Witney News - Witney Neighbourhood Management Update – November

Witney Neighbourhood Management Update – November

PC Pam Delahay has November's update: "It has been six months since we launched Neighbourhood Management in the Witney area and at that time we promoted the team in various ways, one of these being posters showing you all the officers. Due to changes in staff for various reasons these are now out of date.

"However, a new website launched in September will be able to assist you in checking on the present team and gives you the opportunity to print off a new poster, the website is: www.whosmybobby.co.uk. The launch received some press coverage and in the week after it went live the website had over 13,000 hits. This figure is now in excess of 55,000 and in fact you may well be reading this update on the site. If you find the site interesting then make sure you pass the information on to your neighbours or friends who may also be able to use the website.

"The team has been focusing on the anti-social behaviour issue in various parts of the neighbourhood during the last month. This has included doing an operation with colleagues from the response teams and Special Constabulary across the area on Halloween.

"Due to the assistance from our colleagues we were able to put out a number of what we call 'Hi Viz' patrols across the area in a bid to reduce the level of anti-social behaviour. These patrols were aimed at being preventative, but were also able to respond immediately if any complaints were reported to police. The result being that this year was much quieter than last year. Last year the team responded to 17 reports of Halloween associated problems, for example egg throwing. This year that figure was down to three.

"In relation to actual offences of criminal damage associated to Halloween, last year there were four, this year there were none. So, hopefully as residents if you have previously suffered problems you will have noticed the difference this year and the good news is that there are 364 days till the next Halloween!

"The team has also, with other colleagues, been doing extra patrols to try and prevent damage offences, which is another of the neighbourhood priorities and these patrols will continue.

"The team has also been assisting with a recruitment drive for PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers). These members of the extended police family are a crucial part of the neighbourhood policing initiative. However, locally we had very few applying for the role, hence the campaign in Witney during the last couple of months. This has now finished for the time being, but we are still looking for applicants. So, if you are interested in looking into this career opportunity or know a man or woman that is, then either look on the website at: www.rewardingrole.co.uk or contact the team who will be able to assist and answer any questions that you may have."

The Community Safety Partnership is made up of West Oxfordshire District Council, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Partnership, Thames Valley Magistrates Court Service, Thames Valley Probation Service, Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service, South West Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, Cherwell Valley Primary Care Trust, North East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust, Oxfordshire Race Equality Council, Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Cottsway Housing Ltd