The day has been organised by the Canterbury Community Safety Unit and will see staff from Canterbury City Council, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Crimestoppers and Neighbourhood Watch working together to resolve local issues.

From 10am until 2pm representatives from the various agencies will be available at Chartham Village Hall, Littlebourne Village Hall and Barham Village Hall.

If residents would like to raise issues before the event, that they would like tackled, they can do so by phoning the Canterbury Community Safety Unit on 01227 862 122 or by emailing csu@canterbury.gov.uk

The sessions were organised by Kent County Council Community Wardens, staff from the Canterbury Community Safety Unit and officers from Kent Police.

Property marking sessions have already been held in Canterbury – and more are planned throughout the district.

Published: March 27 2012

The event gives local people the opportunity to celebrate their town, find out more about major projects and meet community groups. It will be at the Kings Hall from 2pm until 7pm.

More than 40 local businesses will be exhibiting and councillors and council officers will be there to give updates on projects such as the Jubilee Fields Coastal Park, future options for Herne Bay pier, refurbishment plans for the clock tower, the Bay Card scheme, the Bay Arena and Herons Leisure Centre and plans for the Herne Bay Festival as it celebrates its 20th birthday. The Canterbury Community Safety Unit will also have a stand.

Community groups attending will include Herne Bay in Bloom, the Friends of the Memorial Park and the Friends of Herne Bay Museum.

The event is now in its fifth year. Admission is free.

Published: March 19 2012

City council officers, police officers and Kent County Council Community Wardens were at allotments at Wincheap, Thanington, Whitehall Road and Rheims Way to help gardeners protect the tools of their trade.

Theft and vandalism at allotments has been on the rise in recent weeks and was raised as a problem at a recent meeting of the Neighbourhood Tasking Group, a multi-agency group that tackles crime and anti-social behaviour issues. Property marking sessions were seen as a proactive way of helping to deal with the problem.

Community Safety Officer Graham Simpson said it had been a worthwhile exercise that had been very well received by allotment holders.

Among the comments received from gardeners on the day were:

• “It’s nice to see the council and police here today. It is a good idea to have these days for agencies to attend.”
• “This is a step in the right direction. A very helpful and useful day with good personalities in attendance. Thoroughly worthwhile!”
• “We are very pleased with the event. It’s a positive move to try and overcome the vandalism issues we have recently experienced and to show allotment plot holders that security is being taken seriously.”

Further sessions will be held at allotments in Herne Bay and Whitstable this Sunday (March 18) and others are being planned for the remaining sites in Canterbury.

Published: March 14 2012

The event has been organised by staff from the Canterbury Community Safety Unit, officers from Kent Police and Kent County Council Community Wardens.

A similar event was held last Sunday, March 11, which more than 120 allotment holders took advantage of.

Property marking will take place at the following venues:

• 9am-10am Joy Lane, Seasalter
• 10.15am-11.15am Millstrood Road, Whistable
• 11.30am-12.30pm Hamshades Lane, Tankerton
• 1pm-2pm Eddington Lane, Herne Bay
• 2pm-3pm Cross Street, Herne Bay
• 3.15pm-4.15pm Station Road, Herne Bay

Published: March 14 2012

Allotment holders welcome the crime prevention events

More than 120 allotment holders in Canterbury took advantage of free property marking sessions on Sunday, March 11.

City council officers, police officers and Kent County Council Community Wardens were at allotments at Wincheap, Thanington, Whitehall Road and Rheims Way to help gardeners protect the tools of their trade.

Theft and vandalism at allotments has been on the rise in recent weeks and was raised as a problem at a recent meeting of the Neighbourhood Tasking Group, a multi-agency group that tackles crime and anti-social behaviour issues. Property marking sessions were seen as a proactive way of helping to deal with the problem.

Community Safety Officer Graham Simpson said it had been a worthwhile exercise that had been very well received by allotment holders.

Among the comments received from gardeners on the day were:

• “It’s nice to see the council and police here today. It is a good idea to have these days for agencies to attend.”
• “This is a step in the right direction. A very helpful and useful day with good personalities in attendance. Thoroughly worthwhile!”
• “We are very pleased with the event. It’s a positive move to try and overcome the vandalism issues we have recently experienced and to show allotment plot holders that security is being taken seriously.”

Further sessions will be held at allotments in Herne Bay and Whitstable this Sunday (March 18) and others are being planned for the remaining sites in Canterbury.

Fire fighters will be giving free fire safety advice and urging all smokers to think seriously about quitting and not just because of the long term health risks.

During 2011, there were 138 fires in Kent and Medway started by cigarettes and smoking materials. Fifty seven of these were in people’s homes. One person died and seven people sustained injuries during these fires. Victims have also suffered damage to their homes and cherished belongings.

Head of Community Safety Stuart Skilton, said: “More people die in fires started through smoking than any other cause. Tobacco burns at very high temperatures – it’s designed to stay lit. This is why cigarettes can quickly start a fire, so make sure they are completely out before discarding them and install working smoke alarms on every floor of the home.  

“Property can be replaced but your life can’t, which is why we are urging people to take extra care; especially when they are tired and stop dangerous habits such as smoking in bed. It’s very easy to fall asleep without realising your cigarette is still burning. The message is simple; if you need to lie down, don’t light up. You could easily doze off and set your bed or sofa on fire.”

It is not just accidental fires in the home that are causing concern – not many people think about their cigarette after they flick it from a car window or while walking down the street, but they cause devastating fires which can spread rapidly, destroying wildlife and nearby buildings as well as tying up valuable fire fighting resources.

Stuart concluded: “For smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, please consider making yourself safer by following these simple tips:

• Don’t leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended – they can easily overbalance as they burn, land on a carpet or newspaper and start a fire. When you put it out, make sure it really is out
• Use a deep, heavy ashtray which can’t tip over easily and is made of a material that won’t burn
• Don’t smoke in bed
• Take extra care if you’re feeling tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking prescription drugs
• Close all inside doors at night – closed doors help to reduce the spread of fire, giving you more time to escape
• Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children
• Don’t discard cigarettes out of car windows as this can set light to grass verges and

grassland areas and is illegal

• Fit smoke alarms in your home and test them weekly

Ask the experts – for free fire safety advice contact Kent Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 923 7000 or visit www.3breaths.info

Bag It and Bin It team member Jane Barlow at Toddlers Cove, Canterbury.

Staff from the Canterbury Community Safety Unit were out and about in Canterbury today – spreading the word about our Bag It and Bin It campaign.

We are urging dog owners to clear up after their pets. We are handing out environmentally friendly poop bags and asking owners who are responsible to post a picture of their dog on our Facebook page – hoping this will encourage others to do the same.

Today we visited Dane John Gardens and Toddlers Cove.

There will be further Bag It and Bin It visits over the coming weeks, across the district.

Find a link to our Facebook page from the home page of our website.

The official opening of the Kent Police pod

Kent Police has a new police pod at Asda on Sturry Road, Canterbury.

The pod, which is funded by Asda, is located next to the supermarket building.

Pop in to meet local neighbourhood officers and to speak to them about any concerns you may have or to get some helpful crime prevention advice.

Representatives from partner agencies will also use the pod, which is open from 12pm – 1pm every Monday to Saturday.

The Canterbury Community Safety Partnership currently has a poster on the pod – advertising the Canterbury domestic abuse one stop shop, which meets at the Kingsmead Children’s Centre on Thursday mornings.

It starts at 6.15pm.

Published: March 6 2012