CHURCH WATCH!
ON Sunday the 24 June 2007, Inspector
Martin Melia, the Merseyside Police Neighbourhood Watch
Inspector, addressed a meeting in St Luke’s Church’s
meeting room in Formby.
The audience comprised members
of the church congregation and residents of the adjacent
area concerned with Church Watch, an extension of the
Home Watch schemes.
Inspector Melia gave some cogent facts about crime in
the present day and especially in this area, the need
for increased vigilance and the role of Home Watch and
Church Watch schemes in reducing its effects.
He alluded
to leaflet’s 10 good reasons for belonging… issued by
the Homewatch Association, which is a volunteer body set
up to co-ordinate information between local police and
individual scheme members. Among these 10 reasons are
the statistics that:- “1 in every 30 households in
Great Britain can expect to be burgled at some time” but
“in Homewatch areas only 1 in 300 is targeted.”
Homewatch/Churchwatch signs signal to
burglars that the area is security conscious, therefore
less attractive.
Schemes also bring community spirit
back into neighbourhoods. He referred to Liverpool’s
Bishop James’ remarks that a neighbourhood is only a
collection of buildings; it only becomes a community
when people begin to care.
The Homewatch co-ordinator, Mrs Jeanette Rimmer and the
Chairman David Rimmer were introduced and they expounded
various measures which can be taken to increase
awareness of and to reduce vulnerability to crime.
They
also demonstrated various devices, which may be employed
to help.
The presentation was a salutary experience and gave much
food for thought.
Anyone interested in forming a local Homewatch or
Churchwatch scheme should get in touch with their local
Homewatch co-ordinator or call at a local Police
Station.
Greater vigilance can pay dividends and there
are real benefits to gain from the backing of the Homewatch Association, which can offer valuable
assistance in setting up such schemes.
Ship and Anchor Is Now
Re-Opened..!
THE Ship and Anchor Pub in
Southport re-opened it's doors on Saturday 23 June 2007
after being taken over by a family...
The pub was regarded as the friendliest
in Southport and the new owners say that that will be
the way it will stay.
Also the pub will be running all the
events including the Sunday Quiz with our editor and our
Liverpool Reporter DJ Mark Lee...
Full story next week!
