Crime in Thatcham Options

[Phil_D11102]

I took a walk into Thatcham Town Centre to talk to the PCSO's about the crime in the area. I believe we had someone try to enter out back garden as the gate was opened, but our dog's barking scared them off.

Much to my "unsurprise" there was no PCSO's to be found, in contary to this article "http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=17353"

If the police presence was not there to talk about the issue, no wonder there is an issue.

[NWNREADER]

I took a walk into Thatcham Town Centre to talk to the PCSO's about the crime in the area. I believe we had someone try to enter out back garden as the gate was opened, but our dog's barking scared them off.

Much to my "unsurprise" there was no PCSO's to be found, in contary to this article "http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=17353"

If the police presence was not there to talk about the issue, no wonder there is an issue.

Have you enquired why?

[Phil_D11102]

Have you enquired why?

I would hope they would be out preventing crime, but to be honest I am not surprised they weren't there. In the past when I have reported crime to the police, and followed it up as on several occasions with the Thatcham Town Council, all I have received is a lot of talk and a letter saying they were looking into it. Suggestions to how to prevent crime such as a CCTV camera on Lower Way outside the Discovery Centre has been meet with it's either not our job, or it costs too much. When my car was last damaged, all I got was why don't I move it on to my driveway, which isn't big enought for two cars. Forget about us whose insurance rates keep going up.

[NWNREADER]

I would hope they would be out preventing crime, but to be honest I am not surprised they weren't there. In the past when I have reported crime to the police, and followed it up as on several occasions with the Thatcham Town Council, all I have received is a lot of talk and a letter saying they were looking into it. Suggestions to how to prevent crime such as a CCTV camera on Lower Way outside the Discovery Centre has been meet with it's either not our job, or it costs too much. When my car was last damaged, all I got was why don't I move it on to my driveway, which isn't big enought for two cars. Forget about us whose insurance rates keep going up.

Answer is 'no', then....

sad you have such a negative perspective.......

[Simon Kirby]

If the police presence was not there to talk about the issue, no wonder there is an issue.

Phil, I'm not unsympathetic as I understand how corrosive petty crime and AB are, but I don't think it helps to blame the police. Crime is a societal problem, it's not the fault of the police. It's a but like blaming chip pan fires on the fire brigade. I don't have a simple answer, but I'm sure that more police isn't it. Jobs, social justice, urban design, education, and inclusion are the fundamental issues.

[Andy Capp]

True, but don't say you will be there when you won't, which is what I think the OP was about.

[spartacus]

I blame the Council......

[Phil_D11102]

Answer is 'no', then....

sad you have such a negative perspective.......

Since 2006 we must have called the Police out at least 25 times for crimes such as damage to our cars (5 times, of which one of them was written off), damage to the bus shelter (finally fixed with fortifed glass) to drunks and street fights.

When the opportunity arises to take part in discussions, I jump to take part. It's hard to remain positive when the main stakeholder in getting the community involvment so crucial to helping resolve the issue wasn't there to harvest the support it needs.

Phil, I'm not unsympathetic as I understand how corrosive petty crime and AB are, but I don't think it helps to blame the police

With the amount of calls we made, and the increase in crime in the area, you think that some sort of intitative from the Police would be mounted. I have volunteered for neighborhood watch, and other schemes only not to hear back from the Police. You think the Police would put pressure on the council to fund a CCTV camera that could cover a wide area, other than telling me to put one up on my property where it would only cover my property.

I blame the Council......

I hold the council responsible as well, as I have spoken to them on quite a few occasions, only to be fobbed off. They hold the money to put in a CCTV camera, but refuse to address the issue. Again, the last piece of advice I got was not to park my car on the street as it wasn't safe to do so. What should I do, remove my front garden at a cost of several thousand pounds to make room for two cars, which will just eliminate one element of the issue, or do the right thing and address the entire issue of the anti social behaviour and put in the right deterent.

So NWN Reader, why should I be so "positive", as the issue isn't being addressed, and the support from the quarters it should be coming from isn't coming. The only winners in this is the council still collecting council tax for services they don't deliver, and my insurance company.

[Simon Kirby]

True, but don't say you will be there when you won't, which is what I think the OP was about.

Phil went on to blame the crime spree on the lack of police presence in the Broadway and it's the crime that would appear to be the underlying grievance I don't see how that's correlated with the no-show. I agree that if they announced they'd be there for a surgery from 10.00 to 11.30 yesterday then it's a bit frustrating to find them not there, but given what they do the most obvious assumption is that something important came up and they had to be somewhere else.

[Phil_D11102]

Phil went on to blame the crime spree on the lack of police presence in the Broadway and it's the crime that would appear to be the underlying grievance I don't see how that's correlated with the no-show. I agree that if they announced they'd be there for a surgery from 10.00 to 11.30 yesterday then it's a bit frustrating to find them not there, but given what they do the most obvious assumption is that something important came up and they had to be somewhere else.

Mr Kirby,

You are so far off target your not even on the map.

I am complaining about the lack of cooperation between the council, the police and the local community. I saw yesterday as an opportunity to again take part in trying to tackle the issue, but yet again to be frustrated by the lack of support.

My comment about the police not being there because they were out preventing crimes was cheeky, because to be honest I have yet to see any initiative by either the council or police to prevent these nuisance social order crimes. Sure, the police do perform drug raids, stop drunk drivers, etc, because these are the crimes that they are mostly measured on by central gov't. The nusiance crimes, the ones that affect the local community in terms of money, how are they measured in terms by central gov't, ASBO's?

I know that the Police are trying to do a good job with the resources, or lack of they have. However, the PCSO's are the one's more aligned with trying to resolve the nusiance crimes issue by maintaing a profile in the community, but weren't there in the Broadway as adverstised.

If you think I am blaming the crime spree on the lack of a Police surgery in the Broadway, you really don't think much of those in the community. The bottom line is I would of liked to of spoken to the PCSO's, but they weren't there so hopefully there were doing something of equal or more importance. However, again, this is not the first time I have been let down in support in trying to resolve an issue that is important in my little area of the world.

[GMR]

I took a walk into Thatcham Town Centre to talk to the PCSO's about the crime in the area. I believe we had someone try to enter out back garden as the gate was opened, but our dog's barking scared them off.

Much to my "unsurprise" there was no PCSO's to be found, in contary to this article "http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=17353"

If the police presence was not there to talk about the issue, no wonder there is an issue.

They probably got better things to do.

[NWNREADER]

Since 2006 we must have called the Police out at least 25 times for crimes such as damage to our cars (5 times, of which one of them was written off), damage to the bus shelter (finally fixed with fortifed glass) to drunks and street fights.

When the opportunity arises to take part in discussions, I jump to take part. It's hard to remain positive when the main stakeholder in getting the community involvment so crucial to helping resolve the issue wasn't there to harvest the support it needs.


With the amount of calls we made, and the increase in crime in the area, you think that some sort of intitative from the Police would be mounted. I have volunteered for neighborhood watch, and other schemes only not to hear back from the Police. You think the Police would put pressure on the council to fund a CCTV camera that could cover a wide area, other than telling me to put one up on my property where it would only cover my property.



I hold the council responsible as well, as I have spoken to them on quite a few occasions, only to be fobbed off. They hold the money to put in a CCTV camera, but refuse to address the issue. Again, the last piece of advice I got was not to park my car on the street as it wasn't safe to do so. What should I do, remove my front garden at a cost of several thousand pounds to make room for two cars, which will just eliminate one element of the issue, or do the right thing and address the entire issue of the anti social behaviour and put in the right deterent.

So NWN Reader, why should I be so "positive", as the issue isn't being addressed, and the support from the quarters it should be coming from isn't coming. The only winners in this is the council still collecting council tax for services they don't deliver, and my insurance company.

I'm not having a pop, I am stating it is sad when the police management structures orevent people getting a decent standard of service. I'd be even sadder if the PCSOs 'just didn't turn up'.

[Strafin]

I think you have to understand that the police force is made up of both left wing liberals who have no interest in anything other than defend anyone and their actions that they feel are are in a a minority; and the school bullies who wanted to continue picking on people once they had grown up. That is it. that is why there is no support from the force, and why people who have found themselves infringing on a minor law get the book thrown at them, and those who persistently offend face very little recourse. Take the law into your own hands is the best advice and when the filth turn up on your doorstep, give 'em he11 and they'll leave you alone. It's sad and not the way any of us want things to be I'm sure, but it's the only sensible way forwards.

[NWNREADER]

I think you have to understand that the police force is made up of both left wing liberals who have no interest in anything other than defend anyone and their actions that they feel are are in a a minority; and the school bullies who wanted to continue picking on people once they had grown up. That is it. that is why there is no support from the force, and why people who have found themselves infringing on a minor law get the book thrown at them, and those who persistently offend face very little recourse. Take the law into your own hands is the best advice and when the filth turn up on your doorstep, give 'em he11 and they'll leave you alone. It's sad and not the way any of us want things to be I'm sure, but it's the only sensible way forwards.

You were a Councillor?

[user23]

You were a Councillor?

Perhaps for UKIP or the BNP from his last statement.

[Turin Machine]

"They probably got better things to do"


Yeah like ride around with camera crews for the TV, showing off their extensive understanding of public relations. I would say "you couldn't make it up" but unfortunately they have !

[On the edge]

Perhaps for UKIP or the BNP from his last statement.

As the saying goes - none of that computes, really don't see how you've connected the post with these parties. Would you mind explaining?

[Nothing Much]

Not really sure which side of the fence to sit on here.
Over the last months more than a million pounds of car damage,has been caused,repaired and done again..
I have pages of local news... The police feel that a local estate is being demolished and local gangs are being moved.

No. It is a local anarchist type gang. Sorry Charlie Gilmour for the length of your time.
The 2 lads who kicked over a street bollard and sprayed on it like feral cats where well spoken white wasps.
I was asleep. Just heard the jokes.At midnight.

[Strafin]

You were a Councillor?

Yes but I am not now and have my own opinions. I have them because of what I saw and was involved in during a 12 year political career.

[Phil_D11102]

Stafin is just giving what he feels is good advice, as it's usually a last resort that a person has to defend their property.

The facts are is that crime is rising, the Police are losing resources so will attend to those crimes which results dictate their funding.

It's now down to the local gov't/councils to find alternate means to assist the public in deterring crime with cooperation from the Police. These could be more CCTV cameras because they do act as a deterrent, more neighborhood wardens and PCSO's, and other schemes.

If it's council property being damaged, you can be sure it's in the NWN and it's gets investigated. If it's my car being kicked to ****, or a drunk rambling up Lower Way kicking bins and other things into the road puting road users at risk, it's not that important.