About Ditchling Parish Council
To be published when compiled.
OPERATION CRACKDOWN
Operation Crackdown is a unique web/phone based initiative devised by Sussex Police, which allows members of the public to report road users in relation to the anti-social driving of a vehicle, with the aim of improving road safety and reducing casualties. It can be seen as a ‘Mobile Neighbourhood Watch Scheme’.
The initiative involves the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership. It was initiated due to feedback received from local public consultation meetings and the increased numbers of calls from the public in relation to the anti-social use of a motor vehicle.
Work was commissioned in November 2006 to establish the depth of the problem and following close collaboration with partners service level agreements were signed and Sussex Police in conjunction with the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership launched the website www.operationcrackdown.org on 28 August 2007.
The system works by the public reporting direct via the website or by telephoning the call centre. Calls are handled by call advisers in the West Sussex County Council Contact Centre which is staffed 6 days a week with an out of hours service.
The information entered on the website automatically transfers onto a database. This information gives Sussex Police sufficient detail to carry out checks against the vehicle and allow the system to store it for intelligence purposes or to instigate some form of intervention.
Every new vehicle report is checked against the DVLA and Police National Computer which populates the Operation Crackdown database with the current keeper details, markers of interest are instantly shown and these have been used in both crime and collision investigations.
The public expectations of what they can expect from Operation Crackdown reports has been managed through publicity which has been carefully worded so as not to raise expectations to an unrealistic level. However, all reports remain live for a period of 12 months and a vehicle is automatically ‘flagged up’ if it is reported more than once.
Information surrounding vulnerable road users is disseminated to road safety partners by the Road Policing Unit and used in the yearly strategic assessment. It is also provided to police district commanders for anti social behaviour reduction analysis and prevention work.
Since August 2007 over 16500 vehicles have been reported. Of these over 100 have been seized for no insurance, 185 warnings/seizures activated under Section 59 Police Reform Act (anti-social driving) and 43 drivers arrested. 500 intelligence reports have been submitted on vehicles. The intervention rate with offending drivers during October 2009 was one in four of those reported.
To report anti-social driving or an abandoned vehicle call 01243 64 22 22
Sussex Police � Serving Sussex
Topical Info
Parking in the Village Hall Car Park
Lewes District Council has issued the following information for residents who wish to parik longer that the permitted time.
Regarding long term parking beyond the 72 hour restriction. I have arranged with Paul Crawford (ESCC parking manager via NCP, who enforce on our behalf) for a temporary discretion regarding parking for local residents in the area who have enquired about leaving vehicles in the car park for longer than 72 hours.
The method to log vehicles with NCP is as follows:-
make direct contact with the Parking shop (01273 477105) giving the registration number, make and colour of the vehicle together with the period of time the vehicle will be parked in the car park, NCP will log the details for the parking attendants not to pursue the contravention when they are patrolling the car park. Any arrangements granted will be terminated at the expiry of the period, maximum period is 21 days.
We would advise, for security reasons that notes/messages are not placed in the vehicles on display, notifying any observers of these arrangements.
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Report to Annual Parish Meeting from CPO Chris Buggins
HGV’s.
One of the biggest concerns at present is large vehicles driving through the village, and causing disruption to traffic flow.
There is a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes for vehicles driving through the village unless it is required for access to locations within the village.
Unfortunately as most of you are aware, trying to enforce and prevent large vehicles driving through the village merely as a short cut is very difficult.
Sussex police recently started an initiative called Operation Crackdown
Operation Crackdown is a multi-agency facility with two key aims:
Reducing the amount of time vehicles remain abandoned (saving significant costs in the process).
Targeting persistent bad drivers before they cause an accident.
If you see someone driving badly, this includes any motor vehicle.
Pull over safely at the side of the road or ask a passenger to write down details.
Note the vehicle’s make, model, colour and number plate (which will help with police enquiries).
When noting the location, use house numbers and road names to pinpoint where the incident happened or where you spotted a potential abandoned vehicle.
Write a brief description of what you witnessed, while it is still fresh in your mind.
If it’s an abandoned vehicle, if possible take a digital picture of it.
When you get to work or home, visit the
Operation Crackdown website located on the Sussex Police website to record your information. It only takes a few minutes!
Your information will be analysed and any repeat offenders identified can be targeted by local policing teams or the road policing unit in Sussex Police.
I also intend to write letters to UK based lorry firms that regularly use Ditchling to access local companies and advise them of the problems they are causing within the village in the hope that alternative routes will be identified.
