Firstly I am very sorry to report that after a review by the Home Office of the bids under the Safer Homes initiative, our NHW bid has been rejected. Previously we had been assured that we were through the bidding process, but they now say that it has been so over subscribed they have had to look at them all again.

We still have our Community Bid in the system for £100K and anticipate receiving a contract shortly, now that the review process has been carried out.

This will mean a change in our plans, and we will no longer be able to simply SelecaDNA mark entire streets at a time. The community Bid relates to the elderly and vulnerable as well as the under 25s and vulnerable. We will still have 1,000 units of Selecta to use, but we will have to decide the best way of distributing this. I am having a meeting next Wednesday with the Community Council for Berkshire who have lead on this for us, to decide how we should proceed.

Can I thank everyone for the support I have received for the NHW bid, members had volunteered to be focus groups, to work as a website content group, to assist with all stages of the plan, designing and suggesting how we can deliver it. Your commitment has been total. I will be appealing against the Home Office's decision, but I do not hold out much hope.

Once again - My total thanks for your commitment, ideas and support. They have been much appreciated - just remember - we have a Community Bid to deliver - possibly 10,000 homes to mark, so its not all doom and gloom !

I have the weeks crime figures in front of me, and things are really quiet compared with last year.

ASCOT:

Only 1 burglary in the last 48 hours:

26/8 2 a.m. Sunning Avenue. Entry through rear door - 2 laptops, passport, camera, keys and a blue Audi A4 index DV 56 ENL was stolen. Is this car parked up somewhere quietly near you to see if it has a tracker fitted ? The police are interested to recover it as it may have forensic evidence inside.

WINDSOR:

Only 2 burglaries in the last 48 hours, both in Ham Cottages, Old Windsor last night:

26/8 Daytime. Ham Cottages, Ham Island. Burglary through insecure front window - jewellery, cash, sunglasses, camcorder and 32" TV stolen

26/8 Daytime. Ham Cottages, Ham Island. Burglary through a forced rear door - laptops, cigarettes, camcorder, cameras and a 42" TV stolen. It is unlikely the thieves walked through Old Windsor carrying the TVs. they must have had a car. Did you see a car in suspicious circumstances ? Have you seen anyone walking around in a manner that drew your attention as suspicious - walking too slowly, paying too much attention to driveways etc. If so we need that intelligence, descriptions etc even though it is after the event. We know who our local opportunist thieves are. Even a very rough description to point to someone we know that we can follow up. If you do get that feeling that something is not quite right - phone us on 0845 8 505 505 - you will not be wasting our time and you may prevent someone from becoming a victim of crime. In one of the above houses there was an 'untidy search'. That is of course a euphemism - you would not want to come home to find your house had suffered 'an untidy search' - I can assure you. If in doubt phone. 

MAIDENHEAD:

Only 2 burglaries in the last 48 hours:

25/8 Noon - 3.30 p.m.. Oldfield Road. Burglary through forced side gate and forced conservatory window - Ipod docking station, Nintendo Wii, laptop, cash boxes, toaster and a holdall stolen to put it all in. Side gates should always be protected on the top with loose trellis (cannot be used to climb up) and prickly plants. Our opportunist thieves will be so hyped up, they can spring over a 6 foot side gate with ease, at one leap ! Don't let them do that.

24/8 - 25/8 Linden Avenue. Burglary through forced rear ground floor window. The house may be under refurbishment as all the knew kitchen appliances were stolen. And taken out through the front door - again did anyone see anything suspicious ?

Please remain alert there has been an increase in 'Vamoose Burglaries' across RBWM and Bracknell over the last couple of weeks (burglaries to steal the keys and performance cars). If you have an Audi, Merc, Porsche etc, please take extra precautions and be very alert to anyone taking an interest in your car. These are stolen to order by make, model, year and colour. Thieves will be out and about looking for them and then possibly follow you home to find out where they are parked up. If you have a performance car and have the slightest inkling that you may have been followed or your car identified by someone - even in a car park, leisure centre, supermarket etc. let us know on the 0845 number immediately.

Last message - insecure properties. I do not like pointing out the obvious. Houses should be secured at night and alarms set. During the day windows should only be open in rooms that are occupied, particularly on the ground floor, or on the first floor if it is accessible from a nearby flat roof or porch. You will feel such a fool if the police attend and cannot find a point of entry - damage to a window or door. Your Insurance company will rub their hands, as they refuse to pay out stating without damage, you must have left your home insecure !! Please pass this message to everyone you know.

The people from outside the area have been moved on as a result of swift action by the police and the Royal Borough. They are though just over the border in Slough where they have received S.61 notices. If you have land that is insecure, please secure it immediately in anticipation of the Bank Holiday weekend. Cars have been seen scouting around Eton for access points to the Broccas. They will be looking at all available areas.