Appeal for missing memorial plaque
26th Apr 2012
Police in Croydon are appealing for information after a memorial plaque in was stolen.
The plaque, which commemorates the site where an orphanage used to stand in Primrose Lane, Shirley was reported missing on 19 April 2012 and is believed to have been stolen on or after 16 April when it was last seen in place.
Officers from the Shirley Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) are investigating, and are appealing to the public for any information that may help them with their enquiries.
PC Inez Swaffield, from the Shirley SNT said:
"The plaque commemorates where a former orphanage in Shirley once stood and is a very important part of the local history. A number of people have told us they’re very upset by its disappearance, so we’re eager to hear from anyone who might have seen anything suspicious around that area."
Anyone with information can contact Shirley SNT on 020 8721 2469 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Arsonist sentenced
A 40y/o man who committed on a string of arson offences during one night in Croydon last August has today (18 April 2012) been sentenced to nine years imprisonment.
Timothy Bixley (dob 29/08/1971) of no fixed abode, admitted starting four fires across the Addiscombe area on the night of 15 August 2011 and into the early hours of 16 August, which culminated in a warden-assisted block of flats being evacuated and a number of residents being hospitalised.
Bixley began his spree by attempting to set alight the NatWest bank in Lower Addiscombe Road. Bixley was seen on CCTV at the front door of the bank and has then set alight a piece of cardboard and pushed it through the letterbox before making off. The fire did not take hold and a burnt piece of cardboard was discovered by the manager the following morning.
Bixley then made his way to Clyde Road, where, after being refused access to an address of an acquaintance, he set alight recycling bins. The fire was spotted by neighbours and put out.
Bixley moved down Clyde Road and set alight to a car cover, causing an estimated £4,000 worth of damage to the sports kit car underneath.
He then made his way to Leafy Way, where he again set alight to rubbish bins at a block of warden-assisted flats. On this occasion the wooden structure surrounding the bins caught alight and this quickly led to a number of elderly residents becoming trapped inside the nearby building. Police and the fire brigade were called and 10 residents were rescued from the building.
A number of residents were treated by LAS at the scene for smoke inhalation and three residents were taken to hospital, with one suffering serious injuries to her respiratory system and she remained in intensive care for a number of weeks.
Bixley was arrested by officers in Croydon in the early hours of 16 August 2011 and officers quickly linked the incidents together. Bixley was eventually charged with seven arson offences. He appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Monday 30 January where he pleaded guilty to four of the seven offences. The other three offences are to lie on file.
He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court today (18 April 2012) to nine years imprisonment for arson, being wreckless as to whether life is being endangered (related to the fire at the residential flats). He was also sentenced to three counts of 18 months imprisonment for the three other counts of arson, which is to be served concurrently.
PC Leigh Packer, from Croydon CID who carried out the investigation said:
"This sentence is a reflection of the seriousness of the offence that Bixley committed that evening. His actions that night beggar belief and it could have so easily led to a number of people being killed. He told us he was drunk at the time, but if you add in the fact that this took place just a week after the serious disorder in Croydon, then his actions would have caused even greater fear to the victims.
"Hopefully this sentence will now help the victims begin to put this ordeal behind them.
20th Apr 2012
Windmill Road opens
20th Apr 2012
A police custody suite capable of housing 41 offenders and home to the Croydon's 220-strong Criminal Investigation Department is set to open.
The state-of-the-art Windmill Road site will take in all offenders for the borough, with 14 cells at Croydon station and 11 at South Norwood station closing on April 23.
The CID teams, which deal with offences such as burglary and robbery, will be joined by the Safer Neighbourhood Teams for Broad Green and Selhurst, as well as the custody staff and forensic teams.
Temporary chief inspector Chris Green, who is overseeing the move to the new site, said: "This is an excellent facility and exciting development.
"For a start we have 16 more cells, we now have all our detainees in the same building as our investigating officers which will save on time and money, and have a purpose built facility to cater for modern policing needs."
New features include a decontamination room to deal with offenders sprayed with CS spray wash basins in each cell, holding rooms for detainees during busy periods and four see-through doored cells for vulnerable people who need to be observed at all times.
A virtual court area has also been installed The building has taken just over a year to complete and is the third major site in Croydon borough.
Croydon Question Time
17th Apr 2012
Would you like to have the chance to talk to the people that make the decisions for Croydon Council face to face? Are there any issues that you would like to see the council tackling more, or are there any areas of Croydon that you think could do with some extra attention from the council? Croydon Question Times are open to anybody who wants to come and talk directly to council decision-makers about any issue affecting their area. Come and speak to members of the cabinet and senior council officers about the issues and services that matter most to you.
Tuesday 15 May
South Norwood Baptist Church (Holmesdale), 2 Oliver Avenue, South Norwood, SE25 6TY
Tuesday 22 May
St. Andrew’s CofE High School, Warrington Road, Croydon, CR0 4BH (please use Waynflete Avenue entrance)
The events will run from 7.30pm to 9pm and refreshments will be provided.
You can register to attend by emailing communications@croydon.gov.uk" title="mailto:communications@croydon.gov.uk">communications@croydon.gov.uk, or you can simply turn up on the night. However, please note that as space is limited, places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information and for more Question Time dates later in the year please visit http://www.croydon.gov.uk/questiontime" title="http://www.croydon.gov.uk/questiontime">www.croydon.gov.uk/questiontime.
POLICE OFFICERS PINPOINT PICKPOCKETS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT
4th Apr 2012
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The Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Command (STC), British Transport Police (BTP), and Transport for London (TfL) are continuing to crack down on pickpockets on public transport in Capital. During the 22-23 March teams of police officers funded by Transport for London (TfL) carried out the latest phase of the policing days of action as part of Project Spiderweb, a partnership initiative between the MPS, BTP and TfL to crack down on pickpockets and ensure we have a safe and secure public transport system for the London 2012 Games. The police provided thousands of passengers with advice at key transport hubs in all London boroughs on the simple steps they can take to keep their possessions safe while moving around London. Officers in Croydon concentrated their patrols around the West Croydon transport hub and made five arrests, including arrests for possession of cannabis, shoplifting and an arrest of a person wanted in connection with a robbery on a bus. Additionally 13 arrests were made for theft related offences by the STC Pickpocket Squad and Task Teams as the result of search warrants carried out on addresses of known pickpockets. These days of action also followed the conviction of prolific female pickpocket Marcella Iosif who targeted elderly passengers on London’s bus network and was jailed for a total of 16 months and banned from using public transport. Losif, 33 years-old from Wood Green, Haringey was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday 20 March after pleading guilty to seven pickpocket offences, on buses across several London boroughs including Kensington and Chelsea, Camden, Hackney, Southwark, Wandsworth, Haringey, Lambeth and Barnet between May 2010 and October 2011. Iosif used various methods, which all involved distracting the victims who were aged between 70-90 years-old and had money, purses or wallets stolen. The STC CCTV Investigation Unit retrieved CCTV evidence from the bus companies to assist the Dip squad with their investigation and subsequent identification. In addition to her jail term, Iosif has also been given an indefinite Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) which bans her from using any form of public transport including being in the vicinity of a bus stop or shelter in England and Wales. The investigation is part of ‘Project Spiderweb’, a collaborative initiative between the MPS Safer Transport Command, Transport for London and the British Transport Police to reduce theft offences on the transport network in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor Safer Transport Command said: “Project Spiderweb is a policing partnership between the MPS Safer Transport Command, British Transport Police and Transport for London to continue to achieve lower crime, fewer victims and increase public confidence in the transport network and increase passenger numbers. “This was also an excellent result which has seen Ms Iosif a prolific pick pocket receive a robust sentence, time in jail and a severely restrictive ASBO upon her release. “In addition to our policing tactics to catch perpetrators we engage with members of the public to ensure they are as security conscious as possible and make it even more difficult for thieves to operate on the transport network. “As part of our total policing approach, we will use lawful tactics to bring offenders to justice so our message is clear: if you commit crime on the transport network we will identify you and arrest you.” Steve Burton, Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing at TfL, said: “Crime on the transport network is at a low but thefts are still taking place. We are asking the public to help tackle pickpockets by keeping their possessions hidden and close to them.” “The sentence handed down to Ms. Iosif reflects the seriousness of her offences. Ms. Iosif was persistently committing crimes on the capital’s buses, often on vulnerable passengers, and we are glad she will not be in a position to continue that. “As the London 2012 Games approaches we will have visitors from all over the world using public transport, and we are determined to ensure that London’s transport network remains a safe and low crime environment. Through working with our policing partners offenders like Ms. Iosif stand a very strong chance of being brought to justice.” Here are some tips to remember when travelling: · Keep your possessions with you, fully zipped and out of sight at all times · Never keep your wallet or mobile phone in your back pocket · Keep your handbag over your shoulder diagonally and if possible with you coat · Try to have your ticket, pass or change ready in your hand so your purse or wallet is out of sight · Stay alert, especially in large crowds and be aware of the activities of people around you · If you think you may have lost your property, speak to a member of staff or visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/lostproperty" title="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/lostproperty">www.tfl.gov.uk/lostproperty · Report stolen property to a police officer or to a member of staff (reporting an item as being stolen if it has been lost is a criminal offence) · If you see anything suspicious report it to a police officer or member of staff · For details of your local transport policing team visit: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/coporate/about-tfl/19630.aspxtate" title="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/coporate/about-tfl/19630.aspxtate">www.tfl.gov.uk/coporate/about-tfl/19630.aspxtate |
Purley SNT uncover Cannabis factory.
22nd Mar 2012
Officers in Purley have recovered around 150 cannabis plants at an address in Foxley Lane, Purley.
The Purley Safer Neighbourhoods team (SNT) received information that drugs were being cultivated at the address. After carrying out further intelligence checks at the address, the team applied for a search warrant.
Officers from the Purley team executed the drugs warrant yesterday morning (13 March) and discovered in excess of 100 plants, thought to be cannabis, being grown inside the address.
A 46 year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of cultivating cannabis. He has since been bailed to return to a south London police station in April pending further enquiries.
Sergeant Nicholas Tooher, from Purley SNT said:“We've acted swiftly to information we received about drugs being grown at this address. As a result of receiving information, we've been able to conduct further enquiries, obtain a search warrant and recover a large amount of what are almost certainly cannabis plants.
“If residents in Purley tell us about their concerns about crime or antisocial behaviour they can be sure we'll follow it up and make relevant enquiries and take appropriate action."
The Purley SNT can be contacted on 020 8721 2467 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.Bar Se7en owner loses personal licence
14th Mar 2012
A 39 year old man, who was in charge of a bar that was shut down in Croydon due to crime and safety fears, has had his personal licence to sell alcohol removed and been ordered to carry out 90 hours of unpaid community work.
Seevan Aurokium (17/01/1973) of St Cloud Road, SE27, yesterday (12 March 2012) pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court to twice breaching the terms of his premises licence, contrary to section 136 of the Licensing Act, 2003. Aurokium was ordered to forfeit his personal licence and will have to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work in the community.
He was also ordered to pay £12,000 in costs. Aurokium was the owner of Bar Se7en, which had its premises licence revoked in April last year (2011) after a series of crime-related incidents occurred at the venue. Such was the extent of the failure of the management, and in particular Aurokium, to prevent crime and disorder at the venue, officers from Croydon’s Licensing Unit took Aurokium to court over his failures to comply with the terms of the licence.
Inspector Alan Goodall, who leads Croydon’s Licensing Unit said:“Aurokium had no interest in the safety of his customers or the public, and allowed known gang members to go to his club and cause trouble and violence. Although Bar Se7en has been shut, we felt it important that Aurokium was not in a position to go and set up an establishment elsewhere, which is why we brought him before the courts. He’s now had his personal licence taken away and will also be doing unpaid work in the community.
“Most bar or pub owners are responsible and work with us to prevent crime and disorder at their venues. However, we will not hesitate to take similar action against any venue or licence-holder that does not adhere to the terms of their licence and puts the safety of their customers and the public at risk.”
Croydon Police now on Twitter
10th Feb 2012
| Croydon police have today launched its own Twitter account so that residents, workers and visitors to Croydon can be kept up to date with what their local police are up to. @MPSCroydon will be ‘tweeting’ regular updates in relation to policing, crime and safety on the borough, from appeals, news, arrests, and events in Croydon. Croydon Borough Commander Chief Superintendent David Musker said:“Being more open and transparent with the public about what we do and how we do it is something I strongly believe in. Using Twitter, we’ll be able to open up a real dialogue with people that wouldn’t normally get in touch with us. It also gives the public the opportunity to get up-to-the-minute updates on incidents and crime that’s happening in their area. “We should absolutely be engaging with the public that we serve in this way to show to them what we are doing. But we’ll also be listening to what they are saying - this is a two-way conversation and we want to get feedback from the public so that we can learn and improve as well.” To get Croydon police tweets, you will need to sign up to Twitter, then search for @MPSCroydon to follow us. |
Information for Croydon Trading Standards
Alert – Jequirity bean bracelets
We have received an alert regarding the sale of the following bracelets that have been on sale at
the Eden Project in Cornwall and at another 36 retailers across the UK, urging customers to
return the red and black bracelets made from the Jequirity bean, the deadly seed of the plant
that if swallowed can kill in doses of just 3 micrograms. Abrin is chemically similar to ricin, a
chemical warfare agent. People who have bought the bracelets are being urged to bag them and
then wash their hands and avoid touching their eyes. The Eden Project alone sold 2,800
bracelets over a year.
Croydon Trading Standards
Tel: 020 8407 1311
Email: trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk
Address: Taberner House
Park Lane
2nd Feb 2012
HELP IS AT HAND TO SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV.
18th Nov 2011
Digital TV switchover is the biggest change in television since the introduction of colour. In 2012 analogue television will be switched off across London. If you don’t have digital TV by the time of switchover, you will lose your TV channels.
If you are still watching analogue TV (five channels or fewer) on any of your sets, you need to convert them to digital. Virtually any existing TV can be converted using a Freeview box, a digital satellite service or digital cable.
Almost everyone will be able to watch Freeview after switchover – even homes currently out of coverage. You can check the options for going digital in your area, and what channels will be available through an aerial, using the postcode checker at digitaluk.co.uk.
For older and disabled viewers who may find making the switch difficult, the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme is at hand to provide everything you need to switch one TV set to digital.
Most eligible people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard option of help. For eligible people on income-related benefits, it’s free. This includes easy to use equipment, an approved installer to supply and install the equipment, and a 12 month aftercare service including a free helpline.
If you’re 75 and over or eligible disabled, the Help Scheme will write to you directly and in plenty of time to ask if you want help.
If you have any questions about switchover, you can call the Digital UK advice line on 08456 50 50 50 or visit http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/">digitaluk.co.uk. There will also be roadshows near your area from early 2012 – look out for more information on the website.
For further information on the Switchover Help Scheme visit http://www.helpscheme.co.uk/">helpscheme.co.uk or call free on 0800 40 85 900. Textphone users can call 0800 40 85 936.
