Police respond to speeding concerns in Canterbury

Community support officers have been checking for speeding motorists in the city’s Barton ward in response to concerns from residents.
Speeding was identified at Partnership and Community Together meetings (PACT) as one of the top priorities that the local community want police and local authorities to address. Across East Kent as a whole speeding and anti-social behaviour are in joint first place in the list of priorities followed by issues surrounding damage and graffiti and parking.
Fay Curtis and Sam Milton have been carrying out checks with laser speed enforcement equipment on St Martin’s Hill, Littlebourne Road, Old Dover Road and Spring Lane during the last month.
During a recent check 11 drivers were spotted exceeding the speed limit on those roads in just one hour.
Fellow community support officers Lisa Williams and Steve Coulter have also been working in the North Holmes Road and College Road area
The drivers can be stopped by a police officer or sent warning letters by community support officers.
Fay explained: “Residents have told us that speeding worries them so we have been responding to that and will continue to carry out regular checks. We are also asking for members of the local community to come out and help us doing these checks and if they would like to volunteer they can contact me direct on 07772 226091.”
The next meeting of the Spring Lane  PACT is on Thursday 8 May at 7pm in the neighbourhood centre. All are welcome to attend to talk about issues in the local community.

Arrests for shop theft

Members of Canterbury’s city police neighbourhood team who were monitoring the Tibet protest in Canterbury on Sunday afternoon (13 April 2008) made two arrests of boys wanted for thefts from staff areas in shops and businesses.
Descriptions had been issued of the 16-year-olds from Canterbury and a police officer and community support officer arrested the pair after spotting them in St Peter’s Street. The arrests were unconnected to the protest

One was due in court today (15 April 2008) charged with the theft of mobile phones from the Sun House in the Borough on 23 March 2008 and the Yamaha Music School in Simmonds Road on 18 March 2008 and the theft of a laptop from Twig Printing in Northgate on 22 March 2008. The other boy has been released on bail until Friday (18 April 2008).

Drink driving

The following drivers, arrested for driving with excess alcohol, are due to appear before magistrates in Canterbury
Grant Walkey (34) of Woodman Avenue, Whitstable, was stopped by police in Sandown Drive, Herne Bay, on Friday (11 April 2008) and is due before magistrates on 25 April 2008.
Also appearing on 25 April will be Oliver Chalk (19) of Upper Hardres near Canterbury. He was stopped on Old Dover Road, Canterbury, in the early hours of Friday (11 April 2008).
Sian Bourn (19) of Windsor Gardens, Herne Bay, is due before magistrates on 28 April 2008 after being stopped in Western Avenue, Herne Bay, early on Saturday morning (13 April 2008).

Stray dogs no longer police responsibility

Police in East Kent are requesting that stray dogs should not be brought to police stations across the area. Under Section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 that came into force on 6 April 2008 the police no longer have a duty to accept dogs brought in and kennels have been removed at stations.
Local authorities are responsible for stray dogs and those finding a dog should contact Canterbury City Council on 01227 862491 from 8.30 am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Outside these time contact the Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary on 01303 862622 for advice.

Appeal for information after damage in Chartham area

Hundreds of pounds of damage were caused to cars on Shalmsford Street, near Chartham, at the weekend.
Paintwork was scratched on the cars on Friday night (11 April 2008) or in the early hours of Saturday morning (12  April 2008).
This is the second weekend that the local community have suffered criminal damage. In the early hours of Sunday 6 April stones were thrown at houses on Shalmsford Street near the junction with Pomfret Road and a window was smashed. Fifteen minutes later four cars had their tyres slashed in River Court, Chartham.
Police community support officer Paul Rigden said: “The fencing around the derelict buildings at the former St Augustine’s Hospital site in Candlers Way. Chartham, has also been damaged recently as has the fencing around the Sycamore Close play equipment.”
Anyone witnessing damage being caused is urged to ring 999. Anyone with information about those causing the damage should  contact Paul on 07772 226034.

Missing person located

Following a police appeal for missing person Justyna Niepokulczycka, she attended Canterbury Police Station just after 8pm on Friday evening (11 April 2008). She was safe and well.
Justyna (29) had, travelled from Poland to stay with a friend in Whitstable,but  was reported missing by her friend after they had a night out in Canterbury on Monday 31 March.

Police neighbourhood team will be holding surgeries

For the residents of Barton ward on Wednesday 7 May when the mobile police station will be parked outside the post office in Barton road between 10am and 1pm. Community support officer Sam Milton will be there and can be contacted on 07972004452
For the residents of Wincheap and Thanington on Wednesday 7 May when the mobile police station will be parked in Oxford Road between 1.30pm and 6.30pm. Community support officers Sam Milton and Trevor Ingram will be there and  Sam can be contacted on 07972004452 and Trevor on 07772225970.
For the residents of St Stephens ward on Saturday 26  April 2008 when the mobile police station will be parked in Long Acre Close between noon and 4pm. Community support officer Gary Painter can be contacted on 07772226181..
For the residents of the Tankerton ward near Whitstable on Wednesday 7 May community support officer Donna Mackenzie will be holding a surgery in the evangelical church between 11am and noon. Donna can be contacted on 07772226062.

Appeal after garden ornaments stolen in Whitstable

Police have made an appeal for information after two distinctive metal solar butterfly ornaments were stolen from a garden in Pierpoint Road, Whitstable, on Saturday night (12 April 2008).
The ornaments are made of different metals that change colour in the light and anyone offered them or has information is urged to contact police on 01227 762055 quoting crime reference 5466.

Beltinge church broken into

The Baptist Church in Reculver Road, Beltinge, was broken into on Easter Sunday. Offenders broke a back door and ransacked rooms at the rear of the building but did not go into the church itself. Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 01227 762055 quoting crime reference 3941.