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

We began the Meeting by noting that Sgt. Isaac has arranged with the Mounted Police at Brixton for its officers to patrol our area whenever possible. They have already been seen and we are delighted.

Sergeant Isaac provided us with copies of a map which shows the sites where crimes have been perpetrated in the whole of Upper Norwood since the 1st January. Very little crime has been experienced in our area and he congratulates us on our vigilance. However, he strongly advises that cars be garaged wherever possible, since vehicle crime is a real problem here.

Harassment and attacks on the elderly have occurred in our Watch area. The Sergeant asks us to dial 999 to alert the Police if we see such criminal behaviour against the elderly, children or indeed anyone else.

Councillor Ryan seems unable to understand the wishes of Members to resite the bench at the corner of Gibson's Hill and Arnull's Road. If any concerned resident wishes to take this matter further he is advised to write directly to Croydon Borough Council.
Sergeant Isaac and I have discussed the question of the possible repositioning of the "dangerous bend" sign in Ryecroft Road and he will.raise this with the Council. Its present position does not make sense.

In answer to a question from Mrs. Payne concerning the lack of "Bobbies on the Beat", Mr. Noblett said that Croydon Police has 120 fewer officers and the Metropolitan Police 3000 fewer than in 1996. This is a rather worrying fact but Mr. Lockwood pointed out that "one gets what one pays for" and in reply Stephen Tarling said that each house pays about £150 annually for policing and that, therefore, the Council Tax payers in our Watch contribute, between them, about half a million Pounds. A sobering thought. The Chief Inspector also explained that patrol cars are used as "response vehicles" and so go to sites of crime or emergency in the main. James Moseley graphically bore out that statement.

Cyril King informed the Meeting that one of the "cars for sale" in Crown Lane has a tax disc which expired on 31st March. I have faxed this information to tne Police at Gipsy Hill. On the day after our Meeting there was a very serious accident in Crown Lane at the point where the offending cars are parked.

Our Annua1 Garden Party will take place on Whit Sunday, 11th June, beginning at 1 p.m. We thank Mrs. France once again for offering us the hospitality of hergarden and indoor swimming-pool at 47, Crown Lane for this popular event. There is no charge and we simply ask that everyone bring a plate of food and something to drink. Please park in Ryecroft Road and bring your bathing costume if you wish to swim. We hope that many of you will come to the Party, with your children and enjoy yourselves.

Tricia Whyte drew our attention to the proposed further addition to Gibson's Lodge Nursing Home. This would be very intrusive to the adjacent residents and Councillors Ryan and Payne are helping residents to have planning permission withheld.

We thanked Mrs. Burch for her very kind hospitality.

The Meeting closed at 9 o'clock.

The date of the next Meeting was fixed for Tuesday, 12th September at 8 p.m. at the usual venue
 
 

Hugh Norwood Collins,
Chief Co-ordinator.
Spring, MM.