Neighbourhood Watch newsletter – April 2022
Whilst crime prevention is a key driver for Neighbourhood Watch, NHW is uniquely embedded in our communitie. This newsletter focuses on ways we can improve our community’s health and wellbeing, including articles on:
- free training for Neighbourhood Watch volunteers
- the era of the swindler
- making a community
- engaging young people
- and much more.
Update late March 2022
Following a really useful and interesting Keevil NHW Annual meeting attended by 11 guest residents, please see minutes here: KNHWmeeting17Mar22
REMINDER: Every 2 years we need to update the data we keep on computers in line with the Data Protection Act, so you will soon be getting a letter asking you to check and update as necessary. Please check and return it to your Co-ordinator.
Also it’s worth noting, we are getting reports of heating oil being stolen from storage tanks so please be aware especially if your tank is visible from the road. There are security devices available but first priority is to hide it with a fence panel or two and make access difficult.
OPEN MEETING of Keevil Neighbourhood Watch: Thursday 17th March, 7.30pm in the village hall
Despite the best efforts of Paul Lenaerts and Dave Bouault to retire, they are still co-ordinating the Village Emergency Plan and NHW Scheme respectively because no-one has, so far, applied to take on these roles. Paul says:
“Speaking to Geoff West it seems that the Parish Council would like to maintain the Emergency Plan and the NHW Network and we agree that it would be a waste to let them wither, as maintenance is fairly minimal.
However, we missed our annual meeting last spring due to Covid so are overdue a get-together of NHW Co-ordinators and an update of the Plan and the data we keep.
We’ve put a date in the diary for a meeting and for the first time, agreed that we should invite all Keevil residents to attend.”
The meeting is planned for Thursday 17th March, 7.30pm in the Village Hall, and all villagers are most welcome to attend. This will be a great chance to hear more about these schemes, see how they are run, and maybe consider offering a little help in however small a way you can. Paul promises the meeting will not take longer than an hour 🙂
Full details of the original roles are still available on the PC website here.
COVID-19 – Keevil NHW and Emergency Planning :-
About our Neighbourhood Watch
Keevil Neighbourhood Watch Scheme was set up in 1987. There are currently 13 Sector Co-ordinators who look after and communicate with around 14 households in their specific neighbourhood. The team is led by the village Co-ordinator, Paul Lenaerts, who is the main point of contact with our Community Beat Manager, PC Emily Hall and our Police Community Support Officer Rose Baldock.
The main aim of the NHW scheme is to provide a communication network between the Police and the residents of Keevil. With the majority of our members having the benefit of email, we are able very quickly to pass on information from our local Police. Villagers can also easily communicate any information/concerns they have to the Police, either via the village Co-ordinator or by using the local 101 phone line to get through directly to Wiltshire Police.
Up to date information on who lives where, including contact details and vehicle registration numbers, are kept securely, and to be able to do this the scheme is registered under the Data Protection Act. We are grateful to the Keevil Parish Council who provide support by funding the annual data registration fee.
SmartWater
In 2011 many villagers took advantage of the special NHW discount promoted by Wiltshire Police and National NHW to purchase SmartWater marking liquid, and bought a bottle of SmartWater security marking fluid.
This is a system whereby householders use a fluid containing a unique chemical ‘code’, registered to them, to mark their property. This fluid cannot be easily seen by the naked eye, and is almost impossible to remove, it glows under ultraviolet light making it easy for the Police to detect. The liquid contains a unique marker so that if any marked item is stolen and subsequently recovered by the police, ownership can be traced through the SmartWater Technology database.
There are also ‘Smart Water’ and the blue ‘bobby’ helmet ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ signs at the the entrances to the main village and numerous similar stickers are displayed in householders’ windows.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2020 Some villagers have asked whether they can purchase more liquid, but it has become clear that the stuff is only guaranteed for 5 years, and the registration is time limited as well. This means that your marked valuables aren’t covered by the scheme any more. However, there is still a NHW discount available provided we order 10+ packs. The price is £19.95 + vat and includes some labels and 5 year’s registration. There is sufficient liquid to mark 30 items.
You can find out more detail at https://shop.smartwater.com/product/smarttrace-forensic-liquid-household-items/
If you are interested in purchasing a pack (or 2), please let me know by 30th October 2020. If we get to the magic 10, I will place an order.
Paul Lenaerts, Keevil Village NHW Co-ordinator | 23rd September 2020
There are also close links between the Neighbourhood Watch and the Village Community Emergency Volunteer to maintain an Initial Response Plan that can be implemented in the unlikely event of an emergency occurring locally.
We are very fortunate to live in such a peaceful village with such a great community spirit and neighbourly concern for each other.
Contact and links
If you have any queries please contact the Scheme Co-ordinator
Mr Paul Lenaerts, on 01380 870186 or email paul@lenaerts.co.uk
Further more general information regarding policing in our area is available on the Wiltshire Police website
In addition, the Home Office has launched a website that enables householders to view incidents of anti-social behaviour and crimes by entering their post code.
KEEVIL VILLAGE 