Chidham and Hambrook Village - everyday

Chichester Neighbourhood Policing Teams are continually seeking ways to improve how we engage with the community and make ourselves identifiable, accessible and responsive to your needs and concerns.

We introduced Neighbourhood Management Panels in September 2008 and will continue to develop and enhance them during 2009. We have committed to expanding this concept with the formation of twenty four panels within Chichester District consisting of local persons representative of the community in which they live. This approach will allow you the community to choose your own priorities which the police and partner agencies will work together on to solve. Examples of priorities already set by existing panels within the district are involve issues such as speeding in villages and anti social behaviour in set locations to name but a few.

Interested in becoming involved in a Neighbourhood Panel for your area? or if you would simply like further information please contact myself either by e mail or leave me a message on my voicemail (Tel 0845 60 70 999 Extn: 27372) and I will happily get back to you.

Jan 24th 2009. Thefts of plants or gardening equipment

Over the past few years a number of horticulturists and growers have been targeted by burglars during the hours of darkness resulting in the theft of bedding and other high value plants.

Please be aware of this Alert especially if offered Cheap plants or gardening equipment .If you are suspicious of anyone offering these items for sale Sussex Police would like to know about it.

It has now come to that time of the year when orders are being prepared for bringing on prior to delivery and this stock is now at it's most vulnerable stage. Stock replacement values are quadrupled when taking into consideration buying in new plants, additional labour costs and penalty charges for late delivery to customers.

Karen says: I have been a Police Community Support Officer since October 2008. Prior to joining Sussex Police Force I worked in the education sector helping International students find suitable courses. I enjoy working as part of a team and in a varied, challenging and unpredictable environment. I felt that being a PCSO could fulfil this as I interact with the public in a variety of situations and everyday brings a new challenge.
I am interested in continuing to build essential links between the police and the local community, hopefully helping reduce low level crime and anti-sociable behaviour by being an approachable presence on the streets of Bosham, Fishbourne, Chidham and Hambrook.

I would like to wish everyone a happy and crime free 2009.
Dealing with antisocial behaviour, vehicle theft and criminal damage remain a priority in some of our villages at this time so please continue to report all incidents to the police as your assistance in dealing with crime is vital in the fight against crime. Southbourne has recently suffered a spate of this kind of criminal activity, I happy to report we are following several lines of investigation in to these incidents.

Can you help with any of the following? Chichester District Press Release 15/12/2008 District Press Liaison: Sergeant Anna Gent 0845 60 70 999 ext. 80349
Theft of Outboard Motors In the early hours of Saturday 6 th December 2008, at Lansdale Marine, Leisure & Property LLP, in Main Road, Birdham, intruders entered the showroom via the front door and stole 5 Yamaha outboard motors worth approximately £4000. It is believed that the thieves must have been in possession of a vehicle in order to remove the motors from the premises. The model numbers of the stolen outboard motors are F4AMHS, 5CMHS and 6CMHS. PC Ben Nield from Chichester Police Station would like to hear from anyone who has any information regarding the stolen outboard motors. He can be contacted on 0845 60 70 999 , quoting crime reference number WC2/134220/08. Alternatively anyone with information can contact CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Parking issues persist at all schools, mainly at drop off/pick up times. Please can all drivers remember that the safety of the children is paramount and it is a dangerous practice to park in designated safety zones i.e. YELLOW lines or ZIG ZAGs. Please park legally and safely. Fixed Penalty Notices will be issued. I will continue to liaise with the schools in an effort to combat the problem.
Fishbourne Southbourne has experienced serious problems with people parking carelessly around the Train stations at School pick up and drop off times, I will be attending at these times to try to ascertain the extent of this in the next few weeks.
Regular welfare checks on known vulnerable people in all villages are being carried out by me especially during these colder months. Please be aware of your neighbours and let me know if there is a vulnerable person living near you.
The Spanish Lottery is another scam that has reared its head again,if you did not buy a ticket for a lottery then there is little chance of you being a winner.Do not give people your bank details to anyone you do not know and even then be very carefull.If in doubt report it.

In the early morning of 22nd November 20008 Police in Chichester received several reports of a group of young persons throwing rocks or stones from a bridge above the A27 Chichester by-pass and from the dual carriageway itself towards passing motorists. This was believed to be around the area of the Broad Road bridge in between Fishbourne roundabout and Havant. Police attended and searched the area with a negative result. Several vehicles, including a police vehicle sustained damage.
Police would appeal for anyone with any information regarding these incidents to make contact with either PC Carwardine or PC Gilmour at Chichester Police station on 0845 60 70 999 , or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.

PCSO Phillip Court has left Sussex Police moving to pastures green and to ensure that you continue to receive a high level of service, I will be taking over the Southbourne , and Westbourne areas. Some of the community already know me but I am keen to meet as many people as possible in the months ahead. I am familiar with the problems and structure of all the villages so please keep those reports flowing in as I look forward to both meeting and working with you to resolve the problems in the area.

As bonfire night approaches we ask that people are sensible with fireworks and bonfires. Just to remind you it is illegal for persons under the age of 18 to buy or to possess fireworks in a public place. Please be considerate of your neighbours, especially if they have animals who are terrified of the loud bangs.West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have been linking up with Sussex Police and visiting a wide variety of venues to give advice on fireworks and bonfires and deter anti-social behaviour. Throughout the Chichester, Arun and Mid Sussex Districts, two fire-fighters will go out with a PC, PCSO, or Community Warden into the community in a Fire Service 4 wheel drive vehicle to engage with the public and give advice on fireworks and bonfires, deter anti-social behaviour, talk about retained fire-fighter recruitment, and raise awareness of the joint approach to anti-social behaviour being undertaken by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Sussex Police. These joint patrols will be taking place In Chichester between 7-10pm on the weekend of the 24th and 25th of October, the 31st of October and 1st of November (Halloween), the 5th of November (Bonfire night), and the 7th and 8th of November; the weekend after Bonfire night. It will be taking place in several locations throughout the district - Selsey, East Wittering , Chichester , Bosham, Midhurst, and Petworth.

Break in to ‘The Sussex Snowdrop Trust' between 5pm on Saturday 25 th October and 1215 the following day. The office belonging to the Sussex Snowdrop Trust in West Stoke was broken into. Intruders forced the door to gain entry and then once inside stole a cash box and contents and then ripped open posted mail envelopes probably searching for cash donations. The cash box was found close by the attacked premises with the contents stolen. The Sussex Snowdrop Trust is a ‘unique local charity for local children who have life threatening illnesses. It provides care at home for these children, with nursing and financial help for their families.' The officer in the case PC Gordon Muir would like to hear from anyone who has information regarding this burglary and he can be contacted at Chichester Police Station on 0845 60 70 999 . Alternatively you can ring Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.

Chichester Neighbourhood Policing Teams are continually seeking ways to improve our ways to engage with the community. Since our formation in October 2007 we have evolved to become identifiable, accessible and responsive to your needs and concerns.
We are now committed to expanding this concept so that we can evolve further into a truly local police service. This approach will allow you the community to choose your own Community Priorities which the police and partner agencies will work together to solve problems of crime, disorder and anti social behaviour.
During the coming months your local officers will be canvassing your neighbourhood to identify persons who would be willing to help set up and run your Neighbourhood Management Panel. If you are interested or would like further information please contact your local officer. You can do this by visiting www.sussex.police.uk
We are waiting for your call.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH - Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives ever. It is not just about reducing burglary figures, it's also about creating communities who care. It brings local people together and can make a real contribution to improving their lives. Neighbourhood Watch is a method of developing close liaison between households in a neighbourhood and the police. The aims are to help people protect themselves and their properties and to reduce the fear of crime by improved home security, greater vigilance, fast and accurate reporting of suspicious incidents to the police and fostering a community spirit. Householders are the ‘eyes and ears' of the community and they usually know who and what people and vehicles belong in their road. All they need to do is to be reactive as to what is occurring.

‘RAISING AWARENESS' - Police can only react to problems and crime if they are made aware of it. If incidents of crime or anti social behaviour occur they need to be reported as this paints a picture for the police as to where problems are taking place. Police and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) will target such areas. There are a large number of PCSO's, plus some District Council Wardens. They are briefed to patrol these areas and hold ‘street' briefings in order to discourage incidents from occurring and to foster good relations with the community.

INCIDENTS / CRIME - All incidents and crime reported to the police is recorded. In some situations when crime is reported and there is no evidence at the scene and there is no likelihood of an arrest being made, the police may not necessarily visit the scene. Similarly, if an incident occurs, there may be other more serious occurrences taking place in the area, at the time, that the police have to give a higher priority to, therefore your incident cannot be attended to. Such calls are graded according to their severity.

WHICH NUMBER TO CALL - These guidelines should help you to decide as to which is the best number for you to call, should you require the police:

999 – EMERGENCY - You should only use the 999 number when:
A crime is in progress.
A life threatening situation is occurring.
A serious road crash has taken place.
Or if you genuinely believe that the police need to attend as a matter of urgency.

0845 60 70 999 (or e-mail contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk ) - NON EMERGENCY You can use this telephone number to contact Sussex Police in all other situations. Switchboard operators answer these calls in Lewes and transfer you to the appropriate person. You will either be transferred to the local police station or the Call Handling Centre depending upon the nature of your enquiry. You should use this number when:
You witness a suspicious incident but you haven't actually seen a crime take place.
You belatedly discover that a crime has been committed which still needs the attention of the police.
You see evidence of a crime recently having taken place, but no obvious offender
You want to speak to a member of the Sussex Police staff

NEIGHBOURHOOD SPECIALIST TEAMS (NST) – Each area has its own NST police officer and PCSO. To find out who covers your area go to www.sussex.police.uk and search on your area or postcode, or call the police on 0845 60 70 999 .