Behaviour Orders against these two
Offenders.

The local beat manager believes this
is one example of the local
neighbourhood team tackling
community issues throughout the
community. PC Lou Wright said:
“Action will always be taken against
those involved in mindless vandalism.
We appreciate the impact these
crimes have on the victim and will not
tolerate such criminal behaviour.

“I hope our actions in targeting this
series of crimes gives other people
confidence to report problems
knowing we will work hard to tackle
them for the local community.”

If there is an issue you think we
should be tackling let us know by
calling your neighbourhood police
team on 0845 456 7000.

What you can expect if you report anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour affects people’s daily lives and is something we take extremely seriously.          This is what you can expect if you call to report it.
•    
     Every weekday anti-social behaviour reports are reviewed and passed
            on to an officer from the local neighbourhood police team
•   The local Police Community Support Officer will contact victims to
         update them within 48 hours and make an appointment to visit if desired
•   Victims will be informed of police action taken at the time of the incident

Man guilty of
racial abuse
A man has pleaded guilty to racially
abusing his neighbour in Chard.

In the Spring newsletter we told you
about a man who was verbally abusing
his neighbour. An investigation
uncovered other victims and he was
charged with five racially-aggravated
offences and a public order offence.

The offender, a 61-year-old local man,
has since appeared before Barnstaple
Crown Court and pleaded guilty to the
offences. He is on remand in prison
and is due to be sentenced in July.

Speaking about the incident, PC Andy
Stuart said: “This area has a diverse
population and we want people to be
safe and feel safe to go about their
business without being verbally
abused.

“Hate crime is rare in this area but this
case demonstrates that we will pursue
anyone engaging in such behaviour.“

You can report hate crime by calling
Avon and Somerset Police on 0845 456 7000.

vehicles to check they were not
overloaded or carrying stolen materials
and were adhering to any waste
carriage licences they have.

In addition to this police officers visited
scrap yards to check for stolen metal
and the mounted section were also in
Yeovil at Mole Valley Farmers and
patrolling in the town centre. Across the
district, 7 vehicles were stopped and 25
items of plant were recovered.

Sergeant Ed Hawkins said: “This was an
excellent day and we achieved some
good results. Activities such as this are
all part of our everyday role and through
this operation we want to highlight to our
communities the work we are regularly
doing to keep them safe.”

• Find out more about the new
rural crime team on the back
page.

• Find out more about Operation
Relentless by visiting
www.operationrelentless.org

Neighbourhood
Watch gets bigger
Police are working closely with
Neighbourhood Watch to keep you safe.

Neighbourhood Watch is a voluntary
scheme in which neighbourhoods work
together to prevent crime. This includes
sharing crime prevention tips, looking
out for other’s properties and working
closely with the police.

The schemes are valued by local police
officers. Schemes provide an deterrent
to thieves and statistics show that you
are less likely to be burgled if you are a
member of a scheme.

In Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster the
Neighbourhood Watch schemes are
now administered locally in Crewkerne
rather than Yeovil. This will provide
better communication between the
neighbourhood team and the schemes
in the area.

he schemes are such a success that
officers are encouraging their residents
to consider joining. In recent months
four new schemes have been started in
Chard and Winsham.
If you are interested in joining a local
scheme or starting one in your area
contact your neighbourhood police
team on 0845 456 7000.

Tackling issues
important to you
In recent months your neighbourhood
policing team has been asking what
you think are the issues they be
tackling in your community. Local
policing priorities are agreed and your
team work to tackle these priorities.
Here are just some of the results you
have helped us achieve:

Ilminster

You said: There is a problem with
speeding drivers
We did: Set up Community Speed
Watch groups and increased targeted
patrols in the Canal Way area.
You said: You were worried about
being victim of anti-social behaviour
We did: Using restorative justice to
tackle youths causing nuisance
behaviour. In one incident youths who
threw eggs at houses wrote letters of
apology and cleaned up their mess.

Chard

You said: You were worried about antisocial
behaviour in High Street and
Fore Street
We did: Increased patrols in the area
by the neighbourhood policing team
and better use of head cameras to
record evidence of offences
You said: You were worried about
dangerous parking outside Redstart
School
We did: Met with Highways Agency to
find a solution and ran a safety week at

the school to raise awareness amongst
pupils and parents. Red and yellow
cards have also been issued as parking
Warnings.

Crewkerne

You said: There are parking issues in
Market Street
We did: Issued 75 tickets for illegal
tickets in recent months and written to
the town council asking for a review of
the parking structure in the area.
You said: There is anti-social behaviour
in Happy Valley
We did: Conducted high-visibility
patrols, seized a mini-moto and are
working with the local Community Safety
Group to fund a play ranger for the area
to engage with young people.

To find out how we are tackling all the
local priorities in your area or to let us
know what matter to you visit
www.avonandsomerset.police.uk or call
0845 456 7000.

Vehicle crime across South Somerset has decreased by 41.6% when crimes in July –September
2009 are compared to the same period last year. You can find out about crime levels right down to
your ward by visiting www.avonandsomerset.police.uk and clicking on ‘Crime Mapping’.

Have Your Say

We want to know what you think the
policing priorities should be in your area.
There are a number of ways you can have
your say and let us know.

You can call your neighbourhood policing
team on 0845 456 7000 or visit
www.avonandsomerset.police.uk to email
officers or submit your priorities online.
Alternatively, speak to the beat team while
they are on patrol or at community
meetings.


Could you be our
next volunteer?
Police seek volunteers who want to make
a difference. Do you have time to
volunteer and make a difference in the
community?

• Volunteers are matched to a role
  which suits them
• All role help frontline officers so they
 can spend more time on patrol –
 which means better visibility in your
 community
• You can choose days and hours to
 suit you
• For information call Avon and
 Somerset Police on 0845 456 7000

New team to
tackle rural crime
A new rural crime team has been
launched to disrupt criminals targeting
rural and farming communities.

Launched in May, the rural crime team
works across South Somerset and the
Mendips and has a broad focus
preventing and detecting rural crime
and bringing to justice those criminals
who target the farming and rural
communities.

The five-strong team, with in-depth
knowledge of rural crime issues, will
work to identify the people targeting
rural properties as well as identifying
and recovering stolen machinery. They
will also be visiting farms to offer crime
prevention advice and promote the
Farm Watch scheme which seeks to
help farmers protect themselves from
crime. Farm Watch was launched in

December 2009 and there are now
more than 300 members – with 70
people signing up in May alone.

Sergeant Ed Hawkins said: “It is great
that we have this new team to tackle
rural crime which should make criminals
feel very nervous. We will not tolerate
rural communities being targeted and
will do all we can to bring to justice
those who target isolated areas.”

Farmers are being encouraged to sign
up to Farm Watch to prevent their
business being targeted by thieves. The
free scheme provides farmers with
warning signs for their farms, receive
text message alerts about farm-related
crime and have their property security
marked. It also includes registration of
up to five high-value items on the
National Plant and Equipment Register.

• For more information about Farm
Watch or to report information
about criminals in the area contact
Avon and Somerset Police on 0845
456 7000.