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How to Setup Neighbourhood Watch in Your Community

With police resources stretched to their limit and public confidence in the police at an all time low, communities must do all they can to keep themselves safe and secure. In this post we look at how to establish a local Neighbourhood Watch to make your area a stronger and safer place to be.

We have previously explained what Neighbourhood Watch is and what the scheme does.

Police forces throughout the UK recommend Neighbourhood Watch community initiatives that develop close relationships between people and their local police forces. They recognise how Neighbourhood Watch schemes can reduce crime, minimise the opportunities for crime, encourage people to look out for their neighbours and provide help and reassurance to those who need it.

Importantly, Neighbourhood Watch is all about people working together, taking effective action to reduce crime and enabling communities to feel safe and secure in their homes.

Does Your Community Need Neighbourhood Watch?

If you live in an area where there is virtually no crime Neighbourhood Watch may not be particularly useful. But it`s important to not only consider local crime statistics (which can be derived online) but to also consider how safe and secure people in the community feel.

If, for example, your community includes a number of elderly people or others who may feel vulnerable, a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can provide valuable reassurance as well as neighbourly support.

Another important role played by Neighbourhood Watch is preparedness. While many isolated communities may currently experience very low crime rates, police forces have issued warnings about the imminent impact of the cost of living crisis and how this is likely to drive a crime wave. Neighbourhood Watch helps ensure communities are prepared for what might happen and ensure homes and properties are as secure as possible.

Does Neighbourhood Watch Work?

It has been acknowledged by Dr Lisa Tompson from the Department of Security and Crime Science at University College London that the causal processes linking Neighbourhood Watch to crime reduction are difficult to measure. In her paper “Evidencing the impact of Neighbourhood Watch” she states that the only way to determine whether the activities of Neighbourhood Watch have a deterrent effect on crime is to ask offenders themselves.

A study from the USA did exactly that, asking offenders in prison about what might have prompted them to reconsider the crimes they committed. This presented some interesting statistics:

• 13% of offenders stated would refrain from offending if they saw a Neighbourhood Watch sign.
• 28.7% stated they would move on and offend elsewhere.
• 58.4% said they would carry on regardless.

It was noted that these USA statistics correlate with British Crime Survey data showing how Neighbourhood Watch areas were associated with a 10% decrease in property crime compared to similar areas without Neighbourhood Watch.

These statistic clearly show how Neighbourhood Watch does make a valuable contribution to crime reduction. What they don’t show is how Neighbourhood Watch also provides a boost to neighbourly support that’s particularly appreciated by elderly, vulnerable and housebound people.

Is there a Neighbourhood Watch in Your Area?

Before embarking on the process to set up a Neighbourhood Watch in your area it`s worth checking to find out if there is one already in place. This is easily achieved via the facility provided on the OurWatch.org.uk website. Simply enter your post-code and the 7 closest Neighbourhood Watch schemes are shown.

The same page also provides a useful link to discover “crimes in this area.” This presents useful information on the recorded crimes within a one mile radius for the most recent month.

How to Setup Neighbourhood Watch

It`s worth noting that individuals can become members of the Neighbourhood Watch network without necessarily establishing local schemes. The basic roles are these:

• Individual member
  
  • Registering as an individual member provides updates via the Neighbourhood Watch messaging service.
• Member of an existing scheme
  
  • If there is a scheme already established in your area, join them.
• Local Scheme coordinator.
  
  • If there isn’t a scheme in your area - start one.

Join Through the OurWatch Website

Joining Neighbourhood Watch is a very straightforward process.

• Goto: www.ourwatch.org.uk/join
• Click on your county/region from those listed
  
  • This opens the registration form.
• Enter your details
  
  • First and last names
  • Postcode
  • Email address
• Click the ‘Join’ button.
• An email is sent to the submitted address with a unique 6 figure pass code.
• Enter this into the onscreen boxes.
• You are then prompted to complete your registration by providing a few more personal details and a unique password.
• You are then automatically shown your ‘Member Area’ - including your unique Member ID.
• At the bottom of this page you can find a button labelled: ‘Join or Apply to Create a New Neighbourhood Watch Scheme’.
• Clicking this link opens a page showing local schemes that potentially cover your address location - if they exist (Suggested Schemes).
  
  • If schemes are identified in your area you are offered the facility to select a scheme and click the button labelled ‘Apply to Join Scheme’.
• A button labelled ‘Create a New Scheme’ is offered from the bottom of this page for those wishing to establish a new scheme.

Creating a New Neighbourhood Watch Scheme

If you think a Neighbourhood Watch scheme will be beneficial in your area it`s a good idea to:

• Identify some like-minded neighbours to work with.
• Determine and decide exactly what you and your neighbours want to achieve. 

Talking to a few neighbours is a good first step as this will confirm support for the initiative and clarify exactly what people want to achieve.

Neighbourhood Watch scheme objectives are broadly summarised as:

• Building safer communities
  
  • By sharing crime prevention advice and guidance.
  • By looking out for one another.
• Reducing crime
  • Following crime prevention advice to raise security.
  • Posting Neighbourhood Watch signage to deter criminals.
  • Watching over neighbouring properties to identify criminal activity and security weaknesses.
• Building better relationships between neighbours
  
  • Establishing an inclusive, friendly, supportive environment that helps the community feel safe and connected.

Having determined the primary goals of your Neighbourhood Watch scheme follow the ‘Create a New Scheme’ link previously mentioned. This takes you through the following steps.

• Create a new scheme
  
  • This is where you define a name for your scheme.
  • Choosing a relevant location based name is a sensible option.
• Mapping your scheme
  
  • This facility allows you to accurately define the geographic area over which the scheme will operate.
  • It`s important to accurately define the scheme area. If, for example, your scheme only covers one side of a road then only that area should be mapped.
• The next screen prompts for a few more details including:
  
  • Number of households covered by the scheme
  • Number of members
  • Start date of the scheme
  • Scheme`s next meeting date
  • Scheme website
  • Scheme description
• Information about the coordinator
  
  • All Neighbourhood Watch schemes need to have a nominated coordinator.
  • This next screen allows some details about the scheme coordinator to be submitted.
  • There is a checkbox that should be ticked if you are happy for the scheme coordinator details to be publicly accessible.

Once all these details have been entered - click the ‘Create Scheme’ button - and that’s it! You will hear back from Neighbourhood Watch once the application has been processed.

If you have any questions about your home or business security or if you have any special requirements remember that we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.

This message was added on Thursday 10th November 2022