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Members Guide

To become a member of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme you first have to find out if a scheme operates in your area. You can find this out by contacting your local police or area co-ordinator, numbers are in the useful numbers area. Before you do that you may find it useful to read the notes below to see what is expected from members of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes.

WHAT IS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH?

Neighbourhood Watch is a method of developing close liaison between households in a neighbourhood, the local police and the local authority. The aim is to help people protect themselves and their properties, to reduce the fear of crime and improve their local environment by:

	Improved home security;
	Greater vigilance;
	Fostering a community spirit;
	Improving their environment;

WHY IS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NECESSARY?

While Police statistics sometimes show a fall in certain categories of recorded crime, the overall figures are higher than those of only a few years ago. It is important that the Police and the community work in cooperation and partnership to prevent and detect crime. Deciding to join your local group means you have made a positive commitment to act against crime in your community. You have also become part of one of the largest and most successful grass-roots movements in the country.

Being a member of the scheme has many practical advantages. For example, you can feel secure knowing that your neighbours are always keeping an eye on your property. You can also get lower insurance premiums from some insurance companies. Many members agree that Neighbourhood Watch has brought back a community spirit in their area, with neighbours working together to organise social events. As you can see, Neighbourhood Watch can be much more than an attempt to prevent burglaries. You and your neighbours can actually improve life in your community.

WHAT AM I EXPECTED TO DO?

Neighbourhood Watch members are expected to be alert and respond to what is going on in their neighbourhood. But the scheme does not expect members to patrol the streets or be vigilantes. In fact, it aims to avoid this type of ‘busybodying’. If you have the time, you could help put together newsletters or distribute them. Or perhaps you could organise meetings or events. If you have the time and you are very committed, you can ask at your local police station about volunteering for the Special Constabulary. However, the most important thing the scheme asks you to do is keep an eye on what is happening in your community.

For example, milk bottles left on a doorstep, or a newspaper half-pushed through a letterbox can mean your neighbour has gone on holiday and forgotten to cancel a regular order. Or it can mean an elderly person living alone needs help or attention. These kind of signs attract criminals. But if you notice them and respond, you can save a lot of heartache and expense. And one day your neighbour might do the same for you.

WHAT DOES NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INVOLVE?

Individual schemes all have different characteristics, depending on the area in which they are situated and their objectives. However, most schemes have some things in common:

	Schemes are set up with the co-operation of individual police divisions and in some cases, the local authority. Each police division has a police officer who is designated to work with Neighbourhood Watch.
	Schemes are run by their members through a co-ordinator and supported by the police and in many areas by a local Neighbourhood Watch Association.
	Schemes vary in size from a few properties in sparsely populated areas to many properties on a road or estate.
	The volunteer co-ordinator, who is a resident of the area, co-ordinates the scheme and liaises with the police. The co-ordinator acts as the voice for that community.
	All Neighbourhood Watch members take steps to prevent crime, improve safety and reduce the fear of crime.
	Scheme members receive information and messages from the police, their local association or local authority. This vital communication link helps to motivate members and keep schemes active.

How To Watch

The public are at greatest risk from Crimes such as burglary, car crime, and vandalism. These happen at all levels of our society but can be reduced by a really effective Neighbourhood Watch. In those areas where the schemes are operating, crime has been kept down significantly.

The first role is to observe CALMLY and DISCREETLY. The very existence of Neighbourhood Watch in your area will act as a deterrent to many criminal types, but where someone is determined to take a risk it is not the intention that members deliberately attempt themselves to scare off the suspect in order to prevent crime. Remaining calm and discreet gives you the best chance of registering and reporting what you see quickly and accurately.

The fact that many of the calls made to the Police by members will turn out to be false alarms, doesn't matter. The important thing, is that the information is reasonably accurate. There are of course some situations which are more urgent than others, where a 999 EMERGENCY CALL is essential.