NEWSLETTER JUNE 2011

Message from The Area Coordinator
I hope that you find the enclosed financial year calendar handy with reminders of our meeting dates and phone numbers. Sorry for the lack of a newsletter last month whilst I was in the UK but I have brought back information which I hope we can use to make our community safer.
The current cold weather reminds us all to keep heaters, candles and any open flames safe. Never leave them unattended, make sure you have working smoke alarms (yes with new batteries in!) and if possible have a fire blanket or fire extinguisher near a kitchen. More information from www.fire.qld.gov.au or 1300 369 003.
The recent tragic loss of lives on the roads underlines the safety message still is not getting through is there anything we can do to help?
Would a road safety expo for youngsters at one of our parks be helpful to get our younger drivers ready for driving please parents let us know.
We still have ENTERTAINMENT GUIDES for sale at $65 each. They are full of 2 for 1 & discount offers in Brisbane & the Gold & Sunshine Coast areas & are valid until June 2012. $13 from each book goes directly to support NHW. Contact crestmeadnhw@hotmail.com or 0431 478 343.
Finally may I pass on from the Queensland Police Service and Crestmead Police Station their sincere thanks to residents and businesses for the generous donations towards Snr Constable Damian Leeding and his family. The officers were overwhelmed by the community support. Thank you.
Take care Geoff

HOW WE CAN HELP REDUCE STATISTICS
· Make your homes more secure don’t leave doors and windows open the opportunistic thief will take the slightest chance to enter your property
· Identify your property engrave, microchip or photograph and keep records/valuation certificates of your property
· Install movement activated sensor lights at front and rear of homes if possible
· Clear trees and shrubs away from property that would enable a thief ability to gain entry or to hide from view
· Keep front doors locked even when at back of house
· Ensure garages and sheds are locked tools can be stolen or used to enter property
· Keep valuables out of sight both in house and vehicles
· Do not keep vehicles unlocked (or with keys in ignition!)’
· Do not keep spare set of keys in obvious place outside your home better give to trusted neighbour or friend
· Do not allow parcels to be left undelivered arrange to be collected from Post Office
· If away for any length of time notify local police station

13HOON
HOON HOTLINE INTRODUCED
What is hooning?
Hooning may include donuts, drifting, fishtails, revving of engines, screeching brakes, skidding, burn outs, time trials/street racing and rolling road blocks.
What are the dangers of hooning?
Hooning behaviour, even performed at low speeds, may cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle, leave the roadway and collide with a fixed object or a pedestrian.
The speeds associated with street racing coupled with driver inexperience can lead to fatalities.
How do I report hooning?
To report a hooning offence, observe the behaviour and note details such as vehicle registration, vehicle characteristics, time and location of the illegal activity and a description of the behaviour.
When you call 13HOON, a trained call taker will record your details and relay the information to police for follow up.
For hooning incidents currently underway and where there is no immediate danger to anyone by having police attend, your information will be forwarded to a Police Communications Centre to task police for response.
How does my report help police?
The information you provide to 13HOON is relayed to police for further investigation. This allows police to locate hooning hotspots and take action to prevent it re-occurring.
For non-emergencies, your call to 13HOON takes pressure off Triple Zero (000) call centre operators across the state while still allowing you to report hooning behaviour.
What are the penalties for hooning?
Under current anti-hoon laws police can impound a vehicle for 48 hours after a first repeat offence, up to three months for a second repeat offence, or permanently for a third repeat offence.
WITH THE RECENT INCIDENCE OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND LOSS OF LIFE IT IS UP TO THE COMMUNITY TO REPORT HOONING BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE AND ANOTHER LIFE IS LOST