Latest Ward Crimes reported

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Our Christmas Message - Christmas is approaching

As Christmas comes nearer people up and down the country are starting to think about doing their Christmas shopping and stocking up on supplies. However, criminals are no different in that respect and at this time of year there can be rich pickings to be found by taking advantage of the unwary. Make sure your neighbours are aware of some common-sense precautions against getting burgled during the festive season. Find out more

Community Day - "Going for Gold" - 14th July 2012

Panel Members Urgently Needed

We urgently need furtherPanel members to increase the representation of all communities,ethnic or religious, younger and older, living and or working in our ward. We meet for a couple of hours approximately 8 times a year to discuss with and advise our Safer Neighbourhood Team on their Priorities.
To understand further what we do please take a moment to read the minutes of our recent Panel meetings  Panel Minutes
The Panel does not restrict itself to Police matters but also interests itself in the Safer concerns of the Community at large, so we would welcome as open a view as is practicable, through a broader representation from the community.

If you would like to know more please phone 07713341213 and if necessary please leave a message including a method calling you back.

Trading Standards Institute warns of dangerous energy saving scam targeting elderly

Trading Standards Institute is urging consumers to be aware of rogue telephone cold callers offering energy saving devices after trading standards up and down the country reported hundreds of complaints.
Trading standards are currently dealing with more than 200 complaints about people claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save them 40 per cent off their energy bills.  Trading standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings.
Ron Gainsford from the Trading Standards Institute said: “Consumers are warned not to use the product as they pose a risk of fire and electrocution and a safety recall has been issued for the items traced so far.
“Unscrupulous criminals are using the rising energy prices as an opportunity to lure in cash strapped consumers – elderly people seem to have been deliberately targeted.
“The number of complaints we are currently dealing with is bound to be only the tip of the iceberg.”
Westminster trading standards have been investigating the scam as the caller gives a London W1 Oxford Street address for the company.
Sue Jones from Westminster trading standards said: “The address they give is that of a virtual office provider, the companies involved in these scams are not actually situated there -  we believe the call centre they use is based abroad and the appliances appear to be distributed by a number of individuals in the UK.
“We know that these fraudsters have been duping consumers across the country into paying £99 for the energy saving device and have been told the caller always appears to be very credible by already knowing the consumers’ details, their energy supplier and sometimes some or all of the digits of their credit/  debit  card.
“Often consumers do not realise that they have been defrauded until they receive the dodgy looking device with instructions in broken English and the accompanying invoice which names an unknown supplier and often gives an American address.”
So far four different suppliers have been named, 1 Stop Marketing Solutions, ITC Development Corp, Power Saver and Athico Ltd. but the fraudsters could be operating under other names too.  Some of these names could be very similar to genuine companies – for example Power Saver Ltd, based in Tonbridge, Kent is not involved in this fraud.
The director of Athico Ltd appears to have been a victim of the scam himself. He fully cooperated with trading standards and the company has now ceased trading.
Advice to consumers
If consumers have responded to one of these cold calls they should report the matter to Action Fraud on www.actionfraud.org.uk 0300 123 2040 or Consumer Direct on 08454040506 . They should also contact their bank to stop their debit/ credit card. If a device has been received they should not use it and dispose of it carefully. 
Consumers should be cautious about giving out any personal or financial information. They should independently verify a caller’s identity before agreeing to purchase any goods or services.
Notes for Editors:

• Recalled items: model number SD 001,
• Useful load ratings: 15000 & 19000 watts
• Manufacturer: MacroPlus B1208 City Square, Shenzhen, Guangdong China
• We do not know how the callers have acquired consumer information however it is easy to buy lists.
• The first 4 digits of a particular bank’s credit card are all the same. All Visa cards start with the number 4, the following 5 digits indicate which bank that issued the Visa card. Mastercards start with 5.
• A useful link for information on saving energy is www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact Irja Howie at TSI press office on 08456089430 / 07780675815 or pressoffice@tsi.org.uk
Trading Standards Institute (TSI)
TSI is a training and membership organisation that has represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession since 1881 nationally and internationally.  We aim to raise the profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better informed and safer consumer and business communities.
TSI’s members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services in local authorities and in businesses.  We are also supporting the delivery of initiatives such as the advice services Consumer Direct, UK ECC and ECCS.
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

Burglary Activity in Orpington, Petts Wood, Chistlehurst and St Mary Cray

There have been an unusually high number of reported burglaries to Bromley Police over the last four weeks in the areas of BR5/6/7 (Petts Wood, Orpington, Chislehurst and St Mary's Cray).
The suspect/s main point of entry are via the rear patio doors, where they smash the window using bricks or force the doors open with tools, some of which are taken from sheds (shovels).  The second "favoured" method is via the front door, in particular UPVC doors that have not been locked or wooden doors without Chubb locks.  Suspects will use a "loop" instrument via the letter box to pull the handle down to open the doors.
Police would like to offer the following crime prevention steps:

1. When leaving your home make sure that both the Yale and Chubb locks are correctly locked

2. During night hours make sure that the UPVC door is locked with the key and the Chubb lock is activated

3. Make sure all valuables (including door and car keys)  are out of sight from doors and windows

4. Make sure that all PIR lights are well maintained and fitted both at the front and rear of your home

5. When leaving your home make sure all windows are locked/closed

6. If you have an alarm use it and make sure it is well maintained

7. If on holiday ask neighbours to keep an eye on your home

8. Taking into account the time of year make sure that Christmas presents are out of view

9. Create a list of serial numbers and take photographs of sentimental/high value property

News items plagiarised from London Neighbourhood Watch Association

CAR NUMBERPLATE CLONING

There have been some recent reports of car number plate cloning fraud.  This is where criminals will fit a car with a 'clone' of your number plate so that if their car is involved in an accident or offence (such as speeding), your car ends up 'taking the blame'.  This could result in financial loss or criminal charges.  You can read more at the This Is Money website:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cardsloans/article-1599699/The-new-car-cloning-ID-fraud.html#ixzz1QZGwYBM2

Drivers who have number plates stolen or cloned should report the crime immediately to the police.  Those who receive unexplained speeding or parking tickets should contact the issuing authority promptly.  Drivers who fall victim more than once should ask the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency if they can re-register their car with a new number.

PAYPAL SCAM

A colleague in the Boroughs has warned me of an e-mail allegedly coming from PayPal informing of an apparent payment of £44 to Skype.  There is a link in the email to dispute the payment which will take you to a look-a-like sign-in page for PayPal.  It is assumed, once a user name and password have been typed in, your PayPal account can be used.  I am, personally, not a fan of PayPal and have no such account but many of you might.

PayPal has been notified of this incident.

For further newsletters / information  go to London Neighbourhood Watch Association or click on the link  on this page.

All our Boards are now up!

The last community notice board is now in place, we now have boards in 4 locations for the community to make use of, they are in the following locations :-

1. Burnt Ash Shopping Parade- outside William Hill
2. Plaistow Lane -outside the Post Office
3. College Rd - near Bromley Food and Wine
4. Freelands Road - near the Village Store

They are for us all to publicise our events/activities/meetings within our community. please email pandsp.snp@gmail.com if you wish to place a notice in one or all of them.(Nothing Commercial please)

Have Your Say on Policing in London

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) is consulting on London's policing priorities. We are interested in your opinion.

Please take part in a short questionnaire to tell us your views. To complete a questionnaire click on www.mpa.gov.uk/publications/policingplans/haveyoursay or call 020 7202 0063, leave your name and address and we will send you a paper copy.

If you require a telephone questionnaire please call 020 7202 0063, leave your name and telephone number and somebody will call you back.

Please feel free to pass details of the consultation on to your friends, family or colleagues. The consultation closes on Friday 25 November 2011.

We look forward to hearing your views on policing in London.

Home Security

All
I've been on a Training session on Home Security, so I have added the following for your edification! Joking aside its worth reading
 http://pandspsnp.blogspot.com/p/do-it-yourself-home-security-survey.html

Also a new section of links see SECURITY LINKS on the right hand side of the Home page

Stay safe!

Police Non Urgent Number

• It's 101 for London's police

Please note the old Police Non Urgent Number - 0300 123 1212 will shortly be withdrawn from service.

As latest figures reveal that less than a quarter of 999 calls require an emergency response, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), together with other police forces in the south east is today, Monday 11 July, launching a new contact number for the public.

The new number, 101, is part of a national programme to improve access and will give the public one easy way to get in touch with the police for calls that do not require an urgent response. For example, the public should call 101 to report a crime that has already happened, seek crime prevention advice or make us aware of local policing issues.

It is being introduced to improve access to the police, ease pressure on 999 and to help tackle crime and disorder. In London the new number is just one of the ways the Metropolitan Police Service is modernising and improving our services while making them more accessible to the public.

3 Notice Boards now open for Business

3 of our Community Notice Boards are now operational, Burnt Ash, College road and Plaistow lane. Jusb, the Safer Neighbourhood Team, and Bromley and Downham Youth Club have notices in already, so please let me know if you also have appropriate notices to go in.:-

pandsp.snp@gmail.com

Thanks

Mark Lapper

JusB reaches its Target

JusB, 51 College Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3PU, 
Tel: 020 8464 2722

                  

£25K target reached – means key youth charity can survive

Bromley charity JusB who faced closure at the beginning of this year is very pleased to announce that it has reached its target of raising £25,000 before the end of June. Raising this sum before the deadline ensures that it will be matched pound for pound by a generous donor, Roger Paice. JusB staff have worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the target was achieved, but it would not have been possible without the support of groups and individuals who have been very generous in their giving.

Request for local views

I would like to make a Gallery of pictures of the Ward so if you have any photo's old or new that show your Rd or Park or Buildings of note, please email them to me pandsp.snp@gmail.com - please ensure that they are sent in as large a format as possible and that they are labeled as to what or where they depict.

Thanks for your help

This is the 1st Post for Plaistow and Sundridge Park Safer Neighbourhood Panel Blog!

It was mentioned that maybe we should have a website so in light of the current spirit of austerity we have produced a "Blog"! lets see how it works out. As you will appreciate this is very much "under construction" at the moment. so any input will be very welcome. If you know of any internet web addresses that you find useful locally please email them to pandsp.snp@gmail.com  (or post a comment below) so that we can share them out

News

The idea for a Community day in the Park during next years Olympics seems to be getting good support so we would appreciate organisations signing up to the idea and then we will be able to create a driving committee to get the event off the ground. It is intended that this should be an opportunity for the Community to get together and appreciate what is available to them locally, so everybody has a reason to be involved in some way! Please email us at pandsp.snp@gmail.com (or post a comment below) if you wish to be involved in any way. Thanks in advance!

As you are aware the Government is cutting budgets everywhere and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams are no exception, it seems that the intention is to reduce the number of Sergeants (we have one leading each Ward Team at present) meaning that some will have to run 2 Ward Teams, but also that they will all have to reapply for their jobs anyway. We feel this is a backward step as, from our experience in the past, experienced Sergeants make a huge difference to the effectiveness of the Teams' performance. We are also aware that in the immediate future we will have the Olympics when the Police will be heavily stretched. This is not  a Bromley issue but has been "foisted" upon them by higher powers, our Borough Commander has frequently said what a success "Safer Neighbourhood Policing" has been.

You may have seen some new Notice Boards appearing around the ward, these are intended as Community notice boards and have been installed by the council for our use. The intention is that they will be used to keep us all advised of useful contact details and for community notices - not commercial, so if you have something to publicise, let us know on that email address pandsp.snp@gmail.com (or post a comment below).

Thanks for reading this - go safely!