Sutton Neighbourhood Watch Association had a busy year in 2008. We held 8 meetings including the AGM which was well attended during the year, in addition we took part in a number of Community Engagement meetings held in conjunction with the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams in many of the Wards. We now have approximately 800 Neighbourhood Watch members throughout Sutton.  A priority for the forthcoming year is to increase membership and spread the word about Neighbourhood Watch.

We wish you all a merry festive season and have a few pointers to help keep it that way.  To keep safe we need to be vigilant and keep an eye out for each other.

• Don’t show off presents with Christmas lights through opened curtains – they are very tempting
• If you are away over the holiday period make sure you follow the suggestions below.
• Be aware of bogus callers and check the ID of any stranger/s who knock on your door, use a door chain or spyhole to check who is calling. Genuine callers won’t mind.

If you are going away
• Cancel newspapers, milk and any other deliveries
• Arrange with a neighbour to push letters and leaflets through your letterbox so they don’t show an opportunist that the house is empty. 
• Leave a light on in a room if the house is empty – not just the hall which suggests the rest of the house is empty.

Keep in touch with Sutton Neighbourhood Watch – give us your email address and we will forward >www.SuttonNeighbourhoodWatch.co.uk  and for those of you who are interested you can use our forum to give us and others information about what’s going on in your local area.

Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel - There is a local Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel for your each ward that meets approximately every three months. These panels consist of representatives of the local community and help to prioritise the activities of the local Safer Neighbourhood Team for the following three months. You can apply to our local police sergeant to be on the panel or to find out what is happening on the panel.

Wishing you a very happy festive season and New Year.

Heather Shaw

Chairman, Sutton Neighbourhood Association.