Photo of Hadleigh Castle

Clive Stewart Castle Point District Co-ordinator writes: -

In the early weeks of October 2021 I took up the reins as District Co-ordinator of Castle Point District Neighbourhood Watch. Since then, I created a weekly Castle Point District Neighbourhood Watch weekly newsletter yes, every week. Including Bank Holidays and also Christmas and New Year.

Now more than one hundred and fifty people living in Castle Point District receive it as well as those Co-ordinators who email to their NW members.

The response has been amazing especially as I also created a six-monthly newsletter which is now being distributed to over 4,500 at times!

Over the many months I was delighted to hear from many who wanted to be part of their local Neighbourhood Watch again and be Co-ordinators too.

These Co-ordinators distribute whatever information they receive from myself which is from reliable sources eg The Police Fire & Crime Commissioner's Office, Essex Police, Crimestoppers, Essex Fire & Rescue Service and Victim Support as they all work with Neighbourhood Watch to reduce the opportunity of crime ... 

May I give very special thanks to Christopher Dolley for His Support for Neighbourhood Watch

In October 2021 I spoke to Christopher Dolley, who has an excellent website, and he agreed to raise the profile of Neighbourhood Watch.
With his assistance we have been able to build up the membership and it is very much appreciated.
I am willing to work with him to keep our community safe.
This is from Christopher for the those in Castle Point District.

    “Do you Love the street you are in?”
    For Castle Point there is a website: www.castlepointneighbourhood.org.uk 
     Its purpose is to help promote a connected community throughout the Castle Point area.
    There is a lot of local useful information and advice.
    Also on the website are great suggestions on how to get connected and involved with your local community. 

My role as Castle Point Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator is to keep you up to date with Neighbourhood Watch information and supply you with NW items too e.g. window stickers, wheelie bin stickers, No Cold caller stickers, members guides and valid NW members badges, and many other items too. All free....

You may like to know that the weekly newsletter is a summary of the Essex Police crime reports that I receive each week plus Neighbourhood Watch information too. 

Essex Chief Constable Mr. B. J Harrington has told me that he wants to see an increase in Neighbourhood Watch throughout Essex and also more street signs to be placed on appropriate posts as he believes that they do help to reduce crime, so maybe I can help you with that? Please contact me ...

Finally, I was advised by many who replied to my email in October 2021 that they remember having newsletters to distribute and they collected them from the Castle Point Borough Council Offices. 

Well, I brought them back, but they are now delivered to your door by Neighbourhood Watch .....

So, thank you all again. 

Finally, if you know of anyone who is interested in being part of Castle Point District Neighbourhood Watch, please ask them to send me their full name and postal address to [email protected]

Regards Clive Stewart Castle Point District Co-ordinator

CASTLE POINT DISTRICT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

  REPORT TO ECNWA FOR MEETING ON 11TH FEBRUARY 2025

 NEW FUNDING

As you know each District has ways of receiving funding from other sources as well as The Police Fire & Crime Commissioner’s Office .Well I applied for funds for Essex Association of Local Councils and was successful with a grant of £250 towards general NW expenditure ie printing/postages of six monthly newsletters..

 PC Ian Risden:  Ian contacted me recently and said that he was proposing to have more public meetings and would like to see representation of Neighbourhood Watch if possible..

I replied that once I know the dates I will ask a few Co-ordinators to see if they were interested…

 Kevin Blake :  Essex Watch Liaison Officer: Once again Kevin has been superb sending the crime report early on Mondays . This is appreciated as it helps me plan my week better and send out the newsletter to those who wanted to see it early.

General membership This is increasing on a regular basis as every week I receive genuine enquiries to be part of Neighbourhood Watch where they live and they are delighted to hear from me and have been added to the weekly newsletter .  Most of the enquiries are due to Co-ordinators who distribute the weekly newsletter and the six monthly newsletters. However they do not advise their specific role to the homes they have delivered the items so I am contacted … It has been steady increase in membership since 2021 when I became District Co-ordinator , maybe it is that they have regular contact from me ( ie Neighbourhood Watch ) as recommended by NWN!!!.

New Enquiries:  Yes I still see new individuals registering with  NWN and I do make contact with them but sadly we do not always have a reply..  It makes one wonder what they think Neighbourhood Watch is all about locally!!

YES NWN do tell people the  facts of Neighbourhood Watch and also how to create schemes  ( which need our approval) but people seem to either not see such information as important or never read it..

In recent weeks there have been a few new schemes on NWN . I made contact with them and after hearing from me I was told by one that they were not aware of the responsibilities of a Co-ordinator (  it clearly states what they are on NWN website ). Also they were  “unaware”  and that their schemes had to be approved by Castle Point District NW via The Essex County NW Association …But some never reply to my emails  and  although I cannot delete the person (says NWN ) I can delete their scheme..

General enquiries are good but again when I explain the basics of NW ( which I have published in my weekly newsletter recently ) very few ever contact me again  to be part of Neighbourhood Watch where they live…

What do they think Neighbourhood Watch  is all about ???

Some still believe that they are  members of Neighbourhood Watch once registered on NWN which sadly they are not .  I say to everyone that Castle Point District NW is  available 24/7 and I am here  to be of service and support on any Neighbourhood Watch matters .

Six Monthly Newsletter January to June 2025:   The latest newsletter was emailed out to all on my Castle Point District NW  database and the request for copies has been  tremendous . It was the largest print run for over a year .The newsletter is a way of raising the profile of Neighbourhood Watch and mentions what we offer and also refers to FREE Neighbourhood Watch items available to all members .. Also on the bottom page is a blank paragraph where LOCAL Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators can enter their  contact details. It is useful as on occasions the people who receive the newsletters for the first time  will know who to contact instead of me.

 Public Meeting in early 2025:   It was advised in the weekly newsletter that we will arrange to have a public meeting in early 2025. This will be managed by Roger Passfield ECNWA County Co-ordinator ….

Finally I have been contacted by the local PCSO Kurt Cromwell who wanted to have details of all NW

Co-ordinators and members to send his newsletters.. I said I would seek their agreement and be in touch ..So far all replies have been positive.

 Clive Stewart, Castle Point District NW Co-ordinator Tel 0750 8057636 

Email [email protected]