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WHAT IS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH?
Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives ever. Behind it lies a simple idea, and a central value shared by millions of people around the country:
Getting together with your neighbours to take action can cut local crime.
Everyone knows that the police are there to fight crime, but they need your help to do an effective job. Neighbourhood Watch (or Home Watch as it is known in some areas) is all about an active partnership with the police. Neighbourhood Watch schemes can:
- cut crime and the opportunities for crime
- help and reassure those who live in fear of crime
- encourage neighbourliness and closer communities.
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A better place to live, work and play
Neighbourhood Watch is not just about reducing burglary figures - it’s about creating communities who care. It brings local people together and can make a real contribution to) improving their lives. The activity of Watch members can foster a new community spirit and a belief in the community’s ability to) tackle problems. At the same time, you feel secure, knowing your neighbours are keeping an eye on your property
There are other benefits to Neighbourhood Watch schemes too. You will become familiar with crime prevention ideas, which will help keep your home and belongings safe. And the extra security which belonging too a Neighbourhood Watch scheme offers might even mean that you can get a premium discount from your insurance company
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How schemes work
Neighbourhood Watch schemes can be large, covering, for example most of the households on an estate or they might involve just half a dozen houses. It depends on the area and what people living there want.
A scheme is generally led by a volunteer co-ordinator whose job is to get people working together and make sure things get done. As well as the co-ordinator, there is usually a committee. Committees meet regularly to plan which problems too target and what action to take. Schemes keep in close touch with local police too share information and advice.
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What can Neighbourhood Watch Schemes do
A lot. They can target local crime problems and take action to prevent them. Schemes should find out from local people what most concerns them and focus on a specific problem.
These are the key steps to targeting and reducing crime and the fear of crime in an area. In consultation with your local police:
- get a picture of local crime
- conduct a ‘fear of crime’ survey
- target crimes you can have a real impact on
- identify the opportunities for crime
- form an action plan to tackle the problem
- block or reduce opportunities for the criminal.
Most crime is opportunist, committed on the spur of the moment, or when a car or house is left unlocked. This means there is enormous scope for reducing chances for criminals.
Traditional Neighbourhood Watch activity has focused on the immediate vicinity of homes, with members looking out for anything suspicious, or helping their neighbours as necessary. However, more and more schemes are broadening their range of work.
Targeting local problems such as vandalism or graffiti are well within the scope of a well-organised Watch scheme. You may be able to) take action yourselves. such as fitting more secure door or window locks in vulnerable homes, or you may need too get others involved. This could mean lobbying the local authority, for example, too improve the street lighting on your estate or to step up the security of a communal entrance.
Many schemes now work in partnership with other agencies like Victim Support and Help the Aged too help reduce the fear of crime.
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A CO-ORDINATORS GUIDE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
How do I form a Neighbourhood Watch Group?
Firstly you need to contact your Community Safety Co-ordinator before you embark on any kind of scheme. He/she can be contacted through the local Police Station and will readily offer you advice and assistance.
Next it is necessary to ascertain the level of interest amongst your neighbours.
The best way to do this is to visit each house, introduce yourself and discuss Neighbourhood Watch. To help you the police will provide you with explanatory leaflets which are freely available and which you can give to each of your neighbours. If there is sufficient interest you can then set about arranging a preliminary meeting.
Arranging the first meeting
The first meeting is between all interested parties in your immediate area and the Community Safety Co-ordinator and possibly the Beat Constable or the Crime Reduction Officer. You will therefore need to choose a time for your meeting which would enable as many people to attend as possible, usually during the evening of a week day (Monday to Thursday are best).
Arrange a date with the Watch Liaison Officer by calling direct on 01438 757102.
The Meeting
If at all possible, hold the meeting in your home, or one of your neighbour’s homes, so that the atmosphere will be informal and comfortable. If interest is sufficient you may find it more convenient to use your local community centre, church or school hall.
Just prior to the meeting, visit your neighbours again and give them a personal reminder. Otherwise you may well find that attendance is not as great as would have wished. Do not be too disappointed if anyone does not wish to, or cannot attend. Although 100% participation is desirable, it is not a pre-requisite of a successful scheme.
At the meeting you will make the opening remarks and briefly explain the purpose of the meeting. After this the Community Safety Co-ordinator will give a talk covering the following subjects: -
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A brief introduction outline his/her role
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An explanation as to what Neighbourhood Watch entails
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Specific crime problems in your area
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What to look for: i.e. what constitutes a suspicious person, vehicle or incident.
The Co-ordinator
The next step will be to elect a co-ordinator. The co-ordinator will be the first point of contact if the police need to get in touch with your Neighbourhood Watch Group. Indeed the co-ordinator may also act as your spokesperson.
Joint Activities
Having started a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme it becomes important for you to maintain the enthusiasm and thus the effectiveness of your scheme. The goal is to create an environment of community spirit where people care about their own and their neighbours’ property. In some parts of the country this spirit has developed to the point where Neighbourhood Watch groups hold parties, general gatherings and social outings. In addition members of the schemes have worked together to find solutions to local problems not connected with crime to the benefit of all concerned.
If you wish, your local Community police will gladly visit your Neighbourhood Watch group to talk over any topics of concern to the members – child safety, personal safety tips, vehicle protection, home security and the like.
Residents can do much to make their homes more secure by fitting adequate locks to doors and windows. Investigate the possibility of buying locks in bulk and having one or two members of the scheme fit them.
Similarly consider pooling resources within the group to purchase property-marking pens and all members can use engraving tools that can be used by all members. Remember that effective property marking can help to deter burglars, assist in the arrest and prosecution of criminals and facilitates the return of stolen property once recovered by police.
General Guidelines for Each Member
All unusual incidents of suspicious behaviour should be reported to your local police on 0845 3300 222 and ask for Stevenage Control Room (if you are a Stevenage resident) or 01462 425000 and ask for the North Herts Controller (if you are a North Herts resident)
Of course, if what is seen requires immediate attention then use the 999 system.
If you are going away on holiday or your house is going to be empty for any reason – business trips, or a stay in hospital - then it is sensible to tell a trusted neighbour. They could perhaps be given a telephone number where you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
Looking after your neighbour’s home could also mean keeping an eye on letters accumulating behind the door, removing the free newspapers that are often left sticking through letter boxes, keeping the grass short or even turning on a light and shutting the curtains at night. In fact performing a few simple tasks that gives the house the appearance of being occupied one of the best ways of turning a burglar into a passer-by.
Above all the main task of your group lies in making your neighbourhood a better place to live and passing on information about crime to your local police. The task of the police is to act on that information and to arrest criminals where appropriate and possible.
Using Information
It is helpful to tell each other of planned holidays, deliveries, repairs or visitors. By sharing such information you are not being ‘nosy’ you are being a good neighbour concerned for the safety and well being of those who live around you. Only by working together in such a way can you begin to make any meaningful contributions to the reduction of crime or the fear of crime in your area.
The Reporting of Crime
Not all crimes are reported to the police. Without your help in this respect, the police are powerless to do anything, so it is therefore important that you report all crime.
If you see something that requires immediate police attention dial 999. When ringing the police, emphasise that you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and if you have a real objection to giving your name and address, give the name of your scheme. However, it cannot be emphasised enough that your name and address are preferable.
REMEMBER
If you are reporting direct to the police, remember that you must ring immediately. A delay means the chances of catching a criminal are reduced.
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Under no circumstances should any Neighbourhood Watch member take personal risks to prevent crime.
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Many times it is what the victims and witnesses tell police about the crime and the criminal that results in an arrest. The following list will assist you in recording accurate information.
Descriptions
The police can use answers to as many of these questions as possible.
Please remember that wrong information is worse than no information at all.
Answer only those questions that you are sure of.
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How many suspects were there?
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What did they look like (age/sex etc.)
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What did they do?
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What did they say?
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Which way did they go?
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Did they have a car and what was its number (even part of this will help) and what make and colour was it?
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Were there any witnesses? If so provide name and address
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Is there any other information you feel is important
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The Ringmaster System
Ringmaster is a personal computer based message broadcasting system especially designed for such organisations as Neighbourhood Watch. Messages can be sent to your home telephone or mobile telephone.
Currently all Neighbourhood Watch schemes are on the system along with schools, some shops and a ‘Countryside Watch’ for the rural areas.
This system becomes invaluable when a distraction burglary takes place or bogus caller is reported in the neighbourhood, or to warn of recent serious crimes that have taken place in your area.
The Telecommunications Act requires that each recipient authorise this practice by completing and signing a Consent form.
Please contact the Community Safety Co-ordinator on the number below if you wish to receive messages this way.
Co-ordinators should be prepared to:
- Keep their members up to date and conversant with the various issues affecting them and information made available from the Police.
- Develop ways of promoting community spirit thereby encouraging their neighbours i.e. members of the Scheme to work together to act against crime and to reduce the opportunities for crime being committed.
- Encourage members in the Scheme to be alert, to notice ‘the unusual’ and respond when anything considered to be suspicious happens either by contacting the police immediately or by recording the details for future reference.
The Community Safety Co-ordinator will:
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Provide a regular information flow from the Community Safety Co-ordinator to the relevant co-ordinators regarding crimes and incidents occurring in their area.
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Provide a supply of publications and leaflets, including Crime Prevention News and other newsletters that are made available from the Home Office and other agencies.
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Provide on request crime statistics for co-ordinators to keep their scheme informed on crime in their area.
Herts Police cannot:
Provide information when the nature of the offence renders it unsuitable for publicity.
We hope that this guide will be of assistance to you in setting up and maintaining a successful Neighbourhood Watch Group.
If you require any further advice:
Please contact:
Angela Clark
Watch Liaison Officer for Stevenage
Stevenage Police Station
Lytton Way
Stevenage
Herts
SG1 1HF
email: angela.clark@herts.pnn.police.uk
Direct Line: 01438 757102
Contact numbers:
Herts Police 01462 425000
0845 3300 222
Crime Stoppers 0800 555111
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Repeat burglaries
When a home is burgled it is more likely too be burgled again than a home that hasn’t. If it does happen it is likely too be within the next few weeks. After all, a burglar has been into the home, found the weak points in its security and had a good look at the contents and layout. So stepping up the security of a burgled home straightaway can prevent a further crime.
Neighbourhood Watch schemes can tackle this problem by forming protective ‘cocoons’ around burgled homes. Immediate neighbours are asked too keep an eye on the targeted home, to be especially watchful for a few weeks and too report anything suspicious to the police. Where these cocoons have been set up following a burglary, they can have a dramatic impact in preventing another crime in the high risk period.
The key is to:
- respond fast
- get all neighbours who overlook the burgled property to help
- be extra vigilant for a few weeks
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Street Watch
As many as 20,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes around the country include Street Watch elements. This term covers many different activities, ranging from providing transport or escort services for elderly people to walking a specific route regularly, keeping an eye out for trouble and reporting it to the police. Individual Neighbourhood Watch schemes decide for themselves if they wish too tackle the problems in their area in this way. They then consult closely with local people and the police.
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AN ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE
Watch schemes are not police-run groups. But to be truly effective against crime, they need to) plan action in co-operation with the police (or other agency such as the local authority).
It is essential to establish a close working relationship with your local police, and to share with them all information relating to crime and other incidents in your area. Many police stations have volunteer administrators who, in conjunction with the police, act as a liaison point for Watch co-ordinators. The police can provide the up to date crime figures and other information as well as expert advice, while Watch members and# local authorities# can contribute valuable grassroots information about the area. When you team this local knowledge with the sort of statistical information and operational support the police can often provide, then you have a powerful basis for action against crime.
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YOUNG PEOPLE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Young people are particularly vulnerable too certain types of crime and have their down perspective on which crimes matter most. One of the most widespread means of getting involved in crime prevention is by joining or forming a youth group, such as a Youth Action Group, or junior crime prevention panel. These are the young person’s version of a crime’ prevention panel. They are usually attached too a senior panel, or a local school, and deal with areas of crime which are more likely to affect young people. Young people themselves are the driving force of these groups, but they can benefit and take their plans further with help and support from adult groups such as Neighbourhood Watch. And in turn, Neighbourhood Watch schemes get an accurate picture of youth crime in their neighbourhood and can tap into an energetic resource too tackle such problems as:
- alcohol, drugs and substance misuse
- personal safety
- aggression and violence
- car crime
- vandalism and graffiti
- truancy
- bullying
- peer group pressure
- arson
- burglary.
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‘ALL THIS TALK OF CRIME MAKES ME ANXIOUS…’
When you first join Neighbourhood Watch you may be given a lot of information about crime, especially in your area. This may alarm you. But remember – the risk of actually being a victim of violent crime is very small indeed.
Most crime – more than 90 per cent - is against property, not people, and most of your security measures will be aimed at protecting your home and your belongings. Neighbourhood Watch is all about taking sensible precautions. It reassures vulnerable members of your community that you are keeping a neighbourly eye on them.
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HOW MUCH SHOULD I DO
It’s entirely up to you. Some people have more free time than others, and may want to take a very active role as a committee member or even co-ordinator of a local Watch scheme.
- You may know something about marketing or communications, and volunteer to write and distribute newsletters, or publicise your local scheme’s activities.
- You may be in business locally and know of avenues to seek sponsorship for Watch activities,
- Or your part may be as simple as keeping a look out while your neighbour is on holiday, making sure there are no tell-tale signs such as milk left on a doorstep that would attract a burglar.
Everyone can do something that will really make a difference.
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