Pupils help police and PCC to get the message out
STUDENTS have been doing their bit to help keep fellow residents safe by signing them up to the new Essex Community Messaging (ECM) system.
Pupils from Passmores School and the Mark Hall Academy in Harlow joined Neighbourhood Constable Rob Hance and Local Partnership, Policing Hub Inspector Paul Maleary and Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Nick Alston, at the Tesco store to sign residents up to the scheme.
PCC Nick Alston with Harlow officers and pupils
The ECM system, which was launched in Essex in October last year, enables people to sign up online to receive up-to-date information about crime in their area, tips on how to avoid becoming a victim as well as other important messages from Essex Police and Neighbourhood Watch about issues in their area.
Users can put in their postcode to ensure they receive information relevant to where they live or work, and they can also opt to receive messages via email, text of voice. The alerts are free of charge to all users.
So far thousands of people across Essex have already signed up to ECM. And now, thanks to the pupils and Harlow officers, even more residents living in the town will receive key information designed to keep them safe.
Mark Hall Academy pupil Ceiran Findley with PCC Nick Alston
Mr Alston said: “Essex Community Messaging is a crucial channel for keeping our communities safe, providing key crime information and crime prevention alerts.
“We need as many people to sign up to this as possible, firstly in order that they receive these key messages and secondly that the subsequent two-way flow of information, between police, Neighbourhood Watch and the community continues to improve.
“I am very grateful to the pupils from both schools and the Harlow officers for their fantastic efforts in both telling shoppers about ECM and signing more people up to the scheme.”
Ceiran Findley, 14, a pupil at the Mark Hall Academy, who helped PCC Alston sign up shoppers, said: “I think Essex Community Messaging is a really good idea and I am going to sign up to this myself.”
Mr Alston joined the pupils and officers at the Tesco store in Edinburgh Way, Harlow on Tuesday March 3. All of the students are Harlow Police Youth Ambassadors.
To sign up for ECM alerts visit: http://www.essex.police.uk/contact_us/essex_community_messaging.aspx
ECM was specially designed for Essex, and jointly funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner and money seized from criminals under the Proceeds Of Crime Act.
