POLICE BOX

STREET SPORTS 4 ALL

During July and August your local Community Officer, Euan Mitchell planned, set up and ran various ‘Street Sports 4 All’ events in Abernethy and in other towns and villages in the Bridge of Earn and Kinross-shire area.

For those of you that don’t know about this scheme, it is run by St. Johnstone FC in conjunction with the Perth and Kinross Community Safety Partnership.  It is funded by the Council and, under the banner of ‘Street Sports For All’, St.Johnstone coaches take a mobile sports pitch (slightly smaller than a tennis court) to various locations throughout Perth & Kinross.  The court itself has netting round it in order to keep everything contained within the court.

The facility is often targeted towards areas where there are concerns about young people becoming involved in offending or antisocial behaviour and is a very good tool in getting to know the young people in a very informal surrounding. It has been used successfully in a number of communities across Perthshire in the past. As well as bringing entertainment and health benefits for young people, it has been found to play a significant ‘diversionary’ role in reducing youth offending or reducing alcohol consumption by young people.

Street Sports has its own set of rules which centre on minimal contact, respect and fair play. During breaks in play our local Community Police officers, Special Constables as well as youth workers, sports professionals from St Johnstone FC and helpers from other partner agencies will use the opportunity to introduce themselves and get to know the young people and continue to build strong com- munity relationships amongst each other.

These sessions are free and open to all school age children in the area. Places do not need to be booked and all are welcome on the evening. Further dates are in the process of being arranged so look out for posters advertising these events in local shop windows and notice boards in the coming weeks.

BOGUS PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS

Householders are once again urged to be on their guard against cold callers who phone or email unprompted and offer loans, rebates or rewards.

In recent weeks Tayside Police has received a number of complaints, or intelligence reports in relation to people – some times elderly and vulnerable residents – being called or emailed by people claiming to be from banks, financial institutions, government bodies and even lottery operators with promises of ready cash. However, an upfront fee is invariably requested to allow the main transaction to take place.

In many instances the householder has been advised to make a payment using Ukash or at other money transfer outlets. Action Fraud provides a great deal of advice in relation to all types of fraud and advice about how to avoid becoming a victim of the fraud- ster. For further information see – www.actionfraud.org.uk

ASK THE POLICE

The Ask the Police website - www.askthe.scottish.police.uk - is an official police website that contains comprehensive answers to over 700 of the most commonly asked police related questions.

The aim of the site is to help you find the answers to your questions quickly and directly, without having to call Tayside Police to ask for the information. The site contains answers to a wide selection of nationally asked questions. Information that is specific to Tayside is being added to some answers, where appropriate.

If you cannot find the answer to your question and still need help, please call our non-emergency number 0300 111 2222, or in an emergency, call 999.

NEW COMMUNITY OFFICER’S

Constable Victoria Riches is the new Community Officer with responsibility for rural Kinross-shire; whilst Constable Sadie Allan will be the new Com- munity Officer with responsibility for the towns of Kinross and Milnathort. They will work alongside Euan in an effort to deal with community issues causing concern locally in their areas and also helping out each other when the opportunity arises. Both will be based at Kinross Police Station.

MOBILE COMMUNITY OFFICE

The Mobile Community Office will be available in Abernethy. Euan can be contacted at Bridge of Earn Police Office, by telephone on 0300 111 2222 or by email on euan.mitchell@tayside.pnn.police.uk. Alternatively you can anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to provide information relating to criminal activity of any sort.

PC MITCHELL