The Gazette, Friday, February 4, 2011
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FEATURE
MEET THE PARTNERS
ANNUAL FAMILY EVENT SHOWCASES FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
A major event in Newport next week will showcase over 35 community safety organisations, telling visitors how they work together to help tackle and prevent crime. ‘Partners Against Crime’, which was held for the first time last year and was a follow up to the popular ‘Question Crime’ event in 2009, is a multi-agency day for all the family organised by the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership. Major organisations including the Isle of Wight Council, Hampshire Constabulary, the Island’s NHS, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Probation Trust will be joined by a large number of other organisations for the day. It will again be held at Medina Leisure Centre on Saturday 12 February between 1000 – 1530 and will feature displays, demonstrations, showcase services and provide consultation opportunities.
This year’s Partners Against Crime will cover the five key priorities for the partnership. These are Substance Misuse, Anti-Social Behaviour, Domestic Abuse, Reducing Offending and Protecting Vulnerable Individuals. A Taser demonstration, drugs dog displays, Smartwater demonstration, a security tag display, a Road Traffic Collision demonstration and magic shows for children of all ages with a Community Safety twist will be taking place throughout the day. Community chefs will cook up some healthy eating ideas and mocktails, an alternative to alcohol. A selection of emergency service and community safety vehicles will be on display including a fire engine, police road policing unit, ambulance, NHS and police 4x4s and the road safety trailer. Isle of Wight Council Leader David Pugh said the event is a follow on from last year, saying “All of the Isle of Wight’s major
organisations work together on a daily basis to help reduce crime and improve the every day lives of residents. “This can be anything from reducing drug use so users don’t commit crime to fund their habits, preventing shops from selling age restricted products to underage people, cracking down on speeding and helping reduce accidents – the list goes on. “It is very important the council and its partners provide events such as Partners Against Crime as it gives people a chance to see what we do, while also interacting and speaking to the various agencies involved.” Isle of Wight Police Commander, Superintendent Norman Mellors, said: “I believe reductions in crime are achieved where strong links exist between residents, neighbourhood leaders and community safety professionals. “Public support for local police and partner agencies is an essential element in warning criminals they’ll be never
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tolerated on our Island. I look forward to seeing as many residents as possible on February 12 when there’s an opportunity to both witness and get more involved in our combined efforts to keep the island safe.” Kevin Flynn, Chief Executive, NHS Isle of Wight said “Partners Against Crime is a very important event because creating a safe environment encourages people to participate in activities outside the home. This improves health and wellbeing for all ages and sectors of our population. “The NHS has a key part to play which goes beyond treating the victims of crime and we strongly support the event at Medina Leisure Centre.” Parking is available on the main car parks at Medina leisure centre and also on the tennis courts at the rear of Medina High School. There is also parking available at the nearby Seaclose Park.
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FEATURE
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The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service works
himself. He would draw attention to himself by
with young people in the community through
being negative and could not bear any positive
LIFE (Local Intervention Fire Education)
attention. The Headteacher could not believe
courses. During June 2009, A pupil from St
what a boost it had been for him and the other
George’s School attended a LIFE course at Ryde
pupils in the school. Luke has been seen by our
Fire Station. It was a real life changing event for
Youth Engagement officer on several occasions
Luke. He had lost his enthusiasm for education
and has been invited to return to the LIFE project
and felt that he could not achieve no matter
as a support instructor on future courses. Luke
how hard he tried. He was also considering
was awarded a High Sheriff’s award in March
whether school was the right thing for him. His
2010 for his achievements on the LIFE course
behaviour had deteriorated at school and the
and subsequent learning at school. For more
main issue was his behaviour towards others,
information about the LIFE project, speak with
which was down to his own inadequacy. After
the Fire and Rescue Service at ‘Partners Against
the LIFE course, he had a real reason to feel
Crime’ on February 12. Alternatively, contact
proud and it had completely rejuvenated him.
the Fire and Rescue Service: Phone: 01983
He wanted to be at school and presented an
533834Email: fire.communitysafety@iow.gov.
assembly to the whole school using
uk Web: www.iwfire.org.uk
The Gazette, Friday, February 4, 2011
e c i v r e S e IW Fir ject LIFE pro
his portfolio for evidence. Before the project he could not sit in an assembly, let alone present one by
s d n a t S n o Exhibiti
CCTV Crimestoppers charity Drug & Alcohol Action Team Environmental Health Firearms and Knife Education Fire and Rescue Service Forensic CSI Get Sorted drugs education Hampshire Probation Trust Hampshire Search and Rescue HM Prison Isle of Wight Ion Track drugs detection Licensing
Mocktail Bar Neighbourhood Watch NHS IW Ambulance Service NHS services (various) Police services for deaf people Police Special Constables Police volunteer recruitment SmartWater Trading Standards Victim Support Wessex Youth Offending Team
The Gazette, Friday, February 4, 2011
Contact the Gazette for News and Advertising: 01983 898340
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FEATURE
e f i n K d n a Firearms (FAKE) Education Hampshire Constabulary’s acclaimed campaign to tackle the risks of knives and imitation firearms is heading to the ‘Partners Against Crime’ event on Saturday, February 12. Isle of Wight armed response officer PC Stuart Ross and some of his colleagues will present displays and demonstrations of their work. The campaign known as FAKE, which stands for Firearms And Knife Education, was created by officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Tactical Firearms Support Unit (TFSU). Formerly known as Fake Gun, Real Trouble, the overall programme, which delivers DVDs and an educational package to schools, youth groups, and partner agency groups across the two counties, was successfully launched in Hampshire in 2007 to raise awareness
of the dangers of carrying a BB gun or imitation firearm and has grown to encompass the potentially lethal threat of knives. The campaign was created when it was discovered that almost 70 per cent of all firearms-related incidents police respond to involved fake guns and air weapons. The FAKE campaign was brought to the island by PC Stuart Ross in October 2008. Armed response officers on the island make regular appearances at public events and schools where more than 16,000 pupils have experienced this interactive education. PC Stuart Ross said: “We are fortunate not to have a serious problem with gun and knife crime on the island, but we are never complacent in wanting to educate the public so a potential tragedy can be
prevented thanks to better awareness of the risks. “Police are again grateful to the organisers of the Partners Against Crime for embracing this campaign and allowing us to deliver these important safety messages to Island residents. Members of the public have been very keen and interested at previous events to understand more about these issues, as well as the roles and responsibilities of an armed response officer. “The message for youngsters and parents is that it’s difficult, even for firearms experts, to distinguish between a fake gun and a real weapon from a distance. Each call to police reporting a firearm being seen prompts the same response involving armed officers. Often, it’s only once the gun is retrieved
t r o p p u S Victim
Victim Support is a national charity giving free and confidential help to victims of crime, witnesses, their family, friends and anyone else affected. Victim Support is not a government agency or part of the police and you don’t have to report a crime to the police to get our help. Victim Support has two services: Community Service and Witness Service Community Service. The Community Service consists of trained volunteers available everyday of the week (including weekends) to talk over the phone or meet face to face. The Witness Service consists of trained volunteers working within the Newport Law Courts every day of the week. Victim Support is recruiting volunteers on the Isle of Wight during our national ‘Find the Strength’ campaign. Visit our stand at Partners Against Crime on February 12. Alternatively, phone 01983 533638, or email: Emily.rose@victimsupport.org.uk or visit www.victimsupport.org.uk
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that officers are able to confirm it is an imitation or BB gun.” “Officers use a variety of props to demonstrate to the students how difficult it is to determine – from sight – whether weapons are real or not. “Imitation firearms and BB guns may seem like harmless fun, by carrying one you are putting yourself at risk; and we are all aware of the serious threat caused by carrying a knife. Our message is very simple: Just don’t do it.” For more information, phone the police on 101 or 0845 045 45 45. Also go online to http://www.hampshire. police.uk/Internet/news/campaigns/ FAKE+Campaign.html
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FEATURE
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The Gazette, Friday, February 4, 2011
S E L B A T S N O C L A SPECI
AND POLICE VOLUNTEERS
Could you spare a few hours to help the police in your community? The police force is continuing a campaign at the ‘Partners Against Crime’ event to recruit more volunteers who can make a difference to their community on the Isle of Wight . Our volunteers include Special Constables who give up their time to work as police officers, often in addition to their full time careers. They carry out exactly the same roles as police officers with the same powers, patrolling neighbourhoods, responding to emergency calls, and arresting suspects. Police volunteer roles range from administration support to victim contact work. The opportunities available will vary depending on where you
want to work and how much time you have. The role of a police support volunteer is not to do work that someone would normally be paid for or to cover when people are sick or on holiday. The role of a police support volunteer is to help the police with the tasks that either enable us to give a better service to the communities we serve or to provide support which enables our officers to spend less time on administration or routine tasks and more time in your neighbourhood. On the Isle of Wight in 2010, there were already 17 Special Constables and 11 support volunteers who worked in areas including Safer Neighbourhoods, Public Protection, Community Safety, Corporate Communications and Business Services. A police spokesman
said: “Police volunteers are people with the time to give and the enthusiasm to make a difference. You don’t necessarily have to have any particular skills – although specialists are always welcome – just the right attitude and community values. The hours can usually be flexible to suit you and your commitments. “You will become part of a team, learn new skills, gain in confidence and enhance your own understanding of policing. You will also gain personal satisfaction from the knowledge that you have been generous with your time and talents for the benefit of your community. In return we will benefit from your skills and the knowledge and different perspective you could bring to one of our teams.” Hampshire Constabulary Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: “Communities
e m i r C t s n i a g A ners
Part
s n o i t a r t Demons
Fire and Rescue Service ‘smoke room’ G4S offender tagging demonstration Police drugs dogs Police Taser demonstration Road collision demonstration Road safety & stranger danger advice SmartWater burglary kit demonstration
frequently say that they want to see a uniformed police presence on the streets and in their neighbourhood. It’s my job to make the best use of our resources to achieve this and also deliver a whole variety of other policing services. “Having the support of people who give up their time and talents to help our teams means that I can keep officers and staff where communities want them to be - out of offices and actively working in neighbourhoods.” For more information about becoming a police volunteer, please visit our stand at the Partners Against Crime event on February 12 or contact us on 0845 0454545
Pictured in centre Special Constable Steve Weston
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FEATURE 1493EE
The Gazette, Friday, February 4, 2011
Medina Leisure Centre, Fairlee Road, Newport Saturday 12 February 2011 10am to 3.30pm -
meet the Community Safety Partnership demonstrations for all the family get up close with a variety of emergency vehicles let us inform you with what we’re doing
Find out more at www.saferwight.org.uk/csi