Police and Crime Commissioner Monthly Newsletter

Welcome to my monthly newsletter

I want to hear from you.

I invite you to complete a short survey about why you are signed up to my newsletter. I would like to understand whether there are any areas of improvement, what you would like to hear more about and most importantly are receiving relevant information for you.

I welcome any thoughts you have in order to improve my communications with you.
Have your say now

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I am sure you will join me in welcoming the latest group of student officers to the West Mercia family. They bring a range of interesting skill sets, backgrounds and life experience, and I look forward to seeing where they go next.
We Wanna Talk, Hear Us

This month I am continuing to highlight the impact of violence against women and girls on society with a focus on educating, empowering and encouraging a societal change.

DPCC Tracey Onslow and APCC Nicola Lowery are taking over the month to encourage women and girls to speak up.

You can follow this months campaign here

Dame Carol Black visits West Mercia

This month we welcomed Dame Carol Black to highlight how the DIVERT project is working to deter drug offenders away from more serious offences.

The DIVERT project launched last year and offers early intervention to those found in possession of a small amount of drugs.

Find out more about the visit here.

Improve services for victims of anti-social behavior 

I am calling for better services to victims of ASB from West Mercia Police. An audit into anti-social behaviour reports made to the force, found significant gaps where a crime was identified but not recorded or passed to a local policing team to investigate

It is vital that victims have a voice and that crimes are fully recorded and investigated.

Read the full story here

Crackdown on metal theft

This month I joined Chief Constable Pippa Mills and Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier as part of a multi-agency operation tackling metal theft and other offences.

Metal theft costs the UK approximately £350 million a year and is often tied to other serious crime.

Click here to find out more about the operation.

The Knife Angel visits Worcester

Knife crime is a cultural issue that we need to tackle as a society. As PCC I am committed to playing my part in this societal change. This means tackling crime at the root through education, prevention and ensuring the police are well resourced for enforcement.

The Knife Angel is iconic and continues to make an impact, particularly with the workshops and preventative work linked to its arrival. We are all aware of the devastating impact of knife crime and having this clear visual reminder will play another part in helping to keep our communities safe.

I am proud to have played a part in bringing this fantastic sculpture to West Mercia.

Click here to find out what events are happening throughout March 

Working together for community safety

This month I brought together partners from community safety partnerships across West Mercia to identify ways to work better together for the benefit of the community.

It is important for us to come together for the benefit of the communities we represent and understand what each area is doing and where improvements can be made in order to tackle crime and make West Mercia safer.

Find out more here 

Additional £78k to protect the missing and vulnerable

I will continue to support West Mercia Search and Rescue and Severn Area Rescue Association with investment so they can continue to support the communities of West Mercia.

Both organisations do outstanding work with skilled professional volunteers dedicating hours of their own time to help others. The investment I have made is a small contribution which allow these unpaid professionals to dedicate themselves to keeping people safe.

Find out more here

A further £10k to support PEGS

I have awarded an additional £10k in funding to support Shrewsbury based organisation PEGS (Parental Education Growth and Support).

I am dedicated to putting victims and survivors first and pleased to award further funding to PEGS, a worthy organisation who work tirelessly to support those who are abused by their children.

Read the full story here

Safer, Stronger CommunitiesA crackdown on fly-tipping is taking place in Sutton Hill, Telford as part of a joint partnership between myself, West Mercia Police and Telford and Wrekin Council.

The Safer and Stronger Communities Project is a £2.5million investment into initiatives which help residents feel safer in their homes through prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Find out more about the partnership approach here 

Listen up!
Have you listened to the latest episodes of The Safer West Mercia Podcast?

In the latest episode I sat down with Dr Matthew Home from Willowdene Rehabilitation to hear about the great work they do in order to prevent people reoffending.
Since the reunification of probation in June 2021, Willowdene is the highest performing prime provider of probation services across England and Wales, and the only prime provider to hit 100% of its targets.

Listen here

Out and about in the community 

Ukraine Refugees – Support Redditch – also covering Bromsgrove District and surrounding areas

Dear all,

Many of you may be aware that Support Redditch, a local registered charity formed during the pandemic, has re-activated itself in response to the Ukraine situation to help support refugees.

Support Redditch has started a local database for offers of local accommodation from members of the public for Ukraine refugees and offers are already coming in.  In addition, Support Redditch are looking to provide food and energy-based support to refugees and families hosting them.

Please note, the coverage is not only Redditch Borough but Bromsgrove District too and surrounding areas including Studley, Feckenham, Inkberrow and Hanbury – please see map below.  Our understanding is that Support Redditch is the only registered charity in these areas with specific charitable purposes to provide relief to those within the areas that have been affected by war.

The charity is calling for other charities, community groups and businesses to join them and if you would like to get in touch, you can by emailing 

Information can be found on their website – Services | Support Redditch

You may have seen the recent press release which provides further details:

https://supportredditch.net/2022/03/11/support-redditch-charity-offers-to-match-local-offers-of-accommodations-to-ukrainian-families-in-need-register-your-offer-online/

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Kind Regards,

Advertising the New Anne Robson Trust Pre-bereavement Helpline

The Anne Robson Trust is a charity that passionately believes that “no one deserves to die alone.” Liz Pryor, our founder, and Chief Executive was awarded the Member of the British Empire Medal (MBE) in the Queens 2022 New Year’s Honour’s list, for services to end-of-life care.

We work alongside NHS hospitals to train volunteers, who sit with patients in the last days and hours of their life to provide company and companionship, so they know they are not alone. The volunteers also help support the patient’s family and friends. During COVID restrictions these volunteers were unable to visit hospitals, so we set up the Anne Robson Trust Helpline, a free national telephone service to offer comfort and support where needed.

As restrictions have lifted the volunteers have returned to hospitals, however we continue to offer the helpline, which has proven to be a invaluable resource for people regardless of where they are.

The helpline is available for anyone who is struggling to cope with facing their own death or the death of someone they care about. Whether they are family members, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, or even a member of the care staff who may just need someone to talk to; we understand the pressures of caring for people who are nearing the end of life.

I have taken the liberty of attaching a short article which I hope you can send to the editor of your local parish newsletter or magazine for inclusion in the next publication. Alternatively, I would be grateful if you could provide the contact details of the editor, so that we can discuss how we may work together to raise the awareness of our charity within your local community. If you have any suggestions about other useful contacts in your area, I would be delighted to hear from you.

I hope that this information about the Anne Robson Trust is of interest to you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

Suzanne Brown

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Suzanne Brown​
Office Administrator
t: 01438 873257
e: 
w: www.annerobsontrust.org.uk
Registered Charity: 1178352
 Please consider the environment before printing this email

Attachments

Total Attachments: 1

Download: New Article March 2022 (99 KB)

M40 Umberslade bridge joint work letter to stakeholders

Dear customer

Please find attached the letter currently being sent to customers in relation to the M40 Umberslade bridge joint work. We will be engaging with our strategic partners, road hauliers, local authorities and emergency services.

It would be helpful if you could share this information via your parish council members, web pages, and community/notice boards etc.

Kind regards

Arun Lanyon | Business Services Co-ordinator

National Highways | The Cube | 199 Wharfside Street | Birmingham | B1 1RN

Web: http://www.nationalhighways.co.uk

This email may contain information which is confidential and is intended only for use of the recipient/s named above. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any copying, distribution, disclosure, reliance upon or other use of the contents of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and destroy it.

National Highways Limited | General enquiries: 0300 123 5000 |National Traffic Operations Centre, 3 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park, Birmingham B32 1AF | https://nationalhighways.co.uk | 

Registered in England and Wales no 9346363 | Registered Office: Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4LZ

Attachments

Total Attachments: 1

Download: M40 Umberslade bridge joint work letter to stakeholders (443 KB)

M42 Junction 6 – Advance notice of road closure: M42 junctions 6-7

National Highways
National Highways National Highways UPDATES
M42 Junction 6

Here is the latest information on the M42 Junction 6

On 19 March 2022 we’ll need to close the M42 in both directions between junction 6 and junction 7 from midnight until 3:30am to remove overhead high voltage cables.

Find out more on our M42 junction 6 web page.

 

M42 junction 6 update

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National Highways
National Highways UPDATES
M42 junction 6

Latest information

We need close the A45 in both directions between Clock Interchange and M42 Junction 6 overnight on 12 March 2022 to remove overhead high voltage cables.

Find out more on our M42 junction 6 web page.

 

 

West Mercia Police – Economic Crime unit – March Fraud and Scam Bulletin

The Fraud & Scam Bulletin

March 2022

Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds

 

Welcome to March Bulletin aimed at raising awareness to  current Fraud and Scams

Please circulate to your members and contacts, as well as using it for your own information.

 

This month we are promoting an initiative from Take Five to encourage families to sit and discuss  various types of Fraud with potentially vulnerable relatives and friends, and raise awareness.

 

The aim of Take Five over Tea is to encourage families to sit down with parents/grandparents and anyone else they think may be vulnerable to financial fraud whether in their own home, or online, and then discuss the advice provided.

Fraud and Scams have a devastating impact on all those who fall for them, and this is a summarised format of the Take Five toolkit to help families set up their own discussions.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

 

We all think we are savvy when it comes to fraud and scams, but the truth is any one of us can fall for one, especially in the heat of the moment. Criminals are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, using many tactics to gain our trust and make it harder for us to spot the obvious signs of a scam as easily.

By taking the time to talk to your loved ones, including those who are not online, they have a much better chance of spotting a scam, and more importantly, preventing themselves from falling for one.

 

TYPES OF FRAUD AND SCAMS

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the techniques used by criminals. They now use a wide variety of methods to trick people, the most frequent are listed below:

 

IMPERSONATION SCAMS

Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations, including banks, the police, and government departments such as HMRC and DVLC, to convince you to make a payment or share your personal and financial details.

·         They often use alarmist language and time-pressure to convince you to take immediate action,

·          They may already have some of your details, which they use to add a layer of authenticity to their scam.

·         If you receive an urgent request for your money or personal information

·              STOP: take a moment to pause and think.

 

 

INVESTMENT SCAMS

There are numerous paid adverts or comparison sites claiming to be legitimate firms offering guaranteed returns with minimal risk. You may be asked to complete a “Contact Form” with your personal details for a Call-Back.

The use of genuine company logos, celebrity endorsements and testimonials may often be fake.

 

PURCHASE SCAMS

It can be easy to fall for a purchase scam. Criminals advertise goods/services at “too good to be true” prices often via social media or auction sites to trick people into purchasing something that does not exist. They often use images taken from genuine sellers to convince you they are the real deal. They may also ask for payment prior to delivery and send fake receipts and invoices that seem to be from the payment provider.

 

ROMANCE SCAMS

The ease of online dating services often means you can find the love of your life in the comfort of your own home. However, this also provides criminals with an opportunity to gain your trust and build a relationship with you by using information and fake identities found on social media – also known as catfishing. Criminals will claim to declare strong feelings for you just after a few conversations before pretending to need money for a personal emergency or flights to visit you.

 

COURIER FRAUD

If you’re contacted by someone purporting to be from your bank or the police, take a moment to question their authenticity. If the caller is from the bank, they may claim that their system has spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or that it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.    They may even confirm personal details about you, such as your full name and address and offer you peace of mind by having someone such as a courier collect your card to save you from having to go to your bank or local police station. You may even be asked to write down your PIN and place it in a separate envelope to that of your card.

 

DOORSTEP SCAMS

Doorstep criminals can come in all sorts of disguises, from dodgy salesmen to unscrupulous tradespeople and, can be very convincing. They may claim to have noticed something about your property that needs work or improvement, such as the roof, and offer to fix it for an inflated price with payment required upfront. Some criminals may even convince you to visit your bank branch to withdraw money whilst they set up their equipment

 

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD AND SCAMS

 

If you receive a request to provide personal or financial information whether that’s over the phone, in an email, online or through social media always remember:

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment.

Stop and think – It could protect you and your money.

 

STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud

 

ALWAYS REMEMBER:

  • Avoid disclosing security details
  • Emails, Phone Calls and Texts may not be authentic
  • Always make direct contact with any organisation by using a genuine phone number
  • Stop and Challenge any unexpected requests
  • Protect others by reporting Fraud and Scams

If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

Forward Fake Emails received to .

 

SOURCE: TAKE FIVE

A full PDF leaflet can be downloaded from Take Five at:

Take-Five-Over-Tea-Loved-Ones_2021_FINAL.pdf (takefive-stopfraud.org.uk)

 

 

 

Always remember:

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

For further information visit:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

cid:image001.png@01D80C5D.6A7F7760

Attachments

Total Attachments: 1

Download: WMPNLMarch2022 (410 KB)

Ukraine – Local donations of essential goods

Dear all,

I’ve been passed the message below.  You may well have already seen similar in the local press.  This may be of interest to any local community groups who are collecting or considering collecting donated essential goods from the public:

Worcestershire Communities Response for Ukraine

Just a quick message on Ukraine 🇺🇦 and donations/collections. A number of local community groups are starting to kick into action, but need to be careful about what they donate and should avoid sending inexperienced volunteers in cars and vans.

If community groups want to gather goods to send out to Ukraine or its borders please ensure they get their goods to Attwell Park Farm, Seafield Lane, B98 9DB, just north of Redditch off the A435. They are open 9am to 5pm for drop offs, 7 days a week.

Ideally goods should be in pallet format where possible or boxed in a way so they can be quickly loaded on to pallets. Please only supply essential goods from the lists (check online for update on what’s needed):

– Cosmetics and chemicals: shower gel, shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes and toothpaste, barrier creams, sanitary napkins, nappies for children (sizes 3-4-5), washing liquids for children, dishwashing liquids, etc.

– Dressings: means, sterile gauze, sterile compresses, knitted bands, bandages, elastic bandages, ampoules of potassium salt, disinfectants, gloves, disposable, sterile drape dressings, tourniquets, cello, sterile tweezers, cotton wool, dressing scissors, plasters.

– Blankets and sleeping bags.

– Sweets for children

If people decide to buy a product, we recommend that it be in the purchased carton, sealed. The intention is that local groups across Worcestershire will collect goods from the public and then drop them off to Attwell Farm – please avoid sending people directly to Attwell Farm if you can so they are not overwhelmed.

Oakland International are providing the lorries and the drivers and are coordinating a UK level response of up to 50 transports from 10 hubs across the country. They will be taking goods to the border areas, and into Ukraine if they can get through.

Email:  for groups to coordinate directly with Oakland International.

Please share this message with community groups and community leaders across Worcestershire.

No doubt you will also be aware of the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal that anyone can donate too should they wish.

Kind Regards,

Della.

Della McCarthy

Bromsgrove and Redditch Partnership Manager

Tel: 01527 881618

Email: 

Bromsgrove District Council

Parkside

Market Street,

Bromsgrove,

Worcestershire

B61 8DA

 

www.bromsgrove.gov.uk

Redditch Borough Council

Town Hall

Walter Stranz Square

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 8AH

 

www.redditchbc.gov.uk

LSP - Bromsgrove Partnership Logo - small             

Consultation document for M42 J3 50mph Statutory Instrument

Good Morning,

Please find attached the Statutory Instrument consultation document for the M42 Junction 3 Improvement Scheme which will introduce permanent mandatory 50mph speed limits on the M42 Junction 3 exit slips.

For any enquiries please contact Jessica Kenny, the National Highways Project Manager for this scheme, via –

Kind Regards

Dave Bedson

Senior Administrator – Orders Team

National Highways | The Cube | 199 Wharfside Street | Birmingham | B1 1RN
Web: https://highwaysengland.co.uk

Attachments

Total Attachments: 1

Download: M42 J3 Statutory Instrument - Consultation document Mar 2022 For Issue (759 KB)