Greetings all from Debenham!

I apologise that this is only my first article for the ORACLE, and also the first time that some residents may have seen or heard of me. My name is Michael Gwyn. I am on part of the new Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) with responsibility for Occold parish, along with a further twenty-one parishes! I am based at Debenham Police Station, along with my Sergeant, Nick Emerick and two Police Community Support Officers: Vince Clarkson and Chris Bales.

Should you be so tempted, you could have a look at our pictures on the website, just go to www.suffolk.police.uk and navigate to ‘find your Safer Neighbourhood Team’ and input your postcode!

Residents may have heard a great deal about SNT’s, but not actually understand what they are, or why they have been introduced. In short, they are designed to make the police more accessible to the public. Over time it is hoped that rapport will be formed between the police and local residents, which will be beneficial to all parties, with the police providing reassurance to residents and dealing effectively and efficiently with problems and concerns, and likewise, residents will share information with the police to assist them with enquiries. It is early days, but so far so good!!

Currently the majority of crime in the area relates to offenders stealing property from motor vehicles. This is a frustrating crime as it is easily preventable by people removing valuables from their vehicles.

It has often been the case that victim’s vehicles have been unlocked at the time of the theft…. Please please please secure your vehicles and remove valuables.

Another frequently occurring crime at present is sheds being broken into and power tools and furniture being stolen. In order to prevent this, Suffolk Police have shed alarms for sale at £10-00. They are very good and I can assure you, they make a lot of noise!!

At present a great deal of my time is occupied dealing with problems in other areas of the ‘patch’. Badwell Ash is currently suffering with anti-social behaviour and petty damage caused by youths living in the area.

This is being addressed by the use of plain-clothes patrols, additional staff and a crack down on ‘boy racers’. Thorndon is suffering with similar bouts of damage, although on a smaller scale. All areas also appear to have problems in relation to speeding motorists.

Finally, the crime figures for Occold: since the start of the year, there have been eight crimes in the parish of Occold. These have comprised of two dwelling burglaries, the theft of a motor vehicle, which has been recovered, one fraud and the remainder are domestic dispute related.

I wish you all the very best and would urge that If you happen to see us out and about, please stop and chat – we don’t bite!!

Best wishes,           Michael Gwyn                        Debenham police station: 01284 774100

Midsuffcentral.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk