Neighbourhood Watch

Non Urgent contact for the Police

If you want to contact the police for non-urgent issues use this number which is manned 24 hours, 7 days a week:

0845 6060222

LOCAL POLICING IN WALKINGTON

My name is Phil Pickering. I am a police officer of 30 years experience, spent mainly in the rural parts of the East Riding. I was born at Scorborough and lived at Lockington until I married Val, a Beverley lass, in 1985. We moved to Leven where we currently live with our two sons aged 19 and 16. My role is that of Neighbourhood Beat Manager for the Beverley Rural Area. The area is made up of all the villages north of the town to Middleton, east across to Leven and west to include North and South Newbald. I will be assisted in my duties by PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) Jo Finon. She will eventually be joined by a second PCSO and as a team, supported by colleagues from the Beverley cluster, we intend delivering a highly visible presence within the villages.

During the coming months we hope to get to know members of your community. Our purpose is to deal with matters that would not normally require an immediate police response. With our partners at the ERYC Anti Social Behaviour Team, we will tackle issues of ASB in the communities. In the near future I will produce a regular "Police Newsletter", highlighting issues throughout the year and keeping you informed of any crime patterns etc. I welcome contact from members of the community. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU HAVE ANY NON-URGENT MATTERS. Email or phone: 0845 60 60 222 (Extension 5811 – use voicemail if no answer)

WALKINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

An evening at a public general meeting is not everyone's choice of an entertaining night out. Consequently every credit to those few that cam along to listen to presentations concerning the effectiveness and purpose of neighbourhood watch schemes. There are nearly 300 such schemes in the East Riding area administered by "HANWAG" a Humberside based organisation and financed by the four constituent local authorities and Humberside Police Force. The benefits are many not least of which is the proven statistic that properties within a properly organised scheme will be 100 times less likely to be burgled than those outside one. Acceptance of this is recognised by insurance companies, which offer a discount on household and content policies for accredited schemes. There are many other financial benefits that become available once a scheme is progressed. An important and crucial part of neighbourhood watch is that active links to the Police provide invaluable two-way information. This is intended to promote crime reduction, improve security of properties and give reassurance as to street safety. The benefits to everyone in the village are substantial and wide-ranging.

What commitment is required from us villagers? To give some measure of support so that a total village scheme is properly effective. This can be more easily achieved by dividing the village into areas. Some of these are self-contained i.e. Broadgates, Red Yats, Manor House estate whilst others can only be a collection of streets. Whatever division is effected, each of these areas needs a co-ordinator to provide a link between myself, as are co-ordinator, and the area householders. Obviously some time and commitment will be needed but support will be given. Bureaucracy will be kept to a minimum.

The Parish Council will wish to have total village coverage as it would be divisive to have some streets specifically covered and others left outside any neighbourhood watch scheme. However this does depend upon the number of volunteers that come forward. The more there is, the easier it is to achieve the overall village scheme. Anyone at all interested can have a word with me on 868704 or simply drop a note through my door at 31, Waudby Close. As for the future watch this space.

George Southern

Mobile Phone Serial Numbers

I can understand that all mobile phones have a personal serial number. Apparently you can access this by keying in the following digits on your phone. *#06# - a fifteen-digit code then appears on your screen. That number is unique to your handset. I suggest that you write it down and keep it somewhere safe. Should your phone get stolen you can contact your service provider and give them the code. They will then be able to block your handset even if the thief changes the Sim card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back but at least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that whoever stole it can't use it or sell it for unlawful use. If everyone did this there would be no point in stealing mobile phones.

	Have a safer Christmas The holiday season is a time when many people are away visiting family and friends or simply getting some winter sun. Unfortunately, it is also a time when burglaries increase. There are things that you can do to make your communities safer over the holiday period when you are away. Tell your neighbours that you will be away, and ask them to look after your house. One useful thing they could do is to make sure any newspapers or mail are pushed properly through your letterbox, and that deliveries are not left on your doorstep. Tell your Neighbourhood Watch scheme that you will be away and ask them to keep an eye out for you. Buy some timers for your lights, radio and TV so it looks like you are at home. You can pick these up cheaply from any DIY store. Cancel the milk and papers while you are away. Hide and lock up any presents or valuables while you are away. Most burglars are looking for easy pickings. Enjoy your time away! If you leave your home empty at Christmas, it means you could be at greater risk of being burgled. At the same time, leaving presents and valuables in your car or presents visible under the Christmas Tree makes your car or your home a shop window for any opportunist thief who comes along. But there are some things that you can do which would help prevent this – and help make the holiday time a safe and happy one. Always remember to lock everything away in the boot of your car. Remember – it might not even be valuable – but how does a potential thief know that? Mark expensive presents, such as electronic equipment, with your postcode by engraving or using a UV pen. Ask your local crime prevention officer for the latest property marking advice for a range of different surfaces (like glass or silver). Consider insuring valuable property, or taking photographs as this will help in identifying anything that is stolen. Remember that thieves will be on the lookout for presents – so don't leave these under the Christmas Tree in view of the window. Hide them somewhere safe until you need them (which makes them more of a surprise too!). If you are at home or you are away, remember to keep back doors locked and use your window locks. Keep an eye out for vulnerable and elderly people over Christmas. Make sure you use your door-chain when you open your door to strangers, and ask for identification – and check it.

	Big Increase in Car Crime Police are warning residents that in recent weeks there has been a big rise in car crime in the Beverley and surrounding villages. Police are appealing to drivers to tighten their security and not leave items of property in their vehicle. If you have a removable car radio take advantage of this feature, before a thief does. Most of the attacks are break-ins, which take place during the hours of darkness at car parks of licensed premises. The police are urging people seeing anyone behaving suspiciously to contact Beverley Police Station on 881111.

	Two Messages From Your Local Bobby….. Crime Prevention One of the biggest crime problems in villages and towns these days are involving cars. Either stealing from the cars or taking the car itself. Please make sure that when you park your car all valuables are removed. Remove the keys from your car and lock the doors and boot and if possible put the car in the garage if you have one (normally cars are more valuable than the junk that most keep in their garages!) Speaking of garages, residents in the village continue to make it easy for thieves leaving garages insecure. Over the past twelve months, more than 13 garages have been entered and £9000 value of property stolen. Lawn mowers, cycles and golf equipment appear to be most popular with the thieves. Please note leaving your garage insecure may invalidate your home insurance policy. Don't forget that vandalism is a crime, so report it. The police cannot take any action unless they know about it.