Message to the Community No
48
February 2009
from Chris Ball,
Chief Inspector - Mid Sussex District
May I take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy and healthy New
Year. It doesn't seem five minutes since
I wrote to you before Christmas wishing you well.
Here follows the update on Mid Sussex.
Operation Balthazar
The above operation was carried out between 5th December to 3rd January
2009 and it is the Mid Sussex district festive holiday response plan focussing
on anti-social behaviour, public place violent crime and criminal damage
offences. Violent crime in the night
time economy is a concern for the communities of Mid Sussex and it is clear
that alcohol misuse is a strong contributory factor in such crimes. Throughout the campaign, a full range of
legislation and other tactical options to crack down on alcohol fuelled
disorder was used and this included an increase in police presence in the town
centres, drug testing operations at public houses, closure of public houses on
New Year's eve, licensing visits to on and off licensed premises, joint
operations with the British Transport Police at the railway stations, drug dog
operations and drink drive checks at key locations.
The same operation was carried out in 2007 and comparing the results
there was little change in the crime levels with a small increase of reported
criminal damage offences (127 offences in 2008, 120 offences in 2007) and a
small decrease in public place violent crime (38 offences in 2008, 44 offences
in 2007). However, if you look at the
performance plan year figures (1st April 2008 to 3rd February 2009) there has
been a significant reduction in injury assaults of -22.5% (-93 victims) and a
reduction of criminal damage offences by -3.1% (-42 victims).
As part of the operation 71 licensed premises were checked, 19 checks
on the door supervisors, 12 arrests for alcohol related crimes, and 53 stop and
searches were carried out by the dedicated staff.
In addition we worked closely with our partners and as part of the
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and with some funding from the Home
Office we carried out some positive advertising in the newspapers centred
around the Sussex Safer Road Partnership 'The worst Christmas present' and the
consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.
Operation Crackdown
Operation Crackdown is a unique web/phone based initiative, devised by
Sussex Police, that allows members of the public to report road users in
relation to anti-social driving of a vehicle with the aim of improving road safety
and reducing casualties. It can be seen
as a 'Mobile Neighbourhood Watch Scheme'.
The initiative involves the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and works by
the public reporting direct to the website or by telephoning the call
centre. Calls are handled by call
advisers in the West Sussex County Council Contact Centre which is staffed six
days a week with an out of hours service.
Information entered on the website automatically transfers onto a
database, providing Sussex Police with sufficient detail to carry out checks
against the vehicle and for the system to store it for intelligence purposes or
to instigate some form of intervention.
Every new vehicle report is checked against the DVLA and Police
National Computer which populates the Operation Crackdown database with the
current keeper details. Markers of
interest are instantly shown and these have been used in both crime and
collision investigations. Reports remain
live for a period of 12 months and a vehicle is automatically 'flagged up' if
it is reported more than once.
Across Sussex there were 275 reports to Operation Crackdown during
December 2008 compared to 582 in November.
The 52% decrease was due to a combination of adverse weather and school
holidays.
Within North Downs, reports increased in December to 71 from November's
54. There was a slight increase in
mobile phone offences (15 to 18) with an increase in speed related complaints -
8 to 14.
The most prolific gender/age group for drivers being reported during
December was male aged 25 to 35 years (this is consistent throughout
2008). As always the 17 to 25 year old
male group featured highly.
In general terms Operation Crackdown has been well received by the
public which has been illustrated by a number of complimentary emails. Its value is also recognised by politicians
at national and local levels because it does offer an alternative means for the
public to report incidents.
We will keep you updated on Operation Crackdown and give below details
on how to make contact:
or by telephone - West Sussex Call Handling: 01243 642222
Speed Watch
Speed Watch has undoubtedly been a remarkable success and we have
noticed its use being increased in other areas other than Mid Sussex.
Over the year we have had a very large number of individual logs that
have resulted in the same number of letters without taking into account 'second
warning letters'. True, we have had a
few complaints, but we have had far more letters supporting the activity.
Our staff have been fully stretched as this work is over and above
their normal duties, but things are going to get better for them. Our volunteers have offered to help us with
the paperwork and we are in the process of setting this up. We very much appreciate this and thank our
volunteers for their continuing hard work and, of course, to our staff for
their support.
Operation Beatsweep
Operation Beatsweep took place in Franklands Ward, Burgess Hill from
26th January 2009.
Local residents have been asked for a list of local grime and crime
issues that will be tackled by the police and our partners from VOSA, DVLA,
Taxi Licensing, HM Revenue and Customs, West Sussex Fire and Rescue and Mid
Sussex District Council.
Results from the operation will be published at a meeting for the
residents of Franklands Ward in the Town Council Offices at 7.00 pm on 11th
February.
Neighbourhood Panels
You are probably already aware that the Neighbourhood Panels are made
up of local residents, representatives from the community and a local
councillor who meet approximately every 10 weeks to discuss issues they feel
are affecting their community and that they wish to be taken up by the police.
The panels provide an excellent way to engage with the public at grass
roots level allowing us to focus on issues that are important to local people.
Mid Sussex is planning to create 17 Neighbourhood Panels across the
district. So far 12 have been set up and
there are plans for the others to start by the summer.
Police Community Support Officers co-ordinate the meetings providing
them with data that may be relevant to a particular issue and this allows the
group to make informed decisions.
If you want to become more involved with your community and the
decisions that affect it please contact your Police Station or your PCSO via
the Sussex Police website.
New Inspector for Haywards Heath
I would like to officially welcome Inspector Rob McPhilemy who has
taken up the post at Haywards Heath neighbourhood policing team. He has twenty-four years of policing
experience and knows the area very well.
If you wish to contact him or any of the other Inspectors their email
addresses are below.
C/I Chris Ball
christopher.ball@sussex.pnn.police.uk
As with previous messages, please find below the email addresses of the
neighbourhood Inspectors based at East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Haywards
Heath. Whatever fears, concerns, needs
or expectations you have, feel free to contact them.
East Grinstead
Inspector Scott
paul.scott@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Burgess Hill
Inspector Potter
marcus.potter@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Haywards Heath
Inspector McPhilemy
robert.mcphilemy@sussex.pnn.police.uk
This document created from
Sussex Police original by Hassocks NHW - February 2009
www.hassocksnhw.org.uk