POLICING throughout Trafford has changed dramatically during the past 20 years with crime increasing over the last two decades.

But the problem is being curbed thanks to the help from the general public who have found their own way to crack crime. For most residents are now involved in local 'Home Watch' schemes helping to keep an eye out for suspicious characters up to no good.

And this has led to more information making its way to crimebusters and more domestic burglars being caught.

Since the first such scheme was set up in Trafford back in 1986, it has grown and grown - so much so that there are now 700 active schemes each consisting of approximately 20 homes.

Figures are regularly updated by twice-yearly audits so that police can keep a check on problem areas and organisers say that they have been a great help.

Community safety officer at Altrincham, PC Tony Crompton tells SUM: "It is worth every homeowner getting involved in 'Home Watch' because it has been proved to work.

"It is worth bearing in mind though, that even if there is a sign on the lamppost or a sticker in your window - you may not be in an active scheme.

"If you haven't heard from your co-ordinator for a while or received a recent bulletin, your scheme could have lapsed and you should check with the Watch Scheme Co-ordinator Eleanor Kelly on 856-7745."

The success of the 'Home Watch' initiatives has led to a variety of other schemes along the same lines.

In addition to the original scheme watching domestic property, there are others like 'Pub Watch', 'Shop Watch', 'Canal Watch' and one of the most successful is 'Allotment Watch'.

PC Crompton adds: "Two years ago, a need was identified to set up a watch scheme to combat the increasing problems of criminal damage on allotments around the borough which had led to a lot of sites becoming neglected."

Since the launch of the scheme, the council and police have worked together to stop the rot.

A rolling programme of security measures at vulnerable sites, combined with sessions to enable allotment holders to have their tools marked, has helped the situation and most are now more secure.

PC Crompton goes on: "Leaflets have been distributed to homes surrounding allotment sites asking locals to report anything suspicious.

"All the area bobbies are also familiar with the various society secretaries and can help them with individual concerns.

"In addition there are also regular meetings held at Woodheys Park pavilion in Sale attended by members of the allotment societies, the council and the police."

There have also been a number of roadshows across Trafford to promote allotment security and police say that they have had a marked effect on crime figures.

PC Crompton concludes: "We have a lot of success with 'Allotment Watch' and hope that with more people becoming aware of the situation each time there is a road show, we can crack green-fingered crime even further."

For more details on the 'Allotment Watch' scheme call either of the officers, Janet Long at the council on 912-3656 or Eleanor Kelly at the police on 856-7745.

For general crime prevention advice call the community safety officers at Altrincham - PC Tony Crompton on 856-7546; or at Stretford - PC Paul Berry on 856-7746.

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