Belle Isle Newsletter

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Page Index

• NPT Photo (top of page)
• NPT Map (top of page)
• Essential Contacts
• NPT Photo (below essential contacts)
• NPT Map (below essential contacts)
• Local Priorities and News Roundup
• Your Local Contacts
• Partners and Communities Together Meetings (PACT)
• Forthcoming Contact Opportunities
• Ward Profile
• Dispersal Order
• Anti Social Behaviour
• Crime Prevention
• Our Local Commitment to You
• How You Can Take Action

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Latest News

Appeal for Information - East Grange Allotments (8.9.10)

Gardeners on a Belle Isle allotment are fed up with thieves stealing their vegetables.

There are approximately 50 allotments on the site at East Grange Drive and a growing number of tenants have reported suffering low level crime. Sheds have been broken into, tools and produce stolen and vegetables uprooted and scattered. The allotment committee estimates that approximately 20-25 offences have occurred in August alone with many not previously reported to police.

A spokesman for the allotments said ‘This type of damage is heartbreaking when you consider the amount of time and effort that goes into growing our produce. It's not about the money, we take a pride in our allotments and nothing can compensate for these acts of mindless vandalism’

Local officer PC Matthew Cooper from Rothwell NPT has met with some of the tenants to assure them that their concerns are being taken seriously and that every effort is being made to trace the culprits.

Anyone with any further information is asked to contact Rothwell NPT on 0113 3970640 or telephone Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111

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OWZAT!   (19.8.10)

Rothwell Cricket Team

One of the key sporting events of the year took place last month in front of an appreciative crowd. The Rothwell NPT versus cast of Emmerdale match at Carlton Cricket Club was very entertaining with both teams showing off their extremely average cricketing skills to the full. The main aim of the event however, was to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity - and it certainly did! Approximately £3,000 was raised over the course of the afternoon and Sergeant Paul Denison (team captain) and his 1st eleven would like to thank everyone who turned up to share the day with them and support a very worthy cause.

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Appeal: Road Traffic Collision, Belle Isle (11.8.10)

City and Holbeck Road Traffic Police are appealing for witnesses to a serious collision involving a motorcycle and a car in Belle Isle on Monday 9 August.
The Yamaha motorcycle was travelling down Middleton Road towards the junction with Windmill Road at around 2.55pm when it was in collision with a red Renault Scenic at the junction.

The rider of the motorbike, a 23-year-old man from Middleton, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment for serious head injuries. He is currently in a stable condition.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact 0845 6060606.

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Cash up for grabs to tackle local issues (5.8.10)

West Yorkshire Police Community Trust has funds of up to £2,500 up for grabs in its latest grants round and gives local community/voluntary groups the chance to apply for funding to support their valuable work in addressing the issues identified by local communities.

A total of £50,000 worth of funding has been allocated to this grant round and applications are sought from community and volunteer groups as well as charities and other non-profitable organisations that can make a positive difference to their communities.

The Community Trust is funded by seizing assets from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act and also through fundraising and private donations.

Last year’s grant recipients included;

Bradford Dragons Basketball Club – were granted £1,440 to help deliver outdoor basketball taster sessions in parks and outdoor courts around the Bingley area. Its aim was to attract more young people away from anti-social behaviour by becoming involved in a new sport.

Youth.com Fest – received £1,240 to provide diversionary activities for young people from Huddersfield. They have been giving cookery lessons with a local celebrity chef, have held a photography workshop with a professional photographer and were able to make a film with a successful film-maker from Huddersfield.

Greenside Community Centre – were given £390 to provide residents with a safe and fun environment. Many of its residents are over 80 and benefited from increased security and entertainment over the Christmas period.

Bob Lewis, Trustee of the West Yorkshire Police Community Trust, said: “We’re encouraging groups from across West Yorkshire to apply for a grant from the Community Trust. We have seen some great work and projects from previous applicants and we’re sure this will continue this year. The Trust remains committed to funding these grants at a local level because of the valuable benefits that are achieved.
It has supported hundreds of local community groups and small charities across West Yorkshire over the years, helping them to make a real difference to the lives of others.”

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday 10 September and all applications must be endorsed by an officer from your local Neighbourhood Policing Team. To ensure endorsement is received prior to the closing date we suggest you make contact with your Neighbourhood Policing Team three weeks prior to the closing date.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by mid October and receive their grants at an Awards Night in late November.

To apply, call 01924 292646 or email communitytrust@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
The West Yorkshire Police Community Trust provides grants to voluntary and community groups within the county to support activities that help in the reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Community/voluntary groups are urged to visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk/communitytrust for information on the next grant round where they can apply for funding.

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Update from Aberfield and Newhall PACT (16.6.10)

The latest meeting was attended by Inspector Susan Jenkinson from Rothwell NPT, along with PC Mandy Arnold and PCSO Kieran Murphy. Also present were Councillors Judith Blake and Kim Groves, and Chris Simpson from Belle Isle Tennent Management Organisation.

A healthy number of local residents attended, the local priority of ASB around Newhall Road was discussed, and it was decided that this would remain a priority for the time being. The problems centering mainly on two empty properties on Newhall Road.

Concern was also raised about children playing football in the street on Newhall Croft and Rothwell NPT have agreed to pay passing attention to the area and monitor the situation. An observation was made that PCSO's rarely patrol this area and this will be addressed and patrols increased.Councillor Blake and BITMO agreed to take up the issue of overgrown and poorly lit ginnels in the area.

Inspector Jenkinson said that only 15 crimes had been reported from 22 March to 7 June - with no house burglary in this period. Overall, crime has reduced by over 65% compared to the same period last year.
This good news was well received by the residents present.

Date of Next Meeting - Monday 20 September at 7.15pm.

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PC Darren Calvo
PC Darren Edgar
PC Kate Devonshire
PC Matthew Cooper
PC Nicola Murphy

PCSO Eddie Pratt
PCSO Lyndsey Farish
PCSO Janine Palmer
PCSO Amy McClellan
PCSO Kelly Brooke

Rothwell NPT Anti Social Behaviour Officer  PC Claire Rowlinson can be contacted on 0113 3970644

Rothwell NPT Crime Reduction Officer Keith Pape can  be contacted on 0113 2382024 
                                                              

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Please come along and meet your local NPT officers and discuss Belle Isle's community priorities.

The next Winrose/West Grange Residents meeting - Date to be advised.

The next Aberfileds and Newhall Residents meeting will be Monday 20th September, Manor Field Hall at 7pm.

The current priorities for the area will be reviewed at these meetings.

Although we would really like to see you in person at the PACT meetings we understand that it is not always possible for you to make it. As a result we have included a link so you can nominate an issue that you feel should be a policing priority in your area.

Please click here to fill it in and we will ensure that your voice is heard at the next PACT meeting.

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Please note that there is a surgery every Friday afternoon between 4pm and 5pm at the Belle Isle Library on Aberfield Gate/Belle Isle Road.

You can also contact your local NPT office on 0113-2382091 or if you prefer via e-mail at:

cacommunity@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

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Belle Isle Dispersal Order  ### No longer in force ###

Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team introduced a Dispersal Order across the Brooms area of Belle Isle as part of efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Police officers and police community support officers had been working closely with local residents to identify policing priorities and residents have agreed that they want the NPT to focus on dealing with anti-social behaviour problems. By introducing the Dispersal Order it was hoped officers would be able to reduce issues on the estate.

The order ran from 18 December 2009 until 11 March 2010 and covered the whole of the Brooms area.
The boundary was to the rear of the residential properties of Broom Grove and Broom Crescent, to include Broom Terrace towards Broom Mount, around Broom View and the rear of Broom Nook where it joins Middleton Ring Road. The boundary then goes along to and to the end of Nesfield View, bordering Broomfield Special School, around the rear of the school to Broom Place, turning left up to rejoin Broom Crescent.

The order allowed police officers and police community support officers to direct individuals and groups out of the area, and instruct them not to return for as long as 24 hours.

Officers can:
• Tell people in groups to leave the area
• Tell people who don't live within the boundary to leave the area
• Tell people who don't live within the boundary not to return to the area, or any part of it, for up to 24 hours.

The order also prevented anyone under the age of 16 from being within the boundary covered by the Dispersal Order between 9pm and 6am unless with a parent or responsible person over the age of 18. Anyone under 16 found in the area could be taken home or to an alternative place of safety.
Anyone who remained in the area or returned after being told to leave could receive a fine of up to £5,000 or up to three months' imprisonment.

Rothwell NPT has run several innovative schemes and operations to tackle anti-social behaviour, including the use of an anti-social behaviour closure order on a house on Broom Place - the first of its kind outside London.

To see a map of the area covered by the Dispersal Order- Click here

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What is Anti Social Behaviour? (ASB)
A course of conduct, committed by an individual, which causes another person, not within the same household, to suffer harassment, alarm and distress.

The behaviour involved can consist of any persistent act which results in the quality of life of another being affected in some way. The type of incident and its effect upon an individual can and does vary with each person.

How the ASB Team can assist you?
Members of the public are able to discuss any persistent or serious Anti Social Behaviour with the teams officer PC Angela Denison, any officer from Rothwell NPT covering the area or the Leeds City Council ASB Unit. Both units work hand in hand to combat reports of this nature.

After the problem is understood the options available can then be discussed to help resolve the issues. Some of the options available are:

Setting up mediation sessions
Putting in place an activity that diverts those committing the ASB to another task
Using Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) to deter the person or group from persisting with their behaviour
Supporting Injunctions against individuals
Using Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to prevent the person or group from persisting with their behaviour
Criminal Law Proceedings in the event of ASB breaches
To assist the police and the Leeds City Council ASB Unit the public are asked to ensure incidents are reported as soon as possible.
To keep a note of all times, dates and locations of incidents and to provide names and or descriptions of those involved. It is also advantageous for other witness details to be recorded to assist in backing up reports of ASB made to the police or LCC Unit.
Please remember that we can only take positive action against individuals who have been identified.

If you are in a situation where you are experiencing ASB but do not know the identities of the suspects, there are still options open to us to try and identify these people. Please report incidents and don't think that nothing can be done. If we don't know about incidents that are occurring, we cannot even begin to address them.

What is an ASBO?
An ASBO is a local authority measure designed to prevent an individual or group from travelling to certain areas, wearing clothes likely to aide criminal disguise or behaving in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Anyone over the age of 10 can be liable, and the minimum length of time an order will last is 2 years. There is no upper time limit.

The Orders were introduced to England and Wales by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The burden of proof for the granting of an ASBO is less than that of a Criminal matter, yet if breached can carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.

To learn more about what you can do as members of the public go to the website www.respect.gov.uk

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CASAC helps make homes safer

CASAC- Community Action and Support Against Crime- gives comprehensive advice and practical Crime Prevention solutions in the Leeds area.

Click here to link to their site

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Domestic Burglaries

The Rothwell NPT area tends to suffer an above average number of domestic burglaries where entry has been gained through an unlocked or insecure door or an open window. Although currently recording less than one domestic burglary per day, a high percentage of those are committed by this method.

The advice is quite simple:
Please keep your doors and windows locked, even when you are in the property. Consider fitting a door chime to the door to alert you when the door is opened just in case you forget to lock it.

Take care not to leave items such as handbags, car and house keys, mobile phones etc on display as these may become a potential target.

In addition to the Sneak-ins, there has recently been a rise in burglaries being committed where the means of gaining entry to the property has been by way of breaking the Euro Cylinder Lock, the type of lock commonly used on uPVC doors (including Patio and French Doors) as well as some Composite doors.
If you do not have an alarm system fitted, please consider getting one fitted.

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The 'Bogus Caller'

There has recently been an increase in the 'Bogus Caller' type of burglary, targeting the elderly and vulnerable members of our community. This type of crime does occur with bogus callers varying in appearance and using a number of excuses to try and trick their way into people's homes.
The Water Board Official is one that is often used (checking for coloured water due to a problem in the area) or they are from the Council etc.
The aim of the bogus caller is to try and talk their way into your home, after all if they can walk through your front door after receiving an invite from you, why should they go to all the trouble of having to break into your property.

If you have elderly relatives or neighbours, frequently remind them of the dangers of Bogus Callers.
Remember.....
Before you open the door check to see who it is by looking through your front window or by using a door viewer if you have one.
• Consider asking a neighbour, relative or warden to help deal with the caller.
• Only open the door when you have put the chain on.
• Get a good look at their clothing, some official callers will have a uniform bearing their company or organisation logo.
• Utility services may operate a password system; contact your Branch to find out more.
• Suggest that the caller should come back later; you can then check their story by telephoning the organisation or company they claim to represent.
• Check any phone number they give you in your own telephone directory. Do not rely on the number on their card; it may be the number of their partner in crime.
• Always lock the back door before opening the front or vice versa. Bogus callers sometimes work in pairs; one caller could be distracting you at the front and the other sneaking in at the back.
• Let the police and your neighbours know if you have had a suspicious caller at the door.
• Locks and chains are only a deterrent if they are used!
• Emergency situations can arise; do not leave the door chain on all of the time as this may cause a delay. Only put the chain on before answering the door.
Remember if in doubt KEEP THEM OUT.

Bogus callers in all shapes and sizes, including children, are at work. Please do not let them trick you into letting them in. If you do not have a door chain or viewer, consider having one fitted. Contact your local Crime Reduction Officer who can often arrange for them to be fitted free of charge. 

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Vehicle Crime

The number of incidents relating to theft from motor vehicles, can be reduced quite easily by remembering to remove ALL items from the vehicle whenever possible. This should include the Satellite Navigation cradles, making sure window suction marks are also removed from the windscreen.

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