ALRESFORD N W WATCH FOUNDER STEPS DOWN

At the ADWNA AGM, on September 26th, see over, Geoff Harris will be stepping down from the Committee. Many readers will know of Geoff’s dedication to Neighbourhood Watch in Alresford, but few will realise his involvement actually goes back 30 years.

He was burgled back in 1983, in Hertfordshire and it prompted him to call a residents meeting. The hall was packed to overflowing with others similarly affected by a spate of burglaries. The “Met” sent an officer out to help him get Neighbourhood Watch going; it was very new in those days, having only seen the light of day a couple of years earlier in Cheshire.

Geoff started with a Watch of 20 Coordinators and he used to attend meetings at New Scotland Yard on such subjects as “Stranger Danger”.

On his retirement to Alresford in 1990 he was amazed that we left our doors unlocked and that there was no Neighbourhood Watch, so together with Alex Hankin, Derek Moore and Dorothy Bulloch it was soon launched here.

A very few years later we received recognition for being the first town in Hampshire to be 100% covered by Neighbourhood Watch.

During the 90’s the Association expanded into the villages and Geoff was key, with Russell Hellier, in finding Coordinators.

He has served continuously on the committee from 1990 to today, much of it as Secretary, doing all of the jobs that are now shared by several members.

We all owe Geoff a debt of thanks for all his hard work, especially in fostering a strong link with the Constabulary, dropping in regularly to the old cop shop, to get a few photo copies and catch up on local news.


We thank IVC for their sponsorship of this Newsletter

CALLER IS GENUINE

Just because they have some info about you. Much data is readily available- the scammer is trying to fill in the spaces.
They continue to invent ever more ingenious ways to part us from our money, so-
DO NOT give out any personal information to anyone before verifying their credentials at the door, on the phone or computer
DO use a proper form of contact/known telephone number to contact the company
DO NOT click on a link in an email if you are unsure of its source
DO NOT respond to any offer that seems ‘too good to be true’
DO NOT send money or pay a fee to claim a prize or lottery winnings
DO NOT phone a number starting with 090 – they are premium rate.

Here is the latest scams update from Trading Standards, which includes a link to report scams-
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards/tradingstandards-scams.htm

OIL THEFTS

Theft of heating oil has been a problem for many years- sometimes being stolen in the summer but not noticed till needed. Delivery lorries may be followed, thieves returning later to steal the oil. Any vehicle may be used to follow the delivery vehicles, as they are just scouting outoil is being delivered.

If a theft is not discovered until later it is difficult to trace; coloured dyesinsufficient evidence to identify a specific property.

Various possible ways to reduce your vulnerability-

Control switches: Turn off when the tank is not in use.

Oil level gauges: Audible or text alarms if there is a sudden drop in oil level. Note: gauges have been found to be inaccurate due to faulty calibration. Dipping the tank would verify the real level.

Locks: Closed-shackle padlocks best, offering little of the shackle exposed. Use locks on tank filler caps and manual fuel dispensing nozzles.

Security lighting can help: Low-energy lighting close to the tank sufficient.

CCTV: Good deterrent, only as an addition to the existing security features.

Re-siting your oil tank: May not be practicable.

Fencing and/or Defensive planting - nature’s way of
helping to reduce crime.


CRIME IN PROGRESS? — RING 999 NOW - NOT TOMORROW


STREET LIGHTING AND N W SIGNS

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme is due to arrive in Alresford in the autumn, improving the town's street lights with the latest energy efficient equipment; see- http://lightsoninhampshire.co.uk/

SHOP WATCH WORKS!

This scheme has been re-launched and is now much better supported, with more businesses logging on each day.

In June a female entered a shop and attempted to steal a bag of clothing. The shop assistant got on the Shop Watch Radio and put out a description which was received by a nearby shop. They went out, saw the woman getting into a vehicle and passed the details to Police. This has now resulted in the culprit being taken to court and fined.

COORDINATOR NEWS

We welcome Donna Parsons as Coordinator for the Lindley/Dickenson Watch, taking over from Hedley Parker. Our thanks go to Hedley and to Patrick Daniell, from Itchen Abbas, for many years of service.
It is sad to report that Chris Webb, previously Drove Coordinator and Committee member, has died.

AGM

If you read this before September 26th, then you are welcome to attend the ADNWA annual meeting, which is being held that day at Alresford Golf Club at 1930. The main speaker will be Simon Hayes, the Police and Crime Commissioner, followed by time for questions.

NEWSLETTER ON THE WEB

The web version of the latest ADNWA Newsletter will be found at www.neighbourhood.watch.alresford.org shortly after the paper copies are distributed.

USEFUL CONTACTS
Mention that you are in an active Neighbourhood Watch area when placing calls
EMERGENCY 999 Crime in progress
Life in danger
Violence being used
NON –EMERGENCY 101

Report minor crime
Abandoned Vehicles
Street Lighting
Anti Social behaviour

0845 045 45 45 Contact Police officer
Leave messages
ALRESFORD POLICE STATION ENQUIRY DESK
Subject to operational demands or, by appointment - telephone 0845 045 45 45
Hampshire Constabulary web site
www.hampshire.police.uk
Alresford & District Neighbourhood Watch web site
www.neighbourhood.watch.alresford.org

Constabulary Column

from
Alresford’s Sergeant Mark Lampner

Between September 16 and 22 we visited Cheriton, Hinton Ampner and Bramdean. This was following a recent series of burglaries and thefts from outbuildings, for which there are some promising lines of enquiry and was to help prevent the area being targeted by thieves again, by offering the opportunity to protect property and make it less appealing.

Uniformed officers from the Police and Winchester Neighbourhood Services Team visited door to door and residents were encouraged to mark and register their valuable property on www.immobilise.com This is a UK wide, free database, where members of the public can register property, so that if it were located by police it would be much easier to link up with a crime and return to the rightful owner.

We hope that you felt this level of crime prevention support was worthwhile. It allowed us to publicise the work we do and act as a deterrent to would be thieves. You live in one of the safest areas of the country where crime levels are low and we want to take action to ensure it stays that way.

SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD TEAM

The only personnel change to report this time is that Inspector John Turton has taken over responsibility for Winchester Rural North and South Sectors from Paul Owen.

COUNTY COORDINATORS MEET AT SPARSHOLT

Feedback was good after the best attended Annual Meeting of the county Neighbourhood Watch Association (recently named HINWA to show continued inclusion of the Isle of Wight).

Andy Marsh, the new Chief Constable, in post since February, spoke of his determination to make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight a place where people will always feel safe to live, work and visit. He said that crime does not flourish in a caring community and that he is intent on helping Neighbourhood Watch expand into difficult areas. In spite of £55m imposed cuts, recorded crime rate fell faster in Hampshire than most other force areas.

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes, elected last November, said his priorities were to preserve front line policing and to put the victim at the heart of the system. Prevention of crime was even more important than catching criminals and preventing re-offending was high on his list.

DISTRICT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH WEBSITE

There is now a website for Neighbourhood Watch in Winchester & East Hampshire. This has been built by a Coordinator from Denmead and holds a lot of useful information.

The latest scams and alerts that are circulated can be found under “News” and it even tells you how to set up a No Cold Calling Zone!

It can be found at – www.wehnw.org.uk