The Good Neighbour
JANUARY 1999
AND THAT'S THE LAST TIME WE SAY THAT THIS CENTURY!
Happy New Year
View Muswell Hill Crime-Sheet for December 1998A large consignment of uniforms was recently stolen from a lorry locally. These uniforms can be easily adapted to look like officials from a body such as Water Gas, Electricity. Council etc. Already we are aware that these uniforms have been used for in helping thieves gain entry and stealing. So we make no apology for repeating the old message of BEWARE of BOGUS OFFlClALS. A few reminders of how to combat this Crime.We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and celebrated the arrival ot 1999 without suffering the effects of a hangover. Our New Year Resolution for our local Watches in Muswell Hill is to encourage everyone to continue their good work and take Neighbourhood Watch full speed ahead into the next Millennium! Why, we could even have our own exhibition stand in that Dome (just joking!).
Neighbourhood Watch has, and still is, undergoing some changes both on a national and local basis. We are fully committed to ensuring that Neighbourhood Watch helps play its part together with other agencies, and particularly, Haringey Council, in combating crime and improving our local community. You will be aware that the Metropolitan Police is heading in the direction of Borough based policing and we now know Superintendent Steven James, who has served at both Hornsey and Tottenham Divisions in 1998, has been appointed as Haringey Divisional Commander. We welcome back Mr James and, in doing so, say a fond farewell to Superintendent Ronald Hope who was at Hornsey for just a few months in 1998. Mr Hope will be taking command in lslington.
So what lies ahead in 1999?
Our own "team" of Community Police Officers at Muswell Hill is still in place (you don't get rid of us that easily!). Homsey Division have recently appointed two other Community Police Officers to existing vacancies which indicates the ongoing commitment to working with the local community.
Our pattern of' quarterly meetings for Homsey Division Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators at Royal British Legion, Elder Avenue, Homsey remain.
at 7.30pm
The next meeting is Tuesday 9th February 1998
It is anticipated that Superintendent James will be at this meeting and may be in a position to outline his plans for the future.We will continue to distribute crime figures and
The Good Neighbour to all co-ordinators. We are still exploring certain other avenues of communicationThe strength of support for Neighbourhood Watch in Muswell Hill remains at such a level that we intend to hold our own Muswell Hill Co-ordinators Meeting in the early part of the years (March/April). Similar meetings have proved to be useful in previous years and we will give the exact date next month. We anticipate that we will invite local councillors and a Crime Prevention Officer to this meeting. If you have any suggestions about this proposed meeting please contact us.
TRAINING PACKAGE
We mentioned in the November The Good Neighbour that we now have a Neighbourhood Watch training package. Having had a closer look at the contents of this package which includes 2 videos and a hefty manual, I believe that it is really more suitable for youth groups or people totally alien to the concepts of Neighbourhood Watch. If you wish to borrow the package you are, of course, welcome.And once again.......BEWARE of those BOGUS OFFICIALS
IN DOUBT? KEEP THEM OUT
If you don't know the caller, ask to see their identity cord. Check it carefully, and keep the chain on while you do this. Genuine callers won't mind if you close the door while you do this. Some public utility services (e.g. water electricity, gas) operate a password system. Contact your local branch to find out more.
If you're still not sure, ask the caller to come back later. You
can then check their story by phoning the
organisation or company they claim to represent. Look up the number in your own telephone
directory . Don't rely on the telephone number on their card - it may be the number of a
crook's partner.
Bogus callers sometimes work in pairs.
Beware of one distracting you while the other steals your property. The best practice is
not to let them in. Watch
out for anyone who says they're in a hurry. Don't let them pressure you. If in doubt, call
a neighbour or friend. Watch out for anyone who says they're in a hurry. Don't let
them pressure you. If in doubt, call a neighbour or friend.
If you have any suspicions at all,
don't let them in. If you're still not happy, phone the police - dial 999 and tell them
what's happened. And tell your neighbours.Bill Extra Time ROLPH
PC 446YR
Andrew Scored on Debut SNAPE PC 258YR
Roger Off the Post ROBINSON PC 722YR