Neighbourhood watch

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AND WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU

Neighbourhood watch schemes are a great way for the people in the immediate vicinity of your home to get together and form a group to tackle issues of crime and disorder that ruin the quality of life where you live. All it requires is just one person to call a meeting and get it started. It is amazing how, once you sit down with the neighbours, you find you have the same concerns as each other but nobody felt singularly able to tackle them. Forming a group can be the catalyst to finding an answer to the issues. The old adage ‘strength in numbers’ really does apply.

The first thought is usually ‘I have no time to do it’ but in truth it takes very little time at all and need have no financial implications.

The police do not run neighbourhood watch, the group runs itself but the police will always help you to get started and will run a quick check on the co-ordinator just to ensure the safety and security of the scheme members. Crime prevention advice is given and updated with a quarterly news letter for the co-ordinator to distribute but if this seems like a ‘job to do’ it is always available on the police web site http://www.operationscorpion.org.uk/.

Please remember that most crime is opportunist and is a form of bullying by picking the easy target. As with all bullying it can be beaten by a group of people that show the strength to resist it.

If you are interested in starting a scheme or would you just like more information and advice please contact

Brendan Murray, Police Homewatch co-ordinator on 01582 473440

Or email at brendan.murray @bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk