Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch in conjunction with Hassocks Neighbourhood Watch present:
Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter |
Spring 2010 Issue No. 27 |
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| Current issue: Summer 2010 | Previous: Spring
2010 | Winter 09 | Summer
09 | Spring
2009 | Winter 08 | Summer 08 Spring 08 | Winter 07 | Summer 07 | Spring 07 | Winter 06 | Summer 06 | Spring 06 |
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CRIME,
CRIME PREVENTION
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The recession of 2009, still with us in 2010, has had an effect on the lives of most people and optimism about the short term future remains low. Those who are ‘wrongdoers’ are not immune from the recession, though they may find that there are some easier opportunities to dispose of ill-gotten gains to people who may seek bargains and with no questions asked. In Mid Sussex there was some slight increase in house burglary in 2009, but the bad weather in January of this year may have acted as deterrent to this type of crime. However, it is of concern that the annual budget of Sussex Police is once again required to find significant savings, this time of £35 million over the next 5 years. Inevitably this will mean that there are reductions in some aspects of the service that is provided, though front line policing is not expected to be affected. Even so it is understood that further recruiting of PCSOs is to be held back for the time being. The support for crime prevention and community safety that Neighbourhood Watch provides is important as a free resource that is at hand for the police, but it has to be noted that there has been a decline in the apparent support and joint working that has come about , despite the conclusions that Police Headquarters continue to maintain about their support for the ‘partnership’ with NHW. It is curious that the Sussex Force Policy Document about Neighbourhood Watch (37/2006) remains on the police website and states at: para 1.2 'Crime Prevention Co-ordinators are employed in each Division to develop and maintain [NHW] schemes in their area and promote crime prevention' - even though it is now two years since these posts were abolished despite strong
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representations from NHW leaders about the effect that this would have upon Neighbourhood Watch and its linkage with the police. In the Sussex Police Authority Neighbourhood Watch Review report of 2006, it was stated that there were 8,490 recorded NHW road schemes in Sussex. A similar figure (8,000) was stated in a report of March 2008 by Sussex Police and the NHW Federation, ‘NHW in Sussex – a New Model for Partnership’. Yet the current number of schemes on the Police central database is given as 4,762. A considerable drop even if the earlier figures were perhaps somewhat optimistic. Given the substantial voluntary assistance that NHW provides it is puzzling and disappointing that this decline has not brought about a positive reaction to reverse the downward trend especially as the police have to make savings at a time when the Home Office are pressing for more to be done. Many of our PCSOs do seek to work closely with their local communities including NHW and this is encouraging. However, it is by no means easy to create new schemes or to find scheme leaders or road coordinators when schemes are lost or apathy prevails. In some communities one can perceive an attitude of disinterest – ‘Crime prevention is someone else’s problem, not mine’. But it is really very simple for you and your neighbours to make a positive difference to your local area by working together. Please read the item on page 2 and if you can help to enlarge your local scheme or assist in strengthening it, contact your PCSO or your local coordinator. Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour The government has recently issued a leaflet explaining how you can help and get help in tackling A-SB problems. This has been quite widely distributed throughout much of England and Wales, mainly directed at areas where A-SB is more prevalent, so it is slightly surprising to have it delivered in Mid Sussex, since we are regarded as a low crime area. Nevertheless, A-SB is seen by our local community as one of the primary concerns, along with speeding and other motoring behaviour, some of which can certainly be regarded as ‘anti-social’. Note the Sussex Safer Roads partnership with the police entitled ‘Operation Crackdown’ which is specifically targeted at those driving in an anti-social manner. A-SB and Crackdown leaflets can be obtained from Mid Sussex District Council or your local police station. |
Mid Sussex Neighbourhood Watch – Members Handbook
Last year Sussex Police requested our consent to using the Handbook as a basis for a general handbook to be included on the main police website. This can be viewed on the Sussex police website - see the Mid Sussex neighbourhood policing neighbourhood watch section. It contains possibly 90% or so of the contents of the original version. The Mid Sussex version can also be viewed on the local Hassocks website, 'news' page. Copies of the Handbook are still available from your local PCSO, your scheme co-ordinator or your local police station as an over-run was printed to allow for new schemes and new households. It is a very worthwhile booklet to read and keep to hand for reference. We were congratulated by the Association of Chief Police Officers for its preparation and publication. |
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This Handbook was published in 2008 and distributed to
some 15,000 householders in Mid Sussex that participated in NHW road
schemes in the district. It contains some 50 pages of information,
advice and guidance on a wide range of matters linked to crime
prevention and community safety. From personal safety to unlawful
use of replica fire arms, etc.
Chain and padlock together the more expensive
items. It is much more difficult for a thief trying to remove a mower
and bike chained together. Even more so if the chain is also padlocked
or secured to the concrete floor, other suitable immovable object or
ground anchor.|
Recent
Changes: Sussex Neighbourhood Watch Search Team – North The AGM of the Search Team was held at the Seaforth
Hall, Warninglid on Friday 26th May with a high attendance of some 45
members representing about 40% of the trained searchers. Concern was
expressed about the lack of call-out searches during the past year even
though training exercises do enable some practical experience to be
obtained. |
Report from East Grinstead NPT We had a busy time over the Christmas period with the large amounts of snow. We worked very hard to ensure Officers got into work and were able to provide the same level of response. We had no major issues over the Christmas break and crime was low. Over the recent months we suffered from some break-ins to local shops in the town. We had intelligence as to who was possibly committing this and a group of males was arrested following a shop break-in in Haywards Heath at the beginning of the month. We have been working in East Grinstead town centre and the villages to tackle anti-social behaviour. The reports we have are low level but we are keen to tackle this nuisance behaviour quickly. We will be continuing our efforts leading into the spring and summer and asking parents to ensure they know where their children are going in the evenings. As part of a district-wide operation we will be sending letters home to the parents or guardians of youths who are spoken to because of underage drinking or anti-social behaviour. This is in an effort to engage with the families who can help us effectively to deter nuisance behaviour. We had another Operation Beatsweep which ran in the Imberhorne and Baldwins area during the week commencing Monday 15th February. We have contacted the local community and asked for their feedback on the crime issues that affect them and we are basing our response on these comments. VOSA and DVLA amongst other departments and authorities will be working with the Neighbourhood Policing Team to deal with problems such as untaxed vehicles and speeding. We have had a few staff changes within the East Grinstead Neighbourhood Policing Team. We have lost PCSO Joanna GRAVES and PCSO Derek WALL. PCSO George LOCK is now working in the Imberhorne and Baldwins areas as well as retaining his current beats of Herontye and Ashurstwood. NPTs have been working to set up a scheme whereby
officers are attending livery yards and offering free tack marking for
leather horse saddles. The unique stamp assists police in tracking
these should they be stolen. Throughout Mid Sussex over 350 saddles
have been marked so far. If any livery owners wish theirs to be marked
please contact either PC Nick Follett
or PCSO George LOCK
If you have any queries or issues affecting your neighbourhood please do not hesitate to contact us via email , via the website: www.sussex.police.uk, by attending East Grinstead front office or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit: www.crimestoppers-uk.org Vicki TOMLINSON
Note that the next 999 Open Day at East Grinstead is being planned for Saturday 11th September |
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Report from Burgess Hill
NPT Report from Haywards Heath NPT
PCSO Stuart Clough said: "All in all the event has been warmly received by local residents and council officials. Especially the effort put in by myself and Anika with regards to the break-ins to vehicles which unfortunately happened on the day before the operation began." The next Operation Beatsweep will be at the end of April in the Ashenground ward. The Bentswood Community Project, Affinity Sutton Housing, The Youth Service, MSDC and the Police have been working hard to set up a kickboxing club on Monday evenings and a new youth club on Tuesday evenings in the Bentswood ward and I am pleased to advise that both are now up and running. There are two age groups for the kickboxing, 11-15 year olds and over 16s; anyone interested should contact Nicki on 07976 009635 or PCSO Sarah Macknamara on 07979 663947. I am still looking for new volunteers for our NHW search team. Please look on the website www.nsst.org.uk or ring PS Mundy on 06781 8010083 for further information. A date for your diaries is 4th September, the 999 day at the Fire Station in Mill Green Road. Sergeant Rachel Mundy |
Operation Beatsweep
took place in the villages of Horsted Keynes and Scaynes Hill from 7th
- 11th December. The whole of the Haywards Heath Neighbourhood Policing
Team worked together to provide high visibility patrols, conduct stop
checks and speed checks and identify problems in the two villages.
Flyers were circulated in the weeks prior to the operation to encourage
residents / businesses to report any concerns. An environmental audit
was completed for all the urban road of Scaynes Hill and Horsted
Keynes, as well as on the link roads between the two villages. Photos
and grid references of all the problem areas, in excess of thirty, were
obtained and were forwarded to the two Parish Councils. The main
problems identified were dirty street signage and broken finger posts.
The photo shows PCSO Anika Arnold highlighting one of the broken finger
posts in Horsted Keynes. Two school patrols for Scaynes Hill and one
for Horsted Keynes were conducted along with a pre school visit in
Horsted Keynes. Thirty-two vehicles were checked for their speed in
Horsted Keynes. The average speed of the vehicles in Station Road was
26 mph and along Lewes Road was 29mph. Three vehicles were stopped due
to speeds of between 35mph and 38mph. Nine vehicles were stopped in
Scaynes Hill for speeding and advice was given. Fifteen hours of foot
patrol were conducted in the two villages. During the foot patrols
officers discovered several vehicles parked on both the road and
driveways with their doors unlocked. This was of particular note, as on
Sunday night prior to the operation, several cars were broken into in
Horsted Keynes, a number of which were unlocked and had items on
display inside. Two vehicles were reported for having no tax. Ten farms
were signed up to the Farm Watch scheme and given appropriate crime
prevention advice. Horsted Keynes Parish Councillors accompanied
officers on their patrols on two of the days and explained their
concerns in the village.The Summer issue of Watch Out will be published during July 2010. Contributions should be sent to Geoffrey Coe by 19th June 2010, please. Telephone 01444 461326 e-mail: gico@waitrose.com
hassocks
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