THE SPECIAL CONSTABULARY – WHO? WHAT? WHY?

Who can become a Special Constable? Anyone aged between 18 and 54 years of age who has the inclination to give up some of their free time to serve their community alongside regular Police Officers.
What does it entail? You would be expected to turn up for a minimum of 16 hours a month which would also include the necessary training. This would normally be at the weekend or during the evening.
Why on earth would I want to join the Special Constabulary? There are many reasons, too numerous to mention but here are some. You get supplied with a very nice Police Uniform and some natty ‘Robocop’ accessories. You get to work with Police Officers in your community making the place a better and safer place for you, and everyone else including your Granny, to live in. You can see for yourself what we get up to, the highs, the lows, the frustrations, the dramas, the tragedy, the excitements, oh yes we have it all!
You get the opportunity to make a difference.
Interested? You can find out more in the following ways: Telephone 0845 408 7000 and ask to speak to someone about it. Log on to www.wiltshire.police.uk where you can learn more about it and download application packs. Write to THE SPECIAL CONSTABULARY, WILTSHIRE POLICE HEADQUARTERS, LONDON ROAD, DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE SN10 2DN.

COMMUNICATION – DO YOU REMEMBER IT?

Alright, a slightly strange title in today’s world of mobile phones, e-mails and video conferencing etc. Nevertheless, have we lost the skill of communicating? Perhaps communication is not the right word, have we lost the skill of conversation? The ability to impart information, to share information, to make a connection with our fellow man? I think to a certain extent some people have. Many years ago I was called to an address by a lady who wanted to complain about her neighbour. He had damaged her garden fence when his motorcycle had crashed into it. She was distraught saying that she would have to move, her life was going to be a misery from now on, now that she had a ‘Hells Angel’ living next door. I asked her if she had spoken to the neighbour about the damage. She had never spoken to him ‘You never know what his sort will do!’ she exclaimed. I left her to go next door now feeling slightly apprehensive myself. A big hairy biker, well I was a big not so hairy Policeman it was game on, I’d sort him out, I’d have to, it was my job. The door was answered by a pleasant, cleanshaven, middle aged man of slight build wearing glasses, a pinny and tartan slippers. To cut a long story short, he was a professional man who had a hobby which involved doing up old motorcycles. He was unaware that his motorcycle had fallen over and hit the fence and was more than happy to pay for the damage as well as apologise to the lady next door. If we don’t communicate with our fellow man our imaginations are in danger of running away with themselves. This is Wiltshire, it’s a great place to live if we let it be. Do not be afraid.

RESPECT – GIVE IT TO GET IT.

Following on from my lesson in communication brethren let me add a little tome on respect. Time and time and again in this job we get sent to reports of youths intimidating people, being abusive, causing a general nuisance. In the vast majority of these cases I have found that these ‘intimidating’ youths are misunderstood, stereotyped and not bad people at all. Sure they all wear the wrong size clothes, woolly hats or hoods in even the most sweltering weather and apparently can’t tie their own shoe laces but they area not the gangsters they are often portrayed as. If you speak to them with the respect a fellow human being deserves, they are happy to converse. If you start off at 90mph with a rant and a rave then you will most likely get some choice words of abuse back. Respect, give it and you will receive it.

REPORTED ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS IN APRIL 2006.

2nd 1635hrs A303 Chicklade, two car shunt, no injuries. 3rd 0805hrs A303 at Chicklade. Three cars involved in a very heavy shunt. Three persons taken to SDH with suspected spinal injuries. 3rd 0840hrs A303 just east of the A350, three car shunt, no injuries. 6th 0950hrs A350, Semley. Two cars, minor injury. 11th 1855hrs B3092 just north of Maiden Bradley, single vehicle, non injury. 14th 1700hrs minor non-injury accident in Tisbury High Street. 14th 1220hrs High Street, Ansty. Three vehicles involved some minor injuries sustained. 14th 1410hrs Frome Road, Maiden Bradley, single vehicle, non injury. 16th 1520hrs A30 outside St. Mary’s Convent. Car and a motorcycle involved, broken bones involved. 17th 1045hrs three car shunt on the A303 just east of the A350. 19th 1115hrs A303 at Chicklade, single vehicle left road and turned over, no injuries.

REPORTED CRIME & ARRESTS IN APRIL 2006

TISBURY BEAT
(TISBURY, WEST TISBURY, WARDOUR, HATCH, EAST HATCH, WEST HATCH & NEWTOWN)
Beat Officer: PC Mark Steele mark.steele@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight on the 1st and 2nd three cars were damaged in Park Road. Any ideas?
10th/11th windows were smashed in a disused building in Weaveland Road.

TISBURY NORTH BEAT
(BERWICK ST. LEONARD, CHICKSGROVE, CHICKLADE, CHILMARK, FONTHILL BISHOP, FONTHILL GIFFORD, FOVANT, HINDON, RIDGE, SUTTON MANDEVILLE & SWALLOWCLIFFE)
Beat Officer: PC Mark Littlewood mark.littlewood@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight 17th/18th , 18th/19th and 22nd/24th diesel was stolen from a business premises on the A30.

TISBURY SOUTH BEAT
(ANSTY, ALVEDISTON, BERWICK ST.JOHN, CHARLTON, THE COOMBES, THE DONHEADS, LUDWELL & TOLLARD ROYAL):
Beat Officer: PC Andy Lee andy.lee@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight 9th/10th a trailer was stolen from an address in Tollard Royal.
19th between 1600/1630hrs a window was smashed at The New Remembrance Hall at Donhead by a football.
23rd 1900hrs a HANDBAG was stolen from an unlocked car in Berwick St John. The car was only left for a few minutes, but that is all it takes.
25th between 2320/2358hrs there was an attempted burglary at The Donhead Sports and Social Club .

MERE BEAT (including BURTON)
Beat Officers: PC Gary Treherne gary.treherne@wiltshire.police.uk and PC Pete Robins pete.robins@wiltshire.police.uk
12th at 1730hrs two males conned their way into an elderly ladies flat in Mere. They said they were from the water board and whilst the lady was distracted they stole a large amount of cash. (I’m growling whilst typing)
On the 14th and then again on the 15th someone rolled a car wheel down Castle Hill, Mere. The wheel on both occasions hit properties causing damage to roof tiles.
15th an idiot threw eggs at a house in Petteridge Lane causing a damage to a window.
Between the 12th and 18th an empty house in Barrow Street was burgled. Nothing stolen.
29th between 0455/0520hrs several magazines were stolen from outside a newsagent in Mere .

MERE SOUTH BEAT
(EAST KNOYLE, WEST KNOYLE, SEMLEY, SEDGEHILL & WILLOUGHBY HEDGE)
Beat Officer PC Bob Salter bob.salter@wiltshire.police.uk
Overnight 6th/7th thieves stole £300 worth of red diesel from a farm at Easy Knoyle.
22nd a building at east Knoyle was broken into and obscene graffiti was left on the walls

MERE NORTH BEAT
(GASPER, KILMINGTON, MAIDEN BRADLEY, NORTON FERRIS, STOURTON, WOLVERTON & ZEALS)
Beat Officer: PC Charlotte Chambers charlotte.chambers@wiltshire.police.uk
6th between 1830/2030hrs a car parked at Alfred’s Tower was broken into. HANDBAG was stolen.
10th between 1220/1430hrs a car was broken into at Alfred’s Tower and a car CD player was stolen.
11th between 1600/2000hrs a white Land Rover pick-up was stolen from Chapel Lane, Zeals.
14th between 1815/1930hrs a car parked at Alfred’s Tower was broken into and a rucksack was stolen.
29th between 1715/1850hrs a car parked at Stourhead was broken into, property left on the back seat was stolen

Wiltshire Police 0845 408 7000 24 hour number

TISBURY POLICE STATION - OPENING TIMES. (01747-870203)
Monday, Saturday & Sunday - CLOSED.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday- 9.00am to 1.00pm. Thursday- 9.00am to 5.00pm.

MERE POLICE STATION – OPENING TIMES. (01747-860268)
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 0930hrs until 1230hrs. Friday from 1600hrs until 1900hrs.
Saturday from 0800hrs until 1100hrs.Thursday and Sunday – CLOSED.

24 HOUR NUMBER 01380-735735. CRIMESTOPPERS 0800-555-111.

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.

CONTROL ROOM 01722-411444
CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111