Ringmaster Explained....

Ringmaster is an automated system used by North Yorkshire Police to send out messages to specific individuals who have signed a form. Messages vary from general crime reduction information to requesting specific intelligence on vehicles or giving generalised feedback on incidents.

In order to receive Ringmaster messages, you must first register to do so - you can choose how you want to receive these messages as well!

It can be:-

• via phone (at a time that you select that is convenient)
  
• via email (which means that sometimes, photos could be sent)
  
• via SMS text to your mobile
  

The Police then put you in a particular category - Neighbourhood Watch, Country Watch, Pub Watch, Shop Watch, etc, etc. and it is possible to create a "template" containing the message to be broadcast which is then sent out under the specific Watch heading.

There are times when you may feel that the message isn't "relevant" - well, it's simple......criminals travel, sometimes GREAT distances and with the intricate road system that we now have, your area may only be 25 minutes away from a major traffic route which could lead (or come from) anywhere in the Country.

What do you do with the information received?

Unlike Neighbourhood Watch where you are expected to pass information onto other members of your Scheme, with Countryside Watch each member receives the message in their own right, so it is up to you and the Community you live in whether you pass the information on to others, only to your immediate household or workforce.

North Yorkshire Police ask that if you have any information on the message received, you contact them immediately so that they can react to intelligence received.

If you elect to receive messages via Phone....

If you are not at home when a Ringmaster message is broadcast, the system will try three (separate) times at two-hourly intervals to contact you and then give up. If you are signed up to BT 1571, the system will leave a message for you to pick up at your convenience, same if you have your own answer-machine installed.

If you physically answer the phone and don't get all the message the first time round, you have the opportunity to listen to it several times (if need be) by following instructions given at the end of the message.

Once you've got all the details, press the # key which will let the system know that you have received the message and can disconnect - if you press the # key you shouldn't be called again if you are, contact here and your query will be dealt with.