Crowthorne and Sandhurst

Officers from the community safety and neighbourhood policing teams will be out in force in Sandhurst next week, working with partner agencies to drive down crime.

From Monday 3 December, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be carrying out high-visibility patrols of the car parks at The Meadows shopping centre in Sandhurst. Apart from acting as a deterrent to thieves, they will be looking for property left on display in parked vehicles, and giving advice to motorists on how to avoid becoming a victim of theft.

On Tuesday (4/12), they will be joined by police officers from the community safety team, and on Tuesday and Thursday (6/12) officers from the Thames Valley Police Mounted Section will be patrolling The Meadows Sandhurst car parks.

Reinforcing the crime prevention message will be a static display at The Sandhurst Meadows on Wednesday (5/12). A gazebo with Christmas lights and decorations will be the base for crime reduction advisers and representatives of Bracknell Forest Borough Council, the Domestic Violence team and the Fire Service. They will be handing out leaflets and giving advice on how to stay safe over the festive season.

Meanwhile, police and council officers will be carrying out checks on licensed premises across the borough, with a special focus on the sale of alcohol to underage drinkers during the Christmas period.

In partnership with the council’s education welfare officers, police will be conducting truancy patrols throughout Bracknell Forest, looking for school-age children who have started their Christmas holidays too soon.

Sgt Barry Cox of the Bracknell community safety team said: “We’re pulling out all the stops in the run-up to Christmas, to make sure the public have an enjoyable, crime-free festive season.”

Thames Valley Police ~Sandhurst

Firstly, I would like to thank you all for the warm welcome I have received in my new role as Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO) for Sandhurst.

At the recent Sandhurst Forum many people were concerned about an incident of dangerous driving which took place outside St Michael’s School. I and Owlsmoor NSO PC Amanda Price have spent a considerable amount of time trying to trace the offending driver.

The vehicle is still registered to a local person; unfortunately this person sold the vehicle prior to the incident and we have been trying to trace the car through various other people who have bought it and not followed the correct procedure of registering it in their name.

At this stage the details of the vehicle have been circulated to all local and neighbouring officers, and it has been included on Thames Valley Police’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition database, which means that should the car drive through one of our targeted checks, it will be stopped.

There have been reports of someone cycling like a mad man through the Sandhurst area this month: I must admit that it was me!

We received a call to say that an elderly man was unwell and had been trapped behind a locked front door for some time. I was leaving Crowthorne police station and a police car was dispatched from Bracknell on blue lights at the same time.

I cycled faster than I ever have and am proud to say that I was the first on scene, chasing the ambulance down the road. By the time the officers in the car arrived, I had already kicked through the front door and the man was being treated by paramedics. My best wishes to the man and his family.

On a different note, we have been actively working against anti-social behaviour and youth disorder. Reports of anti-social behaviour to Operation Lion Cub have decreased dramatically and I believe the offenders know the hard line that my colleagues and I will pursue in this respect.

PC Amanda Price, along with two of our PCSOs Ivana Houska and Rebecca Swann, have been developing initiatives to give local youngsters positive things to do. We are currently supporting two Boxercise classes and regular film nights in Crowthorne.

I have recently enrolled as a member of the Sandhurst Residents’ Association Forum. This internet-based forum is ideal for those residents of Sandhurst who are unable to contact me through conventional means.

I promise you will continue to see me around and about, so please stop me for a chat. Should you have any concerns, you can contact me through either the police non-emergency number - 08458 505 505 - or through the Sandhurst Residents’ Association Discussion Forum.

Finally, may I wish all residents a safe and peaceful Christmas and remind you to lock your valuables away, ensure all doors and windows are secure when you pop out and never leave your house and car keys inside your front door.

And please continue to keep an eye out for your neighbours. This way we can ensure that we all have the kind of Christmas we hope for!

Looking forward to working with you in 2008.

Thames Valley Police ~ Sandhurst

Major General D J Rutherford-Jones, Commandant at Sandhurst Military Academy, and Major Jake McKay, plus soldiers from the academy, will be garbed in full uniform to celebrate the store’s arrival. Deputy Mayor of Sandhurst, Carole Cupper, will also be in attendance.

A special presentation of a bottle of champagne and a bouquet of flowers will be made to the first customers through the door, who can look forward to everything you would expect from a branch of the award-winning supermarket.

The 18,795sq ft store on Yorktown Road, College Town marks the relocation of its Birch Hill store, which closed on Saturday 24th November.

The Sandhurst branch has generated over 60 new jobs for people in the area and they will be joined by the majority of the transferring Birch Hill employees. All new employees will become Partners in the business, entitling them to a share in annual profits, which this year saw Partners receive 18% of their salary.

Food and drink specialists, who have national qualifications in food expertise, have joined the team to offer customers their knowledge and advice.

Branch Manager, Steve Corbett, said: “We’ve always had many requests to come to Sandhurst, and now the opportunity has arrived, we’re delighted. We have a shop dedicated to top quality foods and service and can’t wait to show people our offer.

“While the closure of Birch Hill was extremely regrettable, we are delighted to welcome the majority of its Partners to Sandhurst. Their experience combine with the local expertise of our new Partners will be invaluable in seeing us become an active part of the local community.

“Our thanks must go to the military academy who have ensured we have arrived with a bang!”

Waitrose in Sandhurst

Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society are presenting ‘Frankenstein The Panto’ by David Swan at Crowthorne Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road from Thursday 29th November until Saturday 1st December. Curtain up is at 19:45, and there is also a matinee starting at 14:00 on the Saturday.

It's a hard life for little orphan Heidi in Pumpernickel's Tavern. The greedy innkeeper and his bossy wife treat her like a slave. And that's not all ... up in his castle, gormless Count Dracula and his gummy grandmother are planning a dinner party, with Heidi as the main course!

Luckily, she's got the audience and other friends to help: her faithful dog Kodak, her best friend Frankie Stein and the handsome Prince Ludwig. The Forces of Evil never stand a chance ...especially when Professor Crackpot transforms Frankie into a Superhero!

The only real horrors are a party of rowdy schoolgirls infer the supervision of Miss Nelly, famed pedagogue and pantomime dame. They're studying how to create havoc, and they're all fast learners!

Tickets are available from selected outlets in the village, or from the box office on 0118 989 1036 or boxoffice@catswebsite.co.uk, and are priced at £7.50 (£6.00 concessions).

Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society