Thame neighbourhood policing update (Status: Press realease)

THIS is the latest neighbourhood update for the Thame neighbourhood policing area, provided by PCSO Diane Greenwood:
During March the neighbourhood policing team set up an operation to monitor all HGVs driving through Watlington which has a seven and a half tonne weight limit. This operation was set over a few days with the result of 10 lorries being stopped and nine having a work sheet for the area, which means that they had permission to enter the limited area. This operation will be continued and monitored.

Over the Easter period an operation was undertaken to patrol the three beauty spots in the area, Aston Hill, Cowleaze, and Watlington Hill, when in previous years these places have suffered from incidents of car crime. This operation was set up to cover all of the Easter period in the areas which would be heavily used and, despite the heavy snow storms they were in full use.

We are glad to report we had no reported crimes in these areas during this time, but we did use the opportunity to give advice to people who left expensive equipment on display despite the car crime notices around the areas.

During March, in an attempt to tackle underage drinking, an operation visiting off-licenses and other licensed premises in the Thame area were tested in co-operation with South Oxfordshire Council licensing department. This was to ensure that the premises were abiding by their licences and not selling alcohol to underage youths. As a result of these visits two premises were forced to close for a Saturday evening. Similar operations will continue around the Thame Area.

We receive regular updates from the Ridgeway national trails and the analysis of motor vehicle traffic over the past four years shows that the Icknield Way section has dropped considerably and believes that traffic which is using this section is mainly legal users. The local PCSOs in these areas do patrol the Ridgeway but we encourage other user?s to call 0845 8 505 505 if they come across any motor vehicle on the Ridgeway as soon as possible.

On May 4, officers from the neighbourhood policing team will be available to post code bicycles during a Bring and Buy Bike Sale being held at the Fire Station in Watlington between 11am and 1pm.

A police surgery held at Lewknor on 12 March went ahead despite an error in the local magazine of the actual date. We had some residents who attended and came to us with a few concerns which were all noted and these concerns will now be acted on. Future dates will be set for another surgery in Lewknor but any issues of concern can be put forward at the Watlington police surgery which is being held on April 16 between 4pm and 7pm at the local parish council offices in Old School Lane.

The Thame neighbourhood team are in the process of bringing back the Countrywatch scheme. Countrywatch has been designed to be the rural version of Neighbourhood Watch with a focus on farming and agricultural premises.
Local officers will be contacting these premises in due course to discuss the Countrywatch program.

If anyone wants any crime reduction advice please call us on 0845 8 505 505 and ask to speak to your local crime reduction advisor who can provide free crime reduction advice including home surveys.

For more information on your local neighbourhood team visit, www.thamesvalley.police.uk or to speak to a member of the team, call 0845 8 505 505.