On the West Norfolk beat - August 2010

Welcome back to my monthly update of policing news for West Norfolk. I start this month with some gratifying news recently reported in this paper about an opportunist burglar who got his just desserts.

One night in April Nicholas Symonds, 24, from Gaywood, took the ‘opportunity’ to enter the home of an elderly man in Dersingham and relieve him of his only TV. Good work by detectives and Crime Scene Investigators identified Symonds as the offender and he was subsequently arrested and charged.

At court earlier this month, the judge ordered him to bring a replacement TV to court which he duly handed over – right before he was jailed for eight months. The victim now has two TVs, we’re told. Brilliant news (and enough to bring a smile to the face of any cop).

It’s a good news story but one which again highlights the vulnerability of insecure homes. Symonds entered the property through an open window. If it had been closed would he have bothered? There’s no such thing as a hard working thief, they’ll always go for the quick wins. Make life difficult for them and remove temptation by keeping your homes and vehicles properly secure.

There has been a slight increase in crime overall in the district in the past month which can largely be attributed to the warmer, drier weather. Of note are thefts from rural, isolated locations of agricultural machinery, equipment and gates. Detailed crime prevention and security advice can be found on the Norfolk Farmwatch web-site.

We’re also encouraging all residents to sign up to our Police Direct alert service, through which you can receive updates on crime patterns or significant incidents in your immediate area as well as other local policing news. Being ‘forewarned is forearmed’ as the saying goes. You can sign up on the Police Direct registration page.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams continue to work in your community focusing on those issues you have told us are affecting your quality of life. They’ve been kept extremely busy over the summer months policing numerous community events, with members of the Special Constabulary working alongside. This was especially the case during Hunstanton Tennis Week with hundreds of additional visitors to the town and nearby villages. Officers liaised daily with organisers, partner agencies, licensees and the King’s Lynn SOS bus which was situated in the town. Good use was made of the powers available under the Designated Public Place Order to confiscate alcohol from people in public, preventing potential alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

Finally, just a reminder that the next set of Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel meetings are due to take place in venues across the district over the next month, giving you the chance to meet your local police and council representatives and let them know what issues you think they should be dealing with on your behalf. Find more details in the events section.

Until next time.

Supt Nick Davison
King’s Lynn and West Norfolk