SALTDEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

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Saltdean and Rottingdean Neighbourhood Watch - Beat 8

Neighbourhood Watch Beat 8 was formed in 1985. It covers parts of Rottingdean, West Saltdean and East Saltdean. Neighbourhood Watch operates through co-ordinators who are the focal point for a road or group of houses. Not all roads have co-ordinators and we urgently need to expand.

The Beat is organised by an elected committee, the members of which currently are:

" Chairman Brian Dando Tel 303482
" Secretary Linda Hood Tel 306441
" Member Fred Austin
" Member Nick Hart
" Member Richard Turvey

The committee meet regularly and issue a newsletter to its members 4 to 6 times a year. Members also receive newsletters from the police.

Aims. The aims of Neighbourhood Watch are:
" To provide a safer environment for our area for the benefit of everyone.
" To assist street co-ordinators in the area of Beat 8, and to encourage further co-ordinators to work in areas not presently covered.
" To channel information from members to Street Co-ordinators, the committee and then on to the police.
" Issue newsletters to Co-ordinators and through them to every member.
" Hold meetings in March (AGM) and October, at the Saltdean Community Centre, for street co-ordinators and members together with the Police.

Street Co-ordinators. Information on whether there is a local scheme in your area can be obtained from Brian Dando on 303482 who will advise you on how to join an existing scheme, or how to set up a new scheme. New Co-ordinators are always required and the role takes up very little time and effort, so if you are an active retired person, or someone who has a little time to help, please contact Brian.

Reasons for joining a scheme. Local Neighbourhood Watch schemes aim to:

" Reduce opportunities for crime to occur.
" Inform members of any crimes that have taken place in the area and to circulate information from the police on current scams.
" Makes life more difficult for opportunist crimes.
" Enhance communication with the police.
" Build up community contact and spirit.

Neighbourhood Watch has a nominal joining fee of £1, and there are no annual subscriptions. You are not expected to patrol the streets, just to take an interest in your area, and you may qualify for cheaper home insurance if you are part of a registered scheme.

Please help create a safer environment. By working closely with the Police we CAN make a difference.

POLICE TELEPHONE NUMBER 0845 6070 999
IN AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE 999

WEST SALTDEAN AND ROTTINGDEAN
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH BEAT 8

NEWSLETTER -- MARCH 2008

POLICE TELEPHONE NUMBER 0845 6070 999 IN AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE 999

Annual General Meeting of NHW was held on Monday 17th March in the Saltdean Community Centre and 18 co-ordinators/members attended together with police representatives

The Chairman reported on the activities throughout the year and thanked all Co-ordinators for their hard work. New Co-ordinators had been recruited but more still required. 100 new members joined NHW in 2007. Special thanks were given to Geoff Bentham, Crime Prevention Officer, who is to retire and who has been a great support to us over many years.
The new committee were unanimously elected as follows:

Brian Dando -- Chairman (proposed Nick Hart/seconded Richard Turvey)
Linda Hood -- Secretary (Proposed Brian Dando/seconded Laura Billett)
Nick Hart -- Treasurer (Proposed Linda Hood/seconded Barbara Martin)
Tom Calder
Laura Billet
Richard Turvey

Sergeant Martin Drabble, PCSO Ray Harrison were present, and after the AGM members/co-ordinators were able to ask questions and discuss a variety of topics with them. Martin emphasised the need to report ALL crimes to the Police. He was pleased to say that Saltdean had a very low crime rate.

Crime Reports

We still stress the importance of street co-ordinators reporting all incidents to the Committee as well as the Police. Co-ordinators can contact Linda Hood (secretary) either by phone (306441) or Email alan.hood7@ntlworld.com to report any incidents.

Saltdean Crime Figures-Dec 2007 – Feb 2008 received from Police

BURGLARY

Dec – 2 incidents. Edward Ave- Entry via back door. Victim just moved in. Boxes and £100 taken. Chiltington Way- Entry gained thru kitchen window.
Feb - 1 incident Chichester Dr. East- Reporting break into house cheque book missing.

VIOLENT CRIME

Dec – School Lane- Assault. Parking attendant spat at.
Jan - Heathfield Ave- Threat to kill.
Feb - Rodmell Ave - Attack

VEHICLE CRIME

Feb – 4 incidents. Longridge Ave - Vehicle stolen. Linchmere Ave - Vehicle broken into nothing stolen. Arundel Drive - Radio/Cds stolen. Lock removed from sliding doors. Lustrells Vale - Front offside window broken search made nothing stolen.

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

Jan. – 2 incidents. St. Nicholas Church – Window broken. Saltdean Vale FC Clubhouse – Windows broken.
Feb. – 2 incidents. Lenham Ave – Vehicle and address, windows smashed. Coombe Vale – Damage to Football Club.

CHOOSING RELIABLE TRADESMEN

Ask neighbours, families and friends for recommendation.
Do not agree for work to be carried out until obtaining at least three written quotes. Make sure quotes state what work will be carried out, the fully inclusive price and when the work will be started and finished.
Any work carried out by the tradesmen must be of reasonable quality and be completed within a reasonable time limit.
Ask for information about the tradesmen’s insurance cover.
Arrange a pre set time and date for the tradesman to start the work.
Do not pay any money for the work unless you are satisfied it is of acceptable quality. Before you pay the bill ask a neighbour, friend or relative to look at the completed work to confirm it has been carried out with reasonable care and skill.
Do not accept transport from the tradesman to your bank or building society in order to withdraw money to pay for the work.
Do not feel pressurised into having the work carried out immediately.

E-WATCH – (below is a letter from PCSO Ray Harrison introducing e-watch)

I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Ray Harrison and I am the local Police community support officer (PCSO) for Saltdean. I work as part of the Neighbourhood Specialist Policing Team (NST). The main point of this letter is to invite you to join e-watch! The purpose of e-Watch is to keep the Neighbourhood informed of crime and incidents in Saltdean and it is a way for myself and my colleagues to pass and receive information from/to the Community and to build links with local residents/traders. The idea is that we send out updates each month to inform you of what crime or issues are of concern in your area. You will need to have access to an email address to take part. You can opt out at any time - I can assure you your details will not be shared with anyone and you will not be bombarded with SPAM!
If you would like to be included in this new project please send your email address to me at ray.harrison@sussex.pnn.police.uk and I will add you to the list. If you know of anyone else who would be interested in e-watch in this area, please ask them to pass their e-mail address onto me. We are rolling e-watch out gradually across Brighton, so if your friends and family ask about it, tell them to “e watch” this space! You may also be interested to know that there is a Saltdean Local Action Team (LAT) in existence. The LAT, consisting of residents, traders, councillors, police and other key people in the local community, forthcoming meeting dates are 22nd April; 17th June and 2nd September 2008 beginning at 7.30pm and meeting at St. Nicholas Church. The aim of the LAT is that members of the Community work together to combat problems which are commonly faced in the area. These problems can range from community safety issues, to parking matters – in fact, anything that you see as an issue. If you would like to attend, please feel free, all are welcome. If you would like to receive copies of the Minutes for the LAT, just send me your e-mail address.

Brian Dando

Chairman

For more information go to http://www.brighton-hove-nwa.org/