'I want to speak to a policeman' (From Witney Gazette)

'I want to speak to a policeman'

9:00am Wednesday 18th October 2006 in Witney By Phil Vinter

STEPHEN Davies was disgusted last week he had still not heard from a police officer ten days after he had reported his £13,000 caravan stolen.

The caravan was taken from a barn in a farmer's field next to Mr Davies' house, in Stonesfield, overnight between Wednesday, October 4, and Thursday, October 5.

Carpets belonging to two other neighbours, with an estimated value of around £4,000, were also taken.

Mr Davies reported the incident over the phone to a civilian at the police as soon as he realised the caravan had been taken.

He was given a job number, and told a local beat officer would possibly be round to see him later that day.

After hearing nothing, he contacted the police. He again spoke to a civilian in the evening, and reported that he had recovered padlocks to the barn.

He said he had carefully picked them up by the jagged edges to avoid the risk of possible contamination in case they might have fingerprints.

On Friday, he contacted the police again, and explained how unhappy he was that he had not seen an officer. When he rang on Monday, the civilian officer he spoke to said she would put a note, with the job number, requesting a police officer to visit him.

Mr Davies and farmer Roger Evins, who owns the barn that was broken into, have still to hear to a police officer.

Mr Davies said: "It would give me great comfort to speak to a policeman - that's the generation I grew up in, and I have questions to ask that people on the desk cannot help me with. I don't believe I am a special case. I just think it is wrong that members of the public can lose a considerable amount of property, and not speak to a policeman.

"I have not given up, but the feeling I get is that they say here's a job number, fill in your insurance form, and go away."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "The caravan has been circulated to police in the area as stolen. The theft was not witnessed, but is being investigated.

"We have spoken to the gentleman, and advised him of the investigation and what we are able to do.

"Thames Valley Police works with limited resources, and therefore has to prioritise the use of these. Each incident reported to us is thoroughly assessed to identify the appropriate action to be taken."