GOODBYE TEFFONT AND ALVEDISTON, HELLO FOVANT.

As of the 1st of April 2003 some changes come in to force concerning the Policing boundaries within the county. To fall in line with local government Tisbury and Wilton Police areas (amongst others) are changing. Our colleagues at Wilton Police Station will police Teffont and Alvediston in future and Fovant will be covered from Tisbury Police Station. We are obviously sad to lose the responsibility for looking after the splendid residents of Teffont and Alvediston (we are still not far away) and we welcome the good people of Fovant under our protective umbrella. All other villages will remain as they are. Basically you will get the same excellent service but it may be a different face.

BEAT OFFICERS - SLIGHT CHANGES MADE

Coinciding with the changes on April the 1st are a couple of minor personnel changes. I join Mark Littlewood on the Tisbury Beat. We hope to increase the amount of foot and cycle patrols around the village. I hand over the reins of the 'new' Tisbury North beat (now including Fovant) to WPC Angela Carpenter who has recently joined us having worked in Salisbury and Amesbury. WPC Lucy Deakin returns from her traffic attachment and will assist Pete Robins and Graham Briant on the Mere beat. Please remember that although we all have beat responsibilities we all Police the entire section so any one of us could come to your assistance depending on who is on duty at the time

DOGS, ROADS, COLLARS, LEADS AND LITTLE LAMBS

I have been asked to remind dog owners that it is an offence to allow a dog to be on a public road without being on a lead. As a dog owner myself I understand that out here in beautiful rural south Wiltshire this is not exactly anything to get too excited about. Responsible dog owners will keep their dogs under control when off the lead and everyone is happy. My request is to irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to run amok all over the place. Beware, you are committing an offence and could be prosecuted. Some of you may not know that it is also an offence to allow your dog to be in a public place without a collar and identity tag on. If your beloved fluffy, hairy, smelly one isn't wearing a collar with a tag on please get one. It will help to reunite you if the little darling strays. One final point, please remember that it is lambing season. If your dog upsets sheep or lambs (the dog doesn't have to be in the same field) YOU are committing an offence (not the dog) and YOU can be prosecuted. A farmer also has the right to shoot your dog if he catches it in the act. (In other words the dog pays for YOUR irresponsibility) Enough said...I hope.

CASHPOINT WARNING - LATEST UPDATE.

You may remember that in February's bulletin I warned you about the danger of someone gaining access to your hard earned pounds by using an instrument at cashpoints, which caused your card to be retained by the machine. The thief would stand nearby, watching, memorising your PIN as you put it in. He would then retrieve your card once you had gone. I had a response to that bulletin saying that this had already happened in Gillingham, which isn't far away. Please be careful when using cashpoint machines. Make sure no-one is watching you when you put in your PIN.

FINAL WORD ON SCAMS

Another reader of this bulletin sent the following short piece of advice reference scams involving prizes whereby some 'fee' is required to release your prize "if you have to pay for 'winning' it's not a real prize". Wise words indeed

REPORTED CRIME MARCH 2003

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, EAST HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officers: PC Mark Littlewood & PC Mark Steele
5th Male from Taunton arrested under the Mental Health Act for his own protection. (PC Mark Littlewood)
13th Female arrested on suspicion of deception in Tisbury. (PC Mark Littlewood)
22nd Male arrested at Tisbury railway station for being drunk and disorderly. (WPC Angie Carpenter)
23rd Youth arrested for causing damage to fencing at the play park in Weaveland Road. (PC Mark Littlewood)
28th Male assaulted in Kipling Close. (PC Mark Steele)

TISBURY NORTH BEAT
(BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKSGROVE, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, FOVANT, HINDON, RIDGE, SUTTON MANDEVILLE & SWALLOWCLIFFE) Beat Officer: WPC Angela Carpenter
5th Septic tank,…… yes, a septic tank, was stolen overnight from a building site in Swallowcliffe. (PC Mark Steele)
10th Following theft of bacon from garage at Barford St. Martin, male from Somerset arrested in Hindon as he headed for the border. (PC Mark Steele)
26th Burglaries to storage buildings overnight at Levers Coaches and Halco Tuning, nothing stolen. (PC Mark Steele)

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL) Beat Officer: PC Paul Wilson
2nd Chain saw stolen overnight from garden store in Donhead St.Andrew. (PC Paul Wilson)
5th Two windows smashed at Donhead Sports Club overnight. (PC Paul Wilson)
12th Burglars stole VCR and chainsaw from house in Ansty. (PC Paul Wilson)
20th Two staddle stone tops stolen from outside house in Charlton. (WPC Angie Carpenter)
23rd Drunk male caused damage to a door whilst staying at The King John in Tollard Royal. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
19th Thieves drilled into telephone kiosk in Donhead St. Mary and stole cash. (WPC Angie Carpenter)

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PC Graham Briant, PC Pete Robins & WPC Lucy Deakin
3rd Male arrested having damaged a car in Mere. (PC Steve PORTER)
6th Following enquiries a 24yr old female from Northumberland charged with theft, forgery and seven deceptions in and around Mere (PC Graham Briant)
13th Following an argument male punched his girlfriend in the face. Male arrested. (PC Pete Robins)
18th Stone thrown at window of Costcutters in Mere causing it to break. (PC Pete Robins)
24th Male arrested in Mere for possession of Class 'A' drugs with intent to supply. (PC Pete Robins)

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer: PC Jerry Wilkins
15th Male punched in face by neighbour following dispute over noise. (PC Jerry Wilkins)
21st Male filled car with diesel at Willoughby Hedge and drove off without paying. (PC Jerry Wilkins)

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS) Beat Officer: PC Steve Porter.
12th Male attempted to steal from a handbag at Car sales business in Norton Ferris. He was challenged and left empty handed. (PC Steve Porter)
21st Handbag stolen from a house in Zeals whilst owner was in the garden. (PC Steve Porter)

If anyone has any information about any of the above listed crimes please give us a ring at Tisbury or Mere. Your help could lead to the apprehension of offenders or the recovery of property. If you would prefer to pass information anonymously (rewards are available) ring CRIMESTOPPERS.

TISBURY 01747-870203 / MERE 01747-860268
CONTROL ROOM 01722-411444
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111