Good Ideas PDF from the Home OfficeGood Ideas
for Fighting crime with Neighbourhood Watch

These pages bring together some good ideas and practices that have been adopted by Neighbourhood Watch schemes, groups and associations throughout England and Wales. It is not meant to be a ‘how to do it’ guide, but to give you ideas for revitalising and expanding your scheme’s activities, building a stronger community spirit and helping to reduce crime.

Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary organisation in the UK. Over a quarter of homes across the country are members, and they work with each other and the police to reduce crime and increase community safety.

Each Neighbourhood Watch scheme is different, as it depends on the area and what the people living there want and need. All over the country communities face different challenges, and different levels of crime.

Scheme co-ordinators can find out from local people what most concerns them and focus on a specific problem. By forming a picture of local crime, conducting a ‘fear of crime’ survey and identifying the opportunities for crime reduction, schemes can then form an action plan to tackle the problem.

Most crime is opportunist, committed on the spur of the moment, for example when a car or house is left unlocked. This means there is enormous scope for reducing opportunities for criminals. Traditional Neighbourhood Watch activity has focused on the immediate vicinity of homes, with members looking out for anything suspicious, or helping their neighbours as necessary. However, more and more schemes are broadening their work to target a range of other problems such as antisocial behaviour, vandalism and graffiti.

Neighbourhood Watch is also about bringing people closer together and involving them in local life. A stronger community spirit grows as people get to know each other and look out for one another. Anyone can join a Neighbourhood Watch scheme and everyone can play a part in its achievements.

Neighbourhood Watch works by:

  • Bringing people closer together

  • Building a stronger community spirit

  • Helping to reduce crime

  • Reducing people’s anxieties about crime

  • Strengthening links with the police

  • Developing closer relationships with local councils

  • Improving the local environment

  • Creating a better quality of life
This site has been reproduced from a Home Office document available as a PDF here:
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/publicity_catalogue/pdf/NW%20&%20%20HW%20Good%20Ideas%20booklet%20-%20NWGIB1.pdf.pdf

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General NW Issues

Got an issue or experience on running a Scheme? Any type of Watch is Welcome.

Happy New Year!!
by: Anonymous

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This is to wish everyone in the world of Neighbourhood Watch a happy, safe and successful 2009.  ”


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Here you can write about anything to do with Christmas, New year and seasonal issues to do with Security and Neighbourhood Watch.  ”


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Have you got ideas for festive recipies that are in some way connected with Neighbourhood Watch? If you have please take a short while to write them.  ”


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John, I have been informed by the Hertfordshire Constabulary that it has no intention of replacing its 0845 number in the foreseeable future, I think that is disgraceful that they are continuing to use this number in the face of so much condemnation  ”


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Hi, A new Green Paper was brought out by the Government on 17th July 08 which is a Consultation Paper that "sets out their vision for the future of Policing and includes radical new plans to cut red tape and give the police more freedom to get on with the job of reducing crime, combined with new measures to increase public confidence in the police and give the public a greater say about how their communities are Policed". (taken directly from their website) The Paper is 115 pages long, and whilst I appreciate (and agree) that this is VERY long indeed (!) it is still worth taking a look at. In my area (Scarborough District), we have quarterly Community and Police meetings which are working relatively well, but I'm all for change - but only if needed... I don't see the reason to change something is it "ain't broke"!! If you get chance to look at this Paper, and I strongly urge you to do so that you can take an active part in the consultation, I'd also be interested to know / hear / discuss what other Areas are doing to inform members and members of public within their respective areas. The Paper can be found at: - http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/police-reform/policegp/  ”


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LOCAL Neighbourhood Watch volunteers Mel Playforth and Tricia Colling were among those honoured at a reception in York in recognition of the commitment and dedication of the police force's volunteers. Awards were presented to those who had contributed in excess of 100, 250 and 500 hours to their local communities. Both Mrs Colling and Mr Playforth were rewarded for contributing more than 500 hours  ”


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Approaching 12 months, will it be too much to expect an Annual Report? It should contain the expenses claimed by NHW Network. It is important to know the public costs that this government is allowing against something that is proclaimed as representing NHW. The tax burden has never been higher, what pittance does the largest voluntary organisation get in return? There is a need for such transparency and to have the changes in Regional Representatives chronicled. At a minimum, Reports from all Regional Representatives with one from the Chair. Surely this is not too much to ask given the representation status NHW Network claims?  ”


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I had posed certain questions in the only open Forum for NHW Issues covering England & Wales. Needless to say they go unanswered. In a document that is overindulgence in words regarding it Aims and Objections. Based on a role that is a mismatch to these. Without proper structure or procedure, it then goes on to proclaim a right. That right to suspend any individual member or regional group elected or appointed under the Terms of Reference. How daft is that without proper explanation? I could go on, for the Public record. These Terms of reference are woolly and fail to acknowledge the fragility of an unfunded and politically engineered group. Marion Lewis has already been wheeled out at least once for political headline chasing news. Please take this as an open invitation to reply or educate me to believe otherwise.  ”


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After the government dropped supportive funding (not unusual for something that would be useful for so many). It still survives and a 101 committee has been formed. This consists of parties who have an interest in making this happen and have something to bring to the table. It is interesting to note that NHW Network is not involved. This is to be expected with no national presence. It takes a voice and the minimum of self direction, of course. My concern about this is the greedy nature of some, where 10 pence a call will not be enough. The government will not mind as the VAT rake off will always be there as with 0845.  ”


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I have started a 0300 campaign and will be contacting all UK Police Forces ripping off the members of the pubic in their areas with 0845 numbers. I will post here any replies or developments. As many will know the democracy side of the UK can be more than wanting when one person makes an enquiry of bureaucratic machines. I would ask local groups that are in 0845 areas and may have need to communicate with the police, consider just why they are paying a premium. If anyone has a comment or query please post it. The initial communication follows, This is a generic message that I am sending to the 50 percent of UK Police Services that wholly operate a non emergency number on the  ”