Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter

This heading was the theme for the North Downs Neighbourhood Watch Conference held at Slaugham Manor on 15th May. The Conference brought together NHW Co-ordinators from Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex after a lapse of two years due to the difficulty of securing a suitable conference venue. Slaugham Manor is the Sussex Police Training and Conference Centre and we are grateful to Sussex Police for allowing us to use this excellent venue which is situated in a most attractive rural location.

More that 120 people attended and the agenda provided five presentations giving an interesting breadth of coverage of relevant matters linked to Neighbourhood Watch work within our local communities. Invited guests included Elizabeth Bennett, the High Sheriff for West Sussex; Susan Knight, Sussex Police Authority representative for Mid Sussex; Patric Welch, SPA Deputy Chief Executive; Chief Inspector Edward De-La-Rue, Mid Sussex Police District Commander and Mark Rendall, Sussex Police Neighbourhood Watch Manager.

The Conference was opened by John Wright, Chairman of Crawley Neighbourhood Watch who read a welcome letter from Chief Constable Martin Richards: "The conference is a great way to share best practice and get better cohesion from all the partners involved". John Wright also summarised the origins of NHW, how it has developed within Sussex and how NHW members can often provide the missing piece of information to complete a jigsaw and help police solve a crime.

The first presentation, entitled 'Peace, Justice and Confidence' was given by Chief Superintendent Martin Walker, North Downs Divisional Commander who told of falling crime rates in our area, coupled with enhanced detection results that has seen many criminals caught as a result of initiatives focusing on the small proportion of persistent anti-social people in the community. He stated that every month sees 500 criminals caught in the North Downs Police Division.

The police budgets for Sussex for the next few years have been quite sharply cut by some £30 million, and this would present challenges in continuing to achieve the reduction in crime in our area. He highlighted the importance that was attached to working with 'partners' in the community, stressing the partnership role of NHW in helping crime to be prevented and solved.

The second presentation was given by Henry Smith, who only a few days previously had been elected as the new Member of Parliament for Crawley.

He warned that there are still big areas to tackle in the area of community safety partnerships. Up to 47% of victims believe that the crime they suffered were drink related, with 53% of recorded crimes being linked to excess alcohol. Up to a quarter of women may experience domestic violence - that's 81,000 in West Sussex.

Speakers and Organisers for the Conference, from left: Chief Superintendent Martin Walker; John Wright, Chairman, Crawley NHW; Henry Smith, MP; Geoffrey Coe, Mid Sussex NHW; Mark Bishop, District Crown Prosecutor; Derek Pratt, Crawley NHW; Mark Rendall, Police NHW Manager; Brian Aldred, Crawley NHW.

The first test is the likelihood of all the evidence and facts actually gaining a conviction in the courts; the second test is whether the case is in the public interest to go through the courts.

The conference closed with a Question Time session bringing together all the speakers who were joined by Mark Rendall, Force Neighbourhood Watch Manager from Sussex Police HQ. A wide range of subjects were raised and discussed.

During the conference there was a useful refreshment break giving an opportunity for networking so as to meet other conference attendees and to visit the many stalls. These included Security Alarm sales, Sussex Police Authority, Sussex Safer Road Partnership, and the North Sussex Search Team. Many security alarms were sold and greater understanding of the role of the Sussex Police Authority was achieved. The activities undertaken by the Sussex Safer Road Partnership were very well received and the North Sussex Search Team received many enquiries for their brochures and hopefully a higher profile for their very enthusiastic volunteer group.

Feedback from the conference delegates included comments such as "the best ever", "good mix of people and questions", and "look forward to the next one".

Local Service Level Agreement (LSLA)

For quite a long time the Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Federation has sought to secure a Force-wide Service Level Agreement with Sussex Police, but despite continued pressure to have such an agreement prepared and put into effect this has not yet been achieved.

However, it is very welcome news that a Local Service Level Agreement for the Mid Sussex Police District has now been prepared and agreed between Mid Sussex NHW and our Mid Sussex District Commander, Chief Inspector Edward De-La-Rue, together with his senior officers, and put into immediate operational effect. Our Area and Main coordinators who are the leaders of the many NHW schemes in the district have been provided with copies of the agreement which sets out details of the practical working and support of both the police and NHW schemes at various levels. This will be of considerable help in clarifying what is to be expected of both parties, thereby assisting the development of the Police / NHW Partnership which is an important factor in Neighbourhood Policing and its linkage with the general community.

A further report on the LSLA will be given in the next issue of Watch Out, and a review of working arrangements will be made later in the year. In the meantime the possibility of the LSLA being shown in full on the Sussex Police website and our local Hassocks website (www.hassocksnhw.org.uk) is being considered.
We are grateful to our Chief Inspector for his interest and considerable help in preparing the agreement.

Home Fire Safety - message from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service offers home fire safety checks to the most vulnerable individuals and groups within our communities. Intelligence-led information, and working closely with our partners, allows us to identify the individuals and groups that are most at risk.

You may be eligible if you meet our criteria.

What are the Criteria?

1. Someone aged 65 or over
2. Lone adult/lone parent
3. Someone with a permanent disability
4. Someone with permanent mobility difficulties
5. Someone who is on Careline/Lifeline
6. Someone who cannot hear a standard smoke alarm AND lives alone

To request a home fire safety check please call 0800 3286487.
For further fire safety information see: www.westsussex.gov.uk

North Sussex Neigbourhood
Watch Search Team
The Search Team formed some four years ago continues to prepare for search operations though of late these have been few in number. It is important to undertake training and practical exercises to ensure that members are well prepared for the emergencies that can require call-out at very short notice. Recently Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Robin Merrett joined a meeting of the teams organising committee to learn of its current activities and the need to retain and recruit members in order to have adequate strength in numbers and ability to provide the assistance that is greatly valued as an adjunct to police search operations. If you may be interested in becoming a member of the Search Team please see details on the website: www.northsussexsearchteam.org.uk

Notes from Crime Prevention Officer

There has been a significant upturn of thefts of mowers and strimmers from outbuildings, garages and sheds this spring, and it still continues.

Thefts of diesel from commercial vehicles and properties, and heating oil from both commercial and private properties is still occurring from time to time.

Metal thefts, usually copper boilers and pipes, lead, cabling of various descriptions, and any scrap-metal, seems to be fair game.

Saddles and tack are yet another target for thieves in the rural areas. Sussex Police offer a tack-marking service for saddles.

It is important to realise that any physical security measure employed by a property owner could be overcome, if a thief has time, and the means to do it without being disturbed or identified as being there. In rural locations there are many properties which are isolated from view and out of hearing, away from nearby habitation.

It is therefore worthwhile to consider the use of burglar alarms, or remote farm and driveway alarms, to give the owners some idea that there are intruders on their property. When the weather has warmed up, as has happened in late June, just a quick reminder that house-holders should shut and lock doors and windows when leaving property unoccupied, but should also bear in mind, even when they are out in their gardens, that an opportunist thief could try an insecure door or enter through an open window, if the occupants are out of sight and hearing.

Make sure side and backgates are locked with a padlock, as it is frequently the easy way for thieves to reach the back of the house, where they can work unobserved or heard.

News from East Grinstead Neighbourhood Police Team

With the warmer weather, we have been working in areas where we have historically received reports of anti-social behaviour. These reports have always been of minor incidents, which nevertheless cause harassment to local residents. East Grinstead Police have been working with the Anti-Social Behaviour worker from Mid Sussex District Council and other partner agencies to clamp down on nuisance youths and underage drinking, by requesting parents to come and collect their children or by taking them home. This has had a positive effect and we are already seeing a reduction in the behaviour.

We are giving advice to all vehicle owners, during the summer months in particular, to ensure their vehicles are left secure and that no valuable possessions are left inside. Some thieves will look for vehicles with Sat-Nav sucker marks on the window as a sign that the instrument may be left inside so it is always worth removing these marks completely.

We have been sending out messages about bogus callers. On occasions people attend home addresses pretending to be from a company such as the water board, gas company and even the police and try to get into the home in order to steal. Always check the identification of people coming to your home and if you are in any doubt do not let them in. A genuine caller will not mind if you telephone the company they claim to be working for to check their identity.

East Grinstead Police have been working with the youth group at the Wallis Centre during the school holidays on the Motiv8 project. This scheme has been successfully running for many years and engages young people in a variety of activities to keep them busy and interested during the holidays.

The East Grinstead 999 open day is looking to be a fun filled day on Saturday 11th September between 10.00am and 3.00pm. The event is being held in East Court and all three emergency services plus other agencies will be on hand to give exciting demonstrations, offer advice and answer any questions. Last year was a great success and was enjoyed by many people so please come along with your family and friends.

Sergeant Victoria Tomlinson

Report from Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Police Team

Our team has just had three good days at the South of England Show, followed by three evenings at the Wakehurst Music Festival. Both were very well organised with the majority of the public being well natured, so there were few problems for us to deal with.

We are doing Operation Beatsweep in Ashenground ward the week commencing 26th July. Leaflets have now been delivered to every household within the ward to advise residents and to encourage reports of any concerns. All manner of problems will be tackled by various different agencies during this week of action, including speeding, parking, anti-social behaviour, environmental concerns and anything else that may be brought to our attention.

Farmwatch is going very well with 164 farms signed up in the Haywards Heath area in the last 18 months. If any farms, estates, etc. are interested in joining Farmwatch and getting regular crime alerts and / or stables wish for their saddles to