POLICE
PCSO Jim Stevens is your Neighbourhood Police Officers for Bearsted and he is here to serve you, if you have any concerns or issues that you need to talk to him about he can be contacted by dialling 101. You can follow the link to his page on the Kent Police website here.
Bearsted is a very beautiful and safe place to live, and as your local offices, and along with our partner agencies, and your help we will strive to keep it that way.
Remember if you see a crime or criminal damage in progress, or if there is a threat to life or limb, or if your call is an emergency call 999 straight away.
Call 101 to
- REPORT NON-URGENT CRIME
- SPEAK TO YOUR LOCAL OFFICER
- MAKE AN ENQUIRY
101 IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. EACH CALL WILL NEVER COST MORE THAN 15P EVEN FROM MOBILES.
NEED IMMEDIATE HELP? IF LIFE IS IN DANGER OR CRIME IS IN PROGRESS CALL 999
IF DEAF OR SPEECH IMPAIRED TEXT ' POLICE' AND YOUR MESSAGE TO 60066
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON 101 VISIT WWW.KENT.POLICE.UK/101
You can now follow Maidstone Police onhttp://twitter.com/#%21/search/kentpolicemaid
Keep up to date with crimes in the area here
Message to parents with children attending Roseacre School
Dear Parents,
As the Local Police officers for Bearsted and the surrounding area, we would request that parents please take care when dropping off and collecting their children from the school.
There have been previous issues raised over the positions that some parents are parking their vehicles in the road outside the school and again we are seeing an increase in complaints made by the local residents.
We would remind you that there are various parking restrictions in place on the road outside the school boundary and any infringement of these restrictions carry with them potential for prosecution, usually by way of the issue of a Fixed Penalty Ticket.
In some cases this may also include Driving Licence endorsements.
We would rather parents adhered to the restrictions, than have to go down the lines of prosecuting them. In an attempt to ease congestion we would ask that parents consider, where possible, walking their children to school or car share with others to try and reduce the amount of traffic around the school.
We will be monitoring this situation over the coming weeks and this will include periodic patrols around the school gates.
Your cooperation with this matter will be much appreciated.
Regards,
PC Tallon & PCSO Stevens.
POLICE SURGERY
PCSO Stevens will be holding Police Surgeries at the Bearsted Library, Bearsted Green on the following dates and times. And will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have.
Monday 20th May 6.00 - 7.00 p.m.
Wednesday 17th July 5.00 - 6.00 p.m.
for more information please contact PCSO Stevens on
01622 604392 or email maidstonerural.neighbourhood@kent.pnn.police.uk
MAKE SURE? DON’T OPEN THE DOOR
Distraction Burglary isn’t common but we must all remain vigilant!
What is a Distraction Burglary?
Distraction burglary is where criminals call at your home posing as officials or asking for your help with something. They make up a story to get into your home. Generally targeting elderly people, they have just one intention; to steal.
How do they operate?
Some work alone, but often they work in groups of two or more, usually one person will knock at your door with a convincing excuse that seems genuine or urgent.
The talker will persuade you to let them into your house and keep you occupied whilst others sneak in and search your house to steal cash and valuables.
They can be men, women or children and sometimes a combination, smartly or casually dressed.
Remember
A genuine caller will happily wait outside while you check on them by calling a family member or neighbour.
A few tips to keep you safe
If you’re not sure who is at your door. Don’t open it! Check the identity of the caller by calling the company they are purporting to be from ie. Gas, Electricity, Water or Police. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider. DO NOT use any telephone numbers provided by the caller, they may be bogus
- Telephone a neighbour or friend to come along and check out the caller before you open the door to them.
- Many utility service providers like Gas Electricity and Water, provide password schemes or hotline numbers for customers to call, to check the identity of callers before opening the door. Speak to your utility provider.
- Don't keep large quantities of cash at home: put it in the bank or post office where it is safe.
- Keep doors and windows secure at all times. Only put the door chain on to answer the door
- If somebody asks for your help, needs to make a telephone call, has lost a ball in your garden, needs a drink or request a pen and paper for example, refer them to a younger neighbour or assist them through a closed door. or call a friend or neighbour to assist.
If you suspect a bogus caller has visited you, even if you didn't let them in, call the police straight away. We Need To Know.
COMMUNITY WARDEN
The Kent Community Warden Scheme, operated by Kent County Council began with a band of 12 wardens in May 2002, as part of a three-year pilot scheme. It delivered such early success that numbers were increased within six months and in March 2005 a new training centre - the first of its kind in the UK - was opened to help bring the team of wardens up to 100.
Community wardens aim to help the people of Kent to live safely and independently in their neighbourhoods and communities.
They provide a visible uniformed presence to tackle anti-social behaviour. Many wardens are regarded as the focal point for the communities they serve and their mobile telephone number is accessible to all.
There is no such thing as a typical warden, all ages and backgrounds are represented, and they all share a common cause - to do their best to support and help the communities in which they work.
Why would I want to contact my community warden?
- Wardens work closely with Police, local authorities and other agencies and are a useful source of information.
- They raise community awareness of problems such as bogus callers preying on vulnerable people in their homes.
- They address environmental issues such as fly tipping, graffiti and vandalism.
- They engage with the young, elderly and vulnerable in activities such as youth clubs and sporting events, coffee mornings and advice surgeries.
- If they don't know the answer to a query, they know someone who will.
YOUR WARDEN IS ADAM MCKINLEY email
Adam runs Coffee and Chat Sessions at Madginford Library on a Tuesday morning from 10-11 am and at Bearsted Library on a Thursday afternoon from 2.30-3.30 pm. If you have an areas of concern please feel free to visit him for advice and guidance.
DOORSTEP CRIMINALS ARE OPERATING IN KENT
IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY ANY PERSON OFFERING TO CARRY OUT REPAIRS TO YOUR PROPERTY, TURN THEM AWAY.
CALL 08454 04 05 06
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8 A.M. - 6.30 P.M. OR SATURDAY 9 A.M. - 1.00 P.M.
OR REPORT IT ONLINE AT www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent
BEWARE OF DISTRACTION BURGLARIES
‘Distraction burglars’, or bogus callers, will distract you in order to get into your home to steal your money or belongings. If anyone you don’t know turns up at your door, you should always ask to see their identification before letting them in.
Unfortunately, the elderly are especially vulnerable, but we are working with Age Concern, Help the Aged and the police to ensure they don’t fall victim to this particularly unpleasant crime.
Follow our ‘Lock, Stop, Chain, Check’ advice below and keep yourself safe.
STAYING SAFE
- LOCK: Make sure your door is locked when you’re at home and don’t unlock it until you’re sure who is on the other side.
- STOP: If someone appears at your door, and you’re not expecting any visitors, check that all the doors are locked. Look through the spy-hole or the window to see who it is
- CHAIN: If you decide to open the door, put the door chain or bar on first. Keep the bar or chain on while you are talking.
(Normally, when the door is shut and locked, leave the bar or chain off, in case you need to get out in an emergency)
CHECK: Ask for, and double check, their identity card. And if you’re still not sure, ask for a number you can ring to confirm their identity. If they can’t show you any identification, don’t let them in.