Southcote Neighbourhood Policing update

Southcote neighbourhood update

Update for April

Here is the monthly update for the Southcote neighbourhood from Neighbourhood Specialist officer PC Peter Duffy

The three priorities for the Southcote neighbourhood are anti-social bahviour, drugs and traffic/speeding.

Anti-social behaviour – The latest crime figures available through the Thames Valley Police website show that anti social behaviour in the area has fallen by 33 per cent. Between December 2008 and February 2009 we averaged 19 incidents per month and a year later that figure has fallen to 12.7. On Tuesday 16 March two lads were stopped by Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) after they where suspected to have run away from a police officer further along the road. They were stop checked by PC Mark Giles and I on suspicion of having items used to cause criminal damage. No items were found during the search and they were let on their way. However, these types of checks help to disrupt anti social behaviour in the area.
Drugs – On Monday 1 March a man from Southcote was stop checked by officers in and found to be in possession of a bag of cannabis. He was issued with a street caution.
Traffic – On Monday 22 PCSO James Paul and I attended Shepley Drive after receiving reports of a vehicle which was parked on the pavement. Checks were carried out on the vehicle and it was arranged to have the vehicle moved from the pavement. The team is continuing to focus on the issue of parking.

At the time of writing this report there have been seven reports of domestic burglaries and two attempted burglaries in Southcote. Patrols have been increased in this area and the team has been liaising with our colleagues in Fords Farm as the areas boarder each other. If you have any information on burglaries please do not hesitate to call the neighbourhood team on 0845 8505505 or the Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The latest crime figures show that all crime in the area has fallen by 35.6 per cent. Between December 2008 and February 2009 we averaged 40.3 crimes per month and a year on that figure fell to 30.

PCSO James Paul and PCSO Amelia Sergent have been working in partnership with the Reading Borough Council’s Street Wardens throughout the month. Together they removed 20 needles behind the woods in Hatford Road. The area was cleaned and the needles were disposed of.

The next police surgery will take place on Monday 19 April, between 10am and 12pm at the advice centre in Coronation Square and it will be led by PCSO James Paul.