West Wight Neighbourhood Newsletter - July 2025

Good morning all,

The latest edition of the West Wight Neighbourhood Newsletter is here. 

All areas in West Wight are conducting extra targeted patrols to deal with antisocial behaviour.  As the sun comes out, so do the mischief makers! These hotspot patrols have helped to build intelligence, and engage with local businesses and the public.

Our priorities are based on feedback from our communities as well as our own understanding of issues. Please engage in the Let’s Talk survey to tell us about any issues you’ve experienced, and what matters to you. 

Officers are at local events so you can complete the survey there if you see them, and officers also call at home addresses to speak with you during patrols. Each bit of information you share helps us to form a better understanding of where we need to dedicate our resources.

Cowes

Cowes Week is nearly here and businesses are preparing for a busy time. 

The licensing officer will be attending the week to deal with any incidents and offer advice. He has attended the Pubwatch meeting to update the members on plans for the week.

Cowes Week has always been a safe event with minimal issues, and is enjoyed sensibly by many. It is of course always important to remain vigilant and report any crime or suspicious activity to the police, however.

You can report online or by calling 101 if the incident is not urgent. Dial 999 if a crime is in progress or in the event of an emergency.

The County Show was a great success and was well attended. Those of you following the police Facebook page would have seen a photo of Sgt Radford walking a Llama, as a step up to progressing to petting a cow (of which he has a fear…) Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Officers attended the whole weekend and liaised with the public and stall holders. The feedback was very positive and people welcomed them at the event.

Cowes Station will be open at the advertised times, along with community beat surgeries at Cowes Library, Cowes Baptist church, Alzheimer’s café, and Red Jet ferry terminal. Times will be advertised on the Isle of Wight Police Facebook page and are on the Cowes Police Station front door.

Newport

PCSO Jo Vincent-White retired after many years in the role. She was well known in the area and will be missed by colleagues and the public. We wish you all the best Jo. You were a pleasure to work with.

The Constabulary recently launched a crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in town centres to run for three months over the summer period.

The Safer Streets Summer Initiative runs from the 30th June to 30th September.

Police and partners have been using powers, including Fixed Penalty Notices and Community Protection Orders, to tackle issues in 28 Hotspot locations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which have been identified by police data.

Extra foot patrols are also being carried out with officers, PCSOs and Special Constables working closely with Community Safety partners, businesses and community groups to help reduce crime.

As evenings get lighter and schools break-up, the demand on policing services increases. Crime reports show anti-social behaviour, retail and street crime can escalate which takes up valuable resources.

The Newport team have been working hard as part of this, and on the first day of the crackdown neighbourhood officers were making arrests for theft, assault and malicious communications offences in the town.

The Team are also currently gathering evidence for two closure orders on addresses linked to drug-related harm in the community.

Yarmouth

The team based out of Yarmouth will be attending The Chale show again this year. Visit them at their stand, have a chat and ask to complete a Let’s Talk survey, having your say on the community you live in. 

The team have been working closely with a local housing group to reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour caused by the residents. Community Protection Warnings were issued where appropriate.

Anti-social behaviour in Totland has reduced significantly, but patrols in the hot spot areas will continue at various times of day to help maintain that reduction and hopefully reduce it even more.

Our officers and staff continue to gather intelligence and act on the information you have been providing to us on issues in the West Wight such as drug-related crime, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. Recently there was damage caused to a pub in Yarmouth, and enquiries have led police to identifying a suspect.

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TIP OF THE MONTH – Arrange to have parcels and packages delivered to a neighbour if you are not at home. Packages left in porches and doorsteps are easy pickings for thieves, and also indicate that you are not home, giving dishonest people the chance to easily enter your property.