Ashton Neighbourhood Watch

If a crime is in progress and you consider it to be an emergency - dial 999 If a crime has been found after some delay and there are no suspects around it may no longer be an emergency, therefore - dial 0300 333 3000 To view or print a helpful leaflet giving advice on when to call the police click here

 

Click here to visit the Pershore Rural South Local Policing Team web page.

Important Advice

New Have a Safe & Secure Summer!  

  

West Mercia is a safe place to live and burglary figures remain low. In fact, less than one per cent of homes are burgled each year and your local policing team is working hard to reduce this figure even further.

 

Most burglaries are carried out by opportunistic thieves and up to half are committed by thieves who enter the house through an unlocked door or an open window.

 

With the advent of hot weather, West Mercia Police is reminding residents to be vigilant and follow a few simple steps to reduce significantly the chances of their home being broken into over the summer months and while away on holiday:

 

• Ensure doors and windows are locked at all times.
• Fit sturdy deadlocks (British Standard BS3621) to all external doors
• Use timer switches to turn lights on in the evenings while you are out
• Ensure newspapers, post, milk etc are not left on display
• Ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you’re away
• Don’t forget your garden! Effective garden security includes defensive planting and well-kept fences and will help keep your home secure

 

To find out more, get in touch with PC 984 Gary Shepheard or CSO 6340 Simon Williams,  Local Policing Team by calling 0300 3333000, or emailing gary.shepheard@westmercia.pnn.police.uk.

 

Alternatively, visit our website at  www.westmercia.police.uk .

 

Don't be a Victim of Garden Crime

New help and advice from West Mercia Police: please click here.

 

Trading Standards Trader Register

Trading Standards have launched a Trader Register scheme - an online directory of local traders who are committed to providing good workmanship. This is especially relevant currently, in light of the series of Distraction Burglaries that have taken place in some areas, where callers will often call on the pretext of undertaking work. West Mercia's advice is never to offer work to "tradesmen" who turn up at your door unsolicited, but if you want some work done we would advise that you get 2-3 quotes first. The new Trading Standards register will also be a useful resource to find a reputable trader.

Trading Standards point out that the Trader Register is not an approval scheme, but members of the scheme have signed up to a Code of Practice and are dedicated to fair and honest workmanship.

If you are interested in the scheme, please see www.worcestershire.gov.uk/traderregister. Alternatively you can call the Trader Register Scheme on 01905 765394.

 

Advice about Bogus Callers

PLEASE REMEMBER the importance of making sure rear doors/windows are locked before answering the front door, putting your door chain on (if you have one) before answering the door, asking for/checking Identification (and if not 100% convinced by the ID to check with the callers organisation by calling the organisation on a number got from Directory Enquiries/Phone Book etc NOT BY USING A NUMBER PROVIDED BY THE CALLER OR DISPLAYED ON THEIR ID CARD). Most of the utilities will be happy to arrange a password with you, so you know that they are who they say they are if they call. It is also worth noting that many Bogus Callers claim to be from the "Water Board" - please note that there has not been a "Water Board" since 1989 - therefore anybody who claims be from the "Water Board" or similar should be viewed with suspicion.

Finally, some of these callers offer to do work (e.g. drives etc) - some go to considerable lengths to  appear legitimate (including - bogus - sign written vans). They will often do work after agreeing a price, but when it comes to pay, the price for the (often shoddy) work has escalated and they intimidate the person into paying - including in the past even driving the victim to the cash point. It is also worth noting that these criminals "trade" victims. If one group of bogus callers note that there is more cash around than they were able to steal, they will pass the victim's address on to their "colleagues" in the criminal fraternity (on the agreement that they have a cut in any "winnings"), so that their "colleagues" can target them on another pretext. So unfortunately, once someone becomes the victim of a bogus caller, occasionally, they will be targeted again - making it doubly important to do all we can to prevent them becoming victims in the first place.

 

Ashton Neighbourhood Watch is co-ordinated by Joe Aspey and Roger Umpelby together with a small team of enthusiastic volunteers. The group's purpose is to maintain a watch on our neighbourhood and ensure that useful intelligence received from the Police is shared around our community. You can help and benefit in two ways. The group needs a few more volunteers to ensure coverage around the village, especially in Cottons Lane , Bakers Lane, Cornfields  and Beckford Road . There is no arduous or dangerous work involved, just the willingness to be observant and share information with the group and your neighbours. An e-mail address is essential because this is how the group keeps in touch. If you don't want to help directly, you can still choose to receive information that the group puts out by e-mail. Whichever is your choice, please contact Joe Aspey 881539.

Useful links

Identity theft is becoming an increasing problem - it's estimated that more than 100,000 people are affected by identity theft in the UK each year, costing the British economy over £1.3 billion annually. Take a look at the Home Office website at www.identitytheft.org.uk

National Mobile Phone Register - add your details to protect your mobile phone

crimereduction.gov.uk - online information source for the crime reduction community

Identity Theft - Home Office website

National Neighbourhood Watch Association

www.icstis.org.uk - useful advice from the Premium Rate Services Regulator