Increasing involvement in local community matters

At the recent Watch this space! event, it was suggested that Neighbourhood Action Plan (NAPs) and Neighbourhood Watch meetings should take place at the same place and time. After checking that this does not conflict with any guidelines, it has been decided that Neighbourhood Watch meetings will “piggyback” onto NAPs meetings for the rest of this year.

This will alter the dynamics of Neighbourhood Watch schemes, where, presently, local co-ordinators set up meetings for their area as necessary and participate in regular co-ordinators meetings to discuss general issues, plan campaigns, group events etc. The local meeting will now be a regular fixture, with dates set for the year, and structured to encourage increased local participation. It will provide a visible working link with local police. Co-ordinators meetings will still take place, but their focus will change to share experiences and information and to plan NHW events/ initiatives for the area as a whole.

Changing the meeting structure in this way will reduce the number of meetings and also ensure that local problems are identified and discussed by local people, including watch members, and that action is co-ordinated with other agencies for maximum impact. These meetings should produce a tailored plan to deal with local issues, rather than a general approach agreed at co-ordinators meetings. It should also encourage participation in tackling and dealing with local problems, with smaller communities able to identify “who” is doing “what”.

Those watch members whose details are held by the Essex Watch Administrator within each NAPs area will receive an individual letter of invitation, but there are other watch members whose details are not known. To receive regular updates, information and warnings from Essex Police, membership details must be held on a central register. The register/database is maintained by Essex Police and used only by Essex Police to circulate information to scheme members. The database also enables the watch administrator to identify “gaps” in watch schemes and support co-ordinators in campaigning to attract new members.

If you are a “lost” or “lapsed” member of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in either the Maldon or Dengie area, please contact either your local co-ordinator (if you know who it is) or the Essex Watch Administrator, so that you can be included in the mailing list. If you would like to join a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, contact the Essex Watch Administrator. Membership is free, there are no subscriptions to pay and all you need to do is keep your eyes and ears open for anything unusual going on in your area.

Details of forthcoming NAPs meetings appear in the local press, are published in local parish magazines and notices placed on parish notice boards. A full list of dates and venues is available from Maldon Police Station and Maldon Community Safety Partnership website, or you can call the Essex Watch Administrator or NAPs co-ordinator.

NAPs meetings to the end of June 2009

Wickham Bishops Village Hall Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 7.00pm

Maldon Town Hall, Market Hill Thursday 14 May 2009 at 7.00pm

Latchingdon Village Hall Monday 18 May 2009 at 7.00pm

Claydon Room, Plantation Hall, Heybridge Monday 18 May 2009 at 7.00pm

The Star Inn, Steeple Wednesday 20 May 2009 at 7.00pm

Tolleshunt Major Church Rooms Thursday 21 May 2009 at 7.00pm

One Place, High Street, Burnham on Crouch Thursday 28 May 2009 at 7.00pm

Maldon Town Hall, Market Hill Thursday 18 June 2009 at 7.00pm

Essex Watch Administrator
Mrs Chris Walker 01621 852255 ext 62113/0300 333 4444 ext 62113
christine.walker@essex.pnn.police.uk

NAPs Co-ordinator
Mrs Chris Rust 01621 875811
chris.rust@maldon.gov.uk