Friday 8 May, 2009
15.00hrs
Hanham residents, community groups and traders are being
encouraged to take part in a crackdown on crime and anti-social
behaviour next week (11 May 2009).
Safer South Gloucestershire's eighth week of action since 2007
brings together officers from the partnership including Avon and
Somerset Constabulary, South Gloucestershire Council and Avon Fire
& Rescue Service to talk with residents about their concerns
and how they can work together to improve their quality of
life.
The week runs from Monday 11 May until the Hanham Fayre
on Saturday 16 May. Highlights include:
• Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and officers from
Safer South Gloucestershire and Avon Fire & Rescue Service will
be out and about in Hanham High Street on Wednesday, outside the
schools and going door-to-door to talk to people about the issues
they face.
• Police will be at the Gallagher Retail Park to tackle nuisance
drivers on Thursday. There have been problems at the site with
inconsiderate driving, littering and noise nuisance from revving
engines and pounding stereos. Officers will be checking that
modified vehicles still comply with the law and warning drivers
they face having their car seized by police if stereos are being
played too loudly, engines are revved, they drive without due care
and attention or for speeding. If the release fee is not paid
within the time limit, the car could even be crushed.
• High-visibility patrols on Friday involving Special Constables
and the horses as well as regular district officers in Hanham and
at Aspects Leisure Centre to tackle anti-social behaviour -
including monitoring of the CCTV systems.
• At Hanham Fayre on Saturday, there will be an Avon Fire &
Rescue Service fire engine and chip pan fire display. Police
officers and PCSOs will be staffing a community safety
display.
• Saturday will also see police running a special operation at
Aspects Leisure Centre to ensure moped riders (who are among the
more vulnerable on our roads) stay safe and understand the impact
of anti-social vehicle use on communities. This operation involves
Avon and Somerset Constabulary's specialist Road Policing Unit and
the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) who will stop
mopeds and test them for road worthiness.
• Throughout the week, council parking attendants will patrol areas
where people have complained of parking problems. There will also
be a week-long graffiti amnesty, with residents able to have
graffiti removed free of charge by the Council's Streetcare
team.
Safer South Gloucestershire anti-social behaviour manager Philippa
Isbell said: "Hanham week of action is all about working with our
partners and within the community to help Hanham residents be safe
and feel safe."
Hanham Neighbourhood Sergeant Rachael Hodges said: "This is a
really great opportunity for the Neighbourhood Team to work with
all our partners to tackle those issues that really impact on the
community like graffiti, nuisance vehicles, nuisance parking and
anti-social behaviour.
"On Wednesday PCSOs and Safer South Gloucestershire representatives
will be working together talking to people on the streets and in
their homes about local issues. I hope people will make the time to
talk – we need to know what's bothering them so we can all work
together to make Hanham safer and stronger."
Stuart Matthews, Avon Fire & Rescue Service's Community Safety
Officer for South Gloucestershire said: "We're looking forward to
playing an active role in the events taking place during week,
which will provide people with a great chance to find out more
about a wide range of safety issues that affect them, including
fire safety.
"Although all the agencies involved play very different roles, at
the root, our aims are same – to make local communities a better,
safer place for people to live and work in."
Safer South Gloucestershire and its partners rely heavily on the
local community to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour,
crime or arson. Please call them in confidence on 01454 868582
(anti-social behaviour reporting), contact police on 0845 456 7000
or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800
555 111.
To report abandoned vehicles call the Car Clear number 08000 835
115 or for more information see the
Arson Task Force area of this
website.