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Neighbourhood Watch

• Neighbourhood Watch brings together communities, the police and local authorities in a partnership to help combat crime
• Contrary to popular belief, the Neighbourhood Watch schemes are run by volunteers in the community and not by the police. However, Nottinghamshire Police works closely with members of the scheme by providing them with up to date crime information for their area.  We also supply a variety of crime prevention literature, home security kits and other security equipment
• Members of Neighbourhood Watch schemes across Nottinghamshire regularly provide us with useful information about crimes and suspicious activity they have witnessed near their homes
• The Neighbourhood Watch organisation is the largest community-based, voluntary charity in the UK. It has more than 10 million members split into some 4,600 groups throughout the UK

Benefits

• Criminals are deterred from committing crimes in areas where they know there is an active Neighbourhood Watch scheme and people could be watching. Publicising that there is a Neighbourhood Watch scheme operating in your street can make thieves think twice before targeting you or your neighbour’s property
• The scheme can help reduce fear of crime. Residents living in Neighbourhood Watch areas feel safer knowing their neighbours are keeping an eye out for them and their property. This can be particularly reassuring when it comes to leaving a property vacant while on holiday
• Being part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme allows the police to keep you informed of any local trends in crime that may affect you. This extra knowledge will allow you to take immediate action to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of any criminals targeting your area
• Members of Neighbourhood Watch schemes can often take advantage of reduced prices on security-related items, such as alarms and personal attack alarms. In some cases, you may even be entitled to a reduction in the cost of your household insurance
• Getting involved in Neighbourhood Watch scheme enables you to make a positive contribution towards crime prevention. It provides you with a way to report crimes and share details of any suspicious activity with your neighbours and the police

Getting involved

• Visit the national Neighbourhood Watch website to find out about Neighbourhood Watch schemes in your area and how you can get involved
• If you are unable to locate a group where you live, you may want to think about becoming a Neighbourhood Watch coordinator yourself. As a coordinator you would be responsible for exchanging information about crime between your neighbours and the police. Again, you can find out how to become a coordinator by visiting the national website

To find out more about Neighbourhood Watch click here to visit the national website.

If you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch or simply want to receive updates on recent incidents and appeals from Nottinghamshire Police, sign up to the online Neighbourhood Alert system. You can register for the site in your area or sign up to the Nottinghamshire site by clicking here to visit the Neighbourhood Alert website.