West Bayers renew bid to watch out for crime
West Bay community police officers
(CNS): Residents in various communities around West Bay have been coming together to reignite existing neighbourhood watches and launch brand new ones, the RCIPS said Monday. Community police officers in the area said they were pleased to report that two new watches had been formed in recent weeks in areas that have never had a group before, bringing the district total to eight active community watches across the district’s policing beats.
“Things are heading in the right direction, and we are now seeing the results of our outreach efforts throughout the year,” said PS Laing-Hall, the Community Policing sergeant for Sector 3 and Beats 9-12.
Explaining how his team got the residents engaged in the crime fight, he said, “We started by going door-to-door in different areas, introducing ourselves and asking if people wanted to join our WhatsApp groups for notifications. Most people did want to be in these groups, and after some period of being in communication, people saw the benefit of sharing information this way with neighbours and police and wanted to start a watch.”
A new neighbourhood watch was inaugurated last weekend in Suellis Estates, which is an area of Beat 12 in West Bay, which has never had a neighbourhood watch before. Beat officers PC Leslie Franklin and AC Andrew Grant attended the meeting along with other CPD officers.
“The fact is that regular police interaction is critical to the activity of these groups; without it people don’t receive the regular updates and police information specific to their area that they want, and often lose interest,” PS Laing-Hall said. “Before the re-invigoration of community policing in early 2018, a number of watches across the district were dormant. CPD officers facilitated the reactivation of those throughout the year, and have also worked hard to add new ones.”
On Saturday, 15 December, CPD officers also attended the initial meeting of a neighbourhood watch in the Ebanks Road area of West Bay following the opening of the Leo Ebanks Children’s Playground. PC Eugene Myles, Beat Officer for Beat 11, initiated the watch and will be progressing its development in the Ebanks Road area. He asks that anyone interested in joining this watch please contact him directly or at the West Bay Police Station at 949-3999.
Anyone who is interested in starting a neighbourhood watch anywhere throughout the islands should contact their local police station or beat officer.
An interactive map of the islands with the beats and contact information for beat officers can be found here.
Category: Crime, Crime Prevention
Beats and Community Officers found here, at the RCIPS link: http://www.rcips.ky/east-end (use the drop-down list to find your district/area). Contact information for each officer listed.
No community meeting scheduled? Request one! What can you do to help? Ask! Develop your situational awareness. Create a neighbourhood watch group. Get together. Make a stand and take back our streets.
Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, that sounds all wonderful and sparkly, but listen folks, we are on the cusp of losing control of our streets. The criminals are a minority, but we have to get involved to make a difference.
Everything changes. No, things aren’t like they used to be, and it doesn’t help anything to attempt to ascribe who is to blame. Much of it is us. Time to buckle down and work with the police and make them know we understand the problems and are willing to help.
Neighborhood Watch is a breeding ground for xenophobia and paranoia. I wonder how many false complaints this gem is going to produce.
Dey is al racist fur not lettin me tek a little fa ma nebor.
Yeah, keep drinking the kool aid.
Good job. Any time we can make a liaison with the RCIPS toward our common goal, we are moving in the right direction. I wager this will lead to quicker responses and more detailed evidence/information for the police to go on.
I would like to see Special Constables with community duties in each district.
I recall one fellow in industrial park saying that he called the police about a group of thugs robbing his place. The police didn’t show up until he called back saying he spotted white colored packages in the thugs vehicle. After his second call he said police showed up in 5 minutes. Typical Keystone Cops attitude if you ask me.
Cool story bro
Whats the point if police still arrive a half hour later after a report of a serious crime.
you’re right. Let’s all just avert our eyes and go with the herding instinct — stay in large groups and never concern ourselves with anyone else; only the slow, sick or old members of the herd will be culled. SMH!
The POINT is, we all have a part to play also, and unproven anecdotal posts like yours do little but rile up all the other keyboard warriors. We have a responsibility for each other that is older than the written laws.
Instead, how about something constructive? For instance, looking over a neighborhood and identifying places where better lighting would make it more difficult for burglars to operate. Security systems, even.
These neighbourhood watch groups are doing something that matters. Yes, I am involved. There are frequent community meetings chaired by the RCIPS. Look at their website. Attend, and express your concerns. What do you have to lose? They put on a fairly decent refreshment spread.
Couldn’t agree more. Well said. Only those of us who actually try to DO something – which means yes, going to meetings, listening to annoying neighbours at times complain about dog**** on their lawn – only we get the right to complain! How many of these keyboard warriors with their unsubstantiated one-liners actually DO anything themselves? And for the record, our beat officer sits through these meetings too, listening to a lot of menial crap, but thanks to these meetings our community response is quick, and the policing too. Recently a guy was spotted behaving suspiciously during the middle of the day on our street, walking around the back of several houses when most people are at work. He was spotted, it went out on Whatsapp and one of the neighbours immediately drove by. The beat officer, also on the Whatsapp, got a police car sent which was patrolling by a few minutes later. They guy had walked away down the other side of the street and was gone, but that kind of watchfulness and response doesn’t just happen on its own. The Whatsapp groups are a godsend but they take some attention to manage. In this life you don’t get anything without putting some effort into it. But I think this neighbourhood would say it is worth it.
That is the paranoia I was talking about!
Lies…
I tried the “better lighting” approach – actually it was an existing light out on an existing pole and it still took CUC 2 MONTHS to replace it!!!
What I hear is, through your attention and efforts, the light actually got replaced eventually. Had you not acted, I don’t doubt it would still not be working. Good job!
There is room for improvement in nearly every system or organisation here; we can whinge and/or we can be proactive.
It is the RCIPS’ job. It is our responsibility.