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UK Crime, NW and Society One view of what is taking place on a daily basis, a unique insight on NW matters and all aspects of crime. Walking a line between the official and unofficial views. The paid and unpaid views. Your view and mine.

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UK Crime, NW and Society

One view of what is taking place on a daily basis, a unique insight on NW matters and all aspects of crime. Walking a line between the official and unofficial views. The paid and unpaid views. Your view and mine.

John Sheldon

14 Jun 2008 11:45

David Davis and 42 days imprisonment. It is about time someone took a stand and attempted to focus attention on civil liberties. It is far too easy to not feel involved in being locked up for 42 days on mere suspicion. Mere because if it was substantial than a holding charge would be quickly laid and any other charges could be later added.
Since when has the UK planned ahead just in case? It normally goes from one near disaster to the other. The only real issues being normally addressed with vigour are MP’s pay and bottomless pit expenses.
There are too many despicable crimes being committed in the UK at this moment in time, where 42 days imprisonment would be seen as too harsh and not fair. Apart from not having the prison space through poor planning that is...

John Sheldon

08 Apr 2008 01:04

There is no such thing as a local rate now. 0845 is a lo-call rate. It is or rather was a marketing ploy to call it ‘local’. It is a lower premium rate number and revenue producing.
01, 02 and 03 are the same rate - this is the UK standard tariff. All one rate to the whole of the UK.
When calling 0845 numbers it your telephone company charging you. The forces with 0845 would/should be getting a ‘kick-back’ (in some way), this is called revenue sharing from the telephone company.
I suggest that the WLO looks up this matter properly. I am afraid it is not correct. Hertfordshire Constabulary are misleading people (well the WLO is) if you have been told that, you can print this out for them if you wish, email it etc.
The website does not contain any information (that I can find) to the 0845 charge, quite clearly they have shied away from that important detail. The way many companies do when making money out of their callers. Unfortunately when calling the police, the majority of calls are made without choice.
Further reading from the two forces that are open about this:
http://www.staffordshire.police.uk/contactus.htm
Northamptonshire Police do the same thing and also add as disclaimer for 0845
Disclaimer
Calls to 0845 numbers from a fixed line are charged to a maximum of 5p per minute. Network Tariffs apply when calling 0845 numbers from a mobile phone. Northamptonshire Police does not profit from the provision of this number
Not quite sure why they do not profit from this - it may be because they take away the cost of outgoing calls they make. A sort of political reply. But now I am guessing. They mention mobiles, up to 25 pence per minute that can be (O2).
Why am I getting concerned? Because at least one provider will be charging 8 pence a minute soon from fixed lines. If you are on an inclusive tariff, 0845 are excluded as they are on all UK mobiles.

Leonard Priestley

07 Apr 2008 12:10

John
I fear that your information regarding the cost of making calls to 0845 number is not quite correct. You list all those Police Forces that charge exra for using their 0845 numbers and hertfordshire Police amongst them. Our WLO has confirmed that the 0845 number is charged at local call rate within the county of Hertfordshire

John Sheldon

04 Apr 2008 11:57

A 0300 number should be taken up by every force ripping the public off. They should be able to get exactly the same number to interchange with their 0845. Make it fair price for all to call in England and Wales on a fixed line or mobile.

46% of England, 50% Wales, 50% in Scotland and a 100% in Northern Ireland, of forces has fair price access (01, 02 and 03).

If England did not have an odd number of Forces it would have been 50%.

This smacks of political manipulation. The quick answer and hence charge to listen to ringing out could also be prevalent.
With the cost of 0845 being increased 80% by at least one telephone service provider soon, where is the equality in all this. Half the population get ripped off when they need to call the police for a non emergency reason, the other half have a fair price?
Are you covered by one of the Rip Police Forces? It is not just NHW affected by this, the whole communities in this areas are.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cheshire Constabulary
Cumbria Constabulary
Derbyshire Constabulary
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Durham Constabulary
Dyfed-Powys Police
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hertfordshire Constabulary
Humberside Police
Lancashire Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary
North Wales Police
North Yorkshire Police
Surrey Police
Sussex Police
Thames Valley Police
West Mercia Constabulary
West Midlands Police
West Yorkshire Police
Wiltshire Police

John Sheldon

02 Apr 2008 12:01

The last year has flown by, taking the few blogs I have posted as guide posts. I would hope that the casual or serious reader can see that I have studied the position of Neighbourhood Watch for the UK over many years.
This does not make me any more expert than anyone else, but I pride myself at this time being able to take an independent view. It so easy to go along with the majority, who in turn may be taking that same easy path. To suggest doing little when in reality much is needed to be completed.
One way of achieving more is realising what the actual position is, there is no national NHW, it exists on a Country basis now within the UK. England, the pauper of that group, not just in funding but also in vocal terms.
If I had just started being vocal, I could be jumping on an already moving train, well a donkey cart. But I have been monitoring the demise of National NHW (England and Wales) and its re-emergence as a string pulled state controlled link.
So where is NHW at a National Level (England and Wales) with particular regard with leadership? Sadly after 9 months NHW Network is no further forward from its inception. Unable to self declare exactly what it stands for, and how or what it represents.
We are in times of great communication, presumptions need not be made. You know when you are being ignored rather than blame communication difficulties.
Smoke and mirrors must not be used to make believe that NHW (England and Wales) has a representative body. If it has, it is time to self declare its position in a positive and clearly defined way that all can understand.

John Sheldon

20 Jan 2008 13:11

NHW Network - Your National Representatives (England & Wales)

East Midlands
Representative: Marion Lewis (Chair) Email: mhnwsg@ntlworld.com

Derbyshire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary
Lincolnshire Police
Northamptonshire Police
Nottinghamshire Police

East of England
Representative: Gerry Brierley Email: brie@onetel.com

Bedfordshire Police
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Essex Police
Hertfordshire Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary
Suffolk Constabulary

London
Representative: Jim Maddan (Vice Chair) Email: james_maddan@hotmail.com

City of London Police
Metropolitan Police Service

North East
Representative: Anne Howard Email: anne.howard86@hotmail.co.uk

Cleveland Police
Durham Constabulary
Northumbria Police

North West
Representative: Keith Warren Email: keithrwarren@btinternet.com

Cheshire Constabulary
Cumbria Constabulary
Greater Manchester Police
Lancashire Constabulary
Merseyside Police

South East
Representative: Philip Knorpel (Secretary) Email: philip.knorpel@uk.fujitsu.com

Hampshire Constabulary
Kent Police
Surrey Police
Sussex Police
Thames Valley Police

South West
Representative: Julie Dowton Email: julie.bodminmoor@btinternet.com

Avon & Somerset Constabulary
Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
Dorset Police
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Wiltshire Constabulary

West Midlands
Representative: Jeremy Thomas Email: jeremy.crowle@virgin.net

Staffordshire Police
Warwickshire Police
West Mercia Constabulary
West Midlands Police

Yorkshire and The Humber
Representative: Barry McGowan Email: bmcgowan44@googlemail.com

Humberside Police
North Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police

Wales
Representative: John Cox Email: Jhnjonesey@aol.com

Dyfed Powys Police (Heddlu Dyfed Powys)
Gwent Police (Heddlu Gwent)
North Wales Police (Heddlu Gogledd Cymru)
South Wales Police (Heddlu De Cymru)

John Sheldon

10 Jan 2008 13:43

It was interesting to read of a 500 percent increase in violence in one Northern Town, over the last 10 years. Without commissioning reports at costs that would have kept the NNWA going for several years. I expect this is a good indication of the ‘binge drinking anywhere at any time’ policy of the present government. All control with no trousers.

2008 has started off with a number of murders (by gun, knife and kicking) and death via drug abuse. Without doubt this will be another record breaking year. But then again so will bankruptcies and house repossessions.

Everyone can look forward to the graffiti logoed 2012 Olympic games. Look at the Olympic Stadium in China this year and then compare it to the London effort. One is an engineering marvel and the other so uninspiring, words fail me. You would have thought that the 2012 Olympics were being done on the cheap without proper budget.

Will this be the year when our troops return from Iraq? Make no mistake, we have lost far more then we have won (if anything). At least this is the last full year for Bush. It was interesting that the Americans created groups in Bagdad that they called ‘Neighbourhood Watch’.

So where does this all leave NHW (England & Wales) for 2008? Wherever the Home Office wants it to be, or will NHW Network ever get their act together?

John Sheldon

23 Dec 2007 18:38

As the end of 2007 approaches, the financial separation and meaning of NHW in the UK is far better known. England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland not co-existing and as yet with no common agreement. Not that England & Wales are organised or funded in any way to permit this. A declaration as to whether it is independent from the Home Office (England & Wales) control would be a start.

The National Association has long gone, not that it has stopped it forming an insular and non member based Trust. Representing nothing or no-one except the previous inner core failings. Unfortunately the replacement orchestrated and delivered by the Home Office (England & Wales) in 2007, delivered 2 name changes from its original and little else (being kind).

What will 2008 bring from the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network? What will be produced from the powerhouse of 10 Regional Representatives meeting on a national basis (England & Wales). The ball is in their court whether they actually do anything or not. The fall back position appears to have already been used of addressing the regional representatives if you want to pose a query. This is pretty inconvenient as no proper listing with communication details has been issued.

This was heralded as the new representative body of NHW (E&W). But what is it really? All position without taking responsibility. No National communication (E&W). Is there a problem with producing a list of the Regional Representatives, communication details and the Force areas within each region? (England & Wales)

If this is gauged against the ability to produce minutes, I do not have much faith. I also expect old chestnuts to be roasted over and over again, extremely slowly of course at Home Office heat, Mark 0.

John Sheldon

25 Jul 2007 15:26

So Identification Cards are going to be forced on us at great expense (to ourselves). Why is the passport found to be lacking as an Identification document. Because it cannot contain all sorts of information about you, or link into other monitoring systems, it is a European document.

Imagine a stroll down the road, an Identification card like your passport will have a RFID chip (Radio Frequency identification). These will also be become compulsory in vehicle number plates (www.e-plate.com ) if you happen to be able to afford VMT (Vehicle Movement Tax) and go out.

As you stroll down the street, provided you are carrying your card, receivers in lamp posts will monitor your movement. For those thinking well someone else could carry my card, or I have forgotten to carry it. Do not worry, receivers coupled with CCTV cameras will monitor the signal from your card and facial identity recognition from CCTV cameras will confirm that it is you. If you are not carrying a card, then again CCTV cameras while matching you through facial identity recognition will know who you are, from the receiver that you are not carrying a card.

It will be compulsory to carry a card at all times, an automatic fine payment will be taken out of your bank account when you are detected as not carrying it. If it happens over a set amount of times, PCSO’s will be mobilised to detain you. PCSO will then mean People Control Systems Officer. You will then be taken to a special detention centre and a barbed micro RFID chip will be inserted into a vital part of your body to ensure you never forget your card, because you won’t need one.

John Sheldon

18 Jul 2007 11:58

“I keep a hammer next to my bed, but I also leave the living room and kitchen lights on all night, every night. Wasting some energy I know, but I do not feel safe otherwise.”

Not my words but one of the many unsolicited comments to the findings that 1 in 3 keeps a weapon in their UK home for use against intruders. Reasonable force, even if you are suddenly woken up with a knife waving in your face by torchlight, is the key factor when using any type of weapon to protect you and your family. Anything could become a weapon and no doubt that reasonable force would be subject of much legal debate should you cause injury. Not to worry if you are not prosecuted, the intruder can always sue you for causing the injury.

Reading about the costs of 6.5 million pounds for the failed merger plans of police forces reminds me of the waste that this government just brushes off. Unable to support NHW allowing it to administer itself independently in England & Wales is a disgrace on the scale of these 2 countries.

A proper structure from the grassroots is not in place, not that the previous NHW administration had not tried. But it was badly planned and directed and no doubt when financially supported, monies were poorly managed.

The umbrella of one properly administered Charity and constituted organisation would have been enough to adopt any watch association as a working name. Companies and Charity registrations have been superfluous in that direction.

Why am I so interested in NHW matters, because I don’t want to read how wonderful everything is and the fear of crime is so low that no-one has a hammer by their bed and has to keep the lights on to feel safe (until its true). We have been badly lied to and let down in this Country, matters that created a threat to the UK for many, many years to come. I do not want the Neighbourhood Watch Group - National Level becoming a rubber stamp or political pawn.

John Sheldon

12 Jul 2007 12:04

THE Neighbourhood Watch program is stuck in the past and facing a crisis of relevance, a police review says.

The frank review of the community-based crime prevention scheme also found it generally operated in isolation, received questionable support from police and was suffering from strained relationships at board level.

"Many involved in the NHW see the eventual disintegration of the movement if current trends continue," the report says. "Much of this distils to an increasing sense of NHW being irrelevant."

The report says Neighbourhood Watch is a well-known brand with a strong volunteer base. But many people surveyed indicated the movement was stuck in the past, with out-of-date aims.

“Perhaps the most important observed weakness about NHW relates to the virtual inability of the NHW co-ordinators to strengthen the relationship between local police and the NHW," the report says.

How much does this report reflect the position of NHW in the UK, yes surprisingly this report is Australian. Will the Home Office Neighbourhood Watch (England & Wales) suffer from lack of proper leadership, there is plenty of political direction and placement. Will any output be one of sound bites rather than heartfelt substance? I suspect the latter; will there ever be a time when I am shown to be totally wrong?

John Sheldon

06 Jul 2007 10:59

The public knows what a Police Officer stands for, albeit that this government have shifted the traditional role of someone that could help and assist in times of emergency, to one of enforcement. That is fine if you are planning a police state. Only to engage on a ‘someone’ needs to be arrested basis is not helpful to anyone.

This brings me on to the extremely diluted role and presence of the Police Community Support Officers (PCSO). Their role is left more to the direction by individual Chief Constables than the Home Office. This totally confuses the public as to their actual role.

What one may be doing in London appears to completely different to the ones say in Birmingham. Not that I have actually seen one (or should I say two) doing anything, but then again what is that they actually do? I would love to see them engaging with far more people, perhaps they should hand out some sort of card to the public indicating what they are actually there for?

Apologies to those PCSO who are making a real effort to engage, but I haven’t seen you yet. Perhaps anyone reading this will support a National effort for PCSO’s to engage with a public ‘Demand a Card’ to inform us what your role actually is, in the police area you are seen in. Now that would instil more public confidence in them would it not?

Two PCSO’s have been stabbed in the last 6 months, on a basis as far as I can see for just being there, looking like police officers no doubt. I am sure there have been other assaults as well to the extent that I read about one being kidnapped? The UK has become too violent and drug ridden for this front end type of policing, cheap and yellow coated. It has a touch of Dad’s Army does it not? Who does this government thinks its kidding. Real problems need real policing.

Why are PCSO’s not sworn in as Special Constables? Shop assistants have been to deal with shop lifters etc. So why not people who wear a uniform and patrol UK streets? Perhaps that would mean a more lost traditional policing role without arrest counting.

With all this going on, It concerns me that Councils are still having to hire private security officers to patrol public places because of anti social behaviour and vandalism. At least one Council have accused the police of not doing their job in respect of this. Is this not the sort of occurrence that PCSO’s should be assigned to as a matter of course?

John Sheldon

05 Jul 2007 12:01

Democracy, the UK is one of these, well that’s the rumour. It should be healthy in a democracy to question those who have been elected to represent them. But what has developed in the UK is that layers of bureaucratic procedures normally controlled by gaggles of sycophants exist. The will of the people is buried and ignored. The best well known public example of this was going to war in Iraq.

Does this seem familiar? Have you been ping ponged between departments in your local Council over a relative simple matter? Now and again people of the UK need to take stock, to at least acknowledge the position of those who are elected and those who control that bureaucracy. That and them are there to serve the people not themselves. After all this is a democracy, is it not?

Flood control is a National disgrace, real dangers and real lives being ruined by the lack of projects to improve drainage systems. Why are some of the billions of pounds of extra bonus green tax, not being used for this? I may as well question matters via this medium, rather than being fobbed off and ping ponged between various government agencies with the excuse of the day. We are all being pushed to conserve water by an ever rising price. But the real truth is that we have plenty of water as a Nation, of course you need to have infrastructure to supply overpopulated areas (ever increasing). Take water from untapped areas of rising water tables. Water really is so natural, so unless you pollute it, it will always return in one form or another.

At least the floods create days out (with lunch) for those who should be doing something about it…

John Sheldon

25 Jun 2007 12:08

With the exit of Tony Blair and the coronation of Gordon Brown, what delights do we have in store crimewise? Will Global warming and World situations be used as diversion from real home issues such as increasing violence and drug abuse? I expect so.

Being lumped together with Wales does not bother me, the representation issue does. The rush to separate the United Kingdom is not so much self rule as European Regionalisation. Scotland speaks about jurisdiction with the demise of National Neighbourhood Watch. It was nothing about that, it was about National recognition. National Neighbourhood Watch did not have as far as I could see the strength or ability to reply.

Home Office official said that the responsibility of handing over to the banks the power to decide whether fraudsters should be pursued by the law was to ensure that the police could concentrate on cases "more likely to result in a positive outcome." Yes its lets suppress the crime figures time, something that will no doubt be rolled out for the next election as a huge success (but failing to mention the suppression). The Worlds press have a field day on the inabilities of the UK to control crime. While you have read this, two frauds that will now be forgotten have been committed.

The Home Office now stage manages the National end of Neighbourhood Watch. Is this healthy as any negative feedback from the grassroots is likely to be suppressed is it not? I am not saying that National Neighbourhood Watch painted the real picture, but at least it was independent.

John Sheldon

14 Jun 2007 13:05

With personal freedom being eroded daily in the UK, where will we be in the next 10 years? Terrorism given as a blanket excuse to carry this out. I hope people can remember back before Iraq, remember the lies and whitewash, but where was the terrorism involving the UK?

After the Iraq invasion we had 7/7, then another failed attempt on 21/7. How the second attempt was allowed to proceed involving the same model is beyond me. I have a feeling this will be the big question for the media fairly soon.

I have always looked at the UK as a piece of cheddar cheese, what have we now, with fragmentation and segregation of communities is a piece of stilton. Not just any piece of stilton, but a piece of over matured and inedible one.

There seems to be a move to introduce another Public Holiday, not so much for our benefit, but perhaps a push from Europe to catch up with their greater number. We could do with a ‘Community’ Public Holiday. Forget the politics and religious, changing the name in case someone is perceived as possibly being upset. A community day spent doing community things, as a community or at least thinking about it.

John Sheldon

24 May 2007 11:33

It is apparent that the infrastructure set for Neighbourhood Watch (England & Wales) will be one of non independence leading to Home Office stage management.

Those involved from the ‘public’ side have not spoken up or out to the many, not the few who can manage and afford to attend three selective meetings.

Time is running out in the UK, forget global warming for a moment. Greed Tax, sorry I mean Green Tax. Children are growing up with drugs, crime, lack of respect, anti-social behaviour as being quite normal. Part of the area that they see as the whole World. Add to this, offered violence in any situation. What is the future?

In 1982 the community crime was burglary. In 2007 community crime ranges from shootings, stabbings to pavements full of spat out chewing gum. You name the crime - it is happening in a street somewhere. Police have been diluted, yellow coats abound - who does what and when is only known when something happens. Then it will always be someone else’s job.

There will be a real push before the next general election to do something that should have been done over the last 10 years. Not just making laws that no one appears to be in a position to enforce or when they are, the punishments are too weak.

I am getting tired of empty announcements and gimmicks. I just want law and order, proper feed back from Neighbourhood Watches leading to National Neighbourhood Watch partnership to discuss that feed back. Warts and all.

John Sheldon

17 May 2007 12:37

Its getting extremely difficult to write something positive about the UK. Positive matters appear to be forced rather then happen. Planned events of all types which then go on to be successful which translates to everyone had a good time, more or less.

But what about everyday unplanned matters? Perhaps phoning the average customer service department to sort a problem out. First there is the kick back phone number, the longer they have you on hold, the more money they make out of you. Unfortunately many police forces joined in with this, 0845 is not a local call, it is a low call rate when compared with premium rate. It will cost at least 25 percent more at peak times. Then up to hundreds of percent extra off peak.

But at least that police call is answered in the UK at this time. Not that I am suggesting this will change, but only time will tell. You also need to remember that there is only one UK Call rate now, forget local, regional and national. It is just one rate. BT only seems to advertise domestic situations now, a theme that is old hat and akin to that family who got excited about gravy. The situation is not helped by the organisations that are reportedly there to protect consumer interests and their effort at publicising this.

Back to that average customer service department, I love hearing the tapping of the keyboard as your problem is addressed. Do you think that is a recording as whatever you phoned up about continues, normally after the date they tell you all will be OK? So what does that bring, more kick back telephone calls in an attempt to get it sorted out.

Kick back is a percentage of the cost of the call that gets paid to the holder of the number you are calling. Some organisations make millions of pounds from this. Look out for them - 0845, 0844, 0870 & 0871. These are the lower end of the premium rate but none are local or national call rate (because they do not exist). To describe them as such is wrong and can be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.

John Sheldon

15 May 2007 23:35

With the police following a flow chart of arrest as laid down by the Home Office for some years to achieve targets. Those targets having no variant between the most serious offence and incidents bordering on trivia, it is no wonder some communities are losing faith. Offences such as chalking on the footpath, whilst the result may be a caution or fixed penalty ticket and not a Court appearance. The resultant taking of photograph, DNA and fingerprints and inclusion in criminal records must have some effect on those involved in such trivia.

No wonder respect is being eroded, it can start with being arrested for trivia, rather then a verbal warning there and then. Sure there are Parents or a Parent, or a Carer who do not give a fig and it is difficult when what were children are having children. But there are Parents who do, hopefully still a majority in the UK.

But what should be very important to the community are figures produced by the Home Office bulked up by trivial arrests. Why, because the hardened criminals are laughing all the way to their next crime, while the trivia takes priority to ensure the figures are right.

John Sheldon

13 May 2007 15:10

Having had the hard drive in my computer burn out and being abroad at the time, a gap developed in my blog. In that time there were matters that were worthy of community consideration. Local Elections, National Elections (Scotland & Wales) with much political change. Because this is a blog I am able to say a change for the better all round.

I am certain that space will be given to anyone who wants to take the alternative view. Reflecting on the last 10 years, I do not see the lowering of the fear or risk of crime. If a criminal (there are many) can see or get at your property then they will. Prisons are overflowing not by increased sentences but increased offending, with the career criminal running out of options (tea and biscuit placements etc).

Is someone being shot in the UK news any more? Being robbed was one of the most serious crimes possible. Now it is so common that to call it serious would amount to being unreal. How much further will UK Society sink in the next 10 years? Answers on a gigantic postcard…

John Sheldon

08 Apr 2007 18:11

Some people must wonder why my blogs do not follow the line that the Home Office (for England and Wales) wants NW to take. The one of non funded doubtful independence.

I am fortunate to live in the ASBO Capital of the UK, crime follows on as some of the highest to be found in the UK. Particularly burglary and car crime. Violence being a way of life, statistics mean nothing.

I say fortunate, because I am able to see criminal decay first hand. Some get concerned about having insurance for Watch Signs. Not a worry here, I have not seen one. Not that they would last a day. Unfortunately there is also a lack lustre council that works to the lowest standards (that I am able to gauge).

Having also lived in one of the more desirable areas of the UK, I am well able to feel the difference.

This is not 1982, the safety on UK Streets has declined since then. Drugs and Alcohol rule and ruin many people’s lives. People fear crime because crime is real. Gun crime, stabbings, murders – all part of daily UK living.

I would point out that all the visible evidence shows that the Home Office (England and Wales) sealed the fate of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association.

1. They stopped sustainable funding.

2. They then claimed copyright to the NW Logo. The only tangible asset of NW.
(Used by financial supporters of NW).

The question of the ability of those who ran NW was brought up in Parliament. The reply concluded that it was an independent organisation.

NW claims to be apolitical, but there is no other area of Government that is as politically orchestrated then the Home Office (England and Wales).

NW will become at National level a voice filtered by political will of the Masters of NW, The Home Office (England and Wales).

So what does it need?

Proper funding and organisation to allow promotion in areas where to mention NW would normally invite a brick through your window.

To allow full inclusion of all communities within the community. I am sorry if you thought this was an integrated society.

There are simple ways to do this - but it needs funding and political will.

Why?

Because NW is more then a tool in the crime reduction box. In 1982, house burglaries were out of control, forensics were not available. Burglars were laughing. The police were out on the streets but not in as good as a position as a neighbour to see and hear a burglary taking place next door.

NW was formed and assisted admirably.

In 2007, there are new and increasing challenges for those neighbours.

Neighbourhood Watch is far too important to be operated out of a Home Office filing cabinet.

John Sheldon

29 Mar 2007 16:11

Have you ever been stopped in the Street by a Chugger? Maybe you are ignored because like me, you are not young and impressionable. Chuggers are well known in some major Cities. But some may not know who or what they are doing, if they have not been stopped. Sounds like a derogatory name and of course it is. It originates from Mugger and because these are paid Charity fundraisers, methods and persistent challenge in the Street, led to this name.

Its not a crime to get paid of course in these circumstances. This is more of a warning to young people who are stopped and given the chat. The Chuggers are after your bank or credit card details, to sign you up for monthly donations for whatever Charity they happen to be representing at that time.

They need to declare that they are being paid for what they are doing. But with a reportedly average commission of £70 a sign up, are you able to see the point I am making? Consider who are you really helping and how daft it is to give such personal detail in the Street.

This goes for anyone in the Street, carrying out a survey or whatever. Giving personal details to strangers in the Street is a daft idea. But unfortunately for some reason, you see people doing it all the time.

Why am I so against this? Because people are inclined to hand over their Credit or Debit Card for details to be taken. Some stranger then knows the Security Code and your address and whatever other personal detail they can glean from you. This can then be used for all types of fraud let alone junk mail and unwanted telephone calls.

Don’t be daft, don’t give your personal details away to Street Strangers - even if they introduce themselves or what they say they are doing sounds OK.

You have no way of knowing if it is true or not.

John Sheldon

21 Mar 2007 13:29

There was a time when only the Courts and the Library issued fines. The offences transgressed were clear. It was a balance, you knew exactly the reason and the fine matched the offence and the ability to pay.

So what of the present? The last statistic I read disclosed that 56 percent of Court Fines were never paid. I would guess that nearly all of them were a question of not having the money to pay them, or more pressing matters required payment even if that is drugs or similar. That is the Society we now live in.

Now there are many Fine Issuers for all sorts of matters, the more simple the rule breach, the higher the fine. That’s what is seems.

Those that are confident in thinking that they will never get fined for anything? Think again, CCTV is now be used to catch those doing what they may think to be normal. Knowing only later (with a fine through the post) that where they stopped in a car to drop someone off, they were causing obstruction. It matters not that the road or area was empty.

It’s the money that they are after without doubt. Think of contesting it? The County Court for these matters are normally so far away that expenses for that day will be higher then the fine. The government have allowed the UK to become a fining free for all over the last decade.

John Sheldon

20 Mar 2007 12:07

How young can criminals get in the UK? With reports this week of a 7 year old stabbing a woman and a 4 or 5 year old being involved in a distraction burglary – it makes me wonder where we are going. Oh I nearly forgot the 3 year old (which was not this week) trained to pick items off supermarket shelves and hide them.

No doubt any concerns I have can be altered with the ever ready percentage statistic, rolled out to put everybody’s mind at rest. All I know is that if I do not take security precautions at all times, I have a hundred percent chance of becoming a victim of crime. Should I fail just once and overlook something, I would be a hundred percent to blame if something happened.

One occasion when I got caught out, my own fault some would say. I had just arrived back in the UK and was outside the airport, loading a suitcase into the back of a car from a trolley. Silly me, I bent down and there was a plastic bag with some duty free in the small basket. When I stood up again, it had gone.

John Sheldon

19 Mar 2007 12:49

What is the situation of Neighbourhood Watch Sites Web Wise? I am examined them all (I can find) with a UK National flavour and I am happy to report that this site is the freshest and the most independent of the bunch. No it is not a way to guarantee that this is published!

It’s the only one that has National NW at its heart, its not trying to sell or dictate anything. What you see and get is pure Neighbourhood Watch.

Why do I think that NW is important? With great cracks running throughout UK Society the outlook is grim. You may be lucky and not live in a crack, or on the edge of one. But they are there. Streets and areas that I would not enter on foot in the daytime, let alone in the dark. I tried again only a few weeks ago, no good I was spotted. It reminded me of the time that I had been lent a very early digital camera and went into a large City. Like early mobile phones, early cameras were large with floppy disks. I was spotted by a Street gang taking a photograph and like the game of a fox and those 3 geese, I had to make my moves very carefully.

Answering that question, NW is a public statement against crime and if they can help stop a crime - they will.

John Sheldon

15 Mar 2007 17:49

There is an old saying that all members of NW and many others have heard and that is ‘if you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear’. The problem is that there have been thousands of new offences introduced with some being opinion based - rather then following a line of natural right or wrong. The thought police some may say. Where will this end, as most new police powers seem to be intent on criminalising all.

For example, wrongful arrests do take place - but where does that leave that person wrongly arrested. People of all ages are arrested on all sorts of suspicious, from people who are in themselves wrong. What does the innocent person get from all this, their photograph, DNA, fingerprints and loads of personal detail taken from them. As a completely innocent person - would you walk away thinking that you leave without a strain on your character?

John Sheldon

11 Mar 2007 13:22

‘Dread to think’ the above should read. ‘Tread to think’. Is that something about thinking on your feet? More about poor typing.

All this talk about NW signs leads me to tell you about the ones we have. Having waiting and waited for one of the largest City Councils in the Country to put these up (without charge - except from many thousands of pound of contributed in Council Taxes), enough was enough. We purchased our own and erected them. They do not match the ones in other areas. Why should they?

A few years ago they were looking washed out - so we purchased replacements.
They are light and strapped on with ties. They have never been damaged or blown off. Because they are different from other areas - I believe they are more eye catching as a result. The only house that has been broken into (and car stolen) was one that did not embrace ‘NW’. But we are not complacent.

John Sheldon

10 Mar 2007 01:42

Are we being softened up to accept low fixed time sentences for murder? I tread to think what the average is now. It was about 8 to 9 years at some stage (not all murders are high profile). It is an indication of the increased UK murder rate and the clogging of the prison system with Lifers that is behind this. Another type of bed blocking.

Even now for Life Sentencing, recommendations are given, not so much as a reflection of the callousness of the murder. But to give an indication of hope to the Murderer (wouldn’t want to infringe their human rights would we).

If there is going to be any deterrent at all - there should be known minimum time served for anyone convicted of murder.

John Sheldon

13 Feb 2007 23:00

What a mess anything approaching the name of National Neighbourhood Watch has become. The name ‘National’ has been pushed away with ‘Great Britain’ to make an easier route for European Regionalisation. If it was not for the historical and allocated use of GB, for Vehicle and Olympic entry, it would be allowed to disappear. It has all but changed to ‘Team GB’.

So where are we now? - Scottish Neighbourhood Watch, Neighbourhood Watch NI and the Home Office Neighbourhood Watch (England & Wales). So what is the logo difference, Scottish you get a Police Officer with a pecked cap, Home Office you get a helmet and Northern Ireland - No Police Officer (unless he is not in uniform and stands in the same place).

What also separates? - Funding. But the way the NNWA was organised, no one should be surprised it collapsed. Read into that what you wish.

Neighbourhood Watch, The Potential for the Future, Symposium

This is the formal game, set and match for the England & Wales Neighbourhood Watch, a Home Office production. Giving a presentation to the largest voluntary organisation in England & Wales, will there be a Web Cast of at least one of these presentations? Leaving it on the website for repeated viewings? It would be professional to think so.

But this still leaves National Neighbourhood Watch, in virtual spirit on this website.

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