DAY 70: Plant and agricultural machinery thefts within the Thames Valley continue to fall say PANIU

The latest Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) report has listed the Thames Valley area in equal eighth place (out of ten) in a list showing the levels of plant and agricultural machinery thefts, whereby first place is the force with the highest level and tenth is the force with the lowest level of plant thefts.

The report shows that the Thames Valley area has seen a gradual drop in offences since October 2012 until September 2013.

This is a great achievement for Thames Valley Police as traditionally, the South East region is subject to one of the highest levels of plant and agricultural thefts. The figures for the Thames Valley are particularly good considering the size of the rural area the Force covers when compared to other forces which cover much less.

The rest of the PANIU report can be found on the Datatag website.

Earlier last year, Thames Valley Police received an award from Datatag in recognition of its commitment to proactive policing to combat construction and agricultural equipment thefts and have continued the effort into this year.

Thames Valley Police security marked over 300 agricultural machines last year with the Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) security system.

Thames Valley Police continue to offer a discount on Datatag’s CESAR kits to residents living in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The benefits of getting your equipment registered with CESAR include:

• Easily identifiable machinery 
•  Swift identification should your machinery get stolen
• Swift return of stolen machinery to the rightful owner
• CESAR security symbol on the machinery will deter thieves

The standard price for the CESAR kit is £149 plus VAT. The Thames Valley Police discount allows residents to have the kit installed for £88 plus VAT.

Find out more about the CESAR scheme on the official website.

To take advantage of this offer, call the Datatag booking line 01784 778 310 and mention Thames Valley Police.

DAY 43: Banbury rural neighbourhood patrol and check scrap metal dealers across Cherwell

Last Thursday (12/12), the 100 days of action team patrolled the Cherwell area looking for scrap metal collectors. It also gave the officers and opportunity to speak with Cherwell District Council and update them on the new legislation and offences surrounding scrap metal.

The new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 came into force on the 1 December 2013. The act has a number of changes to the existing legislation and these are as follows:

•  All individuals and businesses must complete an enhanced application process to obtain a scrap metal dealer license. The local authorities have the power to turn down unsuitable applicants. 
•   Local authorities have a new power whereby they can revoke a license
• All sellers of metal are required to provide personal identification at the point of sale which should then be recorded by the scrap metal dealer.
• There are now new powers for the police and local authorities to enter and inspect scrap metal sites.
• There is now a new central public register, hosted by the Environment Agency, of all individuals and businesses licensed as scrap metal dealers
• The definition of a scrap metal dealer has been broadened to include motor salvage operators.
• It is now also an offence to buy metal with cash to travelling metal collectors.

All the scrap metal dealers spoken to by the team last Thursday were all in order and held up to date paperwork and insurance!

Tim Hollamby from Datatag assists with the CESAR marking

PCSO Chris Kidd assists wit the event at PA Turney, Bicester

Throughout the day the team also held a CESAR (Construction Equipment Security and Registration) marking event at PA Turney in Bicester. The CESAR scheme have proved that having CESAR registration markings fitted to farm machinery hugely reduces the risk of having it stolen. Thieves generally don’t like to risk being caught and will more likely go for something unmarked or unprotected!

Other benefits of CESAR marking include:

• Easily identifiable machinery
• Swift identification should your machinery get stolen
• Swift return of stolen machinery to the rightful owner

Thames Valley Police are still offering a 20 per cent discount on CESAR kits to residents living in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The standard price for the CESAR kit is £149 plus VAT. The Thames Valley Police discount allows residents to have the kit installed for £88 plus VAT.

Find out more about the CESAR scheme on the official website.

 

To take advantage of this offer, call the Datatag booking line 01784 778 310 and mention Thames Valley Police.

                                                                                                  

DAY 24: Police and Trading Standards check vans and plant machinery in Wycombe ANPR operation

Day two for the Wycombe LPA started with a briefing at Princes Risborough for an ANPR operation that took place on the A4010 between High Wycombe and Princes Risborough.

The ANPR was held together with officers from Trading Standards and involved security checking all vans and agricultural vehicles travelling through the area.



Owners of argicultural machinery are keen to have their vehciles CESAR marked

During the 3 hours of this operation over 1000 vehicles went through with a number of these being stopped and spoken to for a variety of reasons from no insurance to CESAR checking. Several owners have asked for their agricultural vehicles to be marked. These will be followed up over the coming weeks.

Throughout the day other officers deployed to continue spreading the crime prevention message to farms and rural locations. Have your Say events were also held at key locations continuing to sign people up to TV alerts and Country Watch.

Built into the patrol plan today were some of the more remote lanes on the area with a view to deterring fly tipping. One incident of fly tipping has been reported and officers will be liaising with the Council to take this forward.



DAY 16: Environment Agency and Datatag on hand for joint ANPR op in Wokingham



An artic lorry coming in for inspection

Last Friday (30/8), the Wokingham team worked with Datatag, VOSA and the Environment Agency to pull over larger trucks and lorries and check them out, particularly those carrying scrap metal or waste and plant machinery or farming equipment.

Throughout the day, the team pulled over just short of 100 vehicles. The Environment Agency used the opportunity to promote licensing around what scrap metal dealer vehicles can and can’t carry, while Datatag used their specialist knowledge to identify any potentially stolen machinery or plant. No stolen property was found and all waste transport was found to be in order.



Datatag checking over a digger to make sure it wasn't stolen property. All was in order!



VOSA issued rectification notices for roadworthiness, in particular for suspension problems and worn down tyres, and one vehicle was given an immediate prohibition notice keeping it off the road until it is fixed and up to the legal spec.

Inspector Greg Elphick said: “It’s been a busy day but we met a fairly law abiding bunch.

“It’s been great networking with the other agencies for the next time we run one of these operations.”

The team working at the ANPR site

 

A waste disposal lorry was checked and found to be in order



DAY 12: Datatag security marking event at Wheatlands Farm



For their second day, the team on Wokingham LPA took on a day of rural crime prevention action in the form of security marking with Thames Valley Rural Crime Partners, Datatag.

The team set up at Wheatlands Farm in Finchampstead and throughout the day fitted two farm vehicles with the Datatag security kit and 23 saddles marked in total using the saddles security system supplied by Datatag and an engraving tool.

Nicola Greenward, who is a member of the Rural Crime Action Group and was on site throughout the day, said she was pleased with the turnout and some people had driven over specifically to get their tack marked.

There was lots of interest expressed at the event, in particular for another event to be held in conjunction with a pony or riding club where horseboxes and trailer could also be security marked.

If you’re part of a pony or riding club and would like to hold an event of your own, get in touch with your local neighbourhood team by calling 101 or email them via the website.

Thames Valley Police continue to offer a discount on Datatag’s plant machinery and tack marking security systems to residents living in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. The standard price for the CESAR kit is £178.80 (including VAT). The Thames Valley Police discount allows residents to have the kit installed for £105.60 (including VAT).



Rural police officers speak to a passer by on a routine patrol