This week's edition of the Borough Bulletin is mainly taken up with a report about the recent Neighbourhood Watch Conference which, by many accounts, was well-received by the 60 or so co-ordinators who attended the event. The report itself conveys a trenchant over-view of the proposed merger between the Surrey and Sussex police forces, and celebrates the addition of new members to the Neighbourhood Watch Support Group, which is now looking forward to playing an even greater role in helping build safe communities around Guildford.

Crime and disorder ... yes, we still have some, along with taxes, and there is the usual roundup of incidents including an update on recent serial crimes (see Watching the detectives). The Roundup, this week, also includes an account of a particularly nasty crime where the victim was an elderly and vulnerable lady, and any information about this event would be greatly appreciated.

Then there is a report on the extension of the Community Speedwatch to more roads around the borough, and an update on the scrap metal thieves who have been operating in the area recently.

Finally, another less-than-enterprising crook has put himself (we assume 'him') on the throne reserved for Surrey's silliest criminal - read on to find out how and why!

A day out at Mt Browne
There was an excellent turn-out for the 2006 Guildford Neighbourhood Watch as more than 60 co-ordinators came along to Surrey Police headquarters on 2 April. Organised by the NHW Support Group together with PC Graeme Ingate, the borough's Crime Prevention Officer, the event featured a number of guests who spoke with authority about matters of concern to Neighbourhood Watch members.

The first was Liz Campbell who, refreshingly, announced herself as "chairman of the Surrey Police Authority" (a 'chair' she is not). Speaking without notes, she launched into a description of some of Surrey Police's recent successes: ranking in the top three of 43 police forces, and awards for the service's Contact Centre and its Human Resources, Training, and Corporate Communications departments were a few of the highlights she mentioned.

Moving on to the force's budget, she pointed out that Surrey has the lowest grant of any police force in the country, whether measured in gross terms or value per head. Interestingly, she said that civil servants had admitted that the formula for determining the grant was designed to be "so complex as to defy any attempt at a legal challenge".

As for the proposed merger of the Surrey and Sussex police forces, she said that the Government can enforce its will whether or not the forces agree to amalgamation, and that there is some sense in the plan in terms of combating serious/organised crime and terrorism. However, it will only work if properly funded. Even then, the concern is that funds will be allocated to high crime areas -- which, for the large part, are not in Surrey -- leading to a reduction in police effectiveness as resources leach out of the county.

"We are fully committed to creating a modern police service, which delivers an effective and efficient service to give the most benefits to residents, but we are unable to voluntarily merge without securing appropriate funding to pay for it," she said.

Her account of discussions with Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, nose to nose across the negotiating table, were particularly interesting, and whatever the merits or otherwise of the merger proposal, it is clear that Surrey's best interests are being well looked after.

In conclusion, she complimented the Neighbourhood Watch, saying that it builds safe and confident communities, and that Surrey couldn't be policed as well as it is without the help of people who know what's going on in their neighbourhoods.

The next speaker was Inspector Dave Kelley, who spoke about the practical aspects of policing Guildford borough. Regarding the merger, he said that there were real concerns, and that if it went ahead the aim would be to operate the Surrey policing model rather than the one used by Sussex.

Taking the stage before lunch was Michael Anderson, deputy chairman of Surrey Crimestoppers, who described how the organisation helps keep crime in Surrey at low levels. After the break, Ian Inglis of Surrey Trading Standards entertained the audience with tales of cowboy tradesmen, rip-off artists and callous cold-callers. He was followed by Rodney Amor, chairman of the Support Group, who pleaded for volunteers to join the Group and give it a new lease of life. Subsequently, and no doubt as a result of his eloquence, seven co-ordinators stepped forward to take up the cause (see below)

The last speaker gave a somewhat garbled account of a year in the life of a Neighbourhood Watch manager before a Q&A session with Graeme Ingate and Community Safety Warden Rodney Bates in the hot seats.

"We're very satisfied that so many new co-ordinators came to the event and that they seemed pleased with what they heard," says Rodney Amor. "The conference does provide an opportunity for co-ordinators to find out about matters affecting Surrey Police and the policing of the borough, and for them to meet each other and share experiences. And now that the Support Group has an injection of new blood, we can look forward to extending and enhancing the role that the Group plays in the Guildford Neighbourhood Watch."

Standing up for the Support Group
From being almost on its last legs, the Guildford Neighbourhood Watch Support Group gained new strength when seven co-ordinators volunteered to join after chairman Rodney Amor made a persuasive plea at the biennial Neighbourhood Watch Conference on 2 April. The seven new members are:

They join the existing members, who are:

"This is a wonderful result that will enable us to expand and develop our efforts on behalf of all co-ordinators," Rodney says. "There are many things we would like to do that would benefit the Watch in Guildford - for example, organising meetings of co-ordinators in the various wards and parishes - and we are now on the way to having the resources we need to make those possible.

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our new Support Group members, and at the same time offer an invitation to any member of the Neighbourhood Watch to come along to our meetings. The next one will be at Dray Court, which is on the corner of The Chase and Madrid Road in Onslow, at 7:30pm on 8 May. The more contributions we have, the better we are able to work towards a safer, more secure community in Guildford."

Community Speedwatch takes to more roads

Following a recent meeting at Ripley Village Hall, more than 70 residents volunteered plans to take part in Community Speedwatch schemes across Ripley, Ockham, Wisley, Clandons, Horsleys, Effingham and Send.

The evening was hosted by PC Dave Thomas, Guildford Borough's Casualty Reduction Officer, with support from local officers including Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Steve Hill and Police Community Support Officers Jon Perry, Katherine Heath, Edline Kaunda and Fiona Cassidy.

Community Speedwatch was launched in Waverley and Guildford earlier this year as part of the Surrey Road Standards initiative to tackle anti-social behaviour on the county's roads. The schemes, currently operating in Jacobs Well and Shamley Green, are run by volunteers who are supported by Surrey Police. They aim to re-educate drivers about the dangers of speeding, as well as improving the quality of life for local communities and reducing traffic noise and pollution.

Residents work with the police and local authorities to identify areas of concern, and are then given full support to set up and manage a scheme. At least six volunteers, who contribute a minimum of an hour a week, are required to set up a new scheme, and they are trained in safe working procedures for using the speed detection equipment to monitor the speed of vehicles, and given advice on dealing with enquiries from road users.

The volunteers work in pairs at a location, selected by local communities in consultation with Surrey Police, with 30 mph and 40 mph limits. They record motorists' speeds, and anyone travelling faster than the limit is sent a 'yellow' letter of advice asking for their co-operation in the future.

A maximum of two warning letters will be sent, but if a driver is caught speeding again he or she may well find themselves dealing with the police. The aim, however, is for the presence of the Speedwatch volunteers to make drivers think twice about their driving habits -- and slow down. 

Scrap also rides
Further to the last issue's report about people stealing scrap, police have identified a number of vehicles that could be associated with the crimes. They are:

·       A red Nissan Cabstar, registration T184 ATM
·       An orange pick-up truck, NK52 EZJ
·       A blue Nissan Cabstar, X204 FLA
·       A brown Ford flatbed lorry, C591 RUT

If you see one of these vehicles in your street, please phone the police immediately. It would be best not to have anything to do with the driver(s).

Surrey's silliest criminals
This week's candidate for the award is the man who broke into an empty, newly-built house in Peaslake and stole the only thing he found, the only thing he could remove - the toilet seat. It is not known whether he made use of the facility before removing the key component, but he obviously had a pressing need for a toilet - or part of one, at least. When the culprit is apprehended, he will be charged with sitting on stolen goods.

Watching the detectives
House burglaries continued to decline for the fourth consecutive fortnight, dropping from 10 to seven. Other types of burglaries (sheds, garages, break-ins to commercial premises etc) have remained steady at 23 over the fortnight. None of the burglaries involved the beady gang.

Autocrime has fallen substantially this fortnight, with outright thefts decreasing from seven to four and thefts from cars dropping massively from 26 to 10. Theft of satellite navigation devices continues to fall: there were just two in Guildford this past fortnight - one in Park Barn (a former hot spot) and the other in Guildford Park Road, near the train station. 

However, there were three personal robberies in Guildford Borough, one of which resulted in an arrest, and a further assault by the bottom slapper.

Crime round-up
Surrey Police would greatly appreciate any information about the crimes itemised in the Roundup. See the attachment for details of how to contact the police or, if you prefer, the Neighbourhood Watch Manager.

Ash Vale
Prospect Road, on Tuesday, 4 April.
A daylight burglar broke in through a door, and in the main bedroom found jewellery and some valuable watches. He made off with those, but left behind a computer and camera equipment.

Burpham
Ladygrove Drive, on Wednesday, 5 April.
Although access to the rear was restricted, a thief managed to get into the back garden and then remove the entire pane of a downstairs window. Inside the house, he found and took away jewellery, a laptop computer, a digital camera and some DVDs.

Bushy Hill
Great Goodwin Drive, on Thursday, 6 april.
An insecure kitchen window, covered by chipboard following an earlier breakage, provided an easy route for a burglar to get into a downstairs flat. A DVD player was stolen and a television set, possibly too awkward to take away, was damaged.

Guildford Town
Pewley Way, on Sunday, 2 April.
A thief simply opened the garage door and then rode away on one of the valuable mountain bikes he found inside. The door had been left unlocked by the young man of the house, who was frequently in and out of the garage. Convenient ... but was it safe?

Onslow
East Meads, on Thursday, 30 March.
Two builders working on a four bedroom detached house had a radio, tools and a pair of used work-boots stolen from the unlocked garage.

Ash Grove, on Wednesday, 5 April.
A thief - a specialist? - stole a set of motorbike handles from an unlocked garage. Although it had not been reported at the time, the garage had been burgled the week before, when a piece of industrial equipment had been taken.

Rydeshill
Broad Street, on Saturday, 1 April.
As if proof were needed that thieves will take anything not chained down, a pair of ornamental stone lions were taken from the front garden of the house, which sits in considerable acreage.

Send
Wharf Lane, on Friday, 31 March.
During the morning, a man approached an elderly lady at the front door of her mid- terrace bungalow and said that he "did her garden two years ago" and asked if she recognised him. Then, ignoring the lady's protests that she didn't know him and that she had never 'had her garden done', the man called to his mate, who drove an open-backed van up to the house and started to shovel manure onto her flowerbeds. They continued despite her objections, and eventually she gave up and asked them how much it would cost. Told it would be £250, she set off for the post office around the corner to withdraw the money from her savings account. When she came out they were waiting for her: she gave them the cash, and they left promptly without giving a receipt or any leaving any form of identification. When she returned home, she found they had merely scattered some manure across the lawn and flowerbeds.

This was a despicable crime committed by two men who intimidated and took merciless advantage of an elderly, vulnerable old person. The police very much like to meet the men concerned. One is described as a white man with a medium build fronted by a beer belly, and approximately 5ft 6in tall with short dark hair. He was aged somewhere in his early 40s, was clean-shaven with a pale complexion, and he was wearing a navy-blue, long-sleeved pullover with a round neck, dirty blue jeans and dirty, fawn-coloured workmen's boots. The second man was white and had a large, muscular build. He was aged in his mid-30s, was clean shaven and bald in middle of his head with short, shaved hair around back and sides. He was about 5 ft 10in tall and wore a long-sleeved fawn top with dirty blue jeans and dirty workmen's boots.

Tongham
Spoil Lane, on Monday, 3 April.
Up north, they say, people can leave a key under the doormat safe in the knowledge that they won't be burgled. Down south, it's an unwise thing to do, and it cost a man £500 when a thief found the key and burgled his mobile home.