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Newsletter: Summer 2003
Meeting held 8pm Thurs 3rd April 2003, at the usual venue
There were 19 people present: Joan Burch, Russell and Gill Ashley-Smith, Janet Payne, Harold Lockwood, Henry Schneider, Antonia and Edward Paul, Robert Rose, Dennis Potter, Eleanor Edwards, Andrew and Pam Rawlings, Susan Hacker, Michael Ball, Tricia Whyte, Chrissie Silver, Sam Silver. PC Colin Herron also attended.
Apologies were received from: Gil Payne, Kate Jinadu, Ron Dawe, Antje and Mark Stein, Iain Fowler, Ann Murphy, Rob Kremis, Ken Coles, Kay Smith.
Russell welcomed everyone,
including new people who have not attended before. He reported
that our police officer, PC Colin Herron, has recently taken his Sergeant’s
exam, although he will not know the result until May. This
does not however mean that he will shortly be leaving our area!
The Crime Report
PC Herron emphasised the
importance of reporting all crimes, even minor ones, as police will be
more active in places where more crimes are notified. Minor crimes can
be reported by phone, and arrangements made for an officer to call later.
PC Herron gave statistics for the last 6 months - there were
10 crimes reported in our area (compare Norbury Cres: 37 crimes, and Northborough
Rd: 42!)
| Leafield Close | - assault on a passer-by at 5.40am. Police were called by a neighbour. |
| Gibson’s Hill | - a dumped car set on fire
- criminal damage: gate posts broken - racial incident (not serious) |
| Ryecroft Rd | - outer pane of glass smashed
(between 12 and 6am, in Oct)
- money and computer games stolen (entry through open bathroom window) - ground floor window smashed - front latch opened with credit card in Oct. This was not a proper mortise lock. (Insurance Company requirement - check your locks!) - front door glass smashed in Dec - side window entry in empty house 4pm. Alarm set off. Some things taken. |
Be aware of “burglary artifice”, where people pose as officials to gain entry, eg saying they are from the Water Board and wearing yellow jackets. There have been 19 such incidents in Croydon this year. People often work in pairs, one may ask to use your phone while the other slips upstairs unseen. Good descriptions of such people are helpful to the police.
Survey:
The police now offer to survey your house and garden, to highlight crime
prevention measures you can take. A survey takes about ½-hour.
Requests are welcome - see phone numbers below.
They have leaflets on how
to secure your garden – eg thorn hedges, a light at the back, small stones
on a path (noise!). Most burglaries are from the back.
Croydon Police
During the war on Iraq,
the police have been on 12 hour shifts. This releases one shift to
guard possible target places in London. Others have been on
special terrorist patrols. This is coming to an end now.
In Norbury and S Norwood,
police have been doing truancy patrols – aiming for I day a month with
4 officers. There have been some prosecutions as a result.
The number of police in
the Croydon area has been increasing – 30 extra since last year.
Trials are being made in some areas with Borough wardens. There are 2 types
- Council wardens, who patrol estates with radios,
- and Community Service Officers, similar to traffic wardens, managed by
the Police authority. These have been used in shopping centres.
It is not certain yet whether this area will have such wardens.
PC Herron patrols our area regularly - usually during the evening, on foot. The police share one car between 7 of them.
Questions and Discussion
with PC Herron
Watch
members reported more trouble around the bench in Arnull’s Rd. The
bench has grafitti, and the tree has been vandalised again – even uprooted!
Youths gather early evening with a motor bike, using it in the alley illegally.
PC Herron agreed to include it in his beat.
Complaints
were made about cyclists on pavements. This is especially a problem
with school children on Beulah Hill. PC Herron agreed to investigate,
and speak to St Joseph’s School.
There
has also been a problem with school children causing disruption in Crown
Point shops.
A resident
from Leafield Close reported to the police about a hole made in a window,
and felt that the police response was not satisfactory. PC
Herron agreed to look into it.
PC Herron
was thanked warmly for coming, and left for his duties.
Further Discussion
Reporting to the Council Croydon Council has an easy
to use website, where you can easily report street lights that are not
working, or abandoned vehicles.
Planning
Applications. There was no news about the proposed development
in Gibson’s Hill (to knock down 3 houses and build more). Ron Kremis
was tonight attending a meeting about the Nursing Home Development.
Plans for this had twice been deferred for changes to be made. The plans
to develop Norwood Grove Park have collapsed, and many of the Park Rangers
have been sacked, due to the Council’s financial problems.
The Ranger who was here is now transferred to Queen’s Park, and just comes
here for 2 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Watch
out for Phone Directories. The Watch group has informed
that new phone directories will be delivered soon. Please would
members watch out for any directories left outside when a neighbour is
not at home, and take them in, so that burglars are not alerted to empty
houses.
List of Recommended Trade People Russell has not yet
managed to complete this, but will do it soon. If anyone has other
names to add, please give him details now.
Newsletter Deliveries and Emails Some Ryecroft Rd homes
did not get the last newsletter. Russell will investigate.
IF YOU HAVE EMAIL – please email Russell (see address below), he will add
your email to his list to circulate any urgent crime issues or Neighbourhood
Watch updates.
Annual Garden Party Pete and Chrissie Silver have again
kindly offered to host the Watch Garden Party. This will be
on Sun 29th June from 12 noon. Please come, and bring a plate
of food and something to drink to share, and bring friends and neighbours.
On the previous weekend, 21-22 June, the Silvers' Garden will be open for
Charity. Members may like to support them in this.
Neighbourhood Watch
Events – note these dates in your diary now!
Neighbourhood Watch Garden
Party: Sun 29th June from 12 noon (Bring food to share)
Next Neighbourhood Watch
Meeting Thursday 18th Sept 2003 8pm at the usual venue
Contact Numbers and Emails
These
are all given in the printed newsletter
Police For emergencies - always dial 999
To report matters of concern:
PC Herron’s Mobile: 07909 535 822
Norbury Home-beat Office: 020 8649 1103
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