Energy companies agree to curb cold calls
An article from The Times describes how energy companies have joined together and agreed to respect the wishes of people living in 'No Cold Calling' or 'Cold Calling Control' areas.
Read the article here: Energy companies agree to curb cold calls
Using credit and debit cards safely and securely while abroad
• Cards enabled customers to spend £25.5 billion abroad in 2009
• Card spending abroad increased by 180% over past decade – up from £9.1 billion in 1999
To coincide with the approach of the holiday season, The UK Cards Association and ABTA, the travel association, have today (28 May 2010) published a consumer advice guide – Using your card overseas – that provides the latest tips and useful information for holidaymakers and business travellers who are planning to use their cards abroad this summer.
Latest statistics from The UK Cards Association show that overseas transactions on UK-issued cards amounted to just under three per cent of all card transactions last year, with 303 million separate purchases and cash withdrawals. Britons abroad spent £17.7 billion on credit and debit card purchases and withdrew £7.8 billion out of cash machines. This was an eight per cent decrease on the 2008 total of £27.8 billion. The advice guide can be downloaded at www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk. It provides useful information regarding the types of charges you may incur when withdrawing cash at a cash machine or when making a card purchase overseas, and includes tips on what to do before, during and after your trip abroad to minimise the chances of being a victim of fraud.
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Safer Scottish Borders Newsletter May 2010
Scottish Borders Council have produced the following newsletter. It includes information on a range of community safety issues.
Safer Borders News May 2010
Keeping Illegal Drugs out of Rental Properties
Grampian Police have produced a current leaflet which, although aimed at landlords, is full of useful information. It is well laid out and provides guidance on what to look out for, with helpful pictures too.
The download is rather large, but worth it!
Cannabis Cultivation - Leaflet (7MB)
Lothian & Borders Police Force Family Day - 12th June
For co-ordinators in our Edinburgh area, the 12th June sees the Lothian and Borders Police Force Family Day at Police HQ, Fettes, Edinburgh. As valued partners, the invitation is extended to all Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and their families and friends. With many displays and attractions on offer it will prove to be a popular family event.
LOTHIAN AND BORDERS POLICE FORCE FAMILY DAY 12th JUNE 2010
The Force Family Day event is due to be held on the 12th June at Force HQ, Fettes, Edinburgh . Gates open at 1200 hours with the Arena programme commencing at 1300 hours.
This year we have more displays and attractions than ever before with displays by our own departments including Police Dogs, Mounted Section and Road Policing complimented by a huge number of external organisations and agencies from the Airport Fire Service to Coastguard, RNLI, Army, Penicuik Archers to name only a few. There will be the usual Plant Stall, Tombola and Childrens Races, Go Karts, Bouncey Castles and a Bar as well. Our 2 chosen charities this year are Help for Heroes and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue.
The event , while not being an Open Day, is open to all staff their friends families together with Organisations and Agencies who work with us and Elected Members throughout the Force area. As we work closely with Neighbourhood Watches all over the Force, we would like to invite you to come along.
There is no need to reply to this message but if you would like more information, please contact Christine Harrison, Lothian and Borders Police, 0131 311 3371.
Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Summer Campaign
In June and July police forces across Scotland will participate in a national ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland) campaign to reduce violence. Part of the focus of this campaign will be a crackdown on the sale of alcohol to under-18s, and anti-social drinking in public spaces. The misuse of alcohol is often a contributory factor in violent and anti-social incidents, so police forces will prioritise this to help make communities safer this summer. Graham Goulden, National Anti-Violence Coordinator, said,
“Alcohol is and continues to be a major contributory factor in all types of violence. It often leaves our communities vulnerable to acts of anti-social behaviour. We need to address our cultural acceptance of alcohol consumption particularly amongst our young people. Whilst the majority of licensed premises take great steps in preventing young people having access to alcohol there are still those who sell alcohol to young people without thinking of the possible consequences. Neighbourhood watch members can work with the police in identifying these premises.”
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The Drug & Alcohol Project Ltd, Fife
The Drug & Alcohol Project Limited (DAPL) have been providing services to communities of Fife who are in need of counselling, support and information for their own or another’s drug, alcohol or volatile substance use since 1994.
Our roots are firmly placed within the community, by the community, as our service was the product of a group of proactive community members coming together with a shared voice and vision, that vision was to have an accessible, professional, free to access, counselling service for the communities within Levenmouth, who at that time had a spate of drug related deaths amongst its young people.
In its beginnings DAPL employed a manager, administrator and a project worker who laid the foundations for the service ethos and modality, the ethos of our service is to ensure those who are disenfranchised and at times without voice are offered an opportunity to engage with a service that is committed to supporting sustained change by providing access to highly trained staff within the community they reside, with the view to fully consulting and including service users in the development of the service. Although the ethos of the service remains fully committed to our initial aims and objectives DAPL has seen dramatic change over the 16years since its inception, as the years have past DAPL has seen continual year on year growth in both provision and geographical coverage.
At present there is a total of 28 staff, 8 volunteers and 10 board members involved in the day to day running of the service which is a far cry from the 3 paid staff back in 1994, however this growth has been due to the demand from the communities of Fife for our service model, based on our reputation as a service committed to supporting individuals affected by their own or another’s substance use to gain sustained change.
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Alert: Scam warning from Central Scotland Police
Tom McDougall from the Scottish Business Crime Centre passed on the following details about a recent incident in Falkirk which we wanted to make you aware of. Tom was alerted to the incident by Central Scotland Police.
"About 1140hrs on Wednesday 5th May 2010 an elderly couple were approached whilst sitting in their motor vehicle in a Retail Car Park in Falkirk by a Pakistan/Asian male.
This male knocked on the front passengers window where the elderly female sat and asked for change to use the phone. The elderly female produced her purse from her handbag and held it on her lap. The male opened the car door and insisted on getting 20p and 10p coins for the phone and he helped her retrieve coinage to the value of £1.00 from her purse.
The Purse was at all times in the possession of the elderly female and on her lap. The male provided her with two 50p pieces in return for the 20p’s and 10p’s and left.
As he left the elderly female checked her purse and discovered two £20.00 notes were missing from the rear note section of her purse.
The male is described as Asian, wearing glasses about 40 years of age. Speaking with an Asian/Pakistan accent. He was wearing a dark navy dress jacket and may have had a shirt and tie on, blue coloured trousers, different blue from his jacket."
While it is nice to be community spirited and to help out where you can, this should not be at the risk of losing money or possessions. Be vigilant if someone asks you for change and do not give them access to your purse, wallet or bag.
Alert: Scam warning from Lothian & Borders Police
Several reports of the following have been received happening in Clackmannanshire in Central Scotland, Fife area and Hillend, Edinburgh.
A well-dressed individual approaches looking for help, the male is often driving a Mercedes and the contact is made in either car parks or service areas. The story given is that the man has lost his wallet, or has had his credit cards/money stolen. He claims to be in desperate need of petrol and asks if you could lend/give him some money. In return he removes a gold chain or bracelet and a couple of rings which he gives you as a token of his thanks. He then offers to sell the rest of his rings/jewellery to obtain a little more cash.
Be warned that the items presented are not gold!
Police are requesting that any similar incidents should be reported as soon as possible. As always if you do feel under immediate threat however, then please call 999 immediately.
Funding for signs for Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn and Burntisland
From L/R Ch. Insp.G Crawford,Henry Bell MBE, Lindsay Maricic, Charles Mathieson (Chairman), Jim Watson (Treasurer).
Enabled by a grant from the Fife Community Safety Partnership, the Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn and Burntisland Neighbourhood Watch Association have been able to procure new Neighbourhood Watch street signs.
Lindsay Maricic from the Safety Partnership and Chief Inspector Gary Crawford were present on Tuesday evening at a meeting of watch members in St Brycedale’s Church when the new signs were unveiled. One sign will be given to each watch and these will be installed by Fife Council Transportation Services Department.
Lindsay gave a brief outline on the support available from the Safety Partnership and the Chief Inspector outlined the new Community Policing programme incorporating community engagement. He added that this new model was in some ways a return to the old style of community policing around the time that neighbourhood watch started in Fife some 30 years ago.
Members were also given copies of the new Community Safety booklet produced, after consultation with the Scottish Community Safety Network, by the Association of Scottish Neighbourhood Watches with support from the Scottish Government.
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