Slough Community Websites

At a Cabinet meeting held on Monday, March 8, members agreed to tackle the empty homes situation in Slough and renew a policy which will see the authority tackle owners of unkempt and vacant properties.

The main concern with empty Slough houses is that they can attract squatters, vandals, arsonists, drug users and fly-tippers. For the council to be able to take proceedings against the home owners, it needs to have a compulsory purchase policy in place. The last one expired in 2008.

The Slough policy would mean that, if the owners of the properties fail to respond to the council’s demands of keeping the empty houses free from statutory nuisance or breaches of public health legislation, it can begin the compulsory purchase proceedings.

With family homes at a premium in Slough, this new policy could see five to ten homes become available for Slough families in the next five years.

At present, there are approximately 157 long term vacant properties in Slough standing vacant. However, the south east region and England averages for empty homes are 2.3 percent and 2.9 percent, which shows Slough has a lesser problem with vacant properties at 1.8 percent.

Manju Dhar, private sector housing manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “I very much welcome the decision made at the Cabinet meeting as we’re committed to making Slough a nicer place to live, work and play.

“Empty homes can pose many difficulties, such as squatters taking over and people using the vacant gardens for fly tipping. With this updated policy in place, we’ll have more governance to ensure we call deal with any issues efficiently, effectively and economically.”

Commissioner for Slough neighbourhoods and renewal, Cllr James Swindlehurst, added: “With around 6000 people on our housing waiting list, we cannot afford to have properties standing vacant. In a town with little developable land, these properties also present opportunities for new homes, and reduce our need for green field sites.

“It also only takes one long term vacant property on a street to become derelict to make the whole neighbourhood look unsightly, and with our blitz on neighbourhood enhancements we don’t want a few vacant properties to let the town down.

“This policy will only affect long term vacant properties, and we will work with the owners to ensure there is a workable solution, and endeavour to involve them at every stage of the process.”

Slough Borough Council

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A Slough man was on 10/3 jailed for life for murdering his girlfriend and seriously wounding his friend.

Twenty-six-year-old Mario Alfonso Carvalho, of Ledgers Road, Chalvey, Slough, was sentenced for the murder of 19-year-old Jane Treasure and for causing grevious bodily harm with intent to his friend, Damien Sharpe, now aged 24, at Reading Crown Court on 10/3.

Carvalho was found guilty of the Slough offences earlier on 10/3, following a week-long trial.

He will serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.

At approximately 6.30am on Tuesday 18 November 2008, Carvalho attended his friend’s address in The Crescent, Chalvey, Slough. Following a short conversation, the pair went out into the garden, where Carvalho slashed his friend’s neck with a knife, before forcing him to the ground, stabbing him in the head and punching him in the eye.

The 24-year-old Slough victim managed to escape through the house and across the road, where he was given assistance by a passing motorist. The victim’s girlfriend, who was inside the house at the time, dialled 999 at 7.07am and police attended within minutes.

At 7.19am, additional officers managed to swiftly track down Carvalho, who had fled the scene on foot, at his home address in Ledgers Road, Chalvey.

While being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, Carvalho indicated there was another person upstairs who needed help.

Three officers went to check and found Jane’s body on a bed in one of the rooms. She had been stabbed. They made attempts to resuscitate her, despite her not showing any signs of life.

Paramedics arrived within minutes of Jane being discovered by Slough police. They began attempts to revive her, but found no signs of life. She was pronounced dead at 7.30am.

Det Supt Rob Mason, senior investigating officer, said: “Any loss of life is a tragedy, but for a young and vibrant woman to lose her life in such circumstances is particulary sad, and our thoughts remain with Jane’s devasted family.

“Although the jury did not find Carvalho guilty of the attempted murder of his friend, they did find him guilty of grevious bodily harm with intent, which in itself is a very serious crime. This also contradicts Carvalho’s claim that he acted in self defence.

“No disagreement nor argument warrants what Carvalho did on the night of Tuesday 18 November 2008, and throughout our investigation it has always been our priority to bring him to justice and provide support to Jane’s family.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team are warning residents to be wary of a new, more sophisticated, credit card scam which could cost people dearly.

This new Slough scam starts with a bogus Visa or MasterCard employee phoning a legitimate customer saying they think the customer’s card has been fraudulently used. The caller will already have all the person details, such as address, credit card number and name, but is after the three digit security number on the back.

The caller will do most of the talking and clarify the card number, address and name and ask the Slough person if they have made a purchase of a sum of money under £500. When the customer says no, the caller will ask for the three digit card number as proof the person has the card in their possession.

However, once the Slough scammer has these digits and the phone call ends, the person’s credit card account will be debited straight away for a large sum of money.

To be able to shop online, the security numbers on the back of banks cards needs to be used. Despite the con artists having all other information about a person and their card, they need these digits to purchase anything on the web.

All credit card companies and banks will never ask for a person’s three digit card number as they know this because they issued the card. They will only ask if the card has been stolen or in possession of the holder.

Keith Eaglestone, trading standards manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to keeping residents of Slough safe and would urge them never to divulge personal information to anyone over the phone. If in doubt, say you will call the company back and do so to make sure the information is legit.

“Every day these scams are getting more sophisticated. Many people are caught out as they think the caller must be real as they have all the other information about them. Always beware being cold called.”

Commissioner for Slough community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, added: “There are so many ways now that people can be scammed into having their hard earned cash taken from them fraudulently. Always be careful who you are talking to, and if in any doubt, don’t give out anything and contact your bank yourself.”

Slough Borough Council

Thames Valley Police officers recovered drugs with an estimated street value of between £40,000 and £60,000 during a search of an address in Slough on Saturday.

Officers from the Slough Serious and Organised Crime Unit found two kilograms of amphetamines and a quantity of herbal cannabis at the house in Furzen Close.

Kamil Kalwajyts, aged 27, 24-year-old Lukasz Kalwajyts, and Sebastian Kalwajyts, 17, all of Furzen Close, Slough, were charged with offences relating to the possession of and intent to supply Class B drugs. Sebastian Kalwajyts was additionally charged with the supply of amphetamines and cannabis.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has organised a workshop with Slough Borough Council for residents to attend on anti-social behaviour (ASB).

The event, which will be held at Baylis House, Slough on March 23 from 10am to 2.15pm.

During the day, residents will be given advice and information on what they can do to try and help combat ASB and what the Slough council and police can do to help.

People 1st Slough will also be attending, as will community wardens, crime fighters, council officers and Thames Valley Police, who will be giving information out on the tools and powers we use to tackle anti social behaviour.

Kam Bhatti, neighbourhood crime and justice co-ordinator for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to ensuring residents of Slough can lead a safe and happy life and we realise the concerns some people may have about anti-social behaviour.

“This workshop will be the perfect opportunity for anyone wishing to gain more information on how to combat this and to give their views. Together we can stamp out anti-social behaviour.”

Commissioner for Slough neighbourhoods and renewal, Cllr James Swindlehurst, added: “Over the last two years we have made a concerted effort to tackle anti-social behaviour in Slough. We have installed over 20 new CCTV cameras in the last year, have funded community wardens to increase presence on our streets and have issued over 40 ASBO orders.

“Until residents feel that the threat to their neighbourhood from anti-social behaviour has disappeared, we still have work to do. We need to know the next areas to target, and where to focus our efforts in future so please let us know.”

For more information on this free event, please call Kam Bhatti on 01753 47 7376, or call 0845 680 9754, 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday to sign up for the event.

Slough Borough Council

A man has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for the manslaughter of 23-year-old Tarirai Munjanja in Slough last year.

Daniel Tulloch, aged 36, formerly of Bradley Road, Slough, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by provocation at Reading Crown Court on 3/3, following a two-week trial. The jury returned a majority verdict of ten to two.

On the evening of 29 August 2009, Tarirai Munjanja, known as Terry and originally from Zimbabwe, was visiting a friend at a multi-occupancy address in Bradley Road, Slough, when Tulloch, who had rented a room there until about five weeks before the murder, let himself in to the house with his old key and started becoming aggressive.

The pair, who had not met before, got into an argument at the bottom of the stairs. There was a standoff between them and a scuffle ensued, during which Terry restrained Tulloch in a headlock.

The Slough situation appeared to calm down after a few minutes, at which point Munjanja went out into the front garden.

Shortly afterwards, Tulloch went into the back garden, picked up a knife from an area behind the shed and went into the front garden, where he continued to argue with Munjanja before stabbing him once in the stomach and running off through the back garden and down an alleyway.

Tulloch, a Jamaican national, was arrested on 2 September 2009 and charged with murder the following day.

Slough Det Ch Insp Steve Tolmie, senior investigating officer, said: “This was a pointless loss of life, stemming from a trivial argument between the pair after Daniel Tulloch wouldn’t let Terry pass him on the stairs. Tulloch’s actions on that night have cut short a young man’s life and left his family understandably totally devastated. I am pleased that Tulloch has been brought to justice, and hope that today’s result will go some way to bringing a sense of closure to Terry’s family."

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Young people attending Britwell’s Slough youth club are hitting the high notes with their brand new music centre, funded by a £36,000 grant from the Communities Cash-back Scheme.

Slough Borough Council secured the money last November as part of its Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign and the newly completed project will also enable the centre to open on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Slough centre already opens two nights a week and runs activity programmes through all the school holidays. These extra evening sessions will see on average 30 young people through its doors, with the holiday activities seeing more than 100 a day.

Kam Bhatti, neighbourhood crime and justice co-ordinator for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to making sure the young people of Slough have the best services available to them and with the funding we secured, this has helped us deliver.

“The young people are so excited about the new music centre and longer opening times. The views of local communities, and us being responsive to them, are critical to the public having confidence in seeing a criminal justice system that works for them.”

Ch Insp Kate Ford, deputy LPA commander for Slough, added: “This is an excellent example of community and partners working closely together to provide a resource that make a positive impact on the lives of young people on the Britwell. It demonstrates that the partnership does actively listen to the voice of the community and responds visibly and decisively to their needs.

Commissioner for Slough opportunity and skills, Cllr Fiza Matloob, added: “Thanks to the assets recovered as part of Justice Seen, Justice Done, young people can now enjoy greater facilities at this local youth centre. Well done to the team for securing the funding which is a real boost for young people in this area.”

The intention of the funding was to deliver projects that have been proposed or voted for by members of the local Slough community and which will address the effects of the fear of crime or anti-social behaviour in the area.

Votes took place in August last year and the public voted for Britwell youth club to get the funding, competing against 13 other projects in the Thames Valley. A total of £90,000 was up for grabs, of which the council secured £36,000.

Asset recovery can be an effective tool in building public confidence. It demonstrates to communities that criminals whose lifestyle is funded through crime, often serious organised crime, are being brought to justice and the proceeds of their criminal activities are being taken from them.

Community Cash back aims to give communities more of a say in how recovered assets are spent locally.

Slough Borough Council

Thames Valley Slough Police is appealing for witnesses after a woman was assaulted and robbed in Bath Road, Slough, on Friday (26/2).

The Slough woman, who is in her late teens, was walking near Salt Hill Park at about 10.45pm, when she was grabbed by a man who pushed her into some bushes and stole her handbag. He also touched her inappropriately.

The woman was left understandably shaken by the Slough incident and has been unable to provide a description of the man.

Slough Det Con Stuart Bale, investigating the incident, said: “We cannot rule out that there was a sexual motive as the offender touched the woman inappropriately. We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the park at the time and may have witnessed the incident or any suspicious behaviour.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Bale of the Priority Crime Team at Slough via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Slough Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a resident who ignored a noise abatement notice. She was served after blighting her neighbours with loud music, screaming and shouting.

The case of Heather Tong, of Lovegrove Drive, Slough was heard at Maidenhead Magistrates Court on February 19, after she pleaded guilty to two offences of without reasonable excuse, contravening or failing to comply with an abatement notice issued on June 25 2009, in relation to her previous address in Garrard Road.

In addition, she was given an ASBO for two years which prohibits the defendant from “causing or allowing to be caused any type of sustained noise or any type of sustained disturbance or sustained nuisance in any area within the boundary of Lovegrove Drive, Slough, or any other property where she will reside hereafter, and or allow or wilfully permit another to do so for a period of two years”.

Ms Tong was also given a two year conditional discharge and told to pay £75 towards the prosecution’s costs.

Sarah Hines-Randall, senior technical enforcement officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re committed to making sure Slough residents can live their lives in peace and not be disturbed in their own homes.

“This case just highlights the fact that we won’t tolerate this kind of behaviour and we are very pleased with this outcome.”

Slough Councillor James Swindlehurst said: “This irresponsible behaviour will not be tolerated, and everyone has the right to an undisturbed neighbourhood. Perpetrators need to realise they cannot just go on causing disturbances, and this action should also give hope to anyone currently having problems that if reported, problems with a nuisance neighbour can be resolved.”

Slough Borough Council