Thame police news round-up

WOULD you like to know more about what our local police officers have been doing to make Thame a safer place to live in and maintain our relatively low incidences of crime in the town?

ThameNews.Net will be meeting regularly with Thame’s Inspector, Martin Ford to find out, and this is the first of what will be a regular news bulletin of what our local police have been dealing with in the town recently.

If, after reading this bulletin, there are policing matters that you would like to comment on, feel free to email us via editor@thamenews.net.

OPERATION MAGMA

This special opereration was carried out between April and July this year, after a slight increase in ‘acquisitive’ crime in the area, which includes things like thefts from motor vehicles. As a result of a large team of plain-clothed and high-visibility officers patrolling South Oxfordshire, using stop check powers, pursuing known offenders and executing warrants at suspects? addresses, the result was a 5.3% drop in this type of offence compared to the same period last year.

Insp Martin Ford, who led the operation, said: “We are extremely pleased with the results from the operation. Our officers have been working extremely long hours to target prolific offenders and help keep levels of burglaries, robberies and auto crime low in the county.

“Our main aims were to disrupt criminal activity, arrest outstanding offenders and collect important intelligence. We want the small number of people who are responsible for most of the crime in South Oxfordshire to be aware that we are watching them.

“We want to reassure residents that we will pursue these prolific offenders until they are bought to justice. This operation has been specifically aimed to target our priority crime areas and now that the operation has finished our policing of these areas will continue.”

PATROLLING ‘HOT SPOTS’

Officers have increased visibility and patrols at local beauty spots where they have been spates of thefts from vehicles and thefts of vehicles themselves. The warning is not leave vehicles on view in vehicles including coats, which potential thieves may think are concealing valuables

NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION GROUPS

Local officers have been working with the Thame Neighbourhood Action Group to tackle local concerns, including speeding which is a top issue. Officers have been out on the local roads catching speeding drivers and those who use mobile phones whilst driving and others not wearing a seat belt. Number plate recognition devices have been used to trace car registration numbers to see if they are linked to know criminals or crimes.

DOMESTIC ABUSE

A new unit has been set up locally (1 in 10 relationships involve domestic abuse at some time). Specially trained officers will meet victims in a cafe or other neutral place and offer mediation and access to support groups and other advice. Call the Helpline 0800 731 0055

COUNTRY WATCH

Our local Community Officer and Wildlife Crime Officer, PC Russell Hounslow, has been involved in threats to local water vole habitats, hare coursing and Plant thefts and is currently organising a conference for local gamekeepers. Russell reports that illegal Traveller incursions are reducing in number in the district.

CCTV

CCTV cameras continue to aid the observation and evidence collecting for crimes and other incidents that occur in the town centre, and often help directly in bringing offenders to court.