CHESHIRE CONSTABULARY ON THE GRAPEVINE
Repeat Success: A second twelve-hour "Impact Day" to highlight the work of police officers and other agencies proved a big success. Areas of Sandbach affected by anti social behaviour were patrolled, truancy sweeps were carried out in the town centre, and speeding and parking was checked. P.C. Gemma Bradbury said, "We were absolutely delighted with the positive feedback from people during the day."
Top Priority: Anti social behaviour on the streets of Alsager is now being targeted by Police Officers and officials from other agencies. Drunkenness and nuisance caused by young people were nominated as the top law-and-order problems in Alsager by people at a Community Action Meeting. P.C. Mark Guildford said/'We will tackle this thoroughly, working closely with people across the community to find a long-term answer. There is no quick-fix".
Volunteers Step Out: Five people at the same Alsager Community Action Meeting were enrolled as Community Volunteers. They will accompany Community Action Team officers on patrols, assessing the problems and the efforts to solve them. They will then report back to the next Community Action Meeting and can give an overview of how they feel the issues are being tackled.
ASBOs Breached: Twin sisters from Congleton are now in custody for breaching Anti Social Behaviour Orders. The court imposed four-month Detention and Training Orders after hearing the two sixteen year olds ignored a curfew twice in a few days. In a separate incident, a man was arrested on Christmas Day for breaching his ASBO and has beenremanded in custody until January 19th. Inspector Chris Jones, the officer commanding policing in the Congleton Borough said, "We try to impress on people that ASBOs are not a soft option. We enforce them rigorously and anyone breaking the terms of their order will be back in court. In contrast, we've been able to relax the curfew at times for two other youngsters on ASBOs who are doing well."
Ten Year Sentences: Two men who admitted what the judge described as a "viciously executed robbery" at Congleton Cricket Club were each jailed for ten years at Chester Crown Court. The judge said "astute observation" by P.C. Steven Armstrong led to the arrest of the men who had dumped gloves they used in the raid at the side of a road. Police are still looking for two other men involved in the robbery.
Murder Charge Adjourned A man from Middlewich accused of murdering his father was "not fit to attend" a hearing scheduled at Chester Crown Court in December. The case has now been adjourned to January 21st.
Still More Impact: Congleton Police Sector's third Impact Day is being planned for the Congleton town area in January. Sergeant Gareth Woods, from the Congleton Borough Community Action Team said, "All the reaction from the previous two days indicates-they are really worthwhile toreinforce links with the public and reassure people that we and the other agencies are always there for them. A fourth Impact day will be run in Alsager in February.
New Face: There is now a larger community police presence in Alsager. P.C. Kerrie Snowdon, who has just moved to Cheshire from Norfolk Police, has joined P.C. Mark Guildford and C.S.O. Tony Hayes.
Dial it Right As a new year begins, people are being reminded of the system of phone numbers to ring for various responses, beginning with the 999 number for emergencies. For non-emergency calls which might require a police presence the Congleton Borough the number 01260 271144 will divert to the Cheshire Police call handling facility at the Winsford Headquarters. For less urgent issues where contact with a local officer would help, people in Congleton Borough can dial the unique CAT voicemail number 01244 613538 and leave a message. It is checked regularly and a CAT officer will call back.
Contact: Alan Ingram, press officer on 07768 301528 |
