On-the-spot fines

• Police are warning against fraudsters claiming to be collecting on-the-spot fines for breaches of the government’s coronavirus guidelines. Officers were made aware of a teenage man being approached by three men in Brighton who claimed to be undercover police officers and issuing him with an on-the-spot fine for being out during the coronavirus lockdown. The men also had a device which took the payment on-the-spot. Sussex Police will not ask you to hand over money or make a card payment when they issue an on-the-spot fine, and officers will always be able to provide ID.

Doorstep crime

• Criminals are targeting older people on their doorstep and offering to do their shopping. Thieves take the money and do not return. None of the community hub volunteers in the district will knock on your door unless you have asked for help and they will have ID.
• Doorstep cleansing services are offering to clean drives and doorways to kill bacteria and help prevent the spread of the virus.

Online scams

• Email scams try to trick people into opening malicious attachments, which put people at risk of identity theft with personal information, passwords, contacts and bank details at risk. Some of these emails have lured people to click on attachments by offering information about people in the local area who are affected by coronavirus.
• Fake online resources, such as false Coronavirus maps, in fact deliver malware such as AZORult Trojan, an information stealing program which can infiltrate a variety of sensitive data. A prominent example that has deployed malware is ‘corona-virus-map[dot]com’.

Refund scams

• People seeking holiday refunds should be wary of fake websites set up to falsely offer holiday refunds. Instead they collect your personal data.

Counterfeit goods

• Fake sanitisers, face masks and Covid-19 swabbing kits are being sold online and door-to-door. These products can often be dangerous and unsafe. There are reports of some potentially harmful hand sanitiser containing glutaral (or glutaraldehyde), which was banned for human use in 2014. Please note that sanitisers bought from a reputable source are safe to use.

Telephone scams

• As people continue to self-isolate at home there is an increasing risk that telephone scams will also rise, including criminals claiming to be your bank, mortgage lender or utility company. If in doubt, end the call and call them back on a number from a recent bill.

Donation scams

• There have been reports of thieves extorting money from consumers by claiming they are collecting donations for a COVID-19 ‘vaccine’.

To report fraud online, visit the Action Fraud website:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040.

More information about scams can be found here:

https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/article/505/beware_of_covid_19_scams

You can check if something is a scam here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam/

Regular scam updates can be found here:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/sign-up-for-action-fraud-alert.

• Looking after your mental health and wellbeing from #EveryMindMatters. Support and resources are available https://www.facebook.com/618890171532707/posts/2958212994267068/?substory_index=0?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=TAgLFHPwDVKEBh31

 

• Sign up for the Carers Emergency Alert Card today. This FREE scheme helps identify you as a family or friend carer so the person you care for can be supported if you have an accident or are taken ill.

https://www.facebook.com/618890171532707/posts/2958488187572882/?substory_index=0?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=58nTdBI9gKhp11vV

 

• Waste Recycling Sites – We have developed a plan, subject to further government guidance, to safely reopen Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRSs) next week (week commencing 11 May). The date will be confirmed later this week when further guidance on managing the reopening of sites will be released by central government.

https://www.facebook.com/618890171532707/posts/2965404120214622/?substory_index=0?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=YzUODbXgomLTXUI1

 

• Crimestoppers have shared some tips and advice to help keep you safe from scams and fraud. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, contact www.actionfraud.police.uk https://www.facebook.com/105224117606609/posts/172412384221115/?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=KrevT8b5xFrSOxHA

 

• Supporting family and friends – People are playing their part and providing essential support to their friends and family who are in isolation, to find out how to help others safely

https://www.facebook.com/105224117606609/posts/172739420855078/?substory_index=0?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=JW8oaw01fTyhdHz1

 

• How to deal with scam texts and emails: https://www.facebook.com/105224117606609/posts/174415580687462/?substory_index=0?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=u9YryzoXC4bDKDPz

 

• Teens chance become cyber security agents – Virtual cyber school has been launched to give teens the chance to try out as cyber security agents from home  https://www.facebook.com/105224117606609/posts/174438554018498/?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=DwXnwypW5oLTDUoj

 

• Domestic Abuse – Practical Planning Steps to reduce the risk  https://www.facebook.com/105224117606609/posts/174409737354713/?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=HnoJhtV6VDmMHxd6

A number of regular West Sussex County Council meetings will be held virtually over the coming month, so that priority business can still be dealt with.

Following new legislation, council meetings can now be held virtually (by video or phone) until May 2021 and the County Council will be using audio-only technology for these meetings, to ensure they are robust, reliable and secure.

All meetings that take place will be audio-webcast so that the public will be able to listen to the discussions.

The Chairman of the Council has agreed to cancel the meeting of full council scheduled for 22 May, as there is no priority business to be considered and no executive decisions or formal scrutiny take place in that meeting.

Some other meetings will need to be postponed or cancelled, as the focus will be on priority business during this emergency period.

Cabinet is still due to meet monthly to take key decisions and will also receive updates on the Council’s Covid-19 response, enabling democratic oversight with opposition party leaders and scrutiny chairmen able to take part and ask questions.

Plans for meetings in June and July are under review pending any changes to the current situation and government guidance.

A list of the most up-to-date meetings taking place will be available on the County Council’s ‘Calendar of Meetings’ web page – www.westsussex.gov.uk/meetings.

Anyone who wants to listen to any meeting being audio-cast, can do so by visiting westsussex.public-i.tv/core/portal/home. Individuals can also access archived meetings which are available for six months after the broadcast date.

The Parish Council’s Annual Report for 2019/20 is now available. You can read it below:-

North Horsham Parish Council Annual Report 2019/20

For a list of Parish Council Annual Reports please click here.

Latest traffic volume statistics have prompted a fresh plea to West Sussex motorists to only travel if absolutely essential.
Traffic counters in the county showed vastly-reduced levels in the first three weeks after nationwide travel restrictions were announced on 23 March. But last week’s weekday figures (Monday 20 April to Friday 24 April) showed a 21 per cent increase on the previous week. The weekend was also much busier – with a 15 per cent increase for Saturday and 12 per cent for Sunday, compared to the previous weekend.
Roger Elkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, said: “I would appeal to residents to remember the travel restrictions are crucial in the fight against Coronavirus spreading – please adhere to the Government’s message and only travel if absolutely necessary.”
Before “lockdown” was announced, the county’s traffic counters recorded a daily total of about 165,000 vehicles on weekdays. In the first three weeks after 23 March, that figure was frequently about 60,000 vehicles a day. But the figures since last Monday (20 April) show an increase to about 72,000 vehicles a day.
Roger added: “Of course, we don’t have permanent monitors on every road in the county, so the counters can only provide a “sample” figure and suggest a trend for what’s happening on the roads but they do cover a wide geographic spread.”
The nine counters are on A roads in the Broadbridge Heath area (two), Climping, East Grinstead, Findon, Horsham, Shoreham, Southbourne and Worthing.
Roger also appealed to drivers and riders to remember that, while roads had become quieter overall, speed limits had not changed.
“Emptier roads have led to some motorists being tempted to speed, so I would take this opportunity to remind people that, although the roads are quieter, the speed limits are the same.
“Speeding at any time is both illegal and risky – speed limits are there for everyone’s safety: but an avoidable accident during the coronavirus outbreak, when the NHS faces such a challenge, puts all the emergency and care services under unnecessary extra pressure.”
Drivers are also reminded to take even more care to watch for pedestrians who may step into the road to maintain social distancing and to be aware there could be more cyclists on the road, with people choosing to cycle for permitted exercise during the outbreak.