Home Watch
Our Home Watch Co-ordinator is: June Bagot - 01244 660902 or june_bagot@tiscali.co.uk
Home Watch in Dodleston was started over 20 years ago. The basic idea is that residents support the efforts of the police in preventing crime, assist in the reporting of incidents, pass warnings around the village and take responsibility for securing their own property. Essentially, home watch formalises what good neighbours have always done.
This is accomplished in a number of ways:
ON-GOING INCIDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE ON 0845 458 000
From the very beginning we have been careful not to cause unnecessary alarm. Some of the issues that arise are considered best dealt with on a confidential basis. Membership is not compulsory and our actions are re-active to requests by our members or the police. If you support home watch you should register with your area co-ordinator.
Information on incidents in the village should be given to your co-ordinator, who will telephone the next co-ordinator on the list. Each co-ordinator will inform the people in their scheme, and a notice will be put in the village shop. In this way we can gather any evidence and be aware of current issues.
This is accomplished in a number of ways:
- Dodleston is divided into 14 areas, each with a dedicated co-ordinator
- The co-ordinators receive information on incidents, advise action to be taken where necessary and report to their contact co-ordinator (next on list) so that information can be passed to their group members. When necessary they themselves contact the police
- Co-ordinators keep membership records with contact numbers, and alarm details
- Residents who fit alarms should appoint a key holder who will respond to alerts when the alarm is activated. (A continually ringing alarm advertises the fact that the property is empty). Co-ordinators often accept this responsibility themselves, but, if this is not the case, they need to know who to contact in an emergency
- Members of home watch are expected to be curious about unusual or suspicious activity, and to feel empowered to ask for information
- Notices are put in the village shop to inform residents of any current concerns/incidents
- General meetings are only arranged on request, when considered necessary
- Newsletter articles are used to remind residents of the essentials of security and reporting any current problems.
ON-GOING INCIDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE ON 0845 458 000
From the very beginning we have been careful not to cause unnecessary alarm. Some of the issues that arise are considered best dealt with on a confidential basis. Membership is not compulsory and our actions are re-active to requests by our members or the police. If you support home watch you should register with your area co-ordinator.
Information on incidents in the village should be given to your co-ordinator, who will telephone the next co-ordinator on the list. Each co-ordinator will inform the people in their scheme, and a notice will be put in the village shop. In this way we can gather any evidence and be aware of current issues.