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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 Laura Billett
Member Tom Calder
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 Linda Hood 306441 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

WEST SALTDEAN AND ROTTINGDEAN
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH BEAT 8

NEWSLETTER  --  MARCH 2009

POLICE TELEPHONE NUMBER 0845 6070 999   IN AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE 999

NHW COMMITTEE CONTACT Linda Hood 306441/ alan.hood7@ntlworld.com
POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS   Rottingdean – Chris Kingswood – christopher.kingswood@sussex.pnn.police.uk Tel 0845 60 70 999 extension 19365.  West Saltdean – Ray Harrison – ray.harrison@sussex.pnn.police.uk Tel 0845 60 70 999 ext. 25581.  East Saltdean – Linda Hackett – linda.hackett@sussex.pnn.police.uk Tel 0845 60 70 999 ext. 25627

  Dear Member
It’s that time of year again!!  The date for our Spring meeting and Annual General Meeting has arrived. It is to be held on Monday March 16h 2009 in the lower hall of the Saltdean Community Centre at 1.30 pm (for tea) and at 2.00 pm for the start.  This meeting is open to all members and co-ordinators and you are encouraged to attend to hear of the activities over the last year and to participate in the election of our Officers and Committee for the coming year.  Please try and attend.   It is important that the committee have your support and welcome any suggestions you might have.  Rottingdean and Saltdean have a low crime rate but between us we could make it even lower!

After the short AGM there will be a report from the Police and then a Question and Answer Session.  This is your chance to ask any questions about Neighbourhood Watch and Police work in our area.  We are very fortunate that we now have very active PCSO’s and subject to their duties they will be attending.  We are pleased to tell you that the PCSO for East Saltdean will be joining us.
Sergeant Martin Drabble from the Neighbourhood Specialist Team will also be attending.
We have invited the new Station Manager at Roedean Fire Station, John Loveridge.  We hope he will be able to join us and will give us some input into his role and to answer any questions members might have.

YELLOW PAGES   Many of you had concerns regarding the delivery of the Yellow Pages and the fact that they were just left at the front door.    It is our understanding that they should ring the bell of households and leave the yellow pages in an inconspicuous spot if the householder is out.  We do not believe that this is being done.  We contacted the police who are looking to contact the deliverers and will make the point to them about potential burglaries.  Hopefully by the next delivery of telephone books and yellow pages the situation will have improved.  However, why not be a good neighbour!  If you see something left on your neighbour’s doorstep and know they are not in, take it in and give it to them later when you know they are home.  This simple step could prevent a burglary.    

BURGLARIES   Burglary is one of the crimes that people worry most about.  We have recently had information via the Police from the Home Office who are aware that people need accurate, accessible and reassuring advice.  They have now launched a new website with practical home security advice, including a self-assessment tool to help people grade their home security.  The new web-site is entitled “secure your home” and the link is www.homeoffice.gov.uk/secureyourhome/  36% of burglaries happen through unlocked doors or windows, so they will shortly be launching a burglary prevention campaign to ensure that people are vigilant and taking the simple steps needed to stay safe.  
The main message that the Home Office want to get across is that there are very simple things that the public can do to stay safe and that they are working to make sure that if people need support, they will get it.
 

SMARTWATER   Some members may already be familiar with this.  SmartWater is an invisible liquid containing thousands of microscopic chips.  Its forensic properties are similar to DNA and can irrefutably link property to its owner and criminals to the crime scene.   It is claimed that you are 5 times less likely to become a burglary victim if you use SmartWater to mark your property and display SmartWater labels on your windows and doors.  SmartWater works on all possessions, valuables and assets, including vehicles.
Your committee has been researching the use of SmartWater and will be arranging for a SmartWater representative to give a short presentation hopefully at our next meeting later in the year.  We will inform members as to the programme when finalized.  SmartWater is available for domestic use and will be available to Neighbourhood Watch members at a special price.    However, in the meantime, we will have Permanent U.V.Marker Pens available for purchase at the A.G.M.

SCAMS    We have had reports of several different scams in the area.  They have been by telephone, email and some by letter.  They all had one thing in common and that was asking for personal details.  We must urge you once again NEVER give any personal information.  Your bank or credit card company already have this information and will never ask for information in this way.

CRIME FIGURES JAN/FEB
 Please remember that it is important that all crimes are reported.

BURGLERY  Jan- 3 incidents.  Coombe Vale Saltdean/ Attempted robbery at Co-Op High Street, Rottingdean./ Handbag taken from Village Hall Rottingdean.
Feb- 2incidents.   Hailsham Ave, Saltdean. /The Green, Rottingdean
RACIALLY MOTIVATED INCIDENTS.  Feb- 1 incident.    Saltdean Park – investigations ongoing.
VIOLENT CRIME  Jan- 3 incidents.  Arundel Drive East, Saltdean/Assault in Rottingdean High Street between youth/Argument in area of Park Crescent.
Feb-  1 incident.  West Street, R’dean Verbal assault followed by a physical attack – no injuries sustained.
VEHICLE CRIME  Jan-6 incidents.  Westmeston Ave – theft from vehicle/Chichester Dr. West-car wing mirror damaged/ Chichester Dr. West tyres slashed/Saltdean Park Rd car windows smashed, nothing stolen./Steyning Rd theft of scooter/Elvin Cres theft of windscreen wipers.
Feb- 10 incidents.  Front no. plates stolen /Marine Dr. garage entered and wing mirrors stolen/Marine Dr. vehicle taken/Beacon Hill area CD player taken from vehicle/Wanderdown Rd vehicle ‘keyed’./Lenham Ave, Saltdean theft of blue badge from vehicle/Lenham Av, theft of trims from vehicle £700 damage/Chichester Dr West theft of stereo and Bluetooth /Chichester Dr West theft of plastic panels from front doors/Bevendean Ave  attempted theft of vehicle.
CRIMINAL DAMAGE OTHER  Jan-3 incidents.  St.Nicholas Church, Saltdean windows smashed apprx value £300/The Twitten , north side of St. Aubyns School, Damage to light fixings/smashed window to Jordan’s the florist(this relates to report in violent crime )
Feb-  1 incident.  Saltdean Park Rd criminal damage to door
OTHER CRIME  Jan- 2 incidents .  Wivelsfield Rd fraud committed/Coombe Meadow Saltdean Wedding and engagement rings missing from inside property(no break in).
Feb-  2 incidents.  Lustrells Vale Saltdean fraud committed by false representation/Founthill Rd. Saltdean theft of mobile phone (no break in) - under investigation.
.

Brian Dando
Chairman

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