All Mosques Together meeting

There will be an All Mosques Together meeting at Easton Community Centre at 6pm on 6th June 2012.

Faith Associates Course

Leadership and Governance Training for Mosque, Madrassah Management and Committee Members.

Hajj leaflet 2011 from the City of London Police explaining how those travelling abroad can protect themselves against potential criminals.



Hajj Leaflet 031110 English

Eating Halal?

An eye-openening event organised by the Council of Bristol Mosques.

2:30pm on Saturday 17th September 2011 at St. Werburghs community Centre, Horley Road, St Werburghs, Bristrol, BS2 9TJ.

Eating Halal

Advice for Mosques

The below information has been recieved from the National Association of Muslim Police. This is general advice and there is no increased risk to our knowledge.

You may wish to take the following precautionary measures:

1. Ensure that your premises are secure and if fitted your alarm systems are fully operational.
2. Ensure your CCTV system fully operational.
3. Review your contingency plans and evacuation plans.
4. Ensure staff are first aid trained.
5. Ensure stewards are easily identifiable while worshippers are on the premises.
6. Ensure stewards are aware of the procedures in case of trouble.
7. Have clear roles and responsibilities for the stewards in case of an incident.
8. Ensure contact numbers for the police are clearly displayed.
9. Consider keeping as little cash as possible on the premises and collections are in a secure area.
10. Consider removing high value goods from display windows overnight.
11. Record serial numbers of any high value stock and goods.
12. Make sure all service doors are kept locked and secure when not in use.
13. Ensure staff report any suspicious activity to security and/or police.
14. Consider regular checks of the building and surrounding area.
15. Identify areas that are vulnerable to forced entry and reinforce.
16. Ensure keyholder list (people who can be contacted in case of emergency at your premises) is updated with the alarm company and the police.
17. Where possible ensure area around the premises is well lit. This will assist identifying possible offenders.
18. Where rubble, builders skips, flammable liquids, gas canisters etc are visible these should be locked away or removed completely from the area.
19. Request a visit from the crime prevention team for advice on better security.
20. In case of an incident, always record the incident number and the officer attending number.
21. Always register incidents with the police.
22. Inform police of any incidents at the earliest opportunity.
23. Ensure any witnesses are available or can be contacted when the police arrive.
24. The police will probably require the CCTV footage. Please ensure it is not erased.
25. If an incident has taken place, try not to move anything until you have sought advice from the police.
26. In the event of a non-emergency, call the police on non-emergency number.
27. In the event of an emergency, call the emergency number 999.
28. If you have any information you wish to provide to police anonymously you can contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

For more information please use the following contact details:

National Association of Muslim Police

Info@namp-uk.com

www.namp-uk.com

IMPORTANT UPDATE - RECENT BURGLARIES

We have had 5 more incidents in June involving South Asian victims. These were spread across Bristol and I would like to bring the below to your attention.

At several offences there have been reports of males knocking on doors of homes in the days and weeks leading up to that home being burgled. These males are often reported to be enquiring whether occupants want household/garden work done. However, it could be that they are ascertaining who lives in the house or whether the house is occupied. These males have been described as being white and with Irish accents. We would encourage anyone who has received such a visit to contact the police to report it.

These types of burglaries are happening all over the country with Birmingham being hit particularly hard. All the burglaries in Bristol are still under active investigation by a team of detectives. Please continue to encourage people to report any suspicious activity.


Warmest regards

PC Keith Openshaw
Community Safety
Avon and Somerset Police

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Following the recent dwelling burglaries where jewellery and cash have been stolen from some of our South Asian communities I recommend the following crime reduction advice.

Firstly I would like to emphasise the importance of you contacting the Police if you see any suspicious activity in your area. Please use 999 if you need to. We take this recent spate of crimes very seriously and will respond with appropriate vigilance.

Top tips to keep your property safe
Please don’t keep large quantities of cash in your homes. Store it in the bank, building society or post office.
Ensure all windows and doors are locked when you are out of the house and that if you have an alarm that it is activated.
Good quality locks and alarm systems can be purchased cheaply from larger hardware retail outlets.
You may also wish to consider installing CCTV cameras which are also now reasonably affordable.

Buy a good quality safe
Jewellery should to be stored securely. Unfortunately, it would appear that banks no longer provide a safety deposit box service. I recommend that if keeping the jewellery at home it is placed in a suitable safe. Various grades of safe are available according to the value, size and quantity of items being stored within them.. These qualities are obviously reflected by the price of the unit although a good quality safe can be purchased for around £100,
Safes should be supplied and fitted by a company approved by the Master Locksmiths Association. Any safe used should be “Sold Secure” tested and approved, you can check the details on http://www.soldsecure.com/.

Photograph your valuables
Take photographs of your valuables as these greatly improve the chances of recovery, should the worse case scenario occur. Take a variety of shots of each object. Remember do not be concerned with taking the object from its most photographic angle, instead concentrate on what makes this object unique or identifiable. Indicate the objects size and dimensions by placing a ruler next to small items or write down the measurements. Try to use a plain background, white or grey are best, avoid patterned wallpaper or carpet.

Having taken photographs also write a short description of each of your valuables. It is much easier to do this now, rather than trying to remember an object when it is stolen. Note the type of object, the material it is made from, measurements, inscriptions and markings and distinguishing features. Please ensure that these photographs are also stored securely.

Property marking
I suggest that all household valuables be marked with a commercial forensic property marking system, these have well proven track records in deterring theft. Such systems make property less valuable or even worthless to a thief. The forensic property marking system protects valuables by linking criminals to the crime scene and property to its rightful owner.
Household valuables are marked with a colourless solution that is invisible to the naked eye, doesn’t wash off and glows under UV light, making it easy for police to identify stolen property and detect thieves. The solution does not damage the marked items.
Police routinely scan criminals and suspected stolen property for traces of the solution, so criminals know about it and fear its power to link them to the scene of a crime.

You should widely advertise around the building the fact that your property is all marked by using appropriate signage/stickers provided with the property marking kit you purchase.

Register your property
I would recommend that any valuables which have serial numbers such as laptops or mobile phones are registered for free at http://www.immobilise.com/. Thousands of items of property are lost or stolen each year in the UK. The Immobilise National Property Register already holds the details of 20 million items of property. Once you have registered you will have a better chance of getting your property back if it’s stolen or lost. If any item of registered property is lost or stolen report it to Immobilise via your online account. This information is then made available nationally to all major UK Police forces via our online systems. If your registered property is recovered either the Police or Immobilise will contact you and let you know its location.

Don’t advertise to thieves
Finally, please be aware of advertising the fact that your house is empty e.g. posting messages on Facebook regarding dates and times of family weddings.

For more information please email mark.audley-thewles@avonandsomerset.pnn.police

PC Mark Audley-Thewles
Crime Prevention Officer

Avon and Somerset Constabulary