Marine Watch scheme for Lowestoft?

POLICE are seeking boat owners, anglers, residents living near local waterways, businesses and others with connections to the broads, sailing and other river activities to get involved as they consider re-launching a Marine Watch scheme in the Lowestoft area.

Marine Watch was successfully relaunched at Beccles last year and now letters are being sent to householders and boat owners to gauge interest in, and support for, the scheme in Lowestoft and Oulton Broad.

With summer fast approaching, local waterways tend to become busier and the scheme aims to gather local boat owners, businesses, clubs and various agencies in partnership to tackle marine crime.

Marine Watch works in exactly the same way as Neighbourhood Watch - by involving as many people as possible to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

Those who want to take part will be encouraged to sign up for the Suffolk Constabulary Police Direct system, which provides immediate alerts. This means that if a crime is reported, or something suspicious seen, everyone that has signed up will promptly receive a phone, text or email alert.

Marine Watch also encourages boat owners to take basic crime prevention measures - such as not leaving valuable property on board and to use effective locking devices - and to postcode mark any property on their boats.

If you would like to find our more, or are interested in acting as a local co-coordinator to work with police, please contact Andrew Bodmer, Community Watch Liaison Officer, on 01986 835204 or e-mail: andrew.bodmer@suffolk.pnn.police.uk.

If there is enough support, an open meeting will be held to inform and discuss the scheme and, most importantly, to hear your views and ideas on how best it could be organised to improve security and feelings of safety within the marine community.