The Junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme has been established in schools in the Darlington area.

It is a twelve-module training project to help children understand what Neighbourhood Watch does, how it operates and how they can help. It is also a preventative measure that provides diversionary activities for children.

Working with local schools, the scheme targets years 5 and 6 (ages 9–10). A police officer delivers sessions in school time or as after school clubs, covering topics such as the role of the beat officer, drugs awareness, fi re safety, personal safety, crime, Neighbourhood Watch, antisocial behaviour, bullying, racism, crime prevention and road safety. One of the skills the children learn is how to carry out a crime prevention home security survey. This enables the children to point out to parents and grandparents the weaknesses in their home security.

Upon completing the course, the children are given a certificate and a junior Neighbourhood Watch badge and t-shirt, crime prevention badge, pencils and other goodies.

Some of the scheme’s modules have been incorporated into Brownies and Cubs activities, and can also count towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Prince’s Trust scheme.

The police, local education authority and schools all support the scheme and a good working relationship has developed between the partners, as well as between the children and the police. As a result of the scheme, children have been made aware of hazards and have gained practical skills and the knowledge to avoid placing themselves in dangerous situations.

There is also a greater awareness of the work of the police and Neighbourhood Watch. With the beat officer and children knowing each other, the programme has also helped to reduce antisocial behaviour.