NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

crime prevention The Neighbourhood Watch scheme is a community based programme which helps people living in a certain geographical area join in making their communities safer. The idea behind Neighbourhood Watch is to gain the participation of the neighbours who live in an area, whether this is a close, housing estate, road or a block of flats.
Police, local authorities and voluntary organisations liaise with individuals and families who want to improve safety in their neighbourhoods. This can help to prevent crime by helping people to improve their home security, and to become more vigilant in reporting suspicious people, cars or incidents to the police. It also creates a sense of community amongst participants.

The aims of Neighbourhood Watch are:

To prevent crime through increased awareness and improved security.
To assist the police by promptly and accurately reporting any criminal or suspicious activity.
To reduce fear of crime in the community by providing information about ways to improve security and accurate information and statistics.
To help to protect vulnerable members of the community by creating a community spirit.
To improve communication between police and the community they serve.

There are Neighbourhood Watch schemes in almost every area of the UK and information about joining a programme near you is available from the Crime Prevention Co-ordinator at your nearest police station. From here you can find out more information including how to get in touch with the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator of your local scheme.