Although theft of pedal cycles is a crime which we constantly need to remain aware of, there is an emerging trend of thefts of bikes from sheds and garages where it is possible that high value or specialised bikes have been 'followed' to their home address.

Please do be wary of any suspicious persons not normally seen around your home area. If you have not security marked your cycle please do contact this office to request a supply of special stickers for this purpose.

Another emerging trend which has been brought to my attention is the theft of catalytic converters from 4X4 vehicles, this is happening in South Yorkshire but our neighbouring force of North Yorkshire expect that the trend may spread in their direction.  It is believed that these items are being stolen for their platinum content.

Jacqui Snowball
Community Liaison Officer
Darlington Police - Community Safety Partnership
Tel: 01325 346832
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Eight written responses have been received from residents following letters which were sent out to residents on the 4th February 2008 requesting their comments on the planning application for the Former Beaumont Hill School Sites, from Darlington Borough Councils' planning department.

The planning application will be considered by Members of the Planning Committee on Wednesday 2nd April 2008.

The preferred developer McInerney Homes Ltd has been on site undertaking site investigations and contracts for sale of the land (from Council ownership to McInerney Homes Ltd) will be exchanged before the end of this week.

Cllr. Mark Burton

It came as no surprise to me, reading in the Echo about the Police and their plans to crack down on speeding motorists fuelled by complaints from residents in village areas, given the number of death-wish manoeuvres I’ve witnessed over the past 20 years travelling back and forth along the A67.

On Friday 14 March at around 11:20 driving through Merrybent, over The Green and on into High Coniscliffe a 4x4 vehicle came racing up behind my car, overtook in the 30mph zone, the driver then stuck his fingers up and sped off at speeds of up to 60/70mph through High Coniscliffe.

After pulling over, making a note of his registration plate and driving on to an area where my mobile phone had a signal, (good old Orange) I rang the police, only to be told that unless there was an independent witness, perhaps walking along the pavement, there was nothing that they could do, and clearly weren’t interested in logging the incident, then forwarded my call on to a recorded message.

Ringing back, but this time pointing out that I was a Councillor from the Borough of Darlington, reporting the same incident, it was logged and I was given an incident number.

Should it matter who reports what? Should officers/operators, in first contact with the public acting on behalf of the Durham Police, take more care to log reported incidents? Do you think that it is this kind of behaviour which makes many people think, it’s not worth the hassle of bothering to report incidents to the Police?