Autumn - Hampshire Constabulary

Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
Protecting the waters of the Solent
September 2012
SEPTEMBER 2012 NEWSLETTER
THE NEW FLEET HAS ARRIVED
COMMANDER — Our 12 metre catamaran
built by South Boats will act as our
command vessel providing a large, stable
working platform and providing us with the
capability to patrol effectively further
offshore for several days at a time if
required.
PREVENTER — Our 11.1 metre launch
supplied by Lochin is a versatile vessel
capable of speeds approaching 30 knots and
manoeuvrable enough to enter all our
marinas and sailing clubs whilst out on
patrol.
PROTECTOR — One of two 7.9 metre Rigid
Inflatable Boats supplied by Ribcraft.
PROTECTOR has a front helming position
and has been designed with personnel
transfer in mind so we can transport
firearms and support teams safely at speed.
PURSUER — Like PROTECTOR, PURSUER is
fitted with twin Mercury Verado 200hp
engines and capable of speeds well in excess
of 40 knots. PURSUER has a rear helm
configuration and less seating providing a
large foredeck area for equipment or from
which to board.
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
W: www.hampshire.police.uk/kraken
Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
Protecting the waters of the Solent
September 2012
CRIME REVIEW
July 2012
In what we used to call the summer month of July we
had 80 incidents reported to us, 48 of which were
recordable crime.
Nearly 20 incidents were reports of anti social
behaviour which range from youths swimming to
unlawful fishing and noisy jet skis.
A further 8 reports were reports of suspicious activity
at various locations around our coast.
There were 11 outboard
motors stolen during
July, six of which were
under 4hp which owners
had left on their
dinghies.
We also had three larger
outboards stolen from
boats ashore which were
targeted in the same
time frame. Enquiries
reveal that at least one
of the engines has appeared on an internet
sales site in Poland,
supporting the
belief that UK outboards
are being targeted by
organised criminals from
Eastern Europe. It is known that these criminals will
spend time researching what to steal often several
days ahead of actually committing the thefts, so let us
know if you spot anything odd. We are particularly
interested in transit-sized vans seen in or near to
marinas and boatyards and would ask that you try to
record registration numbers at every opportunity.
Mid July saw the start of two crime trends, one on the
River Hamble and the other on the River Itchen.
Both of these trends centred on the theft of dinghies
and generally small outboards, read our Summer
Success stories (page 5) for updates on police action.
August 2012
As the great British summer continued we had 114
reported incidents of which 76 were crimes.
Complaints of anti social behaviour remained similar to
the previous month and we had 14 reports of
suspicious activity.
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
The crime
trends that
were emerging
in the previous
month grew
more apparent
in August with
8 reports of
outboard stolen
from the River
Itchen, all
around America Wharf and another 5 outboards from
boats on the Hamble. In addition there were 5
dinghies with outboards stolen along the Hamble
River. On a couple of occasions people were seen or
disturbed usually in the very late evening or early
hours. There were 6 other boats broken into whilst
unattended on mid river moorings. We sent out a
Project Kraken Bulletin alerting people to this and PC
Mark Arnold along with other local officers conducted
more patrols and communicated directly to the
Hamble Project Kraken members via e mail.
We are please to report that the safer neighbourhoods
team in Hamble had a number of great results in
combating this trend, some of which are included in
the ‘Summer Successes’ (page 5).
There were a few reported incidents on the River Medina, bearing in mind this month included various major events including Cowes week, a couple of dinghies
went missing from the area of The Folly Inn and marinas in West Cowes.
In the east a Nab Pilot dory
was taken from Eastney and
although it was recovered
many items had been taken
from it including an
outboard, fish finder and
several fishing rods
44120323070 refers.
We are still having kayaks
and canoes stolen and in the
main they are difficult to identify but they do hold
their price in the second hand market which makes
them attractive to steal. All of them are sold with
unique serial numbers and when buying a second
hand model it is always advisable to ask the seller for
paper certification of the serial number.
Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
Protecting the waters of the Solent
September 2012
CRIME REVIEW
An Orkney 14 called
Marietta was taken from
Ventnor 44120327402
refers. The boat was on a
blue trailer secured with a
wheel clamp in a council
boat bay. The wheel
clamp was cut off the
trailer using bolt-croppers
and there have been no
further sightings of it
since — we suspect it is
still on the Island
somewhere.
A grey 5.7 Ribeye rib
was also stolen from a
locked compound in
Northney Marina where
it was being stored on
its trailer. It is marked
with SSR124382 and
has a Yamaha 100 hp
fourstroke engine.
44120352631 refers.
September 2012
Moving into the long awaited Indian summer things
quietened down somewhat and we had 62 reported
incidents of which just over 20 were complaints of
anti-social behaviour, concern for welfare or reports of
suspicious activity. There were 33 crime reports during
the month
The proactive work of the local officers in Hamble and
Warsash seemed to put a stop to the crime incidents
on the Hamble and there were no new reports of any
problems during the entire month following a
significant arrest in the first few days of the month in
response to the theft of a dinghy at Deacons Boatyard
– great news and well done to officers who put a lot of
time and effort in to help the local marine community!
There were four outboard motors stolen in a burglary
in Brockenhurst and if you are offered a Mariner or
Tohatsu engine with a post code SO41 3PR on it, get
in touch. It would be helpful to us if you do this
discreetly without arousing the suspicions of the seller
but we would always ask that you avoid putting
yourself at risk in attempting to help.
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
Thieves stole a boat from a garden in Gosport and
although a witness alerted police and the boat was
located nearby, the outboard had been taken.
The great efforts of Southampton officers in tackling
crime on the River Itchen also had a significant
impact on criminal activity in the area and only one
further report was made to police of a boat broken
into mid river where tools and navigation aids were
taken.
The other crime was
spread all around the
two Counties. On the
Medina, Cowes up to the
Folly, be on the look out
for a Seago 270 called
Tippy (photo is likeness only).
A chart plotter was stolen from a yacht on Beaulieu
River, a red and white Parker dinghy called Tern fitted
with a 9.8 Tohatsu is missing in Langstone Harbour
and a 2.7 Avon Redcrest dinghy from Portchester.
A grey Linder
440 aluminium
open boat
(photo is a
likeness only)
fitted with a 4hp
Yamaha
outboard was
stolen from
Lymington,
these are pretty
distinctive boats
so let us know if
you come across
it, quoting
44120378770.
We are now entering the autumn/winter period and we
would normally expect crime numbers to drop along
with the temperatures but, as with this year’s
weather, we have not had a typical year for crime
trends so it is vital that you all remain vigilant and if
you see someone, or something that you are not
happy with call us and report it. As we mentioned in
the last newsletter, your call could be the missing
piece in a much larger puzzle which we are in the
process of solving. To illustrate this point perfectly,
read about Operation Allandale overleaf.
Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
Protecting the waters of the Solent
September 2012
OPERATION ALLANDALE
Men charged with multiple
marine thefts in Hampshire
After a year long investigation involving officers from
Hampshire’s Marine Unit and led by a team of
detectives from Waterlooville CID, two men have been
charged over their involvement in a series of high value
thefts from the marine community in Hampshire.
Alexander Phillip Everett, aged 43, of Astrid Close,
Hayling Island, is charged with seven counts of theft:
 on 28/02/2011 at Sarisbury Green, stole a boat
and trailer to the value of £45,000.
 on 24/04/2011 at Swanwick, stole a boat and
trailer to the value of £50,000.
 on 16/05/2011 at Hamble River Boatyard, stole a
Jetski to the value of £14,000
 on 12/06/2011 at Northney Marina, stole a three
jetskis and a trailer to the value of £15,000.
 on 25/07/2011 at Park Gate, stole a Trailer and
two coffee vending machines to the value of
£12,652.
 on 09/08/2011 at Northney Marina, stole a Humber
RIB and Trailer to the value of £100,000.
 on 21/10/2011 at Chichester, stole a Revenger RIB
to the value of £39,000.
Jerry Russett, aged 53, of Tamarisk Road, Hedge End,
Southampton, is charged with two counts of theft:
 on 25/07/2011 at Park Gate, stole a Trailer and
two coffee vending machines to the value of
£12,652.
 on 09/08/2011 at Northney Marina, stole a Humber
RIB and Trailer to the value of £100,000.
Pictured below and left is the stolen Cobra Nautique RIB
which was taken from Swanwick and directly below is a
picture of the stolen Humber RIB taken from Northney
Marina in Hayling Island.
We believe this investigation has interrupted an
established group of professional criminals who
targeted marine communities along the south coast.
Both suspects were released on conditional bail until
October 26, 2012. they are due to appear at
Portsmouth Magistrates Court.
Hampshire Constabulary’s Havant and Waterlooville
District Chief Inspector Alison Heydari said: “These
charges are the result of an extensive investigation,
which was launched in response to information about
men suspected of stealing expensive boats and
equipment.
I would like to thank boat owners for their substantial
co-operation with our detailed enquiries over the past
year.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to repeat our pledge to
the marine community that we always strive to provide
an excellent service by acting on your concerns about
crime affecting your property and livelihood.”
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
W: www.hampshire.police.uk/kraken
Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
Protecting the waters of the Solent
September 2012
MORE SUCCESS AND PROGRESS IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST MARINE CRIME
Arrests at America Wharf
Some great work from local Southampton Response
Officers in August saw them rapidly deploy to America
Wharf after a call was received from a boat owner in
the area stating two males were stealing an outboard
motor. Upon arrival Tomasz Gorczyca (24) and Jerzy
Wojniak (43) from Southampton were found on the
pontoon and arrested for the attempted theft of an
outboard motor. Both have been charged and await a
court trial.
Hamble thieves caught
red-handed and a speeder
receives hefty fine
Local Neighbourhood Officers in Hamble recently set
up an operation to combat the sharp rise in Marine
thefts taking place along the river. In July, Craig Vallis
(26) and David Diaper (23) from Thornhill were caught
by police officers who found them in a stolen dinghy.
Both pleaded guilty to the offence of Taking a
conveyance without the owner’s consent and were
sentenced to £190 fine each at Southampton
Magistrates Court.
In September, Jason Alexander (33) from Netley
Abbey was charged with taking a Zodiac 340 RIB
Without the owner’s consent after he was caught by
officers on a plain clothes operation. He has also been
charged with other thefts along the river following
police investigations.
Hamble Harbour Authority has also had an excellent
result recently in successfully prosecuting a speed
boat user who was observed travelling at between 25
and 30 knots along the Hamble river where a speed
limit of 6 knots applies.
The £335 fine imposed
on the offender by
Southampton
Magistrates Court
reflects how reckless
he was and the danger
he posed to other river
users.
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
W: www.hampshire.police.uk/kraken
Joint Agency Working
The Marine Unit is continuing to develop and expand its
joint working programme with other agencies and
we’ve had some recent success working alongside
members of the Inshore Fisheries
and Conservation Authorities (IFCA)
and the Marine Maritime
Organisation (MMO).
In August, a Joint operation with two enforcement
officers from the MMO saw officers using RIB Protector
respond to a call about fishermen using nets in a
conservation area at Newtown Creek on the Isle of
Wight. Two commercial fishermen were caught netting
fish illegally, some of which was potentially unfit for
human consumption. The offenders were dealt with by
the MMO and now face criminal proceedings.
In September, Marine Unit officers patrolling
Southampton Water prevented a clam fisherman from
trawling illegally in a prohibited area where the sea bed
is deemed contaminated and stocks are potentially unfit
for human consumption. Officers boarded the fishing
boat after consultation with Vessel Traffic Services
(VTS) and Port Health, and confronted the Skipper who
then returned his catch (worth between £600—£900)
over the side. He was also served with a notice that will
mean if he is caught again he will be prosecuted.
During Cowes Week Marine Unit officers accompanied
survey officers from the Maritime Coastguard Agency
on our police vessels as they inspected commercial and
leisure craft in the River Medina. It was an excellent
opportunity to stop over thirty recreational boat users
and advise them on issues such as appropriate
navigation lights for their vessels and the safe storage
and maintenance of safety equipment. Several
commercial vessels were also stopped and MCA officers
had to make requirements for out of date lifejackets
and flares to be replaced to protect the public.
We are now regularly working with different Maritime
enforcement Agencies in a bid to share resources and
achieve common objectives - it will not be uncommon
for you to see the new police boats jointly crewed with
members of our partners from Fisheries, Port Health or
the Maritime Coastguard Agency aboard.
Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
Protecting the waters of the Solent
September 2012
JET-SKI AND PWC FOCUS
In this edition we have chosen to concentrate on the
use of Personal Water Craft (PWC) and Jet-skis in the
Solent after another summer where regular complaints
have been made to the police about their presence on
the water and the way they are being used.
As well as die-hard riders, PWC lend themselves to
being the vehicle of choice
for the occasional water
user as they are easy to
transport and relatively
small to store in
comparison to other
watercraft. We have found
that many PWC users live
outside Hampshire and
travel to our area to use
their craft.
It has to be said, that the
large majority of PWC users
are careful, considerate
riders who are very capable
of controlling their craft at
high speed and groups such
as the Solent Skiers
(www.solentskiers.org) have helped to promote the
fact that PWC’s can be used in an exhilarating way
without being dangerous or anti-social.
Unfortunately, there are a small number of PWC users
who push the limits of what is safe and acceptable
behaviour out on the water - they endanger other
water users and often themselves as highlighted in the
pictures below.
We have worked closely with Portsmouth Queen’s
Harbourmaster (QHM), the Coastguard, and the local
PWC community this summer to try and increase
everyone’s awareness of what is safe and what is legal
on the water. The slipway at Lee-on-the-Solent has
been the focus of many PWC complaints which is to be
expected when you consider
the close proximity of PWCs
with bathers and water
skiers and the large number
of PWC riders who use the
slipway. We have found that
many PWC riders were
unaware of the local
restrictions and designated
areas (as pictured in the
centre of the page) and far
from being defiant, they
claimed to be ignorant that
laws existed at sea. For
instance, did you know that
if you intend to launch a
PWC from the Lee-on-Solent
slipway, it is required that
you apply for and obtain a free licence from QHM. QHM
have put clear signage up around the slipway and
detailed information can be found on their website
(http://www.qhm.mod.uk/portsmouth) giving clear
guidance on local bye-laws and safe areas.
We would also encourage PWC users to join a local club
and participate in group riding to remove the risk of
being alone and unaided if problems arise.
At first, we
noticed
nothing
wrong with
this tanker
photograph
supplied by
ABP…...
but then to
our horror
we saw this
jet-skier.
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
W: www.hampshire.police.uk/kraken
Project Kraken Newsletter
Strengthening our borders
Crime & Counter Terrorist Strategy
September 2012
Protecting the waters of the Solent
BOAT NAMING CEREMONY
The 2012 Hampshire Police Marine Unit Team aboard
Commander at the Royal Southampton Yacht Club
during the naming ceremony
On Friday September 28th 2012 we held our new boat
Naming Ceremony and Service of Dedication at the
Royal Southampton Yacht Club where we were joined
by members of the Police Authority, Police senior
Management and other guests to mark the occasion.
We were lucky enough to have Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
as our guest speaker for the day and despite the rain,
the service was very special and proved a fitting way to
signify a new era in Marine Policing on the South coast.
Having run a schools competition during the
Southampton Boat Show this year where we received
over 1100 entries, the team took the opportunity
before the ceremony to show the winners from Foxhills
Junior School around the boats. They had a great time
trying out the cameras and equipment, taking part in
throw-line exercises and trying to complete the boat
quiz…...the children seemed to enjoy it too!
WHO ARE WE?
In our last edition we quizzed
our Sergeant so it must be time
to introduce another member of
the team and this month the
spotlight falls on PC 114 Kerry
Murray who is one of the most
experienced officers on the
Unit.
Like?
Laughing
Dislike?
Miserable people
Favourite Food?
Boiled Ham, Parsley sauce and mashed potato
Years of Police Service?
29 years
Favourite Holiday Destination?
Skiing anywhere with snow
Years of Marine Unit Service?
7 years
What was your best moment in the Police?
My first arrest
And the funniest?
My first arrest!!!!
T: 101 or 999 in emergency
E: [email protected]
W: www.hampshire.police.uk/kraken
You can have any boat and any car?
36 ft Nimbus and an Austin-Healy 1960 Frog-eyed
Sprite
A member of the X-factor contestants loses their
voice and you have to stand in — what do you
sing?
The Tide is High — Debbie Harry!!!