Bromley Neighbourhood Watch Association Newsletter

CRIME SUMMIT – UPDATE

Don’t forget the Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board is hosting the Crime Summit on Saturday, 1 March at the new Civic Centre. As well as the Police and LFB, there will be representatives from the British Transport Police, the Youth Council and the Met Cyber Crime Unit. Hear about issues such as retail crime, homelessness and violence against women and girls plus a Q & A session with a panel of senior officials.

Please arrive at 9 am (no earlier) to sign in. Coffee and pastries will be available before a prompt start at 9.30 am in the Council Chamber. The proposed agenda is as follows:

9.00 am – arrival, free beverage and Stands

9.30 – 11.00 am – Presentations (details to follow)

11.00 – 11.30 – Refreshment Break

11.30 – 1.00 pm – Presentations (details to follow)

The entrance to the new Civic Centre will be on Westmoreland Road, opposite St Mark’s Church, not the main entrance opposite the station. Entry is free but, other than on-street and public car parks, there is no parking at the new Civic Centre. The location is well-served by public transport buses and trains

To assist with numbers, please use the link below to reserve your space: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crime-summit-tickets-1185583525239?aff=oddtdtcreator 

BROMLEY SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD BOARD – CALENDAR

The Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board will soon publish a calendar on its website (bromleysnb.com) for you to promote your meetings and any public engagement events that support a Safer Bromley. Click HERE to add your meetings and events. These will be promoted on the Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board website and social platforms.  

You will be advised by the Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board when the calendar has been published. Meanwhile, if you know anyone who may wish to contribute to the calendar, share this with them.

The Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board can be contacted at: info@bromleysnb.com.

BROMLEY TRADING STANDARDS – ALERT!

Alerts and updates are posted directly to the LBB Website. Please tell your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, groups and members. To read the latest and receive an Alert! direct, visit: https://www.bromley.gov.uk/trading-standards/trading-standards-alerts

BROMLEY PUBLIC HEALTH – REMINDER

The Bromley Public Health team is asking Borough residents to complete a survey, the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), seeking feedback on people’s experiences using local pharmacies and how they can improve them. The survey is anonymous and takes only a few minutes to complete. It can be found at: www.bromley.gov.uk/PharmaceuticalNeedsAssessment or via the Bromley Council website: www.bromley.gov.uk/PNA. The closing date is 28 February 2025.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH – A CAUTIONARY TALE

Neighbourhood Watch relies on mutual support to be effective. A recent incident highlights how an area is targeted and how we should be vigilant of our and neighbours’ properties. 

Burglars broke into a 3rd house in a local area in under 6 months. Only the newsagent and a taxi company knew of the owner’s absence and a neighbour who would check the house weekly. However, the premises were ‘cased’. Burglars scattered soil over the front door and in the letterbox to determine whether the occupants would clear this and, thus, were in residence. Having ascertained the residents were away, burglars broke in via the rear garden, possibly over a neighbour’s fence, They removed a pair of shears from a locked garden shed by smashing a window so don’t think your garden, or shed, is secure. They used the shears to enter the house opening a narrow glazed panel in a pair of French doors. The residents had no burglar alarm so no audible or visual alarm was triggered. The thieves closed all the curtains to avoid being seen. They used the owners’ kitchen knives to cut fitted carpet on the ground floor looking for a hidden safe and didn’t find one so took silverware (including cutlery). They ransacked the upstairs master bedroom, cutting open mattresses and divan bases, looking for concealed items. They found some jewellery and a little cash but the owners had the foresight to hide major items of value. All items stolen were small and easily hidden or carried in a holdall.

CONSULTATION ON CONSERVATION AREAS

There is a new consultation on Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans which you can find here:- https://www.bromley.gov.uk/conservation/conservation-areas-2

The consultation is open now and ends 3rd of March.