Praise for Keynsham crime fighter

A 60-year-old crime fighter from Keynsham has been praised by the chief constable for helping to reduce crime in the area.

Bob Eastaugh, coordinator of Neighbourhood Watch in Keynsham, was written to by Avon and Somerset chief constable Colin Port.

Mr Port said the area had seen a significant reduction in crime figures and encouraged Mr Eastaugh and his neighbours to keep it up.

The retired Cadbury's factory worker, who now works as a butcher in Asda Longwell Green, now wants to unite communities by getting them involved in Neighbourhood Watch groups.

He said: "I want the whole of Keynsham to be alight with neighbourhood watch –that's my vision. People need to feel safe and know that others are looking out for them.

"So many cars were being torched in the town that I set up the first group in January and over 40 people signed up. Now there are 107 people and more want to join.

"We're winning the battle and achieving something special here. We've given people confidence. If they go on holiday they let me know and I can keep an eye out.

"There are a lot of older people living on their own and if they are scared and concerned they just give me a call.

"The police support our work; they can't be everywhere so we can be the eyes on the ground for them.

"We work closely with the local beat manager Phil Armitage. I really think the whole of the country should get involved with neighbourhood watch; this is the way to stop anti-social behaviour.

"I worry every time I read news of a theft or a gang of youths raiding a shop. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the front page story was about communities getting together and looking out for each other?"

The Keynsham group was also nominated for the force Neighbourhood Watch of the Year award.

"We were really surprised to have been nominated," said Mr Eastaugh. "I don't do this for personal gain.

" We didn't make it into the final six in the country but it has been very successful so far."

He said the group now has several signs on street lamps in the town telling people that it is a Neighbourhood Watch area.

The group is also being invited to host the Annual General Meeting of Neighbourhood Watch groups for the Bath and North East Somerset area and to be shown as a model for good practice.