Welcome to the Western Division

(Some Newsletters for this area can be found by clicking the newsletter button)

Money raised for charity at police open day

RESIDENTS and visitors helped to raise over £2,700 for Trinity and Brian House Children's Hospice at a special police open day on Sunday (25 July).

The event, which gave an insight into the work of the police, was held at St John's Square in Blackpool town centre.

Chief Insp Andrea Barrow, who oversaw the organisation of the event, said: “It was a really fun day and it was great to see residents and visitors getting involved in activities. There has been a great deal of positive feedback from those who attended saying that it gave them a real insight into the different jobs within the police.

“To have raised such a substantial amount of money for an important local charity is fantastic. Thank you to everyone who donated and to everyone who took part in the event which made it a great success.”

There was an event arena at the open day which saw police horse and dog demonstrations and shows from local community groups.

There was also an interactive crime scene investigation (CSI) tent and the chance to try uniform on and look at police cars, vans, equipment and weapons.

Comedian Frank Carson attended the event to draw the raffle and the day was compered by Radio Wave news reader Andy Mitchell.

There were thousands of visitors to the event which raised £2,750.19.

Chief Supt Richard Debicki, Divisional Commander for the Western Division of Lancashire Constabulary, chose Trinity and Brian House Children's Hospice, which provides specialist palliative care for adults and children who have life limiting illnesses, as his charity of the year for 2010.

The police will be taking part in a variety of different fundraising activities and organising various events in aid of the charity throughout the year.

Police officers go to new heights for their community

(from left to right) PC Bev Davis, Insp Laura Lawler and PCSO Jacqui Marwick.

THREE police officers from the Fylde will doing a sponsored tandem skydive to raise money for a Christmas party for elderly residents in Kirkham and Wesham.

Fylde Insp Laura Lawler, Kirkham Community Beat Manager PC Bev Davis and Wesham PCSO Jacqui Marwick will jump from around 14,000 feet on Saturday (31 July) in aid of the party.

The neighbourhood policing team arranges a party for the elderly residents in the area every year. Funding for the party usually comes from local businesses but this year the officers decided they would do something different.

PC Bev Davis said: “The Christmas party means a lot to many of the elderly residents who attend as celebrating the festive season has become a thing of the past for them.

“Many of them live alone so this party gives them a chance to socialise and interact with others.

“We are a little nervous at the prospect of the skydive but it will be worth it to see the smile on the faces of the elderly residents at Christmas.”

Local school children and scout groups have got on board and have agreed to raise money to sponsor the officers. These youngsters will serve the pensioners their food on the day.

The Christmas party consists of a concert by Poulton's brass band, a buffet and a raffle. Around 110 pensioners usually attend.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the police officers should contact PC Bev Davis at Kirkham Police Station on 01253 607044.

Residents invited to police open day

BLACKPOOL and the Fylde Police are set to hold a large community open day to give local residents an insight into their work.

The open day will take place between 11am and 4pm on Sunday 25 July at St John's Square in Blackpool town centre.

Chief Insp Andrea Barrow said: “We would encourage as many people as possible to come along to this event.

“There will be the opportunity to meet local police officers, gain an insight into the range of departments within the police and find out more about the work that they do.

“It is going to be a fun day and there will be lots of stalls and activities for people of all ages to get involved in.”

There will be police horses and dogs at the event as well as a police vehicle display, an interactive crime scene investigation (CSI) tent and performances from local community groups. There will also be displays from various departments within the police and other agencies, including the fire and ambulance service.

Comedian Frank Carson will be giving support to the event and will be attending to draw the raffle.

The day will be compered by Radio Wave news reader Andy Mitchell.

The event is free to attend and any monies raised through the stalls will be donated to Trinity and Brian House Children's Hospice.

The police will be taking part in a variety of different fundraising activities and organising various events in aid of the charity throughout the year.

TWO Blackpool men have today been given two year Anti Social Behaviour Orders after causing a nuisance to people in parts of Blackpool .

This afternoon (Wednesday 19 May 2010) Blackpool Magistrates granted the orders against 37 year old Lee Humphreys of George Street, Blackpool and Stephen Mowles , 35, of Park Road, Blackpool.

Both men had previously been given interim ASBOs on 15 March 2010.

The orders follow many months of evidence gathering by Community Beat Managers and Police Community Support Officers from the Blackpool Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team about persistent anti social behaviour.

Over the past nine months, officers have received hundreds of complaints from local residents and businesses. Both men have been repeatedly tackled by police in relation to drinking in the street, discarding empty cans onto the street, vomiting and shouting at members of the public whilst under the influence of drink.

Local business premises have complained about them asking for money and food in an aggressive manner and intimidating customers. Mowles has previously been spoken to after being ejected from a shopping precinct for being abusive to staff and both are responsible for shouting obscenities at members of the public.

The orders prohibit these men from being drunk or in possession or drinking from an open or unsealed container of alcohol in a public place within Blackpool . They are also banned from being within specific areas of Blackpool town centre under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Police will now be handing out leaflets to residents in Blackpool town centre to inform local people about the action.

Community Beat Manager PC Steve Jones said: "After considerable efforts by Blackpool Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team and partner agencies, I am delighted that it has today been possible to gain full Anti Social Behaviour Orders against Lee Humphreys and Stephen Mowles.

"Both have negatively impacted on the local community through various acts of alcohol fuelled anti social behaviour, specifically in the town centre. It is hoped that this order will not only benefit the local community but also allow Mowles and Humphreys to reflect on their actions and address their offending behaviour.

"This action should send out a strong message that police will deal robustly with anyone causing anti social behaviour and that persistent nuisance and disorder will not be tolerated."

Anyone who sees the men in breach of their ASBO or who has any information about anti social behaviour in their neighbourhood can contact their local Neighbourhood Policing Team on 0845 1 25 35 45.

POLICE in Fylde will be out in force talking to local residents next Wednesday (24 February) as part of a new initiative.

All the local neighbourhood policing teams, including St Annes, Lytham, Warton, Freckleton, Kirkham, Wesham and rural Fylde, will be patrolling their patch between 11am and 8pm to talk to members of the public in the area.

They will be visiting key locations such as supermarkets and intend to visit all schools at home time.

Sgt Dave Hannan said: "The idea behind this initiative is to engage with residents and give them the opportunity to tell us about any concerns they may have.

"We understand that it is not convenient for everyone to attend our Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings so we are going to the residents instead.

"It also provides us with an opportunity to tell residents about crime statistics and local initiatives in their area. For example, not many people know that in January there were 148 fewer victims of crime in Fylde compared to the previous year - this is a very positive message for us to give to residents and one which should help them feel reassured."

The officers will be handing out leaflets to tell residents about the policing priorities for their area. Leaflets will also contain crime statistics for the area.

This operation will run on the last Wednesday of every month for the foreseeable future.

If you would like to find out more about your local neighbourhood policing team, visit www.lancashire.police.uk.

Boost to Blackpool Neighbourhood Watch scheme

THE Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Talbot ward has had a boost after 12 new coordinators joined the scheme.

The crime prevention scheme, which sees neighbourhood policing teams working with local residents, originally had three active coordinators within the ward.

It now has 15 active coordinators for the association after local officers raised awareness of the scheme and encouraged other members of the community to get involved.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for Talbot ward Dennis Nelson said: "The Neighbourhood Watch scheme is one the most successful crime prevention initiatives introduced.

"It is a vital element in assisting the police to reduce crime and it also helps reassure those residents who live in a Neighbourhood Watch area of their safety and encourages neighbourliness and closer communities."

The Neighbourhood Watch scheme for Talbot now has its own website, http://fyldeneighbourhoodwatch.co.uk/talbot/.

A neighbourhood watch coordinator is responsible for arranging meetings for representatives and communicating relevant police information on crime. They circulate crime prevention information and encourage members to inform the police quickly of suspicious and criminal incidents.

If you are interested in becoming a neighbourhood watch coordinator, contact your community beat manager or call Lyndsay Milligan on 01253 604076.

YOUNGSTERS are being offered free football sessions with a professional coach as part of a new community initiative.

Members of Blackpool north's neighbourhood policing teams have set up 'Football Friday' in partnership with Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool Youth Services and Montgomery High School.

The Friday night sessions run from 6pm-7.30pm for 11-13-year-olds and 7.30pm-9pm for those aged 14 and over.

A professional coach from Blackpool Football Club attends every session along with a coach from Blackpool Council's Youth Services.

Sgt Martin Webster from Bispham Police Station said: "This initiative was the idea of Ingthorpe Police community Support Officer (PCSO) Matt Dougall, who has done a lot of hard work organising these events.

"The sessions aim to give local youngsters something positive to do on a Friday evening and they provide a fantastic opportunity to be trained by a Blackpool Football Club coach.

"Engaging with local young people is a very important part of the neighbourhood policing role and hopefully this will assist in reducing the number of youngsters gathering in and around the Bispham area, which in turn will improve the quality of life for residents and hopefully further reduce antisocial behaviour and criminal damage.

"So far the sessions have been well attended and one child has already been identified as having good potential."

The scheme, which has been funded by the Rank Foundation, was launched on Friday 16 October and will continue running until the Christmas period but, if successful, it may be extended.

'Football Friday' is primarily aimed at Montgomery High School students but any young people in the area are welcome to attend.

If you are interested in finding out more or joining in the sessions, contact PCSO Rory Monaghan on 07515 320773.

POLICE in Blackpool and the Fylde have launched an operation to clampdown on licensees who serve alcohol to people who are drunk.

The operation will involve plain-clothed police officers going into bars, pubs and clubs in the area, monitoring the level of drunkenness and taking action against licensees who are seen to break the law.

Insp Louise Leyland from the Licensing Department said: "It is against the law to serve alcohol to anyone who is thought to be drunk and the licensee has a responsibility to make sure that this is abided by.

"When people have had too much to drink, the chance of violence increases and this concerns us. Violence caused by drunkenness will simply not be tolerated.

"This operation is focusing on premises where we have intelligence to suggest that violent crime and excessive drinking is an issue.

"We have provided training to all licensed premises in the area so they know what the signs are that someone has had too much to drink and we expect them to enforce the law.

"We want people to be able to go out and have a good time and this is about reducing occurrences of violent crime and reducing the chances of becoming a victim of crime."

Police officers can issue £80 on-the-spot fines to bar staff who are seen serving drunk customers and the premise could potentially lose its licence.

Individuals who found to be drunk and disorderly in a public place can also face arrest or an £80 fine.

POLICE in Blackpool and the Fylde have launched an operation to crackdown on irresponsible driving.

Officers launched the operation on Sunday night (11 October) when they took to the streets of St Annes and Blackpool South to speak to reckless drivers.

During the operation over 60 vehicles were directed through a vehicle examination check-point on Morrison's car park.

13 drivers received prohibition notices for various vehicle defects. Once a prohibition notice has been placed on a vehicle, the driver must repair the defect or submit the vehicle for a full MOT before the prohibition can be removed.

Two fixed penalty notices were also issued for not wearing a seatbelt, three fixed penalty notices were issued for incorrect number plates, three section 59 warnings were given for driving in an anti-social manner and one driver was reported for driving without insurance.

PC Kirsty Sharples, St Annes Community Beat Manager, said: "This operation was launched in response to concerns that have been raised from members of the public at the Police and Community Together (PACT) meetings.

"The aim of the operation is to reduce the nuisance to residents living in the area and educate drivers, hopefully reducing the numbers of casualties on the roads and increasing safety in the area.

"As part of Sunday's activity, we focused on a group of cars that have been congregating on car parks, which we suspect are also responsible for criminal damage and an increased amount of litter in the area.

"The message to such drivers is simple - this behaviour is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated."

Sunday's operation centred on Morrison's car park, Squires Gate Lane and Amy Johnson Way .

The operation involved traffic officers, St Annes and Blackpool South neighbourhood policing teams and special constables. Blackpool Council's Road Safety Partnership and VOSA were also on hand to support the operation.

Cllr Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Regeneration, said: "Young people are very enthusiastic towards cars but it is a shame that this enthusiasm has led to some anti-social behaviour which could result in a tragedy on the road.

"We hope this operation and any subsequent operations will educate them in the proper use of the road and make them aware of the hazards their actions pose to the safety of other road users and pedestrians."

If you would like to report nuisance in your area, call the police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Blackpool – No cold calling zone

ROGUE TRADERS and those committing doorstep crime are being reminded that Blackpool is a 'No Cold Calling' town and that their practices are not welcomed by residents.

The reminder comes as part of Operation Julius, a high profile campaign which is running throughout the month of July, aiming to reduce burglaries across Lancashire .

It is just over 12 months since the 'No Cold Calling' scheme was launched in Blackpool , and in that time it has proved to be a strong deterrent in the fight against crime, particularly against vulnerable members of the community such as the elderly.

The scheme led by Blackpool Resident Federation and in partnership with Trading Standards, BSafe Blackpool and Blackpool Police has resulted in a greater understanding of the issue around the town and a number of breaches of the scheme have been reported to the Consumer Direct Helpline.

As a result of this, Trading Standards have been able to approach companies and individuals to request that they respect the wishes of the Blackpool public and do not cold call their properties.

Bruce Allen, of Blackpool Residents Federation, who has been involved in the scheme from the start said, "The scheme has without doubt made more vulnerable members of the community safer in their homes. I am aware of one incident where what can only be described as a 'con artist' called at the home of an elderly lady. Because of the information pack that she had received through the letter box she was not taken in and instead reported the incident to the helpline and the man made away from the area".

Thousands of the Cold Calling packs have been delivered to the majority of Blackpool homes and consist of an information booklet about the scheme and a 'No Cold Calling' sticker to be placed prominently near to the door. This sticker is a clear message that the householder does not wish cold caller to visit the address.

Speaking about the scheme 12 months on Tim Coglan, Head of Quality Standards at Blackpool Council said: "This is an example of how the Council working together with its partners can improve the quality of life of residents. This initiative is providing reassurance to stop rogue operators targeting people in their own homes and improving consumer safety."

PC Andy Denton, Blackpool Police Crime Prevention Officer has also praised the scheme. He said, "At a time when burglaries are at a 30 year low, we and the community are working hard to maintain that situation. This is an ideal opportunity to reiterate that a scheme exists in Blackpool that will have a major impact in reducing the likelihood of burglaries being committed."

"I would urge any householder not having received a pack or having misplaced it, to collect one from the locations listed and display the sticker prominently. If they do then receive a cold caller, politely tell the caller that they are in breach of the zone, ask them to leave and report it to the Consumer Direct Helpline".

Councillor Tony Williams, Chairperson for BSafe Blackpool adds: "The whole of Blackpool got behind the scheme last year when it launched and most houses display the no cold calling sticker. Some people just don't want to be disturbed by salesmen and some appreciate the serious reduction of crime message they carry. Either way the message to rogue traders is being shouted loud and clear and they are being reminded that they are not welcome in this town."

If anyone has not received a pack or if they have misplaced it then a replacement can be collected from the locations listed below:

Blackpool North, Central and South Police Stations
Customer First, Blackpool Town Hall
Mereside Housing Office
Queens Park Community Office
Grange Park Housing Office

Any breeches of the 'No Cold Calling Zone' should be reported to the Consumer Direct Helpline on 08454 04 05 06.

Blackpool police use Bluetooth to fight crime

BLACKPOOL Police have today teamed up with Bsafe Blackpool to launch a new Bluetooth messages service to help fight crime across the Fylde.

The new technology, developed in partnership with Bsafe and the Blackpool Business Improvement District's office, has been purchased to enable officers to send key crime prevention and community safety advice, appeals for information and can also be used to send missing from home pictures.

The project will also be used as part of Operation Julius, a high profile campaign which will run throughout the month of July, aiming to reduce burglaries across Lancashire . Next week officers will be targeting hot spot areas with Bluetooth messages advising people to secure their premises before leaving for work.

Bluetooth message screen

Chief Inspector Neil Chessell said: "This technology has been used successfully in other force areas to provide vital information to the police, especially when searching for vulnerable children or adults missing from home or seeking witnesses for crimes that have occurred within a particular area.

"I very much hope that the people of Blackpool will embrace this new technology and digest these messages, making contact with police if they are able to help in any way to fight crime across the area.”

Blackpool and the Fylde Citizen Focus Bureau

The CITIZEN FOCUS BUREAU is Lancashire Con st abulary's newly created Customer Services Helpdesk. The CITIZEN FOCUS BUREAU is designed to assist our commitment to provide the high standard of service to which we aspire and as required by the Policing PLEDGE, which was introduced to all police forces in January 2009.

The Policing PLEDGE has 10 items which describe the quality of service that you should expect from your local police. See the PLEDGE posters in your area or, if you have access to a computer, view Lancashire Constabulary's website (www.lancashire.police.uk).

QUESTION : HOW CAN THE CITIZEN FOCUS BUREAU HELP ME?

If you are a victim of crime or have reported an incident or traffic accident to the police, you can contact the CFB for a progress report.

If you want information about your dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team call us.

If you want to get in touch with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, who should spend at least 80% of their time visibly working in your neighbourhood, you can contact the CFB who will acknowledge your call, within 24 hours, and direct your enquiry to the relevant officer(s).

If you are unhappy with any aspect of the service the local police has provided, the CFB can also help.

QUESTION : HOW DO I CONTACT THE CITIZEN FOCUS BUREAU?

You can ring the Citizen Focus Bureau on 01253 604 1 51 or you can e-mail us at western-citizenfocusbureau@lancashire.pnn.police.uk.

QUESTION: WHEN CAN I CONTACT THE BUREAU?

The Citizen Focus Bureau is open from 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday , and 8am-4pm at weekends . Out of hours, there is a voicemail facility for you to leave a message.

PLEASE REMEMBER to ring 999 when there is a danger to life or a crime in progress. Alternatively, contact the police on 0845 1 25 35 45 for all non-emergencies. (Calls will be charged at local rate.)

Community Member given an MBE

Harry Holland has been a long-standing member of the Claremont community for many years now and has recently received an MBE in the Queens Honours list for 'Voluntary Service to the Community in Blackpool '. This is a fantastic and deserved achievement for Harry as the work he has put in for the Claremont area over the years has greatly benefited its residents. One of the most outstanding contributions Harry has been involved in is the community garden at the Claremont Community Centre; a total revamp of the area has changed what was once a desolate piece of land into a colourful, enjoyable place for people of all ages to frequent.