The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Latest Police Community Action Team Meeting takes place in Neston

Published: 8th January 2009 13:03

Regular Community Action Meetings take place in Neston, and present an opportunity for the community to meet with their local Police officers to identify problems and agree on how they should be addressed.

January's meeting saw 5 Police Officers in attendance, but only around a dozen members of the public. This may be explicable by the cold weather, but it is also hoped that this may be a reflection of the lack of serious crime problems in the area. If people had genuine concerns to air, presumably they would have attended.

Sgt Paul Bluck welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced his colleagues - PC Tom Grant, PC Sara Sumner (recently appointed to the CAT for Willaston), Chris Johnson (Special Constable) and Stuart Wood (Special Sgt, Neston).  He then took the opportunity to thank a number of people for their support, including the Special officers who supplement the CAT at weekends; John Cartlidge; the Speedwatch Team and AboutMyArea.

Sgt Bluck then handed over to PC Grant to review progress in the priority areas identified at the last meeting:

• Drugs
• Speeding
• Anti-social Behavior

Drugs

In the past few months 7 warrants have been issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act, leading to 5 prosecutions. 

9 street warnings have been issued with regard to the use of cannabis.  High visibility patrols are regularly touring "hot spots" where youngsters tend to gather to smoke cannabis.  Officers also recently attended a drugs awareness day at Neston High School, in order to enforce the message that cannabis is still an illegal substance and that the police will not hesitate to act if people are caught with the drug.

Local officers wish to stress that they are keen to act on intelligence from the public:

To report suspicous activity that you think may be drug-related, please contact the Police on 999 if urgent, or on 0845 458 6373. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Speeding

Speedwatch patrols have been in place recently on Leighton Road, Neston and in Burton.  There are new SID (Speed Indicator Device) signs in Liverpool Road and Hinderton Road and a further sign is due to be erected in Burton Village.

 As a result of Speedwatch activities, 22 advice letters (warning drivers that their speed has been clocked and that if caught again, they will be at risk of prosecution) have been issued.

Volunteers are urgently needed to join the Speed Watch team. If you would like to help keep Nestons roads safe, contact the team on 0845 458 6373The police have also contacted the Highways Agency to request that the incorrect signage on Liverpool Road be corrected. This is a 30mph zone, but a 40mph road marking remains in place which will need to be removed to avoid further confusion for motorists.

Anti-Social Behaviour

2 mini-motos have been seized since the last meeting. Complaints about the use of these vehicles are down, indicating that the message is being received that local police will immediately seize and crush any such vehicles being used in public places.

Local officers have continued to ensure high visibility patrols are in evidence during early evenings to prevent anti-social behaviour.

A Trading Standards initiative is in place to provide licencees with training in spotting so-called "proxy purchasing" of alcohol by adults for under-age drinkers.  There have been no recent prosecutions, just one fake ID warning.

The police have continued to exercise their powers under Section 27 of the Violent Crimes Act, to move on any individuals suspected of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

If you witness anti-social behaviour, or suspect an adult of purchasing alcohol for a minor, contact the police. If it's urgent, use 999, otherwise report it on 0845 458 6373.

Community Issues

PC Grant went on to highlight some important community issues:

• SERIOUS ASSAULT IN PARKGATE.  As reported on AboutMyArea,  police are still appealing for witnesses to the assault of a local resident that took place on November 14th last year. Full story here.  
• THEFT OF NUMBERPLATES. As previously reported, thieves are removing number plates from vehicles and then attaching them to their own cars before using them in "drive-offs" from petrol stations. 5 such incidents have been reported recently, so BE AWARE.
• PARKING ENFORCEMENT. As of today, January 8th, parking has been decriminalised which means that the Council has taken over from the Police to enforce parking regulations.  There are 5 council wardens covering Ellesmere Port and Neston, and we will not be informed on which days they will be attending this area.  They will be issuing fines of between £50-70, a considerable increase on the Police fines.  However, if paid within 14 days, the amount will be halved.  You are strongly advised to ensure you are legally parked at all times.
• NESTON & PARKGATE HOMEWATCH. PC Grant thanked the members of the HomeWatch group for their support and information. He also appealed for new members to join the group. The next meeting will take place on March 2nd, 7.30pm, upstairs at The Boathouse, Parkgate.

Next priorities

A discussion followed regarding which issues the meeting would like to see the police prioritise over the coming months. A number of members of the public made the following points:

• Illegal parking - concerns noted about people parking on kerbs, yellow and double yellow lines, on zig-zags etc. Sgt Bluck stressed that the police will still act to prosecute anyone parking in a dangerous or obstructive manner.
• Speeding on Buggen Lane and the use of Mill Lane as a "rat run."  Sgt Bluck stated that the police are aware and have specifically targetting motorcyclists using Mill Lane.  It was also pointed out that if you spot anyone speeding in Buggen Lane or anywhere else, you can note the registration of the vehicle and pass it to the police.
• There is only 1 pedestrian crossing in Neston town centre - could an additional one be put in place at the Cross, for example?  This is an issue that should be raised with the Highways Department.
• Forthcoming congestion problems in light of the Sainsbury's development.  Sgt Bluck stated that the police are and will be liaising with the Highways Department to do everything possible to keep traffic moving efficiently during the construction process.
• In Buggen Lane there is a footpath into The Leightons. A resident reported that this is being used as a "drinking den." PC Grant ensured this was noted and also stressed that if at any time any resident witnesses any similar evidence, they should report it immediately.
• Youngsters riding bikes without lights.  Sgt Bluck and PC Grant stated that they do advise individuals that they see out and about without the appropriate lights, and also stop them to test brakes etc.  It was suggested that a friendly reminder of the safety issues relating to cycling in the dark be submitted to the Neston High School newsletter.
• Contacting the police. A resident noted that he found it frustrating that when attempting to gain access to Neston Police Station, it was necessary to use a wall-mounted phone and speak to an operator in Winsford.  Sgt Bluck clarified that this is because the Station is manned part-time, but that the operators in Winsford have an up-to-the-minute system notifying them of the whereabouts of on-duty officers which means that any queries can be attended to very quickly. It was also pointed out that Police Surgeries, manned by PCSOs, take place throughout the week in various locations in the area. Click here for details.
• Speedwatch - a resident asked how much time would be required for volunteers. "Shifts" are 2 hours each, on an occasional basis, and are worked out between the volunteers and the PCSOs. 
• The Chester Road car park is extremely poorly lit.  Cllr Scott Mealor explained that as part of the forthcoming town centre development, this car park will be officially leased by the Council and that proper lighting will be installed and maintained.
• The actions and results of the local Police should be given wider recognition. John Cartlidge pointed out that there have been noticeable improvements over the past 12 months and thanked the Police for their efforts.  It was agreed that it would be helpful if more people attended these regular meetings to learn more about what is being done to police the area.

Priorities Agreed

Following these discussions, the meeting agreed that the following issues should be the priority of Neston police over the coming months:

• Drugs
• Speeding
• Anti-social behaviour
• Violent crime
• Littering
• Parking

Next Meeting

The next Community Action Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 8th, 7pm at Neston Town Hall.

For reports of previous CAT meetings, and meetings of the Cheshire Police Authority "Have Your Say" forum, or to find out how to contact the Police, click on the following links:

POLICE MEETINGS & FORUMS

CONTACTING THE POLICE

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