Braintree District

BRAINTREE DISTRICT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

CHAIRMANS AND TREASURER’S REPORT TO ECNWA 12TH NOVEMBER 2024

We meet every four months now and our next meeting is Tuesday 21st January 2025 at Maurice Rowan Hall at 14:00hrs where parking is so easy, and the facilities are great!

PC James Draper: I want to thank James for the way he has responded to any local “information” from myself on specific issues in the past few months. Also, that he attends most of our meetings whenever he can. It is important that we have PC James Draper at our meetings as it gives everyone on the BDNWSG the opportunity to ask him any questions and this is important for Neighbourhood Watch to have this chance to do so.

Terry Fowles: Essex Watch Liaison Officer: We do thank Terry for making our meetings and setting up his table of various useful items and information. He gives us interesting reports at the meetings and also, I receive his Essex Police Braintree District Crime report every week which is the life blood of Neighbourhood Watch information, and I use the details for the weekly newsletter (now in its 16th year in 2025) . Also, his attendance at our meetings are always appreciated and he is warmly welcomed.

Diane Passfield: Essex Fire & Rescue Service:

Many thanks to Diane attending our meetings as many times her advice is welcome and information too.

New Enquiries: I have access to the NWN database and can see all the new registrations by those who live in Braintree District. They may believe that they are then members of Neighbourhood Watch.

I give their details to John Hedges (our Membership Secretary) and he makes contact with them advising them that if they want to be part of Neighbourhood Watch where they live, they need to be approved by the local District Co-ordinator (i.e. myself) and if they are then they can receive LOCAL information as well as FREE NW items. I am so grateful for John actioning this as he keeps on top of any replies.

I say to everyone that Braintree District NW is available 24/7 to be of service and support.

Last month Braintree District Council were brilliant in giving our Neighbourhood Watch information with my contact details on an electronic messaging system to all residents in Braintree and within days I received many enquiries ….

Safer Streets Campaigns: Halstead & Witham; All the funding has been received and I have purchased various items to send to anyone who is interested in Neighbourhood Watch living in both Halstead and Witham…I can say that it has helped to increase the membership of Neighbourhood Watch in these areas but slowly as we all know people only seem to want to be part of NW where they live after they have been a victim of crime or they know someone who has been.. Well, that’s always been the situation.

Six Monthly Newsletter January to June 2025

The newsletter was emailed it out to all on my database asking how many copies people are willing to distribute by hand (this usually proves worthwhile). One page is dedicated to Essex Trading Standards.

Some people have noticed that only one page covers Neighbourhood Watch as in each of the issues there were articles from our partners i.e. Essex Police, Essex Fire & Rescue Service, Essex Watch Liaison Officers and Crimestoppers. all of whom support Neighbourhood Watch.

I explain that this newsletter is a way of raising the profile of Neighbourhood Watch and mentions what we offer week on week and also refers to FREE Neighbourhood Watch items available to all members and whom to contact to find out where Neighbourhood Watch is where they live.

In fact, on the bottom page is a blank paragraph where LOCAL Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators can enter their contact details. This should be useful as on occasions the people who receive them for the first time can contact them instead of me.

Although many do not want hard copies to deliver throughout their communities, as they send it by email, I suggested “Why not have 10 or 20 available to handout, as and when, to anyone making enquiries” …. well not everyone is on computer, and this has recently proved a success as I have had an increase in copies requested.

FREE ITEMS

I often remind everyone of the items available and send out a list which covers them which starts with NW Co-ordinators Action Pads and ends with window stickers.

These are FREE and available to NW members either new or already on your databases.

Also, I remind everyone of various items in the weekly newsletter i.e. Personal Alarms…

Witham Town Council

Just to let you know that I was recently contacted by Witham Town Council asking me what was happening regarding Neighbourhood Watch in Witham ……

I updated them and said that I took over as Witham NW Co-ordinator (early part of this year) as the previous person resigned saying there was no interest...!

Also, I took the opportunity to mention to Witham Town Council all the activities re Safer Streets Campaign and told them that I had distributed 4,700 leaflets in Witham, and we had over £10,000 shared with Essex Police to give out items to raise the profile of NW…...

Neighbourhood Watch Member of the Year 2024/2025

We are looking for a NW member who could be thanked for all their actions in the past twelve months so I am hoping that we will have a few nominations for this award to discuss in January…

Annual General Meeting 2025

I have booked our AGM for 27th April time 13:00hrs to 16:00hrs. It is the usual venue Maurice Rowan Hall

BBC Radio Essex

I am often contacted by the BBC and asked to speak on local crime issues in Essex, but I keep advising them that NW is all about distributing information from reliable sources e.g. Essex Police and NOT making comments in the media ….

Treasurer’s report

Now the amazing news is that we have added to the Bank mandate at long last.

It has taken far too long but I stuck with it and has been confirmed!

The amazing news continues as I was so fed up with the lack of progress that I sent a letter of complaint to Nat West. I did say that the Bank was great, the staff are perfect, and the service is brilliant,

But my complaint referred to the procedures to add an extra signatory, as it was far too complicated, and forms were not very clear.

Well, here is the punch line.

They admitted the complaint was genuine we received compensation of £250 …Amazing!!!!!

Also, I have received in the same week £25 from Bures Parish Council.

In fact, I often mention to Parish Council that a “once off £25” is always welcome ..and most of the time they agree.

Clive Stewart

Chairman & Treasurer

Braintree District NW

November 2024

 Clive Stewart, Chairman Braintree District Neighbourhood Watch Tel 0750 8057636

Email [email protected]