Trust joins Neighbourhood Watch portal

16 June 2008

The Wrekin Housing Trust, Shropshire's largest social landlord, has strengthened its partnership with Neighbourhood Watch and West Mercia Constabulary by becoming corporate members of a community messaging system.

The system, which is known as Ringmaster Community Messaging Portal, is run by Telford & Wrekin Neighbourhood Watch and was launched earlier this year. It aims to provide up-to-date information and crime prevention advice to users of the service.

The portal allows Telford's Neighbourhood Watch administration team to phone, text or email people quickly and directly to warn them about any incidents taking place that might affect the area where they live. It provides an immediate warning to members so that they can be on the look out for suspicious vehicles or activity, or even just offer them up-to-date crime prevention advice or information.

All 33 of the Trust's sheltered housing schemes across Telford and Newport are already members of the system and regularly receive information via text message about any suspicious activity in their areas.

To widen the sharing of this information, The Wrekin Housing Trust has joined the system at a corporate level. As a result, information is now being disseminated to all Trust staff via staff briefings.

Karen Bate, The Wrekin Housing Trust's representative on the Telford & Wrekin Neighbourhood Watch Committee, said: "The Trust has a commitment to make sure that residents feel safe and secure in their homes, so by joining the portal we can play an active role in creating safe environments."

Karen added: "We send out regular briefings to all of our staff, so by including information from the community messaging portal we can make sure that everyone is aware and alert to any suspicious activity. With so many staff working out and about in the community, we felt that joining the portal would be a positive step towards providing community reassurance."

Anne Walker, Telford's Neighbourhood Watch administrator, said: "We are very pleased that The Wrekin Housing Trust has joined the community messaging portal. This partnership with the Trust will help to offer residents even greater reassurance and help make the community feel safer and more secure."

"If a distraction burglary takes place in Telford, we can immediately alert Trust staff and scheme managers at sheltered housing schemes so that they can pass details on to their residents, to ensure that they are being vigilant."


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