NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
MEETING BY THE POLICE – 14 April 2016
Presenters:
Mr Christoforos Hangoudis – Head of Crime Prevention
Lambros Themistocleos – Ast Chief of Police for Operations
Stavrou Neofytou – Volunteer – Head Co-Coordinator of Dali
NW scheme
With the following in attendance:
Theocharis Christodoulou – Ast Div Commissioner for
Administration
Kyriakos Kyriakou – Officer in Charge, Paphos Police Station
Andreas Stylianou – Community Police Officer
There was a brief introduction by Areti Pieridou welcoming
the Police and attendees to the meeting.
Presentation by Stavrou Neofytou:
The Neighbourhood Watch programme was launched in Dali,
Nicosia, in 2011. Dali has a population
of around 10,000. Stavrou launched the
programme and he is a volunteer and organiser of the scheme.
Neighbourhood Watch has proven successful re crime
prevention. The Police are committed to
the expansion of the scheme. Full
support of citizens is essential for crime prevention and safety. Everyone is urged to join and inform the
Police regarding anything suspicious or unusual.
In this programme we are all friends – the state, the local
authorities, the police and us the simple citizens.
What is the Neighbourhood
Watch programme?
A large number of volunteers exchanging information with the
local authority [with telephone messages] concerning safety and security,
warnings, advice and events. This was
done in Dali with excellent cooperation with
the Police. We are not policemen but we are helping the Police to protect us. We are just the eyes and ears of the Police.
WE DO NOT TAKE THE LAW IN OUR
HANDS
Why we started the programme in June 2011?
1
The crime rate in Dali was increasing. In the good old times we never used to lock
or even close our doors. The key on my
house was there 24 hours a day. Then
there was no problem. Now things have
changed.
2
A robbery [and almost murder] in the middle of
our town.
In May 2011,
a month before we started the programme, a man sitting in a cafe in the centre
of the town playing cards, noticed two persons sitting inside a parked
car. He thought that they were
suspicious. He finished his game,
ordered food and when he sat at the table for cards again, the two persons were
still there. He did nothing. After a while a shopkeeper and his wife were
robbed, just around the corner from the cafe.
A
simple action could have avoided a robbery [and almost a murder]. If the person at the cafe had just made one
simple call. The car used was a stolen
one, so automatically the suspects would have been arrested before the
robbery. PREVENTION is our main
target.
This
event made the local authorities very upset and we felt that we, as a town,
must take action. Yes, we even thought
of taking the law into our own hands. A
police officer, head of the Crime Prevention Office at the Headquarters
originally from our home town and a personal friend from childhood, approached
the Mayor and myself and suggested the Neighbourhood watch programme. This was the start.
The Initial Stage
At the
beginning, people were very suspicious and reserved. But with time and good results, the initial
150 watchers became 4500 and more.
The
programme has helped people to improve their trust and relations with the
Police and to realise that with a little
bit of help from us the Police can protect us even more.
What we actually do and how we operate
1. We
have collected a list of names and telephone nos and through the CYTA SMS
system we send the relevant messages:
a) About
criminal activity
b) What
to be careful about
c) Reminders
and warnings
d) Announcements
for meetings and training
e) Other
events
2. If
someone notices something, he calls the appropriate telephone no which he
already has according to the type of problem.
We analyse and check the validity of the information and we send the
necessary message and take action.
3. Patrolling
the town was done by individuals at their own free will. When a message was received that Churches in
nearby towns were being broken into, many of our volunteers passed by the
Churches to keep an eye. As a result
none of our Churches have been violated.
We are now patrolling now. Some
of us also cycle. We tend to wear hi-viz
vests when out on patrol, whether on foot or by bike.
4. We
have spotted a stolen car in 10 minutes
5. We
have sent a message about 3 people going round houses illegally collecting
money showing fake documents. As a
result, they were arrested at the next house.
6. In
the case of a hit and run accident, a Dali watcher spotted the offender and he
was arrested in minutes.
7. After
a specific message for a suspicious car, our Dali volunteer gave information t
the Police and, as a result of this very simple action, a gang of 6 people that
have performed over 56 thefts of jewellery all over Cyprus, were arrested. The Police were after them for 3 years. With our programme, we found them n 24
hours. THIS IS THE RESULT OF GOOD
COOPERATION.
Why is it Successful?
1.
It is simple and fast. Everybody can easily help [I have even sent a
message while in Africa for other humanitarian work]
2.
It is voluntary. No money is involved to create complications.
3.
The members are also connected to each other
in other voluntary activities, ie charity, animal care, theatre, dancing,
music, etc. People doing charity work
joined the programme very easily. We help people in need in Cyprus and
abroad. These activities bond people
together.
4.
The good training by the Police has helped
the watchers to spot the problem easily, take the right action, protect
themselves and their properties and also to advise others to do the same.
5.
The large number of Neighbourhood Watchers
covers a large area. In a town of 3500
houses when we have 4500 volunteers that is 4500 pairs of eyes looking so it is
very difficult for bad things to happen without being noticed. Also the important messages are easily
distributed all over the town very quickly.
6.
Posting the Neighbourhood Watch signs helps
to bring the neighbourhood together to fight crime and also to let potential
burglars know that the community is on alert and that they will be caught.
Statistics
With the activation of the
programme we have reduced crime by 60% in our town
What next – what will follow?
We aim for a friendly neighbourhood where everybody knows each other and
can help each other if necessary [like the good old times in our villages].
To perform safety walks to spot any suspicious situations or anyone
needing humanitarian aid.
To create support groups that will bring the people together and help
each other. The support groups will be
in the medical field, social, charity, etc.
We are now spreading this programme all over the country. We have been invited by many towns and
villages all over Cyprus to help them start Neighbourhood Watch
programmes. At some stage we will have
a network all over the country. The
Police will then forward the relevant messages of one town to the other.
We want to be SAFE and FEEL SAFE.
Feeling safe is more important.
When we FEEL SAFE our heart opens and we love everybody and we become a
big family, and the world becomes a safer place. We are always ready to learn more.
Thank you. Stavros Neofytou,
Volunteer Coordinator of the town of Dali.
Presentation by Mr
Christoforos Hangoudis, Head of Crime Prevention
The problem of burglary is increased when the level of security is
low. Burglars seek and find easy
targets. If you do nothing you are the
perfect victim criminals are looking for.
Everybody is a possible target.
We should be concerned about crime BEFORE rather than AFTER it has been
committed and look at
-
Desire/motivation
-
Ability
/ means / instruments / tools
-
Easy
target / opportunity
-
Profit
-
Chance
of getting arrested
TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT!
Initially the media cover in Cyprus was against the programme. Now we have 150 communities involved, 64,800
watchers and 44 schemes in progress of being set up. Now the media is supporting the programme.
Crime Prevention strategy is to instruct householders in crime
prevention, make the property less inviting to criminals, less desirable for
thieves, and the homeowners alert to suspicious activity.
Where a community reports suspicious activity they should not take the
law into their own hands, nor should they take any personal risk to prevent a
crime.
Responsibility for apprehending criminals lies with the Police.
Neighbourhood Watch Programme:
Raising awareness among the public and getting a commitment to
participate.
Practical support from the local authority
Close cooperation with the Police
To raise awareness among the public regarding the issues of crime
prevention and security
Strengthen cooperation with the publicIncrease the feeling of security among residents and reduction in crime
We all need to be alert and be the eyes and ears of the Police.
Be on alert for unusual/suspicious behaviour
Make it difficult for a thief to get inside your home or property
Keep a trusted neighbour informed if the house is unoccupied
Look after a neighbour’s house when they are away
Attend local meetings arranged by the co-ordinator
Role of the co-ordinator:
Liaison with the Police and members of the Neighbourhood Watch group
Organise and arrange Neighbourhood Watch meetings
Maintain day to day contact with the Police
Initiating projects to enhance the scheme
Recruit new members to the scheme
Telephone Nos:
Less urgent matters – Paphos Police Station – 26 806506
Cyprus Police Citizens Helpline – 1460
Crime in progress or suspicious activity – 112
Emergency – if in doubt – 112
If you see suspicious activity:
-
Remain calm
-
Stay
where you are
-
DO NOT
approach the culprits
-
Call
the Police
-
Continue
to watch
The Police prefer to be called even if you are not sure if the activity
is suspicious or not.
When you call, please have the following information to hand:
Description of a suspect
vehicle
-
Car,
van, lorry, bike
-
Make
and model
-
Colour
-
Body
type
-
Registration
no
-
Direction
of travel
-
Damage
on the vehicle
-
Logos
on the vehicle
-
Any
other details which could be useful
Description of a Suspect
-
Male or
female
-
Face –
long, thin, moustache, beard
-
Colour
of skin
-
Scars,
tattoos
-
Mouth
-
Eyes
-
Age
-
Weight
or build
-
Height
-
Hair
colour, length, whether straight or curly, etc
-
Dress –
description of clothing worn
-
Language
spoken
The Police need the cooperation
of the public – without this any measure they take will not be enough to
achieve the desired results. The Police
seek close cooperation with citizens for essential crime prevention.
As a result of questions the following tips were given:
-
Empty
houses – know your neighbour and keep an eye out
-
Cameras
– legal if on your property and covering your own area only. They should not oversee anyone else’s
property
-
Empty
houses – remove flyers. Close bin house
doors
-
Water
plants
-
Put
light on in properties
-
Close /
open curtains as if there is occupancy
How far can you defend your property?
If the criminal has a stick and you have a gun there is an imbalance and
you have to be very careful.
Are there times when break-ins are predominant so patrols can be
done? There are no specific times or
days of the week.
Can we be assured that the Police will come out and also be able to find
our properties? The Police confirmed
that they would attend and that whilst not all cars have GPS, they do have
detailed street maps/information.
Street lighting is important – report faulty lights to the Electricity
Authority
Sensor lights are helpful
Police patrols make a difference
When asked how many Police patrols were carried out in this area the
answer was that the Police are short staffed and the patrols are insufficient.
There was also an
offer from a Stephanie resident who was a serving Police officer in the
UK for 30 years, 15 of which he was involved in Community Safety and Crime
Reduction.
Therefore he can offer advice on domestic security, business
and commercial security, personal security, vehicle security and community
design liaison. As well as this he has a good knowledge of alarm and CCTV.
He is quite happy to advise on any of the above, but also
carry out domestic security surveys. He
is quite happy to do this without any charge.
Anyone interested is please asked to contact Cathi on
toffee@primehome.com in the first instance.
What do you do now?
Register at the end of the
meeting, or at Tala Council office. You
will need to advise your name, address, mobile no and email address.
The Council now has an SMS
system dedicated to the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Those registering are being entered onto the
system and a contact SMS will follow shortly.
If you spot suspicious
activity please contact the Police.
Please also separately advise either Val Potter, Jean Goldsmith and/or
Cathi Delaney so that they can issue emails out to residents [and Cathi will
put Security alerts onto www.talanews.blogspot.com].
