A NEW Neighbourhood Crime Watch group in Greenfield is already having a positive impact say organisers and police less than a month after the initiative was officially launched.
The group was set up on Facebook in November 2017 after a string of crimes in the village and there was a surge in membership last November following another spike.
Founder Lee Hudson took the steps before Christmas to get the group officially registered with the national Crime Watch association and the scheme went live at the end of January.
And already they have about 80 coordinators signed up to cover 53 out of 101 streets in Greenfield, sharing vital information and advice with their neighbours.
Lee explained: “We have more than 800 people on the Facebook group now which is great – but not everyone is on Facebook.
“We want to reach out to everybody in Greenfield to share information when needed, especially with more vulnerable or elderly people who might not be online.”
All admins are officially registered with Crime Watch – formerly known as Home Watch – and will pass on information to street co-ordinators to share out.
The group has also been busy in the area working to try to deter thieves and make the opportunity to commit crimes harder.
Lee said: “We have been putting leaflets on cars along Chapel Road and Shaw Hall Bank Road to warn people about leaving their valuables in cars.
“It happens regularly on there that car windows are smashed and valuables stolen because they have been left on display.
“Putting out the leaflets is only a small thing to do but it might make a big difference for the people parking there.
“It will also signal to thieves that there are people looking out for the area and acting on things.”
PC Lee Cullen praised the work Lee and the group has already done, and said it is already helping the area.
“The number of nightwalkers in Greenfield has dropped and that is a direct knock-on effect of this group. They know we’re watching so they go elsewhere,” he revealed.
“The police haven’t got the resources to be everywhere so we really need your help to let us know what’s happening and we can respond to that.”
He urged people to be vigilant and pay attention to looking after their homes, cars, family and community.
And he added: “In this freezing cold weather, it’s really important you don’t put yourself at risk of a crime when you’re defrosting your car.
“Do not put your car on, leave the keys in and go back inside for brew! If you do that and your car is taken, your insurance won’t cover it.”
The group is also working with Tesco in Greenfield after concerns about anti-social behaviour from youths hanging around the store.
Natalie Stinger, who is Tesco’s security manager at Greenfield as well as other local stores, explained that the supermarket used to have a guard for 40 hours per week.
That was reduced after the number of incidents dropped, and a guard wasn’t deemed necessary.
However, Natalie fought to get a guard in place for Friday and Saturday nights and is working on securing more hours during the week.
And the store has recently installed state-of-the-art CCTV cameras offering full coverage of the internal shop floor and external areas including the car park.
• GMP Saddleworth and Lees is planning to use the blueprint from the successful Greenfield Neighbourhood Crime Watch group to help other local villages adopt similar schemes.
• Find out more about Greenfield Neighbourhood Crime Watch on their Facebook page.
I think some of the facts mentioned in this report are not quite truthful.
I believe the the title ‘CRIMEWATCH’ belongs to the BBC, and cannot be used by a neighbourhood group.
‘All admins are officially registered with Crime Watch – formerly known as Home Watch’. this is incorrect, as there is not a group called crimewatch, only a TV program. It was not known formerly know as homewatch, as homewatch is alive and strong in all areas of OLDHAM, but is sometimes known as Neighbourhood watch https://www.ourwatch.org.uk
Thank you for your comment and we are working with the group to clarify what the correct terms should be and we will amend as necessary.
Aimee Belmore (editor, Saddleworth Independent)