by Ray George
On 24th March I attended the Neighbourhood Watch Conference at the Civic Centre. We were welcomed to this evening meeting by Councillor Royston Smith, whose remit covers Community Safety. We were all provided with zappers so we could respond to a quiz. From which I learnt that 86% of us mostly feel safe, but we grossly overestimate the number people on Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in Southampton. It is only 44.
Chief Superintendent Matthew Green spoke on Neighbourhood Policing in Southampton. He was very upbeat, crime had fallen! Inspector Kerry Loveless explained “Community Payback”. You may see groups in high visibility jackets working on projects such as clearing rubbish left by fly tippers. Derek Stevens is the antisocial behaviour operations manager for Southampton City Council. He outlined their various operations which go under curious code names such as “Batcombe” which tackles late-night noise and criminal damage by students and “Koala” which takes place while children are leaving school and walking home. During CREW (Crime Reduction and Environment Week), Council teams and partner groups pay a surprise visit to an area for a week to kick-start general improvements and reduction of crime levels. Sergeant Mark Barker, who heads the Safer Neighbourhood Team for Shirley, said that he is passionate about Neighbourhood Watch, half the city’s schemes are in the Shirley Area. Want to know more about Neighbourhood Watch and perhaps become a coordinator, then visit www.southampton.gov.uk/living/safersouthampton/getinvolved/nwgroup/.