Rayne Neighbourhood Watch

Braintree Council has recently appointed new community wardens to help tackle antisocial behaviour throughout the district. The new wardens will concentrate on tackling anti-social behaviour, vandalism, graffiti, fly-tipping and dog fouling as well as promoting safety and dealing with abandoned vehicles.

In some circumstances they can issue fixed penalty notices and be recognised by courts as approved witnesses. They can also require a name and address to be given - a starting point for any following police support or action.

The community warden scheme is seen by Braintree Council as another step in their commitment to reducing anti-social behaviour and aiming to improve the quality of life for all residents. The wardens will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for a number of offences and will liaise and work closely with neighbourhood policing teams.

The community warden responsible for Rayne Ward is Paul Richards who will be based at Shalford Police Station and can be contacted on 07785 515523.

Neighbourhood Policing appears to have got off to a good start in Rayne.

Paul Richards, our Community Warden, has been active in the village and has already responded to various calls from Rayne residents. Terrie Johnson and Laura Heard, our two Police Community Support Officers, have been patrolling the village and talking to residents. During the winter months they ran a successful operation enabling them to maintain regular contact with elderly and vulnerable people in the community and carry our welfare checks. They plan to maintain high-visibility patrols in the village and remain contactable to anyone who needs to speak to them. Paul is on 07785 515523 and Terrie and Laura on 07973 703810. They are all based at Shalford Police Station which is not a manned station, so anything requiring immediate police attendance should either be reported via 999 or through Braintree Police Station on 01376 551312.

The team has organised a litter pick along the Flitch Way on Saturday, 28th April from 10.00 hrs. to 14.30 hrs. Beavers, Scouts and Brownies are involved, working towards their community badges. If any other resident of Rayne Village would like to participate, please let Paul Richards know. At approximately 14.30 hrs. there will be a barbecue for participants, so confirmed numbers and dietary requirements will be needed.

The team attended the Rayne Fete in July 2007.

As the lighter evenings draw near, they have asked that all residents keep garages and cars locked. A neighbouring village suffered five garage/break-ins over one night. ALL of the garages and vehicles were left insecure, some with valuables on display. It really does only take a minute for an opportunist to steal something, but you spend more than a minute trying to replace it.

If you are a person who cares about your neighbourhood and would be willing to do something about it, why not become a Community Champion?

This is an opportunity to work with the Council and help improve services by reporting street issues, such as potholes, graffiti, dog fouling and street lights out etc.

There will be a free-phone number, e-mail address, on-line reporting form and text number and you would be given a pack of pre-paid postcards to make it easy to report any issues you may come across.

If you would like any more information, please contact Claire McAneny or Mick Galley on 01376 552525 or clamc@braintree.gov.uk.