Witney News - Witney Neighbourhood Management Update - Feb 07

Witney Neighbourhood Management Update - Feb 07

PC Pam Delahay provides Witney's update: "The team has been busy again this month assisting the core shifts that work out of Witney, due to a high rate of abstractions from those shifts for various reasons.

"Criminal damage and anti-social behaviour (ASB) remain the top priorities for the area and the team. As a result extra resources were brought to the area for two nights at the end of last month. They were tasked with patrolling the areas where we are getting most reports of ASB and damage.

"As a result large numbers of people were spoken to about their behaviour and a number of arrests were made for damage and public order offences across Witney, not all the people involved were youths. As an example these patrols included the area of Edington Square in West Witney, which is one area that has been highlighted.

"There a large group of young people were spoken to by police about their behaviour. Some of this group had been drinking even though they were underage. As this is a problem area for ASB and there have been quite a few reports of damage in recent months, their details were taken. We then wrote letters to all the parents/guardians of the youths spoken to, which amounted to 17, the letter advised them that their child had been spoken to by police, it also highlighted the problems that are occurring in the area and asked for their support in trying to stop this sort of behaviour. On the same day that these letters were delivered a number of supportive calls were received from parents. This is a course of action that will be used again in the future.

"Witney and other neighbourhoods are assisting in a national recruiting campaign for Police Community Support Officers (PCSO). The first of our new recruits for West Oxfordshire are actually doing their initial training at the moment and should come to the area soon. Once we have any allocated to the Witney NAG area we will update you.
If you are interested in becoming a PCSO you can view the following website for more information www.rewardingrole.co.uk , phone 08456 000925 or contact the team who should be able to answer any questions you have."