Welcome to the Central Division

A gang of motorbike thieves is being hunted by police after a rise in thefts in Preston, Lancashire . Police believe one or two groups of people may be responsible for the thefts which have climbed to 12 in the last six weeks – more than double the figure for the same period last year.

Two of the thefts happened on Tuesday night in Lytham Road , Tulketh, and in Tanterton. Officers are appealing for help to catch those responsible and have warned motorbike owners to be vigilant.
Insp Nigel Parkinson, of Lea Police, said: "Vehicle crime in Lea is down 8.2% but in the last six weeks we have seen a rise in motorcycle theft.
"We don't recover very many stolen bikes. People need to be aware of good motorbike security.

"A lot of people living in terraced houses have been targeted in the area because they keep their motorcycles in the yard.

"If any members of public have information I would urge them to come forward."

Thefts of motorbikes are usually undertaken to sell parts on the black market, although joyriding is also cited as a cause.

A survey by the National Crime Intelligence Service (NCIS) based on national police figures reveals more motorbikes are stolen in the UK than are bought new, and it takes on average 20 seconds to steal a motorcycle.

Some reports suggest criminal groups steal £3m worth of motorbikes from UK streets every month.

Despite the fact that Lancashire has seen a big fall in general vehicle theft, motorcyclists are still being encouraged to toughen up their bike security by getting a security device, keeping their keys with them, and always using the steering lock.

Police are advising bikers to fit locks and a ground anchor in garages used to store bikes and to mark parts with a UV pen to try to thwart criminals cashing in on the black market for parts.

Residents are urged to report graffiti to help the council in its fight against grime.

Workers will remove graffiti from public buildings, street furniture and monuments free and will usually remove graffiti from people's homes for no charge.

It may charge companies for removal of graffiti from phone boxes, junction boxes or any other private land or commercial premises.

Coun Kate Calder, cabinet member for community engagement and community safety, said: "We want to continue to spread the cleaner, safer, greener message by focusing on specific types of anti-social behaviour, starting with graffiti.

"Graffiti is vandalism and is something we won't tolerate. We would urge people to call the council's Graffiti Line and our officers will remove it as quickly as possible."

This focus on graffiti is part of the Respect Our City campaign which aims to tackle anti-social behaviour such as fighting, littering and swearing.

Insp Stuart Whittle, from Lancashire Constabulary, said: "Graffiti can be intimidating and gives people the impression that an area is unsafe .

"It can be anything from elaborate paintings to tag names on bus shelters and buildings and we want to do all we can to stamp it out."

People caught graffiting could face arrest or on-the-spot fines of up to £80.

Anyone who spots graffiti should call the local cleansing department This number can also be used to report litter and fly tipping. OR Crimestoppers Telephone 0800/555/111 (£100 REWARD)

Parts of Lea & Fulwood are covered by Preston City Council's Dog Watch Scheme. Patrols are being carried out in these areas by dog welfare officers and PCSO's. Any dog owners that show disregard to the anti-fouling laws will be issued with  a fixed penalty notice  of £50.00 (paid within 14 days).Failure to pay the penalty may result in prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

 

To make a complaint regarding a dog fouling problem, contact the Dog Welfare Officers,

April 2009 Central Division

Preston Poster Campaign

In and around the city of Preston , Neighbourhood Policing Teams are using Home Office produced posters to warn residents of the dangers of leaving their homes insecure. Officers patrolling the streets, especially in the areas of Plungington, Tulketh, and the University Ward, are posting life size images of a hand and arm through open windows.

The poster is double sided, with the image of a man's hand on one side, and Home Office warnings on the other; the key message being to keep belongings and possessions out of a burglar's reach, with open doors and windows being “open invitations”.

Posting these through residents' open windows and doors is being used as a shock tactic to those who leave their property inadequately protected, to combat the statistic that in a third of all burglaries, the offenders don't have to break in but take advantage of the absence in security.

The posters also remind residents to keep belongings, especially keys, out of sight of the letterbox as thieves will use implements such as sticks to pick up what they can not reach from the outside.

This is a developed approach to the “footprints” flyers initiatives used in Preston in previous years which were used to deliver the same message.

A time-lapse photo showing people crossing the bus station apron

 

The North West's most senior traffic official has told people not to risk their lives by walking on Preston's bus station concourse.

Regional traffic commissioner Beverley Bell said that passengers were also putting bus drivers at risk by walking in between vehicles to get out of the terminal rather than using underpasses.

She held a hearing this week into an accident involving driver Stephen Brooks, of Ashton, Preston, in which pensioner Zulekha Patel, 69, of Watling Street Road, Fulwood, was knocked over and later died from her injuries.

In February he was ordered to pay £1,000 in fines and costs by magistrates after being found guilty of driving without due care and attention.

Mrs Bell said: "I would like to remind the public that they can play their part in safety at bus stations.

"They must exercise great care when getting on and off buses and, in particular, they should never walk across the bus station apron or behind a bus as the driver's view will be limited."

Preston mayor John Swindells sparked outrage last month when he admitted to walking across the bus apron, risking prosecution and a £500 fine, because he did not want to walk through the "threatening" subways.

That followed a shock report by the Evening Post which showed more than 300 people dodging buses on the apron in just one hour.

 

LOCAL people are being urged to keep Preston free of litter, dog fouling and anti-social behaviour as part of the Safer Preston Partnership's latest campaign.

Respect our City will be launched on 8th December and run throughout next year. It will see eye-catching signs placed on buses, lampposts, litter bins, shops, restaurants, and pubs and clubs across Preston .

These signs will contain the ‘Rules ‘round town', which set out that anti-social behaviour such as swearing, spitting, dropping litter, dog fouling and aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated in Preston – and that anyone caught breaking these rules could be arrested or face an £80 fixed penalty fine.

The Safer Preston Partnership aims to reduce crime and disorder in Preston and is made up of Preston City Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and other public, private and voluntary organisations.