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STEVENAGE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH FORUM |
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A GUIDE TO NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCHIN STEVENAGE
How do I form a Neighbourhood Watch Group? Firstly you need to contact the Watch Liaison Officer before you embark on any kind of scheme. I can be contacted at Stevenage Police Station on 01438 757102 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 Watch Liaison Officer, together with the Community Officer or the local Police Community Support Officer. You will therefore need to choose a time for your meeting which would enable as many people to attend as possible. Arrange a meeting date with Angela Clark, the Watch Liaison Officer for Neighbourhood Watch in Stevenage 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 you 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 the Watch Liaison Officer and the Community Officer will give: · A brief introduction outlining their roles · An explanation as to what Neighbourhood Watch entails · Specific crime problems in your area 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. Co-ordinators should be prepared to: 1. Keep their members up to date and conversant with the various issues affecting them and information made available from the Police. 2. 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. 3. 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.
Joint ActivitiesHaving 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. 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, 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.
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 is one of the best ways of turning a burglar into a passer-by. 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 contribution to the reduction of crime or the fear of crime in your area. 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.
The Reporting of Crime All unusual incidents of suspicious behaviour should be reported to the Police on 0845 3300 222. Of course, if what is seen requires immediate attention then use the 999 system. RING 999 WHEN:
· THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY · THERE IS A RISK OF SERIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY · YOU SUSPECT A CRIME IS IN PROGRESS · IT IS A SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE POLICE ATTENDANCE.
Not all crimes are reported to the police. With your help in this respect, the police will know more about what is going on and will therefore be in a better position to do something about it. It is therefore important that you report all crime. 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.
REMEMBERIf you are reporting direct to the police, remember that you must ring immediately. A delay means the chances of catching a criminal are reduced. Under no circumstances should any Neighbourhood Watch member take personal risks to prevent crime. 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. How many suspects were there? · What did they look like (age/sex etc) · What did they do? · What did they say? · Which way did they go? · Did they have a car and what was its number (even part of this will help) and what make and colour was it? · Were there any witnesses? If so provide name and address · Is there any other information you feel is important The OWL messaging System
OWL is a personal computer based message broadcasting system especially designed especially for Neighbourhood Watch in Hertfordshire. Messages can be sent to your landline telephone or e-mail. This system becomes invaluable when a distraction burglary takes place or a bogus caller is reported in the neighbourhood, or to warn of recent serious crimes that have taken place in your area. Even if you are not included on the OWL system, you can access the messages on www.stevenageneighbourhoodwatch.org The Data Protection Act 1998 Neighbourhood Watches should receive GENERAL information relating to crime, to allow them to take preventative action and to assist the police in detecting offenders. Herts Police registration under the Data Protection Act does not permit the disclosure of identifying details to Neighbourhood Watches unless it is part of the crime investigation, for example, house to house enquiries. STEVENAGE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH FORUM The Stevenage Neighbourhood Watch Forum are always pleased to welcome volunteers and encourage participation in Neighbourhood Watch and promote crime prevention ideas. Arthur Howard is the Chair and he has set up a website on which there is much useful information about crime prevention and recent crimes that have taken place. www.stevenageneighbourhoodwatch.org I 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:
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