Crime fighting Glaswegians to pick up award for Neighbourhood Watch scheme

Apr 16 2009 By Frank Hurley

A HARD-WORKING and enterprising Neighbourhood Watch in Glasgow is to receive a prestigious award for its unflinching efforts in not only the fight against crime, but also in crime prevention.

Glasgow West Neighbourhood Watch and Crime Prevention Panel is due to receive the award at the Association of Scottish Neighbourhood Watches Awards Dinner to be held at Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld tonight.

PC Colin Laird, Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer for Glasgow Central and West based at Garscadden Police Office, said: "I am very pleased for the association. This award recognises the excellent contributions which the membership has made towards community work in the area."

Glasgow West Neighbourhood Watch Association consists of 42 schemes located in the west end of Glasgow.

They have been in operation for a number of years and are extremely active. They regularly assist local police initiatives and local community events and have assisted in running several initiatives over the course of last year.

The No Cold Calling scheme, which was the first of its kind in Glasgow, covered the Knightswood area, promoting better security and advice for elderly residents against doorstep crime.

Intergenerational Conferences was another winner. This scheme consisted of a series of two highly successful conferences which brought together 100 elderly residents and 100 youths within the area in order to foster better relations between the two groups.

The Stars of the West youth project aimed to provide diversionary activities in the form of dance and voice tuition over a six week period in the summer months for youngsters within the area.

Members of the association assisted 'A' division police by manning stalls at several events over the last 12 months including local galas and community events.

The association buys personal attack alarms which it distributes to elderly and vulnerable people.

Members and committees meet regularly at Partick Police Office in order to discuss relevant business and they remain a dedicated and extremely well organised association.

The organisation was assisted by primary seven children from three local primary schools - Thornwood, Whiteinch and Blairdardie - in designing a logo for the association.

Every child who took part was rewarded with a goodie bag, presented by PC Laird.

The top entry from each school received a £20 gift voucher.

PC Laird said: "The logos produced by the children were of an extremely high standard and showed just how much talent there is in the west of Glasgow.

"The children are to be congratulated on their artistic abilities."