NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

The following information has been supplied by Kevin Evans - our local area co-ordinator.

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) is a national organisation listed by the Home Office as the largest voluntary organisation in the country. Its membership covers more than 3.7 million households in England and Wales. There is a national committee, a committee for the Eastern Region, a committee for the County of Cambridgeshire and a committee for East Cambs, or more specifically for East Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Association. At all levels NHW is actively supported by the police force.

In East Cambs there are approximately 120 coordinators representing over 5,000 households.

WEBSITES
If you would like to receive the regular e-mail letters from the local PCSO, you will need to sign up on the e-cops site:
https://www.cambs-police.co.uk/myneighbourhood/ecops/

National NHW site is:
http://www.ourwatch.org.uk

The County NHW site (it includes the coordinators handbook, which is a little out of date) is: http://www.cambsnhw.org.uk/

For your local NHW news, the East Cambs NHW site is: http://eastcambsnhw.googlepages.com/home

The site for obtaining local crime figures is: https://www.police.uk/

Consumer issues, rogue traders etc: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/

To register your valuables, particularly those with a serial number go to: http://www.immobilise.com/

An alternative way of reporting problems like graffiti, fly tipping, broken paving slabs, or street lighting is to use: http://www.fixmystreet.com

PHONE NUMBERS
For emergencies use 999, for all other contact with the police use 101. You can use this number to report crimes suspicious incidents or to ask for a police officer by name or for a PCSO by name. If they are not in at the time of your call you will probably get an answer phone.

Consumer Direct deal with rogue traders, scams, bad selling practices and the like; their number is 0845 4040506.

For the District Council phone 01353 665555

If you wish to reduce the number of cold calls you receive register with the Telephone Preference Service: http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/
I C E – In Case Of Emergency The majority of people carry mobile phones with names and numbers stored in its memory, but if there was an accident or other emergency the people attending would have access to the mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call; Hence the ‘ICE’ (In Case of Emergency) number.  In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number stored as ‘ICE’.  It really could save a life, or put a loved one’s mind at rest. For more than one contact name, simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc 

STREET SIGNS
The vast majority of schemes do have at least one street sign, but if you do not, or you want an additional one, please let me know – they are £12 each; however a replacement for an old or missing sign is £10. Note that coordinators are responsible for ensuring that their signs are in good condition and securely fixed.
The rules for positioning the signs are a little complex. Please seek advice before proceeding.

WINDOW STICKERS
You are less likely to be burgled if you have a NHW sticker in your window.  Order them via: Tony Greaves, 0844 892 6242 or nhwenquiries@towergate.co.uk. Make it clear that you want Neighbourhood Watch stickers and not Home Watch,

INSURANCE
Neighbourhood Watch has third party liability cover. If you would like more information please contact me.

Kevin Evans
Secretary
01353 614892