News 7 February to 13 February
 Inspector Jenna Mirrington-French
Community Policing Team - Inspectors Blog
Another busy week for the local policing and community policing teams in Colchester. We have completed over 400 hours of hi visibility patrols and completed 25 stop and search. These have resulted in several arrests including offences such as going equipped, three persons arrested for possession with intent to supply controlled substances and one for criminal damage.
Over the weekend we had several policing operations in the city centre as well as operations tackling anti-social behaviour in the wider Colchester district. We continue to focus on reducing high harm and ASB as well as preventing acquisitive crime across the district. We are seeing an increase in theft of plant in our rural communities so please be vigilant in these areas and report anything suspicious to us. We work closely with the rural engagement team (RET) on tackling rural crime.
I have had several enquires in relation to the policing response to dangerous dogs and in particular banned breeds, following XL Bully’s being added to the legislation of banned breeds. We are seeing an increase in repots coming through to the police in relation to people owning these dogs and also where people suspect they have not been properly registered and not complying with the law regarding ownership of these animals.
In relation to our response we already have a process in place for dealing with banned breeds of dog. If we receive information that a there is a potentially a prohibited breed at a location, we would need to obtain a warrant under Section 5(2) of the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA 1991) unless already lawfully on premises then the dog can be seized without warrant under Section 19 of PACE as evidence of an offence, i.e. possession of a Section 1 prohibited breed. If a potentially prohibited breed is found in a public place, then either Section 5(1) of the DDA allows a police officer to seize the dog or again Section 19 of PACE. Once a dog is seized then our trained dog liaison officers will arrange collection and examination of the dog to identify its breed and ascertain if it is prohibited.
Until this has taken place, the seized animal will be housed in kennels by Essex Police. Possession of a prohibited breed is a summary only offence (6 months prosecution time limit). Prohibited breeds are Pitbull Terriers (PBT)/Japanese Tosa/Dogo Argentino/Fila Brasilia and XL bully.
In relation to stray dogs, the responsibility would still fall to the local authority as per any other stray dog that is found. In these cases a dog liaison officer would need to examine the dog to assess if it is an XL Bully.
As within any animal welfare issues, this would still fall to the RSPCA to investigate.
We have attended and engaged at 11 community events this week, including coffee events, crime prevention events, youth club engagement and educational inputs at care homes. These events are normally attended by our police community support officers, who are always happy to attend events and talk to people about policing, crime prevention or any other police related matters. If you would like them to come to an event you are hosting, please email us colchestercommunitypolicingteam@essex.police.uk
There is so much going on that I cannot cover everything in my blog, but I hope that this gives an understanding and flavour as to what the team have been doing. If you want more information about anything in this blog or want to get in touch about an initiative or something else then please write to us at colchestercommunitypolicingteam@essex.police.uk
Please have a safe week
Inspector Jenna Mirrington-French
Three arrested in stolen vehicle investigation
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of stealing three mopeds in Colchester after officers pursued the vehicles through the Greenstead area.
We received a number of reports of three mopeds being ridden dangerously Greenstead shortly after 3.45pm yesterday, Sunday 11 February.
Speedy enquiries led us to believe the vehicles had been stolen and may be being driven using false registration plates.
Armed officers, who were closest to the scene, began safely following the mopeds in the area, including in Primrose Walk, Magnolia Drive, Hawthorn Avenue, Magnolia field and Avon Way.
As a result of the pursuits, three teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of a number of thefts of motor vehicle offences.
The boys, two aged 14 and one aged 15, were questioned and have been released on conditional bail until May.
Man appears in court charged with aggravated burglary
Reece Charlesworth, 35, of Bull Lane in Long Melford, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Friday 9 February, to answer charges of aggravated burglary and possession of an offensive weapon.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on 8 March.
The charges follow an investigation into reports that, in the early hours of Monday 5 February, a suspect had knocked at the door of a property in Morten Road.
When the occupant answered the door, the suspect struck them with a crowbar and demanded money.
As the suspect left, they struck the occupant with the crowbar again, resulting in head injuries.
Extra officers will be on patrol in Colchester on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout February following feedback that people have felt vulnerable when out in the city.
As a result of a survey conducted in collaboration with Our Colchester – the city’s business improvement district (BID) team – nine uniformed and plain clothes officers will provide a visible presence in the city centre to look out for anyone who may need help and step in to manage any potential flashpoints.
Another officer will be stationed with the council’s CCTV team to alert colleagues to any potential incidents.
They are in addition to members of Colchester’s local and community policing teams who will be on duty and attending incidents as usual.
In the past 12 months, crime is down by 8.7% in Colchester, sexual offences fell by 17.3% and incidents of violence were down by 8.5%
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Let’s Talk - Saturday 17 February 10:00am to 11:00am
Marks and Spencer, Staine Park, Stanway
Let’s Talk - Monday 19 February 10:00am to 11:00am
Lakelands Centre Western Approach, Stanway, Colchester
University of Essex wellbeing fair - Tuesday 20 February 11:00am - 2pm
University of Essex
Bike marking Event - Wednesday 21 February 11:00am till 2pm
Leisure world Cowdray Avenue
Age well coffee morning - Thursday 22 February 10:00am till 12:00pm
63 North hill, Colchester
Let’s talk Thursday 22 February 10:30-11:30
University of Essex , Zest Café
Let’s Talk - Friday 23 February 11:00am -12:30pm
Highwoods community Centre
Let’s Talk - Friday 23 February 5pm - 6pm
Mc Donald’s Cowdray Avenue
Coffee Morning - Wednesday 6 March 10am - 11am .
Wimpole Road Methodist Church
Let’s Talk - Thursday 7 March 10:30am to 11:30am
One Colchester Hub 4-6 Long Wyre street
Let’s Talk- Thursday 7 March 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Tiptree Tea Room, Museum and Jam Shop, Factory Hill , Tiptree
Age well coffee morning Monday 11 March 2pm - 4pm
63 North hill, Colchester
 Protect your home against vandalism
Vandalism is where property is maliciously destroyed or damaged - frequently without theft being involved. Safeguard your property with our advice below.
1. Keep it visible
It might feel like your house is more secure behind a high wall or fence but the fact it can’t be seen from the street could make it a more tempting target.
Make sure your property can be easily seen by your neighbours and the public by ensuring hedges, fences and walls at the front are no higher than one metre. That way, you’re not giving an intruder anywhere to hide.
Clever use of lighting can also help to keep burglars at bay. We recommend dusk-till-dawn, low-level white lighting, especially in vulnerable, low visibility areas such as the side or the rear of the property.
Lights should be a minimum of three metres above ground with vandal-resistant casings.
2. Create a boundary
By doing this, you’re laying out your patch, marking your territory – and anyone crossing that line uninvited or unauthorised is trespassing.
You can do this in a number of ways, such as a low fence, wall, hedge, flower bed or small bushes. Best to avoid a rockery or large stones as they can be used by vandals.
And if you’re having your driveway done, make it a different colour to that of the road.
3. Protect what’s yours
Be sure to safeguard vulnerable points such as ground floor windows with one-metre high sharp, prickly bushes. Nature’s barbed wire, can offer protection and look good too.
Security film – a clear or opaque covering that can be stuck onto windows – makes it harder to smash the glass.
White walls attract vandals with spray cans but anti-graffiti coatings that prevent paint from bonding to surfaces are great deterrents.
4. Don’t make it easy for them
There’s more to security than keeping gates closed and doors, windows and sheds locked.
First off, if you have a surface which anyone can sit on – like a ledge or a low wall – make sure it’s not ‘bottom-friendly’. For example, planters with prickly plants look nice but are a pain for anyone just hanging around or any uninvited guests. Also, secure the side and rear boundary of your property with a two-metre high fence topped with a trellis, which is lightweight and unable to support a person. What’s more, it makes an awful racket if anyone tries to use it to gain access.
5. Keep it tidy
It’s a fact that rubbish attracts rubbish. If a property is messy, some people won’t think twice about adding to it or simply hanging around in the area.
A neat and tidy property conveys a sense of order. That’s why we advise not to leave rubbish, ladders, wheelie bins or anything else that could be used for burglary or vandalism lying around.
Be fraud smart - Hacking
Hacking is when a criminal gains unauthorised access to a computer system. This is usually over the internet. It could be a computer at a business, a bank, or your own personal device at home.
Once a hacker gains entry to a system they can do anything a real user can. They may steal sensitive information or install malicious software. They could even access online bank accounts.
Ways to protect yourself from hackers
- Use strong passwords. Make your passwords as difficult to guess as possible.
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Use Two Factor Authentication (2FA). This provides an extra security check when logging into online accounts.
- Keep your software up to date. This can prevent hackers exploiting security issues found in applications.
- Use a firewall. Firewalls protect one computer network from another by only allowing certain communications. Most computers with Windows or Mac OS come with a software firewall installed. Make sure it is on.
 Is there anything I can do about my neighbour constantly playing their music/TV loud?
In the first instance we would advise that you approach your neighbour directly in an attempt to resolve the situation. They may not be aware that the volume level is so high it can be heard by others. If you have already tried this you should contact the Environmental Health Department at your local authority - most departments have 24-hour cover so can be contacted at any time.
For long-term problems, you may be asked by your local authority to keep a diary of information about the noise, such as when it occurs, how loud it is etc., and in some cases you may be provided with some equipment to record the noise. These two steps are designed to gather evidence.
If the council then decides that someone is causing a statutory noise nuisance, they must issue a 'noise abatement' order (i.e. a chance for them to turn the noise down), which if broken can lead to a fine, although it is likely they will give your neighbour the opportunity to turn the TV / music down without further action. The whole process can take some time to complete.
The council may also issue warning notices in response to complaints about noise above permitted levels from 11pm to 7am. These warning notices can be used by councils for noise that’s not a statutory nuisance.
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