Shepton Mallet Rural Avon and Somerset Constabulary Police Local Neighbourhood

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

"Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community."

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

"Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community."

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

Come and meet your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to discuss any issues or queries you may have, and to bring them up to date with happenings in your community.

We must all count ourselves fortunate to either live or work in a rural area of outstanding natural beauty.
Unfortunately we have noticed an increase in the curse of fly tipping. Your rural neighbourhood team will be increasing patrols of vulnerable sites and working with our partner agencies to reduce this crime which blights the countryside.
Not only will we be targeting the perpetrators but seeking out those who allow non licensed waste collectors to remove their unwanted rubbish. On conviction the fines can be substantial.
Anyone operating without a waste disposal licenses faces prosecution a fine and possibly seizure of their vehicle.

With temperatures set to rise over the summer, most of us will be getting our flip-flops out to enjoy the heat. However, animals can’t deal with soaring temperatures so easily, and dogs are especially at risk from severe overheating. Avoid parked cars: Never, ever leave a dog in a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods with the windows slightly open. Dogs trapped inside parked cars can succumb to heatstroke within minutes – even if the car isn’t parked in direct sunlight. Here’s what to do if you ever come across a dog severely suffering inside a hot car: • Write down the car’s colour, make and licence plate number and try to locate the owner. • Call the police immediately. • Stay on the scene until help arrives and the situation has been resolved.

Contacting the Police and not sure what number to use? 999 For all emergency calls including crimes in progress 101 For reporting a crime that has taken place or if you wish to make contact with a specific officer or department. www.avonandsomerset.police.uk – visit this site for information and advice including contact information on the Sector Neighbourhood Policing Teams. 0800555111 – Crimestoppers who are a UK charity and not the Police. They will not ask for your details nor will your call be traced. www.crimestoppers-uk.org

As the nicer weather approaches, please be mindful when leaving your vehicle in isolated rural locations, whilst walking enjoying the countryside etc. It is known opportunist thieves will target vehicles where items are on display such as Bags, Wallets & Sat Nav's . If any items need to be left in the vehicle, please secure in the boot area out of site, to deter the risk of being a target.

Quad bikes and Farm Equipment are valuable commodities for our farmers, gamekeepers and Landowners. What security have you in place for your vehicle? Some useful tips to keep your Quad bikes and ATVs safe -• Keep your vehicle in a lockable garage or building and make sure you remove the keys and keep them in a secure location and out of view, not hidden on the vehicle and out of view of any windows. • Cover any windows in your outbuildings where the vehicle is stored, this will prevent anyone seeing inside and viewing the vehicle. • Consider using a locking device that locks the breaks on the vehicle to prevent it being moved when being stored. • secure your vehicle using suitable locking devices and fixed ground anchors secured to the floor .• Consider installing security lighting and CCTV on the perimeter of the building. • Get your vehicle logged on www.immobilise.com• Consider fitting GPS Tracking devices, Insurance companies often offer discounts to their annual premiums. • Vehicles fitted and registered with security markings are 4 times less likely to be stolen and our 6 times more likely to be recovered if they are stolen.• Record machinery serial numbers and take photographs for reference. If the machine is stolen a photo will increase publicity and possibly aid the recovery of your stolen vehicle. Please remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity via 101 non- emergency or 999 emergency. Farmers and Landowners please consider joining our Farm Watch Scheme.

With the winter months slowly being left behind us and warmer weather forecasted the likelihood of raves in your area is increased. We are starting talks with our local quarry companies to help secure the vulnerable sites which are no longer used. If you notice any suspicious activity or think that a rave is occurring in your area, please notify us as soon as you can via 101.

We have recently had a number of Out Building Thefts within our Rural area. Patrols & investigations are on-going. How the public can assist: See how easy it is to see garden tools (Like strimmer’s, blowers, mowers etc) in your shed or garage. Ensure your shed/garage/outhouse is locked. If you lost your key to the shed and garage, how easy could you break in? If it’s easy for you, it will be easier for the burglar/thief. Are you insured for thefts without signs of forced entry? You may not be. Consider increasing your shed/garage/outhouse security, maybe consider fitting a movement sensor alarm which texts and phones you when activated. You can mount one of these devices inside a shed, vehicle, container, cab or trailer. It may not prevent the crime, but may limit the loss. Report vans and people which/who look out of place around farms or rural area’s . Now that more people are reporting, we are able to put these details into the public arena and make life difficult for those people who are targeting our community. Remember that if you can let us have details of registration plates, we can use that information in our number plate readers around the county so we will be alerted when thieves move across the county boundary. Report to us if you learn of cheap plant and garden machines being sold in the community, at markets or sales/car boot events. Handling stolen goods is an offence. Without handlers, there would be fewer thefts.