Read my latest news and views…
Responding to concerns about policing in Thames Valley
In my opinion Thames Valley Police misjudged the handling of a complaint regarding a Facebook comment made in March of this year.
From my understanding the comments appear to be rude, ill-judged, unpleasant and offensive – but thankfully being rude and causing offence is not a crime.
The loophole in the Government’s drink-spiking law
Spiking - giving someone drink or drugs without their consent - is an awful crime. In the worst cases we know that it can kill, and sadly it is a tactic we know some criminals will use to rape or sexually assault their victims.
There is a BIG problem with the new law the Government is trying to pass to deal with this. A problem that could mean that some people could get away with it.
Rural crime falls by 17% across the Thames Valley
I made tackling rural crime a priority when I was elected, and now Thames Valley has an outstanding Rural Crime Taskforce, which has conducted hundreds of investigations and provided invaluable crime prevention advice to rural residents. This concerted effort is clearly having an impact, leading to the downward trend in rural crime trend we are now witnessing thanks to our funding and our commitment to support farmers.
PCC welcomes Emergency Services Day 2025
“I would like to thank all those who work in our blue light services for their selfless dedication in keeping communities safe, and helping those in need 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“If you feel inspired to make a difference in your communities, visit the Thames Valley Police Careers website to explore your entry route as a police officer and start your application today.”
Is it really your bank calling?
Sadly we know that one of the most common crimes that we can all be vulnerable to is fraud. It can take many forms but impersonation of your bank, a government agency or even the police is a tactic that many criminals will use.
If you receive a suspicious call, independently contact your bank or the relevant agency using an official telephone number – do not use numbers given to you by the cold caller. But who has the time to dig out and verify a number for your bank?
Making criminals pay
Each year Thames Valley Police recover hundreds of thousands of pounds of stolen property from criminals. Sadly it is not always possible to reunite stolen goods with their rightful owners and so the proceeds from the sale of these items helps to fund crime prevention initiatives.
Now is your opportunity to put this money to good use in your community.