 |
Surrey
Heath Borough Council Surrey Police Woking Area
Primary Care Trust Surrey County
Council |
NEWS
RELEASE |
Success for
Partnership Operation
North West Surrey Police mounted a successful enforcement, education and
advice operation over the weekend of 10th-13th November on the Old Dean,
Camberley. The four day operation involved 20 different agencies including
Surrey Police, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey County Council and
Surrey Fire and Rescue and was part of Safer Surrey Heath’s reassurance
initiative.
The operation was well received by local residents and shop owners, who commented that the police attendance provided a very reassuring presence in the light of recent events in the area. They appreciated the increased visibility and the action taken to tackle anti-social behaviour amongst the minority on the estate.
Over 30 Police Officers, were out on patrol during the four day operation. These included Neighbourhood Specialist Officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and The Surrey Together Team. The Surrey Together Team were used to engage with young people in the evenings to divert them away from anti-social behaviour.
The Surrey Police helicopter and dog units also attended the area at various times during the operation. A mobile custody unit, an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) team checking for stolen cars and The Surrey Police Drugs Bus offering advice and information also made an appearance.
A number of arrests were made during the operation. Officers from the Divisional Drugs Team carried out a warrant on a house on the Old Dean which led to one person being arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A and Class C drugs. A further arrest was made for disqualified driving and resisting arrest. Sixteen fixed penalty notices were issued and 25 driver alerts were given for speeding offences. Four stop and account forms were also completed and a Persistent Young Offender was arrested, who is being questioned with regard to anti-social behaviour in a Section 30 area on the estate.
The Neighbourhood Watch Support Group/Crime Prevention Panel had a busy time during the weekend, security marking over 60 bicycles, which were brought along by young and old. They also gave out advice and literature on all aspects of crime prevention and personal safety, including selling personal attack alarms and property marker pens.
Other partner activities included a team from Trading Standards who carried out test purchases on premises on the Old Dean for ‘under-age alcohol sales’. Environmental Health carried out health inspection checks on premises. The DVLA carried out checks on the estate in partnership with the Police and Surrey Heath Borough Council (checks for abandoned vehicles were carried out at the same time). There were displays by various agencies at the Old Dean Advice Centre including Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Health Promotion, Neighbourhood Watch as well as Surrey Police Crime Prevention. Surrey Fire and Rescue also took part in a safety display on the Saturday afternoon.
Surrey Heath Borough Council and the Housing Association also carried out an extensive cleaning and repair programme on the estate. Lighting and roads on the estate were also checked by Surrey County Council for repairs.
To mark the end of the operation, a football match took place on Sunday which was organised by PCSO Kelly Wootton. A team of Police Officers including Borough Inspector Mark Adams and local NSO, PC Dale Hathaway challenged a team of local lads from the estate. The police took a severe hammering and were beaten 13 – 1. Refreshments were served after the match at the Old Dean Youth Club which stayed open for the evening.
Surrey Heath Borough Inspector Mark Adams commented on the success of the operation, ''Operations such as these demonstrate that we are not only tackling anti-social behaviour in local neighbourhoods, but with the support of other agencies we can improve the local environment and make areas safer. It is a myth that the Old Dean is a troubled area and I hope initiatives such as these will go some way to dispelling this. As well as an enforcement operation, we hoped the initiative would provide closer contact with the community and I am very happy with the outcome.”
The Safer Surrey Heath Partnership is a joint venture between Surrey Police, Surrey Heath Borough Council and Surrey County Council. It also incorporates Surrey Heath & Woking Area Primary Care Trust, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and Surrey Police Authority. The Partnership has a shared responsibility to implement a strategy to reduce crime and disorder within the Borough of Surrey Heath.
Further information on ‘Safer Surrey Heath’ can be accessed
on the Surrey Heath web site www.surreyheath.gov.uk - Look under ‘Community’
and ‘then ‘Safer Surrey Heath’.
For further information or photographs contact:
Amanda Gow, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Press & Communications Officer
01276 707312
Helen Williamson, Surrey Police, Press & Publicity Officer 01483
655785
Joanna Pratt, Surrey Fire & Rescue, Publicity Officer 01737
224027
Joy Ridley, Surrey County Council Media Relations Officer 020
8541 8996
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