Neighbourhood Watch
1 May 12
South Gippsland Neighbourhood Watch
and Safer Communities Group.
Making South Gippsland a safer place to live.
South Gippsland Crime Watch News
Together with useful information to help you make your home and community safer and a report from South and West Gippsland’s Police Proactive Unit and important contact details.
Group Report Edition - May 2012
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SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT REPORT FORM GIPPSLAND ARSON PREVENTION PROGRAM This information could help solve a crime. Use one form for each person and vehicle. Place on fridge or in easy access. |
Police remind the community if they see something suspicious they should ring 000 or if they have information in relation to an offence contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or http://www.crimestoppers.com.au/.
L/S/C Brett Godden
Community Liaison Officer
Morwell Police Complex
5131 5085
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At a Public Meeting held at the Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre on 11 April 2007, 25 local residents voted unanimously to establish and support Neighbourhood Watch in Koonwarra.
The meeting was addressed by Bill Comans, Local Area Volunteer Manager, and also attended by David and Carla Witherow and Richard Powell, all of whom are involved with Meeniyan NHW. Meeniyan and Dumbalk have already established programs for their communities.
Senior Constable Brett Godden, NHW Police Co-ordinator for Region 5 who is based at Police HQ in Morwell, explained the workings of the program, described some of the local criminal activities that have been resolved through the assistance of NHW, and discussed some of the many benefits experienced by communities that participate in the program. He said NHW is a police and community partnership that was introduced in Victoria in 1983 to assist the Victorian Police to effectively control the crime rate, especially the incidence of burglary and related thefts. Sen. Constable Godden pointed out that NHW was now active in all states of Australia and the program was encouraged and actively supported by the Police Commissioner Christine Nixon.
He explained that the Neighbourhood Watch program utilises four simple strategies:
- Identification
- Reporting Suspicious Behaviour
- Security and Safety Awareness
- Signposting
The Meeniyan NHW team is also encouraging Buffalo and Stony Creek to join the program.
Senior Constable Paul McDonald of the Meeniyan Police Station also attended and encouraged the residents to contact him at any time with anything they regard as suspicious and spoke of successful outcomes when this has occurred.
A number of residents agreed to join as volunteers (Zone Leaders) and shortly will be in a position to undertake further doorknocks in the village and surrounds to distribute NHW brochures and hand out signs to be placed in prominent positions on houses/fences. Identification of household appliances and possessions will also be arranged as this assists greatly in firstly discouraging entry to properties and if theft does occur, in the return of the items.
For information contact:
Senior Constable Paul McDonald,
Meeniyan Police Station (5664 7281)
Senior Constable Brett Godden
Morwell Police Station (51 315 085)