Police partnership newsletter
Please see a new monthly Police partnership newsletter from the New Forest Chief Inspector.
| November 2020 Foreword from New Forest District Commander, Chief Inspector Helen Andrews Welcome to the first edition of the Policing New Forest partnership newsletter. As many of you may well know, I am the District Commander for the New Forest. It is a role that I have held since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. I would like to commit myself to informing you all each month about the work my team is doing in the district to make the New Forest safer. I wanted to share with you all a bit of background on my experience and roles within policing. I joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1992 and have worked across various stations in both Southampton and the New Forest during this time. This has included roles within Response and Patrol, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Custody, Problem Solving as well as part of Neighbourhood Policing Teams. Following a stint away from the New Forest, I returned to the area in 2018 where I became the Inspector for the East of the New Forest, before acting up as the District Commander for the New Forest at the end of March this year. I am keen to prioritise the policing of high harm crime and vulnerability, whilst providing a policing response to those other crimes and incidents that matter most to your communities. My teams, remain vigilant in trying to tackle crime, protect the vulnerable and safeguard those requiring our help. We are facing challenging times, and the New Forest policing teams will continue to focus on tackling crime and being proactive in the area of drug-related harm incidents. With your support, we can work together to ensure we support each other and get positive outcomes for our communities. I look forward to continue working with you closely to ensure that the New Forest remains a safe place to work and live. Below are some of the investigations that we’d like to update you on. We would like to regularly highlight the work we have been doing to tackle issues, reduce crime, and apprehend offenders. |
| Investigation update Two men arrested after spate of burglaries in Ringwood and Fordingbridge areas Officers investigating reports of multiple business burglaries in the New Forest have arrested two men in connection with the incidents. The burglaries occurred on Wednesday 14 October across addresses in both Ringwood and Fordingbridge. The Village Pet store on Ringwood Road in Bransgore was broken into at around 10.52pm whereby a small amount of money was stolen, alongside charity collection tins. The Fordingbridge service station was also broken into at 11.40pm where tills were removed from the premises. The suspects fled from both scenes in a vehicle which was linked to a further burglary in the early hours of Thursday 15 October in Dorset, but were later detained by officers. A 20-year-old man from Ringwood was arrested on suspicion of burglary. A 25-year-old man from Ringwood was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Man arrested following series of thefts from motor vehicles in the New Forest Officers investigating a series of thefts from motor vehicles across the New Forest have arrested a 44-year-old man from Totton. Since the beginning of August there has been an increase in theft from motor vehicles – predominantly work vans being targeted – in the Ringwood and Hythe areas. A person of interest was identified by officers as driving a blue Renault Megane, which was stopped by specialist officers on Wednesday 26 August in Hammond Lane, Totton. Upon searching the vehicle, a wide-range of tools were located which are being linked to these burglaries. A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary. Man given community order following indecent sexual act in Totton park A 55-year-old Totton man has been given a 12 month community order after admitting to outraging public decency in a Totton park in July. Howard Michael Beck, of Rushington Avenue, pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates Court yesterday (15 October) to committing an indecent sexual act in a public place on Monday 13 July. The court heard how Beck was sat on a park bench at 6pm on 13 July, watching a yoga class taking place in a gym when he exposed himself and began masturbating. Beck was also handed a six-month Alcohol Treatment Order, ordered to serve 20 Reasoning and Rehabilitation 6 month days and pay a £50 fine. He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £95 victim surcharge. Hampshire officers executed two simultaneous drug warrants on Thursday 1 October in New Milton, seizing a large quantity of cash and Class A drugs in the process. The warrants, which were executed at 6am by Neighbourhood and Response officer from across the district. The warrants were executed in the Doe Copse Estate in New Milton and we have no doubt helped to disrupt a potential supply chain of Class A drugs. Officers searched properties In Fawn Gardens and on Antler Drive and seized a quantity of Class A drugs and cash from one property, and a sum of money relating to suspected supply of Class A drugs at another address. A 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were both arrested on suspicion of being involved with supplying Class A drugs. Local neighbourhood policing teams and PCSOs patrolled the area, conducting house-to-house enquiries and offered reassurance to the local community. These warrants are only possible when the community provide us with the information – we want to see results, holding people to account for their actions and bringing them to justice. Community cohesion Coronavirus update The new restrictions introduced on Thursday 5 November mean that by law, there are restrictions on movement i.e. leaving home, restrictions on participation in gatherings – both indoors and outdoors as well as closing down all non-essential shops and restaurants. There are of course some exemptions to this – more detail can be found on the Government website. We understand that as we manoeuvre our way through this second phase of national restrictions, very much like the first phase, it is very challenging for many of the community. I would like to place my thanks on record to the efforts of our local residents and wider community, who are adhering to the restrictions which have been put in place – this is playing a vital role in preventing the spread of infection, protecting the NHS and saving lives. As such, we must all continue to take personal responsibility in following the national guidance. Limiting the spread of infection is primarily the responsibility of public health, and not just down to the police, and we will continue to work with and alongside the Government, local authorities, local business owners, hospitality owners and others who remain open to the public during these unprecedented times. Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to engage, explain and encourage people to comply with the regulations, and this will continue. We will use common sense and discretion to determine what is reasonable. If we see blatant breaches or a disregard for the regulations, then we will take appropriate enforcement action – which could mean handing residents fines as a result – however this is very much a last resort. As you would expect from local policing, we have proportionate plans in place with dedicated patrols, and we will be out in our community, speaking to residents and making sure they understand what is required. You can report possible breaches of regulations via the dedicated pages on the Constabulary website. Please feel free to contact your local inspector with any query you may have, or go direct to Chief Inspector Helen Andrews via helen.andrews@hampshire.pnn.police.uk Inspector Michael Minnock Inspector for New Forest West Police Sergeant Amanda Allan Waterside Police Sergeant Michael Scothmer-Clay Totton and Heart Police Sergeant Kat Smith Lymington and New Milton Police Sergeant Helen Mitchley Ringwood and Fordingbridge Want to stay informed? Register for Hampshire Alerts As a local resident, you can play a key role in helping us to prevent and detect crime and anti-social behaviour. Improving the flow of information between the local community and the police is vital to achieving our aim to work together to deter criminals. By signing up to Hampshire Alerts, you will receive timely updates covering crime prevention advice, crime alerts and witness appeals for incidents in the local community. It is your way of being kept informed of what we’re doing in the community, allowing us to keep the communities of Eastleigh and Hedge End safe. Click here to sign-up to receive regular Hampshire Alerts Keep in touch with us on social media If you want to know what our officers are doing in the district to reduce criminal activity in our local community, why not follow us on social media? Join us on Facebook @NewForestHeartCops / @LymingtonAndNewMiltonCops / @RingwoodPolice / @TottonPolice / @WatersideCops Or follow us on Twitter @NewForestCops / @TottonPolice / @WatersideCops |