NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Neighbourhood and Home Watch - Launch 16 June 2008

The new Neighbourhood and Home Watch website has been launched. Please follow the link http://www.mynhw.co.uk

This new website will focus on the traditional roles of the Watch movement and it will also provide a national platform from which we can focus on taking Neighbourhood and Home Watch and the wider Watch movement onto its next challenge.

This challenge is for the Watch movement to embrace the Neighbourhood Policing agenda and continue to provide the Police with a ready made structure with which to develop the local consultation, engagement and problem solving required to deliver not only crime prevention but public reassurance.

The days when there was a police officer on every street corner have never existed and are not likely to in the future. National levels of crime fluctuate for a variety of reasons but there will always be members of society whose unlawful actions affect the rest of us.

Neighbourhood Watch members, working in partnership with the police and other agencies, can however create an environment where crime and anti-social behaviour is not tolerated.

Market Harborough Neighbourhood Watch Support Group is a group of volunteers that provides support directly to the Market Harborough & Lutterworth Local Policing Unit (LPU), and to all registered Neighbourhood Watch schemes within the area covered by the LPUs.

We are the only Police recognised Support Group in the area, and we receive support and encouragement directly from the Police in furthering our main aims and objectives, which are:

THE PROMOTION OF VIGILANCE AND AWARENESS WITH RESPECT TO CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF ACTIVE COMMUNICATION BOTH WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE.

HOW TO CONTACT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

For further information on Neighbourhood Watch, the Support Group can be contacted at their office in the Police Station.

BY POST:

Marion Lewis (Chairperson)
MHNWSG
Market Harborough LPU
Market Harborough
Leics LE16 9QJ

TELEPHONE: 0116 248 3871

EMAIL: mhnwsg@ntlworld.com

Neighbourhood News

Catch up here on the latest news affecting your neighbourhood.

NEW LAW SHOULD BRING CLEANER NEIGHBOURHOODS

New legislation has now come into force to help council enforcement officers target people who mess up the neighbourhood.

Sections of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act came into force in April 2006 and will be enforced by officers of Harborough District Council.

Enforcement officers at the Council will be able to issue fixed penalty notices to people who commit a range of offences including dropping litter, failing to pick up after their dogs, fly posting or creating graffiti. Offenders can escape prosecution by paying the fixed penalty to the Council. This provides a quick, visible and effective way of dealing with environmental crimes, and an alternative to prosecution.

If the person refuses to give details or fails to give the correct details further action can be taken under the Act which could result in more fines.

A Fixed Penalty Notice can be issued to anyone over the age of 10 years old. If the offender is over 10 years but under 18, their parent or guardian will be informed.

The fine will need to be paid within 14 days to Harborough District Council by cash, cheque or postal order made payable to Harborough District Council.

If a person either refuses to accept the fixed penalty or having accepted the notice does not pay within 14 days, the matter can be dealt with in a magistrate’s court. Offences covered by the legislation include:

Nuisance Parking Offences

A person is guilty of an offence if they leave two or more motor vehicles for sale exposed on the same road. The fixed penalty is £100.

Repairing vehicles on a road

A person who carries out restricted works on a motor vehicle on a road is guilty of an offence. A person will not be fined if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that the works carried out were repairs which arose from an accident or breakdown in circumstances where repairs on the spot or elsewhere on the road were necessary and were carried out within 72 hours.

Litter Offences

A person is guilty of an offence if they throw down, drop or otherwise deposit any litter in any place. If the person picks it up when asked by an officer of HDC and disposes of it appropriately they will not receive a fixed penalty. Otherwise it will be £75. This also applies to litter thrown from a vehicle.

Graffiti and Flyposting

Anyone who illegally fixes notices or posters to street furniture will receive a fixed penalty of £75. Defacing of surface by painting, writing, soiling, marking or other means will be dealt with by a fixed penalty of £75.

Dog Fouling

Anyone who does not clean up after their dog will receive a fixed penalty of £75. The person will be given the option of cleaning it up. Failure to comply will result in a fixed penalty. The only exemption is for those with a guide dog.

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