Thursday, 15 April 2010
Fouling campaign launched!
Watch this space for all the information (still having problems uploading images to the blog for some reason so once that's sorted we'll give a full update).
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Catching up!
I'm sure it's a problem which all bloggers find at one point or another - finding the time to write on your blog! Well it's been a very busy few weeks since the last post and here are some of the highlights:
In the week commencing 8th February we had another visit to Court for a fly tipping prosecution. This time we were attending Derby Crown Court as opposed to the usual visits to the Magistrates. Unfortunately, the day before we went we learned that our case was to be a "floater" which would only be heard if another case on the day was cut short (for example if the defendant pleaded guilty or didn't turn up). In the event all the other cases went ahead and our case was adjourned until May, which was disappointing.
As is often the case, the Friday evening was the busiest on this week and this is a short summary of the evening's events from one of our Wardens, Nathan Bull:
In the week commencing 8th February we had another visit to Court for a fly tipping prosecution. This time we were attending Derby Crown Court as opposed to the usual visits to the Magistrates. Unfortunately, the day before we went we learned that our case was to be a "floater" which would only be heard if another case on the day was cut short (for example if the defendant pleaded guilty or didn't turn up). In the event all the other cases went ahead and our case was adjourned until May, which was disappointing.
As is often the case, the Friday evening was the busiest on this week and this is a short summary of the evening's events from one of our Wardens, Nathan Bull:
- Windsor close Newhall. After complaints from residents regarding youths etc. patrols conducted. Lads seen at 16:08 playing football in the street. Advice given.
- Pine Grove Newhall. Complaints regarding jitty from Pine Grove up to Parliament Street and groups gathering again. Nothing seen during any of my visits that night, however, I contacted the Waste Team at the Depot and arranged for the area to be cleaned up as it was covered in litter. Also noted damage to fences next to the jitty.
- Belmont Street, Swadlincote. Nothing seen around Belmont Street, the jitty down to the park was also quiet at the time of my visits. Surrounding streets also appeared to be quiet.
- Willoughby House. Static at this location and foot patrols conducted. Building appeared to be secure. The lighting on Hall Farm Close nearest to main building are not working - info passed on.
- Hilton. Area patrolled included The Mease, village hall, Soar Close and Wildhay Brook. Several graffiti tags seen along Avon Way and onto Welland Road. Also another nearby road whose name escapes me. Will pop out again to retake photographs for our intelligence records as the ones taken on Friday night didn't come out well.
- Willington. Twyford Road area and both the takeaway and the underpass were quiet at the time of my visit.
- Gosley Estate appeared to be quiet.
- Harebell Close - several visits. Arrived at 20:45, parked van up cameras covering the jitty up to Burton Road. Police arrive at 20:50. I conducted a foot patrol of the jitty, Burton Road, Sorrell Drive, Jubilee Close, along bottom road of estate (can't remember name) and back up jitty to Harebell Close. Police were stood in the garden of of a house as I walked past the second time. I saw them speak to group who had come down.
- East end car park - Static in car park and conducted patrol around Church Street and also Church Yard. Nothing seen.
- Swadlincote High Street - Nothing seen.
- Urban Parks - Drive past each of the three main parks with a brief foot patrol on Eureka and Newhall. All appeared to be quiet.
In the week commencing 15th February James Cunningham-Gardner was working days and had the unfortunate duty of checking for identity chips on dead two dead dogs which had been found. The dogs were then taken for cremation. Another one of those things that nobody really thinks about but the Wardens are doing behind the scenes! Fortunately it's not that common an occurrence.
Evening patrols were similar in nature to the information above, except visits were also made to the north east of the district to places like Aston-on-Trent and Stenson Fields, in response to complaints from the public regarding youths congregating.
In the week commencing 22nd February two things occurred which were of particular note - firstly, a quantity of cannabis was found by one of the Wardens dumped down a secluded lane. Information was passed to the Police for them to start an investigation. Secondly, we undertook a stop and search exercise with the Police, Environment Agency and Derby City Council in order to find people carrying waste which may be fly-tipped or people carrying waste without a licence. A number of vehicles were stopped and notices issued requiring waste transfer notes to be provided in relation to the waste being carried.
It is worth noting that if you get "white van man" or indeed any business to take waste from your house you should be given a receipt which details what waste is being removed. Whilst previously only businesses had a duty of care to ensure their waste is being properly disposed of, now residents have that duty too. If you pass your waste to an unlicensed carrier then you may be committing an offence. There is a common sense approach to all this and that is - if they are offering to take your waste for a knock down fee, why? Disposing of waste properly costs money and waste companies must consider this when setting fees to remove waste. If they are not charging accordingly then they might be dumping your waste down a secluded lane in South Derbyshire. If that happens, don't be surprised to receive a knock at your door from the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens!
Monday, 8 February 2010
Week commencing 1st February 2010
Some problems with vandals damaging people's garden fencing has highlighted an issue which needs addressing - reporting incidents. Some residents do not report incidents to the Police and in many cases this is because the incident is not happening at the time so they think the Police will not be able to do anything.
Whilst it may not be easy to take action on a perpetrator who has been and gone, it is information like this which directs evening patrols for the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens. We have strong links with the Police via our Anti-Social Behaviour Team at the Council and weekly briefings along with ad hoc information sharing enables both Wardens and Police Community Support Officers to target areas where problems have occurred. If your area is being targetted by unruly groups, and you feel it is perhaps not a job for Police Officers, then please do contact us on 01283 595943 and we can ensure the area is patrolled.
To balance the above I would again re-iterate that South Derbyshire has far less than it's fair share of groups that act in an anti-social way. I am sure that this is in part down to the community spirit which still exists in this area. In the words of Nick Ross, "don't have nightmares, sleep well".
Whilst it may not be easy to take action on a perpetrator who has been and gone, it is information like this which directs evening patrols for the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens. We have strong links with the Police via our Anti-Social Behaviour Team at the Council and weekly briefings along with ad hoc information sharing enables both Wardens and Police Community Support Officers to target areas where problems have occurred. If your area is being targetted by unruly groups, and you feel it is perhaps not a job for Police Officers, then please do contact us on 01283 595943 and we can ensure the area is patrolled.
To balance the above I would again re-iterate that South Derbyshire has far less than it's fair share of groups that act in an anti-social way. I am sure that this is in part down to the community spirit which still exists in this area. In the words of Nick Ross, "don't have nightmares, sleep well".
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Week commencing 25th January 2010
Another relatively quiet mid-winter week as far as anti-social behaviour is concerned.
A report of 50 to 60 youths creating chaos in Melbourne on Friday night turned out to be around 18 youths who did not appear to be doing anything untoward. The Wardens kept an eye on them until they dispersed.
During the week some training was undertaken with the commencement of a BTEC in Neighbourhood Nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour and later in the week some hostile situations training. One fly tipping incident led to the commencement of an investigation.
In between were the usual patrols for littering etc. and dealing with stray dogs, barking complaints and abandoned vehicles to name just a few.
A report of 50 to 60 youths creating chaos in Melbourne on Friday night turned out to be around 18 youths who did not appear to be doing anything untoward. The Wardens kept an eye on them until they dispersed.
During the week some training was undertaken with the commencement of a BTEC in Neighbourhood Nuisance and Anti-Social Behaviour and later in the week some hostile situations training. One fly tipping incident led to the commencement of an investigation.
In between were the usual patrols for littering etc. and dealing with stray dogs, barking complaints and abandoned vehicles to name just a few.
Warden introduction - Steve Yates
Steve Yates is the most recent addition to the Warden team. Steve started with SDDC just before Christmas 2009. He has previously spent 9 years in the Maritime Division of the British Army as a Marine Engineer, working aboard both harbour launches and landing craft as well as ocean going transport vessels.
Following Steve's stint in the Army he spent 16 years as a Prison Officer serving at the majority of the prisons within the Midlands, including Birmingham, Nottingham and Stafford. Steve's travels took him into some of the larger London establishments and involved working with some of our more high profile offenders. His experiences in the Prison Service has also included work with both female and young offenders.
Steve left the Prison Service in 2005 and has since undertaken some residential child care to work with young people with emotional and behavioural problems before joining SDDC.
On the subject of joining SDDC Steve says in his own words: "I joined the Council looking for further challenges and I am currently busy learning new faces, names and procedures. Personally I am divorced with two grown up daughters who live in London and Fallingbostel and the proud Grandfather of Isabelle and Alex who also live in Fallingbostel with their Mum and Dad (who is a serving soldier). My spare time is spent reading, gardening and doing as my current partner tells me".
Monday, 25 January 2010
Week commencing 18th Jan 2010
The only blip in a relatively quiet week in terms of anti-social behaviour was on Friday night. Our Wardens arrived in Melbourne at approximately 9:00pm and the patrol route took them down Penn Lane. Here they noticed that several cars had their wing mirrors pushed or kicked the wrong way, one of which was damaged.
At the rear of the library the Wardens spoke to a lady who said some youths had damaged her wing mirror. The group of youths were observed and the Police were called. A short time later the Wardens met with a Police Officer and identified a girl from the group that had been seen. Details were taken and then the group got onto the bus and left the area.
In terms of the ever present problem of dog fouling, we are shortly going to commence a publicity campaign with, amongst other things, a hard hitting poster showing a child apparently eating dog faeces and the line "children will put anything in their mouths"! Potentially shocking I'm sure most will agree but the only thing more shocking is the reality of dog fouling. This campaign is due to start in February.
In other news, a couple more fly tipping deposits were found and the investigations are commencing in relation to those.
Finally, a meeting with the Derbyshire Flytipping Project has shown a reduction in flytipping in Derbyshire along with an increase in legal action by Councils against perpetrators. For our part, the Wardens have now had 8 convictions since June 2009 with more to come. Watch this space.
Jack Twomey
Environmental Protection Manager
At the rear of the library the Wardens spoke to a lady who said some youths had damaged her wing mirror. The group of youths were observed and the Police were called. A short time later the Wardens met with a Police Officer and identified a girl from the group that had been seen. Details were taken and then the group got onto the bus and left the area.
In terms of the ever present problem of dog fouling, we are shortly going to commence a publicity campaign with, amongst other things, a hard hitting poster showing a child apparently eating dog faeces and the line "children will put anything in their mouths"! Potentially shocking I'm sure most will agree but the only thing more shocking is the reality of dog fouling. This campaign is due to start in February.
In other news, a couple more fly tipping deposits were found and the investigations are commencing in relation to those.
Finally, a meeting with the Derbyshire Flytipping Project has shown a reduction in flytipping in Derbyshire along with an increase in legal action by Councils against perpetrators. For our part, the Wardens have now had 8 convictions since June 2009 with more to come. Watch this space.
Jack Twomey
Environmental Protection Manager
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Welcome to the all new Safer Neighbourhood Wardens of South Derbyshire District Council blog!
In this blog we hope to publicise some of the more interesting parts of the job the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens do. So why are we bothering? The main reason is simple - we sometimes get feedback from the public that they don't know where we are or what we do. We may be in a location regularly but some local residents never see us and so assume we are never there, so hopefully this blog will demonstrate that we are around (even if it's when you're at home watching the telly so you don't see us). The other reason for the blog is to act as a source of feedback on the work of the Wardens. It's hoped that this feedback will help target their work to relevant areas which are of most concern to you, the residents of South Derbyshire.
Jack Twomey
Environmental Protection Manager
In this blog we hope to publicise some of the more interesting parts of the job the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens do. So why are we bothering? The main reason is simple - we sometimes get feedback from the public that they don't know where we are or what we do. We may be in a location regularly but some local residents never see us and so assume we are never there, so hopefully this blog will demonstrate that we are around (even if it's when you're at home watching the telly so you don't see us). The other reason for the blog is to act as a source of feedback on the work of the Wardens. It's hoped that this feedback will help target their work to relevant areas which are of most concern to you, the residents of South Derbyshire.
Jack Twomey
Environmental Protection Manager
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