Newbury Business Today

Back on the town centre beat

28th December 2011

Email: richard.maynard@newburynews.co.uk

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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS with Sgt Lee Frost

WELCOME to this month’s edition of the business update.
As my regular readers to this column will know, I have just returned to my role in the town centre, after being a sergeant on a response team for three months. No sooner have I settled back into the role, I am back helping out another response team as sergeant. Despite being back as a sergeant, I am still very active in the town and business areas.
Since being back a sergeant, I have seen there has been a steady increase of metal thefts from business premises around the county, particularly around the rural areas.
Owners need to be aware that thieves are becoming increasingly active now that the nights are drawing in earlier, and need to report any suspicious activity to the police straight away, and also invest time and money in crime prevention techniques, which I can let you know about if you contact me.
We have a dedicated officer in Newbury police station who deals with giving businesses crime prevention advice and pointing them in the right direction when it comes to cost-effective products to combat the thieves.
In the forthcoming weeks until Christmas, Newbury town centre will become busier, particularly the pubs and bars at night. Licensees need to be mindful about the dangers that this can bring, and not allow any anti-social behaviour in their venues.
If we, the police, go to any venue to deal with any incidents, it will be logged, and any persistently troublesome venues will be in danger of having their licences reviewed. I want people to be able to feel comfortable and safe in Newbury on a night out, and not let the minority that feel they have to swear and fight ruin it for everyone else.
It is the responsibility of the pubs to eject anyone causing trouble, and also not to serve anyone who has had too many drinks.
Common sense needs to be applied, but I have seen it far too many times, when someone who has had far too many drinks ends up being arrested, and upon interview they tell us that they were still being served despite being unable to stand.
Let’s not have anyone like that this year, and we can all have a happy Christmas.
You can now find Thames Valley Police on Facebook and Twitter, and if you see me about, feel free to approach me and have a word with me about anything you want.
My email is lee.frost@thamesvalley.pnn. police.uk

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