Wedmore Neighbourhood Watch seeks to reduce local opportunities for crime & anti-social behaviour by harnessing community spirit so that everyone can contribute towards the protection of their property through mutual cooperation and effective communication.
We aim to do this via a network of street coordinators linked in a cascade system by phone & internet to Police HQ & our local policing team.
Wedmore Neighbourhood Watch Opening Times:
We operate literally 365/24/7
- i.e. whenever opportunities for crime present themselves on our patch
- by staying alert and informed we feel able to help our community residents and businesses to help themselves to combat criminality in and around Wedmore.
To volunteer as a Wedmore Neighbourhood Watch Street Coordinator just contact Paul Johnson*:
The initial approach for information should be via your street neighbourhood watch coordinator. If you do not have one then contact the NW Administrator on 07889 656 575, or email paulk.johnson@avonandsomerset.police.uk
Paul Johnson is the NW schemes Administrator for schemes in Somerset who normally works out of Taunton Police Station and coordinates all the police communications with 2,500 street coordinators in Somerset. He also helps to set up new schemes, registers them and assists with management. He is part of the Neighbourhood & Partnership Directive.
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To see the police team for Sedgemoor Northeast click on the link below: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/sedgemoor-north-east/
NB At the bottom is a web message facility to "CONTACT the team", not for reporting crime.
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You can report a crime online or call 101 (for non-emergencies - very comprehensive)
or 999 (for emergencies).
from Paul Johnson below are important links to use (19/6/2023):
Reporting Incidents | Avon and Somerset Police
Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
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How does Neighbourhood Watch work with the police?
Neighbourhood Watch aims to foster a strong and positive working relationship
with the police both locally and nationally.
Locally
At a local level, street coordinators and their beat members can help to ensure the police meet the needs of their communities. Where the relationship is working well, Neighbourhood Watch coordinators are a trusted source of information about crime and suspicious incidents, and can also help the police to pass on crime prevention advice to members and other residents.
Coordinators are often instrumental in identifying issues of local concern, as well as promoting community cohesion and increasing confidence in local policing. Each year they contribute the equivalent of €l billion of their time to preventing crime and building stronger communities.
Neighbourhood Watch is run by volunteers and is not owned or managed by the police. However, police staff often contribute resources - most noticeably their time, but also sometimes other forms of in-kind support - to the set-up and running of schemes.
At the force area level
At the force area level, each police force has a 'single point of contact' (SPOC), Paul Johnson, for Watch issues. The SPOC usually also covers other types of Watch schemes such as Farm Watch, Horse Watch, Dog Watch etc. which are not officially part of the Neighbourhood Watch Network. They liaise with the force area level Neighbourhood Watch Association (comprised of volunteers).
We also encourage Neighbourhood Watch Associations to develop a good relationship with their Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC). A number of Associations have received funding for projects via their PCC. We are keen to promote the benefits the movement can bring in the areas of crime prevention, neighbourhood policing and community resilience, and to make sure the role of volunteers has its place in force-wide strategies.
Nationally
The Neighbourhood Watch movement is part of the Citizens In Policing family, along with the Special Constabulary, Police Support Volunteers and Cadets. At a national level, we work closely with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), particularly with Chief Constable Dave Jones of North Yorkshire Police who leads on the Citizens ln Policing portfolio. We also work with the College of Policing and the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners (APCC).
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SCHEME COORDINATOR ROLE DESCRIPTION
(WEDMORE NW Administrator - Paul Johnson*)
Wedmore Neighbourhood Watch scheme has Paul Johnsonacting as the central Scheme Administrator overseeing the Wedmore Group of Neighbourhood Coordinator Volunteers
oversee the scheme and coordinate associated activity.
Wedmore Local Coordinators should be prepared to:
- Contact every individual household in their chosen "Beat members" (usually one, maybe two, streets) to invite street members to be part of the "Beat".
- Act as a key point of contact to receive and cascade information between
scheme members, other local coordinators and partners, where relevant. - Receive scheme administration information, ensuring scheme and membership
information is registered in line with local policy and kept up to date. - Signpost members with community safety issues to the most appropriate
organisation. - Encourage reporting of suspicious and/or criminal incidents to the police.
- Promote personal responsibility for community safety by encouraging
members to improve home and personal security. - Promote neighbourliness by encouraging members to share crime reduction information and keep an eye on each other's homes and possessions, giving special consideration to vulnerable neighbours.
- Support police and other agencies to identify local issues and solve problems where there are community concerns.
Neighbourhood Watch schemes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. As the scheme administrator, Paul Johnson will familiarise Local Street Coordinators with participating members, if known, their preferred method of communication and the defined area of coverage for the Wedmore scheme. This information should be maintained and updated on the Wedmore scheme profile as and when required.
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Contact the Police
Emergency calls
In an emergency please telephone 999.
If you are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment,
a text phone is available on 18000.
You should use these numbers if:
. A crime is happening right now.
. Someone is in immediate danger or there is a risk of serious damage to property.
. A suspect in a serious crime is nearby.
. There is a traffic collision involving injury or danger to other road users.
112 is the common European emergency telephone number that can be dialled free of charge from most mobile telephones and, in some countries, fixed telephones in order to reach emergency services.
Non-emergency calls
For all other calls to the police in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, please
telephone 101.
Calls cost 15p from mobiles and landlines, regardless of duration. They are free of charge
from payphones.
If you are deaf deafened, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment,
a textphone is available on 18001 101.
You should use these non-emergency numbers to:
. Report a crime not currently in progress - for example, a stolen car, burglary, or damaged
property.
, Give information to the police about crime in your area.
. Speak to the police about a general enquiry.
. Contact a specific police officer or member of staff.
If you need to contact the police elsewhere please check the website of the force you
wish to contact. Please see the complete list of force websites for links. Please note that some forces may not advertise local numbers that can be called from abroad and that where such numbers are made available, they may not be staffed 24/7.
Online
Many police forces provide online forms and information about alternative contact methods
(like text messaging or email) on their individual websites. Please see the complete list of
force websites for links.
Other useful Phone numbers
Action Fraud 0300 123 2040
Anti-terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321
Crimestoppers 0800 789 321
National Crime Agency 0370 496 7622
National Police Air Service 01924 292 252
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
Victim Support line 08 08 16 89 111
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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
COME AND JOIN US!
Chief Constable Andy Marsh, and the Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens, recently signed articles committing Avon & Somerset police to the National Neighbourhood Watch scheme, so we are now taking additional steps to encourage more people to start or join a scheme in their area.
Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary organisation in the country, with
over 3,750 individual watches in the Avon & Somerset area alone, with tens of
thousands of members. Why not become one of them?
There are many benefits of Neighbourhood Watch:
- Members are sent alert messages detailing incidents in their area, or
anything happening in a wider area that may affect you - lt brings communities together, united in protecting themselves and their
neighbours - ls free to join! Nothing is payable to the police - the only cost you may have
is for any street signs. - lt is your scheme to support. The police with Paul Johnson, administrator, are happy to help you set a Watch up, but how you run it is up to you.
- Typically, it is estimated that you are six times less likely to become a victim
of a crime if you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch.
You may be able to get a discount on your home insurance!
To volunteer as a Wedmore Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator (see below Coordinator role description) just contact Paul Johnson as below:
The initial approach for information should be via your street neighbourhood watch coordinator. If you do not have one then contact the NW Administrator on 07889 656 575, or email paulk.johnson@avonandsomerset.police.uk
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For other useful references see below:
MoneySaving Expert Website:
30+ Ways to Stop Scams: MoneySavingExpert
Commercial website but very practical with common sense explanations.
Action Fraud - Handy Guide
SPECIAL NOTE from Cyber Security Centre
There has been a rise in scams during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it's important to remain vigilant.
You do not want to give your personal details or money to fraudsters. Remember to take time to STOP, CHALLENGE and PROTECT.
STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It's ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you've fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
How to report "phishing" email (scammers) amongst other important advice.
NEW 2020 05
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home
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From Avon and Somerset Police!
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Take Five (to Stop Fraud) Website ***
We want organisations, businesses and individuals to be able to spread the message and get involved in the campaign so we can all help protect the nation against financial fraud. Please support Take Five and make use of the full suite of campaign materials we have on offer.
Highly recommended by institutions -
https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/
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the UK's national online and phone helpline for reporting fraud and internet crime and offers advice to the public. Below website contains many tips and sound advice to protect yourself from fraud.
www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud
Also, there is a very interesting write-up about Action Fraud (below link) which explains a lot about this organisation. It is how the police gather information about fraud (scams, one example). Its aim is to work with the public to gather intelligence and will report back to protect the public.
Background information as to how Action Fraud reporting works
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"How to spot Fraud and what to do!"
Fraud Advice (Avon and Somerset Police)
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POLICE.UK
The National Police.UK website is also excellent for seeing a number of incidents by month for specific locations
Crime and policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
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All about Internet Protection (and much, much more)
www.getsafeonline.org
Avon and Somerset Police - Keeping Safe - Home/Car/Belongs:
www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/advice/crime-prevention-advice/protecting-your-home-and-property/
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The following is a commercial Neighbourhood Watch website
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Education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command.
Thinkuknow
Since 2006, Thinkuknow has been keeping children and young people safe by providing education about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation …..
Keeping your under Jessie & Friends: Using Parental What is "IoT"
5 safe online For 4-7 year-olds Controls (Internet of Things)
Find out more Find out more Find out more Find out more
This guide highlights what are the risks of kids being online, and how do you keep your children safe online to name a few.
Here’s the link - https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/top-antivirus-with-parental-control/
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Internet Safety for Kids: The Definitive Guide
Internet Safety for Kids:
[2022]: https://www.antivirusguide.com/cybersecurity/internet-safety-kids/
The Ultimate Social Media Safety Guide for Kids [2022]: https://www.antivirusguide.com/cybersecurity/social-media-safety-kids/
The Definitive Guide to Parental Control [2022]: https://www.antivirusguide.com/cybersecurity/parental-control-guide/