ORIHUELA COSTA NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2010
At the beginning of the year we had 92 groups including the one at Laguna Green, Jacarilla and the Commercial Centre at Flamenca Beach. At the end of the year we have 96 groups. During the year we had three groups withdraw and saw seven new ones join. We now have groups in 135 residencias with 173 co-ordinators where there are approximately 16,000 houses.During the year we have seen a number of people throughout the area returning to the U.K. mainly on economic grounds. This has been reflected amongst our co-ordinators where a number are no long with us. Fortunately, in most cases, others, seeing the need for our representation in their areas, have taken their places.
As in previous years I would like to thank Graham Jones for his help in running the group, being responsible for the circulation of messages and maintaining our website and library.
Also, I thank the Area Leaders for the work that they do and Manfred for collating and preparing the Monthly Crime Figures.
At the end of the year, Stan Knee, Area Leader for O.C. 5, Los Dolses and his wife have returned permanently to the U.K. On everyone´s behalf I thanked Stan for his work within the Group and wished them best wishes for their future there.
As always, the Group can´t work without probably the most important people we have, the Co-ordinators. On the Residencias they are our representatives, passing information to those that live there and also collecting information from within their area. The passing of information is possibly one of the most important thing that we do whether it is destined for the Police and/or circulation to other groups throughout the Costa Blanca. The Police welcome this greatly, providing the information is good and they can act upon it. It is information that they would not probably have normally and it assists them greatly. The most important tool to their armoury is information. Co-ordinators, we thank you.
In November we learnt of the passing of Mike Pearson who was the Co-ordinator for Residencia Valle de los Pinos in Los Altos. Mike joined our Group in 2000 on its formation. He was respected and was certainly a character. Meryl and I saw his daughter and son in law and expressed the group's condolences. Alan Debenham represented the Group at his funeral. He will be missed.
During the summer months we helped the Chiringuitas del Sol in an advisory role. They have the concession for the Beach Bars on the eleven beaches on the Orihuela Costa. They also provided a point where people with problems could go and make contacts with the Police should this be needed. During this period the only crimes known to have occurred on the beaches were the theft of two handbags and a mobile phone. The only other incident that occurred was when a lady got into difficulties in the sea. The Emergency Services were called and the lady was brought safely to the beach and recovered quickly not needing further attention.
The Chringuitas del Sol have also to be congratulated for having been awarded the prestigious certificate ISO 9001/2008 for the facilities and service they provided on the beaches. The Certificate was presented on the 17th December 2010 at a ceremony held in their Headquarter premises where members of the granting authority and Orihuela Council attended. This award is internationally recognized and is awarded throughout the World. The Chiringuitas del Sol are the first and only company of its kind to have received this award in Spain.
On the Orihuela Costa where we have Groups we have again seen a reduction of crime. When comparing crime for the year with that of 2009, Buildings crime has been 156 compared with 314, a drop of 50%. Vehicle Crime 38 compared with 55, a drop of 31% and Street Crime, 40 compared with 75 a drop of 47%. This is the second year running that we have seen a large drop in crime. In the year 2008 there were 458 Buildings Crimes, 65 Vehicle Crimes and 78 Street Crimes.
On looking at the figures, as a Group we have first of all to praise the agents of the Guardia Civil and Policía Local for their devotion and expertise in protecting us and the security provided. For our part, we now have more groups and Residencias than before. If the thieves see our notices displayed or find that if they are seen acting in our area, the Police quickly arrive to deal with them. The word soon gets around the criminal fraternity that it is not a good idea to seek illegal gains where the residents are so organized.
On looking at crime over the year, the highest amount of Buildings Crime again occurred in the Urbanization of PAU 8 in Villa Martin Norte where there were 31 incidents. This, however, is down from the previous year when there were 57 incidents. We had a month where aluminium doors to meter boxes and post cabinets were stolen on a large scale. This subsided when a man was arrested by the Guardia Civil for a number of thefts. This was helped by information being sent quickly from our group to the Guardia Civil.
Likewise, it has just been announced by the National Government that Alicante Province last year has seen the biggest drop in crime in ten years. Criminal offences were down by 6.3% and misdemeanours by 7.9%. This has shown that the National, Regional and Municipal Governments are committed to combat crime in our area.
This can also be shown by the building of the new Centre for Emergencies in La Zenia despite the present tough economic conditions. This is presently being built by the Regional and Local Government and should be completed in early 2012. This will be a welcome addition to the fight against crime and we look forward to its opening.
We have continued to have regular meetings with the Councillor for the Coast, Sr Aniorte, the Councillor for Security, Sra Valero and the Police Chiefs.
These remain very productive and show that we maintain the support of the Council. To show their continued commitment to security in the Orihuela Area they have appointed a Director for Security, Sr Enrique Rocamora Aniorte. He has made himself known to us and welcomed our co-operation.
In conclusion, I look forward to the year ahead with confidence and hope that with our vigilance and the co-operation with the Police we can see the rate of crime continue to decrease in our area.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2009
During the year we have again grown in number from 85 groups to 90 groups on the Coast. This includes 135 residencias, 183 co-ordinators and 15428 dwellings. In addition we have a Group at the Commercial Centre at Flamenca Beach and another at Laguna Green, Jacarilla with 2 co-ordinators and 107 dwellings. As in previous years, we have welcomed new groups together with their co-ordinators and new co-ordinators to existing groups.
I would first of all like to thank Graham Jones for his help in running the group whilst I have been away and for maintaining our website and library.
I thank also the Area Leaders for their support and contribution in the running of the group. They are there to give advice and guidance should
co-ordinators need it. It is important that a relationship is built up and maintained between the Area leaders and the groups in their areas.
As in previous years, I acknowledge the work carried out by Manfred in collating and preparing the Monthly Crime Figures. These are important figures
allowing Area Leaders, other groups and myself to see what is happening on individual groups. This is the only way that I and the Area Leaders can bring to the notice of Police Chiefs and Councillors the state of crime is the area and on individual residencias. So that they can also see the situation, good or bad, the Chiefs of the Guardia Civil and the Policia Local are provided on a monthly basis, with a copy of these returns. We need for all the groups to send in their figures to Manfred even if they have not experienced crime. Manfred, as you know has been ill in Germany for a number of months; but I am pleased to say that he has now returned to good health and has resumed his duties. Thanks go to Manfred and to Graham who stood in during the time that Manfred was away.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all our co-ordinators for the work that they do in their communities. They are their resident´s contact with the Police and the group as a whole. They are the first port of call should anything criminal occur and information received by them and passed on directly to the Police or through me, Graham or the Area Leaders is invaluable. Without the
Co-ordinators, Neighbourhood Watch would not exist.
During the year, the Chief Officer of the Policia Local, Sr Antonio Machado has relocated his office to the Coast, showing the importance given to policing our area. We welcome him.
Likewise, during the summer months, the Teniente of the Guardia Civil at Torre de la Horadada; Sr Santos Buen Dia has been promoted to Captain and relocated. He has been replaced by Teniente Sr José Angel Millan who we have also welcomed.
Our relationship with the Policia Local and the Guardia Civil has continued to be of an excellent nature with co-operation being welcomed by all. The Senior Officers are eager that we help them in whatever way we can and it is important that any information, whether we think it will be of use or not, be passed to them. This can be done by me or Graham.
During the year, 2008, we saw in our area where we have groups, that there was a large increase in crime. This continued for a few months at the start of 2009 but I am pleased to say that the numbers of crime decreased greatly over the latter part. On comparing figures for the two years, there were 314 houses attacked in 2009 in comparison to 458 the previous year, 55 vehicles as compared 63, 75 street crimes as compared to 80 and 225 suspicious incidents as compared to 265. Vulnerable areas are still PAU 8, La Zenia ll, Los Dolses and recently Las Ramblas Golf. The reduction in crime can be accredited to the professionalism of the Police operating in the area and I hope that we made a small contribution.
We have continued to have regular meetings with Chiefs of the Policia Local and the Councillor for the Coast, Sr Aniorte and the Councillor for Security, Sra Valero which have proved very productive. We maintain the support of the Council which was shown when we were invited to take part in the exercise Playas Limpias on our beaches in October. We took part in this simulated threat of contaminated material reaching our coast from a cargo leak out at sea. We were involved together with the Guardia Civil, Policia Local, Protección Civil and Cruz Roja and under the control of the Harbour Master of Torrevieja. I think that it was proved to the Ministry of the Environment that we would be able to deal with a real emergency should it arise. We were honoured to have been invited.
In December, the project for the new Centre for Emergencies to be built in La Zenia was presented by the Councillor for Security for the Region of Valencia, Sr Serafín Castellano and the Alcaldesa of Orihuela, Sra Mónica Lorente. It is planned to lay the first stone in February, 2010 and for the project to be completed in 18 months. We look forward to its completion.
In conclusion, I think that we will continue to grow in numbers during 2010 and together with the Council and the Police reduce the crime in the area to the benefit of residents and visitors.
Best wishes,
Chris.
All you have to do if you require information to is telephone
Chris Poole on 96 676 1379 or Graham Jones on 96 532 7838. OR E Mail us