Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter Edition 6 – Summer 2019 Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) are teaming up with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and local communities to tackle anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking over the summer months. There are a number of hot spot areas across the borough where young people tend to congregate and we are working hard to try and alleviate these issues – but we also need the help of parents. We are encouraging parents to please know where your child is going when they
are out, who they are with and what they are doing. Under-age drinking damages the health of young people, creates problems in our communities and encourages Anti- Social Behaviour. In the coming months we will be focusing on the hotspot areas across the Borough. Within this issue there are also useful tips from PSNI about staying safe this summer. As we enjoy the longer evenings and brighter nights it is easy to become a little complacent about crime prevention. Whilst we are fortunate to live in one of the safest areas, we want to remind residents that burglars are often opportunistic! Let
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us not make it easy for them by leaving your windows and doors open or leaving valuables easily accessible. Unfortunately in the last few months there has been an increase in scams across Northern Ireland, particularly via the telephone/internet. Within this edition we have included advice from PSNI which includes some simple tips to keep you and your property safe. If you do find yourself in the position where you feel you have been scammed we urge you to please report it to 101. Wendy Carson, Mid and East Antrim PCSP Manager
Respect Everyone’s Journey
Simple Steps to foil car crime
Bicycles are no stranger to the Mid and East Antrim Borough with its stunning coastlines and beautiful inlands. With this in mind Mid and East Antrim PCSP are urging all road users to exercise greater care as more and more people of all ages take to the pedals.
Most thefts from vehicles are opportunistic. If valuable possessions (e.g. handbags, laptops, sat navs, IPods, mobiles, cameras) are visible in a vehicle, it is much more likely to be targeted. Even low value items such as bags and clothing may tempt a potential thief to break into the vehicle to see whether they contain anything worth stealing.
The Highway Code gives good advice for both cyclists and motorists:
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Cyclists should:
Motorists should:
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Wear appropriate clothing helping them to be easily seen day or night. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Give serious consideration to wearing a helmet. Make use of designated cycle routes where possible – whilst they are not compulsory, they can made your journey safer. Never ride more than two abreast and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads or when riding round bends.
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Realise that cyclists have the same rights to the road. Cyclists are more vulnerable and therefore greater care and attention is needed when a motorist encounters cyclists. Always give cyclists plenty of room at all times, especially if you are a driver of a large goods vehicle. When turning left, always check your nearside mirror before you turn.
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When leaving your car, close all windows and ensure the vehicle is locked. Where possible, park your car in an attended car park. At home, use your garage. If you don’t have a garage, park in a well-lit area. Don’t leave items on display in your car. Take all your personal possessions with you. DO NOT lock handbags/ valuables in the car boot when going for a walk – potential thieves may have just witnessed where you have placed you valuables. Remove sat nav holders and visible sat navs ring marks from windscreens.
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Leave the glove box open to show there’s nothing inside. Fit an alarm or immobilizer to your car. Do not store car documents in the vehicle. Secure wheels using locking wheel nuts.
Make it a #SaferSummer with these tips from PSNI With the brighter summer nights here at last, many young people are allowed to go out unaccompanied or enjoy more time with their friends. In a bid to keep young people safe, the PCSP, in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and the local community, are urging all parents to pay attention to their child’s whereabouts at all times by asking themselves these questions:
Online Scams There are many different types of online scams. Some examples include: •
Do you know where they are? Do you know who they’re with? Do you know what they’re doing?
Mail and Phone Scams
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Scammers may write or call you out of the blue using clever techniques to persuade you to send them money or ask for personal ad/ or banking details. Be particularly wary of letters and calls relating to: • •
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Lotteries or competitions you haven’t entered; Clairvoyants who suggest harm may come to you if you don’t send them money; Charities you haven’t heard of; Health products that offer miracle cures; Offers of romance that normally lead to requests for money; Pension offers which normally lead to requests to transfer your pension funds and; Investments in land, wine, precious stones or carbon credits
Scammers also call claiming to be from legitimate organisations such as: • • • • • • •
Banks; The Police; Medical practitioners; Telephone/internet providers; Electricity or gas suppliers; and Computer software providers. Be wary of unsolicited texts which can lead to high mobile bills if you reply.
Bogus “free trial” offers for items such as slimming pills, health supplements or beauty products, which turn out to be costly subscriptions Bogus emails claiming to be from your bank or someone you hold an account with, containing links/attachments to obtain your personal/ financial details.
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Counterfeit goods – it seems like a bargain branded item, but in fact you could be dealing with a copy website selling fake goods. Loan scams – scammers offer a bogus loan and convince you to send money for fees by money transfer services. Copycat websites for official services such as passports, driving licences, EHIC cards and MOT’s. They charge a fee when the service is either free or cheaper via the official site.
Visit www.getsafeonline.org for tips on how to protect yourself or download a copy of The Consumer Council’s ‘Guide to Shopping Safely Online’ and ‘Safer Ways to Pay’ guides from www. consummercouncil.org.uk
who can verify if you need any work done. Never hand over a cash deposit or go with a trader to the bank to take money out. A reputable trader will never ask you to do this. Rogue sales persons who try to pressure you into buying goods. They may say the offer has a time limit, but it’s usually not genuine.
It’s best not to decide on the doorstep but shop around and talk it over with someone you know first. Bogus callers who pretend they are from the Council, a charity, or a gas, electricity to water supplier in order to gain entry to your home.
Doorstep Scams Not all doorstep callers are bogus but watch out for:•
Rogue doorstep traders who may give warnings about your home in terms of repairs and maintenance. Don’t be taken in by this, tell someone you know and get advice from a qualified trades-person
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Celebrating Culture This innovative approach developed by the Cultural Celebrations Working Group and supported by local community partners has been undertaken to encourage positive cultural celebrations throughout Mid and East Antrim that are carried out in a respectful and responsible manner, which minimises negative impacts on community and environment. One of the main aims of the Cultural Celebrations Working Group is to strengthen partnerships between local community leaders and statutory partners to encourage safe, responsible and familyfriendly cultural celebrations. The Cultural Celebrations Working Group behind the messaging is made up of a number of representatives from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, PSNI, NIFRS, NI Housing Executive, Education Authority, NIE Networks, Department for Infrastructure and the NI Environment Agency. We want to ensure that all cultural celebrations are safe and respectful.
Safe Sites •
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the height of the bonfire Wind direction should be taken into consideration to ensure fumes aren’t blowing across spectators or their homes Bonfires should not be positioned on tarmac or asphalt surfaces. If the weather is dry, preferably the surface should be damped down Ideally, a bonfire should be in an area and on a surface that can be easily cleaned afterwards.
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Safe Community
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Bonfires must be sited well away from houses, garages, sheds, overhead cables and electricity substations Residents should be consulted before the • bonfire is built to make sure they are comfortable with where it is located Bonfire sites should be well away from areas where • children usually play Remember the 1:5 rule. This means the nearest property should not be any closer than 5 times •
NEVER use flammable liquids to light bonfires as they can explode. Use domestic fire-lighters Stockpiling material in open sites can be dangerous particularly for children and can make the neighbourhood look unsightly and encourage vermin Cages or fences to outline the size of the bonfire could be considered to keep spectators at a safe distance Keep the area around the bonfire tidy to prevent embers burning for days which can pose a risk to young children Ensure the flames are fully
extinguished after the event Sand bases could be a safer and more environmental way to celebrate culture.
Ensure the structure is stable to try and prevent it collapsing Bonfires should be a manageable size When building the bonfire, make sure huts and dens are not built within them Bonfires should be lit by a responsible adult Sand bases could prevent damage to the ground.
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Environment
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Toxic materials, such as tyres, paint, aerosols, bottles or foam-filled furniture, are not burned or left at sites Bonfires can often be used as a dumping ground, the burning of this waste can be dangerous for the health of those nearby. It is illegal to dump toxic materials If any illegal waste is dumped at a bonfire site, it is advised you contact the landowner to have this removed safely.
Community
Sites
Useful Contact Numbers
Your PCSP members
PSNI contact details
10 Elected Members
9 Independent Members
7 Statutory Partners
Cllr Gregg McKeen Ald John Carson Cllr Andrew Wilson Cllr Mrs Lauren Gray Cllr Timothy Gaston Cllr Thomas Gordon Cllr Miss C Johnston Cllr John McDermott Cllr Danny Donnelly Cllr Marc Collins
Mary Watson Marjorie Hawkins Brenda Leslie Jonathan Cooke Emma McIlveen Wendy Kerr Ashleigh Perry Rodney Quigley
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Name
Rank
Role
Station
Mobile
Rory Bradley
Inspector
Neighbourhood Police Team Ballymena
Ballymena
07557261877
Rory.Bradley@psni. pnn.police.uk
Ciara Mullan
Inspector
Neighbourhood Police Team Larne & Carrick
Carrick
07917586430
ciara.mullan@psni. pnn.police.uk
Simon Coupland
Sergeant
Neighbourhood Policing Team Carrick
Carrick
07787133250
simon.coupland@ psni.pnn.police.uk
Chris McIlroy
Sergeant
Neighbourhood Policing Team
Carrick
07787224732
Chris.McIlroy@ psni.pnn.police.uk
Michelle McKillop
Sergeant
Neighbourhood Policing Team
Ballymena
07917094898
Michelle.McKillop@ psni.pnn.police.uk
Stephen Rainey
Sergeant
Community Planning Sergeant
Ballymena
07920502825
stephen.rainey2@ psni.pnn.police.uk
Mid and East Antrim PCSP contact details Contact the PCSP staff by phone, email or call into the office: Larne Town Hall, Upper Cross Street, Larne. BT40 1RZ Tel: 028 2826 2459/60/61 Email: pcsp@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
In an emergency call 999 PSNI non-emergency number 101 • • • •
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Victim Support: 028 2563 0784 Crime stoppers: 0800 555 111 24 hour Domestic and Sexual Violence helpline: 0808 802 1414 Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey (ABCLN) Women’s Aid: 028 2563 2136 Crime Prevention Officer Stuart Willkie: 07500036996 / Ext 86008 / phone 101
Police Service of Northern Probation Board Youth Justice Agency Northern Health and Social Care Trust Education Authority Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
This newsletter is supported by The Northern Ireland Policing Board and The Department of Justice. With thanks to PSNI, Crimestoppers and Neighbourhood Watch for providing information for this leaflet.
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