Police were called to Histon on Tuesday 18 February following reports that a man had entered an elderly woman’s home posing as a gardener, claiming she owed him money.
A Police spokesperson told HI HUB: “We were called at 3.45pm with reports of a burglary in Kay Hitch Way, Histon. …[He] claimed she owed him money for work completed outside and took £60.
“An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing, including checking available CCTV footage.”
Shock and sadness
Sharing details of the incident on local social media, the family implored that anyone who might have seen anything contacts Cambs Police. The lady involved is elderly and suffers from dementia making her especially vulnerable.
They told HI HUB: “It is highly distressing and concerning to think that someone would prey upon the elderly in such a way. Our Nan is a kind and trusting woman who is not very well and gets confused easily.
“Thankfully we have video and photographic evidence of the person involved in this incident, which the police now have. We really hope they catch the man involved and protect our Nan along with other similarly vulnerable people.”
Sadness and shock was expressed from across the community of Histon & Impington and anyone who is concerned about an elderly vulnerable friend or relative is encouraged to get in touch with the HI Friends Memory Loss Support team or Older People’s Coordinator.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Cambridgeshire Police via their website or call 101, quoting crime reference 35/12017/25.
Police officers were called to Histon & Impington Park Primary last Friday, 14 February, following the discovery of a ten-year-old pupil in possession of a knife.
Safety remains highest priority
A spokesperson from the school told HI HUB: “On Friday morning (14th), a pupil was found in possession of a small bladed article on the school premises. Staff acted immediately to confiscate the item, and the matter has been fully addressed, with the police informed in line with school policies.
“We understand this may cause concern, but the risk to pupils was low, and the situation was swiftly managed. The safety and well-being of our pupils remain our highest priority, and there is no ongoing risk to the school community.”
Crime raised
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed: “We were called by a member of staff at Histon and Impington Primary School at about 1pm on 14 February reporting a 10-year-old girl had brought a small knife into a school.
“A crime has been raised and we are working closely with the school”.
Anyone with information should contact Cambs Police quoting crime reference number 35/10939/25.
Police believe an online threat that caused panic across Cambridgeshire schools, including Impington Village College was a hoax. It has since emerged that Peterborough City Council contacted headteachers about a message reaching schools in another part of the country on Tuesday afternoon, and this attracted a lot of attention overnight.
An e-cops email from Cambridgeshire Police explained: “There was no evidence to suggest that Cambridgeshire schools might be at risk, but the message was shared for awareness and to remind them of the need for good safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety of pupils.
“Understandably, overnight this has attracted a lot of interest and concern from parents as a result of the message to schools being shared wider. However, we would like to reassure the public that this message is believed to be a hoax. At this time, there is no specific identified threat to schools within Cambridgeshire and we are not aware of any of our schools having received the email in question.”
‘Security Awareness‘
Parents of pupils at IVC were sent an email update on Wednesday in which a spokesperson for the Eastern Learning Alliance, the Trust that runs the school, sought to reassure parents and pupils, saying: “Please be reassured that we have robust lockdown procedures in place across all our schools, and this morning, we have worked closely with our Heads of School to ensure that all necessary preparations are in place should they be required”.
They continued: “While there is no immediate cause for concern, we ask for your support in remaining alert. If you receive any similar communication directly, please report it to the police immediately by calling 999 before informing your Head of School.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, and we will continue to work closely with the police and relevant authorities”.
Two female pedestrians in Impington were assaulted by a man on a bike on Monday.
In separate incidents at around 1pm near the Railway Vue pub, and then on the guided busway, a male cyclist shouted at two women and then struck them both on the head as he cycled past.
The first incident took place on New Road, Impington and the victim ran after the man as far as the guided busway, where she was able to take a photo as he cycled in the direction of Oakington.
The victim described feeling shocked and said: “I felt something coming up behind me so I looked behind and saw a man on a bike racing towards me really fast. As he cycled past, he punched me in the side of the head and shouted ‘watch the road’.
“He turned back and saw me running after him with my phone out so he quickly turned away from me and cycled off. I managed to get a few pics of him and have sent these to the police. I was really shaken up and sobbing. It was the shock and violation that upset me the most”.
In addition to contacting the police, the victim also shared her photo on a local Facebook page, where a second victim replied to the post, stating that she had also been assaulted while walking her dog at around the same time, by a man fitting the same description.
Identification
Since the initial report of the crime on social media, a contact of the cyclist has reached out to the assault victim and identified the man in her photo as a vulnerable adult in the care of a professional service. HI HUB is not identifying the service at this time to protect the individuals in its care.
However a spokesperson for the service confirmed that they have been in contact with the police both on Tuesday and Wednesday this week concerning a vulnerable person in their care and the alleged assaults, and said they are “putting a plan in place to make everyone feel safe.”
They continued: “This is being dealt with seriously alongside the police, and I am dealing with the safeguarding team and the police around what we can put in place”.
Ongoing investigation
Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed that they are looking into Monday’s incident, and said: “A crime has been raised for common assault and is pending further investigative opportunities”.
Witnesses with further information can contact the police and use the crime reference number 35/6158/25 .
A few months since the launch of the Businesses Against Abuse scheme here in Cambridgeshire, Amanda Borrill talks to Scheme Force Lead PC Nicky Peacock about how it all began and her ambitions for its future…
Launched at Milton Park and Ride in October 2024, Businesses Against Abuse (BAA) is a partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Police Authority and the Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership (CAPRPC). Around 300 local businesses are already part of BAA, including Stagecoach East whose drivers have been given dedicated training by CAPRPC to help them recognise people who are in vulnerable situations, and to know how best to offer help.
With 28 years experience serving in a variety of roles within Cambs Constabulary, BAA Scheme Force Lead Nicky Peacock has been fundamental in getting this project off the ground. And her efforts have not gone unrecognised: she recently received the runner up award for ‘Commitment to Safeguarding’ at a recent annual ceremony held for its officers by Cambs Police.
Safer streets for all
Nicky is presented with her award for Commitment to Safeguarding. Photo Nicky Peacock.
Nicky explains how the BAA scheme began. “The scheme was established using funding from the Home Office Safer Streets initiative. This money is provided to police forces across the country with each force individually responsible for determining how it is spent. I joined the scheme during Safer Streets 3 when we began training those working in the night time economy to recognize the warning signs of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) predators. Safer Streets 4 saw things evolve into an accreditation scheme rather than just training, with initial roll-outs in Peterborough and Fenland. Currently, we are operating under Safer Streets 5 which saw the programme extended to Cambridge”.
A few months in, I’m interested to hear what Nicky sees as the positives and negatives of the scheme. “One major positive has been the involvement of Stagecoach East”, she shares, “which ensures that safe spaces on their buses are available across the community. These safe spaces not only provide refuge but also help individuals remove themselves from potential threats. Another highlight has been visiting accredited businesses and learning about the proactive measures they are taking to ensure the safety of women and girls”.
And the downsides? “One of the biggest challenges is reaching as many businesses as possible and encouraging them to sign up. It’s a time-intensive process, and there’s always more to be done”, she explains.
“Creating an environment hostile to those who perpetrate abuse”
Darren Roe talks at the launch of BAA scheme. Richard Marsham/RMG Photography
Cowley Road-based Stagecoach East has been a powerful advocate of the BAA scheme. Reflecting on the first three months in a recent press release, Managing Director Darren Roe reveals: “I am so proud of how our Training team, drivers, and everyone concerned has reacted to being part of this important scheme. We have already had numerous incidents where drivers have intervened to stop abuse against women, and their actions have absolutely kept them safe on our vehicles. These have ranged from young women feeling safe seeing our destination messages, diverting a bus service to take a vulnerable woman to a safe area, and also direct interventions to keep predators away from a young girl, one of whom was arrested.”
Nicky is currently fully dedicated to BAA. “My primary role is to educate as many people as possible and to create an environment in Cambridgeshire that is as hostile as possible to those who perpetrate abuse”, she emphasises. “Being a woman does give me a unique perspective on female safety, but BAA is not about placing the burden on women and girls to protect themselves or change their behaviour. For too long, the responsibility has fallen on women, and this needs to change. The BAA scheme is designed to make tackling VAWG a collective responsibility, bringing communities together to show perpetrators that their behaviour is unacceptable and ensuring women and girls know they have the support of their community. Engagement from all genders is vital for the success of this initiative”.
Get on board!
To build on its success though, the scheme needs more businesses on board and it is Nicky’s ambition that every business in Cambridgeshire becomes BAA accredited. And to those reading this who might be considering signing up, Nicky has a clear message. “Do it! There’s nothing to lose and so much to gain. We provide bystander intervention training tailored to all personality types and publicly promote your business as accredited on our social media and website”.
Upcoming training sessions are scheduled for the morning and afternoon in the Management Suite at the Grafton Centre, Cambridge on Monday 3 February and Wednesday 5 March.
The BAA team is also available to deliver talks in schools. For more information contact Nicky directly at: nicky.peacock@cambs.police.uk
Following our news report in March 2021, the theft of catalytic converters has continued to cause concern both locally and across the region with Cambridgeshire Constabulary reporting recently that catalytic converter theft figures have risen by 141% over the past four years.
Footage shared recently into local social media showed thieves at work in the early hours on a vehicle parked on Windmill Lane here in Histon with the theft taking just minutes.
Increased Patrols
Detective Inspector Dan Cooper of the Neighbourhood Support Team is keen to reassure the public that they are focused on stopping these thefts and has issued the following statement:
“There is lots of work going on behind the scenes to stop these gangs and make Cambridgeshire an uncomfortable place for them to target.
“We’re carrying out daily patrols, we’ve got the police helicopter and our Road Policing Unit on standby to assist us and we’re working with scrap dealers to ensure the thieves are not able to sell on any stolen metal. Removing a catalytic converter can take just a few minutes with the thefts tending to be carried out by groups of three or four men wearing balaclavas and gloves jacking up the vehicle and using an angle grinder to cut out the catalytic converter. The public are advised not to approach these people as they are known to carry weapons.
“Instead call us on 999 and provide as much information as you can about the vehicle they are using, in particular the make, model and colour”.
Licence Checks
Catalytic converters are sought after by thieves due to the precious metals found inside them, which they sell to scrap metal dealers. Those metals – rodium, paladium and platinum – are found in the exhaust system of every car and reduce the output of toxic gases and pollutants. Now, as a further measure towards deterring these gangs, officers from the Rural Crime Action Team, working alongside the Environment Agency and Local Authorities, will be making visits to scrap metal merchants across the county.
Officers will be checking that scrap dealers have the correct licences and are keeping a complete record of all scrap metal bought. It is an offence to buy scrap metal for cash and the public is urged to report anyone suspected of dealing illegally in scrap metal either to the police or to their local authority.
Remain Vigilant
👀 If you see a car jacked up
👂 If you hear the sound of metal being cut
❌ It’s likely a cat converter theft is taking place
The children enjoyed getting up close to a police vehicle. Photo: Grace Hardy
Local police officers visited Brook Primary School in Histon last Thursday, 26 January, to talk to children in Foundation stage classes.
The visit, part of Neighbourhood Policing Week – a national campaign aiming to shine a light on the work of neighbourhood policing teams – saw South Cambs officers meet with children and teachers at the school.
The four and five-year olds were treated to a tour of a police car, and enjoyed seeing the lights flash and hearing the siren go off. The children were also shown some of the equipment used by the police on a daily basis, and had the opportunity to quiz officers on what it’s like to do their job.
One of the children said: “We got to ask questions to find out how police officers help us. They showed us the police car and we heard the loud siren!”
This visit and other neighbourhood policing activities were documented on the force’s Facebook page, with community police officers also calling in on Oakington Cubs and Orchard Park Primary School as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Week initiative.
To meet your local policing team, get the latest crime statistics or find out what is being done to tackle crime in your area, click here or visit the Policing South Cambs Facebook page here.
Histon and Impington residents are being invited to take part in a community engagement meeting with their local police force.
Run by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the meeting is a chance for participants to find out more about local policing priorities and share any concerns regarding crime or antisocial behaviour in their area.
The online event, which is one of a series set to take place this year, is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday 7 February. Attendees will be asked to fill in a survey ahead of the meeting.
Local police are ready to listen to residents’ concerns. Photo: South Cambs Police.
During the meeting, residents can meet with neighbourhood officers and help shape policing priorities for the future.
The interactive forum will also include an update on recent policing activity from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, a presentation of the results of the survey and a Q&A session with officers.
After the session, the neighbourhood policing team will work on any matters discussed and update participants with progress over the coming months.
Future meetings are scheduled for May, August and November this year.
Police have responded to reports of theft from the car park at Tesco, Bar Hill. Photo credit: South Cambs Police.
Supermarket shoppers are being targeted by thieves operating in the car park at Tesco, Bar Hill. Three reports were received by local police last week, describing a group of males and females targeting lone female shoppers loading shopping into their cars.
The group distract lone shoppers in order to steal bank cards and other valuable items.
Local police are working with the community in the area to raise awareness and have been making CCTV enquiries in an attempt to identify those responsible.
Shoppers are asked to call the police if they are approached by these individuals and to make Tesco Security Officers aware of any suspicious behaviour.
Staying safe
Cambridgeshire Constabulary has also received multiple reports of shoppers being pick-pocketed in central Cambridge last weekend.
Visitors to the city should be aware that pick pockets may attempt to steal mobile phones and wallets from coats and trouser pockets, and from bags left slightly open.
Police are urging the public to take extra care of their belongings when in the city and to report anything suspicious.
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