CHRISTMAS & THE NEW YEAR
My message for Christmas and the New Year has to be one of caution and precaution. These festive times of glad tidings and great joy can quickly turn to misery and frustration if we drop our guard. Although we live in one of the safest counties in England, we are not without our own home grown criminals and we do attract criminal tourists from further afield who probably see us as soft targets. Be aware that thieves will be out looking for their Christmas bonuses; and these come in the form the presents and even the food that you may have bought for you and yours. Your feelings of joy and good will to all men will decline rapidly if they get their bonuses at your expense. And remember they have no consciences.

They will be looking out for parcels on show in a deserted car, gaily wrapped presents visible from the street or backdoors open to an inviting array on the kitchen table. It takes just a matter of seconds to break a car window and remove parcels, or to nip in through an open door and nick a handbag off a table. To be jostled in the crowds out shopping at Christmas is not unusual, but it is the way a pickpocket will conceal the process of relieving you of your wallet or purse, if you do not have them properly secured. On the whole these thieves are opportunists who can be frustrated if you take care and use your common sense to deny them the opportunity they need.

We hear from the meteorologists that we are in for a hard winter and the crop of wild fruit in the hedgerows seems to confirm this. It is several years since we had a lot of snow which means there will be many drivers on the road who have never driven in snowy conditions. They will have to learn through experience what to do and in particular what not to do, and although this will add to the hazards of the road there is little we can do to help.

What we can do is give advice on some precautions for all to take. The first thing to recognise is that cold kills. And if the cold is supplemented by a strong wind, particularly if you are wet, it will kill more quickly. We must also recognise that it is relatively easy to get inextricably stuck in the snow. It is therefore sensible to carry the wherewithal to extract oneself from the snow or to survive the cold. Pack a small shovel into the boot of your car and a roll of one inch mesh chicken wire at least a foot wide and six feet long. Also a sleeping bag or one of those foil blankets together with some hot soup in a thermos. And remember a mobile phone may be your only way to call for help if you are inextricably stuck.

Finally keep warm in your home. Remember electric power may well fail, and without it many gas and oil fired systems won’t work, nor will a lot of modern land line telephones, so prepare yourselves for the worst and lay in an emergency winter stock. When you are nicely tucked up, warm and secure, please make sure that any elderly or vulnerable neighbours, you may have, are equally well protected from the killer cold.

Have a safe, secure and warm winter – a very Happy Christmas and Bright New Year to you all.

Peter Johnson

Christmas Message
As another year draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members of Neighbourhood Watch, and their families, a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful New Year.

We can reflect upon a number of challenges that have impacted on the Constabulary during 2005.

In previous years I have made reference to “Suffolk First” initiative, that aimed to make Suffolk the safest county in the country by April 2006, I am pleased to say that we successfully met this challenge.

Now we need to develop the way we work to embrace the new challenge of “Suffolk First For You”. Part of the reason for change is that the Government is now setting new national service standards for the police, focussing on the need to improve accessibility and quality of service to local people.

Suffolk First For You means:
· Giving people a reliable, responsive local service that is visible and accessible.
· Working with communities and partners to identify local concerns, solve problems and bring offenders to Justice.
· Making sure that each person who has contact with us feels we have listened, responded appropriately and kept them informed of our actions.
· Keeping the public safe and reassured by providing the highest quality policing service.

As you will be aware there is much debate concerning the amalgamation of Police Forces. Together with the Police Authority I am exploring the full range of options available for Suffolk. The work carried out so far has underlined what we already know. Suffolk Constabulary is a high performing, low cost force, with a workforce committed to providing an excellent police service at a local level. Our priority throughout this process is to ensure that the people of Suffolk continue to receive the best possible policing service.

With over 100,000 households in the county covered by schemes, Neighbourhood Watch is a valued partner of the Constabulary. On behalf of the Suffolk Constabulary I would like to express my gratitude for the continued support and contribution as provided by you and your members.

Yours Sincerely

Alastair McWhirter
Chief Constable

Public Liability Insurance (PLI)
The Home Office has confirmed that it will fund the PLI for Neighbourhood Watch for the 2006-07 period. The full details of the PLI are currently being negotiated and once available will be circulated to your respective Community Watch Liaison Officers.

It is anticipated that the level of cover and the process by which cover is obtained will be much the same as for the 2005-06 PLI provided by the Home Office. As all schemes in Suffolk are affiliated to the County Association it will only be necessary for the Suffolk Neighbourhood Watch Association to register for PLI.

Ian Farthing
Force Crime Reduction Officer and Secretary to the SNWA

Data Link – it really does work
The presence of a Data Link Pot recently quite possibly saved the life of a lady in the county. The ambulance service had been called to an address following a report of a lady having had a fall. On their arrival during their treatment of the lady the ambulance crew were about to administer an injection when they noted the Data Link sticker on the fridge door, on checking the Pot they changed the medication of the proposed injection.

Another example of Data Link serving its’ purpose in the county followed the visit of another lady to a local hospital. Having received an injection and returning to her home address the lady had an adverse reaction and before collapsing was able to summons the assistance of an ambulance. On the arrival of the ambulance the crew would have normally administered an injection however on finding the Data Link Pot it allowed them more readily to identify the problem and administer appropriate medication.

For more information about Data Link contact your local Community Watch Liaison Officer

Community Responder Scheme
At the last SNWA meeting a presentation was given by Jonathon Needle of the East Anglian Ambulance Service on the Community Responder Scheme.

A Responder Scheme is made up of groups of volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work, have been trained to attend emergency calls received by the NHS Ambulance Service, providing first aid until an emergency ambulance arrives.

Why do we need Community Responder Schemes?

Research shows that if a series of events took place in a set sequence, a heart attack victim has a greater chance of survival. These events are known as the "Chain of Survival".
· Early Access
· Early Resuscitation
· Early Defibrillation
· Early Advance Life Support

When put into practice by increasing public awareness, training in basic life support and community based Automated External Defibrillators; these events have improved the pre hospital survival rate to between 25% and 30%

East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust believes that by introducing a scheme where Community Responders are trained in providing the first three events in the chain, there would be a significant improvement in the chance of survival.

The Concept of a Community Responder Scheme

A Responder Scheme is made up of groups of volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work, have been trained to attend emergency calls received by the NHS Ambulance Service, providing first aid until an emergency ambulance arrives.

East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust when looking at the locations for Responder Groups, took the following into consideration:
· Towns or villages where it is challenging for an emergency ambulance to arrive at scene within 8 minutes - this is usually in the more rural areas of the County.
· The total number of calls received within these locations must be significant enough for training to take place, ensuring motivation of the group members and their contribution would have a valued, significant effect on patients.

The East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust will liaise with the responder group using their local knowledge to decide on what area can be responded to in less than 8 minutes.

For further details or to register your interest please call

01603 481220 or
e-mail jonathan.needle@eaamb.nhs.uk

JACKSON GET NEIGHBOURLY
Technology in the workplace moves at such a rapid pace that almost as soon as a system is purchased, the next one is already planned! Jackson Civil Engineering had the perfect neighbourly solution to finding a good use for their redundant laptop computers when it was time for their replacement. They donated their ‘retired’, but still operational, laptop computers to Ipswich Neighbourhood Watch, who will distribute them to co-ordinators in the Ipswich area.

Anthea Pipe, Community Watch Liaison Officer for Ipswich explained “Some of our co-ordinators create their own newsletters, which include some of the information that we have supplied, to circulate to their members - but without access to a computer it is difficult for them to do this”.

“The original idea for Jackson Civil Engineering donating the computers to Neighbourhood Watch, came from a suggestion by PC Haddock who was visiting Jackson House and noticed a big pile of old laptops stacked in our computer room,” said Neill Pawsey, IT Manager for Jackson Civil Engineering.

There are about 190 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the Ipswich Borough and some do not have access to a computer. Jackson Civil Engineering’s donation of the laptops will enable the loan a computer to those groups that need them, which will help them to be better informed and able to run their scheme more effectively. It will also help the cost effectiveness and efficiency of Suffolk Police. Training is being planned with community education for co-ordinators who may require it.

“We have always tried to ensure our old computer equipment finds a useful second life. This latest initiative with Neighbourhood Watch, achieves both the environmental benefit of prolonging the life of our PC’s, as well as hopefully assisting in providing safer local communities. They’re both very positive conclusions and we are therefore extremely pleased to be involved,” adds Neill Pawsey.

Neighbourhood around the county
Harebell Way – Carlton Colville

When Trevor and Emma Lynn moved to Harebell Way, Carlton Colville 14 crimes had been committed during the previous year. Trevor and Emma decided to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme that covers 60 houses.

Trevor and his neighbours have set about transforming their local community and have secured funding for a range of projects including the clearing of rubbish, erecting new fences and the development of a community garden. The emphasis has been on getting people involved including the young people in the area some of who were involved in developing the community garden.

The scheme recently entered the Anglia in Bloom competition and received a coveted Silver award for their efforts in transforming their community. In the space of a year crime has reduced dramatically. The judges commented ‘In less than a year and from small beginnings, this troubled neighbourhood has been transformed into a vibrant, colourful, pleasant and above all, safe place to live’.

For more information on the scheme visit their website www.harebellneighbourhoodwatch.co.uk


Working in Partnership

In one part of the county following several reports the police with the assistance of local Neighbourhood Watch were able to build up an accurate picture of the illegal activities of a disqualified driver. As a result the driver has been convicted of driving whilst disqualified and other offences.


Good Neighbour of the Year

Congratulations to Julia Schubert a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator in Ipswich who has been presented with ‘Good Neighbour of the Year – Community’ by AXA.
Julia was nominated for the award by a local resident whom she had helped look after following an illness.
Julia has also helped local children by securing them the use of a designated piece of land to meet and call their own. Her latest project has been to set up a coffee morning for the elderly.

Consumer Direct
A new telephone advice line for consumers in the East of England was launched on the 8th June.
The free service - which brings together existing consumer advice bodies - aims to give consumers the knowledge to solve their own problems.
Consumer Direct East, which is based at Hertfordshire County Council, is a partnership between Trading Standards, Citizens Advice and other Consumer Support agencies.
Callers will be connected to advisers who can offer help on a range of issues from a garage repair bill that seems too expensive to a faulty shoe.
The service will be available six days a week on 08454 04 05 06 or on-line at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/index.shtml

Your Business Crime – Keep Crime Out of It
A new publication has been launched titled ‘Your Business – Keep Crime Out of It’.

The publication provides simple crime reduction advice and is aimed at those working in small and medium sized businesses.

It covers:
· How to undertake a physical survey of a business
· The key things to consider in relation to staff and customers
· The types of processes that can be put in place in order to reduce the risk of crime
· A comprehensive list of further contacts and checklists.

The book can be downloaded from the Home Office Crime Reduction website www.crimereduction.gov.uk/yourbusiness

NNWA Newsletter
The November edition of the NNWA Newsletter can be accessed by clicking
NNWA

If you have details about any crimes, then please contact your local Police Station, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.