SPECIALLY designed note pads have been created and will be trialled in Driffield for residents to record suspicious activity in their area.
The ‘Community Watch Pads’ have been designed by members of the Beverley Neigbourhood Policing team and East Riding Safer Communities and have been jointly funded by Safer Communities and Crimestoppers.
The pads contain loose leaf pages designed to prompt members of the community who have witnessed something suspicious to report information that may be vital to police investigations.
Local Neighbourhood Officer, PC Julie Turrell from Beverley Police Station said: “Local residents are the eyes and ears of a community, and from my line of work, I know all too well that when a neighbour has witnessed something a little bit ‘odd’ it usually means something untoward has happened.
“Sadly by the time a crime has been reported to the police the neighbour usually has forgotten the time it occurred, descriptions of people, cars, etc.
“These are the key details detectives and police officers need to kick start an investigation. That is why these Community Watch pads are so great. If you see anything remotely suspicious, whether it is a possible bogus caller, a dodgy looking car cruising the area or some sort of criminal damage being caused. The questions in the pad prompt you to take additional notes which you may not think to record and will help officers potentially find an offender or locate the people or car and speak to them.”
Information recorded in the Watch Pads can be passed onto the police either by dropping it into the local police station or contacting a local Neighbourhood Policing Team by phone and quoting ‘Community Watch’.
The scheme will be piloted in the Beverley Neighbourhood Policing Area, which includes Beverley, Driffield, Hornsea and surrounding rural areas and will see pads being handed out to Neighbourhood Watch groups, Farm Watch members and residents.
At an official launch held at Beverley County Hall, Councillors and Police Officers handed over the first Community Watch Pads to be distributed across the three towns to Ray Grange, Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator chairman for Beverley.
Nigel Brignell, East Riding of Yorkshire Community Safety Officer from the Anti-Social Behaviour Team said: “The pads are a good example of partnership working in the East Riding.
“I would like to thank all of the parties involved.”
Coun. Jonathan Owen, Deputy Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “The Council are 100% behind this.
“We wish the initiative every success.”