PCSO Mo Yaqub, PC Simon Ackroyd, Kurt Kovach and Lynda Kovach (Community Speed Watch), Nigel O’Mara (Vice Chair of Parish Council), Inspector Allison Wiggin, Gary Hope (Chair of Parish Council), Robert Stokes (Community Speed Watch), Rural Crime Officer Carol Cotterill, PCSO Sarah Fretter.
Shuttington in North Warwickshire has become the latest village in Warwickshire to join the ‘Supported Villages Scheme’, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe.
The Parish Council worked with Carol Cotterill, Rural Crime Officer from Warwickshire Police and PCSO Sarah Fretter, plus other members of the local policing team, based at Atherstone.
A crime prevention event was held at the village hall for all residents, providing crime prevention advice, in conjunction with North Warwickshire Neighbourhood Watch and the local policing team, plus every household has been provided with a property marking pack.
Residents in the village have also worked with the police to set up a Community Speed Watch Scheme, also funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Shuttington becomes the sixteenth village in the county to be part of the scheme with other villages either working with officers or have expressed an interest in becoming involved.
Inspector Allison Wiggin presented the village with a crime prevention box so that residents have access to property markers and information on security, village gateway signs and a holiday box with equipment in that villagers can borrow if they leave their property for a short time, such as to go on holiday or if they have a stay in hospital.
Nigel O’Mara, Vice Chairman of the Parish Council said “Being in a rural location, the residents of our area are specifically vulnerable to certain types of crime and dangerous motoring behaviour. Therefore we are delighted to have this opportunity to take positive steps to address these issues and further safeguard our local community together with the fabulous support of our local policing team.
“I would encourage all villages within North Warwickshire to embrace the proactivity of the Police Commissioners Office in this respect and adopt similar schemes in order to help in reducing the impact of crime and speeding in and around their own communities.”
Inspector Wiggin said: “It is really good to see communities coming together and working with the police to address and take measures to deter crime in their village. Shuttington is an example of how residents who had concerns with regard to speeding and other issues can work with local officers and make a real difference.”
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe added: “The Supported Villages Scheme has proved a great success over the past few years, with more and more communities coming on board and getting fully involved in helping to prevent crime in their local area. By taking some simple steps, everyone can improved their security and make life much tougher for the criminals. I congratulate Shuttington and hope their success encourages eve even more of our rural villages to get involved.”
Communities interested in the ‘Supported Village Scheme’ can contact Carol Cotterill, Rural Crime Officer, Warwickshire Police at carol.cotterill1@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk.
