The Community Policing Awards 2012

Have you been impressed with the service given to your community by a member of your neighbourhood policing team? Residents of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire are being asked to nominate Community Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), volunteers, and Special Constables who have had a positive impact on the their local community. The Community Officer of the Year Awards, sponsored by Reliance, recognises staff who have made the greatest contribution to addressing the concerns of local residents over the past year. Assistant Chief Constable Richard Bennett said: “The Community Policing Awards is an aspect of this job that I particularly enjoy and value. It is an opportunity to pay tribute to the important grassroots work that neighbourhood policing teams carry out in their communities. “The nominations show a range of innovative and effective initiatives carried out by neighbourhood teams to address the concerns of residents, and it is clear that these are greatly appreciated by the people we serve.” The awards will be taking place in October this year and nominations will be open from 7 July to 10 August. The categories you can vote for are: Community Police Officers, PCSOs, volunteers and Special Constables. Members of the public and partner organisations who would like to nominate someone for an award can do so by submitting a nomination form on the Thames Valley Police website. At: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/communityawards Or email communitypolicingawards@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk Hard copies of the form are also available from your local police station. Overall winners last year •Community Officer of the Year: Sgt. Rob Dalton •PCSO of the Year: PCSO Hilary Hislop •Special Constable of the Year: Simon Li •Volunteer of the Year: Graham Choldcroft Posted by Carol Nutkins Community Project Officer on behalf of Thames Valley Police

Bucks Fire and Rescue Public Consultation open now

2012-17 Public Safety Plan: Trial of alternative crewing arrangements for the High Wycombe aerial appliance.

At its meeting on 28 September 2011, and following the outcomes of a public consultation, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority approved a series of reviews of the ways in which it provides emergency response cover.

As part of one of these reviews, we intend to trial an alternative way of crewing the aerial appliance (also known as a turntable ladder) based at High Wycombe Fire Station. Currently this appliance is permanently crewed with two wholetime firefighters. However, we propose to trial crewing the appliance using two of the crew from the second of High Wycombe Fire Station’s two wholetime fire engines, who would alternate between the fire engine and the turntable ladder according to need.

This method, known as ‘jump crewing’ or ‘switch crewing’, is successfully used by other fire and rescue services across the country. It offers the potential for substantial savings by enabling us to reduce the size of the wholetime firefighter establishment at High Wycombe Fire Station from 56 to 44 through natural wastage.

Full details of the trial, and the rationale for it, are set out in this document:

http://www.bucksfire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4A702665-5887-4B65-9EC2-5CF160C183A8/0/PSP_aerial_review.pdf

The trial will run for a six-month period from 1 June to 1 December 2012. The consultation will remain open throughout the period of the trial. We would welcome any feedback that you may wish to provide by email (irmp@bucksfire.gov.uk) or post to:

Public Safety Plan, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service HQ, Stocklake, Aylesbury, HP201BD.

Posted on behalf of Communication Manager, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service HQ

by Carol Nutkins, Community Impact Bucks

After the riots: The final report of the Riots Communities and Victims Panel

Following the five days of rioting which broke out in many towns and cities across England in August 2011, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the official opposition established a Panel to investigate the causes of the riots, the effect they had on local communities, and what can be done to make communities more socially and economically resilient in future.

The final report of the Riots Communities and Victims Panel was published at the end of March and can be viewed at http://riotspanel.independent.gov.uk/

posted by Carol Nutkins

Summer burglary reduction advice

This is a Neighbourhood Alert from Thames Valley Police, Aylesbury. At this time of year, with warmer weather and people enjoying their gardens it can be all too easy to inadvertently give burglars an invitation into your home.In around 25% of offences in the spring and summer months, entry is gained through insecure windows and doors. Opportunist burglars might:- enter an insecure front door while residents are in the back garden enter doors that are closed but unlocked at night. reach through open windows to take valuable items To help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of burglary, consider the following advice:- Ensure that windows and doors are closed and locked when you are out. When out in your back garden ensure that windows and doors to the front of the house are secure. It only takes  seconds for someone to get into your home and take things without you noticing. Do not leave valuables on display in front of windows or in reach of open windows or doors. Consider fitting outside security lighting or a visible alarm to help deter burglars. Don’t leave any keys near entry points where they can be ‘fished’ or ‘hooked’ out through windows, letter boxes or cat flaps. Double lock uPVC doors when you are out and overnight – by pulling up the handle and locking, using the key. Security of sheds and outbuildings:- Sheds are often unprotected and lack basic security measures. They often contain property that can be sold on or implements that could be used to force entry into the owner’s home. By using tamper proof screws or coach bolts together with a good quality pad bar or hasp and staple and close shackled padlock, the shed owner will make it harder for the would-be thief. Bond window glass in, with mastic to prevent easy removal. Windows can also be fitted with a grille. Ensure all tools are locked away when not in use. A shed alarm can also be installed. Post-code all property such as lawnmowers, bikes, and tools, using UV pens, engravers or even household paint. Forensic marking kits, such as Selecta DNA or Smartwater, are also available to purchase. If you are going on holiday consider:- Make your home look occupied. Use a timer light and ask a friend or neighbour to move post away from the front door and open and close your curtains. See if a neighbour can park their car on your driveway. Cut the front and back lawns before you go away. Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries. Ask a neighbour to bring your wheelie bin back to your property after it has been emptied. Before your holiday, don’t advertise that you are going away on Facebook, Twitter etc. Leave important documents and valuable personal items with other family members or a bank. Double-check that you’ve locked all outside windows and doors. Set your burglar alarm if you have one. Lastly, remember to report any suspicious activity to the Police when it is happening. Don’t leave it to someone else to make the call – you might be the only one to witness it. If you follow this advice, it will greatly reduce the chances of your property being broken into by an opportunist criminal. Posted by Carol Nutkins Community Projects Officer

Exciting opportunity to be involved in new police accountability arrangements

On the 15November 2012, the Thames Valley will be electing its first Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) who will be responsible for setting the priorities and resources for Thames Valley Police, as well as supporting broader community safety activities across the region.

Alongside this a Police and Crime Panel will also be established to scrutinise the work of the PCC. The purpose of this role is to assist the PCC through providing independent challenge as a critical friend.

The Panel will be made up of one representative from each of the 18 local authorities in the force area, and two independent co-opted members.

The Panel is looking for two committed and energetic people who either live or work within the Thames Valley to serve as co-opted independent members from Autumn 2012 for a four year term. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved from the start of new and very different arrangements for reducing crime and disorder.

This is an important and high profile role. It is expected that this the time commitment would be approximately one day a month, including preparation and travel time.

Meetings will be held at varying locations throughout the Thames Valley (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire). All Panel members will receive induction and other appropriate training. Reasonable travel expenses will be paid.

For a copy of the application pack see www.buckscc.gov.uk/scrutiny or telephone Clare Gray on 01296 383610. The closing date for applications is 13 July 2012.

The Panel wishes to reflect the breadth of communities in the Thames Valley and welcomes applications from all eligible people irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual orientation, disability, age or other factor.

 

 

 

Superfast Broadband

New website launched to promote superfast broadband in Bucks. www.superfastforbucks.org

The Connected Counties website is a major component of the Bucks-Herts Broadband Project and will capture consumer and business interest in superfast broadband and provide a useful reference point for any enquiries on broadband development in the County.

Go on – have a look today and register your interest in superfast broadband.

 

 

 

Policing the Thames Valley

Circulated on behalf of Chief Constable Sara Thornton

The Thames Valley Police Prospectus, ‘Policing theThamesValley– How we cut crime and protect our community’ is now available by following the below links:

Thames Valley Police Prospectus

Thames Valley Police Prospectus (single page print version)

The government has called the election of the Police and Crime Commissioners in November the most ambitious and far-reaching reform of policing in more than half a century.

It is my responsibility to work with the current Police Authority to ensure that we are prepared for that change. An important part of that preparation is to ensure our key stakeholders and the public are provided with information about how we police our communities.

This document aims to provide an insight into how we set out to cut crime – from anti-social behaviour to terrorism.

posted by Carol Nutkins

Community Impact Bucks Rep

Healthy Communities Partnership Meeting 19th April 2012

I attended the Healthy Communities Partnership on the 19^th April 2012 held at Rapid House, High Wycombe.

The meeting was chaired by Paul Rogerson, Cabinet Member, Bucks County Council.

The minutes of the last meeting on 6^th March 2012 can be seen here.!2 March 2012 meeting minutes.

On the agenda for this partnership meeting was the Annual Report for Buckinghamshire 2011 as written by the Director of Public Health.

 Click here to read the full report Director of Public Health March 12

There was also a presentation on the Governments alcohol strategy published in March 2012 and implications for Buckinghamshire. This was presented by April Brett from NHS Buckinghamshire. Tracey Ironmonger confirmed that the next Public Health newsletter will be issued in early May.

The next meeting of the Partnership is on 20^th June 2012…..if you have any items for this meeting or comments on the previous items discussed please feed back to me.

Paul Barker

01296 744732

Olympics Update for South Bucks

Here’s an easy to follow presentation with pictures and maps of the Dorney lake site, transport plans and the torch relay route etc, as presented to the South Bucks Partnership on 28th March by Ian Barham, Buckinghamshire 2012 manager. South Bucks Partnership1 -Olympics update

 

Plans for putting Families First in Bucks

The Bucks Strategic Partnership currently seems to be putting all its energies into a new initiative called Families First. Recent partnership meetings have focussed on this as a major agenda item.

Lynda Cockrell from Action4Youth has written a brief update for voluntary sector colleagues following last week’s partnership meeting:

Families First- Community Budget for families with Multiple Problems

Community budgets are focussed on delivering ‘transformational’ solutions for families with multiple problems and  Buckinghamshire is delivering this through ‘Families First’.  The idea behind this is the development of a local solution based on an integrated approach to money and services around the needs of troubled families.  This will involve a range of partners  not only working together but also  pooling budgets.

Much of the funding for this work will be by ‘payment by results’ but the actual model has not been decided nationally. The government has estimated that there are 545 families with multiple problems in Buckinghamshire and partners are working closely to identify the families Buckinghamshire to see if that figure is correct.  It is known that the ‘Families First’ work will focus on families not in work, whose children are not attending school and who are involved in crime or anti-social behaviour.   

It is important to identify those families where this approach will be effective and sustainable in the long term.

Val Letheren is the Cabinet Member sponsor for Families First

A bussiness case is currently being produced with input from arange of partners. If you want to get involved then please leave a comment below or contact one of your VCS reps.