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News NeighbourhoodWatch AGM Officer’s dedication rewarded


ACOXHEATH man has received a special award in recognition of his 20 years service to Kent Police andWest Kent NeighbourhoodWatch.


Tony Menpes (85), who hasworked


as the association’s liaison officer and was praised for his “enthusiasm and dedication”, received the Divisional Commander’s Certificate. Mr Menpes, a former member of


the Royal Observatory Corps, set up 12 Neighbourhood Watch groups, from single houses to sprawling com- munities, in just six months. His citation read: “Even now, he is constantly coming up with new ideas to promote and invigorate Neigh- bourhoodWatch.” Mr Menpes joined Neighbourhood


Village needs more helpers


VOLUNTEERS are needed to help re- launch the Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Chart Sutton. There has been a scheme in the vil-


lage for several years, but of late, the number of street representatives has dwindled, leaving many vacancies. Co-ordinatorValerie Underdown is hoping volunteers will come forward early in the New Year. She said: “There is nothing arduous


involved. It just means receiving emails from me every now and then!” NeighbourhoodWatch schemes are notified of any criminal activity in their areas by the police and village co-ordinators disseminate the infor- mation to the street reps, who in turn advise their “patch” . The Neighbourhood Watch team


from police HQ is visiting local schemes, advising of ideas and plans to improve the system.


Website traffic up


ENQUIRIES for products and assis- tance from Maidstone & District Neighbourhood Watch have gone global. TheAGMwas told that the associa-


tion’s new website, launched in April 2013, had received enquiries from Ex- eter, Glasgow – and even Canada. Members expressed their thanks to Stefan Martin from the community safety unit for encouraging the asso- ciation to embark on the project and for his assistance. The latest best-seller is the £90 Guardcam, which combines a PIR se- curity light, with camera and inbuilt digital recording system. Thewebsite sponsor ITrack Direct will install the Guardcams for £35.


Chairman quits


KEN Stevens has stepped down as chairman of Maidstone & District Neighbourhood Watch. He was thanked for 10 years of loyal and ded- icated service to the association at the AGM, by acting chairman JimWilson.


Watch in September 1993. In the 20 years he has been volun- teering for Kent Police, he has been based in the Maidstone Neighbour- hoodWatch office. In the early days he supported the


watch liaison officer with the admin- istration and the setting up of new schemes, recording and manually mapping each scheme. Over the years, he has trained both volunteers and police officers inNeighbourhood Watch procedures and ethos. He was the first volunteer to man the NHW support line, answering


questions and queries as well as the first volunteer to send out alert mes- sages. Despite various changes in sys- tems Mr Menpes continues to message NeighbourhoodWatch. In the early 1990s Mr Menpes was instrumental in the development of NHWin Belgium, resulting in annual exchange visits. His citation read: “Mr Menpes is


not only known for his dedication to Kent Police andNHWfor quality and length of service, but also for his de- meanour and the way he presents himself.”


Social media ‘the key to spreadingword’


SOCIAL media plays a vital role in the life of Kent Police and its Neigh- bourhoodWatch. West Kent Divisional Commander


Chief Superintendent Steve Corbish- ley told the AGM: “Social media al- lows us to engage with people in a different way. We are able to reach people in far more creative and far more effectiveways.” The chief superintendent said it


was important to maximise use of so- cial media, especially at a time when the force was facing swingeing budget cuts. Its operating budget was already


down from £350m to £300m – equiv- alent to the loss of 500 police officers and 1,000 support staff. He said itwould be impossible not


to lose more officers in years to come, but hoped that closer working with partner agencies would help min- imise the impact. He said: “We are operating in a


very difficult economy.” Ch Supt Corbishley said the force


had seen a rise in retail theft – food, meat and alcohol – and remained concerned at the sale of discounted alcohol by large pub chains. Alcohol remained the biggest sin-


gle factor in cases of domestic vio- lence – another area of increased activity. He said: “We are supportive of businesses – and of people enjoying themselves – but not at the expense of local residents and local police.” He appealed to younger people to


get involved in Neighbourhood Watch and said: “We have to be cur- rent and relevant and reach out to younger members of the community, by social media, tweeting and so forth. “It is imperativewe get information


out about people who target the eld- erly.


“The challenge is to make Neigh- bourhoodWatch bigger, better, more effective and with a greater reach. With energy and effort, it is surpris- ing what can be achieved.”


Liaison officer Tony Menpes College link-up


ACONNECTION with the media de- partment at MidKent College could prove invaluable, theAGM heard. The Home Office has announced it


will no longer be printing and distrib- uting booklets and leaflets for Neigh- bourhood Watch groups. Maidstone & District already used the college students for design and for input to a blog, aimed at connecting with younger people.The link is likely to be further strengthened as traditional sources of literature dry up.


Villages covered


PRAISE was given to villagers in Hunton andWest Farleigh for setting up Neighbourhood Watch schemes, with virtually blanket cover of both villages in a short space of time. How- ever there are still 31 parishes to be covered in Maidstone & District and more volunteers are needed.


Radios a success


SHORT-wave radios issued to shop- keepers in Headcorn have helped combat crime in the village. Shop- keepers feel they are making a valu- able contribution to helping reduce local crime.


Awards recognise volunteers’ work


HUNTON husband and wife team Sue and Steven Wyles were selected as the NeighbourhoodWatch co-ordinators of the Year, and received a silver trophy from acting chairman Jim Wilson. Mr Wilson told members it had been


a very difficult year to make a decision, with three outstanding contributors. He said: “We chose Sue and Steven


because of their tenacity and commit- ment to setting up Neighbourhood Watch, and, with the full support of res- idents, they covered the entire village in a short time.” Certificates of merit were presented


to the other two contenders – Lesley Flint, from Sutton Valence, and Julie King, fromWest Farleigh. A certificate of appreciation and


Lesley Flint (left) and Janet Greenroyd accept their awards from the mayor


recognition of their support of Maid- stone&District NeighbourhoodWatch’ was presented to the KCC community


wardens service, and was accepted on their behalf by Janet Greenroyd, who is pictured above.


Maidstone South January 2014 19


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