FIRST: AN UPDATE FROM AN OPERATION WE RAN RECENTLY
Update from PS Ryan Powell, Problem Solving Sergeant for RBWM following Operation Sceptre activity last month.
Towards the end of April and into May, we participated in ‘Operation Sceptre’, the National Operation, to target ‘knife crime’.
This is business as usual for us, with one of our primary focusses, being to work in partnership, to tackle knife crime. I wanted to take a moment to highlight to you, some of the outstanding work being achieved by your local officers.
32 stop and searches, 24 of which, were “positive” mainly for possession of drugs. The majority of the individuals, have been diverted towards our drug and alcohol service to support them with their addiction. Those who chose not to engage with the rehabilitative activity, will be sent to court.
Several knives recovered, as a result of stop searches and park sweeps.
Several young persons have been diverted to the ‘Reading Football Club Divert Programme’ we are using in Thames Valley. They will receive specialist advice and support, to try and prevent them, going any further down the road of criminality.
Several schools received inputs, reaching several thousand pupils.
5 individuals were arrested on suspicion of causing GBH with intent, as part of our commitment to investigating all knife crimes thoroughly and robustly.
We led another cross policing border operation with Slough Policing area and British Transport police, to robustly deal with criminals travelling across the road and rail network.
We launched 3 drugs supply investigations, conscious that drugs often fuel knife crime.
Partners in the community, led park and public space sweeps across 8 locations in the Borough. 3 potential weapons were recovered, which I consider to be a really positive result.
Officers were deployed to carry out additional patrols, in both plain clothes as well as uniform, right across the Borough.
There was much more activity, but I just wanted to highlight some of the work we carried out that you may not see, or hear about, every day. We are only part of the public health partnership required to tackle knife crime and you, as the public, are a key part of that partnership. If you know of anyone carrying weapons, or fearful of others carrying weapons – please contact us online, via 101 or anonymously via crime stoppers.
Many thanks for all the intelligence you supply, enabling us to effectively deploy our resources, where they would be most effective.
Sgt Ryan Powell
TVP Problem Solving Team RBWM
NEXT: THE NEW PCC HAS BEEN APPOINTED:
Matthew Barber - elected as the new Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley
Tuesday 11 May 2021, 10:56am
The new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Thames Valley has been announced as Matthew Barber, with a total of 313,148 votes.
Following the election results, Matthew Barber said: “I am honoured to have been elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley. I pledge to work tirelessly for every community in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to deliver my plan to make Thames Valley safer.
“I know that the excellent reputation of Thames Valley Police is built on the dedication and commitment of every police officer, PCSO, staff member, Special Constable and volunteer. I look forward to working with you all on our shared objective of cutting crime and keeping the public safe.”
Having listened to residents from across the Thames Valley as part of his campaigning work and over the last four years in his role as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew has developed a clear plan to be tough on crime and ensuring safer communities which includes:
Strong local policing - more police officers; strengthening Neighbourhood Policing and focussing on the crimes that matter most to residents
Fighting serious organised crime - cracking down on the threat from “County-Lines” drugs gangs; to protect children from abuse and exploitation
Dealing with cybercrime and fraud - investing in the technology and resources the police need to protect individuals online
Improving criminal justice - supporting victims of crime, bringing more criminals to justice and reducing reoffending
Tackling unauthorised encampments - ensuring a fair but firm response to unauthorised encampments and reducing the effect on communities
On confirmation of the result, Chief Constable John Campbell said: “On behalf of TVP I would like to offer my congratulations to Matthew on his successful election as PCC. The force has worked closely with Matthew, over recent years in his role as Deputy PCC and looks forward working with him as Commissioner in the years ahead.”
Matthew has been to this area frequently and has been a great supporter of ‘The Food Academy’, visiting the students while the cook at The Windsor Girls School as well as attending the Banquets at the end of the course and awarding Certificates to the students.
NEXT: From Honor Ryan at Trading Standards Scambuster Group:
Hello Jeff
Hope you are well. You might be interested in this for your Alert.
I received a telephone call yesterday morning, from a resident I have assisted in the past. The lady is in her 80s, lives alone in the Ascot area and had been the victim of a loft insulation scam a couple of years ago, when she paid money for insulation, which was not required, nor fit for purpose. She then had to have it redone, by a reputable company.
Out of the blue, she has received a telephone call from a different company, who said that ‘her loft insulation needed to be inspected. It was now a legal requirement’.
She said the call was quite pushy - and - she had been pressured into agreeing to a visit the next morning.
She had an uneasy night, feeling something wasn’t quite right. The next morning she contacted me, using the information I had left with her previously.
I arranged to be at her home before 10.30 a.m., when the man, who called himself ‘Adam’ was expected to arrive.
A man did arrive, in a very smart black 4x4 Land Rover Discovery. I took his car index, along with his name and queried the reason for his visit. He subjected me - to the full sales patter.
In summary, following the unsolicited ‘pushy’ telephone call from the call centre (who will be working from a ‘suckers list’) his role, is that of the ‘inspector / salesman’, to inspect the insulation and then, suggest any remedial work. This would then be followed up by the next lot of ‘workers’ in the chain, to carry out more unnecessary work and charge a lot of money.
He claimed not to have a business card, nor any paperwork for the company he claimed to work for ! He could not tell me any of the business details and only knew his manager, by the name ‘Fran’. I told him to leave the premises and not to return.
When he had gone, the resident became really upset – she was so relieved and grateful that I had been on hand to help her, but felt helpless. It upset her that she was being targeted again and again.
She was very tired, as she had not slept well having spent the night worrying about the phone call and the impending visit.
It is really sad that these people can have such an effect on vulnerable people – it can make them lose confidence.
I have arranged for her to have a telephone call blocker installed, which will effectively prevent the unsolicited telephone calls and afford her more protection in her own home. She knows not to deal with any cold-callers who arrive without appointment and not to respond, to any communication seeking personal information.
The purpose of sharing the details of this very real and current incident, is to continue to raise awareness and encourage people to look out for their vulnerable neighbours, friends, work colleagues and family members. Tell them - not to deal with people they don’t know on the telephone, at the front door, or by post and always to get several written quotes, for any work that is been considered.
Take care
Honor
Honor Ryan
Trading Standards Officer
Trading Standards | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF
Tel: 01628 683557
Email:
honor.ryan@rbwm.gov.ukPLEASE REMEMBER OUR NHW MOTTO
I AM SORRY, I DO NOT BUY GOODS AND SERVICES AT THE DOOR – AND THAT INCLUDES – VIA COLD TELEPHONE CALLS
NEXT: THIS MESSAGE WENT OUT IN WINDSOR – BUT IT IS USEFUL FOR EVERYONE:
11/5 Tuesday Early hours. Coppermill Road, Wraysbury. Man caught on video doorbell, walking along the road trying car door handles. This is exactly the intelligence and reports of suspicious activity we need to receive. You may not have been the victim of a crime because your car was locked, but a neighbour or someone who lives nearby, may not have been so fortunate. Keep it coming and thank you, to that householder.
CRIME
I have attached reference numbers to each crime report. If you live in the vicinity of any of the crimes mentioned and have CCTV or a video doorbell, can you please check the footage. If you have any that might be of interest to the police, can you please make contact with us, quoting reference number given.
I have added a new email address below. The first email address is directly to your local Neighbourhood Team. The second is to our investigation team. Please use it to send any intelligence / video doorbell / CCTV footage you may have, which is relevant to any of the crimes lists below - quoting the reference number.
Alternatively you can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or email -
www.crimestoppers-uk.orgMAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk10/5 Monday 2.35 a.m. / 4.20 a.m. Grenfell Place. Bike locked in a bike rack stolen. An electric blue bike. Ref. No: 43210200631
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
12/5 Wednesday 7.10 a.m. Dean Lane, Cookham. House under renovation. Last week, someone attempted to break in but set off the alarm and made off, stealing a digger. Offenders have returned and this time entered possibly via a forced window and carried out a search stealing a dumper truck as they left. Ref. No: 43210203099
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
10/5 Monday 3.50 a.m. Clare Road. Owner reports video doorbell footage of a man on the drive trying the car door handles of 2 cars parked up. No entry gained and nothing stolen. Ref. No: 43210200862
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
