Neighbourhood Watch

	Active members of the Neighbourhood Watch will display this sign in a visible place on their house.

	Chairman: Harry Hopkins Tel :01777 705002

	Any information please to Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Watch office on 01909 473875 or via the web to: terry@bassetlawnw.freeserve.co.uk

Many people ask why they should join a local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Well here are just a few reasons for joining, or indeed, starting a scheme:

Neighbourhood Watch (NW) is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives ever and the largest voluntary organisation in the country.

If you join your local group you can feel secure knowing that your neighbours are keeping an eye on your property.

Getting together with your neighbours can prevent local crime and well-run schemes have a big impact on crime and opportunities for crime.

Neighbourhood Watch can reassure those who live in fear of crime. Your neighbourhood is likely to be safer, friendlier, and a more attractive place when you a have a scheme working for you.

Neighbourhood Watch is an ideal way of targeting a particular problem in an area, such as burglary, vandalism or car crime.

Neighbourhood Watch can rekindle community spirit and is a great way to get to know your neighbours.

You will become familiar with crime prevention ideas to keep your home and property safe.

Finally, you may be entitled to a discount on your home insurance premiums. However, remember that if you get such a discount you must inform your insurers should you withdraw from the NW scheme or it ceases to function.

Please contact Harry Hopkins in the village for more information.

Unlicensed Hawkers – suspicious incidents !!

There has been an increase of suspicious incidents involving Hawkers selling yellow dusters and household wares in the Newark and Balderton areas. Householders are being visited by male persons, introducing themselves as ‘Ex-Offenders’recently released from prisons, detention centres etc. and proffering dusters, ironing board covers and other goods from bags on the doorstep, all at inflated prices.

This MO (method of operation) has also been seen in the Loughborough and Leicester area where there has been an increase in Burglary Dwelling Offences. Suspects are believed to originate from the Nottingham City area and, in incidents in Loughborough, the sellers visits have been from persons of Asian origin.

Homeowners receiving visits from such persons are advised NOT to purchase items from these sellers.
Neighbourhood Watch members are asked to note the name and date of birth of any seller who produces an ‘identity card’ with a photograph. They are also asked to note description of clothing and any bags being carried by the sellers, and inform Police of the incident.

Please note that the sellers should be in possession of a Police issued Peddlers Certificate (see the image to the right), the identity card offered is NOT the peddlers certificate.

Committee members of the local Neighbourhood Watch group are in possession of a specimen copy of a police issued certificate which are available for inspection if required.

Property Marking

Most residents will have heard or be aware of a product called Smart Water, as a means of protecting personal property and home contents. Although very successful it also proved very costly to householders. Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Watch has monitored the situation and after a great deal of searching and deliberation, has found a supplier of an alternative product known as Selectamark. Produced to the same high standard and at a much reduced cost through bulk buying power of the association they will shortly be issuing SelectaDNA marking kits for trial and demonstration purposes by a chosen number of Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators.

Following the trials of these kits, they intend to make them available to all members at a vastly discounted price, by buying in bulk. The SelectaDNA kits usually retail £49 00 but the association have agreed to make them available for £18 00. (Smart Water price was in excess of £50)

Each batch of SelectaDNA contains a non-toxic liquid which has a unique DNA code which can only be seen under UV lighting. As well as the DNA identifier the solution has thousands of tiny microdots each containing the Selectamark database phone number and unique owner’s code. Property can be secured within seconds by simply brushing the solution onto valuable goods. Once applied SelectaDNA dries hard and is virtually impossible to remove. The code from each batch is recorded on Selectamark’s secure database, which has Loss Prevention Certification Board approval. This gives the Police the ability to positively identify a recovered on the spot.

Tamper resistant warning labels and window stickers are also supplied with each kit.

By displaying warning labels, window stickers and other signage, it should immediately deter burglars and thieves. Further deterrence is brought about by the police who routinely scan stolen property and criminals for traces of SelectaDNA.

Further information on the availability of the kits will be announced on the web site at: www.bnwa.org.uk and through your local association.

Bassetlaw Neighbourhood Watch Association

Representing the Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood areas of Nottinghamshire. Click here for details.