Notes of Doddinghurst Neighbourhood Watch Meeting
Tuesday 9 ^th November 2010

Bill Welcomed Mr and Mrs Gilbey who attended for the first time

2. Apologies for absence:-

Peter Froebel and nine others including Colin Freeman, Ben Felton and PCSO Dave Creckendon

3. Matters arising from Previous meeting

No matters raised

4. Finance

Bill Reid announced that Peter Salmon is now taking over from Robin Ekblom as Treasurer. We are very grateful to Peter for having volunteered as well as to Robin for filling the post until now. Robin reported that the accounts are complete apart from one missing receipt for the Neighbourhood Watch signs, bought about two years ago.

5. Crime report

Emma Clark reported three burglaries and several thefts from motor vehicles, such as sat-navs. Emma believed that in some of the cases a window was left slightly open, making access easier. Emma reported on a form of burglary new to the area. Burglars are breaking in to garages with up-and-over doors to then gain access to the house via a less secure internal door. There was a separate report from a member of two attempts to break in to garages in Rectory Chase and one of a theft of a scrap boiler waiting for collection by an installation contractor. Emma confirmed that metal thefts are common, particularly of lead roofs.

Members thanked the police for helpful visits and car patrols in the middle of the night.

Emma invited anyone needing a burglar alarm or considering a CCTV to contact her for advice.

Emma recommends that all members ensure that not only their own house, but neighbours houses too should appear to be occupied at all times,. This is because burglars target not just empty houses but also ones where fewer neighbours are likely to see or be alerted by an alarm. Use time switches to run lights, radios etc. One member asked whether, when going on holiday, it was best to leave curtains open or closed. Emma's answer was that by far the best option is to get a neighbour to come in and open or close the curtains as necessary. Failing that, net curtains have an advantage in preventing people looking in during the day, but care is then needed in positioning lighting at night.

Keys must be kept well away from access doors and preferably hidden at all times due to the prevalence of burglary to steal car keys. A burglar alarm is strongly recommended, both for the deterrent effect of the box on the wall, and the noise it makes if entrance is forced, thus alerting the householders immediately.

There was some discussion about the special operation for Halloween and the subsequent antisocial behaviour by massed youths from various local communities. Emma and Paul Birkin-Steed felt that there had not been too much trouble over Halloween, although there clearly had been some antisocial behaviour and use of fireworks in inappropriate and dangerous places. Owen, in particular had suffered an attempt to push a lighted rocket through his letterbox.

Emma asked us to report any antisocial behaviour. If it is not sufficiently urgent to call 999, please at least call Emma, or the beat mobile number.

Despite a document from the NHW executive, stating that neighbours should attempt to resolve problems locally for themselves, no-one should start a any sort of vigilante action.

7. Junior Section

Emma reported on a recent session where Emma started by inviting the children to look at pictures of a house with certain vulnerabilities to burglary. She asked them to identify the areas which could be improved. They came up with many excellent ideas. This led on to a discussion of the role of the police and of Neighbourhood Watch.

The annual Firework Poster competition was a great success with around 50 entries containing many good ideas. Some posters had great designs, others well thought out text or with innovative ideas. Competition winning posters are on display around the village. Peter Fisk photographed all the posters for the school and will try to get them onto our website if he can obtain suitable software to make it easy.

8. Speed Watch

Peter Fisk reported on two Speedwatch sessions – one in Church Lane, one in Doddinghurst Road. Both found around 10 speeding cars over an hour with a maximum speed of 42 mph.

Contrary to acceptable practice, Peter had also had a brief covert look at speeds in the absence of the warning boards from the safety of a front garden. He started this at the same time and place as the previous day's official session. There were 19 speeding cars in 20 minutes compared to about ten in a whole hour with the boards. Average speed was about 33mph, with 42 again the maximum. The feeling of the meeting was that this shows that the warning boards do offer a useful reminder to motorists and should be used more often if possible. Emma felt that the warning letters sent out by Speedwatch teams do have a real effect on many motorists. Some others, of course, will ignore the law regardless.

Bill reported that he now has enough volunteers to be able to ask Dave Creckendon to organise a further training session.

9. Smart Water

There was no report in the absence of Peter Froebel. Ingrid questioned whether we should get a response from SmartWater when we submit the forms. Peter Fisk reminded the meeting that others had complained of this before so Peter Froebel had taken an action to contact SmartWater and find out .

10. NHW Nomination for competition

Bill reported on the police requests for nominations for people who have made an outstanding contribution to their local community. Bill has widely circulated the nomination forms to the school and around the village. Colin Freeman had reported to Bill that only one nomination had been received for the whole of Brentwood.

11. Constitution

Robin queried who counts as a member of our Neighbourhood Watch. Peter Salmon suggested that it should be anyone who expressed an interest and was happy to offer their email address, telephone number or postal address.

Bill, Peter Salmon and Peter Fisk will sign the constitution after the meeting. This will enable Peter Salmon to set up a proper bank account related to Neighbourhood Watch, rather thanin the names of two individuals as has happened until now.

12. Ring Master

Bill reported that plan to share Kent's messaging service looks to be going ahead, but sending text messages will be too expensive. Outputs will therefore be limited to telephone and email.

13. Any Other Business

There was a report of a cold caller pretending to offer free access to TalkTalk when this is clearly not true.

There was a report of a strange gas man carrying out an unexpected visit to log gas meter details and ineffectually check for gas leaks. Emma advises contacting the customer services of all utilities to get a password which any callers should use before gaining access.

There was some discussion about the frequency of emails being circulated. It was suggested that perhaps we could move toward a weekly email newsletter. Ingrid reminded the meeting that there had previously been a suggestion that a paper document should be made available for display or collection at, for example, Budgens or on a village notice board. This could be just such a newsletter. Ingrid took an action to talk to Budgens and other shops to see where such a newsletter might be displayed in addition to the Parish Council boards in Church Lane and at the Post Office.

With such a system running, other emails would be sent only when necessary to highlight an urgent threat. Peter Fisk and Bill Reid will meet to see whether this can be established.

14. Next meeting

Tuesday 7^th December at 2p.m in the Parish Room. (The December meeting is traditionally a short one followed by food and drinks)