CONGLETON BOROUGH
ACTION
Police Pub Call In one night, Police Officers checked 32 licensed premises across Congleton Borough to make sure that the new, more relaxed drinking hours got off to a smooth start. Inspector Chris Jones said, “We wanted to make sure that licensees had some help and support and know what our stance will be on any increase in disorder. It seems to have started off very well and we will make sure it stays that way.” Police Officers and Trading Standards Officers also carried out test purchasing at pubs and off licences in Sandbach and Alsager. Police Officers have teamed up with Firefighters and Environmental Health Officers to check pubs in Middlewich as part of the Crackdown campaign on crime and disorder. They are carrying out a series of checks on licensed premises at busy times to make sure all the regulations are being observed.
Keeping the Peace Two teenagers were arrested for public order offences in the centre of Sandbach and are likely to face a ban from all licensed premises in the town. The arrests are part of the Police Crackdown Campaign on crime and disorder in Cheshire. Sergeant Gareth Woods said they send a clear message that the new licensing laws will not become a “licence for yobs”.
Town Centre Clear Up Sergeant Richard Line has said the arrest and conviction of a teenager who threatened a man and woman in the centre of Holmes Chapel was part of continuing Police efforts to prevent disorder problems in the town centre. The teenager, from Wilmslow, was made the subject to a six month Community Order, with an electronic tag to enforce a curfew at weekends.
Missing Man A small team of police officers from Cheshire Police Eastern Area spent three days in Crete consulting Greek police who are investigating the disappearance of a young man from Sandbach. Steven Cook, who was on holiday in Crete, has not been seen since September 1st. Detective Chief inspector Geraint Jones said, “It’s likely that he was the victim of crime or some sad misadventure.”
Tackling Traffic A Community Action Meeting at Alsager voted to keep traffic issues as the policing priority in the area for the next two months. The meeting was told that in the previous nine weeks a hand held speed camera had been used extensively around Alsager, the electronic speed trailer and the new speed tripod equipment (S.I.D) had been deployed in the area, a mini motorcycle had been seized and more than 150 hours of high visibility patrolling had been carried out.
CRIME
Organised Crime Targeted As part of the Cheshire Police Crackdown campaign a three week operation centred on Middlewich and Knutsford dealt a substantial blow to organised vehicle crime. Ten men, all from Liverpool, were arrested, mostly on charges of stealing laptops and brief cases from cars. Detective Sergeant Glyn Leech said, “We are sending out a message to professional criminals that if you try to move into Cheshire you will be caught.”
Crackdown on Drugs As another part of the Crackdown Campaign, two operations against drug dealing in Congleton were carried out in one day. Two men were arrested in one of the operations and a man and a woman in the other. Sergeant Matt Todd, from the Crewe Community Action Team said Congleton has a reputation as a place where it was difficult to buy or sell drugs and we intend to keep it that way.”
Attacker Jailed A 21year old man was sent to prison for three years for his part in a number of serious assaults in Congleton in June. His brother, aged 20, was given a 12 month Community Punishment Order. Detective Constable Penny Jones said the sentences reflected the unprovoked and violent nature of the incident which had left victims with “horrific and long lasting injuries”.
Reward in Murder Hunt A £30,000 reward has been offered as part of the investigation into the murder of a 61 year old man at Sandbach in August. A group of men who were in the town centre around the time that Peter Harris was killed have contacted the investigation team and a new appeal has been made for another group to come forward.
New Commander’s Pledge The new Commander of Cheshire Police Eastern Area, which includes Congleton Borough, says he intends to continue the progress which has been made since the Area was set up in April. Chief Superintendent Ian Hopkins said the switch to Neighbourhood Policing Units, with their Community Action Teams and Investigation Teams had pointed policing in a direction which is making most people feel safer and happier about the places they live in. Ian Hopkins has taken over from Chief Superintendent Phil Thompson, who has moved to the post of Head of Crime at Cheshire Police Headquarters.
