Wycombe West NH - The Top Three Priorities

ASB

ASB happens in a number of ways.  This month, the team reviewed evidence of a suspected brothel.  It was clear, that the behaviour, was impacting the local community.  Police attended the location, where additional facts became known, and a closure notice, was put in place prohibiting people from entering the address. This was taken to court, the Court agreed, that this address should be closed, due to the risk of ASB to the community.   

It was nice for the Neighbourhood Team to receive recognition, for their work with the community, in the Castlefield area at the Lord Lieutenant’s Event for the Mayor. Over the last year the community has really pulled together to improve that part of High Wycombe.  There have been several members of the community, who have gone above and beyond, what would be expected to make improvements to their area.  We often focus on how bad people affect a community and forget the positive effects that the good can have on everyone.

The Castlefield Coalition was opened to the public in February.  This group started following a night of disorder two Halloweens ago. The local community were outraged, by the behaviour, and the Coalition was developed to look into the problems, its causes and solutions.  A year on, and we were able to review how things had changed and if the area has improved.  Our crime statistics show there has been a reduction in burglary, a 60% reduction in vehicle theft, a 50% reduction in criminal damage, a 20% reduction in assaults. Drug offences did go up but that will be due to the increased patrols and catching those people who live their life using or selling the wretched stuff.  The response from the community has been positive, and we will be looking more closely at Oakridge this year.

We are focusing our resources on working with the council’s enforcement teams.  All too often, problems need to be sorted out by the other agency.  It is anticipated that better collaboration, will result in an improved service for the community.  A joint day of action, resulted in 30 vehicles being issued penalty notices.   We will continue to work with the DVLA, in targeting untaxed vehicles.

In February, there were 23 reported ASB crimes, three were around parking, six were around drugs use, six were involving disorderly behaviour, six were around noise from vehicles, one was a case of begging and a report of a bonfire.  ASB cases are sent to the NH team for review, to see if there are any actions, we can put in place to resolve the problem.  Parking, land disputes, neighbours smoking cannabis and noise are the most common problems and often the best way to solve such issues is to use mediation services. 

Speeding

To truly have an influence with speeding, we need to make it seen as much as a taboo as drink driving.   You would challenge a friend about to drink drive so challenge friends or family if they are speeding.  Operation Glare, our speeding enforcement operation, focuses on obtaining data, for other Agencies to use in considering speeding measures, such as obstacles or roadside furniture.   With all agencies having to reduce spending we really need to be able to evidence the need for road improvements.  The police will share data of injury accidents, and this will assist in supporting the need for councils to look at speed reduction signs (MVAS).

Where there is a higher proportion of speeding, we will look to conduct future enforcement at those locations and see if we can get the Road Safety Van sited there. 

Checks at the following locations reveal:

Plomer Hill – average speed 30, max speed 43mph.  4 vehicles out of 38 speeding.

The Pastures - average speed 31mph, max speed 42 mph. 5 vehicles speeding out of 57.

Coats Lane – average speed 31 mph, max speed 45 mph.  3 vehicles speeding out of 28.

Cressex Road – average speed 28 mph, max speed 37 mph.  2 vehicles speeding out of 31.

West Wycombe Road – average speed 30 mph, max speed 39 mph. 5 vehicles speeding out of 34.

Hithercroft Road – average speed 25mph max speed 40 mph, 1 vehicle speeding out of 15.

Our Road Safety vans and fixed cameras provide enforcement and a visual detent across the force.   The aim is to help support you to reduce the speed of traffic and make the streets safer for everyone.

Fixed sit results for Jan = 679 offences.

Mobile site results for Jan = 341 offences

Drugs

In the last month there has been 23 crime incidents around drugs raised in the West side of town.  A common theme is drugs being sent through the post, which has continued in the last month.  

At the start of the month, we executed a warrant, which resulted in the Police arresting a male for being concerned in the supply of drugs.   A fast time entry resulted in damage to the door and a rapid deployment off officers to contain the address.  Inside two people were detained, and the house then searched.   Evidence was collected, a Proceeds of Crime court case date sought, to seize monies, obtained though illegitimate means.

NOS continues to be an issue.  New NOS Signs, which show the damage that this drug causes, are being put up at affected locations.  We have secured two NOS bins, and the Ark Centre will be the first official location for this to be situated.  Here people can dispose of found cans safely.  There has been a lot of discussion around the bins, with both positive and negative areas, it was felt that to try and educate users, and do something was better than burying our heads in the sand.   The Neighbourhood Team will look to prosecute offenders when we catch them.  PC Parker Graham did catch one person using NOS who he arrested and charged.

Other news

In the last month there has been.