Neighbourhood Watch is about getting to know your
neighbours and looking out for each other. You can help
to cut crime in your local area.
Neighbourhood Watch
groups assist the police by sharing information about
local crime, reporting suspicious incidents, taking
crime prevention measures to protect their homes and
possessions and by looking after their neighbours homes.
The importance of these
actions cannot be understated, not only do they reduce
the opportunity for crime to take place, they actively
assist in detecting crime, apprehending criminals, and
often more importantly reducing the fear of crime in the
most vulnerable members of our society.
Above all else Neighbourhood Watch is whatever you and
your neighbours want it to be and it doesn't have to be
called Neighbourhood Watch, you can call it what you
want. The friends of a particular street or road, the
xyz residents group etc.
It is recognised that Neighbourhood Watch
improves the quality of life and has a positive
effect on the local community but that schemes tend to
be established in areas mainly with a low crime rate.
The emphasis from many police forces is to concentrate
efforts on establishing schemes in high crime areas.
For the schemes co-ordinators
and members it gives the confidence and power to tackle
neighbourhood problems by generating community spirit,
enthusiasm and commitment.
Insurance companies
often give discounts to Neighbourhood Watch members too.
Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary crime
prevention group in the country with over 6 million
members!
get
started
Someone in your street must act
as a co-ordinator and approach the neighbours to encourage them
to join in. This co-ordinator is the key to a successful
partnership with the neighbourhood, the police and local
authority. When you have the support of your street you should
tell your local police officer. They, or someone from the local
association will visit. They may even provide the venue for your
first meeting.
They will also tell you more
about how to run and maintain a successful scheme, supply
literature for your members which will include incident report
cards and crime prevention advice and tell you about local crime
problems.
If we want a brighter future
for our families we have to make a stand against the few who
would like to destroy it, those that couldn’t care less.
Fortunately it is often only a few, but this minority can make
life very difficult for the majority. Neighbourhood Watch can
help.
The more people that sign up the more the criminal will be
exposed and squeezed out. In some areas covert watches are in
operation, these are schemes that operate without any stickers
or signs. These consist of members that do a good job of looking
out for each other and prevent crime in their local
neighbourhood but don’t advertise the fact. They can be just as
effective as a scheme that has signs on lampposts and in
windows. What is more the criminal doesn’t realise that he might
be being watched.
small is good
The bigger the scheme the more
difficult it can be to administer. There isn't an ideal number,
but around 20 is a typical size for a scheme.
there is so
much more to neighbourhood watch
Many active schemes have good social events too, and have made a
real difference in their local community. Some schemes hold
sponsored walks, this helps build relationships between the old
and young, some have litter picks in their street, hold car
boot sales to raise funds for crime prevention initiatives and
so on.
Neighbourhood Watch can be a
force to be reckoned with. The new Crime and Disorder Act says
that the views of such groups should be sought by local
authorities. A well run scheme can make a real difference to
your quality of life.
It isn't about being a nosy
neighbour. its all about preventing crime in your local area by
stimulating a sense of community and hence an active interest in
matters of crime. It can provide opportunities for real
co-operation and it really does work, if all participants help
make it work.
don't give
up
From time to time
you will feel as if the effort you are putting in isn't worth it
and that everyone in your group is apathetic. It is most
definitely worth it so don't give up, remember you are doing
this for YOU as well as the members. You can always contact
likeminded people via your local Neighbourhood Watch Liaison
Officer when you need support.
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