To receive an update from Thames Valley Police.

Emma Pendry from Thames Valley Police (TVP) provided members of the Forum with an update on the crime statistics for the Windsor area. The key points highlighted were:

Ø  The volume of bike thefts in West Windsor remained the same. However Central Windsor had seen an 83% increase.

Ø  There had been a 14% increase in dwelling burglaries in West Windsor with a 17% increase in Central Windsor

Ø  Shed break ins and non-dwelling burglaries had seen a 47% increase in West Windsor and 57% increase in Central Windsor

Ø  There had been a 41% of car thefts in Central Windsor with a 27% increase in West Windsor.

The Central Team had done a lot of analytical work on bike thefts and they had produced a problem profile. The point of the initiative was to prevent bike thefts and so posters had been displayed. People spent a lot of money on the purchase of their bikes but, they did not spend out on a decent lock. TVP were also working with the British Transport Police to hold bike marking events. Jeff Dicks from the Neighbourhood Watch Team said the posters would be in size A1 and would be displayed in high crime areas. He added there had been no dramatic change in dwelling burglaries in the last six months as the team were doing lots of work and were engaging with people that were released from prison to help prevent crime.

Emma Pendry explained TVP were offering a free home security surveys and advice on how to improve home security. Residents could also sign up to receive free Thames Valley Police updates and can follow TVP on Facebook and Twitter.

The police were running problem profiles to help tackle thefts from cars and the police were educating people on how to prevent car crime; one reason car crime happens is because people did not lock their cars so those people needed reminding. Jeff Dicks added residents should double check their door when locking a car using a key fob. The signal of the key fob could get intercepted so keyless car keys needed to be kept in a metal cage device to block the signal being cloned or scanned.

Emma Pendry informed the Forum that posters of known shoplifters were being displayed in high crime areas and the police had built good relationships with security and shop staff and wardens. All parties were now using the radio system in town to keep everyone informed and it was working well with some good results and some prolific shoplifters being arrested.

The week commencing 11 March 2019 was knife crime week with lots of different operations taking place. There would be a higher police presence in town and the problem solving team had been doing a lot of work around County Lines with a significant arrest being reported in the local paper. Emma Pendry added the police would be doing sweeps in local parks in Windsor and Datchet, including Dedworth following reports of needles being found. The parks would be dealt with in conjunction with community wardens.

Gary Williams, a local resident asked if there were places residents could dispose of old knives they no longer needed. Emma Pendry responded he could take them to a police station as they had knife bins. The Chairman said they could be taken to recycling centres too. Councillor Dudley asked if the Council could have police support in providing a facility to dispose of knives at libraries. Emma Pendry replied there may need to be a memorandum of understanding between the police and the Council but, she could take that forward. Councillor Quick said she was delighted to hear about all the joint work the police were doing with the Borough and thanked Mr Pick for all his hard work. She added that the Around the Royal Borough publication went to every household in the Borough so an article could be added on how residents could keep themselves safe and secure. Emma Pendry said that it would need to be approved by the TVP Communications Team but, she would be happy to support an article in the local publication.

Councillor Alexander said the Borough was promoting cycling and bikes were not cheap. He asked what the success rate of returning stolen bikes to their owners was. Emma Pendry replied in 2018, they managed to return four bikes that were marked, Jeff Pick stated a lot of people did not remember what their bikes looked like so the police may have someone’s bike but have no idea who that bike belonged to, Jeff Pick recommended bike owners take a picture of their bikes with the frame number so if it got stolen, there was a chance to return them to the owners.

Residents asked if knives could be handed in at Windsor police station. Emma Pendry confirmed there are police present at Windsor police station but, that it is closed to the public. There was a yellow telephone outside that the public could use to contact the police.

The Chairman asked for more action on people cycling through Peascod Street in town. Emma Pendry explained a member of her team had been working on that and there had been a good response. £80 fines could be issued to those cycling in pedestrian areas. The police had another similar operation planned.

v  Action – The Borough’s Communications and Marketing Team to produce an article for the next issue of the Around the Royal Borough publication, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police on how residents can keep themselves safe and secure.