Ilkeston & Neighbourhood Watch Support Group Meet at Ilkeston Police Station
7.30pm September 8 2016
Present: Gill Riley, Ken Bostock, Mary Hopkinson, Chris Brawn (EBC), Wendy Phillips, Ian Carrington, Dennis Kerry, Barry Hodgkinson, Allan Millhouse, John Hrycyk, Sean Platt, Rebecca Rogers, Tony Cox, Damien Shannon (Sgt).
Chairman's Introduction Welcomed everyone to our September meeting.
Apologies: Roger & Irene Bourne, Paul Grant, Angela Pollard, Tanya Asbury, Kath Hardman, James Dawson, Sue Dunkley, Tom Cullen.
Approval of Minutes of April 7 2016 Approved Allan Millhouse, seconded Tony Cox
Matters Arising: Due to the resignation of Brian Farthing, Patlocks can now be purchased from Gill Riley.
Correspondence: Second letter received from insurance company asking if we need to claim after Community Matters became bankrupt; we don’t.
Police Report: Sgt Damien Shannon has been in Erewash approximately eight weeks, previously based in Derby, first time in a rural. Conducts a daily tasking meeting 8.30am to discuss previous night’s happenings and what needs to be done; there are two operations set up to deal with any problems. Burglary of non-dwellings is an issue. A Safer Homes Van visits offering advice which is free to anyone over 60. Auto Crime- police volunteers have been out in certain areas checking vehicles, have found a number of them unlocked, owners informed and advice given.
Crime, there has been a 2.7% reduction over this year. Anti Social behaviour over the school holidays has been quite negative, Cotmanhay a small problem. Ilkeston Charter fair will have a police response. Local crime has diminished but criminals coming in from surrounding areas dealing drugs, advertising stun guns; these have been caught and sent to prison.
Q: Why is ASB down? A: Due to hot spots being targeted.
Q: Car Crime, any particular areas targeted? A: Rural areas have been targeted i.e. Little Eaton.
Q: A resident on Heanor Road was burgled, car windows smashed, but Coordinator knew nothing about it. Could police let Coordinators know of any crime in their Watch? A: Communication between Police and Coordinators could be beneficial. A big deterrent to home burglaries are Smartwater stickers. Apologies received from Mark Hunt who was going to give a talk on Safer Homes.
Chris Brawn, EBC Anti-Social Behaviour. There are two ASB Coordinators covering Ilkeston and Long Eaton. Teenagers caught, three warning letters issued: the first, parents are informed, if caught a second time, their ASB could result in a criminal record, the third, they are invited into a police station with parents, possibly social landlord and warned of serious consequences and they could face eviction. An Acceptable Behaviour Contract is signed, which is voluntary, to try and stop ASB. "Prisoner Me No Way", is a shock tactic where a convicted prisoner is invited to discuss their ASB with them, to try and stop them from re-offending. There is no big problem with alcohol abuse. Only nine people on Acceptable Behaviour Contracts at present.
Q: Where is the line drawn between ASB and crime? A: Low level crime is ASB.
Q: Disturbances and criminal behaviour in multi occupancy houses. A: If reported, investigated by Richard Jones, Social Landlord informed, but Private Landlords more difficult to deal with. What legal powers are needed? Can contact ombudsman (Chris to provide details). Community Trigger- EBC website, criminal behaviour orders and public space protection orders. Legislation- can be closed down if persistent offender within three months. Re: private landlords, not a lot of control of tenancy. ASB diaries now not used, Richard Jones will visit and talk. Evidence difficult to obtain. Community Protection Orders for acceptable behaviour. Fine issued by Police or Council Officer
Q: Are Councils in contact with each other to report persistent offenders? A: Details are passed on nationally.
Public protection order in place in Erewash to do with drinking alcohol in public since October 2017. EBC have three roving cameras that can monitor ASB. Cameras have to go in a property, sign must be put up to say cameras in use. Fires have been started in Breadsall in early hours of the morning, PCSO to talk at Parish Council meeting.
Chairman's Report: In Ilkeston, to update you, we have 93 Watches fully numbered and recognised Watches, and 2,100 members. The coordinators are all on the Alert system, but very few members, so please either ask your members if they want to be on, or pass on the messages to them.
The Alert system is now being run and funded by the Police & Crime Commissioner, not the Police as before. Therefore, unless you have added the PCC as one of your information providers, you will no longer receive Alerts. Log on and please sort this out, or email me and give me permission to do it for you. This is really important, as Alert acts as out database as well as a messaging system.
The County level of NW, Derbyshire NW Association Trust, has met the PCC and members of his team, including the Digital Officer who will send the messages, and we are working closely together; we will have a meeting every two months from now on.
South Division has had problems since the previous Chairman resigned suddenly due to ill-health. I have therefore taken over planning of the big event on September 24th at the historic Derby Gaol.
We have had 2 crisis meetings as there is also no Secretary for South Div; this has led to finding someone who is used to book-keeping and stock-taking, and someone who is used to office work. They are being vetted by Police so that they can get on with their jobs working alone – at present only those the Police are happy with have access to your records; we observe strictly the rules of data management.
We have also had problems with accounts, as these have not been done in 2015 or 2014. After a great deal of work this has now been resolved, and the audit of finance and stock has been done up to April 2016 with the help of county level NW officers. We can now hand over cleanly to new South Division committee officers.
Vice Chair' Report: There are no new schemes but one waiting to be started.
Threatened Watches- None
Dead Schemes Barlborough Road Watch was closed
Previous Event: West Hallam Well Dressing in July went well and on our stall we all worked as a team with the PCSO. We raised £138. We had discussed whether to continue having stalls, but we will certainly have one at this event next year.
Forthcoming Events: South Division is holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday 24 Sept. These will be at the historic Derby jail in Friargate, which has a police museum and a cell. It is £3 per adult to get in, food, drink and children's activities will be available. There will be an interactive session with a Forensic scientist. The PCC will be attending, as will cadets, Help for Heroes and Age UK. South Division will have a stall. I would welcome your support for this event.
Treasurer's Report: There is £2.416.32 in the bank according to the bank statement at 25 July 2016 plus a cash float of £20.
AOB: Items ordered and paid for on line but never received by member, so report to Action Fraud and Derbyshire Police to get a crime number. Cybercrime on the increase, will take time to deal with cases as they are gathered together, due to large numbers.
Next Meeting Thursday November 17 2016 at Ilkeston Police Station 7.00pm. Please note earlier time, changed due to darker nights.