Freshwater Memorial Hall
Police are asking residents in Freshwater and Totland for their latest opinions on community safety where they live.
The West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team is holding its latest community forum in the Memorial Hall on Avenue Road in Freshwater this Friday, June 25, 2010 from 7.00pm.
The forum’s purpose is to update members of the public on how the police and partner agencies have acted on the community’s concerns during the past six months. Residents will have an extra opportunity to speak directly with police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and staff from other organisations within the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership.
Sergeant Mark Lyth of the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team said: “We are dedicated to having an active presence in Freshwater and Totland, tackling the issues that matter most to the community.
“Our work so far this year has responded to residents’ feedback from the last forum about vehicles breaching road width restrictions, speeding motorists and cycling safety. I’d like to thank the community for reporting their concerns. The forum will allow us to discuss the progress we’ve made in resolving these issues. “I would welcome as many residents as possible at the forum because your information is an essential element in preventing and detecting crime and anti-social behaviour. For those who cannot attend, the team are always keen to hear your views on the issues affecting Freshwater and Totland. Under the Policing Pledge, there are opportunities every month for you to give us your views.”
For more information about your local Safer Neighbourhoods team and how to contact them, go online to www.hampshire.police.uk and type in your postcode. The West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team can be contacted by phoning 101 or 0845 045 45 45 and e-mailing westwight.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
There were 109 fewer victims of crime in the Freshwater and Totland area in 2009/10 compared with 2007/08. Violence, criminal damage and arson offences all went down.
Several offenders who disrupted the Freshwater and Totland community have been brought to justice:
Two men received community punishments in court in June 2010 for cold-calling on an elderly lady in Freshwater and charging hundreds of pounds for work, which did not need to be done. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Mike Thornton of the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team worked alongside colleagues from the Isle of Wight Roads Policing and Intelligence Units in acting rapidly on information provided by the public and Isle of Wight Council Trading Standards. The mainland culprits were traced and arrested before they could leave the island. Police hope this successful prosecution with Trading Standards will give other victims of rogue traders the confidence to report similar offences.
A 16-year-old from Freshwater was charged with arson at the local skate park in March 2010. He was fined and placed on a rehabilitation order at Youth Court.
A 59-year-old man from Freshwater was given a six-month prison sentence in February 2010, suspended for two years, a one-year driving ban and was ordered to complete 180 hours unpaid work and pay £2,000 in costs for drink driving after a persistent investigation by local PC Matt Rumsey with the support of West Wight residents.
Racially aggravated crimes are rare here, but when they happen, we will not tolerate them. An 18-year-old man from Totland Bay received a 12-month community order, and was told to complete 60 hours of unpaid work by magistrates after the West Wight team investigated allegations of racially aggravated harassment against a shopkeeper during the snow and cold weather in January 2010.
