Paying Tribute to Bob Mennear (From Harrow Times)

Paying Tribute to Bob Mennear

3:07pm Monday 5th March 2012 in Blogs By Dal Babu

This week I awarded a posthumous Borough Commander's Commendation to Harrow Council Safeguarding Adults Manager, Bob Mennear whose funeral took place last week. Part of Bob’s role was to liaise with police colleagues and support the multi-agency responses when the abuse of vulnerable adults constituted a potential crime. Bob diligently embraced this role and provided an invaluable link between the Local Authority and the Police. Bob was able to pull together the various Safeguarding Adults stakeholders in Harrow in a positive way, which enhanced partnership working and promoted positive outcomes for vulnerable people. Bob will be sorely missed by us all.

Last week I attended a meeting with Neighbourhood Champions who were enthusiastic about how they can ensure our borough remains a safe place to live. One of the main concerns raised was the number of scams that people were being subjected too. I think is very important to remember that if it sounds "too good to be true" then it probably is. Sadly, some vulnerable members of our communities in Harrow are falling prey to unscrupulous fraudsters. Please note you can find some excellent advice from 'Which Magazine' or visit the fraud page on the Metropolitan Police website at www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/ I recently attended the annual Community Security Trust (CST) meeting where the chancellor George Osborne MP highlighted their work in protecting the Jewish community from anti-Semitic attacks . Harrow Police work very closely with the CST during Jewish festivals and the use of their volunteers helps reduce the number of police officers we deploy to such events. I met Ronald Preston and his wife from Stanmore at the event and was flabergasted to find out he will soon be celebrating his 80th birthday. He looked 30 years younger . Mr Preston told me he arrives at work at 8 am each day and has no intention of retiring - what an amazing man.

In the past few weeks we have had a spate of arson attacks where skips, rubbish and vehicles have been set alight. These have been happening around the Harrow Weald and Hatch End areas. We are working with the local Fire Brigade and are following a number of leads. The police investigation into these crimes is ongoing and if you can provide us with any information please call us on the non-emergency number 101. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

I was pleased to be present at the Commissioner's Excellence in Policing Awards last week to see PCs Robb, Hinchcliffe, Harding and Barker win the Outstanding Bravery Award for arresting a man armed with a knife, where the officers sustained serious personal injuries. I am pleased to report that one of the officers has returned to work and the remaining three are making good progress.

In the last few weeks we have had reports of burglaries where car keys have been stolen, and then cars stolen from the driveways of those homes. When you lock up at night, please store your cars keys safely in a drawer and do not to leave them near the front door or on display. Last week Thomas Mongan of Luton was sentenced to 9 months' imprisonment for being passenger in a car which had been stolen in a burglary in High Wycombe back in May 2009. The car was then involved in a serious crash in Mandeville Road, Harrow a few days later. The driver of the car was only 13 at the time and was sentenced to 12 months in a Young Offenders Institution. On seeing the mangled wreckage of the car, it's a miracle that no one sustained serious injuries.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting sisters Zenda and Zaira from Stanmore. Zenda and Zaira generously donate a sum of money the Metropolitan Police Widows and Orphans fund every year and are hugely supportive of the police and all the work we do.

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