RESIDENTS in Hartlepool are being offered the chance to pick up some useful advice on crime prevention at a series of meetings in the town this week.

PC Colin Hopkins, Hartlepool crime prevention officer, will be guest speaker at three council meetings in the north, central and south areas of the town.

The first, the community safety forum (north area) will be held at 2pm tomorrow, in Bamburgh Court, Clavering .

This will be followed by police and community safety local consultation forums, with the central area's meeting at 2pm on Thursday, in committee room B at the Civic Centre, and the south area meeting at 10am on Friday, in Rossmere Community Room, Rossmere Way.

PC Hopkins will be available to give a range of security advice and provide information about specific initiatives, including a new shed security campaign being run in partnership with staff at Stranton Nursery and the Plants Against Crime scheme, which involves using spiky shrubs to make gardens more secure.

Each meeting will also receive updates on police, fire brigade, community safety and Neighbourhood Watch issues and there will be a chance for the public to ask questions