Neighbourhood Watch is such a familiar term that it’s hard to believe that it only started in 1982.
Today, the Neighbourhood Watch scheme has more than two million supporter households and is the country's largest volunteer-led crime prevention movement.
The idea is simple: local people joining together to safeguard each other’s property. As most crime is opportunistic, having a team of people working together in neighbourhoods is a powerful weapon in the fight against crime.
Joining together to prevent crime
Neighbourhood Watch schemes focus on various issues, including burglary, anti-social behaviour, vandalism and graffiti.
The charity offers its members advice on spotting, preventing, and reporting crimes such as break-ins and bicycle or dog theft. It also educates people about more modern concerns, such as scams and cybercrime, and offers support to those who have been victims.
The existence of a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme also reassures residents, fostering neighbourliness and a renewed sense of community spirit.
Building a sense of community
With over 60,000 active volunteers nationwide, Neighbourhood Watch schemes often extend beyond crime prevention, engaging in activities like litter picking, organising coffee mornings and even setting up food banks.
By reinforcing the idea of community, members can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, which often go hand-in-hand with vulnerability, as lonely people may be more willing to chat to doorstep scammers or respond to unsolicited emails.
Instead of feeling powerless in the face of rising crime, local people believe that they have the power to improve the quality of life for everyone in their area. After all, you know your neighbourhood better than anyone.
Reaping the benefits
Whether it’s organising a local event, sharing crime prevention tips or agreeing to keep an eye on each other’s homes when you’re on your holidays, the benefits of joining a Neighbourhood Watch scheme are easy to see.
A survey conducted by the group states that 74% of Neighbourhood Watch members and volunteers feel “safe” or “very safe” in their neighbourhoods, compared to just 65% of non-members.
How to get involved
It may be that a Neighbourhood Watch scheme already exists in your area, so check with your local police station or use the Neighbourhood Watch postcode checker. You can also join Neighbourhood Watch online.
If there isn’t a scheme in your area, why not start one? A good first step is to organise a meeting with your neighbours to see who else wants to get involved. To make sure people turn up, give them plenty of notice and remind everyone a few days before the meeting. Use that first meeting to find out what you’re all worried about and to decide what your aims are.
Every scheme needs a volunteer co-ordinator – someone who leads the group and makes sure things get done. Maybe someone else in your area has more time on their hands to take on the responsibility of coordinating the scheme, and you’d rather take a back seat once it’s up and running.
Most importantly, let everyone know that how involved they are is entirely up to them. That way, people won’t worry about giving up too much of their time.
You may want to start the scheme by hosting a local event, such as a coffee morning or a group litter picking session. This will help people get to know each other better and create a better sense of connection.
You’ll be surprised at the effects a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can have. Not only will you make your area a safer place to live, but you’ll probably make many new friends in the process.
