Neighbourhood Watch News

[Weekly Crime Report]   [Beat Surgery]   [Village NHW Coordinators]   [Your local Police Team]  

June News

Criminal Incidents

I suspect that readers pay more attention to reports on local crime incidents than they do to advice on how to avoid being a victim. It is natural to switch off from repetitious information and in any event we are almost certainly aware of what security precautions we should be taking. It’s just that we allow our guard to drop when we have an extended period without incident, or when we are approached by plausible rogues. So it is useful to take note of recent criminal incidents within and around the Four Parishes.

We could perhaps adopt the National Lottery catchphrase – “It could be YOU".

Hampshire Police: “Community Engagement”

Hampshire Police has now adopted a policy of Neighbourhood Policing that gives more emphasis to its visibility and contact with the local populace - “community engagement” in their organisationspeak. This fits well with in our Four Parishes approach of basing NHW operations on close contact with our beat PC, Bill Williams, rather than through an NHW organisational hierarchy. One element in the new police initiative is to introduce Beat Surgeries by the local PC in place of the previous monthly visits by the police van. These surgeries will give a guaranteed date and time when the beat PC will be available to discuss any problems or concerns that residents wish to raise. Dates for May were circulated too late for the last Parish News. The village websites could be useful sources for publicising these once the information comes to hand, but it remains to establish additional ways of giving these dates the widest possible circulation.

NHW for “North” Amport

NWH operations have now been revived for that part of Amport north of the A303. David Yates has undertaken the role of coordinator for this area, so adding to our present team of 4 Village Coordinators. He has started the work of building his supporting team and would be pleased to hear from any residents who would like to play a part. David’s phone number is 773646 and his email address is nhw@david-yates.com

Special PS for Amport

The NHW Open Meetings held at the Amport Inn in the last 2 years have been well received so a further meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 30 June at 7:30 p.m. PC Bill Williams will be present so there will be an opportunity to raise any matters of concern with him, and also to discuss NHW topics generally.

Beat Surgery – 7 June

The local police team will be visiting the villages on Monday, 7 June –
09.00 - 09.30: Station Stores, Grateley
09.45 - 10.15: Grateley Village Hall
10.30 - 11.00: Quarley Village Hall
11.15 - 11.45: Amport & Monxton Village Hall
14.30 - 15.00: East Cholderton Scout Hut

Brian Nolan, NHW Coordinator Amport, tel: 772007 email: bnolan@btopenworld.com

Meet your local Policeman

Hello, I am PC Bill Williams, your Safer Neighbourhood Officer. I am currently stationed at Stockbridge Police Station but have worked in the Test Valley area for the last 30 years or so. I left school in Farnborough, Hampshire, in 1977 and joined the Army Air Corps. I was never actually based at Middle Wallop but I did many courses there including my Observers course and the conversion to Beaver fixed wing flying for a tour of Northern Ireland.

I am married to Terry and we have three grown up children, our youngest is just joining the RAF. I left the Army in 1988 and joined Hampshire Constabulary the same year. I have served the county over the last 21 years in Andover, Winchester, Romsey and Weyhill, working in uniform and civilian clothed positions. Between 1994 and 2000 I was the area School Liaison Officer delivering the police and Hampshire Education Authority 'Getting it Right' package to 46 schools in our area.

I have been in the Safer Neighbourhood Team since 2005 and my 'Patch' includes Monxton, Amport, Grateley, Penton, Appleshaw, Redenham, Clanville, Weyhill, Thruxton, Fyfield, Kimpton and Shipton Bellinger. I am currently helping to revitalise 'Farmwatch' in our area.

If anyone would like to see me or speak to me, I can be contacted at Stockbridge Police Station via 0845 045 4545 - you can telephone me on the above number and ask to be put through to my radio, if I am on duty, or you can contact me by e-mail via bill.Williams@hampshire.pnn.police.uk. I will endeavour to reply to all forms of contact but please be patient, I look after a large piece of Hampshire and I also take leave and rest days so you won't always get an immediate reply.

Bill Williams, PC 1039, Safer Neighbourhood Team, Stockbridge Police Station, 0845 045 4545

Meet your local PCSO

I am PCSO Rachel Cassells and I’m the longest serving PCSO in this area and work closely with PC Bill Williams. We are seeking to take a more active role in the community and to increase our visibility in smaller areas, so don’t be surprised if we turn up to a coffee morning or attend a football practice. Most noticeably we have had a more proactive role within schools. I personally have gone around all the schools that I cover giving assemblies about my role to the children as well as presentations to parents about how to keep children safer on the internet. We have several more school engagements lined up and will also be attending residents meetings and parish council meetings. If there is ever anything that you would like my colleagues or me to attend then do not hesitate to contact us.

PCSO Rachel Cassells. rachel.cassells@hampshire.pnn.police.uk or 0845 045 45 45