Melksham police update

THE Melksham Neighbourhood Team have been busy setting new priorities for the upcoming month after reviewing our most recent crime statistics. 

Unfortunately, we are seeing a spike in theft offences across businesses in town. Whilst we fully understand the impact the cost of living crisis is having on everybody, we cannot condone theft under any circumstances; what we can do is signpost anybody who is facing hard life decisions to the right organisations who offer support, provisions and a listening ear.

If you are struggling, please approach one of the team should you see us in town, call 101 and ask to speak to the Melksham Neighbourhoods Team or email us at TrowbridgeAreaCPT@ wiltshire.police.uk.

Shoplifting has increased to a monthly report of 18 shopliftings in the month of April. The team will be speaking to local shop managers to assist them ensuring their businesses are places criminals can’t target. If you have any information that you wish to pass on about a person you may know to be a shoplifter or thief, please speak with us on our regular contact details or speak with Crime Stoppers where you can report crimes anonymously.

We have attended a number of meetings this week; Melksham Pubwatch was carried out with the progression of two banning orders being issued on two men who were unable to act in a reasonable manner whilst enjoying a drink. We also attended the Atworth Parish Council meeting and Melksham Town Council meeting, where we updated councillors on recent activities carried out by the team.

A common question we were asked was around the use of E-Scooters in town along with cyclists on the pavement. E-Scooters are fast, silent and unsettling to most pedestrians. Most are not under any form of insurance and riders are commonly seen to be riding without any safety gear on. If you, or somebody you know rides an E-Scooter, check in with the rider that they are sensible and promoting road safety. If you hit somebody, you will be as eligible to their injuries as you would be driving a car.

If you are riding recklessly and fall off, it will be the emergency services who will be trying our best to piece you back together so for the sake of your community ride with some sense!

Cycling on the pavement was one of our most recent priorities following reports of cyclists doing wheelies and tricks outside the town hall. Following an increase in area patrols, we did not come across any cyclists to deal with and therefore this priority has been closed. As with E-scooter riders, we do ask that cyclists are courteous to pedestrians. We do understand it can be concerning riding on our congested roads but accidents can happen on both the pavement and road; be safe, be courteous.

Finally, we have completed a two-week force-wide promotion of Op Sceptre which sees knife amnesty bins placed in public spaces; knife arches erected in public building entrances and educational inputs on living a safe life and dropping the knife. We work alongside Youth Justice and the council to promote safe living within our younger generations. Knife crime is a national problem, a societal problem and a family problem. If you know somebody who carries a knife for protection or because of peer pressure, please speak with us, let’s keep the streets safe for everybody.

Sergeant Gemma Rutter