Parish Council

2 January 2025

To : All Towns/Parishes within the policing area covered by community police officers PC 1293 Niall Johnson and PC Katie Jarrett.

Police need to alert you to a burglary/theft crime series that is occurring across our policing patch (and beyond). I have put a screenshot of map of offences below, this will be more up to date that what you can currently see on the Suffolk Police website, you can see a glow around the square marks in Nayland, that means more than one offence in that specific location. I have some crime prevention tips that we would like you to pass onto as many people in your parishes as possible, feel free to copy and paste the advice between the lines below and share onto members of the public. Burglaries have included some house burglaries, where the offender will simply walk around the back of an address, try the back door, let themselves in and take whatever they can get their hands on in the first room/s, such as handbags/phones etc, this happens when the person is at home and has been occurring typically in the evenings. Some vehicles have been broken into, with items such as wallets and cash stolen. In addition to those type of offences, various sheds, outbuildings, garages etc have been broken into, with items stolen ranging from quad bikes to power tools.

Four individuals were arrested recently and a lot of suspected stolen property recovered, police are working through the lists and examining what has been seized, trying to match it up with crimes that have occurred and return the items to their owners. Despite the arrests, some offences are still continuing. Police are continuing to patrol in an effort to prevent/detect these offences. In addition to the patrols, other policing activity and tactics has been implemented which led to those recent arrests and recovery of property.

CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE – SHORT VERSION

Lock your back door in the evening, even when you are at home. Do not leave valuables on display in vehicles, do not leave valuables in vehicles at all. Consider getting CCTV, even if just a video doorbell (police now recommend the defender video doorbell available here https://defendersecurityproducts.co.uk/ as no subscription fee). Get an alarm for outbuildings, even if it is a cheap battery one that is attached with fishing wire to one item of value, so when moved an alarm goes off and the offender/s will likely flee. Take photographs of your items of value, make a note of colour, make, model and the serial number. Consider security marking up your items, with either UV pen or for power tools even scratching or embossing something identifiable on it. Those final tips are invaluable for when police recover items.

CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE – LONG VERSION

HOUSE SECURITY

On your front door, have a door chain or door bar and viewer (spy hole) * Front boundaries should be less than 1m high (your neighbours and passers-by clearly should be able to see the front of your property) * Rear boundaries should be 1.8m high with locked gates (to prevent easy rear access - also remove climbing aids) * Remove tools/bricks from the garden that could be used to force entry * Always lock garages, sheds and outbuildings * Have dusk to dawn lighting at the front and back * Always lock your doors with the key and keep your windows secure, even when you’re at home * Install an alarm * Install CCTV  * Leave lights on timers * Create layers of security * Mark your property with UV pen (I have these available at my monthly events) * Avoid keeping cash at home * Hide car keys *

You can now buy TV light simulators as well, which flash lights as if there is a television on in your house, I would recommend one of those, they are around £10-15. The video doorbell that police now recommend is called a Defender Video Doorbell which can be purchased here https://defendersecurityproducts.co.uk/ and is £100, it has no subscription fee, if you are not installing full CCTV consider one of these at the front and potentially one at the back of your property if/when you can afford it. There are tech sales on right now with large reductions on full CCTV systems. I have recently purchased a Blink CCTV system which seems good, the cameras are wireless and with the use of a USB memory stick put into the device inside your home, you do not need a subscription either.

SHED AND GARDEN SECURITY

* Always keep your shed or garage locked * Use dusk to dawn lights * Use coach bolts to fasten hinged and hasps and staples or pad bar * Fit anchor points to secure items to * Fit an alarm and use it * Avoid storing high value items in the shed * Cover windows in the shed * Use two good quality closed shackle padlocks to secure the shed door * Always lock internal doors between the garage and house * Add ground mounted locking bars to enhance security on 'up and over' garage doors * Use two good quality closed shackled padlocks or a 5 lever mortice and rim lock (BS3621) to secure garage doors * Lock all garage windows * Try to have it covered by a CCTV system *

VEHICLE SECURITY

* Most importantly, avoid keeping valuables in your vehicle and do not leave any on display - including sun glasses and charging cables * Always lock doors and shut windows and remove the key when the vehicle is unattended * Always set an alarm if your vehicle has one and act if you hear an alarm * Park in a garage or secure well-lit area covered by CCTV if possible * Use a physical security device such as a steering lock and/or wheel lock * When you park away from home or work, try to use 'Park Mark' approved car park * Use Secured By Design (SBD) accredited products to add extra security to your vehicle ( link here www.securedbydesign.com ) * Use a Faraday pouch to securely store entry fobs for keyless entry vehicles *

RECORDING / MARKING

Sometimes when searches are made, police recover suspected stolen property, but due to no security markings or due to the victim not reporting the theft (so police have no record of it) the property is hard to return to the rightful owner. For that reason, you should always report burglaries and also keep a note of any expensive property, record the description, make, model, colour and serial number. Personally, whenever I get a new item of property that this is worth doing with, I take a couple of photographs on my phone including the serial number then simply email the images to myself and keep that email safe. It is also worth registering your items on the immobilise website here www.immobilise.com

Burglary Offences in the Hadleigh and surrounding parishes area

PC 1293 Johnson’s patch. 1/11/24 – 22/12/24.

 

 

Burglary Offences in the East Babergh area

PC 582 Jarret’s patch. 1/11/24 – 22/12/24.

 

 

Please remember not to report individual crimes directly to either myself of Kate, as we only investigate specific crime types. Instead, public should use 999 in an emergency if they think a crime is in progress (or about to be committed), 101 or online via the Suffolk Police website if the incident has already happened and the risk is reduced, or sometimes the Live Chat function is available on the Suffolk Police website as well. Feel free to share any community intelligence about criminality with us directly though and we can offer advice on various police related issues. If anyone has any public events throughout the year, let us know about those as well, as when they fit with our shifts and commitments we can attend with advice leaflets, UV marker pens, colouring sheets, stickers and uniform for children to try on.

I apologise for all the doom and gloom and being the bearer of such news. But prevention and target hardening can make a real difference and can certainly reduce the likelihood of crime happening to someone if they follow the above advice. Please remember to follow the Hadleigh and East Babergh Facebook page to see community related posts from myself and Kate and encourage your residents to do the same.

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12 December 2024

Suffolk Recycles winter newsletter

Babergh District Council is pleased to share the latest newsletter from Suffolk Recycles. The winter edition shares information about Christmas recycling, changes to bin collections over the festive period, their Food Savvy campaign and competition, re-use opportunities and more.

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2 December 2024

NSIPs and large-scale energy projects progress.

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20 November 2024. Updated 9 December 2024 - Suffolk Highways have cancelled these works and will notify us when they have been re-scheduled.

Advanced notification of road closure - Flowton Road, Elmsett

Suffolk Highways is planning to carry out structural repairs along Flowton Road, Elmsett.

The works are programmed to take place from Wednesday 4 December until Friday 13 December. During this time, the road will be closed at all times to ensure the safety of highway users and operatives.

For the duration of the closure, traffic will be diverted via Flowton Road, Elmsett Road, Ipswich Road, The Street and vice versa.

To enable works to be carried out as planned, local road users are being asked to please move their vehicles from the area highlighted by 'no parking' cones.

As roadworks are planned in advance, extra days are scheduled to allow for bad weather or other delays beyond the control of Suffolk Highways. If major changes are needed to be made to the work dates, the information signs on site will be updated and social media channels accordingly.

A plan showing the diversion route for these works can be viewed here. When roads are closed and a diversion is put in place, the route needs to be accessible to vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Diversions are made as clear as possible by placing appropriate signing along the route. The latest updates on works can be found on the One.Network website.

There may be times that essential emergency works are required to take place on the highway network without advanced notice – you can follow Suffolk Highways on Facebook for the latest emergency roadwork updates.

If you have any queries on the above, please contact us on 0345 606 6171.

Suffolk Highways

www.suffolk.gov.uk/highways

 

11 November 2024

Support for South Suffolk Constituents this winter - 

Communication from James Cartlidge, MP

"In light of the recent increase to the energy price cap and the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment, I am writing to let you know about the help that may be available to support households of both working-ages and those aged over 65 in South Suffolk. 

Household Support Fund (HSF)

The Household Support Fund (HSF) is an allocation of funding that the Government has awarded to Suffolk County Council to support our most vulnerable residents - including families, those of working-age and pensioners. The HSF has recently been confirmed to run until April 2025.

Suffolk County Council allocates HSF money to residents in a number of ways including support for children during school holidays, financial help through the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme and housing support through the District Council local Housing Needs Team.

If you would like to learn about the HSF, please visit Suffolk County Council's website - suffolk.gov.uk/community-and-safety/communities/healthier/cost-of-living-support/household-support-fund

For more information about the Seniors Fair or support that may be available to you this winter, please contact James Cartlidge MP, telephone: 020 7219 4875, email: james.cartlidge.mp@parliament.uk, website: www.jamescartlidge.com/supportforconstituents or www.jamescartlidge.com

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29 October 2024

Suffolk loft insulation offer

Suffolk Climate Change Partnership would like to share this following information: 

According to the Energy Saving Trust, an uninsulated home loses a quarter of its heat through its roof.  For the second year in a row, help to afford eco-friendly loft insulation is now available for Suffolk residents.

The Suffolk Climate Change Partnership has teamed up with an insulation provider to help Suffolk residents make their homes warmer and save money on their energy bills.  

Residents will receive a 50% discount off their purchase of 200mm or 370mm wide insulation rolls (up to £200) with free delivery, from High Loft, the UK's leading eco loft insulation brand.  

The offer is open to anyone in Suffolk and will only close once the allocated funding has been spent. Simply go to www.highloft.co.uk/pages/suffolk-council-200-loft-insulation-contribution and fill in the form to receive your discount code.    

To find out more click on this link to visit the dedicated webpage on insulation

 

29 October 2024

A1071 / The Street Junction

The Parish Council would like to thank Steve Hicks and his 'band of volunteers' who have cleared the mud out of the pit around the culverts, and cut away the surrounding brambles. This should mean that the potential flood hazard to motorists is now virtually eliminated. 

The main cause of the problem was a bucket that had wedged bottom first into the lower culvert and was stopping any water draining away. This led to mud gradually being deposited at this point instead of being washed away.

Following the ditches being cleared by the farmer, it was clear to see that the pipes were blocked; a report was submitted to Suffolk County Council Highways alerting them to the problem. The volunteers stepped in to undertake the investigations and works following the Suffolk Highways response that having visited the site, and assessed the situation against their Highway Maintenance Operational Plan (HMOP), they would not take action as the situation did not meet their intervention criteria.

Once again, we'd all like to thank the volunteers who came together for the benefit of the village.

 

23 October 2024

Communication from Groundwork and Comic Relief

Comic Relief Community Fund - grants of up to £5,000

Groundwork and Comic Relief have announced a new funding programme to support community groups and grass-roots organisations to deliver services and activities that benefit local people across England.

The Comic Relief Community Fund, which launched on Monday 14 October 2024 sees applications open for grants of up to £5,000 for core organisational costs, direct project related costs or a combination of both, on a flexible basis and depending on need.

Voluntary or community organisations including registered charities and not for profit companies which deliver against any of the four thematic areas can apply; tackling immediate impacts of hardship, building resilience to poverty and hardship, working to support equity and inclusion, or working to support climate justice.

Groundwork has worked with Comic Relief since 2019 as an intermediary funder in England with £5.9m invested to over 1,300 projects.

 

 14 October 2024

Communication from Babergh District Council

" We want to take the opportunity to share with you current grant funding opportunities available here in Babergh District Council Babergh District Council Funding - Babergh District Council - babergh.gov.uk / midsuffolk.gov.uk.  

Specifically we have:-

The Living Well in Winter Grants are aimed at supporting people in our communities to thrive over the winter months. The funding is targeted at helping community groups tackle issues prevalent in our communities over the winter months, and exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, such as increased social isolation and decreased physical activity. Up to £2,000 can be applied for towards new and existing activities to be delivered between December 2024 and March 2025, such as lunch clubs, warm spaces or subsidised sports sessions. Living Well in Winter Grants are open for applications until Friday 8 November, at which points applications will be assessed using a scoring matrix. 

Social Enterprise support and funding Support for Social Enterprises - Babergh District Council - babergh.gov.uk / midsuffolk.gov.uk The Social Enterprise Support Fund has been established to provide support to social enterprises within Mid Suffolk in their development.  More information, detailed guidance and the application form can be found on our website.

The Food Security Fund has been established to support small scale, community led, food initiatives such as community pantries, fridges and food pop-ups. Between £250 and £5,000 can be applied for, towards capital costs such as the purchase of equipment to support the preparation and storage of food or project and volunteer administration. 

Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with applications being accepted within the 2024-25 financial year. Successful applicants will be required to deliver their project within 8 months of an offer being accepted."

 

9 October 2024

Communication from Babergh District Council