The digital switchover is the process of turning off the UK’s analogue TV signal and replacing it with a digital signal.
To keep your TV service, you will need to convert your TV to digital before your region’s switchover date which should be 4 April 2012 for BBC Two and 18 April 2012 for BBC One, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
To find out how to do this, log onto www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 50 50 50
If you are eligible for help with this, ie. are aged 75 or over, or have lived in a care home for six months or more, or get Disability Allowance, Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or are registered blind or partially sighted, then you can obtain detailed information from www.helpscheme.co.uk or call 0800 40 85 900
Information booklets will also be available to collect from Dartford Borough Council’s Civic Centre from February 2012
Community Safety News
Christmas is a time for celebrating with colleagues, friends and family and this often involves having a drink. So this is also an especially good time to remember that drinking and driving don’t mix.
If you plan to have a drink away from home, then factor in an alternative way to travel. Arrange for one of your group not to drink and to do the driving, pre-book a taxi or use public transport.
Even a small amount of alcohol can affect your driving skills and your judgement, as well as put you over the legal limit and on the wrong side of the law.
Apart from risking criminal prosecution, a costly fine and a lengthy period of disqualification (an endorsement for drink driving can remain on your license for 11 years and affect your insurance premium), you also risk being responsible for an accident that could injure or even kill another driver or pedestrian, a member of your own family or yourself.
Remember too that Kent Police has zero tolerance towards drink drivers as well as the facility of a virtual court video link, which means drivers found to be over the legal limit could be tried within 90 minutes and if found guilty, given an immediate ban.
So be sensible. With a bit of forethought to your travel plans, you can still enjoy the festivities but without the headache!
A recent scam, reported to Trading Standards, involves an individual (male, late’s 30s) knocking on a resident’s door claiming to be a neighbour who lives in a property situated at the back of the resident’s garden. They then say there is a drainage problem and that a trader will be round to fix it but as it’s a communal drain, he will need access to the resident’s garden to do so.
Then the resident receives a phone call from the ‘trader’ asking for a substantially high deposit to carry out the apparent ‘work’ which will be refunded once the work is completed. The resident was asked to make a payment by bank transfer which was never refunded.
Trading Standards say if you receive any such visits or calls, do not pay any money or agree to any work.
Report any suspicious activity to police on the non-emergency number 101 or to Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 0808 156 2256
Please take care when giving your unwanted goods and clothes to charities who leave bags to be collected at a later date.
Not all collectors are in fact bone fide charities and may not be giving any proceeds at all to the named charity.
Others, although registered, may only pass on a tiny percentage to the named charity, keeping the remaining profit for themselves.
To check, contact the Charity Commission on 0845 300 0218 and quote the Charity Number as seen on the bag.
Or visit the website at www/charity-commission.gov.uk
If you have a preferred charity, why not contact them direct and find out how you can donate to your favoured cause?
Alternatively take your unwanted goods to the charity shop – however please do not leave bags outside if the shop is shut as they often get stolen.
Two members of Dartford Community Safety Partnership became proud recipients of the Kent Police Area Commander’s Award on Wednesday 19 October 2011.
The Awards ceremony was held at North Kent Police Station where Melanie Butler (Kent Police) and Colin Newmarch (Dartford Borough Council) stepped up to receive their awards along with the other nominees.
The Area Commander’s Award recongnises and celebrates outstanding public service that goes beyond the remit of normal day to day work activities.
Both Melanie and Colin were commended for having made a particular impact to local projects and the wider community in Dartford.
Many congratulations to all the recipients.
In October 2011, a 3-day period will be spent working to repair the towpath in Sutton-at-Hone in preparation for its future opening to the public.
It’s one of the works being carried out by Kent Probation’s Community Payback teams which include making vast improvements to community facilities, the environment, public buildings, open spaces and local neighbourhoods.
Community Payback is one of 12 requirements of a Community Order which can include other punishments such as a Curfew with Rehabilitation from Drugs and Alcohol.
Work such as this forms part of a multi-agency focus involving Kent Police, Dartford Borough Council, Kent County Council and Kent Probation.
Recommendations can be made and put forward to Dartford Community Safety Partnership by members of the public, subject to certain conditions.
Please ask the CSP for details.
The Crime Prevention Bus is regularly in Dartford Town centre to give advice to shoppers and offer security items for sale.
North Kent Crime Prevention Panel has been providing crime prevention advice and support to the public for a number of years.
To catch up with them in Dartford Town centre, along with the Thursday market, the dates for your diary are:
Thursday 17 November 2011: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Thursday 15 December 2011: 10.30am – 3.30.pm
Look out for the Bus every third Thursday of the month in High Street, Dartford.
If you think you might like to volunteer to join the Panel and help reduce crime in Dartford, Gravesend or Sevenoaks, ask for details.
For the safety and security of Dartford residents, there is a dedicated police vehicle patrolling the Dartford area 7 days a week, between the hours of 2pm and midnight.
The car responds to calls from the public regarding anti-social behaviour that is causing residents alarm or disturbance. This can include youth-related nuisance, vehicle-related nuisance, non-permanent damage and graffitti.
To speak directly with the officers on duty call 07807 340082 – there is also a message facility available.
This does not replace 01622 690690 for non-emergency crime reporting and 999 if there is a crime in progress.
In the weeks running up to Christmas, Trading Standards would like to remind online shoppers to always stay safe and shop wisely.
Buying goods on the internet still offers the same rights to consumers as shopping in the high street. In fact, buying on the internet means you have a 7 day ‘cooling off’ period from the date you receive the goods with a right to a full refund even if you just change your mind – unlike buying direct from a shop on the high street.
However, this does not apply to CDs DVDs or console games where the seal has been broken; perishable or personalised items, or goods that are not in the same condition as when they were delivered.
Counterfeit goods can also be a huge problem online. Be suspicious of an internet bargain that seems too good to be true – because it probably is.
Look for clues signifying fake goods such as misspelt words or poor logos on the site or on the goods themselves. Always try to obtain a contact number or address for the trader should you need to return any items.
There are some very attractive offers out there for online shoppers who keep vigilant and stay safe.
Firework Night will soon to be upon us.
Many families now plan to enjoy attending a public display but for those who wish to hold their own bonfire party, please remember the Firework Code:
(1) Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
(2) Never give sparklers to a child under 5
(3) Buy fireworks marked BS 7114
(4) Keep Fireworks in a closed box
(5) Follow the instructions on each firework
(6) Light them at arm’s length using a taper
(7) Stand well back
(8) Never go back to a lit firework
(9) Never put fireworks in your pocket
(10) Never throw fireworks
(11) Keep pets indoors