| Copthorne Local Action Team and Neighbourhood Watch 2006 |
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| Written by Peter Chatfield and Eddie Lord | |
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Eddie writes... As all our thoughts turn towards Christmas, with all the joys to come over the next month, please spare a thought for our friend the burglar. Like everyone else, they want a share of the Christmas pudding and they will go that extra mile to make sure that you contribute to their festive cheer. It’s a busy time for all of us and pickings can be easy if we lower our guard. Follow the guidelines given in the Operation Twilight and Operation Cracker leaflets and the risk of becoming a victim will be much lower. At our recent NHW meeting CPC Hilary Winfield highlighted some key areas of concern. One was the increase in the number of pickpockets in supermarkets, libraries and charity shops. For some reason we lower our guard in these places, and a brief encounter with the fruit and veg stand may end up with you losing your handbag whilst deciding on which pineapple you are going to buy. (Go on – own up, how many have you have written your PIN number down and keep it with your purse or wallet!) Hilary also highlighted how easy it is to break into a house that has a small ‘fanlight’ window open, particularly when the window is round the back. I know, I have had to do it when I locked myself out one day. It surprised me how easy it was, considering it was an upstairs window. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you get a note from the Crime Prevention team if they find your house in darkness during the early evening. Keep those home lights burning! Finally, why not make sure you are part of the Neighbourhood watch scheme, you can contact your local road co-ordinator, or set up your own road scheme. There is lots of help and advice from our crime prevention unit, our local PCSO and of course myself and Peter. PS: In the recent CVA newsletter the contact number for PCSO Elaine Abscomb was given incorrectly, it should have been 0845 60 70 999 ext 13994 (our apologies for that). Hilary is on 01293 583952. Peter writes... It has been extremely noticeable over the past few months that our Speedwatch scheme is certainly having the desired effect of alerting drivers of the dangers of speeding particularly on our village roads. The numbers of vehicles recorded for excessive speeding is considerably reduced to those monitored and recorded when we began the scheme last January. Thank you to both our village drivers and our volunteers for helping to make the scheme such a success. We are receiving excellent back up from the official Traffic Police Speed check Team who have once again been out on both Borers Arms Road and on Copthorne Bank. We are now in discussions with Sussex Police regarding the possible use of SID (flashing lights) to monitor speeding at some locations as a logical follow up to the Speedwatch Scheme. We await their response to our enquiry. We are pleased to report that some modest facilities have been installed in the Recreation ground for the young people, benches and a goal post so far, thanks to the support and funding by Worth Parish Council. We hope that though present negotiations with the Area Youth Office and Mid-Sussex DC may lead to further funding for more facilities in due course. Many people have expressed their concerns about the increasing amount of unsightly litter around the village. We would ask everyone and particularly the young people to be just that little bit more considerate and dispose of empty cans, bottles etc properly. Empty and broken bottles deposited in the Recreation Ground are very dangerous for the small children using the playground and a little more consideration for their welfare is politely requested. An initiative by the Junior School ECO Committee is coming into operation very shortly by introducing regular litter collections by small groups of children around the village. We are supporting them with the necessary equipment and some adult help and wish them every success with their project. |
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