aware of their concerns - a bit confusing that one!


• 88% felt they were very or fairly safe walking alone during the day, compared to 44% at night.


• 66% said that taking everything into account they felt the police are doing a good or excellent job in Northam

The four greatest concerns for residents are parking problems, teenangers hanging around the streets, people using or dealing drugs and vandalism/graffiti. Of those concerns, 3 are our community priorities and the other is one of our concerns, recently removed as a priority, which goes to show we are looking the things that concern residents. You can read more about our priorities by visiting the website (www.hampshire.police.uk) and either entering your postcode or clicking through the map to our pages.

As always, please send me any comments you have on the blog, or any concerns you wish us to work on.

Cheers

Dick