It is now 16 months since the inaugural Neighbourhood Watch meeting in the Community Centre and numbers of villagers joining the scheme have steadily increased with 132 members receiving police Ringmaster messages via email and 43 by telephone calls.

The erection of Neighbourhood Watch signs has been a long and laborious grind through miles of red tape. Approval was given for four signs in Hillam and they were put up last October. The situation at Monk Fryston is complicated by the fact that permission has to be obtained from the Highways Agency for signs erected on lighting columns on the A63. However, as the A63 is being detrunked in the near future, the responsibility for giving approval will rest with North Yorkshire Highways who will take it over as a county road. Until this happens it seems as though the erection of the signs will have to wait. It may be possible to erect those signs not on the A63 before then.

Crimes in the villages have been lower than the district average and one would like to think that the display of Neighbourhood Watch stickers in lots of windows together with an increased awareness of the need for home security has helped to deter would be criminals.

About 20% of households in the two villages are in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, and I would urge anyone reading this who is not a member to get a form and prepaid envelope from the Post Office and join. There is no other involvement in the Scheme other than receiving regular Ringmaster messages from the police, which give an awareness of the types of crime being carried out in the area.

Stop press Just when the dust seems to have settled its all change with the Police. Richard Scott, who has been an invaluable help by keeping the Ringmaster system functioning, is leaving the force and his replacement is not yet in place. PC Mark Fox is my short term contact and may eventually take the NW job on permanently. He will be the fourth person to take on board the NW role in 18 months! Read into that what you will regarding NW priority by the police. However, I will keep the pressure on them to devote the appropriate resources to NW and keep the Ringmaster messages flowing.

Finally do not be in doubt about calling the police on the 0845 606024 number to report anything that concerns you, suspicious vehicles, persons, door knockers etc.

Tony Hudson
Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator