Police are reminding dog owners to take appropriate steps to keep their dogs under control after two incidents in the West Suffolk recently.
 
The first took place on Monday 7 January in a field near to Waldingfield aerodrome sometime between 6:00am and 10:00am. A sheep was found injured after trying to get through an electric fence. It is believed that the sheep was being chased by a dog.
 
The second incident took place on the same day in the vicinity of Powney Street in Milden. A sheep in a pen sustained serious injuries after it was attacked by a dog.
 
Sergeant Brian Calver from the Rural Crime Team said, "Despite repeated appeals, attacks on sheep and livestock by dogs continue happen across our county. We recognise that the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and take appropriate action to keep their pets under control around livestock. Farmers have a right to shoot any dogs that are attacking livestock and nobody wants to see this happen. I would remind dog owners or those walking dogs that they are responsible for any damage that the dog in their care may commit.
 
Anybody with any information that could identify the dog and person/s involved in these incidents are asked to call 101, quoting reference 1687/19 (Waldingfield) of 37/1722/19 (Milden)

Help us keep our communities safe.

Police are appealing for information following a burglary in Bedfield yesterday afternoon, Wednesday 2^nd January.

The home in Southolt Road was broken into between 2pm & 6.30pm after a glass panel on the rear door was smashed.

Once inside an untidy search was completed and a number of pieces of jewellery were stolen together with cash & a pillow case.

Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual in the area during these times. If you have any information that may help, please contact Suffolk Police on 101 quoting crime reference 37/377/19 or use the online crime reporting link - http://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something.

An operation to target criminals using Suffolk’s roads has seen more than 70 vehicles stopped in Ipswich.
 
Officers from the Scorpion Teams Specialist Operations including Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team, the Road Casualty Reduction Team, the Dog Unit together with partner agencies DVSA, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Gangmaster Licensing Agency. The checks took place at Sainsbury’s on Hadleigh Road in Ipswich on Friday 14 December.

Four arrests were made after a total of 71 vehicles were escorted to the site for checks during the day.
 
The aim of the operation was to disrupt criminal activity, to catch those committing driving offences, to remove unsafe vehicles from the road,  fuel testing, drugs checks and vehicle examinations all being carried out.
 
Three drivers were arrested for drug driving offences, a fourth was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting after a warrant was previously issued for his arrest.

Among the other results of the operation:
 
14 vehicles were issued with immediate prohibitions by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for no insurance or licence offences.
 
12 vehicles were imposed with delayed prohibitions – defects must be fixed as soon as possible.
 
28 advisory notes were issued.
 
Four vehicles were seized (under S165) as the drivers had no insurance or for licence offences.
 
A total of 55 traffic offence reports were produced relating to various offences. Among these included driving with no insurance (four), driving with no MOT (12), driving with no licence (one), driving a vehicle while illegally using a mobile phone (one) and wearing no seatbelt (11), defective tyres (four), vehicles in a dangerous condition (12) i.e. tinted windows/number of passengers carriages.
 
12 stop searches were carried out with 12 passive drugs dog indications, resulting in seven vehicles being searched and one driver being arrested (as above).

Suffolk Trading Standards spoke to nine traders who were given words of advice and Ipswich Borough Council’s Environmental Services spoke to nine people in relation to waste transfer breaches with all receiving advisory notices.

HMRC dipped tested 29 vehicle tanks with just one testing positive for red diesel and fined.

Sergeant Julian Ditcham of the roads policing team, who was overseeing the checks, said: "This day of action proved what we can achieve when we work with our partners.

"By sharing our combined knowledge, we were able to deny criminals the use of Suffolk’s roads, remove unsafe vehicles and raise awareness of road safety issues, while also keeping an eye out for motorists using mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt. The fact that just 15 vehicles left the site clear out of the 71 that we checked is quite a surprising figure. It just shows how important it is that all motorists are aware of their responsibilities to ensure their vehicle is roadworthy, safe to drive and is legal. We will take action if your vehicle is found to be not suitable for use on the roads.”

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: "I fully support these highly visible proactive days of enforcement, they send out a very clear message that if you are prepared to put yourself, and others, at risk by taking to the road unfit to drive or in a unsafe vehicle you stand a very good chance of being caught.

"I really can’t believe that drivers have not got the message, driving under the influence of drugs – and drink - is illegal for a reason, it is one of the four most likely causes of death on our roads, along with using mobile phones, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.  I am disappointed that so many drivers choose to flout these laws but pleased to see that the Constabulary is committed to catching those grossly irresponsible and selfish individuals that do.

He added: "I’d like publicly thank all the police officers and partner agencies involved in this campaign for their continued support. The results clearly show we are stronger working in partnership. It is only by working together that we will make our county’s roads safer for everyone so I’d like to.”

Motorcyclists across Suffolk are being given the opportunity to improve their riding skills and to have better awareness and ability while on the road at ‘Safe Rider’ motorcycle workshops to be held in 2019.

Safe Rider is a joint initiative between Suffolk and Norfolk Constabularies aimed at reducing the number of motorcycle casualties across the counties.

 To date in 2018, 14 people have been killed on Suffolk’s roads, two of which were motorcyclists. In 2017, a total of 34 people died on the county’s roads, five of which were motorcyclists.

The two-day workshops will run from April through to October, the months when it is considered the number of motorcyclists taking to the roads increases due to more clement weather.

They are aimed at all fully qualified riders who want to improve their skills to become better and safer riders.

In an effort to encourage more riders under the age of 25 to take the course, they will be able to attend for half price (£25) which will be funded by the Safe Rider scheme.

PC Andy Masterson, from Suffolk Constabulary’s Road Casualty Reduction Team and who has taken over organising the workshops, said: "The underlying message of the workshops will continue to be that education is key, not enforcement.

"The workshops give motorcyclists greater awareness of the hazards they may face when out and about to help them become better and safer riders and are designed to bridge the gap between passing the basic motorcycle test and taking an advanced test.

"I am pleased that we are able to offer the 50% reduction of the course fee to under 25s again, as this is the age group we tend to not get as many participants from but who can potentially benefit the most due to being less experienced riders.

"However, I would still equally encourage experienced motorcyclists to attend as it is always good to refresh your skills. Indeed, all us police officers who are advanced-level riders are required to have refresher training every three to five years.

"Relatives or friends still looking for Christmas ideas for a loved one who is a motorcycling enthusiast, might consider booking them onto a Safe Rider course – in particular parents of young riders.   

"Reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads remains a priority for us and while the number of fatalities to date this year are half the number we experienced last year, one death is still too many.

"I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to PC Kevin Stark who ran the scheme for the past 15 years. We intend to continue his hard work and commitment to Safe Rider and the reduction of serious collisions across our county.”

Safe Rider courses are aimed at riders living in Suffolk and are run with the support of Suffolk Roadsafe and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, with funding provided from Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club, along with Lings Motor Group and Orwell Motorcycles.

Riders who do not reside in Suffolk are also welcome to attend, though it is recommended that they contact their home county’s constabulary in the first instance to see if they have any courses available.

The workshops cost £50 per person, or £25 for those under 25, and are held at Suffolk Police Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich.

They start at 7pm on a Friday evening with classroom sessions on the system of road craft, with particular attention given to positioning and cornering.

The next morning, there will be an escorted ride out session with a Class 1 police motorcyclist. A maximum 3:1 ratio ensures an accurate and personalised assessment of riding performance.

First aid sessions take place on the Saturday afternoon provided by Suffolk Fire and Rescue.

Participants are provided with lunch on the Saturday and are also given a Safe Rider bag for life containing a number of useful items, including a flask, keyring and Parker pen.

The workshop dates for 2019 are:  

April 5/6

May 10/11

May 31/June 1

July 5/6

August 2/3

September 6/7

October 4/5

For further information visit the Suffolk Police website: www.suffolk.police.uk/services/safe-rider-workshopor if you would like to register for a course, call The Motorcycle Casualty Reduction Team (RCRT) on 01473 613888, ext 3722 or email: saferider@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

Anyone organising a motorcycle fete in the county next year is encouraged to contact the RCRT as they may be able to attend in order to promote the Safe Rider workshops.

Help us keep our communities safe.

Police are urging the public to be vigilant when purchasing new or second-hand bikes this Christmas.

This warning to shoppers is being issued as unsuspecting buyers may purchase a stolen bike without realising.

Detective Inspector Andrew Smethurst said: "In the run-up to Christmas, many shoppers will be looking online and on social media for second-hand bikes for sale and while some of these sales will be genuine, others may not be what they seem.

"At this time of year, thieves will be looking to sell items at short notice and often shoppers in a hurry will pay cash but be warned: if a deal seems too good to be true, it generally is. Be sure to research where you are buying your items from and if possible, buy a bike from a reputable seller or supplier.”

Shoppers should also remember that knowingly handling stolen goods is a criminal offence and if a stolen bike is bought by mistake, the bike may be seized by the police, leaving the buyer out of pocket or potentially with a criminal record.

Insp Smethurst added: "We would also like to appeal to shoppers to be on the look-out for stolen bicycles, whether that’s in person or online. If anything is suspicious, they should report it to us to via our website or on 101.”

Officers are also currently investigating the theft of a number of bikes in Coddenham and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

At some point between 6pm on Tuesday 16 October and 6am on Wednesday 17 October, a number of Pinarello carbon road bikes were stolen from a trailer attached to a lorry, while it was parked in a lorry parking area at a Shell petrol station in Norwich Road.

Anyone who has witnessed the sudden arrival of one or more of these types of bikes or who may have been offered one or more for sale, are asked to call Suffolk police on 101 quoting crime reference 37/60030/18 or use the online crime reporting link - http://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something.

Anyone buying a bike for Christmas should remember to purchase a lock and be sure to record the cycle frame number. Cyclists should also remove anything valuable from their bike when leaving it securely.

For further crime prevention advice regarding cycle security, visit: https://www.suffolk.police.uk/sites/suffolk/files/cyclesecurity_0.pdf

Photos are attached of bikes similar to the ones stolen in October.

          

Help us keep our communities safe.

Police advice on a variety of subjects can be accessed via  https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice

To report something, or to otherwise contact Police, use the link http://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us 

To report something anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Alternatively call 101 for non-urgent matters.

Always call 999 in emergencies, or if an immediate police response is required.

Police Connect Team

"Not all drink-drivers this Christmas will be young men” – that is the message from Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies as both forces prepare to launch their winter campaigns.

This is in support of the national drink-drive operation, reminding people that it is not always the ‘the usual suspects' that drink and drive over the festive period.

The campaign, which was first launched in West Yorkshire in 2016, illustrates deliberate stereotype characters to challenge the public perception about those who they think may be drink-driving this December and reminds people not to drive after drinking alcohol.

The festive crackdown, which officially launches on 1 December and runs until 1 January, tackles those driving under the influence of drink or drugs and will see officers in both counties carrying out extra patrols and roadside checks. Any driver who is stopped due to concerns over the manner of their driving, a vehicle defect, or is involved in a collision, will be breathalysed.

Specific time slots at Norwich and Ipswich Magistrates' Courts have been reserved to deal with those caught drink or drug driving. This effectively means that offenders could now lose their licence within 24 hours of being breathalysed whilst facing additional fines.

Throughout the campaign roads policing officers will be using social media to share messages and provide updates on campaign results using @NSRAPT and via Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies Facebook pages.

During last year's campaign more than 3,000 drivers were tested with 152 drivers providing positive readings in total for both counties. In Norfolk 1,320 tests were carried out with 82 drivers failing while in Suffolk 1,751 tests were carried out with 70 drivers failing the test. 78 drivers failed drugs tests across both the counties. (Norfolk: 35, Suffolk: 43).

Inspector Chris Hinitt, from the Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: ‘‘Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs is not acceptable, but at Christmas the risks are even more prevalent with darker nights, bad weather and sadly, more people taking the risk by drinking or using drugs and then getting behind the wheel.

"Statistically young men do form a large proportion of those whom we stop for drink-driving, however we are seeing more and more men, and increasingly women, aged over 35 who are drink-driving, many with the attitude 'it will never happen to me'. It is quite harrowing as many of the people in this age range have been targeted by decades of campaigns about the dangers of drinking before getting behind the wheel. Last December, almost 92% of everyone who were arrested for drink-driving offences nationally, were aged over 25.

"These are people from all backgrounds, ethnicity and genders. Many of them have professional careers, they may have children and grandchildren and yet they are still choosing to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. We want to continue to drive home the message and make drink-driving socially unacceptable, no matter how old you are.

"There could be serious consequences to driving under the influence of drink or drugs including being involved in a serious collision where you or someone else is injured or killed. It is just not worth the risk.

"The number of drink-driving charges is decreasing nationally which is a step in the right direction. While we would like to think that this is because people are more aware of the dangers of getting behind the wheel after a few drinks, the reality is that the decline is small and there are still plenty of people out there willing to take the risk.”

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore, said: "Every Christmas we remind drivers of the dangers that drink and drugs cause behind the wheel and every year sadly there are still some that do not take heed. I find this extremely frustrating.  It beggars belief that despite the obvious dangers, too many motorists still take to the road under the influence of alcohol or drugs and as this campaign has highlighted it is not just ‘the usual suspects’.

"All drivers need to understand that drink driving risks lives and the lives of others, it is grossly irresponsible and selfish.  

"Too many people lose their lives on our roads and that’s why we have invested in extra roads policing – we’re doing all we can to keep our roads safe, we need everyone out on our county’s road to do the same.”  

Cllr Mary Evans, cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs at Suffolk County Council, added: "This is a vital campaign aimed at those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol over the Christmas period. Sadly, despite repeated warnings and the obvious dangers, many motorists under the influence still take to the roads.  

"This campaign once again highlights the terrible dangers and risks of getting behind the wheel when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The campaign also challenges commonly held perceptions because the evidence shows that those caught drink driving are more likely to those aged over 35.  

"Suffolk Highways are working closely with the police and fire service to promote the campaign, this includes holding events at local supermarkets to highlight the dangers to people purchasing alcohol.”

The campaign starts on Saturday 1 December and runs until Tuesday 1 January and will see officers carrying out roadside checks throughout the day and night – including in the early morning – as well as intelligence-led enforcement activity. The public are also encouraged to report any concerns relating drink or drug driving anonymously using Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or on 0800 555 111.