NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

 

Welcome to Neighbourhood Watch.  Becoming a member means you are part of a nationwide initiative to help your community stay how you want it to be - safe, free from crime and somewhere you can enjoy a good quality of life.

 

A Neighbourhood Watch member is an important part of Neighbourhood Watch.  You are the eyes and ears for your street, passing information either to your street co-ordinator or direct to the police.

 

This information is very helpful as it is part of the bigger picture.  With your help we can put the jigsaw of crime together.  Each piece of information you pass either direct to us or via an area co-ordinator could be the missing piece of the puzzle.  That is why we need to know what you know.  You are the best people to understand your area, you are the ones who will know who is usually around, who is away, who is having windows cleaned, work done to their property, whose car is missing, which tradesmen usually come to your street, and so on.  You are the people who will notice things that are out of the ordinary in your road. 

 

Hampshire Constabulary and Neighbourhood Watch have worked in partnership for a long time and we continue to value your input.  In order to work effectively together we would like to offer some advice.  The attached sheets give you examples of the kind of information we need, the telephone numbers to call and what to say when you do call.

 

Please help us to help your community by spending a little time reading and digesting the following information then pass the enclosed copies on to your residents. If everyone is aware of the kind of information we need it will go a long way to ensuring your community stays how you would like it to.

 

Please be assured of our best attention at all times.

 

S Gibson

 

Force Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator

Hampshire Constabulary

0845 0454545 ext 603290

sue.gibson@hampshire.pnn.police.uk

 

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS

 

If you see someone acting suspiciously around a house/building/vehicle please try to ascertain the following information:

 

1)       Male/female - how many            6)      Approximate weight/s

2)      Approximate age/s                    7)      Type of footwear

3)      Hair colouring/s                        8)      Clothing labels

4)      Approximate height/s                9)      Distinctive markings

5)      What they are wearing               10)     Ethnicity     

* Please remember that tackling criminals yourself is not a good idea.  Please do not approach criminals or become involved but maintain observation from a safe distance and note as many details as possible until the police arrive.

 

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE

 

If you see a suspicious vehicle please try to ascertain the following information:

 

1)       Registration number                  4)      Colour of vehicle

2)      Make of vehicle                         5)      Old/new

3)      Model of vehicle                        6)      Any other markings

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

If you overhear a conversation, or if you see something which doesn’t fall into the categories above but relates to crime or disorder, this could be concerning local community tensions between groups of people or individuals then please try to ascertain the following information:

 

1)       What was said/done                   4)      Where it was said/done

2)      When it was said/done               5)      Why it was said/done      

3)      Who said it/did it

 

 

CALLING THE POLICE

 

Calling the police for the first time can be quite daunting.  Here are a few tips to help you to pass on the information smoothly.

 

CALLING 0845 045 45 45 – This number will be answered by the force switchboard as ‘Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police’.  You will then be asked the nature of/reason for your call before being transferred to an advisor who will take details and advise you of what action will be taken. This number can also be used to leave a message for your beat manager.

 

*        Who -          Tell the operator you are a Neighbourhood Watch co-

          ordinator and your name/details

*        Why -          Tell the operator the reason for calling

*        Where -       Tell the operator where you are calling from

*        What -         Tell the operator what happened

*        When -        Tell the operator when it happened

*        Wish -         Tell the operator if you would like your beat manager

 to call you when they are next on duty

 

CALLING 999 –     Dial this number in emergencies only – where a crime

is in progress or life is in danger.

 

*        What-          Tell the operator which service you require: Police,

Ambulance or Fire Brigade

*        Who -          Give the operator your details

*        Where -       Tell the operator where you are

*        What -         Tell the operator what has happened

*        When -        Tell the operator when it happened

 

 

 

CALLING 101 (until February 2008) – This is a non-emergency number used to report vandalism and graffiti, noisy neighbours and loud parties, anti-social behaviour, abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping and broken street lighting.

 

*        Who -          Tell the operator who you are

*        Why -          Tell the operator why you are calling

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

When calling the police on any of the police numbers, one question you will be asked is why you think that the individuals or vehicles are suspicious. You may have difficulty explaining this.  Please try to prepare for this question before making the call.

 

You may also be asked your age/date of birth this is done simply for reference so that if you ring back again etc, we can link you to your previous calls.

 

 It is not compulsory to give this information, but it is a great help to us when identifying who we can give information to.