Bolton Homewatch Conference 2012

Welcome

Homewatch Conference 2012

• Welcome and administration• Supt Phil Davies – Keynote speech• Sgt Rob Knight – Homewatch update• Chris Waters – Crime reduction• Tea Break

Homewatch Conference 2012

• Steve Davies – Neighbourhood Unite• Andy Bolan – Environmental Enforcement • Derek Dempster – Fire Safety at Home• Lee Armstrong – ASB Officer• Questions to panel

Aims of Homewatch

• To reduce local crime (including amongst others - burglary, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour).

• Reduce fear of crime.• Encourage old fashioned community spirit.• Improve communication between residents

and police.

Benefits of Homewatch

• Local crime reduced.• Possible reductions in contents insurance.• Increased flow of intelligence between

residents & Police (Should be a 2 way street).

• Get to know your local PCSO and Community Beat Officer.

Benefits of Homewatch

• Regular meetings (residents should hold at least 1 meeting per year but can share information in a way that suits them).

• Crime reduction advice passed easily to the community.

• Ability to attend local ward level Home Watch meeting, the annual Bolton conference and even a GMP conference.

Importance Of Homewatch

• Burglary is a divisional priority. Homewatch part of this plan.

• Also part of the Superintendent’s Community Engagement Plan.

• Network of volunteers and advocates.

Audit

• Over 100 coordinators removed. To be replaced by new coordinators.

• Hundreds more have had contact details updated and e-mail added.

• In the last 4 months alone there have been 45 schemes established and many more on the way.

Newsletter

• Continued development over 2012 and now positive feedback. Balance between:

• Ward level crime updates, • Neighbourhood Insp feedback on priorities

and good work, • Operational updates.

GMP Homewatch Conference

• 21st July was the 1st GMP Homewatch Conference for 4 years

• Chief Constable present and confirmed support.

• Janet Gould present – North West representative for Homewatch.

• 10 representatives from Bolton in attendance.

Bolton Conference

• Everyone here today shows support for the scheme from police, partners and residents.

• Opportunity to establish stronger links, especially with local officer’s.

• Opportunity to focus new schemes and re-energise older schemes.

• Learn more about essential local issues that will help you and your members.

New Website• Bilal Mohammed has designed website• www.boltonhomewatch.co.uk• Contains all newsletters.• Links to interesting articles and partner agencies.• Link to Ourwatch to sign up for public liability

insurance. • Link to Twitter and Facebook feeds. • Language select facility.

Issues Being Addressed

• Homewatch street signs.• Real time alerts.• Statement of expectations.

Expectations – From Police• Initial set-up meeting. • Regular contact with named local officer in

person, e-mail and phone. • If requested the local officer should make

themselves available to attend some Home Watch residents meetings in person.

• Communication from officer’s about local policing issues and when there are local operations.

Expectations – From Police• A regular newsletter that will provide coordinators

with regular meaningful information to use for residents meetings, ring rounds or ‘garden fence’ conversations.

• Real time e-mail alerts regarding incidents or rogue traders.

• Access to the Bolton Home Watch website. www.Boltonhomewatch.co.uk.

• Local and GM conferences.

Expectations - Public• Coordinators take a role in providing vigilance for neighbours safety

and property and encourage members to do the same. • Coordinators receive information from the police via local officer’s and

e-mail updates. It is expected that they share this information with their members. This can be done via whichever method works for them. These can include:

• Weekly or monthly meetings. • A ring round list where telephone numbers are shared. • E-mailing on the updates and delivering to those without computers. • Informal conversations.

Expectations - Public

• Act as a conduit for schemes to feedback intelligence and or concerns to the police, (the below contact guidance may assist with this).

• Attend annual conferences and update members with information gained.

Contact Guidance

• There are a variety of contact methods from 999 to ringing local officers, e-mail and crime stoppers.

• Clear guidance and practical examples as to which methods to use when.

Feedback

• Feedback form on every table.• Website , newsletter, alerts, communication

style?