Eastleigh & Romsey neighbourhood watch association

 

During 2007 we established dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Teams with responsibility for specific neighbourhood areas. Their remit has been to get involved in dealing with local community problems that adversely affect people's quality of life and to work with other agencies to try and seek long term solutions.

Over the last 10 months my staff have got to know their communities and the local issues. They take the opportunity to make themselves available to listen and answer queries and then return with updates. The teams have established regular newsletters on a local basis to update community members of the work done and what they are currently working on. The teams are not large and so they need to prioritise the problems to achieve maximum affect.

Over the last 10 months the teams have had particular success in dealing with:-

·       Entrenched neighbourhood disputes in an area of Chandler's Ford;

·       Gathering evidence sufficient for the closure of a problem licensed premises in the middle of Eastleigh;

·       Work around the new youth club in Fair Oak and the problems that arose with this Neighbourhood Watch were instrumental in this work;

·       Obtaining closure of a crack house and of 5 cannabis production sites within the Hedge End/West End area, thereby reducing the availability of drugs on the streets;

·       Formation of the Hamble Pub Watch scheme which has been instrumental in reducing violent crime within the village.

For 2008 we plan to build on the work that has started this year in order to achieve crime reduction in our communities. There will be a particular emphasis on striving to reduce violent crime in public places as we are aware of the huge impact this has on the quality of life for individuals and on people's feelings of safety. We can only continue to have success in these areas if you the community work with us.

 

TEST VALLEY POLICE REPORT

During the course of this year our teams have received training and are now much more aware of what is expected of them, and the PCSOs are now attached to the beats.  This has taken a good six months to achieve, but now they are with us I am regularly being told of the good work that they are doing in the community.  It may be working with young people during the holidays to divert them from criminal activity, or visiting victims and callers to the police to provide the reassurance that we do care, even if the officers sometimes go so tied up with what is required of them that they often don't have the opportunity to present the more human face of policing.  There have been adjustments in the number of officers on the Neighbourhood Teams; hopefully that has now all settled down and we can direct our activity according to what we have available. 

The next big challenge we face is what is variously called 'community consultation', 'community engagement' or 'citizen focus' amongst other things. What this should mean over the very long term is a total change in the police culture, i.e. something that will not happen overnight, but we will be making a start over the coming year.  Practically this means that the beat surgeries and other sessions where we meet our community will not only be a forum for asking us about problems but also for telling us what the community wants us to focus on.  I see the Neighbourhood Watch as a big part of that.

For years we have been passing information about crimes and what to be on the lookout for, but I don't know that we have ever asked what you want from us, and certainly if we have, I really don't think we have ever said what we have done with that information and how it has affecting local policing. This should be a very interesting year for us all, and if we get anywhere near the aspirations of some of the documents we have been sent for guidance, this will be the first step in a total sea change in how British policing functions.

 

Celebrations are an excuse to have fun, not an excuse for a fire!  Fire safety is the last thing on your mind when you're celebrating but think about it: lots of guests, extra decorations, people smoking - all the everyday fire risks get bigger.  Don't let fire safety stop you enjoying yourself: know the risks and plan ahead.

Check the maximum amps that can be handled by the fuse in the plug.

If bulbs blow, replace them.

Turn decorative lights off at night and when you go out.

Don't let bulbs touch anything that can burn easily, like paper or fabrics.

Treat candles as you would any other flame.

Don't leave them unattended.

Put them out completely at night.

Keep them away from anything that can catch fire, like Christmas trees, decorations, curtains and so on.

Make sure they're in secure holders on heat-resistant surfaces.

Given half a chance, paper decorations will burn.  Use common sense and keep decorations and greeting cards away from heaters, lights, the fireplace and candles.

Don't fool with fireworks: they're explosives not toys.  Only buy fireworks marked with British Safety Standard 7114 and always read the instructions.

Do yourself and your visitors a favour: don't leave fire safety to the morning after!

Let your guests know where to find door and window keys.

Look out for elderly people, children, and anyone with problems getting about.

Make sure exits are kept clear.

If people are smoking, put out extra ashtrays and make sure all cigarettes are put out properly.

"It's hotter than you think:can burn at temperatures of over 700°C."

Remember - it's easy to be careless when you are tired or if you have been drinking.

The presents have been opened and you've discovered there's no battery for the new remote controlled car.   Don't use the one out of the smoke alarm!

Before the presents are wrapped make sure you have enough batteries for all those toys!

If you have smoke alarm with a battery that isn't sealed in, you must change the battery once a year.  So why not do it now and give your alarm a present too?

Test your smoke alarm once a week.

Clean your smoke alarm by vacuuming out the dust every six months.

If you would like a free Home Fire Safety Visit then please call Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's Community Safety Team on 023 8062 6809 

Finally of course Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service wish you all a safe and happy festive season.

 

During recent weeks a couple of old internet scares have been revived and circulated widely, causing needless anxiety to many people.

Parcel Delivery Service: a card through the letterbox says that PDS tried to deliver a parcel, giving a premium rate phone number to arrange re-delivery.  The Premium Phone Rate Regulator has published a bulletin to say that the company concerned was fined £10,000 in 2005 and the phone number has been permanently barred.

'Life is beautiful' virus: this was identified by the leading anti-virus companies as a hoax in 2002.

 

We carry a stock of selected domestic and personal security products which we offer for sale at very competitive prices.

All items are of high quality and are fully guaranteed by our suppliers.  They are supplied complete with batteries and/or fixing screws as appropriate.  All prices include postage and packing.

         (Price includes 4 x AA batteries)

Please send your orders to

Cheques should be made payable to Eastleigh & Romsey Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Chairman: Ken Parker, 01794 322730

VICE CHAIRMAN: Ron Whettingsteel, 023 8045 2342