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CARMARTHENSHIRE NEWS • EDITION 10 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012 Community Safety Partnership


Behave or Be Banned warning to troublemakers


TROUBLEMAKERS causing chaos in pubs and clubs this Christmas are being warned to Behave or Be Banned. The BOBB scheme stops people


causing bother not just in one pub - but all those in the area that have signed up to ban problem customers. Supported by the Community Safety Partnership, it sees police working with licensees to combat violence and disorder as well as underage drinking and the use and supply of drugs in licensed premises. The scheme has been set up in Carmarthen,


Llanelli and


Ammanford town centres, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Burry Port, Cross Hands


and Llwynhendy/Felinfoel. The council’s executive board


member for community safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “The BOBB scheme sends out a strong message that this type of unruly behaviour will not be tolerated. We want to make sure that premises are properly run and that everyone can enjoy themselves safely and responsibly over Christmas and the New Year.” Council licensing officers will also


be visiting licensed premises with police during the festive season to remind


licensees of their


responsibilities in relation to the sale of alcohol and its effects on customers.


CHRISTMAS revellers are being advised to use the Cab Safe scheme to ensure they get home safely. Licensing officers fear unlicensed drivers


will be cashing in as growing numbers of people need taxis over the busy festive period. The Cab Safe scheme run by the county council will ensure people get a safe ride home. People just text the word Cab to 83222 to


get the numbers of the three nearest licensed taxi firms in their location. Residents are warned they are not insured if


they travel in an unlicensed cab, and are urged to check out cars and their drivers before they get in. Drivers should always wear identification badges and taxis are usually parked at known ranks, or their numbers can be found in the Yellow Pages. Taxis should display a list of fares for passengers and be fitted with meters. Hackney carriages, which can be flagged down,


always have a roof sign, which is illuminated when they are available for hire. They also display two identifying


www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk


Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership ˆ


Partneriaeth Diogelwch Cymunedol Sir Gar


Get a safe ride home


white door stickers and a white plate on the back bumper. Private hire vehicles can only be pre-booked and not


stopped in the street. They carry two identifying yellow door stickers and a yellow plate on the back bumper


Don’t drink and drive Don’t let thieves ruin Christmas


IN the countdown to Christmas the council’s road safety unit’s message is “Give Drink Driving the Red Card!” They say the best advice is not to


drink at all and warn drivers that it takes at least an hour for the body to rid itself of each unit of alcohol. A leaflet the unit has produced suggests drinking four pints up to midnight will mean people cannot drive for 13 hours – which would be 1pm the next day. Drinking five bottles of beer up to


midnight could kerb you until 4pm the next day and even having four shots would mean you could fail a breath test at 8am next morning. Many drivers are caught over the


limit the morning after so stay safe and avoid a conviction. Plan not only how you are getting home but also getting about the next day


DON’T let festive thieves steal your Christmas spirit. Shoppers are reminded to make


sure their cars are secure and any Christmas gifts are hidden out of sight. Householders are also being warned to lock up and leave a light on to stop burglars ransacking their homes. Newly-bought presents are a key


target for thieves – whether they are sitting on the back seat of a car or nicely wrapped up under the Christmas tree where they can be seen from the street. Although the number of vehicle


crimes in the county is low, police figures


show motorists are


repeatedly guilty of leaving their cars unlocked with money and valuables in clear sight. Similarly, figures show that around half the number of house burglaries in the county could have been avoided by taking simple precautions such as locking doors


and windows. Community Safety Inspector Tony


Ward said: “Figures show that we live in one of the safest places in England and Wales, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be careful. We want to remind the public that by following some simple steps we can all reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime this Christmas.” The


Community


Safety


Partnership, which includes the council and police as well as a number of other agencies, is working hard to tackle vehicle crime and reduce the number of burglaries in Carmarthenshire. Council executive board member


for community safety Cllr Pam Palmer added: “We are urging people not to leave thieves ruin their Christmas. We don’t want to alarm residents, but alert them to some simple crime prevention advice.”


Top Christmas safety tips • Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway. • If you go out to festive parties, turn on lights and television so the house looks occupied.


• If you go away in the holiday season, get an automatic timer for your lights. Ask a neighbour to watch your house, pick up mail and park their car in your drive occasionally.


• Shop before dark if possible. Never park your car in an unlit area, no matter how convenient it is.


• Keep packages and other valuables out of view in the car, preferably locked in the boot.


• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases by cheque or credit card whenever possible.


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