Category: News

Keeping Children Safe from Street Robbery

 Dear Watch Member,

Many of you will have children or grandchildren returning to school this week, some of whom may be starting secondary school and using public transport to commute there and back.

Unfortunately, the start of a new school term can see an increase in robbery offences. There are, however, some things you can do to help reduce school-age family members’ risk of becoming a robbery victim and keep safe whilst using their phone. If you can, talk to them about where and how they use their phone using the following advice:

Safety when out and about:

  • Keep your phone and valuables out of sight in a safe place when travelling to and from school. Be careful when you take your phone out.
  • Bus stops, train stations and surrounding areas are common target areas for thieves, who can approach on foot, moped or on a pedal bike or e-scooter.
  • Earphones can distract you, stopping you from seeing or hearing someone approach you from behind.
  • Don’t confront a thief – it’s not worth risking your own safety for possessions that can be replaced.
  • Robbery or attempted robbery are serious crimes and should be reported. It’s important you seek help straight away by dialing 999 rather than contacting police when you get home. Use a friend’s phone or the phone of a trusted adult. This gives us the best chance to catch the suspects, recover any stolen property and ensure your safety.
  • If you have information about a robbery and do not want to report it to police, speak to Fearless 100% anonymously at www.fearless.org. Fearless is the youth service of independent charity Crimestoppers.
  • Whether you have a phone or not, memorise or keep a parent/carer’s phone number in a separate place in your bag/zipped pocket in case of emergency.

For more information go to www.fearless.org/campaigns/robbery.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Government Consultation on Proposed Sanctions for Drug Possession

Dear Watch Member,

Illicit drugs are at the root of untold harm and misery across our society. More people die every year as a result of drug misuse in England and Wales than from all knife crime and road traffic accidents combined. Drugs also cause enormous harm to children and young people, impacting on their health and their ability to work and learn. The total cost to society and taxpayers in today’s prices is running close to £22 billion a year in England alone.

Even these shocking numbers cannot fully capture the scale of the human tragedy, with countless lives ruined and families devastated.

A new government white paper is proposing a new regime for how the criminal justice system deals with drug possession offences by so-called recreational or casual users, and changes to how drug testing on arrest works.

The government’s consultation on the proposals is open until 10th  October, and the Home Office policy team have told us they are keen to get a wide range of responses. You are invited to find out about the proposals and give your views via the below online links.

The paper can be found at: ‘Swift, Certain, Tough: New Consequences for Drug Possession’ white paper – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Swift. Certain. Tough. New Consequences for drug possession white paper (homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk)

Please use the above links if you want to respond to this survey.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

Congratulations Nower Hill High School – A Level Results

In a year where results were expected to fall nationally after a 2 year absence of externally assessed exams, Nower Hill students have bucked the trend and delivered the school’s best ever A Level results, better even than the past 2 years of Centre Assessed Grades! We could not be more proud of our young people and send them our heartfelt congratulations.

We are in awe of the determination, resilience and optimism of our students who in spite of all the disruption to their education over the past two and a half years, have excelled. 45% of all grades were at A*/A and 70% of all grades at A* to B; that really is a remarkable achievement for a cohort of students sitting public examinations for the first time. The best possible outcome is that our young people leave us so well equipped to take their next steps, with them all going on to a variety of exciting university and apprenticeship courses.

Building the skills and confidence to ensure excellence and success is of course, very much a community effort and we feel very fortunate indeed to have such a strong school community, where everyone is invested in the success and achievement of our young people. I would like to extend the most sincere thanks to our very hard working staff, both those in the classroom and all the support staff who help to create such a positive and welcoming environment for our students and enable the school to run so smoothly. A huge thank you as well to all of our wonderful parents and carers, who always work so collaboratively with us in the best interests of their children and have offered their unconditional support over the past 7 years. Finally, thank you to the students themselves who have been an absolute joy to work with and have kept their ‘eyes on the prize’, rather than succumbing to much of the negative reporting around the difficulties that this particular cohort of students have faced. They have learned the very important life lesson that hard work really pays off, whatever the circumstances!

“Each and every one of our young people should be proud of what they have achieved and I hope there will be many joyous family celebrations tonight! Our very best wishes to them all as they progress to the next stage of their lives,” Louise Voden, Headteacher.

We would like to share with you just a few of our many individual success stories…

“I am ecstatic about my results. Hard work really does pay off!” Mathuyan who will be going to Warwick University.

“So grateful for the endless support from teachers and friends. Could not have done it without you!” Daisy, going on to read English at Exeter University.

“I am pleased about my results and could not be more proud of myself. I would just like to say a huge thank you to the sixth form team. Always there to support me and allow me to achieve the results that I did. And making me push myself in challenging times,” Lucas, who will be going to Leeds University to read Geography with Transport.

“I am very happy about my results and pleased to start a degree apprenticeship with the Met police shortly,” Ethan.

I am happy with my results and feel that Nower Hill has allowed me to achieve my potential after moving here for the sixth form,” Evelyn, who is going to Southampton University to study Chemical Engineering.

“Very happy with results, thanks teachers!” Oliver, who is looking forward to reading Medicine at Newcastle University.

I’m very happy and relieved! Very excited. Thanks for all the school support!” Megan, who will be reading Medicine at Imperial.

So happy that I got A, A, B. Nower Hill helped me every step of the way and I’ve loved the last 7 years here,” Demi, who is going on to study Law at Kent University.

“Very happy to be off to go do the course of my dreams at an amazing university – Medicine at UCL. So grateful. Thank you teachers!” Abishah.

I am so happy that all the hard work paid off and want to thank all the teachers for their support through A levels,” Chloe who will be reading Psychology in Education at Loughborough University.

Calling thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies!

Love new experiences?  Open to challenges?  Want to do good in the world?

Doing a Fire Walk for St Luke’s Hospice ticks all three boxes.

We’ll be on-hand to provide support to make sure you have a great night that you’ll never forget.

Show your bravery, overcome your fears and take part to help your local hospice.

Thursday 29 September – from 7:00pm at Harrow District Masonic Centre

You’ll be given all the training and guidance needed to safely undertake this thrilling challenge.

Fire walking is an empowering, invigorating and completely safe experience.

The minimum age to participate in the Fire Walk is 11 years old. If you are between the ages of 11 and 17, you will need the consent of a parent or guardian to take part and be accompanied by an adult aged over 18 at the event.

  • Early-bird tickets just £20 until 31 August
  • We ask you try and raise a minimum sponsorship amount of £100.

Special Offer: Sign up now and you can gift a FREE place to a friend, family member or colleague.

Just let us know who you’d like to invite and we’ll send them an email with all the details and a special discount code. It’s so much more fun when you do things together!

click here to book your place.

If you have any questions about the event please contact the events team at St Luke’s Hospice on [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 29 September for an exhilarating event!

Scammers Targeting Motorists in Pinner

Dear Watch Member,

Scammers are targeting motorists in Pinner.

They approach elderly motorists and convince them they must pay for parking or a fine by inserting a credit / debit card into a parking machine, some of which have a card-sized slot. After the motorist enters their PIN on the alphanumeric keypad, the scammers then use a distraction or sleight of hand technique to remove the card. They then tell the motorist the machine has retained the card, which is then used to swiftly make contactless payments and/or withdraw money from a nearby ATM.

One of the scammers was reported to be wearing a camera to give the appearance of being a genuine parking enforcement officer. Other scammers approach motorists about to use a parking machine, to offer their assistance, when their real purpose is to confuse the motorist and steal their card.

Although the method can change (such as using an ATM instead of a parking machine) the intended result is the same.

Please note that Harrow Council parking machines only allow two types of payment; either with coins or by calling paybyphone, using their website (www.paybyphone.co.uk) or smartphone app, and no genuine parking enforcement officer will ask you to pay a fine in the street.

If you fall victim to these scammers it’s important to cancel any stolen card(s) at the earliest opportunity, so ensure that your card issuer’s phone number, found on the reverse of your card, is in your mobile phone’s contact list.

Please share this message on WhatsApp groups and social media feeds, and speak to elderly family, friends and neighbours to help prevent them becoming victims of this crime.

 

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If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]

‘Amazon’ Test Club Scam Letters

Dear Watch Member,

You may receive in the post a letter claiming to be from Amazon. The letter invites you to join a “Test Club” where you are given the opportunity to test new Amazon products in exchange for free items and commission. You are asked to submit your details to register your interest in joining the test club.

Amazon have been contacted, and they have confirmed that they are not sending these letters, therefore this is likely to be a scam.

As always, please be suspicious of unexpected correspondence of any type, particularly if it asks you to provide your personal details.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]