Boston and South Holland Newsletter - September 2022
Activity in Boston and South Holland
Of course this quarter has been rather subdued due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and like all serving in the police I also swore my oath to her when I joined the army many years ago. What an example of public service.
In July Maisie McMahon, Safer Together Coordinator for North and South Kesteven, and I attended the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils networking event in Woodhall Spa which proved to be a good opportunity to meet some of the local councillors and speak about the work the Safer Together Team is doing in their areas.
Later that month I had the opportunity to meet up with Insp Colin Clarkson who has taken over as the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector in Boston during which he highlighted his aims and objectives for his new team and discussed areas where I can continue to support their work. Part of this includes my continued working with the Central Boston Neighbourhood Action Group who were able to give valuable feedback on community feelings following the tragic murder in the town.
Two events this quarter have given me the chance to better understand the needs of the wider community. An input into the impact of being deaf/blind on peoples lives and the effect of different kinds of sight and hearing loss and attendance at the Voices For All Learning Disability Partnership, both events being work in progress.
Apart from my usual meetings with veterans groups, Community Alcohol Partnerships, Community Safety Partnership, Boston Community Leaders and the NPT’s, I have also met with Jemma Clarke, Lead for Drug and Alcohol Misuse with LCC who will now join our Community Alcohol Partnership in Boston. Also during this quarter the team have had meetings with Platform Housing and Amanda Bailey and Wes Shelbourne from JUST Lincolnshire to talk about areas of cooperation. Finally in September and supported by PCSO’s Paula Scott and Lisa Waterfall I attended a well supported stakeholders networking event in Boston and had a stand highlighting the work of the OPCC and partners.
Are you aware of the Herbert Protocol?
Nothing is more worrying or distressing than when a loved one or friend goes missing or doesn’t return home when expected. For people living with or caring for someone with dementia, this may be quite common. The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme adopted by Lincolnshire Police and other police services across the country. It encourages carers, families, friends or neighbours, to hold information about the person with dementia that can help the police find them if they go missing. The basis of the scheme is for vital information about the person such as medication, description, photograph, significant places in the person’s life and their daily routine, to be recorded on a form.
The form should then be stored safely—either in electronic format on a computer or a printed version. It may need to be located quickly, at any time of day or night, by the person who needs the information to begin the initial search. The form can be downloaded or printed from Lincolnshire Police website www.lincs.police.uk/missing-persons or pick one up from your local police station. For further details contact Telecare on 01522 554040 during office hours. The police will only ask for the form, or the information in the form, if the person is reported missing.
Victim Lincs
Victim Lincs has one clear goal: to ensure that anybody in Lincolnshire who has been the victim of crime receives the support and advice they need. The specially trained service is delivered on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner and they can help to:
Inform: Answer and queries or concerns that you may have, as well as provide you with practical advice.
Support: Discuss the different support options available to you and, should you need further support, make a referral to the specialist service most suited to you.
Discuss: Victim Lincs is independent to the police, so anything you tell them will be in confidence (unless there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, or where there is a legal requirement.)
Find more information and support on the Victim Lincs website: Victimlincs.co.uk
Lincolnshire Alert
Supporting your policing priorities with Lincs Alert. Some examples of messages put out each week by the Safer Together Team:
- Energy rebate scam
- E Scooters
- Road safety
- Flash flooding
- Stay safe online
- Changes to the Highway Code
- Anti Social Behaviour
- Hourglass 24 Hour Help Line
If you need a message sent out via Lincs Alert then contact your local Safer Together Team representative. Don’t forget we can target the message to a village, town or district. You can sign up to get Lincs Alert messages at: www.lincolnshirealert.co.uk
