Lincolnshire Police Media Briefing For The 24 Hours To 0700 Wednesday 14th April 2010
THE DIVISIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS FOR SOUTH AND EAST ARE WORKING TODAY AND WILL CIRCULATE FURTHER BRIEFINGS FOR THEIR DIVISIONS LATER TODAY. QUERIES FOR WEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE HQ PRESS OFFICE, CONTACT DETAILS BELOW.
Voicebank - 0871 220 7791
WEST DIVISION
For further information on incidents occurring on West Division please contact HQ Press Office on 01522 558026 or email: media@lincs.pnn.police.uk
Assault - Moorland Way, Lincoln - Incident 329 of 10 April 2010
This incident occurred sometime between Monday 5th and Friday 9th April, and was reported to the police on Saturday 10th April. One afternoon between 5th-9th April (the victim is unable to recall which day), an elderly blind lady was walking her golden labrador guide dog to Perky Pets on Moorland Way behind the Moorland Centre Co-op. As she walked past the Co-op building she became aware of a group of youths on the footpath in front of her. They stopped her dog and would not let her past and kept grabbing at the dog and its lead. She was very scared and thought they were going to take her dog from her. She told them to go away. They then started to push her around between each other causing her to fall over. She heard a man shout towards the youths and they ran away. She does not know who this man was, and she got up and walked home.
The lady was understandably very upset and shaken by her ordeal, and did not want to think about it. However, her son encouraged her to report it to the police, and she did so on 10 April.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident and would particularly like to hear from the man who shouted at the youths, causing them to run away. PC Mark Adams says, "This was a particularly nasty incident whereby an elderly and vulnerable lady was targeted, causing her great upset and distress". "We would like to speak to the man who helped her by shouting at the youths, and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information about the offenders".
Please contact Lincolnshire Police on 0300 111 0300 quoting incident number 329 of 10 April 2010.
Please note, the lady does not want to think about/dwell on her ordeal, and finds it very upsetting to be reminded of it. It is therefore unlikely that she will be willing to speak to the media about it. She is unable to recall the exact day of the incident, but does remember that it was raining.
Burglary - Church View, Lea, Gainsborough - Incident 51 of 13 April 2010
Police are appealing for information following a burglary at a property in Church View, Lea, in which car keys were stolen and used to steal a car from the driveway. This occurred between 7.45pm on Monday 12 April and 6.30am on Tuesday 13 April. It appears that a door lock to the house was tampered with to gain entry. The car keys were taken and used to steal a black C Class Coupe Mercedes Benz. Anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity overnight between 12-13 April in Church View, Lea, is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 0300 111 0300 quoting incident number 51 of 13 April 2010.
For all non-emergency calls contact us on: 0300 111 0300
EAST DIVISION
For further information on incidents occurring on East Division, please contact the HQ press office. A new person has been appointed but the start date is not yet known.
Boston Neighbourhood Policing Area
Burglary, Spalding Road, Sutterton – Incident 130 of 12 April 2010
Police are appealing for information regarding a burglary at a house on Spalding Road in Sutterton which occurred between 4pm and 10pm on Thursday 8 April. The offender has gained entry via a garage and stole a TV, Wii Fit board and Wii accessories. Anyone with information should contact PC Hamlet at Boston Police Station on 0300 111 0300 quoting the above incident number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Garage Burglary, Yarborough Road, Boston – Incident 94 Of 12 April 2010
This burglary occurred overnight between Saturday 10 April and Sunday 11 April. A window was removed from a detached garage at a property in Yarborough Road and a quantity of tools were stolen. Anyone with information should contact PC Breathwick at Boston Police Station on 0300 111 0300 quoting the above incident number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Theft From Vehicle, Main Ridge, Boston – Incident 144 Of 12 April 2010
Police are appealing for witnesses after a Tom Tom Sat Nav was stolen from a vehicle parked at the rear of a laundrette on Main Ridge in Boston. At approx 11.20am on Monday 12 April, the two front windows on the silver Vauxhall Astra van were smashed and the Sat Nav removed. Two young men aged around 16 years, one white and one mixed race, were seen running from the scene. Anyone with information should contact PC Stenner at Boston Police Station on 0300 111 0300 quoting the above incident number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Skegness Neighbourhood Policing Area
Damage To Vehicle, Sea Lane, Ingoldmells – Incident 369 Of 12 April 2010
Police are appealing for witnesses after a red Honda Civic was damaged on Sea Lane in Ingoldmells. The incident occurred between 5.45pm and 6.15pm on Monday 12 April when extensive damage was caused to the driver’s door lock in an attempt to enter the vehicle.
Anyone with information should contact Skegness Police Station on 0300 111 0300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Louth And Mablethorpe Neighbourhood Policing Area
Money Found, Victoria Road, Mablethorpe
Police are appealing for anyone to contact them who may have lost some money in or around the Lords Bros supermarket in Victoria Road, Mablethorpe on Saturday 27 March. Anyone with information should contact PC Diane Young on 01754 762222 ext 4392
Vehicle Theft, Totshill, Alford – Incident 66 Of 9 April - Amendment
Further to the briefing of Friday 12 April, the vehicle was actually a Volvo yellow excavator, not a Honda. Offenders forced entry overnight by breaking through fencing and stole the vehicle from the yard. The excavator is displaying the registration AE54 GHJ. Anyone with information should contact Mablethorpe Police Station on 0300 111 0300 quoting the above incident number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Burglary, Vicarage Road, Great Carlton – Incident 272 of 12 April 2010
Police are appealing for witnesses to the theft of a ride on lawn mower, petrol strimmer and a gas BBQ from a house in Vicarage Road, Great Carlton. The padlock on a shed was broken at the address which was unoccupied at the time. The burglary may have occurred at any time since early February. Anyone with information should contact Louth Police Station on 0300 111 0300 quoting the above incident number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Horncastle Neighbourhood Policing Area
Attempted Burglary, Boston Road, Wainfleet St Mary - Incident 376 of 12 April 2010
Police are appealing for witnesses after an attempted burglary at two farm sheds on Boston Road, Wainfleet St Mary. Over the weekend between 9 and 12 April, offenders smashed off the locks on the two sheds but nothing was stolen.
Anyone with information should contact Spilsby Police Station on 0300 111 0300 quoting the above incident number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
For all non-emergency calls contact us on: 0300 111 0300
SOUTH DIVISION
For further information on incidents occurring on South Division please contact James Newall on 01476 403316 or mobile: 07768 615853 or e-mail: james.newall@lincs.pnn.police.uk
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
The Party’s Over For Mephedrone Users
Lincolnshire Police offers opportunity for people to hand in their stash.
But officers warn that after next Monday, dealers face up to 14 years in Prison.
The Government has announced that Mephedrone will be an illegal Class B drug from next Monday.
This will mean convictions for possession and possession with intent to supply will carry maximum sentences of five and 14 years in prison respectively.
In response to this announcement, Lincolnshire Police is offering users and dealers of the substance the chance to hand in their stash.
For the next six days they will be able to take the drug into any police station, or hand it to any officer or PCSO in the street. No details of the person handing it in will be taken or retained.
But after Monday officers are warning that ‘the gloves are off’ and the law will be enforced to the same degree as any other illegal drug.
Intelligence Manager Simon Lovett said: “We want users and dealers in the county to get the message. It will be illegal, we will take tough action and the potential punishments are pretty severe.
“In offering this amnesty we are recognising the fact that people may have been using this substance perfectly legally for some time and they should have the opportunity to hand it over without being immediately criminalised. We are also concerned about regular users binging before the ban. That could have serious health implications. We are urging people to hand in their stash and move on.
“We also want to send a message to parents who may know their youngsters are taking mephedrone. Either hand your children’s drugs in or urge them to do it themselves. From Monday they face a criminal record and that means a reduced chance of getting into university and no decent job prospects - this is a serious matter.”
Extra Notes
For more information on Mephedrone visit: www.talktofrank.com
Mephedrone and related cathinones are set to be banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. They will be controlled as Class B drugs on the 16th April 2010, meaning that they will be illegal to be sold and illegal to possess. The importation of these substances into the country has already been banned.
Drugs are classified according to the harm they cause, and as the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs say that mephedrone is similar to amphetamines (speed) it should be classified as a class B drug, meaning that from the 16th of April there will be a maximum penalty of 5 years in jail and an unlimited fine for possession and 14 years and unlimited fine for supply.
Health experts advise that people should certainly not 'binge' on any remaining supplies of mephedrone in the days leading up to it becoming illegal. Mephedrone over stimulates the nervous system, which can lead to fits, and it also over stimulates the heart and circulation. Its use may even lead to death. Taking higher doses or bingeing would substantially increase the risks of suffering serious harm. If mephedrone is used with alcohol, the health risks are also greater.
The advice from the police is that if you are currently in possession of mephedrone or any related cathinones you can take them to your local police station where they will be disposed of. You won’t face any questioning and you will not be charged with any offence as long as you take your mephedrone to the police before the 16th April 2010.
The risks and effects
Although the risks are now becoming increasingly clear, there is still concern that no one really knows what the exact dangers of mephedrone are. The current scientific evidence is limited but self reports from users and clinical observations by doctors do suggest that mephedrone can:
- produce feelings of euphoria and arousal
- make you feel more alert
- make you more talkative
- create feelings of empathy
- reduce inhibitions
- make you feel anxious or paranoid
- over stimulate your heart making it beat faster
- over stimulate your nervous system which can cause fits
- restrict your circulation which can cause cold / blue hands and feet
- damage the nose through snorting and bring on severe nose bleeds
- bring on a low mood and comedown after a binge
- cause death
Lincolnshire Police Secure Over £91,000 In Criminal Payback
On Monday 12th of April a Confiscation Hearing was held at Lincoln Crown Court following the conviction of four men for offences concerning the theft of cash machines, including one in Spilsby.
Following a financial investigation, the four were identified as benefiting by their crime to a total of £331,302 and had available assets to be confiscated of £91,359.
- Gary SELF - benefit £105,552 - available amount £36,017
- Shanney STEELE - benefit £43,200 - available amount £7,947
- Dominic ALDERTON - benefit £93,025 - available amount £19,395
- Rueben REYNOLDS - benefit £89,525 - available amount £28,000
- Total benefit £331,302 - Total available amount £91,359
All four men have six months to pay the available amount, otherwise a default sentence of between 6 - 12 months will be sought. This would follow the end of their current sentence for the original crimes, with the amount remaining to be paid. Lincolnshire Police will continue to search for the difference between the two amounts, and will return to court if it is found.
Detective Sergeant Ian Jarman, Head of Lincolnshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit says “We will look to remove the ill-gotten gains acquired by criminals through the effective use of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Money retrieved by using this Act will be used to benefit communities, and go some way towards re-dressing the balance for the negative effect these crimes have on local people.”
“The intention of the police is to ensure that crime literally does not pay, and that offenders, along with losing their freedom, are also denied the lifestyle and spending which they aspire to through their criminal activities”.
Last year Lincolnshire Police was successful in gaining £72,000 from the Community Cashback scheme (from money previously confiscated through crime), and this will be used by seven groups to tackle anti-social or criminal behaviour or the impact that this behaviour has on the community.
In the previous 12 months, Lincolnshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, gained their highest success figure for court orders, which amounted to in excess of £1 million to be confiscated as a result of the proceeds of crime.
For all non-emergency calls contact us on: 0300 111 0300
