|
Chairman of the County Council Dr David Pollard
with the prizewinners: (l-r) James Hissett (11), Holly Menzies
(11) and Verity Mclugash (7). Photo courtesy Leices. County Cncl.
Holly a winner
ROTHLEY SCHOOLGIRL Holly Menzies was judged
the winner of a competition to design a road sign.
All the children were invited to take part in the competition
to create a sign that would be incorporated into the 20mph zone
and traffic calming features that have been constructed outside
the school along Mountsorrel Lane.
Holly and the runners up James Hissett and Verity Mclugash were
congratulated at a special presentation assembly attended by
Dr David Pollard, Chairman of the County Council; Cllrs Peter
Finch, Peter Osborne and Brian Popple and representatives from
the County Council’s Highways Department, Michael Bradford
and Louise Stephenson
Childcare club
A CHILDCARE Club in Rothley that aims to
provide a stimulating environment for children is set to open
this August.
Run in association with Rothley School and located in the Village
Hall in Fowke Street, the club will run from 8-8.50am and 3.30-5.30pm
Monday to Friday.
The club has been funded with lottery money and was started after
a survey of Rothley parents identified a need for affordable
childcare at the start and end of the school day.
Organiser Kevin Osborne said: “The club will provide a caring,
fun and stimulating environment for children aged 4-11: a cross
between home and school”.
There are 32 places available at the OFSTED registered club which
will be staffed by qualified carers. The provisional cost is
£2.50 per hour. The club will open on August 29 and will
follow school term dates. For more information contact Rothley
School 2302106.
A Care Assistant is required to work alongside the Nursery Nurse.
If you are interested in the position contact Kevin Osborne 01664
482467.
The club is planning to hold an Open Day in the first week of
July - look out for posters locally.
Street scene changes
ROTHLEY PARISH Council have been consulting
with Woodgate shopkeepers to discuss ways to improve the street
scene.
Five cast iron planters and a number of cast iron bollards, in
British racing green, will be erected along Woodgate as part
of the Cross Green improvement scheme.
The planters and bollards are expected to cost in the region
of £5000.
It has also been agreed to increase the vehicle waiting time
from 30 minutes to one hour for on-street parking along Woodgate.
Free tennis
ROTHLEY RESIDENTS can play free of charge
on two of Rothley’s tennis courts.
Courts 5 and 6 will be free before 6pm, Monday to Friday inclusive.
After 6pm, and at weekends, the charge is £5 per hour subject
to pre-booking and pre-payment at the Parish Council Office inside
the Rothley Centre. There is also a pre-booking number: 07986
065921
Rothley Ivanhoe Tennis club members have sole usage of the remaining
courts.
The club are holding an open day on Sunday June 30 from 10am
to 1pm. Come and find out before the World Cup finals about specially
reduced membership offers.
CCTV in Birstall
CLOSED CIRCUIT TV cameras, already operational
in Syston, may be extended to include Birstall.
The Crime & Disorder Partnership for SE Charnwood have organised
a feasibility study with the support of the Parish Council, Age
Concern, Birstall Village Watch and the Police.
The study will seek to establish if a CCTV scheme is required,
how extensive it would be, costs and financing arrangements.
In Syston the scheme has resulted in a drop in crime. Volunteers,
who are screened and trained, monitor the TV footage, which records
24 hours a day.
Alexander a big hit
A CONCERT of accordion music at the Rothley
Centre left the audience spellbound.
The Soar Valley Accordion Club hosted an Accordion Concert on
the evening of Saturday June 8. The players were a return visit
of Russian accordionist Alexander Korbakov and a first visit
by the Burton Accordion Band, Musical Director Stan Schofield.
The concert started with the Burton Accordion Band playing a
selection of popular music, including Spanish Eyes, Stranger
on the Shore, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree.
We then welcomed Alexander Korbakov on to the stage, he explained
to the audience how his Jupiter accordion enabled him to play
classical music, an accordion made for classical music. His programme
started with Cavatina Figaro (from the Barber of Seville) followed
by two Chopin waltzes and various pieces arranged by him including,
Ave Maria, Valse Triste, Sabre Dance and Fiddle-Faddle.
During the interval the raffle was drawn and the concert recommenced
with the Burton Accordion Band playing a rousing Salute to Sousa,
Blue Tango, Chattanooga Choo Choo, a selection from Mr Fair Lady
and finishing with Moonlight Serenade
Alexander Korbakov was welcomed back in his Kossack costume,
he demonstrated various mouth instruments which were played before
the accordion was developed.
Alexander's second programme was Russian Folk Music, including
Katiusha, The Pedlars, The Red Sarafan, Black Eyes and Kalinka.
He was invited to play an encore, he played The Flight of the
Bumble Bee and a second encore Zorba's Dance.
After such an entertaining performance the audience were reluctant
to let him go. Everyone left spellbound by the music and playing
they had been listening to.
The evening was compared by David Price.
From Jo & Alan Lewis
|
Free booklets
TWO NEW walks leaflets have been published by the Stepping
Stones Countryside Management Project, in partnership with Glenfield
Parish Council and Humberstone Village Community Forum.
The two free booklets - ‘Walks In and Around Humberstone’
and ‘Five Circular Walks In and Around Glenfield’ have
both been written by local people.
Humberstone is located to the North east of the city of Leicester,
and until quite recently was not part of the city at all. It
is one of only two ‘Urban Villages’ in Leicester (the
other being Evington). The booklet includes walks around Humberstone
village, the Humber Stone and a circular walk to Barkby visiting
the site of the medieval village of Humberstone.
In the Glenfield booklet the walks range from 2 to 8.5 miles
and covers routes around Glenfield, along the disused railway;
woodland walks in the National Forest and a circular walk to
Groby Pool.
One of the main objectives of the Stepping Stones Countryside
Management Project is to improve access to the countryside. The
project also hopes the booklets will attract people from nearby
parishes to explore the countryside around them.
These booklets are available free of charge, subject to availability,
by sending your name and address to Samantha Forster, Project
Officer, Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project, Dept
Planning and Transportation, Leicestershire County Council, County
Hall, Glenfield LE3 8RJ.
The Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project represents
a partnership approach to working with and for people and the
environment through enhancement and protection of existing countryside
within the project area. The Countryside Management project is
based at Leicestershire County Council and is centred around
the City of Leicester and covers a total of 300 square kilometres
(113 square miles), including areas within the districts of Blaby,
Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and Oadby and Wigston.
Other walks leaflets produced by the project include; Five Circular
Countryside Walks from Groby, Five Circular Walks from Great
Glen and Two Steeples Walks (walks in and around Wigston). There
is also the Sence valley Series, of which there are four leaflets:
Crow Mills, Crow Mills to Aylestone Meadows, Kilby to Wistow
and Kilby Bridge.
Mentoring project
A NEW mentoring project that aims to support
under achieving students at Longslade has proved a success.
The Getting Connected Mentoring project takes small groups of
young people through a special curriculum that aims to help them
get to know themselves better and to reflect on their behaviour.
Ten students have successfully completed the first ten week unit
of the project and were presented with certificates at an awards
ceremony held at Career Point in Leicester on May 1.
The students: Michelle Grieves, Sophie Goode, Sian Glover, Simone
Mee, Laura Ashfield, Luke Thompson, Richard Tipper, Dominic Bentley,
Craig Walton and James Walker will now have the opportunity to
complete further modules in their own time with the support of
mentoring staff.
Learning Mentor Joanna Clarke said: “The project has gone
really well and has been very positive for the young people.
They have achieved something and reflected on their lives, set
themselves goals and considered the steps they need to take to
achieve them.”
Horticultural show
THERE WAS such an excellent attendance
that more chairs were required for the April visit to Brookside
Nurseries by members of Thurcaston & Cropston Horticultural
Society.
Mr Steve Budding gave us useful tips regarding the types of compost
required for container gardening, also various methods of preventing
and getting rid of Garden pests. Meanwhile his wife demonstrated
the planting up of different types of containers.
A very pleasant evening which concluded with coffee and biscuits
and a wander through the greenhouse, looking at the variety of
plants which had been used in the demonstration.
The Society listened to an interesting talk by Josie Hutchinson
on the subject of a ‘Flower Arrangers Garden’, in which
it was stated that an ‘ordinary’ garden and a flower
arranger’s garden were very much the same.
Mrs Hutchinson likes to grow structural foliage plants and bushes
and brought along a number of specimen stems etc to prove the
point that greenery is as interesting as flowers.
July 10 is an evening visit to Warren Hills Nursery 7.30pm £1
entrance.
There are a few tickets left for the Annual Outing on Sunday
August 11 ring Christine Timperley 2363252 for information.
Sunday, September 7, is the date of the Annual Show for the Thurcaston
& Cropston Horticultural Society. This year we have a new
trophy, in the flower section - the Ken and Betty Clark Trophy,
very kindly given by the family in memory of Ken and Betty.
Show schedules can be obtained by calling 2340625
A spokesman said: ”Last year we had a super show with a
tremendous range of entries, with your help we can equal or even
better it this year. Remember, you don’t have to be a member
of the Society to enter, anyone living within Thurcaston or Cropston
is eligible and there is something for everyone.”
There are, of course, classes for fruit, flowers and vegetables
but there is also a baking section, flower arranging, preserves
and even home made wine. There is a WI cup, presented to the
WI member collecting the most points overall. Also, there is
a children’s section, and all the items here can be made
in advance, so don’t forget, if you are looking after the
grandchildren during the summer holidays, that could be an idea
to keep them quiet for a few hours one day!
The Annual Show is held in the Thurcaston Memorial Hall, Anstey
Lane from 2.30-4pm, with an auction at 3.15pm
From Thurcaston & Cropston Horticultural Society
DNA aids Police
ADVANCES IN scientific techniques are helping
police in their fight against crime.
Since September 2001, Leicestershire Constabulary has increased
its crime detection by a massive 212.4 per cent and has DNA Intelligence
Officers on each area.
Each person’s DNA is unique and suspects are identified
by their DNA from the National DNA database.
Mr Bob Lilley, the senior DNA Intelligence Office, said: “DNA
is making life easier for investigating officers. It has increased
detection rates and will reduce crime and the fear of crime.
More criminals are being arrested and put before the courts.”
He added: “If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim
of crime then you can help us to do our job by not disturbing
the scene or tidying up the area. This simple step will greatly
assist the scenes of crime officers to gather fingerprints and
DNA to help detect the crime.”
Advances in DNA profiling mean more and more criminals are being
convicted on DNA evidence alone and Leicestershire Constabulary
hopes to build on the success in raising detection rates still
further.
Parish Council Notes
A FULL meeting of Rothley Parish Council
was held on April 22.
It was reported that in the longer term, Rothley should be allocated
a second policeman, but that in the short term there would be
no change to the existing level of cover.
It was reported that the County Council had been impressed at
the level of attendance (1000+ visitors) at the exhibition of
the Cross Green proposals.
It was agreed to request that single yellow lines be put from
the bus stop near the Mercury news shop to the bend by Rothley
Fisheries, with double yellow lines from there to the Roods.
A full meeting of Rothley Parish Council was
held on May 20.
Cllr Percy Hartshorn was elected Chairman. Cllr Brian Popple
was elected Vice Chairman
It was reported that the Planning Inspectorate had received an
appeal against a decision to refuse permission for a taxi hire
firm to operate from Woodcock Farm on Loughborough Road.
The Council has applied for a lottery grant of £5000 for
new equipment on the Town Green Street playing field, and to
Charnwood for £2,500. The Council accepted a quotation
of £12,500 for the provision and installation of the equipment.
The Council voted 5 to 2 to reverse the decision made at the
April meeting regarding yellow lines outside Rothley Fisheries.
Double yellow lines will now be preferred along the length of
Mountsorrel Lane from the Mercury news shop bus stop to the bend
just past Rothley Fisheries.
Rothley Parish Council’s Annual Parish
meeting was held on May 27.
15 local residents attended.
Chairman of the Parish Council Percy Hartshorn opened the meeting,
thanking everyone for their attendance and in particular Cllr
Peter Finch for his three years as Chairman.
Extracts from the minutes of the meeting are presented below.
The minutes have yet to be approved by full council.
Parish Clerk’s Annual Report.
The Parish Council has continued to maintain the general fabric
of the village with the main projects for the year being Mountsorrel
Lane traffic calming outside school, The Rothley Centre, Village
play equipment, Rothley Cemetery & Cross Green.
Mountsorrel Lane work has started outside school and is due to
be completed by end of June.
The Rothley Centre new lease nearing completion. Borough considering
recommending sale of Centre to Parish Council but price may put
this out of village reach. Parish Council is still exploring
ways to update/refurbish the Centre but with projected costings
of £1m this will undoubtedly be a long-term project and
unlikely to be started in the short term.
Play Equipment - Fowke Street playing field equipment has been
replaced at a cost of £29K with the benefit of grants from
Charnwood, Leicestershire County Council, Enventure & LEAF
together with donations from Rothley Lions Club & Swithland
Sand & Gravel. Town Green Street playing fields are scheduled
for replacement equipment, at a cost of £12500, with monies
committed from both the Borough & Parish Councils and an
application to The Lottery.
Rothley Cemetery with the benefit of donations from Hames Charity
a further length of pathway has been retarmaced and a Wall of
Remembrance erected. The plan is to finish of the pathway to
the next junction - which should then meet the villages needs
for some years. Ideally, looking to the future, the Cemetery
Management Committee would like to acquire some adjacent land
if the opportunity arises.
Cross Green with assistance from Leicestershire County Council
Highways Department a major scheme of Pedestrian Preference has
been designed to help pedestrians crossing the road in the centre
of the village. The scheme was exhibited at a public exhibition
and attended by over 1000 local residents - the majority of whom
were supportive with only a few dissentions. The Scheme has now
reached Traffic Restriction Order stage and subject to passing
this stage will hopefully be completed by year-end.
The Parish Council remains active in trying to retain the
village’s character through questioning planning applications.
The Parish Council questioned the Rothley Lodge Industrial Park,
unsuccessfully, with benefits being routed to the Soar Valley
Centre. Rothley Grange, owned by Charnwood BC, has been sold
with the Parish Council being involved in outline planning matters
at the present stage.
The Parish Council finances remain healthy to meet normal
day to day commitments.
Following the report Cllr Moore reiterated Rothley Lions input
into the play equipment on Fowke Street - for which thanks were
given. Mr Booth, a local resident, reminded the Chairman that
Syston PC had received some £120k from Charnwood BC towards
improvements to the Syston Centre and expected Rothley Parish
Council to apply for similar treatment.
County Councillor’s Report.
Cllr P Osborne reported that the main matters relating to Rothley
were concerned with traffic.
The Mountsorrel Lane situation was ongoing with planned resurfacing
work, in addition to the traffic calming, being delayed but hopefully
to be completed shortly. Cllr Osborne was pleased to have been
involved in an award ceremony at Rothley School where 3 pupils
were given awards for designs for the new 20mph signs outside
the school.
The TRO’s for Cross Green had been agreed and would be
published shortly.
Cllr Osborne paid specific thanks to the unpaid volunteers
within the Rothley Community - including parish councillors.
This sentiment being endorsed by all present.
Borough Councillor’s Report.
Cllr J Moore reported that Rothley Grange sold for £1.825m
with the proceeds going to Charnwood Asset Management. Included
in the sale conditions was a new car park on Fowke Street Playing
Field for use by villagers. As the development expands Cllr Moore
will keep a watching brief through his involvement on Charnwood
Planning Committee 4. As the property was situated within Rothley,
although formerly owned by Barrow Rural District Council, he
would be pressing for some of the capital value to be reinvested
within Rothley - preferably the Rothley Centre project.
Soar Valley Centre this was progressing with building work hopefully
starting within the following 12 months. Whilst situated in Mountsorrel
the Centre was for the benefit of all in the area. Cllr Moore
was involved in the Management Committee and whilst he understood
local resident’s concerns regarding the £100k donated
from the Rothley Swimming Pool Fund he assured residents that
these funds remained protected.
Rothley Cemetery Cllr Moore expressed his appreciation for the
work carried out over the year and was proud to be associated
with Rothley Cemetery.
Dennis Warrington (School Crossing Patrol) Cllr Moore expressed
his appreciation for the work carried out under difficult conditions
- which should hopefully be improved through the Mountsorrel
Lane traffic calming measures.
Police Report
As the “Rothley beat bobby” PC Parker reported that
over the past 12 months reported crime at 275 showed a marginal
reduction in the previous year - although there was a change
in content. Car Crime was static although car damage was up,
mainly through a “collector” taking badges off of vehicles
(Over 100 of these had now been recovered and would be exhibited
for car owners to reclaim i.d.c). There had been two major incidents
- one of assault and one of theft - both of which had resulted
in proceedings.
Like many communities Rothley’s main problem was referred
to as TWY (Trouble with Youths) which took up around 70% of PC
Parker’s time. He was well aware of the situation and said
that he knew most of the local youth and was exercising old fashioned
policing methods in trying to address the problem. He let it
be known that 5 of the main troublemakers, all in their early
teens, were on police bail with cases pending. PC Parker is unable
to be present in the village 100% of every day and would welcome
villagers being his eyes and ears - letting him have information
as it becomes known.
One local Resident said that the main problems revolved around
groups of young people congregating around Cross Green late at
night with Anti Social behaviour - although not prepared to give
specific names etc for fear of reprisals. The position regarding
anonymity was accepted with PC Parker suggesting a private meeting
to discuss the problem and solutions.
Inspector Boulton, in charge of the Quorn LPU - which incorporates
Rothley, explained that his area of policing had been increased
to take in Anstey, which was itself a major problem area. This
stretched his resources even further - although 3 additional
officers were promised over the next 12 months. The LPU was managing
the situation as best it could but people must appreciate that
reported incidents had to be prioritised and even high priority
ones were dependent upon the location of available units within
this large area to effect a speedy response time.
Specifically on Rothley Inspector Boulton mentioned both the
Cross Green Remembrance Day Parade & the Christmas Lights
Switch On - saying that the number of people present at these
events had constituted a traffic hazard and that consideration
should have been given to closing roads off to manage the situation.
The police were always available to advise and would wish to
do this before rather than after an accident.
Local Policing Questions were then invited:
Resident of Fowke Street maintained that since the new “Red
Lion traffic lights” had been operational there was much
more traffic, throughout the day & night, using Homefield
Lane, Fowke Street, Cross Green & Woodgate as a short cut
driving at excessive speed. It was suggested that the proposed
alterations to Cross Green would make this route unattractive
and in the meantime Inspector Boulton undertook to have his officers
carry out speed checks to encourage traffic to slow down.
Howe Lane residents too foresee a problem with traffic using
their road to avoid restrictions under the proposed new one way
system on Woodgate. Leicestershire County Council Highways have
already taken this on board and propose leaving the Howe Lane
traffic direction as is. It was further agreed to look at further
traffic calming measures on this stretch to reduce traffic speed
further.
As Neighbourhood Watch Organiser in Rothley Mrs Marion Vincent
voiced an appeal for more volunteers.
Any Other Business/Public Question Time
Local Resident questioned whether Rothley Parish Council was
in favour of CCTV in village. Mr Hartshorn confirmed that the
Parish Council was in favour of CCTV and hoped to present an
acceptable case for inclusion within the Syston based Charnwood
funded scheme.
Rothley Parish Council advised that the ROTHLEY sign on the Mountsorrel
border had become overgrown. Advised by a member of the audience
that this had already been reported to Leicestershire County
Council Highways and was being attended to.
Rothley Parish Council advised that the drains on Fowke Street
were backing up and that a drain on the Ridgeway (outside No
39) was blocked. Clerk to advise Leicestershire County Council
Highways & ask them to clear.
Parish Councillor Mrs Wadge reminded everybody present that there
was a VILLAGE DIARY in Rothley Post Office. She asked that all
organisations keep it up to date.
A FULL meeting of Thurcaston & Cropston
Parish Council was held on April 18.
The Council agreed to adopt the Code of Conduct, a feature of
the Local Government Act 2000.
A letter has been received from the Jubilee Field Playground
Group confirming that they would accept all responsibility for
the supply and installation of any play equipment and associated
works.
The Council agreed to accept a quotation of £180 for fencing
off the ditch in Jubilee Park.
Thurcaston & Cropston’s Annual Parish
Council meeting was held on May 16.
Two councillors were nominated for Chairman: Cllr Audrey Flower
and Cllr Keith Batchelor. Cllr Flower was elected Chairman. Cllr
Doug Jeffcott was elected Vice-Chairman.
It was agreed to arrange a site meeting to discuss the future
of Lanesborough Wood.
It was reported that planters recently sited at the junction
of Anstey Lane and Leicester Road were a traffic hazard and had
been reported to the County Council.
It was reported that planning permission will not be required
for the erection of play equipment on Jubilee Field. It was agreed
to call an open meeting of interested parishioners and members
of the Fundraising Group.
Jubilee day to remember on fun filled Bunney’s Field
Rothley’s Golden Jubilee Princess Danni
Lawton (11) with her attendants Abbie Gibson (10) and Rachel
Jones (11)
SEVERAL HUNDRED people enjoyed Rothley’s
celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
The event began at 2pm on Bunneys Field with a picnic, with free
drinks, crisps and Jubilee cakes.
The men take on the women in the tug of war
A tug of war competition was held between sports clubs and pubs
of the village, and there were duck races, children’s games
and a display of dancing from the Rothley Dancing Girls (and
boy!), while ‘Sounds Like Jazz’ played throughout the
afternoon.
Chairman of the Jubilee Committee Horace Buxton
serves Jubilee cakes to Charlotte Sleath (9) and Kaye Reid (8)
The evening picnic brought a different band ‘One for the
Road’. There were more duck races, a tombola, raffle, a
bar and BBQ. Rothley History Society held an exhibition of the
50 years of the Queen’s reign, throughout the day. Bringing
this very enjoyable day to a close was a firework display and
singing.
It is anticipated the children of Rothley under 11 years will
be presented with a commemorative gift in the near future.
A committee spokesman said: “We wish to thank everyone who
helped and supported the event. Special thanks to the Rothley
Princess and attendants for presenting the prizes and looking
lovely.”
NHW news & Crime Report
FIRSTLY, SOME success. The abbreviation
TWY means Trouble With Youths - and this is the bane of our lives
in the Police.
However, I am clearing up the crimes slowly, and have had five
youths in custody for various sets of damage, and have seized
a whole lot of car badges. If anybody has had one stolen please
contact me for retrieval!
Animal Cruelty
It has come to my attention that a badger sett in the village
has been attacked and some hateful felon has attempted to burn
out the badgers. This at a time of year when these beautiful
creatures are raising their young makes my blood boil. If anyone
can help me with this please contact me and I will bend over
backwards to deal with the culprits.
Distraction Burglary
I recently attended the annual meeting of Neighbourhood Watch
in Leicester at Whitwick. A Detective Inspector from Derbyshire
Police gave a long and involved lecture on Operation Liberal,
which targets distraction burglars and travelling felons.
It is worth writing at length I think about this most heinous
of crimes.
Firstly, what is it? It is described as ‘Getting into a
Premises and Stealing by Using a Trick’. This could range
from a supposedly ill 8 year old child to a bogus utilities ‘official’,
from supposed Bettaware salesman to neighbourhood Watch recruiters.
It has been reported too that a bogus Neighbourhood Watch worker
stole items and then weeks later another bogus ‘police officer’
returned to the address claiming to be investigating the first
burglary and went on to steal a second time.
There are about 16,000 reported distractions in the UK every
year - but a good estimate is that this is around a 10th of the
actual crimes committed.
The average of the victims is 81 years. 75% are female, and 80%
live alone. The felons are targeting the most vulnerable among
us.
The felons look for signs of neglect in formerly nice homes.
This will be once nice gardens gone to seed, peeling paintwork,
dirty curtains etc. The burglars find these homes and them send
in a ‘scout’ in the form of a bogus caller - perhaps
someone touting for work as a tarmac layer, a UPVC window fitter,
or most commonly a tree surgeon. These people, while able to
do a tolerable job as a tree feller say, have an excellent network
of cronies and they will inform these people about the vulnerability
of the home and its suitability as a target.
The impact of the theft on the victim is devastating. It is well
documented that old folks keep a lot of money in the house so
both practically and emotionally the damage is great. A popular
‘scam’ is ‘Checking the Water’. The villain
tricks his way in and goes upstairs having asked the homeowner
to stay downstairs to ‘check the pressure’ while he
purports to flush the toilet etc. Obviously, the villain is unsupervised
while upstairs and goes on to steal.
We were then shown a documentary showing the victim of one of
these rotten lying cowards - an 82 year old lady who had had
her full pension stolen from her purse. Another lady, 99 years
old was shown suffering with appalling health who died four days
after the film was shot. This second lady had even had her hearing
aid stolen. It was really heartbreaking. Psychological harm followed
by failing health and quite often reclusiveness and in this case
- even death.
75% of the offenders are itinerants, travellers, gypsies and
so forth and the other 25% are drug addicts. The last 25% are
most likely to be violent. We were told that one criminal family
in Derby involved in distraction burglary had accrued £1.5
million, which was squirreled away in various accounts.
The ‘modus operandi’ of the burglars breaks down like
this; typically an oldish car, perhaps something like a W Reg
Mondeo, will scour a neighbourhood. There will be three to four
men. One of these is the ‘talker’ and he will engage
the victim in conversation and go on to ‘overpower’
her with the result that they usually become flustered and confused.
The others look around secretly for the money and goods. People
still hide money in obvious places such as under the bed, and
the villains usually find it. Rothley and the surrounding areas
are prime hunting grounds for these villains, and we are just
a trip away from the M1 corridor, which provides easy access
and getaway for these burglars.
A poll conducted on behalf of Operation Liberal said that Neighbourhood
Watch is among the very best carers in the community. 93% of
those spoken to said that they were friendly with their neighbours.
25% of these said that they did not have a family member within
easy reach. Part of the ‘problem’ (the real problem
of course is the vicious and hateful mindset of the offenders)
is that the elderly are respectful and polite and invite people
into their homes It is called ‘doorstep etiquette’
- we can imagine the scenario “...oh well, you seem like
an official, you’d better come in then!”
Don’t do it!
We all have elderly people on our streets, so this is what we
have to do -
Befriend Them!
If we see tree-fellers etc at the address, be bold - tell them
to Get Lost. Say “Mrs Bloggs doesn’t need her trees
cutting - we do it for her” etc. Protect their interests!
I have a lady in The Ridings who phones me regularly regarding
suspicious vehicles. This is exactly what I want - I will come
and flush these baddies out, and if it is not me it will be one
of my colleagues. Do not be bashful about calling - our aim is
to prevent crime as much as to detect it, and our very presence
sends the villains off somewhere else. There is absolutely no
stigma attached to what some people regard as ‘nosy neighbours’
- I love Nosy Neighbours, because what they really are is well-intentioned
citizens.
A note about two scams that are ‘mushrooming’ at the
moment. One is where a Nigerian company will contact a group
- anything from a Church organisation to a charity or the Cubs.
They will send a letter describing roughly how the Nigerian economy
is so bunged-up that it is virtually impossible for a company
to withdraw its own money from a bank without six months prior
notice. To whit, they ask the organisation if they will allow
this ‘company’ to use their bank account to launder
money - let’s say £25,000 - in order for this company
to realise cash quickly, and in return the host account - let’s
say it’s the cubs - will receive 10% of the total as a reward.
Of course, the money is never deposited but the victims clean
out the account and are never seen again. Report it to the police
ASAP and tell all your family and friends - this scam is spreading
like wildfire.
Also, a pyramid scheme called usually Women Empowering Women.
Under this very clever politically correct ruse women are told
that if they join a pyramid for £3,000 cash they buy into
a scheme where they will eventually receive £24,000. The
scheme does work sometimes, and members always claim to know
someone who has won. If and when the pyramid collapses there
is no recourse, no refund and no sympathy. You have been done!
Beware. (I understand the government is taking emergency action
as I write to try and make this scam illegal)
The Jubilee celebrations came and went, for the most part without
trouble, but an incident where a lady was set-about after complaining
about a group of disruptive youths has marred the event.
As I often say TWY - a police acronym for Trouble With Youths
is becoming our worst problem. Part of the trouble is that we
are not concerted in our efforts as a community to constantly
confront and condemn youths behaving badly. I do not want anybody
to feel frightened or threatened but we must really all pull
together to stop this terrible trend in society to let youths
get increasingly out of hand and ultimately turn into very bad
criminals.
There have been burglaries this month, and excellent police work
by detectives has led to a man being arrested. He is in court
this week and if found guilty can expect a good lengthy jail
sentence.
I hope very much that The World Cup does not lead to any added
trouble but I will be in the PSU (another bit of police jargon,
meaning really a van full of riot trained officers) van over
this period to ‘nip things in the bud’ should there
be any problems.
Please feel free to call on these numbers with any information
you feel will help me, in strictest confidence of course.
Alan Parker PC 1736
Voicemail 0116 2485675
Leicestershire Constabulary 01662 222 2222
Crimestoppers 0800 555 111
CRIME FIGURES APRIL/MAY
THEFT OF MOTOR
A Mercedes C280 worth £20,000 stolen from The Royal Oak
carpark, June 3
THEFT FROM MOTOR
Keys stolen from a BMW on Swithland Lane, April 4
A mobile phone stolen from a Ford Fiesta on Swithland Lane, April
5
The Rover badge stolen from a Rover RN400 stolen on Cross Green
St, April 8
A Puffa jacket stolen from a Mazda parked in Swithland Woods,
April 14
Fuel pipe cut and petrol stolen from a Vauxhall Astra, April
19
A CD player stolen from a VW Golf in Mountsorrel Lane, April
21
A baby seat stolen from a Ford Ka in the Green, April 26
A drill worth £300 stolen from a Vauxhall Astra on Loughborough
Rd, May 14
A £500 CD player stolen from a Volvo 440 at The Royal Oak,
May 14
A stereo worth £130 stolen from a Citroen XM on Anthony
St, May 17
A stereo worth £100 stolen from a Honda Civic at The Griffin
Inn in Swithland, May 18
A £200 jigsaw from a Nissan Vanette on Town Green St, May
21
A stereo worth £100 from a Daihatsu Terrios at The Griffin
Inn in Swithland, May 24
DAMAGE TO MOTOR
£50 damage caused when the door window was smashed on a
Volvo 340 on School St, April 7
Headlights smashed on a Peugeot 106 causing £250 damage
on Town Green St, April 10
£300 worth of damage caused when a Ford Fiesta windscreen
was smashed on Mountsorrel Lane, April 24
Driver’s door attacked on a Peugeot 106 on Town Green St,
April 24
Tyres slashed on a Vauxhall Vectra at the Wyevale Garden centre,
May 2
Lock attacked on a Vauxhall Nova causing £50 worth of damage
on Town Green St, May 12
A lock attacked on a Vauxhall Cavalier at Leicester Libraries
stores causing £50 worth of damage, May 14
Extensive bodywork damage to a Peugeot 206 and other criminal
damage in The Garland, June 2
THEFT
£60 worth of garden pots stolen from outside a house on
Woodgate, April 6
A Freeman’s bag of clothes stolen from outside a house on
Marl Fields, April 16
A garden shrub stolen from the Garland, April 24
A mobile phone worth £150 stolen from The Royal Oak, April
26
A disc cutter worth £600 stolen from a lock-up on The Garland,
May 10
A purse with £50 in it stolen at a place unknown in the
village, May 25
A cement mixer worth £235 from Howe Lane, May 30
A wallet stolen after it was left on the bar at The Woodman Stroke,
June 1
ASSAULT
Dispute at an address in Mountsorrel Lane, April 12, all details
confidential
Youths intimidate a witness to a crime, April 4, all details
confidential
A Common Assault at The Royal Oak, May 19
A street fight causing ABH at The Green, May 25
A Police Officer assaulted after stopping a drunken driver in
Swithland, June 3
CRIMINAL DAMAGE
A horse attached at Woodcock Farm, April 12
Damage to The Grange, April 3
A window valued at £50 smashed at Woodfield Rd, June 2
Vandalism to the value of £10,000 caused at The Great Central
Railway, May 17
Malicious damage to a builders’ site on Mountsorrel Lane,
June 22
BURGLARY DWELLING
Paddock Close, no access gained, May 9
Hallfields Lane, £1000 worth of jewellery stolen, May 9
Woodgate, an attempt to gain entry, May 9
Woodgate, approx £3000 worth of goods stolen, May 13
BURGLARY OTHER THAN DWELLING
A strimmer worth £369 stolen from an outbuilding on Kinchley
Lane, May 26
An electric fence stolen near fields on Cossington Lane, May
29
A coat worth £70 stolen from a hotel room at Rothley Court
Hotel, May 31
Approx £2000 stolen from the till at Mercury News, June
2
|
