Sergeant Mark Lyth leads the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods Team
The team comprises:
- Sergeant Mark Lyth
- PC Matt Rumsey
- PC Andy Fidler
- PCSO Mike Thornton
- PCSO Fern Wherry
PC Andy Fidler, PCSO Mike Thornton, PC Matt Rumsey and Sergeant Mark Lyth
PCSO Fern Wherry
Your local priorities
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.
Our priorities for the Freshwater/Totland area (Updated: August 31, 2010)
- Continue scrutiny of Pixley Hill as a bus route (Isle of Wight Council and Southern Vectis are dealing with this matter)
- Deal with cycling on pavements
- 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.
The most recent West Wight community forum was held at the Memorial Hall in Freshwater on June 25, 2010. Thank you to those who attended. The date of the next forum will be advertised here as soon as it is confirmed.
Police beat newsletters
Please click on the link below to read the latest newsletter from your local Safer Neighbourhoods team:
Freshwater and Totland beat newsletter 2010.pdf
You can read monthly updates about the work of your local Safer Neighbourhoods team in the Isle of Wight Beacon magazine. Go to: http://www.iwbeacon.com/2010.aspx
Sergeant Mark Lyth
Police and pupils prevent anti-social behaviour in the West Wight
by Duncan Smith
Neighbourhood policing joined forces with local children to help prevent anti-social behaviour on the Isle of Wight this summer. For the third year running, the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team encouraged and rewarded the exceptional behaviour of school pupils who are positive role models in the community. An opportunity for students from West Wight Middle School to spend time at the PGL Little Canada Activity Centre in Wootton was organised by West Wight SNT with support from Isle of Wight Council, local parish and town councils, the Hooke Hill branch of The Southern Co-operative, and Isle of Wight bus operator Southern Vectis. Activities were designed to build team work, confidence and self-esteem. Sergeant Mark Lyth said: “Reports of rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour fell again in the West Wight by 30 per cent between April and July, compared to the same time last year. We support community activities to reinforce respect and understanding among different generations. The children worked alongside adults as one team to learn something new, and bring down barriers between themselves and those in authority.” West Wight Middle School P.E Co-Ordinator Chris Williams said: “There is an excellent relationship established between police and the school. We regularly see officers and PCSOs on their bikes at West Wight Middle, speaking with pupils and making them aware the area is safe.”
Award for West Wight PC and PCSO
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Mike Thornton and PC Matt Rumsey of the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team were congratulated by Isle of Wight commander, Superintendent Norman Mellors, for their effective and professional response to a group of youths who were threatening a member of the public and shouting racial abuse. Extensive enquiries lead to the offender being successfully prosecuted.
Action we have taken in relation to your priorities
(Updated: August 17, 2010)
You said: Enforce width restrictions on vehicles using roads
We did: We are working with Isle of Wight Council and ferry company Wightlink to educate, warn and prosecute motorists who ignore width restrictions in the area. PC Matt Rumsey is responding to residents’ concerns about drivers of heavy goods vehicles ignoring width restrictions on Pixley Hill. There are high visibility patrols in this area and we are in regular contact with companies that transport goods along this route.
You said: Deal with speeding motorists.
We did: Regular speed checks continue on routes where residents have complained. Motorists caught breaking the speed limit will face prosecution and education. Residents are invited to join officers so there is a better understanding of perceived speeding. Several members of the public have taken up this opportunity since start of the year.
You said: Deal with cycling safety issues
We did: Regular school visits by police to educate children about being visible and not riding on pavements. Cyclists are fined for breaking the law. PC Andy Fidler is working on cycle safety as we continue visiting schools to give practical advice to make children and teenagers aware of the dangers. We are working with local shops to ensure new bikes sold carry security measures. The police have a good working relationship with West Wight Middle School. A third annual ‘Rewards Day’ took place in July 2010 as part of our summer campaign to prevent anti-social behaviour. Exemplary pupils were chosen for their good school attendance and behaviour, rewarding those who are positive role models. There were 109 fewer victims of crime in the West Wight area in 2009/10 compared with 2007/08. Violence, criminal damage and arson offences are all down.
More action taken by the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods team
(2009)
Lights On: Don't make your absence easy for burglars to spot
A message from Sergeant Mark Lyth
Rural West PCSO Cath Quinn, Rural West PC Tim Campany and I handed out lights and timers to residents in our communities to help deter burglars as the nights started to draw in. Burglars are tempted to target empty homes so try to make it look like you’re in even when you’re out. We visited towns and villages across the West Wight.
PCSO Cath Quinn hands a timer switch to Councillor Stuart Dyer during the Lights On campaign at Yarmouth Police Station, October 2009
I would also like to remind members of the public who locate suspicious packages not to transport these items to police stations themselves. During September 2009, a member of the public handed in two mortar shells at Yarmouth Police Station, which was evacuated as a precaution with road closures affecting the town centre on a Monday morning. No one was hurt on this occasion, but in future, if anyone locates what they believe is a suspicious item or finds old ammunition stored at home, I would advise them to phone police so we can arrange for an expert assessment and a safe and secure disposal. Please do not attempt to touch such items or take them anywhere yourself.
August 2009
Update from Sergeant Mark Lyth
Tackling anti-social behaviour of all types is Hampshire Constabulary's top priority at the moment. There are extra patrols and operations to show that any crimes affecting the community's quality of life will not be tolerated.
Examples of our work this summer include the charging of an 18-year-old man for a burglary at the Duo Baguettes shop on Avenue Road in Freshwater, and the seizing of a mini-moto, which was being driven illegally through a housing estate by a 16-year-old youth who was later charged.
We are also concentrating on preventing such behaviour in the first place. A CCTV camera has been installed in Moa Place in Freshwater. Officers regularly attend the West Wight Junior Youth Club to recognise and support the exemplary behaviour of children and teenagers who are role models for the community.
On a sad note, we say farewell and good luck to Chris Dove, one of our Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). He’s now training to become a police officer on the mainland. Colleagues from partner agencies have praised Chris for his commitment and character. He’s played a crucial role in making the West Wight a better place to live since 2007. Chris’s replacement will arrive at Yarmouth Police Station soon.
Police make waves to recognise well behaved children on the Isle of Wight
by Duncan Smith and Sergeant Mark Lyth
Police and partner agencies on the Isle of Wight made waves this week to highlight and encourage the exceptional behaviour of local children.An opportunity for pupils from West Wight Middle School to spend a day on the water at the UKSA in Cowes on Tuesday, July 7 was organised by the West Wight and Rural West Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, and Isle of Wight Council WAYS Forward Extended Services Officer Tracey Castle.Activities included learning to sail small dinghies, group sailing of larger craft, and kayaking to build team work, confidence and self-esteem. The 24 pupils were chosen for their good attendance and behaviour, rewarding those who are positive role models at West Wight Middle School and in the community. The project was supported financially by the parish and town councils of Freshwater, Totland and Yarmouth, the Hooke Hill branch of The Southern Co-operative, and Isle of Wight bus operator Southern Vectis, which provided free transport.The event coincided with the start of Hampshire Constabulary's campaign to prevent and reduce the risks of anti-social behaviour involving people of all ages this summer. Police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from the West Wight and Rural West Safer Neighbourhoods Teams worked with the pupils and instructors from the UKSA during the day.
Sergeant Mark Lyth of the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) said: “Reports of rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour have fallen considerably in the West Wight over the past year, and police want to see this trend continue. We support community activities to reinforce respect and understanding among different generations. These children are an absolute credit to their school and the community. They worked alongside adults as one team to learn something new, and bring down barriers between themselves and those in authority.”
West Wight Middle School P.E Co-Ordinator Chris Williams said: “These pupils are an inspiration to the rest of the school. We’re really proud of them. It’s an incentive to reward those who behave responsibly, and they haven’t let us down. There is an excellent relationship established between police and the school. We regularly see officers and PCSOs on their bikes at West Wight Middle, speaking with pupils and making them aware the area is safe. This event will help to build even stronger links.”
Simon Davies from the UKSA at Cowes said: "A great day was had by all. It's just great to see the youngsters and adults having so much fun. The UKSA is a charity that embraces opportunities to work with communities on the island, and is dedicated to changing lives and inspiring people of all ages through maritime education and personal development."
Tony McGuinness from The Southern Co-operative Hooke Hill store said: "It has been great to support our local community through this event and to witness the strong relationships being built between the police and the children. Everyone had a great time on the day and a lot of positive skills were gained by pupils who proved they really deserved to take part in such fun activities."
Isle of Wight Council Leader, Councillor David Pugh said: “It's great to see the children being rewarded for their positive behaviour and attitude. I hope it encourages others to appreciate that being good and trying hard does pay off, both in the school environment and within a community.”
Southern Vectis Marketing Officer Graeme Craig said: “We are always keen at Southern Vectis to support initiatives in schools, particularly when the children being rewarded are the ones who turn up, do their best and don’t disrupt others. This is a great repayment for their effort.”
Let's keep crime down in the West Wight together
A new youth shelter created by a combined community effort in Freshwater last year is helping to reduce fear of crime. Work on the project started during an Isle of Wight Council CREW (Crime Reduction and Environment Week) in February 2008 when a survey of young people found they wanted a shelter to provide them with somewhere to go in the area. The cost of the shelter was met by £3,000 worth of funding from the Freshwater Community Initiative, a £2,500 grant applied for by the Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, and money from Freshwater and Totland Parish Councils. Cowes-based company TA Reader Transport collected the shelter from Watford and delivered it. Sgt Lyth said: “Young people have a sense of responsibility because they have been given, and are using, something they asked for. Residents tell us fear of crime has been reduced because they don’t see young people in the areas where they used to gather.”
Nineteen pupils from West Wight Middle School spent time at the Little Canada Outdoor Activity Centre in Wootton to take part in team building activities with SNT officers and PCSOs. The students had been selected after being recognised as community role models for their positive achievements at school during the past year. Sgt Lyth said: “Our experience shows that engaging with young people in a friendly and informal way breaks down communication barriers. This helps to stop those thinking that crime and anti-social behaviour is an acceptable path to take. On this occasion, we wanted to show that young people who behave well, attend school, and who are a positive role model for their peers, should be rewarded.”
Another of the community’s priorities for 2008 was speeding, which was addressed by Operation Elmsleigh during the summer and autumn. Safer Neighbourhoods officers worked with colleagues from the Isle of Wight Roads Policing Unit to carry out high profile speed checks on routes where residents had complained about motorists. Officers concentrated their efforts towards educating offending motorists as opposed to straightforward enforcement. Sergeant Lyth said: “We accept this is an ongoing issue, but at our most recent community forum, residents acknowledged that the police had listened to, and acted upon, their concerns about speeding. We fed back results of the number of vehicles we had stopped, and the range of offences we had detected, but the community felt our ongoing commitment to this area of policing, as part of our normal duties, did not warrant it to be a priority on this occasion. That said, we will still be visible across the neighbourhood monitoring and recording speeding motorists. If anyone has concerns about a particular stretch of road, then please get in touch.”
The community replaced speeding as a priority with concerns for young cyclists using their bikes without lights on local roads and pavements. The Safer Neighbourhoods Team is putting across the message of safe cycling by speaking with young people they find out at night. There is also close co-operation between the police and West Wight Middle School to highlight the risks of cycling at night with no lights on.
Sergeant Lyth added: “I would like to thank partner agencies and the community for helping us to achieve reductions in crime and the fear of crime. We recognise the challenge now is to maintain and improve this record through consistent contact with residents, local parish councils and visitors."
Community Engagement Forums are run for all villages to establish the main issues impacting on the community. The top five priorities for winter 2008 and spring 2009 in Freshwater and Totland were identified as cycle safety, the installation of more speed reactive signs, pavements on rural roads, the general state of the roads, and street lighting. A Community Engagement Forum on November 11, 2008 was well attended and Sgt Lyth's team is working with Isle of Wight Council and partner agencies to tackle the issues.
How you can take action
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.
Officers hold surgeries on the first Thursday of the month at the West Wight Sports Centre in Freshwater between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.
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 criteria: Link to West Wight Neighbourhood Performance page
How to contact Sgt Lyth and the West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT)
Yarmouth Police Station, High Street, Yarmouth, PO41 0PL. Phone: 0845 045 45 45. Email: westwight.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Online links to partner organisations in the West Wight area:
Freshwater Parish Council
www.freshwater-parish.org.uk
Totland Parish Council
www.totlandparishcouncil.org.uk
