Wednesday October 28, 2009

"Not in my Neighbourhood Week" is taking place from 2–6 November. Warwickshire Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Warwickshire County Council's Community Safety Team will be joining local communities across Warwick District in saying "Not in my Neighbourhood" to crime and disorder.
 
The national campaign is aimed at highlighting what Criminal Justice Agencies, voluntary groups, charities and local people are doing to make neighbourhoods safer and also to send clear messages that crime and disorder will not be tolerated in their community.

Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhoods Team will be providing free cycle coding to students at Kenilworth School on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 November.

The team are working with Kenilworth school and young people who use the skate ramp facility at Castle Farm. Young people have reported that they have nowhere secure to leave their possessions at the facility so the team will be putting together a business case with students and staff for external lockers at the skate ramp. 

The vision is to empower young people and make them aware of the process and benefits of multi agency working in reducing crime and the fear of crime. If funding is secured, it is hoped the students will feel a greater sense of ownership and accountability for the lockers having taken part in the funding process.

During the week members of the team will be engaged in some plain clothes patrols in order to detect any shoplifting in the build up to Christmas.

The team will also be campaigning, like many other Safer Neighbourhoods Teams along with the County to invigorate interest in Neighbourhood Watch.

Representatives from Warwickshire’s Neighbourhood Watch and the county council’s Community Safety Team will be manning information stands in the following locations throughout the week. They will be offering advice to shoppers to help them reduce the chance of becoming a victim of burglary and vehicle crime and handing out lots of freebies.
 

• Monday 2 November – 9am-1pm – Royal Priors Centre, Leamington Spa
• Tuesday 3 November – 9am-1pm – Tesco, Warwick
• Friday 6 November – 10am-4pm – Asda, Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa North Safer Neighbourhoods Team will be high visibility policing in key areas concentrating resources on the most recent areas of crime. The team are working with Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) running a project to identify areas where there is limited coverage by NHW. Maps are currently under construction and once completed a leaflet drop and door knocking door exercise will take place to try and see if any local residents wish to join NHW. This will help focus the officers, and show an excellent visible presence of policing within North Leamington.  Undertaken in conjunction with Partners - NHW, District Council, Warwickshire County Council and Warrants Officer.

Leamington South Safer Neighbourhoods Team will be conducting a high visibility policing operation predominantly focusing on drug dealing and activity. This will include officers and PCSOs patrolling areas with a view to stop searching known drug users and dealers. There are numerous hotspot areas that are the focus of many complaints from the community. These areas are generally patrolled during normal working hours however more resources are required to give it justice. Looking to involve our partners at Warwickshire County Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team and also the Environmental Health team to clean up areas suffering from discarded needles.

Whitnash Safer Neighbourhoods Team will be focusing on anti social behaviour (ASB) by carrying out high visibility patrols in key areas. Police officers and PCSOs would take the names of anyone causing ASB. Letters will then be sent and their home addresses visited by the County Council ASB officer and the SNT Sergeant. Any offences will be dealt with.

The team will also be carrying out Speed watch during the week in hotspot areas.

Head of Community Safety at Warwickshire Police, David Whitehouse said: "This week of activities is really important to highlight what we and our partners are doing day in, day out to protect communities in Warwickshire. We always encourage the public to tell us their concerns so that we can address them. Not in my Neighbourhood Week is an ideal opportunity to highlight the important role the public play in combatting crime."

Councillor Richard Hobbs, Warwickshire’s Portfolio Holder for Community Protection added: “Working together with residents and partners helps us to tackle issues like crime, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and alcohol and drugs misuse at local levels.

 “These events provide the perfect opportunity for people to get an insight in to the fantastic work going on to ensure communities are safe. In addition they offer the chance for residents to find out more about getting involved and helping out.”

End

Photo opportunities throughout the week will be available. Members of the media are welcome to go along to any of the events advertised.