Cardiff Council launch doorstep crime hotline

Posted by Now Cardiff on Oct 1, 2012

A new rapid response hotline has been launched in Cardiff as part of the Council’s pledge to clamp down on doorstep crime and rogue trader activity.

The helpline has been specifically designed to provide support and reassurance to victims and potential victims of door step crimes and to make it easier for residents to report issues and concerns to Cardiff Council.

It follows last month’s announcement that the council is getting tough on this type of criminality through a range of enforcement and awareness raising activities.

Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Ashley Govier, said: “A key reason why we started our campaign was to help raise awareness about door step crimes and to inform residents about how we can help because we know that for various reasons these crimes continue to go unreported.

“Now that we have launched a dedicated rapid response helpline we hope that this will encourage people to come forward and report issues to us, however insignificant they may seem.

“Put simply, the more information we have to go on, the better we can target our resources to put a stop to this type of criminality once and for all and support those who have been affected by it.

Keen to point out that the campaign is already proving effective, Councillor Lynda Thorne, who is responsible for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, added: “Within 48 hours of us launching our campaign, one Cardiff resident got in touch after seeing a feature about it in the local paper. Thanks to their information we have now been able to launch an investigation and provide support and advice to the victim.

“For me, this underlines the importance of why this helpline is so important because it sometimes takes courage and strength and to stand up to criminals like these so the least we can do it make it as easy as possible for residents to report matters to us.”

Cardiff Council’s Rapid Response Door Step Crime Helpline can be contacted on 0845 601 2 600. Calls are charged at local rate.

Please call this number if:

• If you feel pressurised, worried or concerned;
• You feel you have been or may have been a victim of door step crime – or feel that somebody else might have been:
• Or if you notice suspicious activity in your area.

Council and police tackle Cathays burglaries

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 20, 2012

Cardiff Council and South Wales Police are joining forces to target the security of private rented accommodation in the Cathays Community Ward.

The Cathays Community Ward is subject to the Council’s Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), which covers over 1000 properties in the area. The purpose of the scheme is to improve the standard of rented property within the Cathays area. Additional Licensing also aims to tackle wider community issues such as property security. Therefore, a set of specific security standards for HMOs in Cathays were agreed between Cardiff Council, South Wales Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue. Despite this, the area has one of the highest crime rates for burglaries in all of Cardiff.

Nevertheless, working in partnership, Cardiff Council and South Wales Police have now identified a number of streets in the area targeted by burglars in the past few years. In addition, a list has been compiled of properties where licensing works are outstanding as well as HMOs which appear licensable but where no licence has been applied for.

The aim is to work with landlords to make multi-occupied rented accommodation in the area more secure based on intelligence from police reports for means of entry.

Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Housing and Social Justice, said: "Anyone who has been the victim of burglary, or an attempted burglary, knows how distressing this experience can be. As a partnership we want to reduce the number of residents that fall victim to this type of crime by being proactive and putting a range of preventative measures in place.”

Over 50 inspections have been arranged jointly between Cardiff Council and South Wales Police in Cathays.  These will allow the Council to comply outstanding licensing and security works in already licensed HMOs and identify HMOs which still require a licence. The Police will focus their attention on educating landlords, agents and tenants on how to keep a property secure and raise the profile of neighbourhood policing.

Chief Inspector Steve Murray, Community Safety, said: “Cathays tends to have one of the highest rates of burglary of the city because of the high number of multi-occupancy properties. Combined with the arrival of students to the area, this provides rich pickings for criminals who know that most students will have valuables such as laptops and iPods that can be easily carried and sold on.”

“Our community safety department will be accompanying council officers on visits to houses in the area checking that security is up to standard and also to educate occupants.”

“Burglary can be an extremely traumatic experience and South Wales Police is committed to preventing break-ins and arresting those responsible. We ask residents to take the simple steps of locking doors and windows to significantly reduce their chances of being a victim of burglary.”

For more information about HMO Licensing visit:

http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2867,3424,5082,4949&parent_directory_id=2865

Brothers pay high price for fly tipping

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 19, 2012

Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Ashley Govier has welcomed the separate prosecutions and convictions of two Cardiff brothers for fly-tipping in the city.

Reacting to the news, Cllr Govier said, ““The message has to go out that dumping waste illegally will not be tolerated.  Such anti-social behaviour blights communities and creates a mess and a hazard wherever it occurs as well as costing significant sums to clean up.  This administration is taking a zero tolerance approach to littering and fly-tipping in our city and will not hesitate to prosecute as these cases prove.”

Last month (24th July), Mr Tom Price attended Cardiff Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to the offence of illegal deposit of waste under Section 33 (1)(A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 after being caught on CCTV dumping builders waste in Tremorfa.

The Court was also informed that the cost of clearance for the remainder of the rubbish was undertaken by the Council, unfortunately, at a cost to the local tax payers.  Subsequently, the Court fined him £1,500 and ordered to pay £200 towards the prosecution costs.

Last week (August 7th) Tom Price’s brother, Christopher was fined in Cardiff Magistrates Court £200 with £225 costs and £15 victim surcharge for fly-tipping on land that is now part of the Wales Coastal Path near Rover Way.  Council enforcement officers had witnessed him using the same vehicle as his brother had used when committing his offence in the same period.

Cllr Govier added, “I hope the substantial fines the Price bothers have received will make them and anyone else thinking of fly-tipping waste think again before committing such offences.  It’s illegal and a scar on our communities and if caught, you will be prosecuted.”

Loan shark who preyed on a vulnerable woman jailed for 18 months

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 20, 2011

A loan shark who preyed on a vulnerable woman has been sentenced to 18 months in jail today at Merthyr Crown Court.  He was convicted earlier this month after a week-long trial for 3 counts of unlicensed debt collecting and money lending.

Michael Rees charged the woman extortionate rates of interest on an initial loan of £500, taking up to a £1000 pounds a month including the victim’s benefit payments for the month which he collected by using her post office card.  The initial loan was £500 and she had to pay back £3000.

Rees exploited his victim by encouraging her to take out further loans including one for £1300 where the interest charged was £4800.

Police and Illegal Money Lending Unit (IMLU) officers raided his house in Tonteg and discovered the woman’s post office card as well as £48000 in cash under his bed.  The cash was thought to be profits from his illegal money lending operation and working capital.

Deputy Leader and Portfoilio member for Customer Services of Merthyr Tydfil CBC, Councillor Tony Rogers commented: ““The Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit has again shown their expertise in protecting Merthyr Tydfil residents from the threat of illegal loan sharks preying on the vulnerable. In today’s tough economic climate I would urge consumers to take expert advice from a Credit Union or the Citizens Advice Bureau instead of turning to a loan shark. Those who are currently victims of a loan shark please come forward and seek help and advice.”

Steven Hay, Operational Manager of Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit said: ‘Michael Rees’ actions were despicable and caused great upset and harm to a number of people.  Loan sharks prey on the vulnerable, if anyone needs help or knows anyone who needs help with a loan shark contact the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit on 0300 123 3311 .’

 

Illegal money lenders can range from small time loan sharks to violent and organised criminals operating in Welsh communities. The Unit works throughout Wales investigating and prosecuting illegal money lenders, raising awareness off the problems associated with loan sharks and supporting victims to come forward without fear of reprisals. Since 2007, the unit has supported 113 victims and their work has led to the arrest and prosecution of 41 loans sharks.

Carl Sargeant expressed his concern at the dangers posed by loan sharks and said that he was determined to do all he could to help their victims.

“Loan sharks prey on people in desperate need of financial help” said the Minister. “They offer seemingly helpful solutions to money worries in return for unrealistic and unaffordable repayments. Victims often find they are unable to repay the extortionate interest rates and can face threats of violence unless they pay up. This Unit is doing a fantastic job of cracking down on illegal money lenders. Loan sharks should be warned that we are on their tail. The Welsh Assembly Government fully supports this drive to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders across Wales.”

The Unit has undertaken a number of investigations leading to arrests, prosecution and often jail.  In 2009, investigations in Cardiff lead to two brothers working as loan sharks in the south Wales area being jailed. The brothers had blackmailed and kidnapped their victim over an outstanding loan payment.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, a couple who targeted mothers at a school gate were jailed for providing illegal loans to 27 people and using threats and intimidation to extort the repayments.

Carl Sargeant had this message for anyone facing financial troubles.

“Loan sharks are dangerous people to get involved with and I urge anyone thinking of borrowing money from them to stay clear. There are realistic alternatives out there, such as credit unions, and I would encourage anyone in need of financial assistance to use these reliable sources.”

The Welsh Assembly Government supports a number of schemes that help people facing financial difficulties and also assist them in accessing affordable credit. The Housing Debt Helpline provides free telephone based counselling to anyone at risk of losing their home and helps them find long term solutions to their problems. Credit Unions offer affordable, safe and reliable saving accounts and loans and with a credit union in every part of Wales it is easier than ever to become a member.

The Unit has received over £62,000 funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.