Message sent by: Andy Wedgwood (Police, Sergeant, Western Rural)

News Bulletin  
 

Western Rural Round-up-           Week ending      14/12/2014 
 
TO CONTACT THE POLICE CALL THE NEW NON EMERGENCY NUMBER 101. 
IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS DIAL 999
NPT Frodsham - Voicemail. 0845-458-6393
NPT Dragon Hall - Voicemail. 0845-458-6377
NPT Mickle Trafford – Voicemail. 0845-458-6394

 
Please note that the local police station 0845 telephone numbers are not staffed 24 hours a day and that there may be some delay in responding to any messages left. 
 

1. Many residents in Frodsham will be aware that there has been a lot of police activity over the past week, focused around catching a local prolific offender. I am pleased to report that the male has now been detained and is helping police with a number of enquiries.
2. There continues to be a number of reports about suspicious looking vans driving round residential areas, the occupants looking up driveways. Many of these may be legitimate delivery drivers, looking for a particular address to deliver Christmas orders. However, there will always be those who have less honourable intentions and who try to pass themselves off as legitimate workers. If you have suspicions about the activity of any vehicle or personal callers to your front door, please do not hesitate to call the police.
3. Last Sunday, a resident in Tarporley had some suspicious callers to their front door. A couple of days later they found that someone had tried to gain entry at the rear of their house.
4. All police officers across the county are contributing towards the Christmas ‘Drink Drive’ campaign. A large number of motorists are being stopped and breathalysed at all times of day. Significantly, techniques are now in place to detect ‘drug-driving’ offenders – those who drive whilst under the influence of drugs. There have been a significant number of arrests this week for this offence, primarily driving under the influence of illegal drugs. Please note that this offence also covers prescription drugs! Please check the information on your medication and take note of any instructions not to drive or operate machinery.
5. Due to the increased numbers of vehicles being stopped, there have also been an increased number of vehicles seized for no insurance or the drivers not having the correct driving licence. It is now easy for officers to check all relevant documentation (tax, insurance, licence) at the roadside and a vehicle may be seized from where it is stopped if any documentation is not correct. From the beginning of October, vehicles are no longer issued with tax discs and do not need to display one any more – it is therefore very important to notify the DVLA of any change of address, otherwise you will not get a reminder and risk forgetting to renew your tax disc at the appropriate time.
6. Whilst on the theme of driving, Saturday 13^th saw a very cold morning with thick frost on the car windscreen in the morning, and corresponding ice on the roads. Unfortunately, many drivers did not adjust their driving to suit the conditions. The emergency services were inundated with calls to crashed vehicles which had skidded on the ice. Each season of the year brings its own particular driving hazards and it is every drivers responsibility to be alert to these hazards and to adjust their driving accordingly. Please take an extra 10 minutes on cold mornings, to clear your vehicle windows properly and to allow extra travel time.
7. There have been few incidents of burglary, whether of houses or sheds / outbuildings, this week. What offences there have been have been scattered across the police area. Officers are continuing with extra patrols, targeting vulnerable areas over the festive period. Please maintain sensible security precautions and support those friends, neighbours and family whose security needs some improvement.
8. Finally, reports continue to come in about phone callers telling residents that they have problems with their computers. This is a scam to try to commit identity fraud. Modern computers have the facility to grant remote access to any other computer. However, this can only happen if you ALLOW the caller to do so, or provide them with particular personal information. NEVER give such permission or pass personal details to anyone who calls you. Always offer to call them back and make sure that you look their number up from official documentation – never call the number that they give you, unless you know that it is legitimate.

 
 
Regards
 
Inspector Keith Curbishley
 
Frodsham Police Station
Western Rural Neighbourhood Police Team 
0845 458 6393