The parent company of the Borehamwood Times has shown its dedication to the safety of the communities it serves through sponsorship of a successful community safety conference.

Newsquest (North London) supported a London-wide conference of Crime Prevention Panels at the Metropolitan Police Sports Club in Bushey on Wednesday last week.

Panels exist to allow police and community leaders to share ideas on fighting crime -- and one of the aims of the conference was to promote panels in areas where they do not currently exist.

The 70 people who attended heard panels would have a continuing, and perhaps increased, role under the new Crime and Disorder Act which will see links between police and other agencies set on a more formal level. Chairman of Hertsmere Crime Prevention Panel, Georgina Nicholas-Jago, said members were pleased to hear reassurance on that point.

Delegates saw a presentation on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) by conference sponsor ADT Fire and Security and formed groups to discuss how panels can use CCTV technology to advance the cause of crime prevention.

After lunch, panel members enjoyed a presentation on the Operation Bumblebee database of property recovered from burglars -- which can reunite vitims with property taken. Hertsmere Borough Council's chief executive, Philip Copland, spoke about how the crime prevention panel in Borehamwood's borough was born and initiatives it has created and supported.

Those include a scheme to benefit paper boys, in which young workers were provided with cards advising them on how to avoid being victims of crime.

Other sponsors were Royal Mail, Hertfordshire County Council's youth and community service and Pinnacle Insurance.

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