More than 25 neighbours within the Portland Watch area attended an annual Watch meeting to discuss local concerns and receive updates from Bedfordshire Police and Luton Neighbourhood Watch (LHW).
Key issues and actions from the meeting are captured in the following notes:
Anti-social gatherings at the junction between Portland road and Kingsway, there are daily gatherings of groups who drink, litter and can be intimidating for children, mosque-attendees and families passing by. Residents reported that these were industrial workers from the La Porte business park who purchased alcohol from the Kingsway corner shop.
PC Gareth Newcombe committed to visiting the area, speaking to surrounding businesses and gatherings. Residents should report concerns via 101 or online at http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/report/Report - although the local police opening hours are 10-7pm, reports are reviewed and can inform officer deployment.
Some of the Portland Watch members will speak to the shopkeeper and seek permission to place a Neighbourhood Watch sign on their wall which is considered highly visible.
Road safety - reckless driving the wrong way down 1-way sections of Portland Road
Bedfordshire Police do not have control over the CCTV at the bottom of Portland Road and suggested liaising with Luton Borough Council to discuss relocation and impact in its current area. Dave Kooner to share contact details.
Flytipping and littering in general
This should be raised with the Environmental Enforcement team (parking, littering) based at Kingsway depot and local councillors. The Dallow ward councillors are Hannah Adrees (Lab), Abbas Hussain (Lab) and Raja Naveed Ahmed (Lab).
It was recommended that members of the Watch attend the January policing prioritisation public meeting which takes place quarterly and is promoted via Beds alert email circulars.
John Fullarton represented Luton Neighbourhood Watch and provided a brief update on the recent AGM, good practises in other Watch areas and provided a series of resources including emergency information boxes for vulnerable elderly or unwell residents for storing contact details.
John also recommended Watch members register for Streetwatch training and introduced Juliet Wright 8253 who is the Watch Scheme Coordinator at Bedfordshire Police. Juliet emailed following the meeting with the following information:
Streetwatch is about helping keep your community safe by patrolling in pairs for two hours a month. You may commit more hours if you wish but we do ask for a minimum commitment of two hours each month at times that are convenient to yourself. Patrols are logged with the Police force contact centre. All members are covered by Public Liability Insurance and Personal Accident and Injury Cover.
All volunteers are required to undergo a vetting process and a formal induction and training sessions (including first aid and Conflict Management Training) covering all aspects of Streetwatch. Induction patrols are then carried out with members of the local policing team. All volunteers are issued with a high visibility Streetwatch vest, personal attack alarm, torch, pocket note book for recording activity and pens.
In order to get a group going in the area there is a minimum requirement of 6 to 8 volunteers to start with.
There are 15 Streetwatch schemes across Bedfordshire covering areas such as Biggleswade, Luton and Houghton Regis.
Streetwatch groups work closely with their local policing team by promoting effective communication and the prompt reporting of activity. Patrols will be tasked in areas where there has been crime reported or where there have been instances of anti-social behaviour.
Streetwatch presence provides valuable reassurance to your community especially the vulnerable and the elderly. Juliet Wright and is happy to provide further details if required.