A new operation which aims to tackle misrepresented number plates displayed on vehicles using the roads in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire

>>Click here to read full article on our news page.

 Sgt Luke Mitchell who heads the South Oxhey Safer Neighbourhood Team is hoping to win the title of Hertfordshire's Policeman of the year. He will represent Three Rivers in the Hertfordshire Police Authority Awards Next Month. And his South Oxhey team are also up for a separate award. Abbots Langley members have also been nominated in other categories.

>>Click here to read full article on our news page.

>>Click here to read full article on our news page.

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101 - THE NEW NON EMERGENCY NUMBER TO CALL POLICE

A new non-emergency number is released for Herts police as of Monday July 4, 2011. The new number is 101, which will connect you to police in exactly the same way that the 0845 33 00 222 does currrently. The 0845 number will remain in operation for around a year, and run alongside the new number to ensure that no calls are missed.
It is understood that this new 101 number will eventually be used by all forces and will connect you to the constabulary that covers the area in which you located are at the time of your call.
As of Monday July 4, the Hertfordshire, Surrey, Essex, Metropolitan and City of London police will adopt the 101 number - with all the other constabularies in England and Wales adopting the number over thoming year.
Calls to 101 from both land lines and mobiles will be charged at 15pence per call, no matter what time of day or duration of the call.
Please remember to always call 999 in an emergency

OWL, BEES AND BUTTERFLIES JOIN FORCES FOR NEW GARDEN

 Dozens of children were among members of the community that helped plant a Bee and Butterfly garden after an appeal went out over the OWL system.
 They turned up after a plea which went out in Abbots Langley, Leavesden and Langleybury by NhW Three Rivers District co-ordinator Sue Thompson for volunteers to help plant flowers in Leavesden Country Park to encourage wildlife back to the area.
 Bee and butterfly populations are in decline but members of the public, led by Leavesden Park Ranger Damien Weller, helped create an improved habitat for them in the park.
 Damien  was thrilled with the turnout of helpers.
 He said: "Many of our bee and butterfly populations are in decline. We planted lavenders, rosemary, buddleias and seeded a bed with a cornflower mix of wild flowers.
"This will help to provide a much needed source of nectar, which will benefit both the bees and butterflies."
Sue Thompson said: “This is another good example of how useful the Owl system is in helping to get Neighbourhood Watch and the community to help out in worthwhile projects.”

CROOKS GET CAUGHT ON NEW ANPR CAMERAS
Three new Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras are to be set up in the area to help catch boundary crossing crooks.
The static cameras which are directly linked to Control Room at Police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City have been installed after Three Rivers Council approved the £25,000 funding.
The location for the cameras will be top of Oxhey Lane by Grims Dyke golf course, Batchworth Hill next to the Prince of Wales pub and Watford Rd next to the NATO base.
Luke Mitchell, Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeant in South Oxhey said: “The idea is that we will have better coverage at our borders.
“We know that criminals who commit our more serious crime such as burglary travel from the Met areas into Three Rivers.”
The new cameras mean that vehicles used by the crooks will be flagged up immediately as well as being able to trace the criminals’ movement in the area.

Police are urging people not to leave valuables in their vehicles following a number of thefts in the Chorleywood area this week.

The incidents have occurred overnight between Monday (March 12) and Tuesday (March 13).

         A laptop was stolen from a Mercedes in The Readings.
         A car was broke into in Solesbridge Lane however no items were stolen.   

         A handbag and clothing was stolen from a Mercedes in Wyatts Road.

         A number of power tools were stolen from a van in Bridle Lane, Loudwater during the day on Tuesday.

        A power tool was stolen from a van in Rooks Hill, Loudwater, also during the day on Tuesday.

Detective Sergeant Matt Phillips is investigating and said: “In the majority of these cases the items were left on show in the vehicle which is an invitation for a criminal to break in and steal them.

“The message is simple, don’t leave valuables in your car, whatever time of day and regardless of whether the car is perceived to be parked in a safe place such as on a drive or behind gates. Remove them from your car or if this is not possible, then put them out of view.

“Officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Operation Scorpion team will be targeting the area and should you feel someone or a vehicle is out of place or acting suspiciously, you should contact police immediately via 999.”

If you have any information about who is responsible for these thefts or believe you have witnessed suspicious activity in the areas where the incidents occurred, please call Hertfordshire Constabulary via the non-emergency number 101. 

Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. You do not have to give your name and you could be entitled to a cash reward.

Top five tips for preventing car crime:

1.      It might sound obvious, but make sure you lock the doors and shut the windows and sunroof whenever you leave your vehicle unattended.

2.      Remove your Sat Nav and its holder, and wipe away any suction marks as these could suggest to a potential thief that a Sat Nav is stored in your vehicle.

3.      Never leave any valuables in your vehicle - not even in the glove-box or boot - and keep ALL other possessions out of sight.

4.      Use an approved steering lock or gear clamp, and remember to set your immobiliser and alarm if you have them.

5.      Register your stereo, laptop, Sat Nav and any other property on the free online property database www.immobilise.com. It only takes a few minutes and could help police trace your property if it’s lost or stolen.

For more advice, visit www.herts.police.uk

^{PUB WATCH IS COMING!!}

A Pub Watch scheme is being set up in Three Rivers. Over 50 licensed premises in the area have expressed an interst. They all having to deal with a variety of crimes and issues. The Pub Watch Scheme will use the OWL messaging system to send and receive information to each other. Pub Watch schemes can have a significant impact. From the responses received from local Pub Watch schemes around the County, it is known that, where evaluation has taken place, watch members have claimed reductions in incidents of between 20% and 80%; . This will hopefully make the pubs themselves and the areas nearby safer places.  More information soon

CRIME CONTINUES TO FALL IN HERTFORDSHIRE

Home Office national crime statistics released today show that overall recorded crime in Hertfordshire continues to fall.  Crime fell in the 12 months to December 2011 and crime levels in Hertfordshire remain well below national levels.

For the twelve month period, overall recorded crime in Hertfordshire fell by 4%, with dwelling burglary down 8%, vehicle crime down 10%, violent crime down 1% and robbery down by 1%.  Overall there were over 2,600 fewer recorded crimes in the county compared to the same period in the previous year.  Crime nationally fell by 3%.

Rates of crime in the county compared to the national picture also remained low across main crime types with Hertfordshire having 58 recorded offences per one thousand population compared to a national rate of 74.  Hertfordshire’s serious violent crime rate remains well below the national rate - 4 offences per one thousand population compared to 6 nationally.

Stuart Nagler, Vice Chair of Herts Police Authority said: “These figures are proof that Hertfordshire is a county where crime is in decline.  Crime rates are low and specific crimes such as burglary and serious violent crime are also reducing.  This provides proof that it is possible to reduce crime whilst also reducing budgets.”

Chief Constable Andy Bliss said: “These are good figures that demonstrate that Hertfordshire remains one of the safest counties in the country.  They reflect the hard work and professionalism of the officers, staff and volunteers of the Constabulary and the support of our partners and the wider public. We are determined to keep crime as low as possible; these are statistics but we never forget that behind the numbers there are real people whose lives are blighted by crime That’s why we come to work – to reduce crime, catch criminals and keep people safe.”

 Two cashpoint machines in South Oxhey have been found to have been fitted with skimming devices.
The machines targeted were Barclays Bank, Prestwick Road and the Post Office on the Parade. Police enquiries are continuing.
There have been incidents before at Barclays bank but there has been a gap in such offences in the area.
On this occasion the devices are markedly different than on previous offences, in that the were attached to the area where the cash is dispensed as opposed to the usual position of the very top section of the cash point.
The devices are placed over the cash slot so that when the tranaction is complete the money does not come out, and the customer walks away thinking there is an issue with the machine.
The offenders at this point then return to the cashpoint removed the device and the money.
PC Martin Fish said: "Please make sure to check any cash point before you use it, if anything appears out of the ordinary then do not use it and let us or the bank know."