A community website from WCRA - the Westfield Common Residents' Association - based in Westfield, Woking, UK » Local Policing

Crime Alert – Moor Lane

the WCRA Editor — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:17:03 +0000

Residents are warned to be on the look out for burglars operating in Moor Lane.

WCRA Big Tidy Up – A big success

the WCRA Editor — Sun, 22 May 2011 08:00:49 +0000

Sunday 8th May 2011: A small army of 39 local volunteers turn up to make the Westfield Common Big Tidy a grand success.

Four hours of sweat and effort and the end result is one filled skip, 53 bags of general rubbish, 12 blue bags of recyclables and pride all round!

The event, jointly organised by WCRA and Surrey Wildlife Trust, was intended to remove litter, flytipping and other general rubbish to improve the common for the benefit of the local community and wildlife.

Westfield Common, a site of nature conservation importance (SNCI), is a special area of Woking and is enjoyed by residents and leisure visitors alike for its rural nature, opportunities for leisure and walking and convenient access to the countryside.

Sadly, despite being classified as SNCI, Common Land and partially green belt the area has not been actively managed and nurtured by the local government authority. But for the activism of locals there is no doubt that it would be littered and more degraded.

The Big Tidy Up was the latest effort by WCRA to highlight our concerns regarding the quality of the Common and take positive action to improve the area.

Over four hours the volunteers scoured as much of Westfield Common as we were able to do. We filled one skip and collected 53 bags of general rubbish and 12 blue bags of recyclables!

We are intending to run another Big Tidy Up in the Autumn so watch this space for updates!

Thanks are due to….

1. WCRA members for organising the promotion and leafleting to create awareness of the event,

2. Frances Halsted from Surrey Wildlife Trust for organising the clean-up plan, supplying the equipment, organising the skip from WBC, bringing tea and biscuits and arranging the rubbish removal .

3. All the residents and WCRA members that volunteered their time.

4. The Geocachers who turned up to help with the tidy up and explore the woods.

Photos from the Event

More on the Geocachers & CITO

Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, anywhere in the world. Cache In Trash Out (CITO) is an ongoing environmental initiative which encourages Geocachers to clean up areas parks and other areas as they visit them. You can learn more at: www.geocaching.com.

WCRA warn residents to be on the lookout for car vandalism

the WCRA Editor — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:50:09 +0000

A spate of car vandalism has been reported in the area and residents are warned to be on the lookout for any miscreants.

Local residents have been reported around 5 incidents in the last week or so. In one incident foul language was scratched into the vehicle body work which will require costly repair.

Residents are urged to be vigilant and report any incidents to the local community police office or to Councillor Derek McCrum.

Contact Details

Police – 0845 125 2222
Councillor McCrum – 01483 722735

Scam Warning – Free Crime Prevention Check

the WCRA Editor — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:00:49 +0000

As featured on the Surrey Radio 15 March 2011 it is reported that a scam is in operation within the local area.

A resident reports his experience as follows:

Yesterday evening( Mon 14th March) about 19.15 hrs I received a telephone call .
The male caller had my name and said he was calling from “Crime Prevention”.
My wife and I are ex directory so I was curious.
He said that he/they had been looking at the crime figures in my area and would like to send somebody round to talk with me.
I asked him “Are you from the police?” Reply was “ Crime Prevention”
I repeated the question and got the same answer. I challenged him and said you sound like a private company and I do not do business on the telephone. I put the phone down. I rang 1471 and was told the number had been “Withheld”
I rang the police, passed on the information and said I thought it was a scam. They were interested and said they would check it.
I presume a “salesman” would have arrived and would have had to have a look round my property and obviously check out what security was already in place. If this is a scam it seems a good way to find what is available in the home and just how easy it is to get in. If other people have had these calls then it may be a good idea to tell the police and not let anyone in even if they do “appear” to be legal.

Crime Map for Westfield Common

the WCRA Editor — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:25:26 +0000

Can be found here:

http://www.police.uk/crime/?q=Westfield%20Common,%20Woking,%20Surrey%20GU22%209,%20UK#crimetypes

Car Stolen from Rosebank Cottages

the WCRA Editor — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:52:38 +0000

Message from Maurice:

On August 25th about 22:30 hrs my wife Margaret heard a noise, looked out of the window and said “Where have you parked the car?”. I had parked in front of our cottage about four feet from our lounge window. Looked out and the Fourtrak was about 30 ft down the road. I would seem that it had been broken in to and was about to be “Hot wired” when one of our neighbours had disturbed the thieves while walking his dog. The usual phone calls to police etc ( they were very good both on the phone and when the two policemen arived..) A window had been smashed and the dashboard damaged.
We were due to go on holiday on the 29th so I booked the vehicle in to my usual garage and also decided to have a new clutch installed.
Saturday 11th of September and back home. Received phone call to say I could collect the Fourtrak. Everything fine. Just after midnight on Sunday 12th we heard the sound of an engine starting, looked out in time to see the Fourtrak being driven away.
Police think its a local job and they went for my old vehicle because it was ideal for towing…..( I bought it to tow my caravan.) Two warnings…. Take care where you leave your vehicle overnight and if you have a caravan or something that needs to be towed make sure its safe. Police think it was stolen for a specific reason Police are convinced the villains have been watching and waiting for me to get the Fourtrak back. They would have known it needed to go to a garage for repair after the first break in so it was only a matter of time
I wonder if anyone has seen any strangers loitering in the area over the last two or three weeks?

Please email M&M36 AT talktalk.net if you can help.

Graffiti in Willow Bank / Westfield Way

the WCRA Editor — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:15:42 +0000

If anybody has any information about the vandalism (graffiti) that has occurred on Willow Bank and Westfield Way please could they contact the local police using crime reference number WK/209/7518

Police Panel – 22nd July 2009

the WCRA Editor — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:08:33 +0000

Update on Local Policing Matters around Westfield Common

Westfield Common Prioritised

Westfield Common Play Area
A known drug users was arrested in the play area and was found in possession of class A drugs.
A search for drug paraphernalia was carried out and all such materials removed from the area.
A subsequent arrest was made in Balfour Avenue in connection with this.

Fishing in the Nature Pond
The Community Police team have no powers to enforce prevention of fishing but have agreed to tackle under age drinking, trespass on Willow Bank property and verify that fishing licenses are in possession. The local fishing shop has agreed to encourage fishing elsewhere and remind shoppers of the requirement to have a fishing rod license.

Antisocial Behavior
At WCRA request the local community police team have agreed to prioritise Westfield Common July – Sep 2009. You should see an increased presence and activities by the community team to address anti-social behavior, crime and other matters.

This will also involve looking into the activities around the local parade of shops – a focus of concern.

Flytipping
All incidents should be reported to WBC environment officers and they will direct Serco to remove offending materials.
Any evidence regarding miscreants should be reported to the local community police team.

Arson
Have agreed to report back on the recent setting fire of the tyre swing in the Woodland.

Remember to report ALL matters to the local community police team.

Flytipping / Anti-social Behavior

the WCRA Editor — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:25:49 +0000

I am hearing reports of increased anti-social behavior and fly tipping in Westfield Common including fires being started in the woods, drinking / smoking dens proliferating and fly tipping.

Indeed today I witnessed the sad scene of a bed dumped into Moor Lane Pond (see picture below) which has been reported to WBC.

If you are concerned about anti-social behavior or environmental crimes then please report them. The key contacts are below:

Old Woking, Kingfield and Westfield

Council Neighbourhood Officer – Yvette Lanham (yvette.lanham@woking.gov.uk, Tel: 01483 743475)
PC Paul May (w_safer_woking_cen@surrey.pnn.police.uk, Tel: 0845 125 2222 ext: 30055)

Mayford and Sutton Green

Council Neighbourhood Officer – Tony Tweedie (tony.tweedie@woking.gov.uk, Tel: 01483 743806)
PC Clare Leggat (w_safer_woking_cen@surrey.pnn.police.uk, Tel: 0845 125 2222 ext: 30055)

Coldcallers – Offering free Exterior Inspections

the WCRA Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:53:57 +0000

You might have been recently cold called by a representative from Apex Direct Promotions Ltd acting on behalf of an unnamed property inspectors and offering a free exterior wall inspection.

They are specifically looking for older properties (194os / 50s) and people who want to hear about the report.

I did a quick check on the web and unfortunately I have to report that they have featured on BBC Watchdog and been reported for trading standards for strong arm sales tactics targeted at older / vulnerable people.

Our advice is to avoid them.

If you are concerned about the exterior state of your building best to get 2-3 quotes from reputable companies registered with a governing body such as the Federation of Master Builders.

You have been warned!