ACTON GREEN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH MEETING

24^TH September 2003

This was a public meeting, open to all residents in Acton Green, and chaired by AGRA Chairman Timothy Tyndall. 54 residents attended. The venue was Acton Green Church, Cunnington Street.

Elizabeth Dendy, AGRA NW liaison, spoke of our role in crime prevention. We should be vigilant and communicate, get to know our neighbours and always inform the Police and NW of crimes and suspicious behaviour. ED then identified street AGRA co-ordinators present as they are a major part of this process.

An updated Information Sheet giving telephone numbers to be used for reporting incidents or to obtain advice from the police was handed out, and leaflets on all aspects of crime and its prevention were on display.

The new Beat Officer, P.C. Liz Huggins, addressed the meeting. She has been in the Police Force for 18 years and for 14 of those has been attached to Ealing. She was posted to Acton a year ago. There are only three permanent Beat Officers for the whole of Acton so the job is a big one. She can be contacted by telephone (020 8246 9764) or by e-mail (elizabeth.huggins@met.police.uk ). She has also been trained by the Crime Prevention Officer to carry out home surveys and advise on security. She stressed the need to report anything suspicious and for urgent calls always to dial 999 – the response time is ten minutes.

House alarms: Police only respond to those with central control. Owners must register with the firm that installed the system, giving details of keyholders. Police do not recommend any individual firms.

Debbie Jackson, Neighbourhood Watch officer for Ealing, reported that out of 358 Neighbourhood Watch areas in the Borough, Acton Green was one of the best with a much higher percentage of crime reported. Her job is to advise existing NW organisations, help to set up new ones and work with Business Watch, College Watch and Canal Watch, and set up partnerships with the Police, including the Domestic Violence Unit.

Neighbourhood Watch is about communication and it is a known fact that criminals are less likely to target a house with a NW sticker in the window or in streets bearing the NW sign. Personal alarms are effective and available for sale from Debbie Jackson’s office. When walking in the street alone, appear confident and walk briskly not furtively.

The Chairman then took comments and questions from the floor:

A resident from Antrobus described how a visitor's car parked near the Swan had a window smashed and a laptop and digital camera were stolen; she suggested a CCTV camera should be placed by the pub. Liz Huggins stressed that valuable property should not be left in a parked car, even in the boot. The Council would only install CCTV cameras where the crime figures justified it, and it was up to Residents' Associations to approach the Council and Traffic Division to request that they carry out an observation.

Walk-in thefts were prevalent during the summer due to doors and windows being left open during the hot weather. 40 burglaries had been reported since January. Vehicle crime has been high and bicycle thefts are a problem; Police are out trying to catch the thieves in the act. Many bicycles are not marked so it is difficult to prove that they are stolen. Some cycle shops will engrave them with the owner's post code.

Car thefts are inevitable in our quiet streets, and 100 had been recorded. Extra vigilance is required; the forthcoming CPZ might ameliorate the problem.

Crime is seasonal and criminals are now working towards Christmas. Don't leave presents in the car or under a window in the house.

Always lock the car when you are at a filling station and drive with car doors locked.

In certain areas, notably Southall, theft of passports and other means of identification such as driving licences were targetted.

Neighbourhood Watch could help marking property and will give marker pens to street co-ordinators.

Non Neighbourhood Watch matters:

CPZ in Acton Green was now scheduled for implementation in December, and details would be available shortly.

AGRA has asked for some of S106 money to be used for better street lighting.

AGRA membership subscriptions paid now will be valid until the end of 2004.

The new AGRA web site is at www.actongreen.org.uk.

Minutes dated: 1st October, 2003