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Link to  Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Newsletter (October 2018)
we are delighted to bring you some exciting news. At our last AGM and through recent newsletters we introduced you to one of our key partners – the Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN). Over the past 12 months we have progressed our partnership and are delighted to report that from October 2019, SCSN will host Neighbourhood Watch Scotland. That means we are entering a contractual partnership with SCSN who will provide management, administration and governance support to NWS. In return NWS will allow SCSN to have much better links with communities and community groups.
This decision has not taken place overnight. Whilst the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland network has grown by over 80% in the past 3 years and benefited from the application of our key principles of ‘Your Watch, Your Way’ and ‘getting the right information to the right people at the right time’ we know that the next step forward cannot be made in isolation and needs effective partnership working. With this in mind since August 2018 NWS and SCSN have conducted joint development events and established a joint working group. These identified areas of expertise that both organisations bring to the partnership in addition to identifying their shared strategic and operational requirements. In short the organisations need one another and community safety in Scotland will benefit from the partnership.
The organisations have taken legal advice on partnership options with both agreeing the most suitable partnership model to be that of a Contractual Co-operative Partnership. This option should be able to deliver the agreed outcomes of both organisations without the need to establish a more complex structure of governance and without incurring significant establishment or operational costs. This option would also allow the required flexibility for the partnership to further evolve in the years ahead.
The partnership will have other mutual benefits such as a closer working relationship, sharing of work sites and equipment, representation on each other’s Boards and some shared staff resources. For community safety in Scotland the new partnership brings together two significant organisations working to keep our communities safer and will ensure a more co-ordinated support for Community Safety Partnerships and local communities across Scotland.
Importantly both organisations will retain separate identities, their charitable status and there will be no change to the level of service they provide to members and communities.
In addition to this major structural development we have some other changes on the horizon
With so much happening we look forward to our 2019 Annual General Meeting which has been scheduled as follows:
Date: Monday 23rd September 2019
Time: 10.30 registration for an 11.00 start (partner presentations after lunch 1200-1230).
Duration: 11.00 to 14.00.
Venue: The Dumyat Room, Enterprise House, Springkerse, Stirling, FK7 7UF
Police Scotland launched its annual, two-week Summer Drink & Drug Drive Campaign on Monday.
Over the next fortnight, officers will be conducting intelligence-led, high visibility patrols and roadside checks to detect those driving under the influence of drink or drugs. A particular focus will be looking out for early morning motorists driving while still under the influence from the night before.
Head of Road Policing, Chief Superintendent Stewart Carle, said: “For many of us, the holiday season is just about to start so if you’re heading out to socialise and will be drinking alcohol please consider ‘how am I going to get home?' Whether it’s walking, catching the bus or train or arranging to share a taxi, please keep your car keys in your pocket, or better still, leave the car at home.
"I urge all drivers to abstain from alcohol if you are getting behind the wheel and remember that you may still be over the limit the following morning, so it is very important to limit the amount of alcohol you consume and leave plenty of time after your last drink before driving the next day. Everyone's metabolism is unique to them, and their bodies react to alcohol differently, so it is essential that all drivers take seriously, their personal responsibility to ensure they are fit to drive.
“Most drivers understand the lasting damage that can be caused to themselves and others by drink/drug driving. But it is shocking that there remains a persistent minority who selfishly disregard the law and gravely and recklessly risk the safety of other road users. For those who ignore the law, there is a minimum 12 month driving ban when you are caught, a criminal record, a substantial fine and the possibility of a prison sentence and the confiscation of your motor vehicle. Drink and drug driving wrecks lives - #DontRiskIt. Please plan ahead, think about how you are getting home and continue to respect the law, other road users and yourself.“
26.06.19
We want the public to take extra care during this period of hot weather to avoid any accidental grass fires.
During hot and dry weather the risk of grass fires increases, but by being alert to the risk you can help prevent accidental fires.
This fire at Kelloholm was thought to have been started by discarded cigarette.
When in the countryside
• Making sure any barbecue or disposable barbecue is only used in a suitable location and is extinguished properly after use
• Extinguishing cigarettes completely and not throwing cigarette ends on the ground
• Not leaving bottles or glass in woodland – sunlight shining through glass can start fires
22.04.19
There were 88 theft by housebreaking (including attempts) in Annandale & Eskdale between April and December 2018.
Police Scotland offers a free home security survey to anyone who wants to review the security of their home. The survey, carried out by one of our Crime Reduction Officers will give practical and low cost advice on how best to secure your home and could include advice on lighting or CCTV.
To get one of these surveys, call us on 101 and ask to be put through to your local Crime Reduction Officer. We will make an appointment suitable to you to come and carry out the survey.
"By taking basic crime prevention steps, you can help make it harder for thieves. Simple things like always locking and securing your home when leaving it unattended or small changes to lighting or window locks could be all it takes to deter thieves. Working together we can help reduce crime, and ensure that the number of those who experience the trauma of a break-in is kept to a minimum.”
Help us #BeatDoorstepCrime and report any bogus callers or rogue traders to Police or Trading Standards.
Bogus callers try to get into your home or obtain personal details by pretending to be someone they’re not, including council staff, charity collectors, meter readers and police officers. In reality, they are criminals trying to steal money and valuables.
Rogue traders usually cold-call, claiming to be workers offering to sell services, make repairs or carry out work on your house, garden or driveway. In reality they charge inflated prices for shoddy or unnecessary work.
We DO NOT recommend dealing with cold-callers for property maintenance and home repairs.
You can find out more information here -http://www.scotland.police.uk/…/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-ca…
Police Scotland Home security advice...
We're reminding householders not to let the improved weather blind them to the importance of home security...
- As you spend time outdoors in the warm weather, doors and windows are often left wide open, providing a ready invitation to passing opportunist thieves who could sneak in and out in a matter of seconds taking valuable property with them. Keep windows and doors locked.
- Don't keep any keys or valuables within arm’s reach of the front or back door - keep them out of sight.
- For visibility at night, consider sensor-operated lighting which is convenient and an effective deterrent.
- If your shed/garage has windows, consider fitting a curtain, or similar, to obscure the view of the shed contents.
- Mark all the electrical equipment with an ultraviolet marker pen or register at imobilise.comwww.immobilise.com
- If you have an alarm - make sure and use it. Also, consider an intruder alarm for your shed or outbuilding.
- Never leave your shed/garage unlocked. Are the locks secure?
20.05.15
TOP TIPS
• Use significantly different passwords for each service you have
• Change passwords every 90 days for all services
• Ensure your passwords are a minimum of 8 characters, using lower-case letters, uppercase letters, numbers and special characters in a scrambled sequence
• The password chosen must not include any usernames or easy to guess phrases e.g. “password”
• Having difficulty remembering lots of different passwords? Try a password manager
• Use multi-Factor authentication to give further security to your online accounts
www.ecrimescotland.org.uk
reproduced by kind permmission of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre
26.01.15
BICYCLE SECURITY
Police are urging bicycle owners to securely fasten their bikes after forty bike thefts in Dumfries since the start of the year.
Summer has arrived and chances are that you or a friend or family member will be out and about enjoying the various cycle paths and taking in the fabulous scenic routes Dumfries and Galloway offers.This however increases the desirability of bicycles to thieves. Recently there has been a spate of bicycles stolen in Dumfries, almost of which have been as a result of the bike being left unattended and insecure.
Crime Reduction Officer Derek Hughes from Community Safety said: “Some modern bicycles can be fairly expensive and thieves will take any opportunity to exploit that. We are reminding the public there can be a number of common sense measures that can reduce the chances of being a victim of crime.
- Do not leave your bicycle in isolated places.
- Always lock your bicycle when you leave it. Failure to do so will most likely invalidate any insurance cover.
- Where possible, lock your bicycle to something solid like a lamp post or railings.
- If your wheels are easily removed, remove the front wheel and lock it to the frame and back wheel.
- Take a photograph and a description of your bike.
- Do not leave your bike lying about!
“Even in the safest community, we would advise against leaving your bicycle outside your home or in your garden, unless it is a secured with a bicycle lock.
“Pedal cycles can be of high value, and are easily sold on or often dissembled for parts. If you wish to have your bicycle post-coded, please contact your local police station on 101.”
BE ALERT TO MACHINERY THEFTS
Police are urging you to secure your vehicles and other machinery this summer.
While Dumfries and Galloway is enjoying low crime rates officers are doing their best to make sure this continues and the national problem of vehicle crime does not hit this region. It is a rural area so it can be sometimes subject to thefts from farm or rural properties. Furthermore it is not immune from the more urban crimes such as domestic car crime.
From time to time a region can be targeted by teams of thieves from elsewhere in the UK. Such thieves often visit a property in advance, and if challenged give an apparently innocent reason for their presence.
To prevent this police officers in the region are stepping up patrols during the summer months. Police are also warning farmers and other members of the public to pay particular attention to their plant and machinery security. Farm or even residential vehicles can be high value and securing them should be considered to prevent any thefts from farms, building sites and industrial premises.
Identify your property by:
- Keeping a record of the serial number, chassis and model numbers of machines.
- Use metal engravers to mark tools and equipment with your postcode followed by the first two letters of your farm's name.
- Consider physical crime prevention measures for all machinery and vehicles.
- There are a number of products on the market which would deter persons from stealing such vehicles, ie Data tag, Quadloc, Smartwater, etc.
- Always keep tools and small pieces of machinery locked away. Do not leave them lying about.
From a police point of view it is disappointing when officers are called to thefts plant, machinery and other vehicles and quickly learn how easy it has been for the thieves.
Members of the community are urged to take the opportunity to contact us and ask for a visit from their local crime prevention officers for a free security survey. It may just save you hundreds or thousands of pounds and stop you becoming a victim of theft.
Inspector Alan Cook of Dumfries Division Community Policing Unit said: “We are lucky that Dumfries and Galloway has a relatively low crime rate compared to other areas, however the area has at times been a target for travelling criminals who come to the area and commit crime.
“We are advising members of the public not to be complacent and insure that they secure all items of plant, machinery or vehicles that they own or use. These are all very valuable commodities and should be treated as such. Crimes of this nature are on the increase throughout the country and we would urge people to take all appropriate steps to ensure their property is adequately secured.
“Plant, Machinery and Vehicles are a valuable part of modern day life. However they are also a valuable commodity to thieves and it is therefore important that our community take relevant measures to secure their vehicles and machinery properly.”
“There have also been incidents throughout the force area of vehicle number plates being stolen from parked and unattended vehicle’s, the main reason for this type of theft is in order to fit the plates to another vehicle that has either been or is about to be stolen. Members of the public are urged to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious incidents immediately to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary on 101.
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Telephone number for Dumfries & Galloway Police 101
Emergency Calls are still on 999
Crimstoppers 0800 555 111
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Dumfries & Galloway Neighbourhood Watch welcomes your input to the site, if you have any local neighbourhood Watch events or information you wish to share contact us at brian.smith953@btinternet.com
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