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Latest News
Police & Crime Bulletin July 2020
July 2020
- Three men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Harper
- Face masks - a big thank you!
- Victims First launch domestic abuse campaign
- HMICFRS State of policing - Thames Valley rated GOOD
- £807,000 awarded to support victims of abuse
- Virtual policing and crime discussion event in August
- Let me know your views on crime in your area
Watch my latest video update and find more on my YouTube channel.
Three men convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper More »
Today three men, Henry Long, aged 19, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, both aged 18, have been convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper.
The jury had deliberated for over 12 hours before finding the defendants not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. These verdicts followed a four week trial at the Central Criminal Court in London which had to be restarted due to COVID-19.
The three men had all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a quadbike, along with another man, Thomas King, aged 21 who was not directly involved in the incident which led to PC Harper's death.
Sentencing will take place a week today, 31st July, at the Central Criminal Court on Friday 31 July.
The death of PC Andrew Harper, in such a shocking circumstances, was a huge blow to everyone in Thames Valley Police and many in the wider community. It is hugely disappointing that the murder charges were not upheld, but no outcome could possibly have brought comfort to Andrew's loved ones. I respect the verdict of the jury in what was a complex case. Manslaughter is an incredibly serious offence, which can carry a life sentence, and I await with interest the outcome of the sentencing at the end of the month.
Our thoughts and condolences go Andrew's widow and family who have had to live through not only the tragic loss of a loved one, but the media attention that followed and the judicial process to reach today's verdicts.
I must also offer heartfelt thanks to all of the Thames Valley Police Officers and staff who have been involved in the investigation. It is their hard work and dedication to impartially and diligently seek out the truth about that night's events that has led to these convictions.
Andrew was a dedicated police officer and public servant - killed in the act of doing his job. We will always remember him.
Face masks - a big thank you!
As face masks become mandatory from today in shops and other public places across the country it is time to say a huge "thank you" to everyone who has done their bit to help reduce the risk from coronavirus. Not just the NHS workers who have been on the front line, but everyone who has stayed at home, isolated themselves from others and helped to reduce the spread of the virus.
From today (24th July) by law we must all wear face coverings in public places. Just like the requirement to wear a face covering on public transport and the stay at home restrictions before that, the vast majority of people have complied with the legislation.
The work of Thames Valley Police officers to help apply these regulations has been fantastic. The approach taken has become known as the 4 E's. To engage with the public, to explain why the rules are in place to protect public health, to encourage people to do the right thing, and only to enforce as a last resort.
As we now move into this new phase of tackling the virus I am sure that the vast majority of people will continue to respect the reasons for the regulations being in place and follow the rules in order to help protect others. As before enforcement will be a last resort as we all play our part in reducing the spread of infection and gradually returning to normal.
Victims First and Crimestoppers launch domestic abuse campaign in Thames Valley
Victims First, the victims service provided by the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner, which supports victims of crime and abuse across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, has launched a campaign with national charity Crimestoppers to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the support available to victims.
In response to the increased risk of domestic abuse during lockdown, the joint campaign aims to raise awareness of Crimestoppers' anonymous reporting service for people who are concerned about others and to signpost victims of domestic abuse themselves to Victims First for emotional and practical support.
Matthew Barber, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "We know that the lockdown measures put in place due to COVID-19 have increased the risk for people in abusive relationships. While some restrictions are now easing, many victims will still be living with their abusers. Some people may not feel comfortable reporting to the police so we hope this campaign will help by raising awareness within communities on how to report domestic abuse anonymously to Crimestoppers, and by helping victims themselves reach out for support through our service, Victims First."
Victims First is managed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley and anyone affected by domestic abuse can access support through Victims First on 0300 1234 148 or online at www.victims-first.org.uk.
Anyone concerned that someone else is experiencing domestic abuse, can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/personal-safety/domestic-abuse. In an emergency always call 999.
HMICFRS State of policing - Thames Valley rated GOOD
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has released the 'State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2019'.
Anthony Stansfeld, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: "I welcome the latest HMICFRS report on the state of policing across England and Wales. This detailed assessment of the role of police services highlights the challenges facing forces across the country.
"I am pleased to see Thames Valley Police remains rated as 'Good' for Effectiveness and Legitimacy by HMICFRS. This is unchanged since their last report in 2019. We continue to focus on areas which need improvement and welcome the suggestions made in the report. We have also seen the recruitment of an additional 151 officers, since November 2019, in the Thames Valley. I am excited for the positive impact this will have on frontline policing within the region.
"Now more than ever we have seen how important our officers are and we are pleased to hear that HMICFRS continues to support the role of police forces across the country. Our priority in the Thames Valley continues to be to support our local communities through reducing crime and catching those that commit it."
You can read the full report here...
Over £807,000 awarded to support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the Thames Valley
The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley has awarded over £807,000 to charities and community interest companies to support them in helping victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
The Ministry of Justice emergency funding has been awarded to 26 organisations across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to help them adapt their services during the pandemic to enable them to continue to support the needs of victims. The funding covers costs incurred during the pandemic and anticipated spending from 24th March – 31 October 2020.
Anthony Stansfeld, Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley said "During lockdown, organisations across the Thames Valley have worked tirelessly to ensure they continue to support victims. Many have adapted the way they work and invested in technology to reach people remotely. Some have also lost income through their inability to raise funds.
"I am delighted to be able to award this funding to help them support victims during this time. As restrictions begin to ease, it is likely we will see a rise in the number of people seeking support from domestic abuse and sexual violence services and it is vital that this support remains available and accessible to those who need it."
Funding has been awarded to both small and larger organisations working with victims across the Thames Valley. Organisations will spend the funding across a range of areas including utilising technology to enable remote working, PPE and cleaning supplies to help deliver face-to-face working as restrictions ease, as well as new programmes of support and staffing costs.
Click here to visit my website for a list of all of the organisations that received funding.
Virtual policing and crime discussion event
Join me for an online discussion about the big issues affecting policing and crime across Thames Valley and the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner in delivering and effective and efficient police force.
Due to the coronavirus restrictions my normal face to face events have been put on hold but thanks to video technology there is an alternative.
The next live discussion will be via Zoom on Monday 17th August, 7-8pm. Click the link below to register now to join this free event.
Make your voice heard to help shape the future!
The role of the Police & Crime Commissioner includes holding to Chief Constable to account, setting the council tax precept for policing, commissioning services for victims of crime, funding community safety partnerships and setting the policing priorities for the Thames Valley.
I want to know your views about policing where you live. Please spare a few moments to complete my short survey and tell me what you think is going well and what can be done better. Click the button below or visit www.matthewbarber.co.uk/haveyoursay.
Please do spread the word and share the survey with friends and family!
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Posted: Mon, 03 Aug 2020 09:30 by Joanne Myers
residents urged to follow social distancing to avoid local control measures
Oxford residents urged to follow social distancing to avoid local control measures
Oxford residents are being urged to help stop the spread of coronavirus as the number of cases in the city increases.
Over the most recent week up to 24 July, the number of new cases in Oxford has risen approximately threefold to 31. The majority of these new cases has been in East Oxford.
Oxfordshire's Director of Public Health Ansaf Azhar explains: "Local increases are to be expected as we ease out of lockdown, particularly in densely populated urban areas. This is consistent with the picture across other parts of the country, and Oxford is no exception." More »
But with more events and gatherings set to take place over the coming weeks, such as Eid celebrations and a range of fairs across Oxfordshire, the Director of Public Health is keen to stress the need for everyone to maintain social distancing and stay alert.
"It is up to each of us to stop the virus spreading - our safety is literally in our own hands. Make sure you wash your hands regularly, avoid busy gatherings, keep your distance and wear a face covering where appropriate. And if you have any coronavirus symptoms, you must self-isolate immediately and call 119 to book a test.
"By taking these simple measures, we can protect ourselves and our communities. But we need to act now to stop the spread.
"We have seen other towns, such as Luton and Northampton, put local control measures in place when faced with a spike in cases, such as limiting the number of people who can meet. We are not yet in this position. But we are monitoring the situation very closely and we will put measures in place if the number of new cases continues to rise.
"We have clear systems in place through our Local Outbreak Plans to manage any local transmission hotspots. However, prevention is by far the best way to manage the situation, and the public have a vital role to play in preventing local outbreaks. My advice is simple – act now to protect yourself, protect your community, and stop the spread."
Director of Public Health, Ansaf Azhar is available for interviews. Please email Oxfordshire County Council's Press Office for more information
» LessPosted: Mon, 03 Aug 2020 09:26 by Joanne Myers
First Ever National Impact Survey Launched By Neighbourhood Watch
We are delighted to launch the first ever Neighbourhood Watch Impact Survey.
This is a survey open to all members of the public including our supporters and members and we are asking our partners to share across their public networks. It will enable us to look at how Neighbourhood Watch impacts in our communities and identify the concerns surrounding crime, fear of crime and the increase in neighbourliness and community spirit. More »
We ask that you share the survey IMPACT SURVEY with friends, neighbours, colleagues and your partners, to ensure that we get a good mix of responses. You can do this in various ways through email, using social media and any other methods that you may have.
We have included an image for you to use on Social Media
Facebook & Twitter: Neighbourhood Watch Network is excited to launch our first National Impact Survey and we want EVERYONE to take part. It doesn't matter if you are part of Neighbourhood Watch or not, we want your views. It should take you less than 10 minutes to complete. Click on the link https://bit.ly/2XbuX8J.
We have also included a poster for you to share on your emaiis.
To learn more about the background to the survey
Please click on the following link Measuring our impact
We look forward to receiving your responses on our survey which needs to be completed by 21st August 2020. » Less
Posted: Mon, 03 Aug 2020 09:18 by Joanne Myers
