Buckinghamshire Community Portal News

As towns and communities across the UK begin the countdown to welcoming the Torch Relay through their streets, the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) specialist Torch Security Team (TST) is in its final days of preparation ahead of the torch being brought into the UK on Friday, 18 May.

For the TST team, known as “the runners,” next week brings to an end, 18 months of grueling training and final preparations to embark on what will be a unique role in British policing.

The runners are one element of the wider torch security team, which includes motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, senior officers and operational planners, who will ensure the integrity, safety and security of the Olympic and Paralympic Flames, plus the immediate protection of the Torch Bearer holding that flame.

Working as part of a team of who will travel with the Olympic Flame, from the moment it leaves Lands End until it arrives at the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony, is PC Chris Healey, aged 30.

Working as part of a team of 35 runners, PC Healey, will travel with the Olympic Flame from the moment it’s lit in Athens until it arrives at the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony.

PC Healey, 30 years, has most recently served in the Territorial Support Group in the borough of Finchley, serving with the MPS for four and a half years. He was chosen to take on this challenge from an initial 664 applicants and following an eight month selection process. In his day-to-day role, Chris works to support the local borough policing priorities, such as burglary and robbery as well as dealing with public order issues and policing demonstrations and protests in and around London.

Originally from the North-East, Chris will be policing a number of legs of the Relay including that of his home town, Stockton-on-Tees and where he currently lives in Buckinghamshire. Chris is a keen runner and regularly takes part in road races and triathlons.

Numerous hours have gone into preparing for the role but outside of work Chris has been preparing with regular runs, gym work, watching what he eats and getting plenty of rest.

Once the Games begin Chris will enjoy watching the cycling and his Olympic heroes are Mark Cavendish and Sir Steve Redgrave.

With a keen interest in sport Chris has traveled around the UK watching rugby.  

PC Chris Healey said: “The Olympics is the absolute pinnacle of sporting endurance and performance. I’m sure the rest of the UK and indeed the world is looking forward to watching this summer’s incredible spectacle. In the same way I am looking forward to playing a my role in delivering an important part of the Games.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return to my hometown of Stockton-on-Tees and also through my new home county of Buckinghamshire as part of the exciting build-up to the Games.”

A campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse is being launched by Thames Valley Police in partnership with Domestic Abuse Co-ordinators and Crimestoppers on 14 May 2012.

The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness and promote early intervention in an attempt to break the cycle of abuse.

Reports of domestic abuse incidents average around 32,000 a year. Statistics show an increase in reporting around March, June, July and August.

The majority of domestic abuse still goes unreported, and the focus of the campaign is to encourage people to contact either the police, Crimestoppers or specialist support agencies.

The campaign will urge family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to come forward and let the police or other agencies know if they suspect someone is being abused.

A dedicated website speakouttoday.co.uk and video has been launched to provide practical information for victims and those supporting them, and includes vital links to national and local support services.

Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Helen Ball said: “Domestic abuse can take many forms; it doesn’t have to be physical violence. Domestic abuse counts for one in seven of all violent incidents in England and Wales. It is a crime and we take all reports of domestic abuse seriously.”

Det Supt Nora Holford, Thames Valley Police’s head of Protecting Vulnerable People, added: “If you know someone is suffering domestic abuse, help them and make that call. Domestic abuse can affect anyone. It could be someone you know or it could be you, and men as well as women can be victims of domestic abuse. The first port of call is the police. Let us know by dialling 101 or 999 in an emergency. If you don’t want to give your name you can report this anonymously via Crimestoppers or call one of the specialist organisations.”

Mr Khan Juna, Chairman of Thames Valley Police Authority, said: “Domestic abuse is, in many ways, a ‘hidden’ rather than ‘public’ crime. Yet it results in serious human and emotional costs for victims and significant financial costs to the community. It is estimated across the Thames Valley area, domestic abuse costs victims and the public over £200 million per annum in terms of its impact on the criminal justice system, child social care, housing, employment and health care. For all these reasons the Police Authority supports this campaign to break the cycle of abuse.”

Julia Hughes, from Thames Valley Crimestoppers, commented: “We understand how difficult it is for worried family and friends to speak out about domestic abuse while still providing loved ones with the support they so need.

“However there is a safe way to give your valuable information without anyone ever knowing you called, by phoning the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Our anonymous service can provide family and friends with the courage they need to help break the cycle of abuse before it goes too far.”

Liz Jones, Domestic and Sexual Abuse Co-ordinator for Oxford City Council, said “Violence and abuse in the home has a huge impact on individuals and society as a whole, but all too often people around the victims and children do not know what to do to access help and advice.

“We need people to come forward before it is too late. We should not put the onus of responsibility purely on the victims to speak out. Those that abuse their partners and terrify their children need to change their behaviour. All of us, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and abusers can get help and advice to prevent further suffering, national and local numbers can be found on www.speakouttoday.co.uk”

Det Supt Holford will be available for interviews on Tuesday 15 May between 9am to 10am; Wednesday 16 May between 9am and 12pm and Thursday 17 May between 2pm and 4pm.

Liz Jones, Domestic and Sexual Abuse Co-ordinator and Julia Hughes from Crimestoppers are also available for interview.

Please contact Lisa Bergin, Thames Valley Police on 01865 846351 to arrange an interview.

Notes for editors:
Det Supt Holford will be available for interviews on Tuesday 15 May between 9am to 10am; Wednesday 16 May between 9am and 12pm and Thursday 17 May between 2pm and 4pm. Liz Jones, Domestic and Sexual Abuse Co-ordinator and Julia Hughes from Crimestoppers are also available for interview. Please contact Lisa Bergin, Thames Valley Police on 01865 846351 to arrange an interview.

A 52-year-old man has been charged in connection with sexual offences committed against children at an independent Buckinghamshire school between 1979 and 1981.

John Addrison, of Datchet Road, Slough, has been charged in connection with offences committed while working at Caldicott Preparatory School in Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire.

Addrison has been charged with three counts of indecent assault on a child under 16 and one count of gross indecency with a child under 14.

The charges, which have been made on the advice of the Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), relate to offences Addrison is alleged to have committed against two boys while working as a teaching assistant at the school.

He has been bailed to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 15 May.

The police investigation is continuing and if anyone has information or concerns relevant to the inquiry, please call Det Sgt Joe Banfield at the CAIU via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505, quoting URN 562 of 1 May.

If you don't want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

A Chesham man was jailed for 14 months last week, in connection with a burglary in Hyde Heath, Bucks, in which a car was stolen.

Sajid Mahmood, aged 29, of Batchelors Way, Chesham, was convicted of burglary and theft of a motor vehicle at Amersham Crown Court on Wednesday (18/4) after a two-day trial, and sentenced on the same day.

The burglary occurred in Brays Lane, Hyde Heath on the evening of Sunday 1 January 2012. A BMW was stolen from the drive using keys that had been taken from inside the house, along with several other items including jewellery, laptop computers and other electrical items.

In the early hours of 2 January, uniformed response officers from Amersham carried out a routine stop-check of a car in St. Mary’s Way, Chesham, in which Mahmood was a passenger. He was found in possession of some keys that had been stolen during the burglary, including the BMW key, and consequently arrested. He was charged later that day and remanded until his trial.

Det Con Carl Wilson, investigating officer, said: “The jury saw that there was sufficient evidence to convict Mahmood of both offences and he was duly sentenced to 14 months in prison. I hope the sentence will help deter others and send out a clear message that such offending behaviour will not be tolerated.”

The summer is fast approaching and you may be looking forward to day trips, long weekends and weeks away with the family.

Help us beat the burglars by taking a few easy steps to protect your home. Opportunist burglars will seize their chance if they spot a window or door left open, an empty home or a hedge which allows them to work hidden from view.

By following some simple steps you can help protect your house and garden while at home and on holiday.

Securing garden boundaries and entry points to houses, and ensuring houses look lived in while you are away can prevent burglary.

Ch Supt Tim De Meyer, from Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships, said: "The steps you can take to protect your home are not expensive or time-consuming but are very effective in reducing your risk of becoming a victim of burglary.

"Look at your home from the street and think about how a burglar may break in - and then take the necessary steps to deny them this opportunity.

"Thieves will use whatever they can find to break in, or find things they can use to reach higher windows.

"The effort invested now may save a great deal of inconvenience later on if you are unfortunate enough to become a burglary victim.

"Many stolen items will be irreplaceable, such as photographs stored on stolen cameras and phone numbers stored on stolen phones.

“Victims may also have to spend time cancelling stolen bank cards, passports and driving licences, replacing door locks and filling out insurance claim forms."

Julia Hughes from Thames Valley Crimestoppers said: "Sadly the effects of burglary often rob people of not only personal items but also of feeling safe in their own homes.  By being vigilant about home security and watching out for the wellbeing of our local communities, we can all play our part in beating the burglars.  

"If you think you know who is committing local burglaries or handling stolen goods then play your part and let the police know.  However if you don't want to be identified then call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and tell us what you know"

Follow our hot tips to protect your home this summer:

Home

• Do not leave valuables or car keys by open windows and doors. Mark your valuables with your postcode or register them on the national property database www.immobilise.com
• In the garden? Make sure you lock your doors and close your windows
• Double lock your door using the key, and make sure your windows are closed even if you are just popping out
• Do not leave garden tools, ladders etc easily accessible in your garden, make sure you shed is secure

Away

• Going on holiday? Make it look like you are at home; make sure you cut the lawn and trim any tall hedges before you go.
• Lock all windows and doors
• Cancel milk and papers
• If you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set - and that you have told the police who the key holder is.
• Lock the garage and shed with proper security locks, after putting all your tools safely away

Watch our Youtube video, presented by Matt Allwright, television presenter for Rogue Traders and Watchdog.

For further home security advice visit the Thames Valley Police website or like us on Facebook (opens new window) or Follow us on Twitter

A 75-year-old man has been jailed for 18 months today (23/4), in connection with sex offences he committed in the 1980s following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU).  

Leslie William Smith, of Maritime Street, Edinburgh, admitted two counts of indecent assault on a man aged 16 or above, between November 1985 and October 1986 at an earlier court hearing. He was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court today (23/4).

The assaults happened while Smith was a coach at a cricket club in the Aylesbury Vale area of Buckinghamshire. The charges relate to a victim who was aged between 16 and 17 years old when the incidents occurred.

One of the assaults happened on a train when Smith and the victim were travelling to Scotland.

Following the sentencing, the victim has released the following statement:

"Being sexually abused as a child has had a devastating effect on me.  My life has been blighted in so many areas. I thought that I would be able to handle it all on my own and developed a whole series of coping mechanisms and masks to numb myself from the pain and suffering I experienced as a child.  Unfortunately, one unforeseen event acted as a trigger and sent me tumbling back to my childhood.  It was as though I had been transported back in time.

“Since then, I have been treated for clinical depression and stress. I have suffered from frequent panic and anxiety attacks, insomnia, agoraphobia and feelings of acute worthlessness.  It got so bad at times that I just didn't care whether I lived or died.

“My message to anyone out there who has experienced any sort of abuse is please don't suffer in silence. You can get expert help.

“The Crown Prosecution Service, Thames Valley Police and their volunteer support team have been magnificent.  They have been both sensitive and caring, as well as managing my expectations throughout the legal process.  In addition, my GP, my therapist, the NHS psychiatry team, my family and close friends have all helped me to confront my demons, kept me alive in my darkest hours and given me hope where there was none - a big thank you to all of you.

“I am, of course, delighted that the weight of evidence against Smith forced him to plead guilty to the charges against him.”

Det Sgt Joe Banfield, of the CAIU based in Aylesbury, said: “Thames Valley Police will always carry out a full and thorough investigation when allegations such as this are made, even when the offences were committed some time ago.

“The victim showed great bravery in coming forward and disclosing the abuse he suffered. The fact Leslie Smith has admitted two counts of indecent assault at least means the victim will not have to relive his ordeal in court.

“Smith held a position of responsibility within the cricket club he was a part of, and the fact he abused this position to carry out these crimes is despicable.”

In addition to the custodial sentence, Smith will have to sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and he has been disqualified from working with children.

A 50-year-old man has been jailed for 19 years after being found guilty of historic rape and child cruelty charges.

Leon Lewandowski, of no fixed abode but formerly of Stokenchurch, was sentenced to 13 years after being found guilty of four of  six rape charges and six years for the child cruelty at Amersham Crown Court on Monday (16/4).

The incidents took place in the Wycombe and Stokenchurch areas. The rapes took place between 1977 and 1981 and the child cruelty charges relate to incidents of physical abuse between 1979 and 1987.

The victim of the rapes was nine years old when she was first attacked by Lewandowski. She reported what had happened to her to police in 2004 when hearing that he may be returning to the Humberside area where she was then living with her young children.

Prior to the trial, which commenced on 10 April, two further charges were put on the indictment. These related to incidents in which two boys were assaulted with canes, slippers and sticks and locked in bedrooms while Lewandowski was baby sitting them. These incidents took place while they were between four and 11years-old.

Det Sgt Simon Johnson, who led the investigation, said: “This investigation began in 2004 and when Lewandowski became aware of this he fled to Mexico.

“He later came back to the UK and was arrested in May 2010 but fled to France while on bail, so it took a long time to bring him to justice.

“Now that he has been sentenced I hope that his victims can find some closure. He carried out horrendous crimes while in a position of trust and I am pleased that he has finally been brought to justice.”

Most burglars are not master criminals. They're usually just looking for an easy opportunity to get into a house.

Research shows that Buckinghamshire residents with burglar alarms are less likely to become a victim of burglary compared with those without one fitted who are nearly twice as likely to be burgled.

All burglary dwelling offences from 2009 to 2011 across Bucks have been investigated by the I-on Bucks team to identify if there is a relationship between owning an alarm and the likelihood of being a victim of burglary.

Thames Valley Police found that only 18% of 2243 burglaries, between 2009 and 2011, were committed on properties fitted with alarms. This shows that the majority of burgled homes were not alarmed. Analysis also shows that when offenders burgle alarmed homes they are twice as likely to leave empty handed.

South Bucks District Councillor, Anita Cranmer, Portfolio Holder for Community says, “National research shows that an alarm system plays a huge role in deterring break-ins. It is indeed far less likely that you will fall victim to a burglary if your property has an alarm system. A further benefit to having a burglar alarm is that it often lowers house insurance premiums, which is a big help at this time when we all need to save where we can.”

She adds, “In addition to fitting an alarm system residents can also implement a range of other security measures. To assist the process residents may like to complete a home security self assessment on the Council’s website which will be assessed by a member of the Community Safety Team so that improvements can be suggested.”

Deputy LPA Commander Bhupinder Rai says, “South Bucks Community Safety Partnership is committed to reducing burglary. Residents can help themselves by completing a self assessment home security survey online. Burglars will always look for opportunities and a lack of security measures, so it is important you stay one-step ahead.”

Residents in South Bucks can now self-assess their own home security using an online form on South Bucks District Council’s website.

South Bucks District Councillor, Anita Cranmer, Portfolio Holder for Community says, “This survey is very quick and simple to complete. Taking some of the steps recommended by the community safety team could save you having to deal with the emotional and financial loss of your personal belongings being stolen.”

Deputy LPA Commander Bhupinder Rai says, “Most criminals commit crime because there is an opportunity to do so. By making some simple changes to your home you can have peace of mind. ”

She adds, “Since September 2009, serious acquisitive crime in South Bucks has continued to decline. However we need the continued cooperation and vigilance of all residents to ensure this trend continues.”

You can access the free crime prevention survey here.

If you require a paper version of the form or need help completing the online form, please contact South Bucks District Council’s Community Safety Team on 01895 837200 or email communitysafety@southbucks.gov.uk.

Many burglaries occur when home owners are away on holidays. A house left empty for some time is a target for potential intruders.

By taking some simple precautions and giving your home a "lived in" look before you go on holiday, you can substantially reduce the risk of burglary.

South Bucks District Councillor, Anita Cranmer, Portfolio Holder for Community warns, “The risk of being burgled is increased if your home is left empty while you are on holiday. Therefore don't forget to spare a thought for the security of your property and possessions while you're away.”

“The months of July and August in 2010 both saw 28 burglary dwellings respectively. We are determined to better these figures with fewer burglaries this summer as we would like to carry on the downward trend in serious acquisitive crime that has occurred since September 2008.”

Deputy LPA Commander Bhupinder Rai adds: “There are several ways to help give you peace of mind while on holiday. First of all, it’s a good idea to get help from your neighbours. You could ask them to collect post, sweep up leaves, mow the lawn, open and close curtains, and so on. They could even occasionally park their car on your driveway. Anything to make the place looked lived in.”

“Furthermore, don’t post details of your holiday on social networking sites and refrain from putting your home address on your luggage when travelling to your holiday destination”

“And lastly….don’t forget your passport and tickets”!!

If you would like more advice on how to protect yourself from crime, telephone the Community Safety Team on 01895 837220 or the crime reduction advisers on 0845 8 505 505 or visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk (opens in a new window).

Volunteers from Denham have recently been very busy undertaking a ‘clean up’ and painting a transport themed mural at Denham Railway Station’s foot-tunnel following several incidents of graffiti.

The good work was carried out by pupils at Tilehouse Combined School and Denham Village Infant School with the help of artist Lewis Yates. The idea behind the project came from Denham Neighbourhood Action Group having seen the success of a similar project run in Burnham. The project was supported by South Bucks District Council and funded by Denham Parish Council, L&Q Housing Trust and Robert Bosch Ltd.

South Bucks District Councillor, Anita Cranmer, Portfolio Holder for Community says, “Graffiti can add to the fear of crime and can be a contributing factor in the decline of a neighbourhood or area. It is great to see local people taking responsibility for their neighbourhood so that they can have a clean 'graffiti free' environment. The transport mural is fantastic and the school children thoroughly enjoyed painting it.”

Denham Neighbourhood Action Group Chair Carl Shillito adds, “Everyone has worked very hard to complete this project. We even had some help from young offenders at Bucks Youth Offending Service with the litter picking. Visitors and commuters at Denham Railway Station can now enjoy a pleasant walk through the tunnel. I am very proud of the work undertaken here.”

For further information on graffiti removal, you can contact South Bucks District Council’s Community Safety Team on 01895 837220, including borrowing a graffiti removal kit for a small deposit.