Fighting crime online

Mrs Claxton joined the social networking site to co-incide with her election into the senior role.

She told the Bognor Regis police sector Neighbourhood Watch Association’s recent annual meeting: “I’ve just set up a Twitter account and it’s going live tomorrow when I will send my first message.”

She said she hoped the move would help to modernise the image of the network of volunteer crime preventers.

“It’s hard work to get youngsters interested. This might be one of those things that might bring in young people. So that, when we get to the stage when we want to hand over, they will be ready.”

Mrs Claxton was elected unanimously to the position by the some 50 NW members at the meeting held at The Regis School.

She moved to Middleton from Richmond in March 2000. She became an NW street co-ordinator that year. She took on the role of an area co-ordinator for Elmer in 2007 and launched a no cold callers zone.

She has served on the association’s committee for several years and has taken over as the chairman from Roger Nash.

Mr Nash’s eight years in the role ended with the presentation of framed certificate from the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Andrewjohn Stephenson Clarke.

Mr Stephenson Clarke said: “A lot of people don’t appreciate how much time and effort goes into being part of this organisation and working for your neighbourhood.

“It’s an overt statement the neighbourhood is important to you and you want people to know that.”

Mr Nash said NW – with 273 schemes against 290 the year before – still had a vital role to play across Bognor. “It has one of the largest memberships in the country and one of the highest active memberships.”