THAMES Valley Police and partner organisations are to join forces to tackle criminal damage across South Oxfordshire. A three month operation starting today aims to reduce vandalism and target those responsible.
Thame’s Crime Prevention Officer, Lesley Nesbitt, told ThameNews today: “July, August and September traditionally see a rise in the incidents of reported criminal damage. To try and reduce these incidents, the police in Thame are launching Operation Mend an initiative to reduce criminal damage and increase the amount of intelligence available to catch the offenders. Criminal damage is often an opportunist crime and the offenders are difficult to trace.”
“The Police Community Support Officers will be targeting the priority locations in Thame. They will be going into the local primary schools over the next three weeks to talk about criminal damage and the effect it has on individuals, the consequences of causing damage which is a criminal offence.”
Posters will be displayed in prominent locations and there will be a delivery of flyers across the Thame police sector encouraging people to report incidents they see happening, or information they have to crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. By doing this they can remain anonymous but know that the information about the crime or the offender will get to the police.
Lesley continued: “We are asking everyone to help reduce criminal damage by reporting information that they may have to Crime Stoppers on 0800555111 or they can call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505. If anyone see someone causing damage or knows information about someone who has caused damage and does nothing about it, they are allowing the minority of individuals who cause damage to get away with it. Report your information and reduce the opportunity of you or a family member becoming the next victim of mindless criminal damage.”
Damage to vehicles and buildings accounts for the bulk of all reported crime in South Oxfordshire and affects the quality of life of many people. Typical examples are key scraping of paintwork and damaging wing mirrors of cars, damaging fencing, smashing windows and graffiti. Such damage can impact on a community and make people feel unsafe.
The South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership is getting organisations to work together in innovative ways to tackle these problems. Roger Cowdrey, Chair of the Partnership said: “While South Oxfordshire is a safe place to live, there is more that we can do to address damage and antisocial behaviour.
“We know that alcohol abuse is often involved in these incidents which is why the Community Safety Partnership has made it one of its top priorities.”
The police, South Oxfordshire District Council and the County Council are just some of the partners working to tackle alcohol issues. They are working to prevent the sale of alcohol to under 18s by carrying out test purchasing and prosecuting licensees who serve those under 18. The Partnership is also working to support young people. It has given a grant of
Leave a Reply