East Cambs NWA (11)

Neighbourhood Watch really works!

May 1st 2008 - from ECNWA Secretary Kevin Evans

I attended one of the Neighbourhood Panel meetings last night, where one of our local coordinators managed to make a significant impact. Her neighbours had been suffering from a particular problem so she wrote to a councillor with a well presented case and started with: “From: Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator ####### Close…”   Not only did this get the council's attention but it was referred to at the panel meeting as an issue raised by a local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme which appeared to give additional credibility to the issue and raised its profile.

The message is that being in Neighbourhood Watch gives you some additional clout, and you can use this to your benefit. But please be careful not misuse it, as there is a scheme  that overstepped the mark (more than once) and are now in a bit of trouble.

April 20th. The message below, was received from one of the Ely Watch schemes:

It may be of interest for you to know that Watch members were able to give vital information to the police in connection with the Tesco robbery.

In fact we not only witnessed the moves yesterday (Friday) leading to the changeover of the cars but also the 'trial run' last Thursday statements have been given to the police.

April 2008. Through our NW links a known suspicious vehicle was notified to Stuntney residents. A few days later this same vehicle turned up in the village, obviously on the prowl for any unguarded property.  An alert resident took the details and these were quickly despatched to the police. Prevention is better than cure,  thieves don't have an easy time when there is a strong NW presence.

Do you know of an untaxed vehicle being used on the road?

Drivers who are using a vehicle without displaying a valid Road Fund Tax disc are not only breaking the law but they are being indirectly paid for by law abiding citizens. There is a  way of reporting these cheats by going online to the DVLA Official Site (find it on Google) where there is a link for passing the information. You do not have to give the source unless you wish.

Immobilise your property.

The police recommend that owners  register the serial numbers of their property with the Immobilise website. This gives the police a chance to return stolen property to the rightful owners when it has been recovered. http://www.immobilise.com

 Littleport Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators nominated for Police award

Brian Tulley Anti-social behaviour Coordinator Ely Police has sent details of the submission he has made on behalf of two Littleport ladies, Mrs Debbie Curtis and Mrs Christine Smith.

Littleport, a large village north of Ely, is a pleasant environment.
However, there was a marked increase in anti social behaviour around 3 streets in the first part of 2007, and Police and Hereward Housing (the principle Registered Social Landlord) as members of the East Cambs Community Safety Partnership worked together to address the problem. Information was assembled from an ASB Survey carried out by Police, and from Hereward’s records of housing complaints. This enabled the problem to be quantified, and one property was identified as the primary source of the nuisance behaviour.
The problem was tackled on two fronts. The young person evidenced as the main offender was invited to enter into an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (a voluntary restraint on misbehaviour) although that failed. Simultaneously, however, because the anti social behaviour was substantial and showed no sign of diminishing, Hereward Housing commenced legal proceedings to take possession of the tenanted property.
It is no easy matter to gain possession of a tenanted property – there must be clear and substantial evidence to support the case – and that is where Mrs Curtis, and her neighbour Mrs Christine Smith, played an absolutely invaluable role.
Living nearby to the source of the anti social behaviour, they suffered as victims – of trespass, of damage to their property and vehicles, and of sickening personal abuse. Despite these threats, and taking a stand for Neighbourhood Watch and the Littleport community as a whole, Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith provided information for the Police ASB Survey but more importantly agreed to stand as witnesses for Hereward’s court case. This was to include a written witness statement, and the willingness to personally appear in court on the witness stand.
The case was heard at Cambridge County Court over two days on 30 and 31 July 2007. Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith were excellent witnesses as members of the community. Their evidence was that that the neighbourhood had been a pleasant environment until the family arrived at the end of 2006, and since then it had been blighted. They presented evidence of damage to their property and parked vehicles, the nuisance caused by the 15-year old son and visiting friends and relatives riding around the neighbourhood illegally on scooters / motor-bikes (under-age, so obviously no documents, no helmets) and probably most impactive the dreadful abuse by the 15-year old – rude gestures such as the finger sign whenever he met them or passed by, foul language, and extremely crude sexually explicit remarks. There is no doubt that this behaviour was extended to others in the neighbourhood who challenged the nuisance created. Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith, as witnesses, were examined and cross-examined, and that was a challenging experience for members of the community not accustomed to the court environment and the legal process.
Whilst in court, of course, Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith were face-to-face with the tenant and her representatives. The tenant behaved appallingly in court, was rude and threatening to members of the court and Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith as witnesses, but (portrayed by her defence Lawyer as a potentially vulnerable person!) was afforded leniency by the Judge. This was, not unnaturally, a frightening situation for Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith.
On the second day, the judge delivered his verdict: he found in favour of Hereward Housing, on the two grounds of the deterioration to the property and the evidenced anti social behaviour, and granted an outright Possession Order. The family were evicted via bailiffs enforcing the court order, and normality has returned to the neighbourhood.
The Judge regarded Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith as (I quote) “courageous ladies” for coming forward to give evidence in court.
I, as the ASB Co-ordinator, played a part in the preparatory work for the case and attended the court (as an observer and as an expert witness). I observed that it was extremely convincing to have two residents who were prepared to stand up and be counted. This made a strong impression on the Judge – he said so.
Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith are to be commended for what they did. I recognise that they found the whole experience very stressful, but their contributions were crucial. This case has shown how important it is for Community Safety Partnerships to harness the power of Neighbourhood Watch and other willing residents in the fight to make communities safe; and how Mrs Curtis and Mrs Smith have made a difference by taking a stand.

Comment from Mrs Debbie Curtis:
Brian, Please publish my award recommendation, but do stress that this was
a communal effort! I am just lucky enough to come from the kind of
background that enables me to articulate our concerns to the various
authorities, many other people displayed real courage and fortitude
during our unpleasant interlude!"