The Community Safety Newsletter aims to keep residents informed about what the Community Safety Partnership has been involved with in Chiltern and South Bucks districts in the last month.

South Bucks Community Forum

Come along to the next Community Forum! The South Bucks Community Forum has been developed to help identify the community safety priorities in South Bucks for the next three months.

This is a great opportunity to identify, review and resolve priority neighbourhood issues. The forums bring together the police, members of the public, partners, stakeholders and community groups, enabling us to work together to solve issues in our communities.

The forum will take place on Monday 25th February, 6.30-8pm at Burnham Parish Hall, Windsor Lane, SL1 7HR.

Chiltern Community Forum

Come along to the next Community Forum! The Chiltern District Community Forum has been developed to help identify the community safety priorities in Chiltern District for the next three months.

This is a great opportunity to identify, review and resolve priority neighbourhood issues. The forums bring together the police, members of the public, partners, stakeholders and community groups, enabling us to work together to solve issues in our communities.

The forum will take place on Wednesday 20th February, 6-8pm at Chalfont St Peter Parish Office, Gravel Hill, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9QX

Coercive Control And Emotional Abuse Campaign

Victims First, which supports victims of crime and abuse across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of coercive control and emotional abuse in relationships.

The campaign is called ‘Know this isn’t Love’ and focuses on early warning signs of controlling behaviour and emotional abuse to help victims identify any potential signs within their own relationships and seek support.

Coercive control became a criminal offence in 2015 and involves an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse by a perpetrator that is used to harm, punish or frighten their victim.

If you have been affected by coercive control or domestic abuse you can access support through Victims First on 0300 1234 148 or online at www.victims-first.org.uk.

L&Q Housing Association Training Day

On Friday 25th January we organised a safeguarding training day for L&Q Housing Association. The day consisted of training sessions from Thames Valley Police, The Willow Project and Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils'.

Topics such as organised crime, county lines, exploitation and modern slavery, antisocial behaviour, closure orders and terrorism and preventing violent extremism were covered throughout the day.

This was an excellent example of partnership working and we look forward to working with L&Q Housing Association more in the future!

Scams Awareness Events at Natwest, Amersham and Nationwide, Chesham

Thames Valley Police and Community Safety have visiting local banks informing residents of current scams and how to protect themselves from becoming a victim.

Scam Awareness and Prevention Event

Thames Valley Police, Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils’ Community Safety Team and Trading Standards would like to invite you to the launch of Operation Gauntlet, the Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire Scam Awareness and Prevention campaign.

To launch Operation Gauntlet, we are holding two events for members of the public, to raise awareness of current scams and give advice about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.

There is no need to book, come along to either session above to find out about current scams and how to protect yourself and others from becoming a victim.

For more information and advice please visit: www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud

Safe Place Scheme - Chesham and Farnham Common

Thames Valley police and the Community Safety team have been out and about in Chesham and Farnham Common this month speaking with businesses and retailers highlighting the importance of the Safe Place Scheme.

The Safe Place scheme gives vulnerable people a short term 'Safe Place' to go if they are feeling confused, scared or upset when out and about in their local town.

Shops, businesses and public buildings who are a Safe Place will display the Safe Place sticker in their window.

If a vulnerable person seeks help, members of staff would be expected to make a phone call if necessary (emergency contact details will be carried on their Safe Place member card), provide a temporary safe haven for them and also to reassure them and keep them safe until help and support arrives.

If you would like to know more about the Safe Place Scheme and find out what businesses and retailers are signed up in your area please visit: www.chiltern.gov.uk/safeplacescheme or www.southbucks.gov.uk/safeplacescheme

Rural Crime Prevention Week

According to a recent report from The National Farmers Union (NFU) the cost of thefts from rural homes, businesses and farms stands at £44.5m in the UK. Unfortunately many of these thefts go unreported to the police, making it hard for police forces to understand the full extent of the issues in their area. The impact not only affects insurance premiums it can also have a wider effect on local communities and even food prices.

Here are a few simple measures to help you avoid becoming a victim of crime:

• Lock your equipment away when not in use – it might sound simple but a lot of burglary is committed by opportunists. If they see something unattended they will take it.
• Make your property more secure – consider installing CCTV and alarms, make boundaries secure with good fencing or use natural defences by planting thorny bushes, and ensure fixing bolts are secure
• Mark your tools and register them free on Immobilise - we recommend your house number and postcode, however anything identifiable can be used. DO NOT use any personal details e.g. your name or contact number
• Record make, model and serial number – in the unfortunate circumstances that your items are stolen, you can readily give details to both the police and your insurance company

In support of Rural Crime Prevention Week the Community Safety Team from Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils and Thames Valley Police have organised two events offering free tool marking and rural crime prevention advice.

For further Rural Crime prevention advice please visit: www.chiltern.gov.uk/ruralcrime or www.southbucks.gov.uk/ruralcrime

Thank you for reading!

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