Another BT neighbourhood joins watch programme
Residents, MLAs and police launch eighth Bodden Town neighbourhood watch
(CNS Local Life): RCIPS Community Officers in Bodden Town joined forces with the residents of Valley Garden on Saturday, 10 March, to launch the first neighbourhood watch programme in the district for 2018, bringing to eight the number of such groups active in that area. The initiative aims to tackle crime and offer support for local communities by empowering residents to be more observant about their community, and to share information with each other and the police, stated an RCIPS press release.
The RCIPS Bodden Town community team, led by Sergeant Cornelius Pompey, helped facilitate the launch, joined by Community Officers PC Norice Artwell, PC Reynold Matthews and PC Clifford Garcia, whose beat covers the Valley Garden area.
During the launch, Pompey gave an overview of the objectives of the recently launched Community Policing Department. He also encouraged residents to support the police in their fight against crime, saying, “Neighbourhood watches greatly increase security if they are active and, just as importantly, they increase everyone’s sense of security, just because you know who your neighbours are and that everyone has agreed to look out for each other.”
Guest speaker Tony Scott, who is the neighbourhood watch coordinator for North Cayman Palms, echoed similar sentiments when he spoke on the importance of forming these groups.
“This is designed to help residents work together as a community to improve personal safety and to encourage a better relationship among all in the community,” he said. “It is important for you to share information with the police and have a good relationship with your community beat officer.”
More than 40 people attended the launch, including MLAs Anthony Eden and Chris Saunders.
On Sunday, 11 March, the Bodden Town community team met with the neighbourhood watch group in North Sound Gardens to introduce the Community Officer for the area, PC Matthews.
Anyone living in the district who wants to set up a similar programme can call the Bodden Town Community Policing Department at 947-2220 or email Sergeant Pompey.
Category: Civil Service, Community, Police
