The Tottington Woodlanders

Our local Community Support Police Officer, Anna Giles, recently set up a Community Police Panel.  One of our Committee members, Malcolm, has joined the Panel.  The aim of the group is to identify three local issues for the police and community to address jointly.  The first item on the list, is to ensure the security of Tottington Wood, its environs and the skate ramp.  Secondly, the group are considering car crime, particularly speeding in the villages and inconsiderate parking.  The last issue is dog fouling.  Clearly the first and third topics are of particular interest to the Woodlanders. 

The formation of the panel was particularly fortuitous because we were troubled by a “rave” of over 60 individuals during the Bank Holiday weekend, at the beginning of May.  The Police were involved and took the incident seriously; partly because we were able to point out that the Panel had viewed crime in the wood as a priority.  Four squad cars attended and the Police revisited when the “Ravers” returned on Bank Holiday Monday. 

Sadly about a quarter of our years’ supply of beanpoles disappeared around the time of the rave; presumably used to feed the fire the participants lit in the wood.  It would  appear that the individuals involved were also burning tyres, a practice which has a whole raft of problems associated with it.

On a more positive note, we are considering the possibility of undertaking joint visits to the wood with the Community Police Officers, and we are also hoping to obtain official signs with regard to the dog nuisance problem. 

If you are in the wood and see a crime being committed or people behaving suspiciously please report it to the Police immediately and also let a Committee Member know.  You can contact the Committee via the website Contact Us page.  For serious crime (Assault, Murder arson etc) dial 999.  to report less serious crime telephone 0845 60 70 999