My Southend photo competition now closed (23 January 2012)
The Southend CDRP 'My Southend' photo competition has now closed. Finalists will be contacted ahead of the presentation evening on Wednesday 8th February. Thank-you for your entries.
Hospital Watch injects dose of security (2 December 2011)
Staff and visitors at Southend Hospital received a boost to their personal safety thanks to a free crime reduction event.
More than 30 UV property marking kits and numerous purse chains were handed out to staff and members of the public, and 12 bicycles were fitted with electronic security tags.
The event, held on Friday 25 November, was organised by Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) andSouthendUniversityHospital’s security team, as part of the Hospital Watch initiative which launched last year.
The scheme aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in and around the hospital and to help reassure staff, patients and visitors by improving security.
MickHolland, of Southend CDRP, said: “We are delighted to have worked again with our colleagues atSouthendHospital.
"The overall feedback from those who attended was extremely positive, and they felt reassured by our continued commitment to ensure Southend remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”
Kevin Chinnery, Head of Security for Southend NHS Trust, added: “This was an excellent way to help reassure staff, patients and visitors.
"The Trust has seen an increase in cycle theft recently and, while cyclists park their bikes at their own risk, the security tagging is a big help.”
My Southend photo competition deadline extended (21 November 2011)
Southenders now have more time to show what 'community spirit' means to them, for a chance to win a brand new digital camera worth £450.
Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) has extended the deadline for its My Southend photo competition to 20th January 2012, to allow for the holiday period.
For more information about the competition, and how to enter, visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Click on the following links to download full terms and conditions and an entry form.
Nominate a Neighbour to help deter bogus callers (17 November 2011)
Southend Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) is encouraging residents to sign up to its Nominated Neighbour Scheme, which is designed to help prevent vulnerable residents from becoming victim to bogus caller crimes.
Under the Nominated Neighbour Scheme, older and vulnerable residents are encouraged to seek the help of a neighbour or relative in checking that unexpected callers to their door are genuine.
The scheme involves people using a unique card if an unexpected caller comes to the door of an elderly or vulnerable person.
The card will refer the caller to a 'Nominated Neighbour' who will then come back with the visitor and supervise the visit.
The occupant will be encouraged not to enter into a conversation with the caller or open the door, but to just hand over or show the card.
It is hoped this will deter a potential bogus caller immediately and they will leave the area. A genuine caller will not mind following the instructions on the card.
Mick Holland, Southend’s Community Engagement Officer, is urging more volunteers to sign up to the scheme in an effort to drive bogus callers out of the borough. He said: “The majority of those people at risk from distraction burglars can deal with them simply by using the lock, stop, chain, check procedure.
“There are, however, those people who are particularly vulnerable, that have a right to live safely in their homes, but may not have the confidence to deal robustly with callers at their door.
“The scheme is aimed at these vulnerable people, and we are looking for others in their communities to support them by helping them to deal with unwanted or unexpected callers. If you have an elderly or vulnerable neighbour, then please come forward as a ‘Nominated Neighbour’ for them.”
If you would like to volunteer as a Nominated Neighbour for somebody in your community, or would like further information, please contact 01702 464199.
HandyVan scheme to help the elderly (17 November 2011)
The Southend HandyVan scheme is looking for more residents to take up its free home security service.
Photo: Ron Patchett, Southend's HandyVan fitter
The Age UK HandyVan is a unique home security service where trained HandyVan fitters visit the homes of the over 60s. They carry out home safety checks and install equipment such as door locks, door chains and viewers, window locks and smoke detectors free of charge.
Ron Patchett, HandyVan fitter for Southend, said: “Our main aim is to help people maintain their independence and continue living safely in their own home by improving their security.
“As well as fitting locks, we can also assist with small repairs such as installing curtain poles and shelves. We also hand out free smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and new light bulbs and can carry out fall prevention evaluations.”
Chris English, spokesman for Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, said: “Proactively, the HandyVan scheme is helping to reduce the risk of burglary and bogus caller crime by giving people more confidence and peace of mind in the safety of their homes.
“If you think you would benefit from this scheme, or know a family member or friend who might, please get in touch.”
The HandyVan Scheme is funded and supported through a partnership between the charity Age UK, Essex Police and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.
For more information or to request a visit, please contact Age UK on 0845 026 1055. Alternatively, email handyvan@ageuk.co.uk
Allotment Watch launched to weed out crime (17 October 2011)
Photo: PCSO Wendy Ellis and volunteer Les Harrod, with Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, PCSO Martin Mansfield and plot-holders.
An Allotment Watch scheme has launched in Southend to deter criminals and reassure plot-holders.
Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Essex Police, and local volunteers have joined forces in a bid to deter green-fingered thieves and others intent on causing damage to plots at Lifstan Way allotments.
A dedicated crime prevention event was held on Saturday 15 October to formally launch the scheme. Various tools and cultivating machines were electronically tagged, and personal attack alarms and UV property-marking pens were also handed out free of charge.
There have been two reported incidents of stolen vegetables at the site since the start of the year.
Sgt Mike Woodford, of Essex Police’s Southchurch neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are always looking at different ways to try to reduce crime and have a positive impact on the local communities that we serve.
"These allotments are important to the local community, and the plot holders spend many hours working hard on them. Hopefully by implementing the Allotment Watch scheme and increasing police patrols in this area we can ensure it remains a safe place.”
Les Harrod is a plot-holder and volunteer who helped to set up the scheme. He said: “We were having problems with things going missing and kids getting in and helping themselves, so we got in touch with the local police.
"The PCSOs come here regularly on high visibility patrols, and people are now happier and feel more reassured. There haven’t been any significant incidents since.”
For more information please contact 01702 464199 or visitwww.southendcdrp.co.uk
Help us find the true meaning of 'community spirit' (3 October 2011)
What does the term ‘community spirit’ mean to you? Perhaps it’s the lollipop person who helps you safely cross the road every morning? Or the newsagent whose shop is always open? Maybe it’s the local playgroup which has helped you make new friends?
Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) knows that ‘community spirit’ means different things to different people and we want you to show us what it means to you.
We are launching a new competition simply entitled ‘My Southend’, where we are inviting residents from across the borough to submit a photograph which sums up what ‘community spirit’ means to them.
We have teamed up with Olympus KeyMed and Snappy Snaps Southend to offer some fantastic prizes to the winning entries.
There will be an overall winner who will receive a brand new Olympus Pen digital camera worth £450, which has been kindly donated by Olympus Keymed.
There will be six finalists from across the borough who will each receive a voucher for a large 20” x 16” canvas print of their choice, supplied by Snappy Snaps Southend, in Southchurch Road.
The competition will be split into the following six areas of the Southend borough: Southend Central, Leigh, Blenheim, Eastwood, Southchurch, and Shoebury.
The closing date for entries is 20 January 2012 and all entries will be displayed in an exhibition to be held at Southend Central Library in early 2012.
The competition will be judged by representatives from Southend CDRP, Essex Police and Olympus Keymed.
The six winners will be notified in January 2012 and will be invited to attend a presentation evening in February, hosted by The Worshipful the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, who will hand over the prize vouchers and announce the overall winner of the competition.
To enter, and for full terms and conditions, please visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
An electronic entry form can be downloaded here.
1,000 bicycles tagged in Southend! (22 September 2011)
Over 1,000 bicycles have been tagged in Southend since the start of the year - a new record for Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership’s Community Safety Roadshow.
Photo: Cyclist Luke Abbot, aged 15, from Southend with (L-R) PCSO Paul Dallimore, Mick Holland, store manager Clair Butcher and PCSO
Danny Callender.
The milestone was reached on Wednesday 21 September when the roadshow visited residents outside The Co-operative Food, in Sutton Road, Southend.
40 bicycles and mobility scooters were fitted with electronic security devices between 10am and 3pm, with help from Essex Police’s local neighbourhood policing team and volunteers.
Since January, more than 2,000 UV property marking kits, personal attack alarms and purse chains have also been handed out to help reduce crime and to reassure members of the public.
Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, said: “I am delighted that the Cycle Watch project has proved so successful. Tagging our thousandth bike demonstrates how popular our service is, and shows the high commitment of Southend CDRP and its partners to reduce crime in Southend.
" I would like to pay credit to our team of volunteers and the Southend district policing teams who work so hard to make each event the success that it is.”
Clair Butcher, store manager at The Co-op, added: “It’s great that the Co-operative is working together with local agencies to make the community a safer place to live.”
The next event will be held at the allotment site in Lifstan Way, Southend, on Saturday 15 October, between 10am and 1pm.
For more information please contact 01702 464199 or visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Scooters tagged to reassure the elderly (20 September 2011)
Elderly residents had their mobility scooters tagged for free in an effort to deter thieves and improve reassurance.
Photo: Mick Holland and PCSO Gemma Bunyan with resident Arthur Land and his wife, Mavis.
Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership visited residents at Homecove House, in Holland Road, Westcliff, on Tuesday 20 September, and fitted 12 scooters with the electronic devices.
Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, said: “This was part of an ongoing project to fit electronic tags to mobility scooters, making them less attractive to thieves and ensuring they can be returned to their rightful owners in the event of loss or theft.”
PCSO Gemma Bunyan, of Essex Police’s Southend Central neighbourhood policing team, was also present to assist with the tagging and to offer useful crime prevention advice.
The next bicycle and mobility scooter tagging event will be held at Kent Elms Library, in Leigh, on Saturday 22 October, between 10am and 2pm.
For more information please contact 01702 464199 or visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Cycle tagging cranks up a gear! (14 September 2011)
71 cyclists had their bicycles tagged at a free community safety roadshow in Leigh – a new record for the number of bikes tagged this year.
Photo: PCSO Angela Westall with cyclist Simon Stracey and his son Reuben, aged two, of Leigh.
The event was organised by Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Southend Libraries, and took place outside Leigh Library on Saturday 10 September.
It was the most successful event of the year for the Cycle Watch initiative, which aims to deter thieves and return lost or stolen bicycles to their rightful owners.
A total of 919 bicycles have been tagged since the start of the year; and a total of more than 5,000 since the scheme began in 2005.
Simon Wallace, Community and Diversity Manager for Southend Libraries, said: “Once again the roadshow proved really popular with Leigh library users and local residents. Many people came along after receiving details through Facebook and Twitter and this helped to make Saturday's event a record breaking session for 2011!”
Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, added: “The continued popularity of the roadshow demonstrates how the residents of Southend appreciate the service that is provided for them. We are pleased that it continues to be successful and are already working on our programme of events for next year in our quest to make Southend even safer than it already is.”
Officers from Essex Police’s Leigh neighbourhood policing team were also present to talk to residents and hand out personal attack alarms, UV property marking kits and purse chains.
The next event will be held at the Co-op supermarket in Sutton Road, Southend, on Wednesday 21 September, between 10am and 3pm.
For more information please contact 01702 464199 or visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Cycles tagged to deter thieves (6 Septmeber 2011)
Cyclists had their bicycles tagged at a free crime prevention event in Westcliff.
Photo: PCSO Louise Tate and a volunteer tag bicycles belonging to local residents.
20 bicycles were fitted with electronic security tags in an effort to deter thieves and to help return them to their rightful owners in the event of loss or theft.
The session was organised by Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Essex Police’s Eastwood neighbourhood policing team, and took place outside Tesco in Prince Avenue, Westcliff, on Friday 2 September.
Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, said: “The event helped to reassure members of the public that action is being taken to reduce instances of crime in the borough, as part of an ongoing initiative to ensure Southend remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”
Personal attack alarms, purse chains and UV property marking kits were also handed out to residents free of charge.
The next event will be held outside Leigh Library on Saturday 10 September, between 10am and 2pm.
For more information please contact 01702 464199 or visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Helping to reduce cycle theft in Westcliff (15 August 2011)
Residents in Westcliff had their bicycles tagged at a free crime prevention event at the weekend.
Photo: PCSO Jackie Jones with Mark Hardy and his son Conner, aged six, of Westcliff, with his tagged bicycle.
31 bicycles and mobility scooters were fitted with electronic security devices in an effort to deter thieves and to help return them to their rightful owners in the event of loss or theft.
The session was organised by Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and took place in Hamlet Court Road car park on Saturday 13 August, between 10am and 2pm.
Residents had an opportunity to talk to officers from Essex Police’s Southend Central Neighbourhood Policing Team about any issues or concerns they had.
Personal attack alarms, purse chains and UV property marking kits were also handed out free of charge.
Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, said: “The event helped to reassure members of the public that action is being taken to reduce instances of crime in the borough, as part of our continued effort to ensure Southend remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”
The next event will be held at Shoebury East Beach on Wednesday 24 August, between 2pm and 5pm. For more information visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Southend residents get bikes tagged (20 July 2011)
Residents in Southend benefited from a free bicycle tagging event at the weekend.
Photo: Mick Holland and PCSOs electronically tag a resident's bicycle
22 bikes were fitted with electronic security tags in an effort to deter thieves and improve the chances of them being returned to their rightful owners in the event of loss or theft.
The session was organised by Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and Southend Libraries and took place outside Southchurch Library, in Lifstan Way, on Saturday 16 July.
Officers from Essex Police’s Southchurch Neighbourhood Policing Team were also present to hand out personal attack alarms, purse chains, UV property marking kits and useful advice to local residents.
Mick Holland, of Southend CDRP, said: “Despite the bad weather, it was encouraging to see so many residents turning up to get their bicycles tagged and to learn how to improve their personal and home security.
"We are committed to providing members of the public with practical and useful advice to ensure Southend remains a safe place to live.”
The next event will be held at Southchurch Park on Wednesday 3 August, between 11am and 3pm.
For more information please contact 01702 464199 or visit www.southendcdrp.co.uk
Scam Watch launches to beat the con (11 April 2011)
Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) has launched a new initiative to help prevent residents being conned out of their hard-earned cash.
Scam Watch aims to educate residents about online scams and how to protect themselves, and encourages them to report any suspicious messages they receive to help make others aware.
Mick Holland, who developed the initiative, said: “There are countless scams on the Internet
but if you are cautious and know what to look out for, you’ll always be one step ahead of the criminals.
“Unfortunately, it is often the elderly and most vulnerable members of our society who fall foul of these scams.
“The majority of email providers and financial institutions offer a way for you to report any scams that you receive. If you receive a suspicious message, please forward it to the relevant company or organisation using the contact details on our website.”
Southend CDRP is keen to collate email and web addresses that allow scam and phishing reporting. For more information please contact southendnhw@aol.com
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