Trading Standards have issued reports of a couple of scams, both involving cold callers and difficulties which arose. In their response they added one or two things I didn’t know - so possibly you don’t either - and which may be useful to you or older friends and relatives:

Do not let anyone in you don’t recognise. Do not employ Cold Callers.

Remember anyone over 60 in County Durham or Darlington can get a free door chain from Help the Aged.   Contact Help the Aged HandyVan on 01255 473999.

Also, please remember to tell older/vulnerable adults about our Registered Trader Scheme.  We can send them a full list of Traders on our scheme or specific trader types (ie builders, plumbers) in specific areas if they wish. Simply ring 0191 - 3833589 or contact www.countydurhamrts.org.uk www.countydurhamrts.org.uk

Tonight’s Crime Forum at the YMCA was a rather disheartening event. The opening statement was that crime in Consett had risen by 5% whereas in the wider area it had actually decreased by 8.5%.

These statistics were mirrored by the feelings of a number of people at the meeting who had obviously been disturbed by the spate of arson attacks on cars and wheelie bins which left them feeling nervous and threatened.

I quote the police report “Consett North - in particular the area surrounding the Police Station has seen a problem in damages, specifically two types of offences. There have been a number of arsons mainly wheelie bins but there have been one or two attacks on cars and allotment buildings. There has been a high profile operation with assistance from the Fire Service and a variety of tactics have been used but still information is thin on the ground”.

The truth is, there is no magic bullet to cure this problem - but it has to be cured. The only way is for all residents to be vigilant and to let the police know anything suspicious we see or hear. Intelligence and information painstakingly gathered and put together will eventually pinpoint the culprits - but the police cannot solve this situation on their own.

 The best news was that crimes of violence against the person had fallen 15.8% thanks to structured visits to licensed premises. Well done to the Police for that.

 You can see a full record of incidents below:

I don’t expect many of my readers to be able to enlighten me, but if you know what this graffiti stands for, please let me know.

Unfortunately it has been appearing around Consett in a spate of low level but extremely depressing petty crime. If you can enlighten me, please do.