Neighbourhood Watch latest message (added 28/7/08)

Summer Holiday Club Art Competition for Children (4-11 years old)

Are you involved in a local primary school, holiday club or youth group?

Community Safety Avon and Somerset Police HQ are currently asking children to enter an art competition we are running.

The details are as follows:-

Art Competition

We would like local children to design and draw some art work about the police and the job they do in their town or village. The art can be in the form of paintings, drawings or collages. The children can be as creative as they like!

We are collecting paintings and pictures from children all over our region. The pictures are going to be exhibited at the National Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Conference for Children and Young People which is being held in Bristol in September. The Conference is an opportunity for police officers to meet and discuss how the police service can offer more help, support and assistance to children and young people.

We are offering prizes for your primary school, youth group or club for the best entries.

1st Place - £150 donation to the school / club
2nd Place - £100 donation to the school / club
3rd Place - £50 donation to the school / club

Children must be aged between 4 - 11 years old to be eligible for entry to this competition.

Don't forget to include the name and age of the artist, the address and telephone number of the family and the school, club or group they belong to on the back of the artwork and please send it to: Karen Thomas, Community Safety HQ, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Valley Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8QJ

Closing Date: 17TH September 2008

Neighbourhood Watch previous message (added 25/7/08)

This message is passed for the information of all NHW schemes regarding itinerant sales persons in the area.

A resident in the Bicknoller area received a call at the door from 3 males in a black pick up vehicle. They said they were from Highways Improvements, had some tarmac left over and would they like the holes in their drive filled.

All too quickly the work started and the whole of the drive was covered in tarmac. The workers then demanded £1100 from the occupant which was paid at the time.

The matter was later reported to the police who are taking appropriate action. Schemes are asked to be aware that there are such callers in the area at the moment - please ensure that you do not have work done at your premises without taking the appropriate precautions (ie written quotations etc). If you receive suspicious or bogus callers at your home please contact the police immediately using the Emergency 999 system.

Neighbourhood Watch previous message (added 22/7/08)

This is a general warning message for members regarding items being sold in the area.

There have been a number of instances where persons in transit vans have driven into an area and tried to sell items from the back of the van. These items range from televisions through to power washers and generators.

In most instances those people who have bought the items, thought they were getting a bargain, only to find that they did not work properly. In some instances items have proved to be stolen.

Recent reports have indicated that vans in our area are being driven on Irish registration plates and that the persons selling the items have Irish accents.

Police are asking that if persons are found in your area selling items from the back of transit vans, that details of the vehicle and description of the people concerned be taken and reported to the police immediately. Please call the general number 0845-456-7000 and ask that your information is passed to the Intelligence Office at Taunton Police Station.

If you have information about any crime, phone the police on 0845 456 7000 or you can call anonymously to the independent charity CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111