Welcome to Watchword

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BROMLEY BOROUGH POLICE

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INTELLIGENCE TASKINGS

 

Active Daytime Burglar(s)

 

Be aware of daytime burglaries occurring at residential flat premises in the Beckenham area, usually during the afternoon and early evening, between 1pm and 5pm. If you spot any likely suspects loading household equipment into vehicles, for example TV_s and/or video/DVD players/recorders, call the Police using the emergency system, and if able, make a note of any vehicle registration numbers and description of suspects.

 

Appeal for witnesses to assault 

In the early hours of Sunday 30th July, a 25 year old male went into the cab office in East Street, Bromley. There was a female in the cab office. The male and the female spoke to each other, and immediately the victim was ushered outside by two white males and was assaulted. He managed to get away and fled up East Street towards Delano's nightclub, where he was assisted by a trainee nurse. He saw the suspect coming towards him and fled up East Street.

DS Mick Sharpe of Bromley Police CID is eager to speak to anyone who witnessed the assault outside the Cab office, the female in the Cab office and the trainee nurse who assisted the victim. The victim was assaulted in what appears to be an unprovoked attack, receiving a serious injury to his right eye. Anyone with any information should contact DS Sharpe on 020 8284 8859.

 

Upgraded CCTV now in operation

Bromley now has the most up to date CCTV control room in London. 

The improved capabilities will enable better images to support identification of offenders and provide the best evidence to the courts. It is anticipated that this will have a have a real impact on safety and security in the Borough by denying thieves, criminals and those engaged in anti-social behaviour the use of the streets and public places. 

 

 

Operation Safer Schools

To coincide with the return to school, Bromley Police have launched Operation Safer Schools to protect children from becoming the victim of theft, mugging and bullying.  Officers will provide additional police presence around crime hot-spots and schools officers will also promote street-wise attitudes and personal safety in classroom visits.

Tackling mobile phone crime

The Met has launched a partnership with eBay to clamp down on the illegal sale of stolen mobile phones. It follows a successful operation where 13 eBay users selling barred phones were arrested. In partnership with the Government, police and mobile phone industry leaders have launched a charter detailing objectives and initiatives to help reduce mobile phone crime. The Home Secretary has pledged £1.35m extra funding for the Met_s National Mobile Phone Crime Unit to help disrupt stolen phone markets. National Mobile Phone Crime Unit officers seized more than 500 handsets and £40,000 from three phone retailers dealing in stolen phones in Tower hamlets. To help protect your phone, register its IMEI number at https://www.immobilise.com/.

 

Special Events

The Metropolitan Police are currently operating a recruitment drive seeking suitable candidates to enroll as Special Constables. Further information can be obtained from Insp.Rob Atkin at Bromley Police Station on 020 8284 8446 or at the following locations and dates:-

Saturday 7^th October at The Walnuts, Orpington _ 10am _ 3pm

Saturday 14^th October at Homebase, Oakfield Road, Penge _ 10am _ 3pm

Monday 30^th October at Sainsbury_s, West Wickham _ 10am _ 3pm

AND  The Recruitment Bus will be in the Hayes and Beckenham areas in the near future.

PCSOs wanted

The Metropolitan Police Service is also looking to recruit a large number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).  If you would like to make a positive difference in your community, and earn up to £25,000 please contact Insp.Rob Atkin at Bromley Police Station on 020 8284 8446.

 

 

 

Scheming  Crafty  Aggressive  Malicious

 

How to recognise a scam _ Is it too good to be true?

 

A scam is when people con you out of your cash. There are hundreds of types of scams _ fake lotteries and prize draws, incredible schemes to make money quickly, fake investment plans, work from home schemes _ the list goes on and on. The people who run these scams are clever and sophisticated and they know how to persuade us to part with our cash. Most scams have some things in common _ check out this list and help yourself to be on guard against scammers.

 

 

The Con - How scam artists succeed _ They will:

 

·        Catch you unawares, contacting you, without you asking them to, by phone, email, post or sometimes in person

·        Sound pleasant, well spoken and kind ( on the phone or at your door) and want you to think they_re your friend

·        Have slick, professional leaflets and letters

·        Be persistent and persuasive

·        Rush you into making a decision

·        Ask you to send money before you receive their tempting offer or win

 

New scams from the UK and overseas appear every day _ so it_s important to know how to spot them

 

 

The Pitch _ They offer you something for nothing _ such as:

 

• You_ve won a prize in a draw or lottery ( even though you haven_t entered one)
• An exclusive entry to a scheme that_s a surefire way to make money
• A way to earn easy money by helping them get untold millions out of their country
• The chance to join an investment scheme that will make you huge amounts of money; and so on

 

There are hundreds of examples but we can all protect ourselves by being sceptical. Is it likely that someone you don_t know, who has contacted you out of the blue will give you something for nothing?

 

 

 

The Sting _ They_ll ask you to:

 

• Send money up front _ an administration fee or tax, the list is endless but its always a ruse to get you to give them money
• Give them your bank details or other personal details
• Ring a premium number ( all UK premium rate numbers start with 090)
• Buy something to get your prize

 

They will lie to you and give you what seem to be good reasons why you should do what they say. They will answer all your objections.

 

Don_t send any money or give any personal details to anyone until you_ve checked them out and talked to a professional or family and friends. If they ask you to do any of these things they_re trying to cover their tracks and get your money and it_s likely to be a scam.

 

Any queries concerning scams should be referred to Consumer Direct on 0845 040506, which is the Scambuster team of the Office of Fair Trading.

 

 

Are you in need of a builder?

 

Selecting a reliable, trustworthy builder can be a risky business, but the Council may be able to help you.

 

The Staying Put Advisory Service has set up a scheme to assist the over 60_s and disabled in finding a reputable contractor and so help protect them from the cowboy builders.

 

A leaflet entitled _ Staying Put _ Beware of Cowboy Builders _ has been compiled by the Council_s Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department and includes a list of some contractors, known to the service, who have undertaken a wide variety of works to good standards at reasonable costs.

 

The leaflet is widely available throughout the Borough but should you have any difficulties in getting hold of a copy contact:

 

Mrs Janet Dangerfield

The Staying Put Officer

Environmental Health and Trading Standards,

Civic Centre,

Stockwell Close,

Bromley BR1 3UH

 

 

Good News

 

A 17 year old youth, living in the Plaistow and Sundridge Park ward of the Borough, recently breached his ASBO and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. This demonstrates how collective and partnership working can influence quality of life in your area.

 

Conviction for assault & breaking no drinking zone 05.09.2006

A male was found guilty of assaulting a Community Support officer at Bromley Magistrates Court on Tuesday 5th September. The incident occurred in Beckenham HIgh Street on Monday 4th September when two PCSO_s from the Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team were on mountain bike patrol on Beckenham Green when they came across a male drinking alcohol. The area has recently been designated an Alcohol Free Zone, whereby a person who fails to stop drinking when required and surrender any alcohol they are in possession of may be arrested. The man refused to surrender the alcohol he was drinking and assaulted the PCSO by kicking him. A violent struggle ensued and the man was arrested, subsequently appearing, in custody, at Bromley Magistrates Court for Assaulting a Community Support Officer in the execution of their duty contrary to S46(1) Police Reform Act 2001 and Failing to comply with a requirement to stop drinking and surrender any alcohol contrary to Section 12(1) Criminal Justice & Police Act 2002. The man was sentenced to a 12 month Community Punishment Order and ordered to wear an Electronic tag for 2 months.

 

Safest Streets

Two areas of Bromley borough have topped the charts when it comes to low crime rates.  In Darwin ward there was not a single robbery in the year to July 2006 and in Shortlands there were just three.  In fact Shortlands has the second lowest crime rate for all crimes across the whole Metropolitan Police Area, closely followed by Darwin. 

 

 

Compiled by Bromley Borough Intelligence Unit                       

7th September 2006

saferbromley partnership

www.bromley.gov.uk                                       

               

 

 

                             

               

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Geoff Wright - Borough Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator

E-mail: geoff.wright@...

 0208 721 4511

If you would like more information about  Bromley Police visit us on the internet  here

saferbromley partnershipwww.bromley.gov.uk