Neighbourhood Watch – Why ?

It seems like a good idea but you’re not sure where to start ? Having just set up a scheme for my close in Oakley Vale, perhaps I can help dispel some myths and guide you through the process.

AIMS ?

The main aim of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme is to create a partnership between the local community, the police and the local authority. Started in 1982 there are now approx. 170,000 schemes running throughout the UK covering six million households. This makes Neighbourhood Watch the largest voluntary movement in the country.

THE BENEFITS ?

• Targetting your local crime problems and taking action.
  
• Enabling you to tell the local police what most concerns you and focusing on solutions to specific problems.
  
• Anti-social behaviour, vandalism and graffiti are well within the scope of a neighbourhood watch scheme. Even such things as lobbying the local authority to improve street lighting !

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED ?

1. Contact the Community Watch Liaison Office at Northamptonshire Police – for Oakley Vale this is David Robins – 08453 700700 ext. 4357 or david.robins@northants.police.uk
   
   
2. Ascertain the interest in a scheme within your street, close, road etc. and yes it really is that local. If like me you’ve only just moved into the area setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is a great way to meet and get to know your neighbours.
   
   To find out what interest there is David will gave you a standard letter + info leaflet which you’ll need to deliver to all relevant houses. I gave people 7 days to respond. You need approx. 50% of your neighbours to respond positively for a scheme to be effective.
   
   
3. The next step is to arrange a meeting with your neighbours and the Community Watch Liaison Officer. Again the police can supply a standard invite so you don’t have to re-invent the wheel.



4. At this meeting the scheme will be explained in full, a co-ordinator and deputy will be elected and a welcome pack handed out to all attendees. For those interested who can’t attend the meet you can take packs on their behalf and deliver them.



5. Order and put up your Neighbourhood Watch signs and you’re up and running.

TIME COMMITMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS ?

As a co-ordinator you get weekly updates from the police on crime figures for your area. I pass these on in summary form to all neighbours in a monthly newsletter (this can be sent by e-mail or hand delivered) – a computer makes things v. simple. This monthly newsletter takes me about an hour to write, print and deliver.

Ideally, to keep the initial enthusiasm going the Police recommend quarterly meetings to set objectives, involve new residents, get to know your neighbours better, build up a network of trust and perhaps invite a crime specialist along to discuss issues relevant to your area.

Apart from this there is not much else to it. If there is an incident in our close, as the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, I go and visit the victim to make sure they are getting the support they need. I’m happy to say I’ve only had to do this once.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SET UP A SCHEME ?

From my initial call to the police to having the first meeting took 8 weeks. It then took a further 4 weeks to get the signs in situ. This was largely due to the fact I tried to set the scheme up just before Christmas ! Not a good time.

FINALLY …

It’s not just about stopping crime. You can get the neighbourhood involved in other activities such as fund-raising or simply a getting-to know-you B-B-Q.

It’s about community, respect, making a difference and a creating a better place for you and your family to live.

For more info on Neighbourhood Watch please click here: