NEWSLETTER

    September 2000

    Sandra Burton, Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer

    Billericay Police Station, Billericay CM12 9AB

    01277 631212 ext 45431

    Streetwise Visit

    We are still planning to revisit Streetwise in Bournemouth on the 21st of October, but we do not yet have enough places booked to fill the coach. If you are interested, please let us know (drop us a note into the Police station). If we do not get enough interest to cover the cost of the coach we will have to cancel the trip.

    Car Insurance

    We have all read in the newspapers stories of uninsured drivers involved in accidents. One of our members has come up with a scheme that may help to stop this illegal practice. This is his idea, which we will try to bring to the attention of the appropriate authorities:- "The government has acknowledged many times, the large number of vehicles that are on the road, but uninsured. This is really an unbelievable situation. Whilst we are obliged by law, to display a fully paid-up Road Fund tax disc on the front windscreen, there is no legislation to display the current insurance cover with the relevant details of cover. Surly, Insurance companies could include a small-perforated disc within the Certificate of Insurance that could be removed for display alongside the Road Fund Tax Disc?

    My personal experience has been, following an accident (Not my fault), the lady driving the offending car, gave me incorrect insurance information, and also an incorrect address. It took me a whole year to trace her, and two years to win my case in court. No doubt there have been many like me. I feel the display of this information with the law forcing the display of the disc, would in some way help to solve not only this problem but also many others.

    This information should be readily available, if it is not already, to the D.V.L.A and to the Police. I feel the information that should be displayed would be:- The Insurance company Company (Coded to prevent fraudulent claims),

    • Policy Number.
    • Type of Cover. I.e. third party or Comprehensive
    • Period of cover.
    • Whether covered for parking overnight outside the insured's premises on the public highway.

    Should the insured change the cover or the company, then a replacement current disc would have to be displayed. This would enable police to have an immediate set of details for checking, rather than the present requirement to present in a required period. I feel sure that many insurance proposal forms completed that state the vehicle is garaged, when in fact the car has never seen the inside of a garage. These are fraudulent statments, for which, those that answer the question honestly are having to pay for through increased premiums!! Getting the vechles off the road into their garages would cut crime. For companies that allow their staff to take commercial vehicles home, saving the company the additional cost of providing overnight parking facilities, the increased premiums would clear some of those vans and trucks that litter the roads every night! Removing a large opportunity for those engaged in car crime. Think it is a good idea? Then tell your insurance company, or seek a company that already has such a scheme-there are some doing it already. If you have a point of view on community or safty issues which you woul like to share, please write to use at the Police Station.

    Billericay Police station

    You may have read in the local newspaper that the Billericay Police Station was closed for 24 hours because of lack of staff. Inspector Steve Tutton has assured us that the closeure of the station did not impact on the Policing of Billericay, however, we have received a number of complaints from members that they tried many times to call at the station to deal with non-urgent matters. We know that emergency calls are handled from Basidon and that those calls will be responded to, but the Police Station is the focal point of Policing in Billericay. Having the Station closed for any reason does give the impression that Billericay is without Police: a message that is heard by both right-minded citizens and criminals alike. Also in the local newspaper was an article on how Operation Broadlands at Laindon achieved a 60% drop in crime by putting more Police Officers on the beat. Proof we feel that more Police on the beat causes crime to drop! We will be pursuing the issue of police staffing with the Divisional Commander. If you feel strongly on this issue and would like to lend your voice to the nationwide state of Police manning please write to your local MP and to the Home Secretary. Every letter you send will help to high light the fact that we need more Police to combat crime in the country.

    CRIME FIGURES (Not a complete list due to space on the Newsletter)

      Burglary
    • 26 July: Tye Common Road; goods stolen from outbuildings,doors damaged during forced entry.
    • 31 July: Green Lane; Cash, jewellery and audio equipment stolen, front door forced open.
    • 31 July: Hatches Farm Road, jetwashers, chain saw and lawnmower stolen from garage.
    • 18 August: Tye Common Road; ride on lawnmower stolen from garage, garage door forced open.
    • 18 August: Foxhunter Walk; tools stolen from garage, method of entry unknown.

      Theft from Motor Vehicle

    • 21 July: Pilgrim Pub; audio equipment stolen from Ford Fiasta in the car park. Locks damaged.
    • 21 July: Pilgrim Pub; black leather bag containing personal property stolen from Ford Escort.
    • 22 July: Mountnessing Road; personal property stolen from a Ford Escort.
    • 22 July: Kingsway; building tools stolen from a Ford Escort Van. Rear doors removed.
    • 05 August: Beverley Rise; audio equipment stolen from Peugeot.
    • 05 August: Crown Close; vehicle parts stolen from a Ford Sierra.
    • 05 August: Headley Road; audio equipment stolen from a Citreon
    • 05 August: Headley Road; audio equipment stolen from a Mercedes-Benz.
    • 08 August: Crown Road; cash and credit cards stolen from a Toyota Celica.

    Theft of Motor Vechicles

    Eight cars reported stolen since last Newsletter.

    Who's Who

    Police Inspector: Steve Tutton - 01277 631212
    Community Liaison PC Kevin Hopton Direct Line - 01268 244028
    N W Liaison Sandra Burton 01277 631212 ext 45431
    Crime Prevention Colin Mead: 01268 532212

     

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