Have you ever noticed anything in a public area or open space that captured your attention because you liked it or because it concerned you? Do you know how you can currently report your concerns, ideas, suggestions and opinions regarding public spaces? Or do you have suggestions how you would like to report such issues?

The VoiceYourview project is interested in finding out how people’s knowledge of public areas and open spaces can be captured in order to create safer and more inclusive spaces. Please fill out our questionnaire and voice your view!

Please click here to take survey.

Leicestershire Constabulary is backing Operation Liberal’s national public awareness campaign against distraction burglars called ‘Not Sure?…Don’t Open The Door.’

It has been sponsored by the Energy Retail Association (ERA) and aims to make people aware of the tactics used by distraction burglars and how they can prevent themselves from becoming potential victims.

The Home Office have awarded a grant of £20,000 through their National Support Framework (Engaged Communities Hallmark) to be administered by Harborough District Neighbourhood Watch, this project is being supported by the Harborough District Community Safety Partnership.

Find out how you can apply using this link.

This quiz covers a wide range of personal safety issues and will enable those who take part to assess if they are as aware of their personal safety as they should be – and, if not, what they can do to improve this situation.

The quiz is freely available and can be downloaded and completed by individual members of the public, as well as by workplace organizations that can feature it on their Intranet. Councils and local authorities could also provide it for their staff, as well as promoting it to local residents on their website. By providing your staff, local residents and/or customers with the Personal Safety MOT quiz, you can demonstrate your interest in their personal safety.

Use this link to download the Personal Safety MOT quiz

In order to tackle local concerns we want to know what matters most to you in the area where you live or work/visit. You can help shape local priorities by completing this short questionnaire.

The information you provide will be collated and discussed by a Joint Action Group made up of Police and Partners from your area. The purpose of this group is to agree local priorities and take action to resolve them.

Use this link to fill in the survey.

Officers have issued a warning after receiving a number of reports of thefts from ATMs in Leicester.

Officers have so far received three reports of similar incidents that happened on Melton Road, Narborough Road and Belgrave Road in January and February this year.

In all three incidents the victims were approached by a man who told them that the ATM was out of order and the ATM then appeared to swallow their cards. Following this the victims went into the bank to see what had happened to find that money had already been taken out of their account and their card had been stolen.

Officers in Loughborough have released an Eigan fit image of a man they are trying to trace following the report of a distraction burglary in Durham Road.

The incident happened at about 11.20am on Friday February 26, when a man entered the victim’s home, through his front door, claiming he was there to fit a new back door.

The man followed the victim, a man in his eighties, back into his lounge and told him he would need to put a deposit down for the door but would get this back once the door had been made.

Attached you will find a copy of the latest Neighbourhood Watch newsletter.
Please do take the time to read it as it contains some useful seasonal crime prevention advice as well as details of how you can apply for some community funding under the “Safer Neighbourhoods” initiative which is being run by the Association.

If you could pass this newsletter onto your members and neighbours – it would be most appreciated.

Motorists looking to purchase a second-hand car are being warned of a scam operating in Leicester.

Police in the city are investigating three robberies and one attempted robbery in which the victims responded to an advert for a high performance car being sold at a bargain price on the internet.

The people advertising the vehicle arrange to meet the buyers in Leicester, provide them with a postcode and ask them to bring cash to pay for the vehicle. Upon arrival the buyers are confronted by a group of up to three men who threaten them with violence before escaping with the cash.

Thirteen people have been arrested in the first phase of a Force-wide operation to crackdown on criminals living lavish lifestyles from the proceeds of crime.

The ‘Too Much Bling? Give us a Ring’ campaign was launched on February 10, 2010, encouraging members of the public to call Crimestoppers anonymously to let police know of any people who may be living beyond their means from drug money or ill gotten gains.

Over the past few days, a number of warrants have been executed under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act resulting in thirteen arrests.

Tribal has been commissioned to deliver a feasibility study that considers the case for a national communication system that can be used by Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch schemes and their partners. They will also prepare a business case that evaluates the costs and benefits of such a system.
Tribal need to understand from grassroot members how they currently communicate with each other and partners and what they want from such a system in the future.

Therefore they have hosted an Internet-based questionnaire that they are asking all watch members to complete.

The survey can be found at the following address http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NHWN.

Please take 5 minutes to complete it.

Police officer checks tyre pressure
Leicestershire Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit is advising people to be alert and to drive according to the conditions during the winter like conditions.

The British winter is unpredictable and bad weather can strike suddenly so the best advice when severe weather hits is to stay off the road. If you must drive, make sure you are prepared for the conditions.

Become a Scambuster!

Between the 1-26 February 2010, Scamnesty bins will be placed around the country
in public places so you can bin those pesky scam letters you have received in the post.

As well as letters and mailers some scammers send emails, text messages or will call you at your home. Now you can report these phone calls and forward us your suspected scam emails and websites and help us to beat the scammers!

Scam Emails
If you have received an email you suspect as being scam,then worry no more. Forward it to our confidential Email Bin: sc@mnesty.net Every email will be treated in confidence.

Scam Websites
If you come across a website that you believe to be a scam, then send us the web address (e.g. www.cheap-medicines.co.uk) and the date you accessed the site to our email bin: sc@mnesty.net
Every email will be treated in confidence.

The plants discovered at Stanley Street in Barwell
Police have raided a suspected cannabis factory in Barwell.

It was the third similar raid in less than three weeks within the Hinckley and Bosworth local policing unit area, and the second one which followed information supplied through Crimestoppers.

Homes of elderly residents in Eyres Monsell are being given a security boost to help prevent distraction burglaries.

The project has been funded by a Government grant of £40,000 which was awarded to the Leicestershire Neighbourhood Watch Association as part of their Securing Houses Action Against Burglary initiative.

Marion Lewis, Chair of Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network, said: “The government awarded £500,000 to neighbourhood schemes across the country to reduce crime during the economic downturn. We were delighted that our bid was successful so that we can help areas in the city by securing homes most at risk.”