This month there were a total of 135 call to the police regarding the Severnside Beat Area. In relation to the current Police Priority incidents, a total of 5 calls were received to Western Approaches and 3 to Severn Beach regarding motorcycles. Police attended 2 incidents of disorder in Severn Beach. This problem is being actively addressed as no one has authority to use off road motorcycles at the location.  Vehicles were ticketed for parking offences in Beach Road, Stride Close and Redwick Road. Other locations received wanings and advice which will be followed up by enforcement if required. Vehicles in Gorse Cover Road, Church Road and Beach Road are being targeted so please leave nothing of value in your vehicle.  PILNING 3/1 Theft of a motor car Marsh Common, later recovered in Henbury. 18/1 Theft of copper cable from yard Redwick Road. 27/1 Assault in a dwelling Station Road. Damage caused to a car on M4 after item thrown off the Redwick Road over bridge. SEVERN BEACH 10/1 theft from a caravan Ableton Lane. 11/1 Burglary in a dwelling (occupant away) Church Road. 11/1 Burglary in a dwelling Shaft Road, (believed domestic related) 16/1 Buglary in a dwelling Beach Road. 16/1 assault Shaft Road. 20/1 Theft from a garden shed (bike and tools) Gorse Cover Road.20/1 theft from a caravan Ableton Lane.21/1 Avalon Works theft of spools of wire (copper cable) 21/1 theft from a motor vehicle, Gorse Cover Road (Sat Nav stolen) 22/1 Burglary of a dwelling and then theft of occupants car, Beach Avenue (car late recovered in Brentry) 27/1 Osbourne Road theft of a motorcycle later recovered further up the road. 27-28/1 Van stolen and later recovered at Western Approaches. 31/1 2 vehicles damaged in Beach Road area with the offenders disturbed and made off. Suspect vehicle described.

SAFER STRONGER GROUP met at Easter Compton on 31/1/08 and a number of local issues were identified and various actions discussed. The  three priority issues identified for attention by various agencies or public bodies were:- 1. Inappropriate Parking of motor vehicle including on the footpath or double yellow lines. 2. Regular updates re progress/planning applications on the Flood Plain. 3. Improvement to the Transport links between the villages and the City of Bristol.

The next meeting of the Safer Stronger Group will be at Severn Beach School on Thursday 1st May starting at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Either Daryl or Kirsty will be attending the Parish Council meetings should you wish to contact them but cannot attend the morning Beat Surgery in the Post Office. One of them will also be at the Neighbourhood Watch Meetings see above for date and venue. There are Neighbourhood Police Team Information Folders which are updated monthly with local news, Safer, Stronger Group details and crime Statistics in Pilning Surgery and Severn Beach Post Office.

Case reference: EM261_08
Location of incident: Yate, South Gloucestershire
Date of incident: 19 January 2008
Number of people involved: 2
Details:
We are trying to trace two white men who we think may be able to help with our enquiries into a case of assault and criminal damage which occurred at 12.05am on 19 January 2008..

They are described as (1) white male, 5’10 tall, short cropped receding blond hair, wide nose at the top, eyes close to bridge of nose, medium build, mid 20s, local accent, wearing a long sleeved top which has horizontal stripes which were light or white in colour and blue denim jeans. (2) white male 5’6’’ tall, late 20s early 30s, short cropped fair hair wearing a white shirt and dark trousers.

A male went into a store in Yate, Bristol and became verbally abusive towards the manager of the shop. He assaulted him in an unprovoked attack and was also responsible for criminal damage both inside and outside the shop. He got away on foot through Yate shopping centre. He returned to the shop a short time later and assaulted the manager a second time. He got away on foot.

Anyone with any information regarding this case should contact Crimestoppers immediately.

A white man with short blond hair. He is wearing a short sleeved white shirt.

The last sentence of the item 'From the Parish Council' is wrong. Whilst the telephone number is correct, it should read, 'or to obtain an on-line complaints form please go to www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact/crime_reporting/ReportCrime.aspx

The Council apologises for the wrong information given originally.

At the Parish Council meeting held on 7th January, concerns were raised over the increase in Anti-Social Behaviour in the Parish. A letter has subsequently sent to the Neighbourhood Inspector, Simon Ellis at Filton Police Station outlining action we require for the illegal and unsafe use of off-road motorcycles on the public highway, footpaths and bridleways plus the damage caused by youths and the menacing reactions when these people are approached.  Parents and owners of these off-road motorcycles must be made aware that we promote and endorse the Police action of seizing and destroying those illegally used. It is vey important that the Police are contacted by ALL of us on EVERY occasion and not just leave it to someone else to complain, because we are informed that they deal with these issues on a hot-spot basis which is basically all about numbers. Also, if you know these people - report them. Please help us make the Parish a safer and better place to live. The telephone number to ring is 0845 456 7000 and calls can be anonymous/confidential or e-mail: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact/crime_reporting/ReportCrime.aspx

They want something from you

According to the OFT, most scammers will try to get you to do one of the following:

•         Send money upfront. This may be called "an administration fee" or a "tax", but rest assured: whatever name it goes by, it's a rip-off. Don't send any money until you've checked the company out via Consumer Direct and talked to a professional or family and friends.

•         Give them your bank details. This is known as ‘phishing' and the request often comes in the form of an email. Whatever you do, don't click on any link in the email - even an ‘unsubscribe' link, as it only notifies the scammers that they have reached a real live human being. Instead, forward the email to phishing-report@us-cert.gov (you can find out how to do so without opening the email here).

•         Ring a premium rate number. This will start with 090 if it is a UK premium rate number, but watch out for international numbers too, which should start with 00. You may be told to call this number in order to claim a prize, or to rearrange a parcel delivery. If you are uncertain whether or not to call, you can check the number via the PhonepayPlus website.

Unfortunately, this type of scam is adapting all the time and there is another variation, often targeted at young people, which arrives by text, declaring that "someone" fancies you, and you need to call the premium rate number in order to find out who it is. Teens are particularly at risk, so warn them not to respond.  

•         Buy something to get your prize. Don't be tempted, no matter how slick and professional the leaflet or letter is. Scammers know that the persuasiveness of their argument is often judged by how pleasant, well-spoken and kind they appear on the phone or at your door, or how official their documentation looks.

Often, an easy way to distinguish a scammer from a legitimate company is if they give a PO box number as their address and ask you not to tell anyone about the deal.

They rush you into a decision

Scammers will always try to push you to act sooner, rather than later, before you have time to think it through thoroughly. That's why the OFT advises people to stop, think and think again. Take your time and don't be rushed into doing something you'll regret later.

Often, scammers can be very persistent and try to catch you unawares: if you feel you are being harassed, report them to your local trading standards board or even the police. If it's a local firm, you could also try to expose the scam and warn others in your town by contacting your local newspaper.

Remember, if you suspect you have been a victim of a scam, you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for help and advice. The same goes if you're ever in any doubt about whether a request for money/data is or isn't legit. Similarly, you can complain about a premium rate telephone service by calling PhonepayPlus on 0800 500 212. By reporting any scams you come across to the relevant authorities, you could stop it from happening to thousands of other people.

Finally, one of the best ways to stop scammers is to raise awareness about their nasty tricks. So if you know someone who may be particularly vulnerable to scammers, pass on my tips (or you can use the ‘Email This Page' button at the top of this page to forward this article to them). Maybe, if we all do our bit, we can stop the scammers from swindling any more victims...