Neighbourhood Watch

The Neighbourhood Watch scheme in the United Kingdom is a partnership where people come together to make their communities safer. It involves the Police, Community Safety departments of local authorities, other voluntary organisations and, above all, individuals and families who want to make their neighbourhoods better places to live. It aims to help people protect themselves and their properties and to reduce the fear of crime by means of improved home security, greater vigilance, accurate reporting of suspicious incidents to the police and by fostering a community spirit.

In Sandon, Neighbourhood Watch communication is done through the email forums that have been set up for Howe Green and Sandon. The email forum is ideal for use with neighbourhood watch as it allows speedy dissemination of police alerts and allows residents to report suspicious behaviour. There are Police Community Support Officers on the forum so they will receive these reports directly. To join the Sandon email forum, see the Email Forum page.

Cllr.David Pearson is Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for Sandon parish. He can be contacted by telephone on 471589 or through the forum.

Local Police Contacts

Non-emergency number: 0300 333444
This is a 24/7 service that puts you through to the Essex Police switchboard. Your call will then be directed to the most appropriate person, department or station. Use 999 for emergency calls.

Local beat officers: 07711 147171

Email addresses:
Sgt Land: 1435@essex.pnn.police.uk
PC Evans: 70640@essex.pnn.police.uk *
PCSO Sarah Martin: 71496@essex.pnn.police.uk *
PCSO Fleming: 71329@essex.pnn.police.uk

*Members of email forum

Community Speed Watch

One of the matters raised at a NAP meeting concerned speeding on the East Hanningfield and Southend roads. As the police do not have the resources to set regular speed traps, they suggested a resident's speed watch.

Three or more residents monitor traffic speed with a speed gun and note the registration numbers of offending cars.

The police write to the car owners, indicating that they exceeded the speed limit in the village on the day in question. It is intended as a means of educating drivers but persistent offenders could be subject to more vigourous enforcement. I can understand that drivers might be inclined to slow down somewhat if they thought that their speed might be monitored.

If it is found that speeding occurs frequently at a particular location and day/time, the police say they will take appropriate direct enforcement action.

Some of the volunteers have taken the required training course. Volunteers that could not attend the course can be trained on the job. If you would like to join the Howe Green or Sandon Village team, get in touch with your Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.

The police have supplied the speed gun but have not yet supplied the road signs and high-visibility jackets that we need. Once we have these we can start. The police have agreed to attend the initial speed check sessions.

Marking and Security Kits

The web site https://www.immobilise.com/ is a useful source for security items and property registration. There is no annual fee for their key fobs.

Neighbourhood Watch Web Site

The Neighbourhood Watch web site is at http://www.neighbourhoodwatch.net

Emergency Planning for a Major Incident

Emergency Planning is intended to cope with a major emergency that seriously affects people, buildings or the environment including transport accidents, a major fire, severe weather such as heavy snow, flooding or high winds, security-related incidents, including bomb warnings and terrorist attacks, and health alerts such as flu pandemic. Click here to see how this is relevant to Sandon Parish.

Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP)

This is a panel of police and Neighbourhood Watch personnel which meets every two months to discuss subjects of concern to the various communities in the local area. The panel aims to set three priority targets upon which the police are to concentrate their limited resources. Your Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, Cllr.David Pearson is a member of the panel. Contact him with your law and order concerns and he will raise them at the next meeting.