Release Date:  22-Mar-2007

More than 30 Henbury households and 20 businesses are to take part in a free pioneering crime-busting electronic Neighbourhood Watch scheme. It is the first pilot of its type in the south west and it is hoped, after a successful trial in Henbury, that the scheme maybe extended into other areas in Bristol.

The AlertBox system, which has been successfully trialled in London, creates a digital network linking box owners, ensuring speedy communication and greater security in the event of any criminal or other suspicious activity. The trial will take place in Crow Lane.

Each AlertBox can be programmed with the owner’s name, address and telephone number and is simply plugged into a mains supply.  Each householder or trader then has the option of issuing a warning, by pressing an orange button - alerting neighbours, for example, to a bogus caller or any suspicious behaviour - or, by pressing another button, calling for assistance.

The scheme, which will run for an initial minimum of six months, is being led by the Safer Bristol Partnership with the support of Avon and Somerset police, the council’s Community Cohesion team and the residents group SEARCH.

John Brown, spokesman for the Crow Lane residents group, said: “Residents in Crow Lane are delighted that they have been chosen to take part in the first pilot project in Bristol. The scheme will help local residents in Crow Lane to keep in touch with each other and address issues which may affect us all here. It will help reduce fear of crime and increase community safety. “

Councillor Gary Hopkins, Chair of the Safer Bristol Partnership, said: “Reducing fear of crime and empowering residents to tackle crime in their community are key aims for us and this scheme offers an additional tool.

“The AlertBox initiative has been trialled with considerable success elsewhere in the UK and I shall be following the progress of this pilot with great interest.”

Inspector Phil Davis, Community Safety, Bristol District, said: "This is a good example of technology being used to bring communities together.

“The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is very popular in Bristol and has proved extremely effective in reducing crime and the fear of crime. We hope this initiative will bring further benefits."

Author:  

Peter Wood  0117 922 2651

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

To link to this page directly, use the URL
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-16656026

Subscribe to our free email bulletin service and get the latest news and information about consultations and events happening in the city - www.bristol.gov.uk/newsdirect