ON THE GRAPEVINE

Farm Machinery Thefts Admitted Eight men arrested as part of a Strikeout operation against thefts of valuable farm machinery across a wide area of Cheshire will be sentenced in September. The men appeared at Chester Crown Court and admitted charges including theft and handling stolen property. The investigation was carried out by a team of officers from Eastern and Western Areas of Cheshire Police.

Drugs Arrest A man arrested after Police Officers discovered a large quantity of cannabis bush in a car at Crewe has appeared in court. He was charged with possessing cannabis and ecstasy with intent to supply, possessing heroin and possession of criminal property. He was remanded in custody.

Illegal Goods Seized Officers from Crewe Neighbourhood Policing Team took part in an operation which resulted in the seizure of 47,000 illegal cigarettes, nearly 24 kilos of counterfeit tobacco and 50 litres of illegal vodka. Most of the haul was recovered from houses on the Middlewich Street estate in Crewe. Shops and stalls at a market were also checked as part of the operation, which included investigators from HM Revenue and Customs and officers from Cheshire Trading Standards Service and from housing organizations. Police Sergeant Andy Collier said, “This kind of illegal selling often attracts children and teenagers as customers, involving them in criminal activity and exposing them to health risks. It is certainly not a victimless crime.”

Safety Choice for Drivers A new series of “driver engagement days” have begun across East Cheshire, focused on roads where local people have expressed concern about safety. Police Officers stop drivers for offences such as speeding, not wearing seat belts and using mobile phones. Some are then given the choice of the usual fines and penalty points or a fifteen-minute roadside safety presentation delivered by Fire Fighters. The action has been organized by Cheshire East Local Road Safety Partnership.

Reducing Biker Casualties “Biker Roads” in East Cheshire are being targeted in another summer safety campaign. It will combine enforcement measures with education. In 2008 seven motorcyclists and pillion passengers were killed and 48 seriously injured on roads in East Cheshire. Constable Paul Burke said, “Nationally motorcycles account for less than one per cent of vehicle traffic but fourteen per cent of the death and serious injury traffic collisions involve motorbikes.” This campaign is organized by the Cheshire East Local Road safety partnership and funded by the Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership.

Have Your Say Community Payback Schemes and local sentencing issues will be featured in the next Eastern Area “Have Your Say” meetings, organized by Cheshire Police Authority. People will also hear about the latest developments in local policing and have a chance to ask questions about them. The meetings are on Thursday September 3^rd in the Municipal Buildings at Crewe and on Monday September 14^th in the Town Hall, Congleton. Both begin at 7pm.