partners against crime 2011 review

Contact the Gazette for News and Advertising: 01983 898340 www.iwgazette.co.ukThe Gazette, Friday, February 18, 2011 9

NEWS

Contact the Gazette for News and Advertising: 01983 898340 www.iwgazette.co.uk The Gazette, Friday, February 18, 201110

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COULD YOU ESCAPE FROM A

An inflatable ‘smoke house’, which simulates being trapped in a smoke-filled room, encouraged visitors to take part in demonstrations at the Partners Against Crime event which took place at Medina Leisure Centre in Newport on Saturday (February 12)

The house works by being filled with harmless cosmetic smoke and is designed to show people the recommended procedures for escaping from a smoke-filled room in the event of a real fire.

During the demonstration, fire officers supervised participants both inside and outside.

Stuart May is Assistant Chief Fire Officer with the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and says the inflatable smoke house is a very valuable tool, saying: “Being in a room filling with smoke is a very frightening experience and people can become disorientated which is very dangerous in a real fire.

“Although totally harmless, being inside the inflatable smoke room does simulate what you would experience in a fire situation and will show you the methods you should follow to escape if you are ever involved in a real fire. It is therefore a very important piece of equipment that will ultimately help save lives.”


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SMOKE FILLED HOUSE...?

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Stuart May added: “Members of the public asked a variety of questions about fire safety in the home and as a consequence of the event we will make a number of visits to people¹s

homes to give advice. The smoke house and road traffic collision demonstration were particularly popular with the younger visitors but it also allows us to get a serious message across.

“The event demonstrated to members of the public on the Island that there are a wide and diverse group of partners all working together to make our communities safer and better places to live and visit.”

“The event demonstrated to members of the public on the Island that there are a wide and diverse group of partners all working together to make our communities safer and better places to live and visit.”

Assistant Chief Fire Officer MayIsle of Wight Fire and Rescue


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Geof Clynch…BNP.Organiser. www.bnp.org.uk

“PLEASE DRIVE SAFE AND STAY ALIVE...”

Canines catching criminals and firefighters rescuing road crash casualties were among a showcase of skills on display at Saturday’s Partners Against Crime held at Medina Leisure Centre, which attracted an estimated 700 people.

Members of the public were invited to meet senior leaders from the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership, and to experience live exhibitions from more than 30 organisations that work together on the Island.

The Community Safety Partnership combines the expertise of emergency services and related agencies. These include major organisations such as the Isle of Wight Council, Hampshire Constabulary, NHS Isle of Wight, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, the Hampshire Probation Trust, the Wessex Youth Offending Team, Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Isle of Wight, and the Island’s Rural Community Council (RCC).

The purpose of the event was to encourage greater public

participation in crime prevention and community safety campaigns.

Partnership leaders including Isle of Wight police commander Superintendent Norman Mellors and Isle of Wight Assistant Chief Fire Officer Stuart May were available to speak with members of the public in person.

Visitors were able to witness and ask questions about the following:


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“PLEASE DRIVE SAFE AND STAY ALIVE...”


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• Live demonstrations of how police dogs detect drugs and detain suspects• Live demonstrations

on the safe use of Tasers by authorised firearms officers• The use of SmartWater

technology to trace criminals and stolen goods through a unique ultraviolet liquid. (71 SmartWater property marking kits were requested by members of the public during Saturday’s event.)• How to become a

Special Constable or a police support volunteer.

• A live demonstration of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service¹s skills in removing an injured motorist safely from a damaged car after a collision.• Education on the

importance of having a fire alarm, highlighted by an inflatable ‘smoke house’ simulating the risks of being trapped inside your home• The Hampshire

Probation Trust and security company G4S gave an insight into how offenders are tagged and rehabilitated in the

community.• The Wessex Youth

Offending Team described its actions and achievements in preventing offending behaviour by children and young people on the Island.• NHS Isle of Wight

spoke with many visitors about health promotion campaigns, and recruited three new community responders: members of the public who volunteer to undergo specialist training so they can use life-saving skills and provide early intervention for patients

in emergencies within their local neighbourhood.• Other displays included

magic shows for children with a road safety twist.Community chefs

cooked up healthy eating ideas and a cocktail bar served up mocktails as an alternative to alcohol. A selection of emergency

service and community safety vehicles were on display including a fire engine, police roads policing unit, ambulance, Reliance transporter, police 4x4s and Isle of Wight Council’s road safety trailer.


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LAGLOs as they are known, are a mix of police officers and police staff members who have special understanding and training on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.Their role includes

enhancing the relationship between the police and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in an effort to boost people’s trust and confidence in coming forward to report hate crime incidents. They also work to develop ways in which the constabulary can improve its service delivery.Set up in 1996, the role has

already proved important in helping police in many inquiries, including two murder inquiries where LAGLOs were able to give informed advice on how

to approach potential witnesses and informants.We have over 140 LAGLOs,

located at all the main police stations in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.LAGLOs are available

to provide advice to their colleagues about crime investigations and to people who identify as LGBT.

LAGLOs visit gay friendly venues frequently to help foster good relations with the community and listen to local concerns.We will treat any

information you give sensitively and in confidence. For non-urgent advice, ask for the LAGLO in your specific area and a message can be left for them to contact you.


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CANINE COPS AND


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THEIR KEEPERS


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”Visitors who spoke with me were very complimentary about the day and our work in general. Many other members of the public were also impressed with the event and the professionalism of all involved. I hope the experiences and opportunities at Saturday¹s event can enable residents to become more involved in our combined efforts to keep the Island safe.

“Taking sensible precautions to protect your own home and possessions from thieves, and volunteering for a community safety initiative in your area, can make a huge difference to reducing crime and the fear of crime. Public support for local police and partner agencies is an essential element in warning criminals they will never be tolerated on our Island.”

Superintendent Norman Mellors Isle of Wight police commander

partners against crime 2011 review

Documents

inflatable smoke room

aan inflatable smoke

crime event

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harmless cosmetic smoke

smokefilled room

diverse group of partners

officer stuart