Sergeant Rick Davidson leads the Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods team, covering Sandown, Bembridge, Brading and Seaview.
The team comprises:
- Sergeant Rick Davidson
- PC Therese Street
- PC Dan Renshaw
- PC Mark Vincent
- PC Andrew Vaughan
- PCSO Robin Brough
- PCSO Louise Shorter
- PCSO Ken Payne
- PCSO Stuart Woods
- Station Enquiry Officer (SEO) Mick Sayer
PC Therese Street PCSO Stuart Woods
PCSO Robin Brough SEO Mick Sayer
PC Dan Renshaw PC Andy Vaughan
PC Mark Vincent PCSO Louise Shorter
PCSO Ken Payne
The policing pledge and your local priorities
Click here to read the national policing pledge, which sets out the service you can expect from your local police force.
Locally, we work with your community to find out what matters most where you live. We will work with you and our partner agencies to agree the main priorities for the area and how we will work together to tackle them.
The priorities for the Sandown town centre area:
(Updated: December 16, 2009)
- Reducing the amount of underage drinking.
- Dealing with crime and disorder related to houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs).
- Improving the appearance of the town centre by dealing with derelict buildings.
The priorities for the Bembridge area:
(Updated: December 16, 2009)
- Preventing and reducing underage drinking.
- Dealing with parking problems.
- Dealing with speeding motorists.
The priorities for the Brading, St. Helens, Seaview and Nettlestone area:
(Updated: December 16, 2009)
- Reduce the amount of underage drinking.
- Deal with anti-social behaviour
- Deal with speeding motorists
These are the priorities that people in your local area have agreed with the Safer Neighbourhoods team. You can influence these priorities by contacting your team, attending a meeting or speaking to members of the team when you see them out and about.
Visit this link for details of community meetings in the Sandown Bay area
Police beat newsletters
Please click on the links below to read the latest newsletters from your local Safer Neighbourhoods teams:
Bembridge beat newsletter January 2010.pdf
Brading Seaview St Helens and Nettlestone beat newsletter January 2010.pdf
Sandown town beat newsletter January 2010.pdf
Action we have taken in relation to your local priorities
Sandown
You said....Reduce the amount of underage drinking.
We did....A Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) is tackling the impacts of underage drinking. Eight partner agencies, including the police working under the Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), give support to young people and families affected by alcohol. There is training for staff in off-licence premises along with information explaining the law and dangers of underage drinking. There is a separate project where participating shops in Sandown refuse to sell alcohol to anyone aged under 21 years old on Fridays and Saturdays from 6.00pm. 
The Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods team patrolled Culver and Bembridge Downs to confiscate alcohol from groups of people. PCSO Stuart Woods worked with students, parents, local schools, the National Trust, the Sandown-Shanklin Lions Club, the Sandown and Lake Observers, and Isle of Wight Council to organise the latest in a series of clean up operations during October 2009.
David Mears, South Wight Warden for the National Trust, said: “The two main issues are fires and litter. The chalk grassland is species rich because it is nutrient poor. Fires not only damage the turf and soil structure, but they add nutrients to the ground which are detrimental to the chalk grassland species. A fire site can take 15 to 20 years to recover back to good quality chalk grassland. Litter causes problems for wildlife, livestock and people. Food rubbish can be eaten by livestock, which choke on the indigestible material. Glass can start fires, trap small creatures, and when bottles are broken, they can injure both people and animals.”
PCSO Stuart Woods of the Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods team said: “Groups of people with alcohol near tall cliffs was not a good mix for their safety, and there is a minority who need to understand how their behaviour can affect the protected natural environment. Mattresses, tents, clothes and aerosol cans were among the items found discarded and burnt. This project is all about the community working together to increase awareness and respect for where we live. I would like to thank those involved for all their time and efforts in helping to improve confidence in one of the Island’s most beautiful locations.” PCSO Stuart Woods patrolled the Red Cliff area to confiscate alcohol from underage drinking parties during the summer. He encouraged teenagers to help clean up the damage they had caused to this protected land.
‘Gatekeeping’ meetings each month are attended by a range of partner agencies and representatives from all schools in the area. ‘Gatekeeping’ aims to empower parents to take responsibility for their children and obtain support if necessary. This process cuts the lengthy time referrals can take and assists the person in dealing with issues they have. An improvement in behaviour is evident. Overall crime, violent crime, criminal damage and thefts in Sandown have been reduced since 2008.
You said....Deal with problems at Houses of Multiple Occupancy.
We did....We informed Sandown Town Council. PC Therese Street attends monthly meetings with the owners of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs). This is developing a good working relationship where we can check on HMO residents and offer advice to allay community concerns.
You said....Improve the appearance of the town.
We did....We informed Sandown Town Council.
Bembridge
You said....Reduce underage drinking.
We did....There are extra patrols in areas highlighted during street mapping surveys where anti-social behaviour and underage drinking were reported. These included beach parties over the summer. Licensed premises were visited and warning posters displayed about the consequences of buying alcohol for young people. The independent Pubwatch scheme has been extended to all licensed premises and off-licenses. Premises within the scheme have already shown their willingness to co-operate. One local pub has adjusted its closing hours and there has been a substantial drop in reports of rowdy behaviour by local residents. A 23-year-old Ryde man, Richard Simon Albert Bates, was banned from all pubs on the Isle of Wight in the Pubwatch scheme after he was involved in an assault in Bembridge. PCSO Robin Brough is working hard to build closer links with schools and youth clubs to help children avoid the risks of becoming involved in crime. Co-operation with Seaview and Bembridge Yacht Clubs has reduced reports of rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour. People who attend sailing courses were not always aware of the impact they had on the villages and the quality of life for local residents due to their increased numbers.
You said....Deal with parking problems.
We did....We informed Isle of Wight Council, which has dedicated Civil Enforcement Officers.
You said....Deal with speeding motorists.
We did....The Isle of Wight Roads Policing Unit has been in the area educating people to lower their speed through the village over the past few months.ss
Brading, Nettlestone, Seaview and St. Helens
You said....Reduce the amount of underage drinking & deal with anti social behaviour
We did....We are working with shops in Brading to identify and stop children and teenagers obtaining alcohol either trying to purchase it themselves or asking adults to buy it for them. We are also educating young people about the risks of alcohol related problems. We have increased patrols to help combat the issue, which is the main cause of anti social behaviour. There were 70 fewer crimes across the whole area between April and December 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.
You said....Deal with speeding motorists
We did....With the assistance of the Island’s Roads Policing Unit, drivers are being educated about lowering their speed through the villages. They work with the Isle of Wight Council Highways and Road Safety Departments delivering the same message and punishing offenders in 2010. Officers are also working with local schools to raise awareness of stranger danger, both at primary schools and pre-schools.
Justice Seen, Justice Done
23-year-old Richard Simon Albert Bates from Puckpool, Ryde was charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH) after a fight in Steyne Road, Bembridge in May 2009 when the victim was taken to hospital to be treated for life threatening head injuries. Bembridge is normally a peaceful village and people found such a severe assault disturbing and out of character for the area. Police brought the offender to justice swiftly. Mr Bates was sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on December 7, 2009 to two years in prison and ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to the victim. Police would like to thank the community for their assistance in bringing this offender to justice. Mr Bates was also banned from every pub on the Isle of Wight by licensees in the independent Pubwatch scheme.
More action taken by the Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods team
Local officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be out and about among the community, providing a reassuring presence. There will also be opportunities for the community to have their say and become involved in solving local problems, so that we can improve the quality of life for those living in the Sandown, Bembridge, Brading, and Seaview areas.
PCSOs
Police Community Support Officers' role is to be among the community for 80% of their working day, they are the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood. Their role includes meeting members of the public and this is best achieved when patrolling areas where most members of the community congregate such as schools, business areas, town centres and on public transport. Sandown SNT PCSOs make full use of the local transport system and travel on buses and trains, especially at busy periods such as school and commuter times. This not only enhances public reassurance but makes the PCSOs much more accessible.
Police Officers
Sandown SNT Police Officers adhere to core patrol hours in addition to their PCSO colleagues and patrol their beat areas accordingly. Members of the public want to see police officers out of the station and on the beat. This is where Safer Neighbourhood Teams come in. The role of the SNT police officer is also to be visible and meet the public but to investigate crime as well. Because of these other demands the police officer may not be able to patrol at a certain time and you may see a police colleague instead.
PC Dan Renshaw: Photo courtesy of Gamson Gray photography
Street Mapping
As each neighbourhood is demographically different, for example, residents in one street have different issues from residents living in the adjoining street; Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods Team has introduced Street Mapping. The concept has come about due to the attendance levels in the old format of Community Engagement Meetings. Although members of the community attended, they did not necessarily reflect the views and issues of those in other areas and of differing age groups. Street mapping negates this by giving all the residents in the street a chance to air their issues, even if they are not police related, as we work closely with partner agencies. The team looks at streets and areas that seem to be coming to our attention and these are targeted first. Two to three weeks before the street mapping exercise, a letter is dropped through every address in that road, stating the date and timeslot officers will be calling. On the date the whole team will be on duty and two officers will call at each address and talk about and record any issues that arise. If a household are not in at the time, a questionnaire will be posted through so the residents can still have their say. Once all the responses are received, the top three issues are put to an action plan and worked on by the relevant agency: the police, Isle of Wight Council et al. All other issues are also noted as some can be resolved simply.
Pubwatch and Shopwatch
Sandown Bay SNT works alongside licensed premises through the independent Pubwatch scheme, and co-operates closely with businesses through Shopwatch, utilising radio and CCTV systems to make the town centre and seafront an even safer place.
Foxes Bridge
The Sandown Bay SNT is in the process of working with partner agencies to improve the area of Foxes Bridge, between the Broadway and Perowne Way in Sandown. This is an area regularly patrolled by the Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods Team. All agencies involved are aiming to make the area a more pleasant place to walk through, and feel safer by improving lighting and clearing foliage.
Operation Nemesis
Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods Team supported Hampshire Constabulary's Operation Nemesis campaign to prevent and reduce burglary by carrying out stop checks and searches of suspect vehicles and persons in and around Sandown Town Centre.
Police officers, special constables and PCSOs worked as one team in dedicated stop check operations on Culver Parade on Friday nights during Operation Nemesis.
Sandown SNT rewards young people for learning life on the beat
by Duncan Smith and PCSO Dave Kalcher
A group of young people from the Isle of Wight with an enthusiasm for a life in law enforcement have successfully completed the service section of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award in Policing. More than a dozen teenagers learnt about the role of the police and its partner agencies during a 12-week course. They found out more about Crime Scene Investigation, the dangers of fake firearms, how police search dogs work, and the Roads Policing Unit. The learning was not confined to the classroom as there were visits to the police Marine Support Unit in Cowes, and the police training headquarters at Netley. The group was shown the busy control room, witnessed public order training for officers, and made a trip to Lee-on-Solent to see the Air Support Unit. The courts on the Island also opened their doors for a guided tour and mock trial. At the end of the course, the participants gathered at the Riverside Centre in Newport where they gave presentations about the knowledge they had gained to the course trainers, parents, and police Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Bill Pinnell, who later awarded them with certificates. Duke of Edinburgh awards provide activities and projects for young people to pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. D of E volunteer leader, Pat Hart said: "The young people involved came from different backgrounds and the course was aimed just right; they all got so much out of it.”
Course leader for the police, PCSO David Kalcher of the Sandown Bay Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: "The young people all achieved a good standard, and I saw their confidence build throughout the weeks. I was impressed by the group’s enthusiasm and the amount of research that went into their final presentations. I thought the trip to Netley would have been the high point, but the demonstration from the Dog Support Unit topped it! The students were captivated by the skills of a police search dog and his handler. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.” PCSO Kalcher added: “This course was part of regular efforts to work closely with students, and reinforce a greater respect and understanding between the police and young people. There are teenagers I met on the course who will stop and speak with me when they see me out on patrol, and this plays a huge role in supporting a strong relationship with the communities we serve.”
Photo courtesy and copyright of Elace Images
How you can take action
The team holds a number of community meetings - visit this link for details of community meetings in the area. If you would like to speak to an officer about a particular issue or if you would like to invite a member of the team to attend your neighbourhood watch, residents association or other local meeting to talk about crime and anti-social behaviour, just drop a line on email or give the team a call using the contact details below.
The whole of the beat areas are also covered by a mobile police office, which is taken to each area on the 14th of every month, Saturdays and Sundays included:
Perowne Way, Sandown: 9.00am - 9.55am
Sandown High Street: 10.00am - 10.55am
Wheatsheaf Inn, Brading: 11.00am - 11.55am
The old Maritime Museum, Bembridge: 12:10pm - 1.25pm
Roadside Inn, Nettlestone: 1.30pm - 2.25pm
Seaview Esplanade: 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Come and tell us what is important to you in your neighbourhood, and play your part in setting local priorities.
You could also volunteer to help the teams working in your local area and make a real difference to your neighbourhood. Click here for more information about police support volunteers.
Crime mapping and local performance information
Hampshire Constabulary has joined with partner agencies in the two counties to provide you with local information about crime and disorder, using a system called CADDIE. On the bottom left hand side of this page, you can enter your postcode into CADDIE to view information about your local area.
You can also see how we are performing against a key set of criterial. Link to Sandown Neighbourhood Performance page
How to contact us
Shanklin Police Station, Landguard Road, Shanklin, PO37 7HT, Phone: 0845 045 45 45. E-mail: mailto:sandownbay.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Online links to partner organisations in the Sandown area:
Sandown town council
Brading Town Council
http://www.brading.gov.uk/
http://www.iwight.com/parishcouncils/parishcouncilsdetail.aspx?id=3
Bembridge Parish Council
http://www.bembridgepc.org.uk/
http://www.iwight.com/parishcouncils/parishcouncilsdetail.aspx?id=2
St. Helens Parish Council
http://www.iwight.com/parishcouncils/parishcouncilsdetail.aspx?id=22
Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council
http://www.iwight.com/parishcouncils/parishcouncilsdetail.aspx?id=14
