Happy Dwali

(C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW

Don't let your Halloween become truly terrifying says Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue

Don't let your Halloween become truly terrifying

Andy Tucker, Risk Manager for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Firefighters want residents living in Cambridgeshire to have fun this Halloween, but they also want people to be aware of the dangers of using candles and to be vigilant when using them."

Halloween is a great chance for children and adults alike to let their hair down and celebrate. However, it also has its dangers.

Candles and homemade Jack-O-Lanterns made from hollowed pumpkins with candles inside can add to the celebrations, but can also be dangerous. If the candle tips over, or something brushes past, it could set light costumes, curtains or even hair and start a serious fire.

A good alternative to candles are electronic tea-lights which you can buy from garden centres. These have a small battery fitted instead of a flame. These can be fitted inside a Jack-O-Lantern or placed on a table and are just as effective at creating an atmosphere, but much safer than a candle.

Andy Tucker, Risk Manager for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Firefighters want residents living in Cambridgeshire to have fun this Halloween, but they also want people to be aware of the dangers of using candles and to be vigilant when using them."

How to use candles safely

•Never leave candles unattended or go to sleep while they are lit

•Leave plenty of space above and around the candle and its holder

•Place candles in a draught-free area away from curtains, furniture and other flammable surfaces

•Always use a proper candle-holder and fit the candle in firmly

•Make sure it is put on a surface that is flat and stable - this is particularly important when using a candle inside a Jack-O-Lantern

•Always use a heat-resistant surface to place the candle holder on - eg a ceramic plate, especially for night-light candles

•Never place candles directly on televisions or other polished surfaces

•Keep candles out of reach of children and pets

•Never attempt to move a candle once it is lit

•Always use a candle-snuffer, or an upturned metal spoon to extinguish the candle and allow cooling before moving it

•A good alternative to candles are electronic tea-lights which you can buy from garden centres. These have a small battery fitted instead of a flame. They are just as effective at creating an atmosphere, but much safer than a candle.

Choosing the right candle for your Jack-O-Lantern

•Oil-burning, liquid candles last longer, but these do not extinguish themselves, so it is crucial that these are not left unattended

•Votive candles placed in clear, heat-proof holders are safer and also have a longer life span than traditional candles, with white candles giving off the most light

•There are safer alternatives to candles, such as glo-sticks or battery operated tea lights.

If you do nothing else to protect your home and your family, ensure you fit a smoke alarm that has the kite mark and conforms to British Standard 5446 (Part 1). Test the smoke alarm at least once a week by pressing the test button and know the life span of your battery - mark your calendar as a reminder to replace it.




.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW

OPERATION ROGUE TRADER 2011 WORKS WELL ON SEVERAL LEVELS

Just the ticket! Charity soap box race contender entered by Solent Police
but the new ANPR smart car for Peterbough
isn't much larger and already producing results... 

During the last few days Police and agencies have mounted Operation Rogue Trader 2011 - here is a summary of  actions undertaken across Peterborough:

In relation to Peterborough, police had two crews patrolling with Council officers from Peterborough Trading Standards, they focussed on gathering intelligence on persons, vehicles and addresses suspected of being involved in 'rogue trader' style offences.

A great deal of useful intelligence has been gathered which is being developed to support further activity and to enable arrests over the coming weeks. The patrols encountered three particular traders of interest.

They also gathered evidence to support an ongoing Trading Standards rogue trading prosecution which is due in court next month. The crews patrolled in the areas of Stanground, Dogsthorpe, and the Ortons as these are the areas from which Trading Standards have received the most complaints.

They also received positive feedback from genuine businesses who said they embraced the approach by Police and Trading Standards and found it reassuring that police and agencies were seeking to tackle rogue trading as it clearly impacts on their businesses.

ANPR...YOUR NUMBER [PLATE] IS UP...

The ANPR Intervention Team in Peterborough worked in the morning in Westwood, Ravensthorpe and Longthorpe and in the afternoon in Dogsthorpe.

The team had over a dozen good stop checks resulting in two arrests for persons who were wanted for theft of heating fuel and theft/disqualified driving, one vehicle seized for no insurance whilst these did not relate to rogue trading offences they were picked up as a result of the offenders operating in areas identified as active and whilst stopping rogue trader style vehicles.

They also additionally picked up some good intelligence relating to identified rogue traders and diesel thieves.




.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW

TRICK OR TREAT? A COMPLETE KIT FOR OR AGAINST!

Hallowe'en is always a busy night for police as calls reporting anti-social behaviour traditionally increase. Cambs Police are in the process of contacting all victims from last year to reassure that dedicated patrols will be in place at repeat problem areas.

Any incidents of anti social behaviour should be reported to the police - last year on October 31st the force received 144 '999' calls related to rowdy or nuisance behaviour compared to 69 the previous year.

If a household does not want to be involved in the night's events they can download a 'no trick or treat' poster by clicking on the title above for the PDF link.



Please remember that for the vulnerable or older members of the community this can be a frightening and intimidating experience, so follow these simple guidelines to ensure a trouble free evening for all:


* ensure children are accompanied by a responsible adult


* explain how vulnerable people can be frightened by an unexpected group calling at their door on a dark evening


* only knock at houses where you know you will be welcome


* please respect the 'Please no trick or treat' notice where it is displayed


Have a safe evening - thank you

Carol Aston  Crime Reduction Officer Safer Peterborough Team
Cambridgeshire Police
Mobile 07736 342333

...and some spooky thoughts from PFNW, the Poem Halloween by Robert Burns





Halloween   by Robert Burns




Upon that night, when fairies light


On Cassilis Downans dance,


Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,


On sprightly coursers prance;


Or for Colean the rout is ta'en,


Beneath the moon's pale beams;


There, up the Cove,to stray an' rove,


Amang the rocks and streams


To sport that night;






Amang the bonie winding banks,


Where Doon rins, wimplin, clear;


Where Bruce ance rul'd the martial ranks,


An' shook his Carrick spear;


Some merry, friendly, countra-folks


Together did convene,


To burn their nits, an' pou their stocks,


An' haud their Halloween


Fu' blythe that night.






The lasses feat, an' cleanly neat,


Mair braw than when they're fine;


Their faces blythe, fu' sweetly kythe,


Hearts leal, an' warm, an' kin':


The lads sae trig, wi' wooer-babs


Weel-knotted on their garten;


Some unco blate, an' some wi' gabs


Gar lasses' hearts gang startin


Whiles fast at night.


Continued>




Then, first an' foremost, thro' the kail,


Their stocks maun a' be sought ance;


They steek their een, and grape an' wale


For muckle anes, an' straught anes.


Poor hav'rel Will fell aff the drift,


An' wandered thro' the bow-kail,


An' pou't for want o' better shift


A runt was like a sow-tail


Sae bow't that night.






Then, straught or crooked, yird or nane,


They roar an' cry a' throu'ther;


The vera wee-things, toddlin, rin,


Wi' stocks out owre their shouther:


An' gif the custock's sweet or sour,


Wi' joctelegs they taste them;


Syne coziely, aboon the door,


Wi' cannie care, they've plac'd them


To lie that night.






The lassies staw frae 'mang them a',


To pou their stalks o' corn;


But Rab slips out, an' jinks about,


Behint the muckle thorn:


He grippit Nelly hard and fast:


Loud skirl'd a' the lasses;


But her tap-pickle maist was lost,


Whan kiutlin in the fause-house


Wi' him that night.






The auld guid-wife's weel-hoordit nits


Are round an' round dividend,


An' mony lads an' lasses' fates


Are there that night decided:


Some kindle couthie side by side,


And burn thegither trimly;


Some start awa wi' saucy pride,


An' jump out owre the chimlie


Fu' high that night.






Jean slips in twa, wi' tentie e'e;


Wha 'twas, she wadna tell;


But this is Jock, an' this is me,


She says in to hersel':


He bleez'd owre her, an' she owre him,


As they wad never mair part:


Till fuff! he started up the lum,


An' Jean had e'en a sair heart


To see't that night.






Poor Willie, wi' his bow-kail runt,


Was brunt wi' primsie Mallie;


An' Mary, nae doubt, took the drunt,


To be compar'd to Willie:


Mall's nit lap out, wi' pridefu' fling,


An' her ain fit, it brunt it;


While Willie lap, and swore by jing,


'Twas just the way he wanted


To be that night.






Nell had the fause-house in her min',


She pits hersel an' Rob in;


In loving bleeze they sweetly join,


Till white in ase they're sobbin:


Nell's heart was dancin at the view;


She whisper'd Rob to leuk for't:


Rob, stownlins, prie'd her bonie mou',


Fu' cozie in the neuk for't,


Unseen that night.






But Merran sat behint their backs,


Her thoughts on Andrew Bell:


She lea'es them gashin at their cracks,


An' slips out-by hersel';


She thro' the yard the nearest taks,


An' for the kiln she goes then,


An' darklins grapit for the bauks,


And in the blue-clue throws then,


Right fear't that night.






An' ay she win't, an' ay she swat


I wat she made nae jaukin;


Till something held within the pat,


Good Lord! but she was quaukin!


But whether 'twas the deil himsel,


Or whether 'twas a bauk-en',


Or whether it was Andrew Bell,


She did na wait on talkin


To spier that night.






Wee Jenny to her graunie says,


"Will ye go wi' me, graunie?


I'll eat the apple at the glass,


I gat frae uncle Johnie:"


She fuff't her pipe wi' sic a lunt,


In wrath she was sae vap'rin,


She notic't na an aizle brunt


Her braw, new, worset apron


Out thro' that night.






"Ye little skelpie-limmer's face!


I daur you try sic sportin,


As seek the foul thief ony place,


For him to spae your fortune:


Nae doubt but ye may get a sight!


Great cause ye hae to fear it;


For mony a ane has gotten a fright,


An' liv'd an' died deleerit,


On sic a night.






"Ae hairst afore the Sherra-moor,


I mind't as weel's yestreen


I was a gilpey then, I'm sure


I was na past fyfteen:


The simmer had been cauld an' wat,


An' stuff was unco green;


An' eye a rantin kirn we gat,


An' just on Halloween


It fell that night.






"Our stibble-rig was Rab M'Graen,


A clever, sturdy fallow;


His sin gat Eppie Sim wi' wean,


That lived in Achmacalla:


He gat hemp-seed, I mind it weel,


An'he made unco light o't;


But mony a day was by himsel',


He was sae sairly frighted


That vera night."






Then up gat fechtin Jamie Fleck,


An' he swoor by his conscience,


That he could saw hemp-seed a peck;


For it was a' but nonsense:


The auld guidman raught down the pock,


An' out a handfu' gied him;


Syne bad him slip frae' mang the folk,


Sometime when nae ane see'd him,


An' try't that night.






He marches thro' amang the stacks,


Tho' he was something sturtin;


The graip he for a harrow taks,


An' haurls at his curpin:


And ev'ry now an' then, he says,


"Hemp-seed I saw thee,


An' her that is to be my lass


Come after me, an' draw thee


As fast this night."






He wistl'd up Lord Lennox' March


To keep his courage cherry;


Altho' his hair began to arch,


He was sae fley'd an' eerie:


Till presently he hears a squeak,


An' then a grane an' gruntle;


He by his shouther gae a keek,


An' tumbled wi' a wintle


Out-owre that night.






He roar'd a horrid murder-shout,


In dreadfu' desperation!


An' young an' auld come rinnin out,


An' hear the sad narration:


He swoor 'twas hilchin Jean M'Craw,


Or crouchie Merran Humphie


Till stop! she trotted thro' them a';


And wha was it but grumphie


Asteer that night!






Meg fain wad to the barn gaen,


To winn three wechts o' naething;


But for to meet the deil her lane,


She pat but little faith in:


She gies the herd a pickle nits,


An' twa red cheekit apples,


To watch, while for the barn she sets,


In hopes to see Tam Kipples


That vera night.






She turns the key wi' cannie thraw,


An'owre the threshold ventures;


But first on Sawnie gies a ca',


Syne baudly in she enters:


A ratton rattl'd up the wa',


An' she cry'd Lord preserve her!


An' ran thro' midden-hole an' a',


An' pray'd wi' zeal and fervour,


Fu' fast that night.






They hoy't out Will, wi' sair advice;


They hecht him some fine braw ane;


It chanc'd the stack he faddom't thrice


Was timmer-propt for thrawin:


He taks a swirlie auld moss-oak


For some black, grousome carlin;


An' loot a winze, an' drew a stroke,


Till skin in blypes cam haurlin


Aff's nieves that night.






A wanton widow Leezie was,


As cantie as a kittlen;


But och! that night, amang the shaws,


She gat a fearfu' settlin!


She thro' the whins, an' by the cairn,


An' owre the hill gaed scrievin;


Whare three lairds' lan's met at a burn,


To dip her left sark-sleeve in,


Was bent that night.






Whiles owre a linn the burnie plays,


As thro' the glen it wimpl't;


Whiles round a rocky scar it strays,


Whiles in a wiel it dimpl't;


Whiles glitter'd to the nightly rays,


Wi' bickerin', dancin' dazzle;


Whiles cookit undeneath the braes,


Below the spreading hazel


Unseen that night.






Amang the brachens, on the brae,


Between her an' the moon,


The deil, or else an outler quey,


Gat up an' ga'e a croon:


Poor Leezie's heart maist lap the hool;


Near lav'rock-height she jumpit,


But mist a fit, an' in the pool


Out-owre the lugs she plumpit,


Wi' a plunge that night.






In order, on the clean hearth-stane,


The luggies three are ranged;


An' ev'ry time great care is ta'en


To see them duly changed:


Auld uncle John, wha wedlock's joys


Sin' Mar's-year did desire,


Because he gat the toom dish thrice,


He heav'd them on the fire


In wrath that night.






Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks,


I wat they did na weary;


And unco tales, an' funnie jokes


Their sports were cheap an' cheery:


Till butter'd sowens, wi' fragrant lunt,


Set a' their gabs a-steerin;


Syne, wi' a social glass o' strunt,


They parted aff careerin


Fu' blythe that night.



.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW

Bridge Street Trees "Not Over yet" say Lib Dems

Local “Bridge Street Trees Campaign” – Not Over Yet! Say local Lib Dems.

Following pressure from local residents and the city’s Liberal Democrats, the City Council has acknowledged that their online survey about the proposed removal of trees in Bridge Street was flawed and have agreed to re-run it.

http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/community_information/consultation_and_engagement/current_consultations/update_-_bridge_street_and_l-1/update_-_bridge_street_and_lon.aspx

Almost 200 local people signed the Lib Dem petition, opposing removal of one third of the trees in Bridge Street and Long Causeway.

If you care about the trees and the appearance of our city centre, we really need you now to go to the Council website and cast your vote. You only have about one week in which to do this before the Council bulldozers and chainsaws will move in to chop down the trees!

Cllr Nick Sandford commented:

“It’s been great to see how many people not only signed our petition but took the trouble to leave their comments. The Council questionnaire has been improved but it is still rather one sided. There was a report from a tree expert and it did say that a few of the trees could be removed over time: but it did not say that one third of them should be removed straight away.

“This will have a devastating effect on the street scene, as well as reducing the benefits which the trees provide in giving shade in summer and vital habitats for wildlife. If you want to save the trees, you need to go to the Council website now and give them your views…or better still write to your local councillor about it.”

Here are some of the comments made by local people on our on line “Save the Trees” petition:

* The trees are scenic, and provide both shade and a relief from the concrete structures.Trees are important Please do not commit an act of Vandalism

* The trees provide a haven to escape the concrete surrounds – don’t remove them, in fact you should be adding other trees into the city

* We need our trees to have a green city centre, it would look awful without them!

* Why on earth would you want to tear down beautiful trees that add character to a town centre that is so bland, for no reason what soever. Peterborough is gradually being turned into a soulless city by our council

* These trees are such a magnificent feature to our built environment, why would anyone want to remove them

* I don’t see any reason to take tese trees down, especially in light of the City Council’s Environment Capital aspirations

* 100% behind this petition – the trees along Bridge Street are beautiful and should be retained. Please don’t tell me the plan is to take them out to make space for further burger vans!

* Always thought Peterborough was a green city. Leave them trees alone you bullies

* Even though I vote conservative this is out of order, they would have been better off planting trees on Cathederal Square than those stupid fountains.

* Having lived in Peterborough since 1988 I have found the city centre trees to be an absolute delight, especially the ones down Bridge Street! They hsve become like old friends! Do not slaughter them! Help your ‘green’ credentials and give all visitors to Bridge Street a breath of fresh air, coutesy of the trees!

* Cathedral square is barren and unattractive enough being just a mass of concrete. To cull the trees on Bridge Street would just make it worse. We need more tree and plants in the centre of town not less.

(C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW

Hertfordshire Constabulary: Police appeal after digger used to raid Tesco store ATM cash machine

 Hertfordshire Constabulary : Police appeal after digger used to raid Tesco store ATM cash machine

Herts Police are urgently appealing for witnesses and information after a mechanical digger was used to steal the cash machine at a Tesco Express store.

The incident occurred at 3am this morning (Sunday October 23) after a gang drove a digger, believed to have been stolen from a roadworks site on the M25, into the front of the Tesco Express store on Porters Park Drive, Shenley.    The digger (back hoe loader) was recovered in nearby Radlett Lane.

Detective Sergeant Yvonne Carroll who is leading the investigation said: “We are working to trace those responsible for this crime, which has caused substantial damage to the store. If anyone has any information, no matter how small a detail, please get in touch via 101.

“As the vehicle used was stolen from the M25, I’d appeal for residents beyond Hertfordshire’s boundaries not to discount anything they may have seen that raised their suspicions in their local area – a suspicious vehicle in the early hours of this morning, for example - and please contact us in Hertfordshire."

.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE on 101 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW

PDS POSTAL SCAM CLOSED DOWN YEARS AGO SAYS WATCHDOG

The sign looks impressive but obviously a hoax - or is it?

Postal Scam email from Parcel Delivery Service



Crimestoppers has recently received a number of enquiries regarding a chain email warning people about a postal scam that could leave you £315 out of pocket.


The email is a hoax and the information is untrue. If you receive the email please ignore it.

In addition several newspapers, local councillors and internet bloggers have taken it at face value and mistakenly been posting warnings about a new PDS scam doing the rounds. It's a HOAX EMAIL !!! Read on....

" Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam:


A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).


DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.


If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655."

The statement from PhonepayPlus about a chain email concerning an alleged postal scam which is being circulated on the internet.

PhonepayPlus, the UK premium rate telephone services regulator, is aware that a chain email about an alleged postal scam is being circulated on the internet. The email refers to the Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS (PhonepayPlus' former name).  PhonepayPlus appreciates that recipients of the email may want to find out more information about the alleged scam and has therefore issued the following statement:
The chain email refers to a service (operating on 0906 661 1911) that was shut down by PhonepayPlus (then ICSTIS) in December 2005. PhonepayPlus subsequently fined the company that was operating the service, Studio Telecom (based in Belize), £10,000.


The service is NO LONGER running and has NOT been running since December 2005.


You do NOT need to contact PhonepayPlus, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost six years ago.


If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do NOT forward it to others. Instead, please forward the statement from PhonepayPlus.


If you receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and which asks you to dial a premium rate number, you can contact PhonepayPlus on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) for further guidance.


For more detailed information about PhonepayPlus’ work, please visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk.


.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... ALL ENQUIRIES LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE: 0345 4564564 OR Dial 999. If you have any information about crime contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to Court. >> Broadcast Quality ISDN 01733 555319 ISDN Codecs G722 & ATX >> Media Enquiries: JULIAN BRAY 01733 345581 http://tinyurl.com/STANGROUNDPFNW