When I first moved to Wandsworth, some 16 years ago, the Police were advertising a 'Neighbourhood Watch Contact Service' . Basically you registered with them and they would inform you by automatic phone message of any relevant crimes in the area (burglaries, muggings, car thefts )
So I sat back and looked forward to up to the minute reports on local crime so that I could prepare myself for any upsurge in activity and be ready to report anything suspicious.
What I got was a recorded message reminding me to check all doors and windows when I left the house....and six months later at Christmas a reminder not to leave Christmas presents on display in my car...Gee thanks Wandsworth Police!
Needless to say I haven't heard another peep from the 'Contact Service' to this day.
My point is , in this connected age we should not have to rely on sites like Nappyvalleynet to find out if there is a rise in burglaries in our neighbourhood...once a single incident becomes a spate of crime we should have an official way of being warned so we can take preventative action.
The 'news' on the Wandsworth Police site;
http://content.met.police.uk/Borough/Wandsworth
is frankly so much PR fluff and appeals to identify CTV mugshots - where is the proactive news about what is happening outside our front door?
Come on Metropolitan Police - we're not about to grab pitchforks and start arresting Hoodies vigilante style!
Am I alone in thinking we need more official information and less reliance on chance website threads and local gossip!