Astwood & Hardmead

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Astwood & Hardmead

Astwood & HardmeadAstwood & HardmeadAstwood & Hardmead
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  • Neighbourhood Plan
  • Security & Wellbeing
  • Parish Council
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Secure Living in a Rural Community

National Property Register

The National Property Register (https://www.immobilise.com/ ) is advocated by many Police services, and is a free-to-use centralised register which is referenced frequently by the Police in the investigation of theft and crime.

Advice for Dog Owners

      

Dog owners are being reminded to   keep their pets under control following a number of incidents of sheep   worrying across the county, especially around this time during lambing   season.
 

 Allowing a dog to worry or attack livestock is a criminal offence under the   Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.
 

 Sheep represent a farmer’s income and are often worth a substantial sum. If   they are attacked or killed, the loss that farmers face can leave them   substantially out of pocket.
 Sheep worrying can include dogs attacking animals physically, running after   them or chasing the sheep around, especially when they are carrying lambs or   there are young lambs within the flock. Dog faeces left on grazing land may   also carry disease that can kill sheep and affect unborn lambs.
 

 Police can seize and detain a dog where an officer has a reasonable cause to   believe that the dog has been worrying livestock on agricultural land; and no   person is present who admits to being the owner of the dog. It can ultimately   lead to a dog being put down.
 Ultimately a landowner by law, and as a last resort for protecting their   livestock, is able to shoot a dog which they believe is worrying sheep.   However, nobody wants to see this outcome.
 

Advice for dog owners
 

 When walking dogs in rural areas, dog owners are advised about the following:
 Always ensure your dog is under control in an area where there are livestock   or wild animals.
 

 Be particularly vigilant during lambing season and always keep dogs on a lead   during this time.
 

 If your dog is not good with other animals or people, avoid letting them off   their lead when others are around.
 

 Don't allow people who may not be confident in doing so or have full control   over the animal to walk your dog.
 

 Remember where there may be no livestock in a field one day, the same   location could be full of animals the next.
 

 Ultimately a landowner by law, and as a last resort for protecting their   livestock, is able to shoot a dog which they believe is worrying sheep.   Police must be notified within 48 hours if this course of action is taken.
 

 Anyone who witnesses an incident of sheep worrying livestock or who has   information relating to dogs being dangerously out of control is urged to   contact police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111   immediately
 

 To help with the exact location please consider using the   what3words app.
 

Email tracking gif 

 

Message Sent By
 David Huckle (Police, PCSO, Milton Keynes)

Advice on Keeping you Safe

Our local PCSO is Arlene Ormston.  Her contact details are:


  • Arlene.Ormston@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
  • 07815 590756


If you're not sure who is at the door, don't open it! Check the identity of the caller by calling the company they are purporting to be from i.e. Gas, Electricity, Water or Police. Use the telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider. Do not use any phone numbers provided by the caller, as they may be bogus. 


Ask the caller to put their identification through the letter box so that you have time to check the details. Telephone a neighbour or friend nearby to come along and check out the caller before you open the door to them.


Many utility service providers like Gas, Electricity and Water provide password schemes or hotline numbers for customers to call, to check the identity of callers before opening the door. Speak to your utility provider.


Keep your door locked and windows secure at all times. Check the back door is locked before answering the front door.


Don't keep large quantities of cash at home: put it in the bank or post office where it is safe.


If someone asks for your help, needs to make a telephone call, has lost a ball in your garden, needs a drink or requests  a pen and paper for example, refer them to a younger neighbour  or assist them through a closed door or call a friend or neighbour to come and assist.


Not sure? Don't open the door!

Rural Crime Prevention and Good Practice

 

Use of footpaths and bridleways (19th May 2020)
 

With everyone out using our lovely countryside as part of their daily exercise please remember that the footpaths (yellow markers) are for walking and running and not for cycling. The bridleways (blue markers) can be used for cycling as well as walking & horse riding.
 

Please don't ride bikes on the footpaths around the fields. To find all the bridleways / footpaths around a village go to https://mymsg.eu/92q1 Go to My Maps, navigate over to the area where you want to walk, then click on “Public Rights of Way” from the list on the left side to turn on the rights of way layer. The bridleways will be marked in green, and footpaths in purple.
 

There have been recent incidents of uncontrolled dogs harassing ewes and lambs, and also of damage to crops. So please stay on the footpaths, keep your dog under close control, and enjoy our glorious countryside.
 

Many thanks and stay safe
 

PCSO C1018 Arlene Ormston 


Equipment and tool security


Equipment and tool security can be a particular issue for rural businesses and farms. To keep your belongings safe: 

  • lock equipment away in a secure building or part of a building when not in use
  • invest in a secure storage toolbox
  • install a burglar alarm on buildings where equipment is kept
  • always lock vehicles when left outside and keep the keys in your possession
  • keep expensive items and vehicles out of sight when not in use
  • consider using hitch locks, wheel clamps or ground anchors
  • mark your tools and equipment and register them for free with Immobilise
  • keep a record of all valuable items
  • consider fitting outside security lights


For further information on securing your belongings and how to mark your equipment, visit our burglary advice pages.


Estate and building security


A good standard of building security is very important in rural areas, especially for outbuildings that may not be visited for weeks at a time.Farmhouses and other rural properties are the same as any other home, so general home security advice still applies. 


However, because of the remote location, additional security measures may be beneficial.To protect your rural home or business:

  • keep the boundaries of your land and property well-maintained and secure
  • keep all doors and windows shut and locked when not in use
  • install a visible burglar alarm
  • make sure windows and door frames are secure and in good repair
  • fit strong locks to sheds, garages and outbuildings
  • fit good quality window locks
  • consider security bars and grilles for vulnerable windows and openings
  • make sure gates cannot be lifted off or have their fixing bolts removed
  • check security equipment regularly to ensure it works properly
  • use locking posts or temporary obstructions to control wide access points to yards


For additional security you could also:

  • install automatic security lights that come on at dusk and turn off at dawn
  • install CCTV cameras to watch over the most vulnerable areas of the property
  • install a monitored intruder alarm system
  • install an entry control system infrared, intercom or keypad
  • establish a single gated entrance and exit, removing all private access points that are not in use


For information and general advice on protecting your property visit our burglary advice pages.


Boundaries


Take a good look around your property boundary for any potential places where it could be made more secure.Consider:

  • planting thorny hedging to act as a natural barrier
  • digging deep ditches to control and deter unwanted vehicle access
  • if possible, having a single-gated access point to the property
  • using locking posts or temporary obstructions to control large openings
  • invert and cap gate hinges
  • making sure fixing bolts are secure and use covered padlocks
  • installing warning signs


Fire prevention


  • Dispose of refuse regularly and safely.
  • Remove hay and straw from fields as soon as possible after harvesting and do not store it alongside other materials/vehicles.
  • Store petrol, diesel and other fuels in secure areas and always padlock storage tank outlets.
  • Seek further advice from your local fire service.


Illegal activity


All incidents of illegal activity should be reported to the appropriate authority as soon as possible. If you are able to, make a note of any vehicle details and a description of the people involved.Always consider your own personal safety first before approaching anyone you think might be doing something illegal.Illegal occupationAs a landowner it’s your responsibility to protect your land from unauthorised occupation. Making sure your premises and boundaries are secure will greatly reduce the risk of unauthorised occupation.To help protect your land you could:

  • look closely at the perimeter to ensure it is as secure as possible
  • consider using large tree trunks, rocks, ditching and earth mounds around boundaries to prevent access
  • restrict vehicle access by digging deep ditches
  • keep unused land maintained and free from litter and other waste


If your land does become illegally occupied, you can take proceedings to the county court to obtain a court order for the eviction of illegal occupants. Occupants who fail to comply with this notice by leaving the land as soon as reasonably possible are committing an offence. For more information about environment crime, such as fly tipping and illegal off-roading read our environment crime page.


Diesel theft


Diesel theft is a problem for many farms and rural properties. Fuel tanks stored in rural and isolated locations are very attractive to thieves looking for an easy target.

  • Keep tanks stored close to the property where you can see them. If this isn’t possible, you should consider installing CCTV to watch over isolated tanks and restrict access with walls, fences and hedges. Security lighting such as ‘dusk till dawn’ or motion detection lighting can also be an effective deterrent to thieves.
  • Remember to check the oil level in your tank regularly. Look for any spilt fuel, marks on the locks or anything else suspicious.
  • Avoid installing a storage tank in an isolated area or outlying building.
  • Consider using a mobile bowser (tanker) kept in a secure place when not in use.
  • Use ‘diesel dye’, making your diesel traceable and less attractive to thieves.


Livestock theft


You should check your livestock and the security of boundary fencing regularly. If they're making more noise than usual this could mean something has disturbed them.

  • Make regular checks of the fields where animals are kept to check that fences haven’t been breached and that no one else is in the field with them.
  • Use ear tags, horn brands, freeze marking or tattooing to make your animals more easily identifiable.
  • Keep your hedges, fences and gates in good repair: field gate hinges should have capping hinges so they can't be removed easily; cattle grids should be removable and locked out of position when they're not in use; use locking posts to obstruct large openings to yards.
  • Consider installing CCTV.


Always report any suspicious activity involving livestock to the police.


Tack security


  • Secure tack room windows on the inside with solid iron bars (not tubular steel).
  • Secure all doors with good quality locks; use bolts (not screws) on the hinges.
  • Mark your tack using an ultraviolet pen.
  • Display warning signage to deter thieves.
  • Padlock gates with substantial padlocks and heavy duty chains.
  • Reverse top hinges on gates to prevent lifting.
  • Install security lights and an intruder alarm.


Chemical storage


  • Store fertilisers in a dedicated locked building or compound – don't leave them on public view.
  • Don't sell fertiliser unless you know the potential purchaser to be a legitimate user.
  • Record all deliveries and usage and carry out regular stock taking.
  • Record manufacturers’ code numbers and detonation resistance test certificates – you may be required to present them.
  • Always report a stock discrepancy or loss immediately.


Useful contacts  


  • For alarm and security companies - National Security Inspectorate, Security Systems & Alarms Inspection Board
  • For security products - Secured by design, Sold Secure
  • Reporting Fly-Tipping: follow this link

Contacting Thames Valley Police

Thames Valley Police are accessible via both Facebook and Twitter:


TVP Milton Keynes (Facebook), or;

@tvp_mk (Twitter)


Watch for tweets from #MKHNPT #C1018 Ormston - these will be from our PCSO (Arlene Ormston)

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