Pre-empt - take action before it's too late (From Harrow Times)

Pre-empt - take action before it's too late

8:00am Monday 9th July 2012 in Blogs By Dal Babu

Next Monday 16 July in the Old Harrovian Room, Harrow School, between 10 am and 2 pm, we will be taking part in a special conference entitled "Pre-empt - take action before it's too late." This is the launch of a new support group which has been set up by mothers from Harrow to tackle the pressures from gang culture facing young people and their families.

The event, the first of its kind in Harrow, will see professionals from partner agencies including Education, Health, Housing, Children's Services and voluntary organisations come together to inform parents of the services and support groups available should they have concerns regarding young people, crime and gangs.

There are many ways of supporting young people involved or at risk of becoming involved in criminality or gang activity. Often they do not realise the seriousness of what they have got into, until it's too late. One of the aims of the conference entitled is to communicate with and advise parents and carers of the signs to look out for, how they can help someone they care about and to give practical advice on how a young person can get themselves out of a situation that they are no longer comfortable with.

Parents and carers are often aware that there has been a change of mood or habit within a young person, they have their suspicions that something is "not quite right" but they are unsure of where to go or who to turn to for help or advice. This seminar will address these issues and put people in touch with the right agencies, whilst promoting diversionary activities for young people at risk.

The group, Mothers Against Gangs (MAG) is a self-help group and was formed following meetings with local police to discuss how mothers could use their influence to guide their children away from becoming involved in crime and gangs. The scheme is being funded through the Prisoner Property Act fund which will be given to Harrow Association of Voluntary Organisations (HASVO) to directly fund the group.

We will be providing free transport to the event from The Beacon Centre, Scott Crescent and The Wealdstone Centre at 9.30 am on Monday 16 July. It may be possible to arrange to be picked up from home. To arrange transport or for more details please call Sonia on 07717 732 952 or Mahesh on 020 8733 3413.

Although we have a 20% reduction in burglary at Harrow so far this year I am concerned about the number of burglaries where the house has been left insecure with doors unlocked or windows left open. We recently arrested a motor vehicle thief who was filmed on CCTV walking along the road trying hundreds of car doors before finding an open one from which he stole a sat nav. Please ensure you lock your car doors and key valuables out of sight .

Harrow Volunteer Police Cadets helped marshal the St Luke's Hospice Midnight Walk last week. This is an annual event where ladies complete a sponsored nine mile walk for this worthwhile cause.

The event had 1500 participants this year and two of the cadets, Anisha Kotecha and Meera Patel (second and third from the left in the photograph) completed the walk themselves The cadets started helping at 1pm setting up and decorating the hall until 5pm. The second shift started at 9pm and worked loading goodie bags for all the walkers. The older cadets acted as marshalls on the route. The younger cadets with staff and volunteers set up tables, prepared breakfast and made teas and coffees for the returning walkers through to 5am.

Harrow Volunteer Police Cadets were proud to be part in this event which raised a massive £188,940 for the St Luke's Hospice.

Jonathan Cox is an Economics Teacher at Copland School in Wembley. He has joined Harrow Police has a volunteer bringing a wealth of experience. I have arranged to meet with him to see how we can best utilise his local skills and knowledge. If you would like to volunteer to work with Harrow police please contact janis.anderson@met.police.uk Officers have been steeping up their campaign on rogue premises that sell alcohol to under age customers. This has involved in number of undercover police operations involving school age pupils attempting to buy alcohol. Harrow police will work with Harrow Council to shut any premises found to be flouting the law by selling alcohol to underage youths.

Each week Harrow Police will be featuring one of officers or staff, talking about their police work and their outside interests.

PC Katharine Lewis was born at Northwick Park Hospital. She grew up in Harrow, attending Roxeth First and Middle Schools and then Whitmore High School. Both her parents were police officers and in fact Katherine's father served at Harrow. The desire to serve the public is clearly a family trait. Katherine was a PCSO for four years before successfully becoming a PC three years ago. She is a proud recipient of the Queen's Jubilee medal. Outside of work, Katharine is a Cadet Instructor in Hillingdon.

PC Lewis is a member of "A" Patrol Team. With her colleagues she responds to the 999 calls members of the public make. This is a demanding role and the officers who attend these calls never know quite what they will have to deal with when they arrive at the scene of a crime. I was pleased to present Katherine with two commendations this week for her outstanding bravery whilst dealing with two incidents - firstly when she rescued people from a burning building in Bessborough Road, and secondly when, with colleagues she evacuated 3000 people, following a fire in Belmont Circle.

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