Hampshire Constabulary

Last updated: Thursday, July 21

The Safer Neigbourhoods Team for Oakley is:
PC Barbara Bradley

We are based out of Whitchurch Police Station. 

PCSO Melissa Rowell – Melissa has recently left the beat to joint the new Countrywatch department working out of Petersfield.  She was well known and liked on the beat attending community events such as coffee mornings, fetes and school reading sessions and days out.  I will be unable to keep up the work Melissa did as I predominantly focus on crime which must take priority over community events. 

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.

We can report that the public have now identified the priorities for 2011 as:

• Speeding
  
• Anti-social behaviour
  
• Parking related problems

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. 

Country Watch

Please click here for more information about the Country Watch scheme in this area.

Smartwater

Over the last year there has been an increase in non-dwelling breaks in the Deane and Steventon area. Hampshire Constabulary will be offering Smartwater to every resident that lives in the area of Deane and Steventon as a crime prevention initiative.

Action we have taken in relation to your previous priorities.

You said: Speeding

We did:

A meeting was held at Newfound Pavilion involving the parish and borough councils to discuss areas within Oakley that were the subject of speeding complaints and parking problems. I cannot give a full update at this time as I was not present; however I understand that we may be seeing the Speed Indicator Device in the village at some point in the future. 

I am supporting the proposal to extend the 30mph limit at the B3400 and to place yellow lines at the entrance to The Vale in Oakley. Traffic wardens from Basingstoke and Deane will be visiting the area of Oakley Lane at school times to enforce the yellow lines and address inconsiderate parking.  I have been informed that after the recent visit by traffic wardens, several parents complained to the school headmasters; I would like to remind those people that the safety of their children is paramount and yellow lines are in place to assist with road safety at busy school times.

There is a ‘Community Speedwatch’ scheme which is run jointly with the police and members of the community. The parish council is looking into adopting it within Oakley; it does require volunteers from the community and a substantial amount of cash to run it, therefore they will be looking to gauge interest from the community to get involved. Keep an eye on ‘Link’ magazine for an update.  I would hope that the people making the complaints about speeding would be happy to give up some of their time to assist in addressing this problem.

I know I have mentioned it before, but I am on the list to be trained in the use of the hand-held speed device. Once I have this skill I will use it at the areas highlighted as speeding sites and will be issuing speedy motorists with fixed penalty notices to the value of £60 which also incur three points on the driving licence. With the assistance of a colleague from the Roads Policing Unit I recently carried out a speed check at St Johns Road, Oakley at 11pm. It highlighted that there is a problem there and we will be visiting the area again soon. 

You said: Tackle anti-social behaviour

We did:

There has been an increase in this kind of behaviour in the local parks in Oakley with young people drinking alcohol; this has recently led to a bin being set fire to in Kennet Way. There will be an increase in patrols at the relevant times which is usually on a Friday and Saturday evening/night.  Can I ask that if you see anyone drinking alcohol in the park you report it on 0845 045 45 45, as all of the parks in Oakley are a ‘designated no alcohol zone’. 

You said: Parking

We did:

Please call 0845 045 45 45 or 101 to report any inconsiderate parking or vehicle obstructions. May I remind you that parking on the pavement to the degree whereby a pushchair or wheelchair is unable to pass safely can be classed as an unnecessary obstruction and as such a Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued which incurs a fine of £30 - this has and will be done to address this beat priority.

Offenders brought to justice

To be updated soon.

Distraction burglaries

General advice on distraction burglaries

• Don’t open the door to anyone before you’ve checked who it is – look out of the window or use a spy hole in your door.
• If you open the door, keep the chain on while you find out who is calling and what they want.
• If you’re not expecting someone and you don’t know them, don’t let them into your home, no matter what they say to you. If a caller is genuine, they will understand your concerns.
• If someone is asking for a favour, such as to use your toilet, borrow a pen or retrieve a ball, don’t let them in. Instead direct them to a shop, office or public place. It’s only natural to want to help someone, but sadly that’s one of the techniques often used by distraction burglars.
• If you have any concerns about someone who has called at your door, call the police immediately. If you have a chance, try to note what they look like and any vehicle they have with them so  police can investigate.  
• If someone from a company calls at your door, even if you are expecting them, ask to see their identification and check it thoroughly. If you are blind or partially sighted, ask a friend or neighbour who you trust to help you if someone calls at your door.
• If you were not expecting anyone, explain that you need to check they are legitimate and ask them to wait outside for a few minutes. Take a note of their name and the company they claim to be working for and then close and lock the door.
• Look up the phone number for the company in a telephone directory and check they have an employee of that name and that they are visiting you on legitimate business.
• Never just take someone’s word for it and don’t use any phone number they give you to check their identity – you don’t know if it’s a genuine number.
• Many utility companies operate a password scheme, where anyone calling from that company will give you a previously agreed password so you know they’re legitimate. Make sure you take advantage of these schemes.  
   

Neighbourhood Watch

I would like to welcome on board the three new Neighbourhood Watch schemes recently set up in Wootton St Lawrence. Thanks to Fiona Johnson, Sylvia Raine and Sarah Hamlin for taking on the role of coordinators. To my knowledge it is a first in the village so well done to all involved in making it happen and in particular to Sarah Curtis who has assisted me all along.  

No Cold Calling Zones

How you can take action

Come and tell us what is important to you in your neighbourhood, and play your part in setting local priorities.  Please keep checking here for more dates, or contact us on the details given below.

Beat surgeries

If you have issues that affect you and the community then please stop and speak to us if you see us out and about. If you have any information that can assist the police and you want to remain anonymous please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

• Every Friday between 2pm and 4pm a beat surgery is conducted outside the local schools in Oakley Lane, Oakley. Station Duty Officer Stewart Packhan is present with the Mobile Police Office to take any questions or take reports.

Volunteering

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.

We would be very pleased to meet more local residents.

Your Voice Counts - community priorities

Your Safer Neighbourhoods team wants to hear from you. Have your say on what the policing priorities should be for your area, by clicking here to download a copy of the form and send it back to your local team.

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 view details of how we are performing against certain key criteria in your local area. Click here to see your local performance information.

Please click here for the Oakley Parish Council website

Please note Hampshire Constabulary is not responsible for external websites.

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How to contact us

If you would like to speak to the officers responsible for your local area please call 101 or email PC Barbara Bradley