Brinklow Supported Villages Scheme launch, from left : PCSO Sharon Baille Crabtree, PCSO David Banks, Jennie Boonham, Deputy PCC Rob Tromans, Vera McBay, David Lowe, John Reid, Michael Lavin, Elaine Friswell and PC Stuart Baker.
Brinklow has become the latest rural community in the north of the county to join a crime prevention initiative funded by the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe.
By gaining ‘Supported Village’ status, villagers are demonstrating that their community is not a soft touch for rural crime, with households and community buildings being offered advice on how to protect themselves against crime and working with local officers to mark their property.
The Supported Villages programme, part of the Rural Crime Project, aims to help communities with proactive crime prevention action and advice, providing a sustainable scheme which can then be maintained by the community.
Over the past year, parish councillors have been working with PCSO David Banks, supported by other members of the Rugby Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and North Warwickshire’s Rural Crime Co-ordinator, Carol Cotterill, on the project.
Several property marking days have been held where villagers were invited to bring items to be marked and get crime prevention advice and community locations such as the church, school, allotments and clubs have all also been proactively involved and provided with signage.
‘Thieves Beware’ signs are also now at all village gateways stating that you are entering a village where property is marked.
To mark its new ‘Supported Village’ status, the parish council was presented with a crime prevention toolbox and a community box by Warwickshire Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Rob Tromans. Both boxes provide information and equipment for the parish council to support local residents with further property marking and crime prevention in the future.
Brinklow becomes the fourth village in the Rugby district to join the Supported Villages Scheme after Binley Woods, Willoughby and Wolvey, with three others in the north of the county also protected. More villages across the area have contacted the rural team and are working with officers on taking crime prevention measures in their area and becoming ‘Supported Villages’.
David Lowe, Chair of Brinklow Parish Council said “We as a parish council are really pleased to work with Warwickshire Police and the Rural Crime Coordinator on this initiative to help protect the residents of Brinklow by being part of the Supported Villages Scheme.”
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “Communities can play a major part in the fight against crime by ensuring they take sensible precautions to protect their valuables and ensure that everyone knows that the village as a whole is security conscious and working together with the local police to deter criminal activity.
“I’m pleased to see the continuing success of the Supported Villages scheme and its roll-out to Brinklow and look forward to seeing more areas coming on board in the future.”
