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Hi, I'm sending this newsletter out to all scheme coordinators & deputies in the Stockport area. TELEPHONE SURVEY
We will be conducting a survey over the next few months so expect a phonecall from us. Partly to check which schemes are still active (don't worry, quietly ticking over counts as active!), but also to find out how things are going and what we can do to help you. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH STALLS
We had 3 stall in September (Yes, they are as bad as busses, but they were free so couldn't turn them down!) Bramhall Village Square (Bramhall Wellness Day), Town Centre (Volunteers Fair) and Edgeley (C-Street Indie Market).
No instant surge in new schemes being set up but hopefully it will have been good long-term publicity. However since then a few potential volunteers have taken interest. Our next stall is in Romily on Sat 6th December. LAMP POST SIGNS
I still have 11 of these to give away. (I will need to inform the council & get approval if it is for a new location) Plus about 20 small overlays & 40 large overlays to update the old "Homewatch" or faded signs (220 x 300mm and 300 x 400mm) Contact me on chair@stockportnwa.org if interested. SCHOOL STREETS
One of our coordinators complained about cars parking & speeding near schools when the children were arriving & leaving, making it dangerous, particularly for small children who may be less visible amongst cars. I passed this onto the police. I don't know whether this speeded up things or not but Stockport now has a number of "School streets". This is where volunteers close off the street at drop-off and pick-up times making them safer and more pleasant.
However anyone who knows the problems I had getting the council to allow us to put up Neighbourhood Watch signs will (or maybe won't) be surprised to know that the School Street signs are tywrapped on lampposts - breaking their own rules! VOLUNTEERS
Two new volunteers have started helping the committee with the website etc, Sam & Zain. I have 3 more possibilities once these two have settled in. CRIME STATISTICS
The support staff are currently understaffed by 40%. Some departments are working at only 60% staffing. This is due to a historic pay freeze reducing the number of recruits, plus the snowball effect of being overworked making them leave early, some are even leaving shortly after completing training! Hopefully new staff will be coming through the system next year.
So unfortunately sending out weekly crime statistics is getting low priority. I will give them gentle nudges when I think appropriate. PaCT MEETINGS (Partners & Community Together)
These are meetings where you have the chance to talk to the police, council, housing associations etc. about the crime and whether they are doing enough to combat particular problems in your area. Some areas do these successfully, some are less successful with last minute changes / cancellations / poor publicity etc. and some are currently doing nothing. The last meeting I went to it was just me, 2 councillors plus the police. Not very good! Please do attend these meetings (and encourage your scheme members) when you see one advertised for your area, they need your information & feedback to help them do their job more effectively. IAG (Independent Advisory Group)
I was invited to join this group. The first meeting discussed the anti-refugee demonstrations and counter demonstrations. OPERATION RIMINI
We were invited to the briefing for this and it was fascinating. Operation Rimini is where the police, trading standards & others blitz Stockport Town Centre about once a month for ASB, drugs, rouge traders etc. One month included some Police Cadets to test out underage sales of cigarettes/vapes etc. Several arrests including some wanted criminals as well as illegal vapes confiscated etc. LITTER PICKING
We still have this equipment so if anyone wants to borrow it to blitz their local common area let me know. Also available for non-NW groups to use. COORDINATORS WHATSAPP
There is a WhatsApp group for coordinators. All coordinators & deputies are welcome to join, please contact me on chair@stockportnwa.org for the link. It is a quick way where coordinators can message me plus the other coordintors with any problems. SOME USEFUL LINKS:- KNOWLEDGEBASE
Neighbourhood Watch have a plethora of information to help scheme coordinators.
https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/knowledge-hub
This is in addition to everything on the Stockport website.
https://www.stockportnwa.org/ GRANT AVAILABLE
Individual schemes can apply.
https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/communitygrants Any questions you can contact me on chair@stockportnwa.org or by hitting reply. Phil Handscomb
Chair
Stockport NWA | 
