Neighbourhood Watch

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 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 the area
• Encourage neighbourliness and closer communities
• Help to create 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 to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme offers might even mean that you can get a premium discount from your insurance company.

How schemes work:

Neighbourhood Watch schemes can be large, for example covering 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 sometimes a committee. Committees meet regularly to plan which problems to target and what action to take. Schemes keep in close touch with local police to share information and advice. In many areas, schemes are joining together with Local Action Teams to form multi- agency groups, that benefit from sharing experience and good practice.

How can I set up a scheme?

If you are serious about getting involved in Neighbourhood Watch you will want to find out about other schemes and how they operate. Your local police will tell you if there is a scheme in your area or help you set up one of your own. Tel. 0846 60 70 999 and ask for your Neighbourhood Support Team. A map of Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the city is available here. Additional information is also available from the website of the Brighton & Hove Neighbourhood Watch Association at http://watchbrighton.org.uk/.