Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter Spring 2012 on Rochford Life Magazine

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Rochford District Neighbourhood Watch

Having recently met two of the volunteer members of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, it is our intention, therefore, to regularly pass on the Neighbourhood Watch newsletter.

Spring 2012 Newsletter
(Return to Neighbourhood Watch Front Page)

Neighbourhood Watch Office – Rayleigh Police Station 119 High Street Rayleigh SS6 7QB
24 hour direct line – 01268 770519
e-mail NHWRayleigh@essex.pnn.police.uk : web address www.rrnw.comeze.com NEWSLETTER

Issue 42 – Spring 2012

THANK YOU – We wish to record our thanks to the Rosca Trust who have generously agreed to sponsor this copy of our newsletter.

KEEP WATCHING
Covering the area of Rochford District Council
Including: Ashingdon, Barling Magna & Sutton, Canewdon, Rawreth, Great Wakering, Hockley, Foulness, Hullbridge, Pagelsham, Hawkwell, Rayleigh, Rochford & Stambridge

S.E Essex Police and your Neighbourhood Watch team: Mike Hooper, Michael Bubel, Bill Coulson,
John Metcalfe, Debbie Agambar would like to thank you for your continuing support.
Our best wishes go to Richard Bills our ex-chairman who has now officially retired.

Please contact us by using the above number. Our office is staffed from 10.00 am – 12.00 am each weekday. Please leave a clear message on the answer phone at other times and we will get back to you as soon a possible

1. Our local Success

In January, Essex Police Authority supported for a second year the County Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator of the Year award at a ceremony held at Police HQ in Chelmsford.
Barbara & Tony Oliver the nominees for Rochford district won this prestigious award which is well deserved, so congratulations to Barbara & Tony for their tireless efforts in making the Rayleigh area they are co-ordinators for a safer and better environment to live in.

2. Burglary, is your property safe
From April 2011 to year-end police have recorded 85 incidents of burglary and attempted burglary in Rayleigh alone. With this in mind one of our team accompanied a 2-hour police patrol specifically studied through the eyes of a potential burglar. The observations were alarming:

10 side gates left open and many with non at all leaving free access to rear of properties

67 bins left against side doors/ fences helping access over doors or fences.

Open garage doors another clear invitation to view what’s stored and accessible

Window locks & handles not closed properly and high hedges to the front of properties offering a discreet invitation to burglars.

With the above in mind we make no apologies for listing the following reminders again on how to reduce the chances of your home being the next targeted.

Fit good quality front & back door locks

Always lock external doors & windows when you go out & use timers for lights

Lock all uPVC doors correctly by lifting handle and using the key

Fit window locks to easily reached windows

Consider fitting an alarm

Think about installing well positioned motion sensitive security lighting

Keep all keys especially car keys out of sight in the house and away from doors & windows

Always keep jewellery out of sight ideally in a safe. Jewellery boxes are the first place a burglar will look

Keep all ladders & gardening tools locked away in a secure shed or garage. Insecure and you just make the burglar’s task easier.

3. Council’s Have Your Say consultation group
This group is made up of Rochford District residents who volunteer to express their views on Council’s proposals & local services. The information provided helps the Council to make its decisions. All members of the community are invited to get involved to ensure that the views expressed are as representative as possible. If you sign up you will be asked to fill in a questionnaires & participate in focus groups. You will be asked to highlight your particular areas of interest to ensure your views are taken into account when relevant consultations come up.
You can sign up on the Council website http://www.rochford.gov.uk/haveyoursay or give Andrew Lowing, Community Planning Officer a call on 01702 318061

4. Metal Theft
Following increasing levels of metal theft highlighted throughout the media and by the recently formed Metal Task Force could members of Neighbourhood Watch be vigilant in their everyday lives by reporting sightings of any suspicious activity in their communities to Essex Police or Crimestoppers.
The current cost of metal theft to the UK economy has recently been estimated at £770m per year. The financial impact is dwarfed by the impact on Society, the inconvenience & potential impact on public health and safety. Objects targeted range widely from cable, drain-covers, lift panels from housing estates, memorial plaques, to children’s playground slides, fire escape stairs, local electricity substations and even English Heritage buildings including churches.
So if you see any suspicious activity around these locations please call Essex Police or Crimestoppers.
(remember calls are anonymous). Scrap dealers should be licensed. If you are suspicious take the registration number of the vehicle and let the police know.

5. National NHW News
The austere times we are currently in has proved to be challenging. The withdrawal of marketing budgets by the coalition government has seen Home Office withdraw from producing Neighbourhood Watch products such as window stickers & leaflets. A cut in core funding has pushed the already tight resources available to full capacity. Our policing colleagues are also under pressure to restructure their resources to accommodate the funding cuts. However the National NHW is acting quickly to find alternative ways of sustaining grants for window stickers etc. by securing corporate sponsorship.

6. Police & Crime Commissioners

This year will mark a major reform in police accountability & governance with the election in November of 42 Police & Crime Commissioners (PPCs) The rollout of the PPCs nationally with one for every force in England & Wales will abolish the current Police Authorities and we hope provide opportunities for NHW to strengthen their collective voice, advocacy & representation for safer neighbourhoods across the country.

7. SCAMS
Remember the maxims:

‘If it sounds too good to be true it probably is’

‘If you did not invite them do not let them in’

We have over the last few months been advising those who have given us their e-mail address of the latest scams being operated in our area. If you have not done so already please let us have your e-mail address, it’s so easy then to keep you up to date

Many of the latest scams involve your computer so a few bits of advice.

Never give out your password over the phone or in response to a computer generated request.

Post Office sorting offices do not contact you about non-delivery by e-mail.

Microsoft will not ring you to sort out a virus.

If you are in any way uncertain, hang up and seek advice from Trading Standards.

8. Your Views
We welcome suggestions from all members on what you want to see in these newsletters. Please let us know if there is a particular subject you want included.

Useful numbers

Trading Standards - Buy with confidence:

Consumer contact: 08454 04 05 06
Trade contact: 0845 603 76 26

Springboard Group - For small household repairs, trustworthy gardeners etc: 01702 545140
Alcoholics Anonymous - All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence: 0845 769 7555
Crimestoppers - For general information to police given anonymously: 0800 555111

Non-emergency police number: 101

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