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play0:00 / 2:07Six convicted of Nottingham 'riot' - PC Alex Cooney, was one of a number of officers inside Canning Circus Police Station when the grou... -
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nottspolice Home Secretary Theresa May MP gave a ringing endorsement of the force during a visit to St Ann's in Nottingham. She said she recognised the performance improvements the force has made and is confident this will continue. After meeting with DCC Chris Eyre, ACC Paul Broadbent and Supt Dave Walker, the Home Secretary spoke about the partne...rship work that is being done to tackle antisocial behaviour and local officers' enthusiasm for serving the public. She said: "I see from looking at the figures for Nottinghamshire and from talking to police officers and senior level officers here today, a force that has been improving and they are determined to carry on that improvement. "There is a real focus on ensuring they can deliver for local people - they are dealing with crime and cutting crime. "Be clear that we are getting rid of targets for police forces to be replaced with one objective and that is to cut crime. "That has been taken up here in Nottinghamshire and some of the things they are doing are working well, for example, how they work with the local councils and tackling antisocial behaviour. "There is a real enthusiasm for getting out there and dealing with the problems." Insp Keith Priest conducted a tour of St Ann's Police Station where the Home Secretary met response officers and the Drugs Offences Team before being taken on a tour of the area by the local beat team, led by Sgt Nigel Bradley. She attended a community meeting at Dane Court Community Centre before answering questions from the media. Visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/nottspolice Become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/nottspolice Watch our story on www.youtube.com/nottinghampolice
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nottspolice The mother of an eight-year-old girl who was abducted and assaulted by a man in Bulwell has made an emotional appeal for information. The woman has appealed directly to witnesses or anyone with information to come forward to help find the man who attacked her daughter. “In my heart I believe that someone out there knows what happened - I think they are just afraid to say who it is,” said the woman, who must remain anonymous to protect her daughter’s identity. The girl was playing outside in Commercial Road at around 6.30pm on Tuesday 23 November 2010 when she was approached by a man, who was in his late teens or early twenties. He led her away walking along Abercarn Close, Rock Street and Aldgate Close, to a secluded area in Pulley Park, where he carried out a serious assault. The girl was able to get away from her attacker and raised the alarm. She suffered severe bruising and is still struggling to come to terms with what happened. “She had really bad bruising and was sore for weeks on end. She wouldn’t let anybody go near her. The bruising has gone now but she is still not the same person she used to be,” said the mum. “She is still very upset, very moody and is not the happy-go-lucky child we once knew. Our lives have been turned upside down and we are not a normal, happy family anymore. “She is paranoid when she goes out to play and doesn’t go far. She’s not getting on in school either. “There are days when she’s okay but then there are days when she is snapping all the time. She’s shouting and slamming doors – I think it’s hit her really bad.” The woman added that following the attack, her daughter has difficulty trusting others. “She doesn’t trust anybody, particularly men. When she has a PE lesson in school, she goes into the toilets to get dressed away from the other children.” The mum said that she is also struggling to come to terms with what happened to her daughter. “It makes it worse that he’s still out there. When the children go out, I’m constantly worrying. Because I don’t know who the man is, I think he could approach my children again – I’m constantly on 24 hour watch. “In the day I try to cope as best I can but it’s at night-time that it hits me the most when I’m on my own – I’m constantly checking the doors are locked. “My children are afraid to go outside and I’m constantly ringing them asking where they are and what they are doing. I’m paranoid that something is going to happen to them.” She added that identifying the person responsible for the attack on her daughter would help her family deal with what happened. “I wish someone would go to the police and say something to help my daughter. I ask people to please come forward and give the information, no matter how little or large. “Finding the person who did this would mean we could relax knowing he’s not out there hurting somebody else. We could get on with our lives and start being a family again.” The victim told police officers that her attacker was white, under 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build, and in either his late teens or early twenties. She said he was wearing a grey hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms. The girl was wearing black jacket and pink trousers. Anyone with information should the dedicated incident room at St Ann’s Police Station on 0115 8445017 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. To see the CCTV of people the police want to speak to visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk or www.youtube.com/nottinghampolice
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nottspolice Nottinghamshire Police's Crimestoppers co-ordinator Sarah Smithurst has thanked the people of Nottinghamshire for their support in helping to fight crime and change lives in Ghana. Sarah visited the country in February to help set up a second branch of crime reporting scheme Crime Fighters, which is based on Crimestoppers in the UK. Sarah was called upon to give advice and support to introduce the scheme in Ghana, due to her long-standing work with Crimestoppers. Before her latest visit, Sarah appealed to the people of Nottinghamshire and further afield to donate items, such as toys, clothes, equipment and books, that could be given to a school and hospital. She also received donations of decommissioned equipment, such as stab vests and riot shields, from six police forces for donation to the Ghanaian Police Force. Arrangements for the items to be shipped to Ghana were made by National Police Aid Convoys, based at Mansfield. In this video, Sarah says thank you to those that have helped to really make a difference to people's lives in Ghana and presents some footage taken during the trip so people who have supported her appeal can see how their help has had an impact there. Special thanks to Richard Tempest-Mitchell, from Manor School, in Mansfield, who recorded much of the footage. Sarah is planning another trip to Ghana and is already appealing for more items to take with her. If you would like to donate any unwanted items, in good condition, contact Sarah on 0300 300 9999. For more news and appeals from Nottinghamshire Police, visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk To find out more about National Police Aid Convoys, visit www.npac.org.uk Follow Nottinghamshire Police on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nottspolice Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nottspolice
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nottspolice Hear Insp Al Pearson's warning to potential cannabis growers following a fire at a flat in Vale Road, Colwick, in the early hours of Wednesday 20 April, which was caused by a plug socket overloaded with hydroponic equipment used for growing cannabis plants. For more news from Nottinghamshire Police visit http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nottspolice Become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.como/nottspolice See our story on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/nottinghampolice
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nottspolice A project to ‘design out’ crime was officially launched in a Nottinghamshire village on Friday (March 11). East Stoke is believed to be the first community in the country to have had security in all its homes upgraded and CCTV installed to cover the entire village. The project began two years ago and has now resulted in the community being awared Secured By Design status by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). Secured by Design is a police initiative to encourage the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures in the design of developments to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, creating a safer and more secure environment. The project involved ensuring that doors and windows has effective locks, and that garden and shed security measures are also taken. Installation of security lighting and intruder alarms has also been included. The village’s CCTV and street lighting coverage have also been extended. Nottinghamshire Police has teamed up with the county council and the village’s Neighbourhood Watch group, led by resident Sid Davies, to develop the initiative, which also received National Lottery Funding. Assistant Chief Constable Ian Ackerley, who came up with the proposal for achieving SBD status, said: "We all like to feel our communities are becoming increasingly safer, and across Nottinghamshire crime is reducing at a faster rate than anywhere else in England and Wales. "Those reductions have been achieved by employing a plethora of different approaches which are appropriate to each of our communities. "What is happening in East Stoke is truly innovative, resulting from police and partner organisations listening to the community here and responding with a solution that has been talked about in Nottinghamshire for some time. "I’m delighted to say that this project is now complete, thanks in part to funding from Nottinghamshire County Council and the National Lottery, and that East Stoke is ready to become a trailblazer for improving community safety and, consequently, its residents’ quality of life. "I’d like to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of the residents of East Stoke, and in particular Sid Davies, who has been the driving force to develop this initiative. Their input has been inspirational and every bit as important as the work of the partner agencies involved. "For that alone, they deserve the greater peace of mind that this project will hopefully bring them." Listen to this boo to find out from Neighbourhood Watch chair Sid Davies, ACC Ian Ackerley and Architectural Liaison Officer Kevin Brown, how the project has developed. For more information about policing in Nottinghamshire visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk
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nottspolice It was the year that Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married, MTV first aired, the average house price was £24,188 and crime in Nottinghamshire was under 89,000 offences. Now validated statistics for the last financial year show that Nottinghamshire Police has recorded its lowest crime figures since 1981. The force has achieved another 14.2 per cent reduction in crime, compared to the previous year, down 13,990 crimes. While in 1981, the force recorded 88,927 offences, this year there has been 84,329 offences. Offences of burglary, robbery, criminal damage, vehicle crime, and violence have also dropped dramatically throughout 2010/11. A 26.2 per cent reduction in burglary means 2,065 fewer people have been victims. While there has been 2,463 fewer vehicle crimes (- 23.1 per cent), 4,377 fewer offences of criminal damage (- 21.9 per cent), a reduction of 473 robbery offences (-24.5 per cent) and reductions of 235 most serious violence offences (- 27.7 per cent) and 3,142 fewer victims of assault with less serious injury (- 29.4 per cent). In addition to crime reductions, the force has also seen an increase in the number of crimes detected, which means more criminals are being arrested and put before the court. Since 1 April, the force has gone from four to two divisions. However, all four divisional areas saw crime fall. Mansfield and Ashfield (A division) saw a drop of 4,152 offences, down 19.6 per cent; Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood (B division) reduced crime by 19.3 per cent (14,093), the city’s crime fell by 3,954 offences (9.8 per cent) and South Notts (D division) recorded a 12.9 per cent reduction – 2,512 fewer crimes. Here, ACC Paul Broadbent says thank you to the people of Nottinghamshire who have helped to bring about such significant crime reductions. For more news from Nottinghamshire Police visit www.nottinghamshire.police.uk Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nottspolice Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nottspolice See our story on YouTube at www.youtube.com/nottinghampolice
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nottspolice This podcast, from Women's Aid and DirectGov, gives useful advice and tips on where to get help if you are experiencing domestic violence. It also features an interview with Sue Haile, the manager of the National Domestic Violence Helpline. For more information on where to get help and advice if you are experiencing domestic violence, visit http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/domesticviolence
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nottspolice A crime fighting scheme is expanding in Africa thanks to the support of Nottinghamshire Police’s Sarah Smithurst. Sarah, who is responsible for co-ordinating information passed to Nottinghamshire Police through the Crimestoppers charity, has helped to set up a similar scheme in Ghana. She was first contacted by police there after they heard about the success of Crimestoppers and decided a similar approach could help their fight against organised crime, particularly the drugs and firearms trades. In August 2009, the first Crimefighters project was launched in Accra, the country’s capital, with Sarah’s help and support. It works along similar lines to Crimestoppers, although the scheme is not independently run as it is in Britain, with calls handled by the Ghanaian police. It still allows for rewards to be paid for information which leads to the conviction of criminals. On Monday (February 14), Sarah will arrive in Ghana to oversee the introduction of the second Crimefighters scheme in Takoradi, the capital of the country’s western region. She said: “I’m hoping this will be just the beginning of the growth of Crimefighters across Ghana and potentially other African countries. “The original scheme is really proving its worth, with arrests being made as a result of information coming in about all sorts of crimes, but mainly drugs and firearms. “Businesses in Ghana have given their backing to the project and we have relied on their goodwill and support to really get it off the ground and get the message out there.” Sarah’s fortnight working in Ghana has been timed to coincide with the arrival of a huge container full of donations from people in Britain to help the Ghanaian Police Service and schools and orphanages in the Accra area. This will be the second container of donations that Sarah has arranged to be transported there since she first visited the country in 2009. She said: “On my first visit, I was there to support the police in working out how we could set up Crimefighters. While I was working with them, I saw how in need of the equipment and basic protective items that our officers are automatically given in this country. “They had no stab vests or high visibility clothing and are working in extremely challenging conditions, with little or no protection. Although their uniforms are very smart and they take a lot of pride in their professional appearance, basic protective equipment is not available to them. “I also wanted to see the real Ghana and went to visit schools and orphanages near the police headquarters. What I saw broke my heart and it made me realise how much we take for granted in this country. I knew I needed to do something to help.” When she arrived back in England, Sarah enlisted the help of National Police Aid Convoys, a charity started in 1993 by police officers in Nottinghamshire and continues to procure and deliver humanitarian aid across the globe. With the help of their dedicated band of volunteers, they helped her organise the packing and transportation of the first container to Ghana in August 2009 as well as the one that will arrive there next week. Sarah appealed to people across Nottinghamshire to donate whatever they could. She said: “I continue to be amazed at the generosity of people who have supported our work. Schoolchildren donated shoeboxes filled with toys and letters and photographs for their counterparts in Ghana. “Couples who have no children of their own went out and bought nappies for the orphans. Six police forces donated surplus or decommissioned equipment, including batons, riot shields and high-visibility jackets. Local businesses, schools and hospitals also donated equipment which will change many many lives for the better.” To get an idea of the scale of the Nottinghamshire public’s generosity, this container, measures 40ft by 9ft by 7ft, weighs 8 tons, will take six hours to unload and there is not a spare inch of space on board. Sarah, who was made an honorary Superintendent in the Ghanaian Police to thank her for her support for Crimefighters, said: “I can only thank the people who have helped so much to make this dream of mine a reality. It is worth all the effort when you see the smiles on the faces of the people we are helping and you know that we are really making a difference.” Visit our website http://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk Become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/nottspolice Follow us on Twitetr http://www.twitter.com/nottspolice Watch us on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/nottinghampolice
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nottspolice Students are being urged to lock up their rooms in halls of residences and student homes as they embark on a new academic year in Nottingham. Crime Reduction Manager Dave Bagshaw has been interviewed by Emma Lautman at URN, The University of Nottingham's student radio station, to advise students how they can keep themselves safe throughout the academic year. Nottinghamshire Police is working with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University to hammer home property security and personal safety advice and reduce burglaries. As part of a ‘Welcome Weekend’, high visibility officers, university staff and volunteers, will be patrolling streets this weekend (September 18 and 19), speaking with students and handing out crime prevention advice. Officers will also be looking for insecurities, such as unlocked doors and open windows, and advising residents to keep them closed. Over the next few weeks, police will visit both of the universities’ freshers’ fairs to speak with students about securing their homes and personal safety. Students will be offered free SmartWater – a property marking liquid - and given free registration to the Immobilise database, which allows stolen property to be registered and easily returned to its rightful owner if it is stolen in a burglary and later recovered by police. Local Safer Neighbourhood Inspector Anwaar Ahmed said: “A large proportion of burglaries committed against students happen because doors are left unlocked and windows are left open. “Officers will be looking for these insecurities and speaking with students, to ensure they can minimise the chance of becoming a victim of crime and losing expensive items. “I advise all students to lock all doors and windows, even if you are in the house, and keep valuable property hidden well away from peering eyes." Since 2003, police and partners have been running Operation Country – an initiative tackling burglary in Lenton, Radford and Canning Circus. In this time, the number of student burglaries has steadily fallen and between 2007/08 and 2008/09 there was a 59 per cent fall in break-ins. Throughout the academic year, police analyse intelligence to identify vulnerable areas and use both overt and covert tactics to deter burglaries taking place and catch offenders. Insp Ahmed added: “The public and student population can rest assured we will use all the tools in our box to deter and apprehend offenders. “And those who set out to break into properties and steal from others should understand they are being watched and we will not rest in our pursuit of you.” Nottingham University’s ‘Love Your Stuff’ bike will be out and about over the next few weeks advertising crime prevention and signposting students to www.easily-done.co.uk, which promotes student safety and crime prevention. Melanie Futer, Off-Campus Student Affairs Manager at the University of Nottingham, said: "Most burglars are opportunists, and a third of burglaries occurring are through insecurities such as open doors and windows. "We're hoping that by offering some simple advice, we can help more students to take responsibility for their possessions and make sure they don't give burglars any chances.” You can hear the interview on URN's The Pulse show on Saturday 25 September at http://urn1350.net
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