Introduction Neighbourhood Watch, which was launched in June 2004, is a regional initiative which offers communities in Northern Ireland, both urban and rural, the opportunity to positively influence community safety in their areas and reduce crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods. The scheme is promoted, supported and endorsed at a strategic level by the Community Safety Unit, the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Policing Board and at a local level through Community Safety Partnerships, PSNI Area Command Units and District Policing Partnerships. The aim is to help people protect themselves and their property, and to reduce the fear of crime by: Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are currently operating in all District Council areas across Northern Ireland with over 500 schemes involving in excess of 39,000 households. Get Involved Local communities interested in establishing a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme should contact their local Community Safety Manager, District Policing Partnership Manager or local PSNI. How To Set Up A Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Neighbourhood Watch schemes are developed locally, and involve local communities and each of the partner organisations in the process. In commencing a scheme, community representatives should consult with their local Police Officer, the Community Safety Manager, or the DPP Manager to consider arranging an initial community meeting to get an overview of Neighbourhood Watch and to clarify any issues. When community support for the establishment of a Scheme has been obtained; the community should identify at least one Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for the area to be covered by the Scheme. All the residents within the designated area should be notified of the proposal and asked to register their interest. Each of the partner organisations are involved in the accreditation of a scheme. Once the nominated Co-ordinator has successfully undergone the necessary PSNI security check a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Application form is completed which is checked and endorsed by each of the local police, Community Safety Partnership and the District Policing Partnership and forwarded to the Community Safety Unit, who issue a two-year accreditation certificate for the scheme and an identity card to the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator on behalf of the partner organisations. Following accreditation, Neighbourhood Watch signage is issued for erection in local areas. The Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator acts as a link between the community and local police. Their main roles are to act as the first point of contact for all members of the scheme and to receive and distribute information. However everyone within a Neighbourhood Scheme plays an important part in making their neighbourhood a safer place to live by remaining alert to unusual or suspicious activity in their neighbourhood. For further details contact the Community Safety Unit on 028 9082 8555 or click on the relevant links below: Training for Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators A "Toolkit for Neighbourhood Watch" is available from the Home Office website. Home Office Toolkit for Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Click here to view Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Manual Public Liability Insurance for Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators Public liability insurance is available, free of charge, to all accredited Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Northern Ireland. Co-ordinators are asked to phone 0131 225 6005 if they have any insurance related queries. Evaluation The Community Safety Unit, in partnership with the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Policing Board, jointly commissioned research into the impact and effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in reducing crime, the fear of crime and improving relationships between the police and local communities across Northern Ireland. The research also considered how Neighbouhood Watch should be developed in the future. The research was carried out between February and May 2007. |
