What is Neighbourhood Watch?
The Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) movement is, and has been, the largest volunteer ‘force’ to consistently support the police and community in crime prevention and reduction since the early 1980s.
The movement is still very active providing a large available resource willing to be involved in supporting the police, councils and other agencies, in crime prevention and reduction activities and also other community focused initiatives.
The key objective of NHW is to Reduce Crime and the Fear of Crime and Improve quality of life by making communities safer places to live.
The movement is still very active providing a large available resource willing to be involved in supporting the police, councils and other agencies, in crime prevention and reduction activities and also other community focused initiatives.
The key objective of NHW is to Reduce Crime and the Fear of Crime and Improve quality of life by making communities safer places to live.
NHW is built on the simple idea that by getting together with your neighbours, you can take positive action to help cut crime and improve community conditions. It gives people the opportunity to work in partnership with their neighbours, the police, councils and other agencies and make a real difference to their community.
NHW schemes (watches) are community initiatives that are supported by the police, but not owned or run by them. Watches can be large or small bringing together whole estates or a just a few houses. Whatever the size, they all share the same objectives:
- Cut crime and the opportunities for crime
- Help and reassure those living in the area
- Encourage neighbourliness and bring communities together
As well as looking out for their neighbours, NHW members can take proactive steps to reduce levels of crime in their area and help reduce the opportunities for criminals to operate. They can also help provide the community with crime prevention advice.
Watches are generally led by a volunteer co-ordinator whose job it is to get members of their community working together and ensure that objectives are achieved. As well as a co-ordinator, watches may also choose to have a committee, meeting as required, to plan which problems to target and what action to take.
There are many benefits to setting up or joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme including:
- bringing communities together with everyone sharing a common goal
- helping you feel secure knowing that your neighbours are keeping an eye on your property
- helping you become more familiar with crime prevention ideas that help keep your home and belongings safe possible premium discounts from your insurance company
If you are interested in forming a watch in your area, or would like more information on NHW, please contact the Lancashire Combined Watch Forum at - secretary@lcwf.co.uk