West Mercia launches new messaging service

West Mercia Police has unveiled a new computerised messaging system that will allow it to keep in touch with Neighbourhood Watch coordinators via email.

The new system, known as ‘dotMailer’, will eventually replace a number of message systems – such as Ringmaster – that are currently used across the force.

It aims to give one consistent way of updating existing Neighbourhood Watch scheme coordinators across the force area about the latest police incidents, crime trends and general awareness advice.

The new system will be particularly effective in support of the force’s new burglary initiative Citadel, as officers will be able to share information about recent burglaries even more quickly and, equally importantly, to the right target areas at the right time.

The system will also allow the public to sign up to ‘Rural Watch’ and ‘Post Office Watch’ to receive updates on related matters that might be of interest, such as agricultural crime or post office security.

Adrian Symonds, West Mercia Police’s community volunteers coordinator, said: “This system will allow us to provide messages to Neighbourhood Watch coordinators right across West Mercia from one central system rather than several different ones.

“Users of the current systems should already have received a message asking them to re-register with the new system, but if this has not happened, there are links on the West Mercia Police website that can be visited to register for the new system.

“Neighbourhood Watch is an important partner for the police as we often receive useful information from these schemes. In the past this has directly resulted in the arrest of burglars and the recovery of stolen vehicles for example.

“To support the work of our Citadel initiative, information provided by the public can be crucial in helping us catch the burglars that are active in our communities.

“Neighbourhood Watch schemes also independently undertake various crime-reduction projects and there is lots of evidence that Neighbourhood Watch schemes result in reduced crime and anti-social behaviour in the areas that they cover.”