West Oxfordshire Crime Updates

7 February 2012, 05:00

Find out all the latest updates for Carterton, Chipping Norton, Eynsham, Witney and Woodstock.

Carterton, Bampton and Burford Neighbourhood Update

Neighboruhood Specialist Officer PC Claire Sadler brings the update this month:

"Following recent public engagement, the Neighbourhood Action Group has decided to focus on the issues of youth provisions, speeding, litter and dog fouling.

"Youth provision will be their first priority. Great work was carried out by a NAG sub-group which secured funding, premises and staff for The Allendale youth centre and they want to ensure Carterton is progressed further.

"The NAG feels strongly that providing for young people is the best tool to tackle perceived gangs of youths, which was a concern for the public.

"Action plans focusing on hotspot areas will be formulated to deal with speeding, litter and dog fouling.
 
"The Allendale Youth Centre is very nearly finished and the official opening will be on Tuesday 10 February at 3pm by Colin Fletcher, the Bishop of Dorchester.
 
"There has been an increase in the number of reports of dogs not being under control in a public area.

"Several dogs have been attacked and received nasty injuries.

"Please could we ask all owners to take responsibility, keep your dogs under control and clear up after them.
 
"There have been a number of complaints received in relation to people cycling on the footpaths and cycling without lights. As a cyclist you should always have lights on your bike when it is dark and should cycle on the road or cycle paths as indicated.

If it is not safe to cycle on the road then please dismount and push your bike to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians. Penalty notices will be issued to those who ignore this.
 
"A burglary took place this month on Aston Road, Bampton. We are asking all communities from Bampton, Burford and Carterton to remain vigilant and if anything appears suspicious then please contact the police on 101.

"We are appealing for witnesses to a number of criminal damage incidents that have occurred at the end of January to the units on West Oxfordshire industrial park by the BP garage in Carterton. We would like to speak to anyone who has information about who was responsible. If you can help, please call 101."

Chipping Norton Neighbourhood Update

Neighbourhood Officer PC Mick Anderton provides the update this month:

"We are still experiencing numerous road traffic collisions when the weather takes a turn for the worst, especially on frosty and icy mornings.

"Please, if you are travelling early in a morning check the local weather reports prior to your journey. This will help to ensure that you take all necessary precautions to arrive at your destination safely.

"In line with the latest information from the Home Secretary Theresa May, we are and have been taking a proactive and robust police approach, presence and intervention to reports of anti social behaviour.

"Working with our partners in West Oxfordshire District Council we have successfully negotiated various neighbourhood disputes involving face to face mediation to a successful and amicable conclusion.

"Please contact us on the new non emergency number, 101, if you experience what you consider to be ASB.

"Our recent intervention in Charlbury has resulted in one youth admitting theft and criminal damage offences. These resulted from information received from the local community identifying him as causing ASB. A further youth will be voluntarily interviewed in the near future for similar offences in and around Charlbury and Chipping Norton.

"Following a recent Neighbourhood Action Group meeting (NAG), the results of the resident engagement process were discussed. The issues highlighted were speeding, anti social behaviour and vandalism/graffiti.
 
"The route of London Road through Chipping Norton, New Street and Worcester Road has been identified as an area of concern so we will continue working with Roads Policing.

"Already two speed surveys have been carried out with a view to enforcement of the 30mph speed limit in the near future."

Eynsham Neighbourhood Update

Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Richard Conner provides this month’s update:

"The team has been out checking licensed premises and drug swabbing toilets for illegal drug use.

"One premise in Eynsham came back with a high reading which is a serious concern.

"We will be working with the licensee and partner agencies to eradicate the problem and catch the offenders. A number of other premises checked came back with low readings or none at all which is good news.

"We are appealing for information after a 30-year-old man suffered serious injuries after being assaulted at a house party in Eynsham.

"The victim, who is from the Cassington area, was attending a party at a property in Hazeldene Close, Eynsham, on New Year's Eve. At about 1am on New Year's Day, he was in the garden of the property when he was punched several times around the face and head.

"He was also kicked in the head after he fell to the ground. As a result of the assault, the victim attended the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he was found to have suffered injuries including a broken eye socket. If you have any information please contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"Metal thefts are on the increase again. Over the weekend of 22-23 January vehicles were attacked at Mudie Bond, Cassington Road. Catalytic converters were stolen from 14 vans resulting in repair costs of £25,000.

"If anyone saw anything suspicious in the area please get in touch."

Witney Neighbourhood Update

Acting Sergeant Sam Moore brings this month’s update:

"The neighbourhood team is concentrating on the new survey results following the recent consultation with the public to gauge their top concerns.

"The issues are Anti Social Behaviour (acts of criminal damage and groups of youths being noisy/drinking), Litter/fly-tipping, Speeding, Parking, Drinking problems/pubs.

"The neighbourhood team will work with the Community Safety Partnership and Neighbourhood Action Group to identify hotspots and seek solutions to ongoing problems.

“The team has responded to several pieces of community intelligence this month to deal with anti social behaviour. Drug warrants have been executed on Burwell Drive and Gloucester Place, Witney.

"As a result two arrests were made; one man is being investigated for possession with intent to supply a Class B drug. This was after a quantity of cannabis and associated paraphernalia was seized.

“We have received several reports of vehicles parking up and acting suspiciously in the early hours on Manor Road. A stop check led to a drug search and a 19 year old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class A and Class B drug. A female was given a street warning for possession of cannabis.

“Whilst on patrol we have dealt with two 15 year old males at separate locations for possession of cannabis. They have been interviewed regarding the offence and will be dealt with by the Youth Offending Team.

“We have worked closely this month with the CID team following a spate of burglaries and thefts around the start of the month. CID used our local knowledge to identify potential offenders.

"A 17-year-old and a 19-year-old have been identified and arrested. The team has been involved in house searches and making enquiries and this has led to both males being charged for multiple offences.

“There have been speed checks on Ducklington Lane, Witney Road, Ducklington and Curbridge with the Speed Indication Device. Enforcement was carried out on Burford Road. Three drivers were given words of advice, two will be sent on speed awareness training and one motorist was issued with a ticket for exceeding 42mph.

“An operation to combat the increasing trend of metal theft launched this month in conjunction with the District Council. This is a proactive operation identifying suspicious vehicles carrying metal and to undertake regular visits to scrap dealers.

"I urge people to report any suspicious behaviour at industrial sites, railway lines, schools and churches.

“The team conducted a licensing operation on Thursday 26 January in Witney town centre. We were joined by the RAF Police, council licensing officers and special constabulary.

"A drugs dog was used to search seven licensed premises and customers for controlled substances. In addition all premises were swabbed to ascertain what drugs were being used. This is part of ongoing Operation Nightsafe to ensure that Witney is a safe and attractive place to go out in the evening"

Woodstock Neighbourhood Update

Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Gordon Richardson would like to update you on news from the past month:

"During this month there has been severe disruption to services following thefts of copper in the area. The Bartons and Tackley were mainly affected in our neighbourhood and many residents were without a phone service for some time.

"This was the result of a break-in at two telephone exchanges; one at South Side, Steeple Aston at around 8pm on Thursday 19 January and the other was in Banbury Road, Tackley sometime between Tuesday 10 and Tuesday 24 January.

"Also between 6pm on Friday 20 and 7:50am on Saturday 21 January offenders broke into Shipton Quarry in Bunkers Hill and stole electricity cables.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who saw vehicles or people acting suspiciously in these areas and around the times of the incidents. Anyone with any information should contact Banbury CID via the non emergency number 101.

"A 33-year-old man from Nethercote Road, Tackley appeared in court this month after being charged with assaulting a police officer and a number of other offences including possession of a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place and driving offences. He was remanded in custody.

"A 28 year old man, Nicholas Keyser, from Cirencester has been jailed for 10 months following an incident at the CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace last year. Keyser produced a lock knife to security guards when he was refused re-entry."