| Community Watch |  |
PERRY COMMON COMMUNITY WATCH WINS 'HONOUR FOR CRIME FIGHTING'
PERRY COMMON: Pair scoop award over stand on anti-social behaviour
By:
Jasbir Authi
 |
A PAIR of Perry Common crimefighters were bowled over after scooping a national award for keeping their streets safe.
Mary Harvey and Sheila Barker scooped the Taking a Stand award, run by the Home Office to encourage communities to take a stand against anti-social behaviour.
The dynamic duo have been spending evenings donning fluorescent jackets and patrolling the Perry Common Estate to keep potential yobs at bay.
They were awarded pounds 1,000 which will be spent on buying equipment to strengthen the Perry Common Community Watch and will travel down to the Home Office in London for a special ceremony in the summer.
Mary Harvey, 84, from the Perry Common Estate, said she was "on top of the world".
Mrs Harvey, who has two great grandsons, said: "This is lovely for our area and it gives us that little bit more money to work with.
"This makes me all the more determined to carry on because we have been recognised for all the hours we put in."
Her co-winner Sheila Barker, 56, also from the estate, said: "It's nice to have the work we are doing recognised and we can plough that money back into the watch.
"It's about the neighbourhood working together."
The mother-of-five added: "If we can encourage others to do what we are doing, it's good for us."
Linda Hines, vice-chairwoman, said this is the second time the estate has won the award for keeping their streets safe.
She said: "I can rely on them so much. The women have gained confidence since joining. Mary has joined many other groups."
KEEPING PEACE ON THE STREETS - AT 84