4:00pm Wednesday 18th August 2010
By James Toseland
A community scheme started in Falmouth that has turned the tide against marine crime across the county has been recognised for its work.
Falmouth Boat Watch has been awarded two certificates of excellence and a community support award by Devon and Cornwall Community Watch Association.
It has also been shortlisted, along with five other projects, in the scheme of the year and rural scheme of the year categories.
Boat Watch was piloted from April to September last year during which time marine crime nose-dived by almost 40 percent.
It now has over 5,000 members in Falmouth who receive information and advice about stopping marine crime, advice on where to get devices on preventing crime, a single point of contact to discuss any fears they have and alert them to incidents.
The splash that Boat Watch has made in Falmouth has already led to the scheme being extended to every neighbourhood beat area in Cornwall that has access to water. By next year, it will be in place north of the Tamar and hopefully making waves across the whole of Devon.
“I was absolutely delighted to open my post and receive this excellent news,” said PC Charlie Staines, the neighbourhood beat manager for the Tremough and rural team who has spent three years as the driving force behind Boat Watch.
“It has been very interesting to see how the project has developed.
“Initially we targeted thefts of outboard motors and managed to curtail this by encouraging owners to purchase special covers for their outboards and to register their property.”
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