Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives ever.

Behind it lies a simple idea, and a central value shared by millions of people around the country: Getting together with your neighbours to take action can cut local crime.

This month we hear from Robin Hargraves from the Arun Neighbourhood Watch Association.

More than 20 years ago a movement started in a small community in Cheshire that was to change the face of crime prevention and lead to one of the most successful initiatives ever.

After a number of burglaries, residents arranged to keep an eye on each others' homes, police gave support and the burglaries were dramatically reduced.

The scheme's co-ordinator was swamped by calls from around the country. As news of the success spread, everyone wanted to know how the scheme worked and Neighbourhood Watch was born.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Today there are 160,000 active Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Britain covering more than 6 million households, and Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary community organisation in the country.

Across our district there are 460 schemes under the umbrella of the Arun Neighbourhood Watch Association as well as even more schemes run by the Bognor Regis Association.

Neighourhood Watch is so successful because it’s a community-based organisation. The association works in partnership with the police, local councils and other agencies to reduce crime and disorder.

Members of the schemes receive crime prevention information that is pertinent to their area. 

They can make their views known about which crimes most concern and affect them and, in consultation with the Police, solutions can hopefully be identified and appropriate measures taken.

This partnership approach allows the association to get involved in community problem solving, agreeing regularly which problems to target and what actions to take. It also means the schemes can get involved in crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour prevention initiatives.

Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are managed by a team of volunteer Street Co-ordinators, each responsible for a small group of households.
The benefits of being involved in a Scheme are:-

• Receiving a bi-monthly newsletter, Arun Watchword, which is produced by the Arun area executive (ANWA)

• Having a neighbour, who is your Street Co-ordinator, to whom you can talk about any crime-related matter or concern.   (NB any specific incidents or any suspicious sightings should be reported immediately to Sussex Police)

• Receiving Email Alerts, which provide up-to-date information regarding matters that may be happening in or around your area. 

• A selection of crime prevention and security related products, leaflets and stickers can be obtained through your Street Co-ordinator or your local PCSO

• Some insurers are prepared to offer discounted household insurance premiums for Scheme members

• Through the ANWA Executive, you have the opportunity to communicate concerns and ideas to the relevant authorities.   The ANWA Executive meet bi-monthly with the Police, are also represented on many of the Police Neighbourhood Management forums and crime-related committees within the Sussex Police and the Safer Arun Partnership.   One of the committees on which we are represented is the Joint Action Group. Its aim is to prevent and reduce crime and disorder in Arun through multi-agencies (police, housing officers, anti-social behaviour teams, youth workers, fire services, parks and green space wardens) by meeting monthly to monitor report and identify emerging crime trends.   This is achieved through proactive sharing of real time partnership intelligence. Priority actions are then agreed and partnership resources allocated to deliver actions aimed at minimising the risk of the emerging trends escalating.

In the spirit of neighbourliness, we ask neighbours to look out for one another.   For example, this could involve keeping an eye on someone’s house when they are away.

We ask that, where possible, you participate in a ‘nominate a neighbour scheme’  - you can find out more information about this scheme on this very site or by asking their local Police Community Support Officer or by calling Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.

To join or set up a scheme please contact ANWA by emailing to chairman@anwa.org.uk or by writing to us c/o Littlehampton Police Station, East Street, Littlehampton BN17 6AR.   Alternatively, contact your local PCSO.   To find out who your local PCSO is contact www.sussexpolice.uk or telephone 0845 6070999.