|
|
|
|
|
The latest news from the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner
|
|
Crime in our rural areas is a major concern for people across Warwickshire and I have been keen to ensure that there is additional resource and expertise within Warwickshire Police to help boost the focus that is placed on both preventing and detecting offences outside of our urban populations.
Warwickshire Police’s Rural Crime Team, which was launched in October 2019, has now almost doubled in size thanks to the increased investment this year's Council Tax precept has enabled.
Three additional officers have been recruited into the team and with a further vacancy due to be filled shortly. This takes the total number of dedicated Rural Crime experts within the force to ten, with a further fifteen trained Wildlife Crime Officers around the county.
The new officers will be based in Stratford, Atherstone and Rugby, allowing for an additional shift to be implemented and for the team to increase their presence across the whole of the county.
|
|
|
Day-to-day, the Rural Crime Team specialise in key types of rural crime by responding to rural offences, working with rural communities to address local issues, providing crime prevention advice, running regular proactive operations and patrolling in their dedicated beat areas.
Alongside the expansion of the team, a dedicated Strategy has now been published to provide clarity around the force’s approach, focus and commitment to tackling rural offences.
The original introduction of the Rural Crime Team was as a result of the priority I made in previous years to invest in frontline policing and, with the success of this approach now proven, I am pleased to see the team expand further.
With dedicated teams now established for both the north and the south of the county and a comprehensive strategy to tackle offences in place, I want to reinforce the message that rural crime will not be tolerated anywhere in Warwickshire. We know there is much work to be done, but I hope this sends a signal to everyone about the determination to make a real difference in our rural communities.
|
|
Philip Seccombe TD
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner
|
|
More than £50,000 in Covid-19 Grants confirmed
|
|
|
 I'm pleased this week to be able to confirm grants and donations from to aid the county’s recovery from Covid-19, worth more than £50,000.
A total of 26 bids for funding have been accepted for a range of different initiatives across the county, both large and small and from all parts of the local area.
It brings the total amount of additional funding released this year through my local grants schemes, donations and Covid-19 related government funding to almost £250,000.
In launching the Covid-19 Recovery Fund in June, I wanted to ensure that public sector organisations, voluntary groups, charities, social enterprises and community organisations working within the county could continue to provide their much-needed work in support of community safety.
Many groups and charitable organisations have been faced with a double hit during the pandemic of reduced or curtailed opportunities to raise money while also needing to fund technology to support home-working or to meet increased demand for their support. I’ve been keen to ensure that Covid-19 does not impact the important work they do, so I’m pleased to able to offer them this short-term financial help
Grants of up to £5,000 were available per organisation, while donations of up to £1,000 were also available for smaller community groups and projects that might not ordinarily have qualified for a full grant.
Among the beneficiaries are a number of projects providing youth support services and those working with vulnerable people, in recognition of the difficulties that lockdown and social distancing measures have imposed.
Find out more and view the full list of grants and donations at: www.warwickshire-pcc.gov.uk/covid-19-recovery-fund/
|
|
Community Speedwatch relaunches in Warwickshire
 Community Speedwatch has been relaunched across Warwickshire as part of a phased reintroduction in the county following its earlier suspension due to Covid-19. Speeding continues to be a concern for many communities in both rural and urban environments and so the safe reintroduction of such schemes will be welcome news.
Community Speedwatch (CSW) is a national initiative where active members of local communities join together to monitor speeds of vehicles in their local area with support from the police. In Warwickshire each group uses the LTI Speed Lasers independently purchased by either the group itself or the local parish council.
Any vehicles found to be exceeding the speed limit are referred to Warwickshire Police and receive a letter with the aim of educating drivers to reduce their speeds. However, in cases where education is ignored and there is evidence of repeat or excessive offences, even across county borders, enforcement and prosecution follow.
I'm very grateful to all the CSW volunteers who use their own time to help make Warwickshire’s roads safer for everyone, playing their part in a real community effort to reduce the numbers killed and seriously injured on our roads.
I would encourage anyone who is concerned about speeding in their community to consider signing up as a Community Speedwatch volunteer. As well as helping Warwickshire Police and partners to raise awareness of speeding, the visible presence of CSW helps to reduce the speed of vehicles to the speed limit, improving the quality of life for local communities and most importantly helping to reduce death and injury on our roads. This is something I am keen to support.
Warwickshire Police is keen to develop further CSW groups as soon as COVID restrictions, as well as being able to progress the training of newly formed CSW groups.
Volunteers all receive appropriate training and are supported by officers and staff including a new soon to be appointed Road Safety Officer who will oversee the CSW groups. The aim of CSW is to make our roads safer, and to ensure no CSW members or the public are put at risk, a full risk assessment is carried out for each group.
If you are interested in forming a CSW group in your area, please contact your local Safer Neighbourhood team. The details of your local SNT can be found by visiting www.warwickshire.police.uk and entering your location.
For more information about CSW, visit www.communityspeedwatch.org |
|
|
Warwickshire BikeSafe to restart in September
|
|
|
|
 Another road safety scheme to be restarting following an enforced Covid-19 layoff is the BikeSafe initiative, which I help through my Road Safety Fund.
BikeSafe is a national police run motorcycle initiative which aims to improve riding and reduce the risk of motorcyclists being involved in a collision, as well as raising awareness of the importance of progressing on to accredited post-test training.
The BikeSafe initiative offers bikers the opportunity to spend a day learning from advanced police motorcyclists and experience a professional police-observed ride with them to improve their riding skills, safety and enjoyment of riding their bike on the roads. Workshops cost £65 and cover areas including rider attitude, collision causation, cornering, positioning, overtaking, observation, braking, hazard perception and use of gears.
It's highly-acclaimed by those who take part and a vital tool in helping to reduce the numbers of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads - sadly they account for 40% of Warwickshire Police's fatal collision investigations.
I am pleased that BikeSafe is available again here in Warwickshire to help equip riders with the skills and experience they need to ride safely and reduce their vulnerability. It’s a great scheme and I would encourage all bikers to sign up for a course and then go on to take further training in the future.
Reducing the numbers of casualties on our roads is one of my main priorities for the year ahead. I hope that BikeSafe, together with other schemes I will be supporting through the Road Safety Fund across a broad range of road users, will help to encourage people to modify their behaviour and reduce risk-taking, so that our roads can provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
BikeSafe starts in Warwickshire on Sunday 6 September and workshops will take place every Sunday up until 18 October at Leek Wootton. Spaces are limited, so anyone interested is encouraged to book a place ASAP to avoid disappointment. To book, visit bikesafe.co.uk/warwickshire/
|
|
Please continue to 'do the right thing for Warwickshire'
While Covid-19 remains a part of our daily lives, it's easy to get complacent. However, it remains as critical as ever to remain vigilant and continue our collective efforts to keep coronavirus at bay.
I fully support the 'Let's do the right thing for Warwickshire' campaign which has been launched by the County Council and backed by the District and Boroughs. It seeks to remind everyone of the basic precautions they need to take to keep the county safe and avoid a spike in cases.
The key guidance remains to:
- regularly wash and sanitise your hands
- keep a safe social distance of at least 2m wherever possible or take mitigating actions such as wearing a face covering where that cannot be done
- wear a face covering on public transport and in shops, supermarkets and other enclosed public places
- regularly clean and ventilate your home, particularly shared living spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens
- stay at home if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Covid-19
- immediately arrange a test if you are experiencing symptoms
Residents are being urged to stay vigilant and get tested if they are showing any symptoms of coronavirus.
For many, the symptoms of coronavirus may be mild and so it may seem like an inconvenience to get a test, but it’s essential (regardless of the level of symptoms) that you get tested if you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
If you have any of these symptoms, or you feel you have put yourself at risk of exposure to Covid-19, you must get a test.
The test is quick and easy, and a crucial tool to help stop the spread of coronavirus. There are several mobile testing units in Warwickshire and it’s easy to book a test. You can attend a drive through or walk-in service or have one delivered to your door.
Testing for Covid-19 has increased over the last few weeks as Warwickshire residents continue to do the right thing by getting themselves tested when they show symptoms.
For more information on Covid-19 guidance, staying safe and booking a test visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/information-coronavirus. |
|
|
|
We are continuing to operate as normal, though our offices in Northgate Street, Warwick remain closed to the public and my staff are working remotely. You can continue to contact us as normal however by email at opcc@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk or by phone at 01926 412322. Wherever possible, please try to contact us by email in the first instance, but please note that due to our revised working arrangements, it may take us longer than usual to provide you with a reply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
