West Mercia Constabulary

Local Police Report November/December 2008
It's surprising how quickly this year has gone with Christmas around the corner. This will be the last newsletter from the team until 2009 so let's begin.

As we are drawing nearer to Christmas, West Mercia Constabulary will once again begin the don't drink and drive campaign. So over the festive season nominate a designated driver, use public transport, hire a taxi or stay at a friends. Remember if you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road accident, so stay safe and don't drink and drive!!

We would also like to mention about underage drinking in the area. It was noticed around Halloween that some youths were intending to drink alcohol; we however took it from them before they had a chance to drink it, but I was shocked to learn that their parents had bought it for them. I would like to stress to parents, if they wish to purchase alcohol for their teenage sons and daughters keep it under your roof. If we come across your teenagers in the street we will seize the alcohol from them and come and talk to you.

On a separate note I would like to introduce CSO Sally McPherson, who has joined the Upton Policing team and will be working with myself, PC Naulls and Sergeant Lloyd Cresswell from Upton Police Station.

You can meet Sally and the rest of the team on 3 rd December at Upton Library from 15:30 until 16:30 and give us your views on the area you live in at our Police Surgery, working with PACT (Partners And Communities Together).

The old non-emergency police number will be changing to 0300 333 3000, but the 08457 444 888 will still be available for 12 months.

From everybody at Upton Police Station, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Local Police Report August 2008
Well the summer is over for 2008 and what a summer it was, apart from the weather. I would like to congratulate the organisers and people involved with the Upton Water Festival and to the athletes in the Beijing Olympics. It's a shame about the flag being taken by some selfish person but we are doing what we can to get it back and find the culprit.

Beginning of September and start of the autumn season brings new school terms and colder weather to the area, along with the nights drawing in. With this I would like to encourage drivers to check their lights front and back as well as anti-freeze etc. It may sound premature but better to be prepared as you never can be sure with British weather.

I have been asked to mention again about parking in Upton. A recent case was of a member of the public refusing to move his vehicle which in turn caused the whole town to come to a standstill.

Consideration for other motorists and a bit of common sense please.

I will be attending a meeting later this month with regards the consultation we did with the youths in Upton on the special activity days in July and August.

Hopefully this will start a process where activity days or maybe even a youth club can be provided for local youths. Also I will have an update on the skate park.

Many Thanks
CSO Lucy Rowbotham

LOCAL POLICE REPORT JULY 2008
What a contrast to last July's summer, this one has been. It's great to see Upton getting back on its feet again and I appreciate getting involved with the local events.

It has been a busy month for everybody, including myself. The first Y.U.M (Youths in Upton Matter) was a great success for local children, who really enjoyed the facilities other joint organisations and I provided for them. There is another one on the 7 th August so if you and your children would like to join in come and visit us at the Hill Centre, Tunnel Hill, Upton upon Severn.

I would like to wish luck to the Upton in Bloom committee and let's hope we get Gold this year.

Other matters that have arisen recently were the matters of the robbery that occurred earlier in the month. There are ongoing investigations for this and we have a few good leads, but I will ask if local people could not take it upon themselves to confront the suspects in any investigation as it causes more hindrance than good for officers dealing.

Now I will mention the parking in Upton High Street and Old Street. A colleague and I have been trying to go deal with the parking issues in Upton recently, only to be met with abuse from vehicle owners. It is illegal to park in a bus stop, a no parking zone within time limits and double yellow lines. As a Community Support Officer I can only put warning notices on vehicles and keep note of the vehicle registration, but due to recent dealings, only fixed penalty notices will be put onto vehicles, no warning notices in the future. It is also illegal for people with a disability badge to park without due care or in a bus stop.

I cannot stress enough the congestion that is created from people choosing to ignore road signs and markings, please be more considerate when parking or park in the free car park in Old Street.

CSO Lucy Rowbotham.

LOCAL POLICE REPORT JUNE 2008
I am sure you will agree it was sad to see PC Mark Taylor finish his last shift with us but we wish him good luck in his new role within the Safer Roads Partnership and hope to see him soon.
PC Allen Naulls has now started working on the Upton ward and settling in well, you may see him on his Police bicycle riding through the town.
I have arranged a couple of event days for local youths during the summer holidays the dates are on the local policing web page.
If you would like to be involved for these events please don't hesitate to contact me.
For your information the new opening times for the station are,
Monday 13:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 09:30 - 12:30
Friday 09:30 - 12:30
Saturday 09:30 - 12:30
If there are any changes Martin Tucker our front counter clerk will advise well in advance.
There has been some incidents regarding Graffiti in Upton recently, we do have names of the youths that did it and have been dealt with accordingly.

With regards to the recent and tragic loss of Sean Jackson we would like to emphasise the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol. Our summer Drink Drive campaign again this year targets drink drivers as well as drivers under the influence of drugs. We recommend that someone is the designated driver or hire a taxi, don't risk driving its an automatic 12-month ban, a costly fine or worse.  

CSO Lucy Rowbotham
June 2008

LOCAL POLICE REPORT MAY 2008
For those that don't know, we are now located in the new Police Office at the Library. The public enquiry desk is located in the main Library building and is manned on a temporary basis when the Library is open. For your information the Library is closed on Tuesdays , Thursdays and Sundays. If you require Police assistance outside of opening times there is a phone situated on the wall outside of the Police office.

Lucy Rowbotham, your Community Support Officer, is in the process of arranging some youth activity / fun days for the School holiday period this summer. Full details nearer the time but if you would like to get involved and find out more please contact Lucy at the Station.

After seven years of being the Local Police Officer it is time for me to move onto pastures new. I will be taking up a new post in West Mercia this summer. I would just like to thank all those people in the Town and rural communities who gave me support, and sometimes advice, on policing issues over the years. (Too many to mention).

My replacement is PC Allen NAULLS who is a very experienced officer having worked as the local officer for the Kempsey area for a number of years. I wish Allen all the best, which just leaves me to say thank you and goodbye.

PC Mark TAYLOR
May 2008