Month: October 2017

Get £140 off your electricity bill under the Warm Home Discount Scheme

by

Get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2017-2018 under the government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme

Thousands of households in Herefordshire may be eligible for a £140 reduction to their electricity bill if they act quickly. For winter 2017-18,some energy suppliers are closing applications soon and householders are being urged to seek advice and apply now if they think they may be eligible.

The discount is available to those on a low income, and in receipt of certain means-tested benefits. As long as your energy supplier was part of the scheme on 9 July 2017, you may be eligible if you or a member of your household receivesemployment related benefits, is over 65, or has a disability;if you live with a child under 18;or if you spend a significant portion of your income on energy bills. The criteria varies between energy suppliers, so if you think you may be entitled to the discount, Keep Herefordshire Warm are advising you to contact them to check your eligibility.

The discount is also available to those receiving the Guaranteed Credit element of the Pension Credit, in which case an application is unnecessary as this ‘core group’ will be contacted in Autumn 2017 by the government.

In recent months, the UK’s ‘Big 6’ energy providers have announced electricity price increases that lookset to cost their customersan additional £100 in household energy billseach year. To those who are eligible, the £140 Warm Home Discount can help to negate this increase.

Oliver Rothwell, Project manager for Keep Herefordshire Warm said:

“Those households who have the least to spend on energy bills are likely to feel these price increases the hardest, including householdson the lowest incomes or where particular health conditions call for extra heat at home. We are delighted that the Warm Home Discount is returning and is able to benefit some of Herefordshire’s most vulnerable households”.

Keep Herefordshire Warm are urging householders to apply as soon as possible, as some applications are set to close within the month of September. Funding is allocated on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis, so those who meet the criteria must act quickly to confirm theirreceipt of the £140 discount.

“It is vital that applications are made as soon as possible to ensure that Herefordshire residentsdon’t miss out”said Oliver.

If you think you may be eligible, please contact Keep Herefordshire Warm for free on 0800 677 1432

If an eligible applicant is successful, £140 will automatically be deducted by the provider from their winter 2017-18 energy bill by the end of March 2018. The Warm Home Discount is separate from, and will not affect, any Cold Weather Payments or Winter Fuel Payments.

Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) October 2017

by

SNT-Header

October 2017

NOT SURE? DON’T OPEN THE DOOR!

Protect yourself from doorstep crime. Follow our advice to reduce the risk of being scammed.

Preventing doorstep crime: Doorstep crime can include rogue traders offering home improvement or gardening services, or bogus callers who claim to be the council, police, health carers or energy companies.

What should I look out for?

Rogue Traders: May say they are in the area and have spotted a problem with your home or garden. May claim to have materials left over from another job, like paving or tarmac.

May try to pressurise you to buy goods or sign up for services on the spot.

May carry out work cheaply but charge an extortionate price after it has been completed.

May offer to drive you to a bank so you can withdraw money to pay them.

May provide false names, addresses or telephone numbers.

Pedlars: A pedlar is someone who calls at your door to sell items that they have on offer. This can often include cleaning or household goods. By law, they are required to carry a pedlar’s certificate, which is issued by the police force in the area where they live. Pedlars often claim to be ex-offenders who are on a rehabilitation programme designed to get them back into employment. They generally aren’t local to West Mercia Police force area and usually travel with associates where they target areas of vulnerable and elderly residents. It is not advisable to purchase items from such sellers as it is unlikely they hold a current pedlars certificate. If a pedlar or anyone becomes abusive or aggressive, contact the police immediately.

Bogus Callers: May claim to be working for the council, water, gas or electric company. They could also say they are a nurse, doctor or from the police.

May say they need to come into your home or try to get you to go outside.

May try to distract you so they can steal your money.

Can be male, female or even a child.

Tips to keep you safe!

If you are not sure who is at the door, don’t open it.

Check the identity of any caller.

Confirm who they are by calling the company they work for using the number from a telephone directory or a bill.

Tell them to come back at a time when someone will be home with you.

Use a door chain every time you answer the door.

Display a NO COLD CALLER sign on your door. These can be obtained from your SNT or Hereford Council Trading Standards

Hereford Trading Standards 01432 261987

Reports of fraud can be made directly to Action Fraud 0300 1232040 or speak to an online advisor at www.actionfraud.police.uk

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime

With Halloween on the approach, not everyone likes to receive a knock on their door. Think about elderly and vulnerable people in your neighbourhood who may struggle to get to the door easily or could be worried by the disturbance. Ask your SNT for NO TRICK OR TREAT door signs.

Latest updates

Crimes and incidents of interest from 1st September to 30th September 2017

Sutton St Nicholas/Marden/Moreton on Lugg

Sutton St Nicholas. Between 26th Aug and 7th Sept. The victim had left a Specialise red Hard Rock mountain bike on an exercise stand in the front area of the garden at home. Between stated times an unknown suspect has stolen the pedal cycle with the exercise stand attached. Photos of stand shared on SNT Twitter page.

We have received a number of complaints of a group of males riding off road motorbikes on various patches of land within the area. The males usually push the bikes when on the road and then ride them once they are out of sight. Please report any sightings of these males via 101 so that we are able to deal with the problem accordingly.

Dormington/Mordiford/Fownhope/Tarrington/Stoke Edith/Hampton Bishop

Tarrington. 16th September. Person(s) unknown have attempted to break into a van outside a residential property. They have been unsuccessful but have broken the locking mechanism in the process. Property is sited in a rural location.

Mordiford. 24th September approx 23:30. Suspicious vehicle seen driving around Mordiford with two female and two male occupants. Car was driven into a driveway and then backed out once they saw the residents looking. Vehicle – WN02XCF, Suzuki Grand Vitara in blue. Vehicle drove off once the residents were alerted

Credenhill/Breinton/Stretton Sugwas/Swainshill/Bishopstone/Kingsacre

Credenhill. Between 14th and 15th September damage has been caused to a residential property. Unknown person(s) have damaged the letter box, although it appears no attempt has been made to enter the property.

Stretton Sugwas. Between 10th and 11th September. Person(s) unknown have caused damage to padlock in an attempt to gain access to a horse tack room. Person(s) possibly disturbed in progress as no entry gained. Tack room is sited in a rural location.

Between 28th and 29th September. Person(s) unknown have broken into the victims shed by unscrewing the hinges. They have taken a Apollo fusion pushbike in blue but left other items of value.

Bishopstone. Between the 16th and 17th September. Person(s) unknown have broken into the victims shed by cutting the lock, they have proceeded to look around but have not taken anything. Property is sited in a rural location.

Swainshill. Between 28th and 29th September. Person(s) unknown have gained access to a stationary vehicle and taken various items such as the victim’s wallet and car log book. No sign of any damage to the vehicle

Kingsacre. Between the 28th and 29th September. Damage has been caused to the victim’s property. Person(s) unknown have smashed a window of the house but have not entered the property.

Burghill/Tillington/Lyde/Holmer

Report of dangerous driver received. Between 07:30-07:45 dark metallic grey VW Golf GTi regularly seen driven by a male, in a dangerous manner through Burghill. No vehicle registration obtained at this time by witness. If this or any other vehicle is witnessed being driven in a dangerous manner please call 101 giving location of incident, vehicle registration number, colour, make and model if possible.

Bartestree/Lugwardine/Westhide/Withington/Whitestone/Preston on Wynne

Withington. 8th September approx 15:00 suspicious vehicle seen in Vine Tree Close. White Ford Transit NJ03RMX seen driving slowly around the close. Second occasion vehicle seen within the week. Occupants possibly looking for charity bags though it is not believed they are working directly for the charity collection company.

22nd September approx 12:30. Suspicious vehicle seen at Withington Village Hall car park driving around the car park getting in and out of the vehicle, rushing backwards and forwards. Black Subaru Impreza unknown registration. Male occupant.

Lugwardine. 15th September. Nottingham knockers in the area. Male seen in Traherne close with a large holdall bag going door to door trying to sell various household objects. The male showed no aggression when asked to leave. No cold calling signs distributed within the area.

Canon Pyon/Kings Pyon/Westhope/Wellington

On the 6th September police received an increase number of calls in relation to pedlars in the area of Wellington. SNT have spoken with residents and delivered NO COLD CALLING signs in areas affected. Further signs have been left at Wellington Delights Village Stores if you or someone you know would like one.

If you have any information which can assist police with enquiries, please call 101 or email herefordrn.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Your team

PS Gareth KING

PC Bart McDONAGH

PCSO Elena EKANITE

PCSO Alex NUTHALL

Contact details

Telephone: 101 to talk to your local SNT or report a crime

 Email: herefordrn.snt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

Website: www.westmercia.police.uk

Facebook / Twitter:  @HerefordCops

Only call 999 in an emergency, when a crime is in progress or life is in danger.

If you would prefer to report a crime anonymously including drug related information you can also call CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111