Iver, Stoke Poges and Wexham
Neighbourhood Priorities
Neighbourhood Team
Your neighbourhood team consists of Sgt. James Ellis; PC Will Ranford; PCSO Kam Benawra, and PCSO Roy Fisher.
Neighbourhood Priorities
The priorities for your Neighbourhood Policing Team (NHPT) are decided by the Community Forum for the whole of South Bucks. This steering group is made up of members of the community and representatives from organisations across the area. The
forum is not run by the Police although we do play a part. This allows us to speak to a good cross section of society and find out what you want us to do and how you want us to police your area. The top three priorities are chosen by the forum every three months and
are actioned by your NHPT.
The three issues below have been identified as the areas of greatest priority by the community, as represented by the Community Forum. This group is made up of members of the community and representatives from organisations across South Bucks. It is not
run by the police, although we are always represented. Every three months they meet to determine our priorities.
Priority One: Burglary
This quarter has seen a greater focus on anti-burglary patrols in the southeast of the LPA, especially focusing on Denham and the Ivers, with apparent results: we have had twelve residential burglaries in the Iver, Wexham and Stoke Poges parishes. This represents a significant decrease on the same quarter last year (where sixteen such burglaries were recorded – a decrease of 25%). These parishes also buck the usual trend where burglaries increase in the winter months: last quarter, covering summer 2018, we had twenty residential burglaries. Unfortunately we have also seen a worrying rise in “distraction burglaries”. This is where a person claims to be from a respectable body, like a water or electricity company, and
says that they need to gain access to your house to deal with some emergency. Once inside, they may have their run of the place; alternatively, they may distract you while a friend enters behind them and steals goods. This kind of crime especially targets the elderly or vulnerable. Always double-check the identity of unexpected visitors, by asking to see their ID – a genuine visitor will have it with them, and they won’t hesitate to provide it. Anyone without ID should be refused entry. The local neighbourhood teams have been conducting patrols in areas identified as highrisk. We have also been analysing the issues at commercial burglary hot-spots and working with the owners of large rural plots, looking at what makes their property vulnerable and helping them to reduce their risk of burglary. Although burglary figures are down, don’t be complacent. As the nights draw in and homes fill with expensive merchandise in preparation for festive celebrations, we are quickly approaching a peak time for burglaries. It is doubly important now to ensure that your home is secure when you leave, and that movable valuables are hidden, as much as
possible, from view. Remember to ‘leave a light on’ when you go out – a house in darkness advertises to a burglar that a house is empty and unguarded. A small purchase of a timer switch, which plugs into the wall and activates a standing lamp at a set time, or
a ‘Fake TV’, can really assist in deterring burglaries: these criminals are most often nonconfrontational, and want to avoid the risk of someone being home.
Priority Two: Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
Residents complained about anti-social behaviour around Thorney Lane North, Iver, which was linked to a particular property. They described a persistent problems with litter and drug paraphernalia, and issues with threatening behaviour; caused by guests to the
property. We have worked to make the area less attractive for these unsavoury characters by conducting regular “touch-down” patrols, where officers park their vehicles in an easily-visible place and go out on foot to provide a visible deterrence. We also put
up signs to remind visitors that police are aware of the issues; making them consider the increased likelihood of being caught. We’re now working with the local housing association to further reduce the draw of this property, and with Iver Parish Council to
replace deliberately-damaged lighting. Reports of crime and anti-social behaviour linked to this address have now fallen significantly as a result. Residents also told us about persistent littering in a lay-by in Richings Park. The area was often visited by small groups, who would drink or use nitrous oxide canisters and leave the remains on the ground. Again, we utilised focused patrols of the lay-by and
erected signage letting visitors know that frequent police patrols passed through. Reports have once again subsided. However, this may be a result of the colder weather, which has inclined them to engage in these activities indoors! Regardless, we will continue to monitor what activities occur in this location.
Priority Three: Speeding
Officers continue to conduct patrols and speed enforcement activities around the parishes. During general roads policing patrols, an astounding six drink-drivers and one drug-driver have been caught; all have been taken off the road for at least 12 months.
Two drivers have also been dealt with for driving without insurance, and one business owner dealt with for permitting another person to drive without insurance, after allowing a friend to drive cars fifteen metres across a road to an adjacent car park (we have to
wonder – was it really worth it?)
Your local Neighbourhood team holds some capacity to conduct speed enforcement activity. However, with numerous other demands on our time, we look for support from the community, to determine where our efforts are best placed. This can occur through the Community Speedwatch Scheme, in which in which a minimum of six volunteers group together, and monitor traffic speeds at local locations. The data they acquire can be processed by our back-office volunteer and warning letters can be delivered to transgressors, where warranted. This same data also allows us to identify the times and locations where our officers are best deployed, with evidential devices.
Other News
Operation Ravine: In September, officers from Thames Valley Police, in conjunction with the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority, conducted a raid at a property in Love Lane, Iver. Three individuals were arrested on
suspicion of holding people in slavery. A group of eight people, suspected to be victims of slavery offences, were freed and given access to support. The investigation is ongoing. Warrants like this are obtained because of information from the local community; we
depend on such information to let us achieve these kinds of successes. If you suspect that a person is being abused or exploited in slave-like conditions, then please get in touch with us.
New team member: We have a new PCSO joining us in December! PCSO Hatz Haralambous will be joining us fresh from training school; giving us an extra PCSO after a period of tutorship on Area. We’re all sure he’ll be enthusiast to get out there and meet
you.
Parking: Parking has historically been a topic about which we get a huge number of complaints, and this quarter is no different. Parking enforcement has also historically been something we were responsible – but no longer. Parking enforcement is “decriminalised” in South Bucks – this means that responsibility for enforcing parking
restrictions has passed from the police to the local council, who employ a contractor, NSL, to give out penalty notices on their behalf. The police no longer have the power to issue penalties for most parking offences, including all yellow-line offences. The positive
aspect to this change is that with the police are unburdened of this responsibility, which affords us greater opportunities to focus on more stereotypical criminal behaviour. To report persistent parking issues, the most efficient communication is to NSL via their
website at www.nsl.co.uk/contact, or contact Transport for Bucks at
www.transportforbucks.net/Parking.aspx or by phone on 01494 478820. There are a few parking offences for which we do still give out tickets: largely obstruction and parking on zig-zags. However, we are well aware of all the major problem areas, such as commuter parking in Richings Park and drop-off/pick-up times around every
school in the area; issuing tickets for obstruction on a frequent basis. You can follow us on twitter at @TVP_ChiltSBucks to see what we get up to day-to-day, including the occasional picture of our worst offenders. However, our modest Neighbourhood team cannot be everywhere on any given day. For this reason, we have been working with other stakeholders, at parking ‘hotspots’, to
develop more sustainable solutions to this problem. An example of this is Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, where we have been in dialogue with the school, parish council and other agencies, to explore how we might best contribute to a long-lasting answer. Hopefully,
we’ll be in a position to provide you with an update as to our progress, in the next quarter’s edition. If we are able to come up with a partnership plan, it can also serve as a template; for addressing ‘rush hour’ parking, in numerous other locations.
Offenders Brought to Justice.
Iver and Iver Heath
A 34-year-old man from Manchester was arrested after being disturbed by officers at the scene of a burglary in Iver Heath. He jumped in his car and made off; resulting in a long
pursuit, and involving officers from both Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police. Vincent Breslin’s panicked flee was no match for the officers’ professionalism, skill, and training: he was caught after trying to dump the vehicle, pleaded guilty to
burglary and dangerous driving, and remanded into the custody of HM Prison Service while he awaits sentencing.
A man from Iver has been charged with a burglary which occurred in 2013, when the case was reopened after new evidence was found. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. When new evidence comes to light, we can always review our investigation, no
matter how much time has passed. A woman from Iver received increased police safeguarding, after a man broke his
restraining order… twice! Having failed to learn his lesson from a suspended prison sentence of 18 weeks, the man went on to try to contact the woman again. He received a twelve-week prison sentence for the second breach, plus the eighteen week suspended
sentence from the first breach which was activated, for a grand total of 32 weeks’ imprisonment.
A man from Gerrards Cross has been ordered to pay costs and fines of £245, after being caught driving a vehicle which he had fitted with a blue flashing light. Unfortunately for him, he was seen using the blue light by a real police car on Bangors Road South; soon
he was given a demonstration of what real blue lights look like.
A woman from Iver was cautioned by police after admitting to stealing her own grandfather’s phone. She asked to borrow it and, when he asked for it back, claimed that she had already given it back. It was found that she had in fact sold it.
Two men from Slough were charged with aggravated taking of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, after stealing a bike from an address in Iver. It is alleged that, after riding the stolen bike, the two men were involved in a collision in Slough. They are awaiting trial.
A male was issued with a street warning for possession of cannabis, after being found with the drug in the grounds of Iver Heath Cricket Club. Officers on patrol located the male who admitted to having the banned substance with him.
A man from Iver had a very bad evening after being arrested for drug driving. The man was stopped by police and tested positive for cannabis. It was found that he was also driving alone, with a provisional licence and no insurance. A search of his vehicle also
uncovered a small quantity of cannabis. The man pleaded guilty at court to all four charges and was ordered to pay £248 in fines and costs; he was also disqualified from driving for fourteen months.
We understand frustrations when a vehicle is parked in one spot for a long time – but it is not an excuse for criminality. A man from Slough unfortunately got himself into trouble
when he took matters into his own hands and broke into a car in order to move it. He had no lawful authority to do so and received a caution. Report abandoned vehicles to the council – do not damage them yourself!
Stoke Poges
A small group of men have been charged in connection with a burglary in Stoke Poges. A vehicle linked to the burglaries was sighted by police several days later, and its occupants
were arrested. All the men have been remanded in custody awaiting trial.
Wexham
A woman received a caution after admitting a domestic assault in Wexham.
Contact Us:
You can e-mail us at IverStokePogesWexhamNHPT [Email address: IverStokePogesWexhamNHPT #AT# thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk - replace #AT# with @ ]
Or you can visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk to report non-urgent incidents online.
Sign up to Thames Valley Alerts to receive crime and policing updates directly from your local Neighbourhood Team as well as more crime and policing issues. Sign up to the service online at: www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk or speak with one of your Neighbourhood
Team. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @TVP_ChiltSBucks to see what we do day-to-day!