Neighbourhood Watch Star Replaced by Anxious Officers
In Keynsham, one of the most well-known figures in the streets is ‘crime fighter Bob’. He has become known to residents due to his crime fighting activities and desire to protect the area, but in recent months he has been asked to stand down from his role of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator by police officials. Bob Eastaugh, working to prevent crime in Keynsham since 2009, is a popular figure in the area that he covers, including 185 domestic properties, but police paid him a visit and told him that he would no longer be able to play a key part in protecting his own neighbourhood.
No security in Keynsham?
The problem lies in the age of the gentleman, who is now 72. Officers who visited apparently told him that they were concerned for his health, and were worried that he might not be able to look after himself if there was a problem. Bob has had 2 spinal surgeries, and is still undergoing treatment, but it seems as though the decision was taken over his head by police who didn’t wish to consult with him about his work. The loss of Bob has made some residents afraid that they might be less secure in Keynsham in the future.
Bob and the community
Crime-Fighter Bob has helped to develop the community, and neighbours have been active in supporting his efforts at building the Neighbourhood Watch system for his area. He started the Keynsham security measure after several cars were set alight in the area. He has been praised by the Chief Constable for helping to cut crime in his area, and has been named Community Worker of the Year for the region. The police have stated that they thought that it was best for his heath to prevent him from being active in the future, although they have promised to write to him thanking him for his past service in his community.
What now for security in Keynsham?
Since Bob is no longer likely to be active, and the efforts of the police don’t always help to put residents and businesses’ minds at rest, the choice of employing private security companies in Keynsham should be considered. This will help to prevent the kind of crime which Bob has been eager to prevent in his efforts in the Neighbourhood Watch, and will keep his community efforts alive.
Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/police_mad_liam/