Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch was launched in 1988

Hallmark August 1988. Report by Peter Trotter click Peter & Lilian Trotter for more about Peter

What can you do about crime? Join Neighbourhood Watch, but remember it needs a commitment from you.

Neighbourhood Watch is a collective responsibility assisting the police to prevent crime. It is not, as some people think, a private security group, it does not guard or patrol. It is an awareness to prevent the opportunist thief.

Your commitment should include ensuring doors and windows have good security locks fitted and that all ladders, etc., are locked away. Tell you neighbours when you are away, leave them a key. Mark your valuables (your group can hire the equipment) and keep a list of them in a safe place. Consider fitting an alarm system.

Collective responsibility with your neighbours. What if all the houses in your Street took these precautions - and what if everyone kept a lookout for anything suspicious?? That's the idea behind Neighbourhood Watch. With the whole neighbourhood on its guard, how can a burglar sneak in without being spotted? It is for you all to look, listen and report signs of trouble the moment you see them. Don't wait - act. The more people who do something about crime, the less of it there'll be.

Come on, join your local group now and do something about crime.

To be effective you should display your door sticker showing that you are in Neighbourhood Watch and that your property is post coded. As an additional deterrent, Neighbourhood Watch signs will shortly be erected on all the roads into our two villages.

Hallmark October 1988. Report by Marion Stanworth. We are now an independent group and the following officers have been elected:-

Acting Chairman - Mr George Munro; Secretary - Marion Stanworth; Treasurer - Mrs Lilian Trotter. Committee - Mr Mike Harris; Mr Stephen James; Mr Peter Perrira; Mr Elton Latter.

The scheme is working! One of our observant villagers recently contacted the police following a visit from a door-to-doot salesman who proved to have no licence and this resulted in an arrest.

Hallmark March 1995. Report by Sheryl Burroughs – Area Co-ordinator

I would like to introduce you to your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme and explain what has been happening in our area. Every month I am sent details of crimes which have occurred in our area, this information can then help our co-ordinators help you. I'm sure you would appreciate knowing if burglaries or car break-ins were being carried out in a specific area. Probably not many of you will have the occasion to meet with our Area Beat Officer, PC Brian Price. He is based at Princes Risborough but his patch covers Bledlow Ridge, Saunderton, Speen etc, as well as Lacey Green and Loosley Row. He is very approachable and caring. He has very kindly arranged for the Neighbourhood Watch to borrow the Crime Prevention caravan for the. Village Day. Please look out for us.

In January the Community/Police Consultative Group held a very interesting meeting in Princes Risborough. One of the subjects was the role of the Crown Prosecution Service. I found it very helpful to have our legal system explained and then listen to the question time. Superintendent Palmer, who is a marvellous speaker, was present. He obviously cares about the role of the Police and how they can help us. I was very sad to hear how so much more is needed and yet funds are being drastically cut.

Recently I was introduced to The Residents Association and would like to tell you how guilty I felt for not bothering to be more involved in things that are happening in our Village. This group of people are concerned on our behalf about the general wellbeing of our Village and any changes that may affect it. This made me think that maybe this is how everyone thinks of the Neighbourhood Watch, we are not a lot of busy bodies but again people who want to show neighbourly concern. In fact, you gain financially if you join the Neighbourhood Watch as many household insurances give discounts. They appreciate that an active N.W. acts as a deterrent. In various locations in the village, you will see charts which show who your local co-ordinator is. As mentioned before, I pass on to my colleagues any police information and this can then be passed to you. I need to appeal for help in the following areas; Pink Road, Greenlands, Eastlands, Foundry Lane and Main Road (from Stocken Farm towards the school). I would like to bring to your attention the fact that I have received complaints regarding ‘kids’ who are ringing doorbells and running away, and the amount of cans, crisp packets cigarettes being thrown in people's gardens. Do they have to disturb people like this?

Finally, I would like to say a big ‘thank you' to Denis Croucher for all his work in the past for our Neighbourhood Watch. I'm sure he's looking forward to taking a break from the overall responsibility but thankfully he will still be around as co-ordinator for his area. Sadly, we are saying goodbye to George Munro who has been a pillar of our Neighbourhood Watch, very dedicated. Also, many thanks to Mike Lattan, Lillian Trotter and Jean Phillips.

Hallmark August 1997. Report by Sheryl Burroughs, Area Co-ordinator

Things have been very quiet recently, unless you are the owner of the cars that have been stolen or broken into. Car crime seems to be our main problem area, with Pink Road and Loosley Row having more than their fair share. Please, if you can, garage your vehicles.

Unlocked garages are also being targeted. Garden furniture and tools are the items being taken. Please keep your garages locked.

I would like to keep you updated with the Ringmaster messages. Do you know who has access to the notice boards which are on the corner of Westlands Road, near the Village Hall and in Loosley Row? Could you please phone me and tell me.

Recently we were phoned and asked to keep an eye out for a certain vehicle that had been used in a robbery in Princes Risborough, I would like to be able to keep you informed of these events.

PC Price was available for security marking on Village Day, I hope lots of you took your bikes etc. to see him.

As there is nothing else to tell you, I should suppose that no news is good news.

Hallmark August 1998. Report by Sheryl Burroughs. Warnings have been going out regularly about crime in the area, and it might be aswell to remind everyone that it is too easy to leave doors and windows open in warm weather and perhaps sit in the garden or mow the lawn etc., so that a prowler could gain access easily, and very quickly take handbags or other easily accessible items. This applies to cars, portable garden equipment and ornaments.

So-called "builders" are still conning old people out of their savings by telling them they have builing work which needs to be done, demanding a deposit, and then either disappearing or pretending to do work. Police ask that everyone, particurly the elderly, is warned not to let strangers into their homes, not to part with money, and to telephone the police if they have difficulty getting rid of such callers.

Editors note. Since this article was received, we had a plague of car break-ins in the village; these take place when out 'Neighbourhod Watchers' are tucked up in bed, which leads us to the thought that some active recruitment or awareness raising might not com amiss among our younger population, who are more likely to be up and about in the small hours. After all, it could well be their car which gets hit.