Saint Joseph's Neighbourhood Watch (Upper Norwood, London, U.K.)

The following members braved both ozone and particulates to attend our meeting at the usual venue on Thursday, 14th. May 1998 at eight o'clock:
Joan Burch, Roland Burch, Kathleen Lampitt, Ron Dawe, Maureen Vener, Kathy Mifsud, Mary Howard, Ann Murphy, Wendy Brown, Mia Peilow, Joyce Page, Stephen Tarling and P.C. Bill Edwards.

Apologies for absence were received from Hugh Norwood Collins (Chief Co-ordinator), Kay Smith, Mark Stein, Anne France, Matthew Phelps, Mark Gilmartin and Ken Howard.

CRIME REPORT:
 P.C. Bill Edwards our permanent home beat officer had kindly rushed directly to our meeting from some extended police work at South Norwood and therefore had not had time to print out a crime report. However he did report that his colleague W.P.C. Sheila Martin had previously checked and he was delighted to report that there was very little crime reported in our Neighbourhood Watch area since the previous meeting. He reported the theft of some expensive garden equipment from a garage or shed in Ryecroft Road in April, and a few other burglaries or thefts from garages and sheds around our area recently. Garages and sheds seem flavour of the season with thieves, and members are advised to fit secondary security locks to their garage doors as it appears all too easy for thieves to break in or even obtain keys (often the key numbers are foolishly stamped onto existing locks).
 
TOPICAL TIPS:
 P.C. Bill Edwards kindly outlined some further specific recommendations and led a discussion of the most cost-effective and least inconvenient deterrents to crime. The rear of a house is usually the most vulnerable to a break-in, criminals feel safer out of sight, so be sure to ensure back and side doors and windows are secure. Never leave a ground floor window open at night. Bars across windows can be effective but please bear in mind that safety (in case of fire for instance) should be your first priority. If you must leave a window open when you pop out make it as small and high as possible and in clear view of the street. A recent attempted break-in at a front door was thwarted by good locks and superior glass panels. The Crime Prevention Handbook recommends double glazed LAMINATED glass as the best, failing that double glazed wired or toughened glass is the next best.  Alarms are believed to be one of the most cost-effective deterrents and sensor lights and alarms on windows should also be considered. The usual precautions when going on holiday were also discussed, and neighbours can play a major role in crime prevention at such times. We should always ring 999 if we see anything suspicious and also if any alarm is ringing (for a house alarm it can be helpful to get the exact address if possible).

Contractors, builders, tradesmen etc.  An entire oak fireplace was recently stolen from a house in our area, while builders were working there and crime statistics indicate that burglaries often occur after casual workers have been at a house.  Many people at the meeting could provide examples of such coincidences and of rip-off merchants, and the meeting was strongly in favour of us trying to get together some register of recommended tradesmen and women.  This is now underway and details are appended to these minutes. [see also our new traders page]
 

NEWS ITEMS:

Summer Party: Sunday 7th. June 1pm at the venue detailed in the printer newsletter (or ask your neighbours or local co-ordinator). Please bring something to eat and drink, and swimsuits if you want a dip. All members of the Saint Joseph's Neighbourhood Watch are most welcome (there is, of course, no charge). Although most of the South Norwood Division of the Metroploitan Police will be attending the usual extra security arrangements will be made. The guests include His Worship the Mayor of Croydon and the Mayoress (Councillor Pat Ryan and Mrs. Ryan). Also we will be pleased to see our Chief Superintendent Terry Collins as well as the Chief Executive of the National Neighbourhood Watch, Mrs. Sue Yoxall MBE and also Mrs. Anne Viney the U.K. National Assistant Director of Victim Support and other luminaries from the Police, Neighbourhood Watch, Victim Support and the Council. A proposal that in view of the Chief Co-ordinator's absence from the May meeting he should provide a drink for all those who had turned up in May was passed unanimously.

Croydon Safety Awards:
    Hugh Norwood Collins was awarded a Croydon Community Safety Award. He was nominated by the Metropolitan Police District's Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer, Nicky Pickett, who highlighted his dedication in the Neighbourhood Watch. In accepting the award Hugh particularly mentioned how fortunate he felt to be able to call on the team of 18 local co-ordinators.  The ceremony at the Fairfield Halls in March included a fulsome speech by Mr. Alun Michael MP, Minister of State, Home Office as well as Chief Superintendent Terry Collins; and a presentation from The Mayor.  The meeting particularly congratulated Hugh for this thoroughly deserved award.
 
This Saint Joseph's Neighborhood Watch web site has already received critical acclaim and may be the largest web site for any single Neighbourhood Watch in the UK. PC Edwards, on behalf of all members and the police, thanked the webmaster for setting up and maintaining our web site. The South Norwood District of the Metropolitan Police have just got their excellent web site underway at http://www.met.police.uk/police/mps/4hq/4zn/4zn-home.htm  This includes the full Crime Prevention Handbook and the site is being featured in the next issue of Crime Prevention News.

Any other business.
Mugging: An 84 year old women was robbed in the street in Crown Lane Gardens at 1.40pm on Monday 11th. May 1998. This is only across the road from our area.  Although police have a brief description to go on they would be grateful for any more details - to the Streatham Robbery Squad  0181 649 2246 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Dangerous Dogs: As a result of a couple of local incidents P.C. Bill Edwards reminded us that cases of dangerous dogs should be reported to the police.  In recurrent or particularly bad cases criminal convictions are pursued under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

THANKS: Our grateful thanks are due to Mr. and Mrs Burch once again for kindly inviting us to hold our meeting in their house and to Norbury Police for photocopying this Newsletter.
 

The meeting closed at approximately 9p.m.

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