Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Well I’ll start with some very positive news about Whittlesey Railway Station, at long last – there maybe some ‘small’ but significant improvement on the horizon – having bumped into Cllr Simon King yesterday, he informs me that ‘Funding’ for small improvements at Whittlesey and Chatteris Railway Stations has been obtained.
In Whittlesey’s case the main priority is to install better lighting, there is of cause ‘always’ a sting – The money allocated has to be ‘spent’ in this financial year – Network Rail need to approve the works and this is where the problem lays – notoriously slow in any decision making.
Plus – no one wants the work to be carried out – only to find NR comes along and digs the lot up for some reason – watch this space.

On attending yesterdays AGM of Rural Cambs Citizens Advice in Buckden, there were NO councillors from Whittlesey represented, and only Wisbech Councillor Simon King representing Fenland attending.
There was however about 5 Councillors from St Neots who made representations.
Citizens Advice is a very important facility for everyone to access, you never know when you may need their help, assistance or advice. Here in Whittlesey the CAB attend ‘most’ Fridays at The Library – you need to make an appointment as there are limited ‘slots’
I’ll not dwell too long on all the facilities available but point in the direction of the ‘new’
Rural Cambs CAB Website which has everything you need to find out and a pathway to advice….. https://www.citizensadviceruralcambs.org.uk/

The Road Victims Trust is a charity dedicated to supporting people who have been affected by the grief and trauma of a death or life changing injury resulting from a road traffic collision.  Jason Ablewhite, the Police and Crime Commissioner, supports the charity to provide services in Cambridgeshire.  These services are available to family, friends and colleagues of the person who has been killed or injured as well as those that have witnessed the collision.  You can find out more about the organisation on their webpage – www.rvtrust.co.uk

Special Service of Remembrance

On Sunday 19th November 2017, the Road Victims Trust is holding a service of remembrance to celebrate the lives of people lost on the roads of Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.  This service is held as part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims at Great St Mary’s Church, Senate Hill, Cambridge from 11.15am.

The service will be led by the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, the Bishop of Ely and emergency services personnel will be in attendance with the Police and Crime Commissioner.  The Road Victims Trust would like to extend the invitation to the public.  For further information or to confirm attendance, please contact the Road Victims Trust directly – lindak@rvtrust.co.uk

The original application to carry out recycling work at the old Saxon Brickworks was in 2012 – since then there has been a change of ownership.
I must state that I live about 1 km away and on occasions there is some almighty banging and clattering happening there – probably wind direction has some play in it.
It would appear there is a letter from Cambs CC going around, which is causing some confusion – residents thinking this is a new application – which it is not. There is still some remedial work ongoing to shore up and stabilize the pit itself.

I hope you are all keeping well and safe now that the nights are beginning to draw in. People’s minds seem to have turned to Christmas already – my daughter has finished her shopping which I find disconcerting! If you are thinking of buying a device for someone who isn’t very familiar with the world of all things cyber, please help them to keep safe online. The police have sent me a handy Christmas checklist just for this which I have attached. J As you probably already know from my previous email, next week I will be out and about with the police in libraries to chat about this.

Of course, before that we have Halloween, the police have kindly also provided a poster to print out if you or one of your neighbours does not want to be ‘trick-or-treated’! The link can be found here :-  https://www.cambs.police.uk/A-Z/Halloween.aspx
(Scroll to the bottom and click on ‘Halloween Poster for no trick-or-treating’).

A few weeks ago it was confirmed that CCleaner a popular anti-virus programme had been the subject of a malware infection which compromises the security of the machines it is installed on. The tool is used by millions to keep their Windows PCs running smoothly. CCleaner users are advised to immediately install the latest version of the software and perform a system scan using the anti-virus software.
We have had a spike in complaints about a fake People’s Postcode Lottery letter attached, please watch out for it. We have been in contact with the genuine Postcode Lottery and they have confirmed that this is a scam.

Although it was a while ago now, a PCSO recently informed me of an incident in Duxford where a workman stopped by a house and pointed out a missing tile. They claimed that as it happened they had been working on a house round the corner and had all the required ladders and gear. The cost was considered a little expensive for one tile
(£75 I believe) but for convenience the resident agreed to the work being carried out.
All seemed fine (it even matched!) until it rained and the previously sound roof leaked very badly. The workman had removed a tile from a hidden part of the roof near the chimney to use in the repair thus causing several hundred pounds of damage when the rain cascaded inside, down the side of the chimney. Please be wary of any uninvited caller offering to do maintenance. Some of you may also remember quite some time ago I warned about a doorstep caller who offered to clean patios at an inflated price (leaving an awful mess).
He’s back in the area so please beware. He has been visiting South Cambs but I’m sure he is out and about all over Cambridgeshire so if you are approached I’d advise being very wary. Reliable tradesmen can be found through the Trading Standards initiative ‘Buy with confidence’. https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

I have been informed of several scams where payment is requested by iTune cards or vouchers. ITunes have a warning on their page as follows:

‘A string of scams are taking place asking people to make payments over the phone for things such as taxes, hospital bills, bail money, debt collection, and utility bills. The scams are committed using many methods, including gift cards. As the fraudsters are sometimes using iTunes Gift Cards, we want to make sure our customers are aware of these scams.

Regardless of the reason for payment, the scam follows a certain formula: The victim receives a call instilling panic and urgency to make a payment by purchasing iTunes Gift Cards from the nearest retailer (convenience store, electronics retailer, etc.). After the cards have been purchased, the victim is asked to pay by sharing the 16-digit code on the back of the card with the caller over the phone.

It’s important to know that iTunes Gift Cards can be used ONLY to purchase goods and services on the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, or for an Apple Music membership. If you’re approached to use the cards for payment outside of the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, or Apple Music, you could very likely be the target of a scam and should immediately report it to Action Fraud.’

Along similar lines, Amazon have put out this warning:

Amazon UK customers have again been targeted by a new email scam that attempts to access their personal accounts through the promise of a £50 gift card.

A fresh batch of fake emails offering a voucher for amazon.co.uk have been circling the inboxes of their UK customer base.

This is the second time in under a month that British users of the world’s leading e-commerce company have been the recipient of phishing emails.

Last month Amazon users were subjected to an attempted trick that claimed there was a problem with a recent order from the shopping site.

This time around customers are thanked for their loyalty before being invited to click a link that reveals the remainder of a code which will entitle them to £50 of online store

Elaine Mountfort
Community Protection Officer
People and Communities Directorate

Next week I will be visiting libraries with some of our local police officers to help remind people to keep safe online. Please come along if you would like any advice or help regarding protecting your personal information or avoiding scams. Everyone is welcome so please let anybody who might be interested know. We are going to be at the following locations:

 1^st November – March Library (10:00-12:00)
                          Peterborough Serpentine Gallery (12:30-14:30)                         

2^nd November – Histon Library (10:00-12:00)

                          Ely Library (13:00-15:00)

3^rd November – Huntingdon Library (10:00-12:00)

                            Cambridge Central Library (14.00 – 16.00) 

On Thursday 23^rd November, 10.00 to 12.00, we are holding a Friends Against Scams session in Moreton Avenue Community Room (lounge) in March. This will be followed by sessions across the county in the New Year and it would be wonderful if any of you would like to come along. Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities. Friends Against Scams is designed to inspire action, highlight the scale of the problem, change the perceptions of why people fall for scams and make scams a community, regional and national topic. By attending a Friends Against Scams awareness session (or completing the online learning), anyone can learn about the different types of scams and how to spot and support a victim. With increased knowledge and awareness, people can make scams part of everyday conversation with their family, friends and neighbours, which will enable them to protect themselves and others. The sessions are roughly two hours long (with a break of course) and you get a pin badge and certificate to recognise your completion of this valuable session. Of course, many people will not be able to attend, particularly those with busy lives or caring responsibilities so The Trading Standards Institute provide this training as an online option (you still get the badge and certificate), which you can access at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk.

This only takes 30 to 45 minutes so might be a good alternative? I’d be interested to hear any feedback if you take a look. Please let me know if you would like to attend a session or have contact with a group who might welcome this. It’s all free! 

Kind Regards
Elaine Mountfort
Community Protection Officer
People and Communities Directorate

Telephone: 01954 286006 or 07810153604
Email: elaine.mountfort@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Michael Froment (Police, PCSO, Fens)

There has been a burglary in the location of Sudbury Court (Off Stonald Road) on the 26th October.
Please contact in if anything was seen or heard. Large items have been taken. Investigations are ongoing.
Thanks (Call 101 if any information)

Sent by Julie Bailey (Police, Community Safety Officer, Fenland)

The clocks go back this weekend, With that in mind please see the below and attached The clocks will be going back at 2am this Sunday and while this might mean an extra hour in bed for many people it also means that the nights will be getting darker earlier. Check out our winter burglary crime prevention advice here ….

After the clocks go back we start thinking about the darker night’s drawing in. Traditionally there is a rise in burglaries in the winter period, especially during the run up to Christmas and it is sensible to think about your home security.

You can reduce the risk of being a victim of burglary by following four simple steps:

1. Leave a light on inside your home when you are absent, preferably using a low energy bulb.
2. Use a timer switch to activate lights as it gets dark, alternating the times they are illuminated to give the impression of someone being at home.
3. Make sure your front door is well lit using dusk to dawn lighting that automatically comes on as it gets dark.
4. Make sure you keep your doors and windows locked at all times.

In addition, we would advise you to take these security tips:

• Register valuable items with a serial number at www.immobilise.com and add a photograph.
• Do not leave your car keys, handbags, wallets or mobile phones near doors, letterboxes or windows.
• Never leave keys in the door if you have a cat flap or letter box.
• Keep your valuables out of sight. Burglars will be looking through windows for items of value.
• Install a visible burglar alarm with a box on the front and rear of your property.
• Keep gates and sheds locked.
• Store your wheelie bins behind secure side gates to prevent them being used as climbing aids.
• Increase the height of your back or side fencing by adding diamond style trellis topping which is difficult to climb.
• Plant spiky plants in vulnerable areas.
• Think about getting a driveway alarm – this is a cheap and effective deterrent which can be switched on at night when you go to bed to protect against anyone entering your drive or garden.
• If you are lucky enough to be going away on holiday, do not post your holiday plans or movements on social-networking sites.
• Subscribe to your local Neighbourhood Watch

Kind regards Julie Bailey Crime Prevention and Community Safety Officer Fenland.

Nothing new in this scam – however this is what came from Action Fraud….

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud have recently noticed that Fraudsters have been setting up fake adverts on social media (including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) and job browsing websites to dupe people into believing they are recruiting for prospective models.

Once victims show interest in the job, the fraudsters contact potential victims on the false promise of a modelling career and subsequently advise the victims to come in for a test shoot.

The fraud can then potentially be carried out in two ways;

Firstly, the fraudsters can pressurise the victims in sending an upfront fee to book a slot for the test shoot. Once they have received the upfront fee, the victim will never hear from the fraudsters again.

The second possible method is that the fraudsters will take the advance fee that the victim sends for a photo shoot and arrange a photo shoot with the victim. After the photo shoot, the fraudsters will contact the victim after a few days and convince them that their shoot was successful and offer them a job as a model. The victim will then be asked to sign a contract and pay another upfront fee, usually to secure the modelling contract.

Fraudsters are also creating fake adverts for supposed modelling opportunities for children which do not exist. Fraudsters will inform parents or guardians that a potential career in modelling awaits their child. This tactic convinces the parent or guardian to sign up their child and send an advance fee.

The suspects will also convince the victim that in order to become a model, they will need to have a portfolio. The fraudsters will recommend a number of packages and stress that if a package is not paid for in advance, the process of becoming a model cannot continue.

Over a two year period (September 2015 – August 2017), an average of 28 reports of advance fee modelling frauds have been received per month by the NFIB. In August 2017, 49 Action Fraud reports of this fraud type were received and may continue to rise. The total loss in August 2017 alone was over £71,000.

Tips for staying safe:

• Carry out your own research prior to paying any type of advance or upfront fee.
• Be wary if you are asked to pay for a portfolio, as many legitimate agencies will cover that cost.
• Don’t give your bank account details or sensitive information to anyone without carrying out your own research on the relevant agency.
• If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Ever since I became ‘involved’ many years ago, I have on many occasions muted the idea of a ‘closer’ relationship with our immediate neighbours ‘Peterborough’ – when-ever the subject was brought up – it was though I had raised something extremely toxic….Now I well appreciate it may not be everyone’s utopia to have a more ‘friendly’ relationship with Peterborough City Council – My argument was and still is, we in Whittlesey/Villages have been ‘The Poor Relation’ in comparison to the other market towns, Chatteris has a similar argument as does March, but as a previous town councillor I found it difficult to engage with most of the other Fenland councillors who could influence a debate.
Some like the ‘Luvey relationship’ they have.
That’s partly history now , I have met several PCC councillors in the past and they all wondered ‘why’ Whittlesey was not engaging with them.
There are some major disadvantages – no one want to be ‘swallowed’ up the PCC Unitary Authority, I have spoken with people in Eye and Yaxley (Partly in Hunts) to hear how they believe they have been rough shod.
So I am now getting some positive vibes that one, two, or maybe more of our ‘current’ councillors may be ‘warming’ to the idea of ‘engaging’ with Peterborough in a more positive way.
One Councillor recently used a phrase –
“with FDC’s apparent apathy towards Whittlesey”

“the consensus of opinion that came across was that Whittlesey fits into the slot of being a  commuter town with increasingly strong links with Peterborough where a large proportion of our population go to work and potentially could bring their wealth back into the Whittlesey economy.”

Hello, Hello, why has it taken ‘years and years’ for some of our Councillors to wake up to the reality.
I naturally am a supporter of any engagement with PCC – with certain reservations of
I quote Ex PM Cameron (Lessons must be learnt – from Eye and Yaxley).

Whittlesey like it or not, is becoming closer and closer economically, socially and demographically.

Do you know a child who likes to draw?

Then we would like to hear from you.
As part of The Big Draw Festival this month, which promotes drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention, Cambridgeshire Constabulary have launched their own art competition. This half term, we’re inviting children under 12 to dig out their pens, pencils and paints and submit a drawing to fit the theme ‘The Police’. Engaging with young people and listening to their experiences is an important part of our role and we hope this light-hearted competition will get the young people of Cambridgeshire thinking about the police and the role we play in their communities. There are two age categories, five and under and six to 12-year-olds.
The winners will receive a personalised tour of our headquarters in Huntingdon and entries will be displayed across the force.
If you know someone who might like to get involved, ask them to send their entry along with their name, age and contact details to corporate.communications@cambs.pnn.police.uk,
post it to Corp Comms, Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon, PE29 6NP or submit it via our social media channels, Facebook (@CambridgeshireConstabulary) or Twitter (@CambsCops).
The competition will close on 29 October. Best Wishes, Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Tackling Domestic Abuse is a national priority for the Home Office, Police, Neighbourhood Watch and Crimestoppers.

Neighbourhood Watch is working with Crimestoppers to raise awareness about domestic abuse and what our supporters and volunteers can do to help prevent and report it.  We would be grateful if you could spend just 3 minutes completing this survey, the results of which will help us to  signpost people to the right place to report their concerns. Your responses are completely anonymous.
You can complete the survey by clicking on the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NWN-DV-Survey