Vehicle Crime

Although over the last year we have so far seen an 11% reduction in vehicle crime we have over the last month had a number of incidents reported across the island. These incidents have occurred during the early hours of the morning with vehicle windows being smashed and items on display being stolen. I have previously given advice regarding displaying SatNav’s and their cradles in vehicles but the same advice can be given to all valuable items. Please take that extra minute to remove any such items from your vehicles overnight.

Fraudulent Scams

February saw a “Scamnesty” campaign being run by Trading Standards in order to help beat scammers. Although only advertised for the month of February, Trading Standards would still be interested to hear in any other incidents that people may have encountered. We have a close working relationship with Hampshire Trading Standards and have assisted them in a number of operations Hayling Island.

Most recently reported was the successful prosecution of a suspect for selling clocked motor vehicles. We have also received reports of fraudulent activities in the area regarding services received at properties; these were discovered as a result of checking junk mail. I would ask is if anyone is in any doubt to please seek advice on how and who to report any incidents. Our contact details are detailed below and Trading Standards can be contacted on 08454 04 05 06.

Hayling Safer Neighbourhood Panel - Priorities

The Safer Neighbourhood Panel sat at the Community Board Meeting on 8th February at 7pm at The Bridge Centre, Beach Road, Hayling Island. At that meeting I reported details of issues that people had reported. The board agreed that the following priorities would be worked on by various agencies -

• Anti-social Behaviour on Educational Premises.
• Youth Engagement on Hayling Island.
• Criminal Damage on the Sea Front at Hayling Island

999 Day – 11th April

Hayling Island Safer Neighbourhoods Team have organised a 999 day for Sunday 11th April from 10am - 4pm. The event will be held on the event field at Beachlands, Seafront, Hayling Island.

PCSO Houghton approached me and asked if we could hold this event as a way of bringing our community together in a fun and lively way. Over the last six months she has put a lot of work and effort into this and I am pleased that the team are going to be experiencing this day with her. It is a great opportunity for the community of the Island to engage with all the emergency services we have here.

PCSO Houghton said "999 Day has been organised to enable local residents on Hayling Island to come and meet their emergency services teams and see what they have to offer them. It gives people the chance to ask questions, to see what equipment is used on a daily basis and to see what goes on behind the scenes. We believe that by allowing residents access like this, we will build better relationships with them, which can have a major impact on tackling crime in our neighbourhood."

Beat Surgeries for March

Thank you to all of you that came and spoke with us at the surgeries in February, we have received a lot of feedback from them. The beat surgeries for March will be at

• Monday 22nd March, 1000 – 1400 at the Co-Op in Elm Grove
• Tuesday 23rd March, 1130 – 1330 at Sainsbury’s in Mengham Road
• Wednesday 24th March, 0930 – 1130 at Beachlands Tourist Office

We would like to encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of these surgeries, they are not just for reporting crimes but you can also seek advice or discuss any local issues that you’d like to see tackled which can go to the next panel meeting.