Neighbourhood Watch - Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of living in a Neighbourhood Watch area?There are, potentially, many benefits available to members of Neighbourhood Watch. These can include:
- Less crime
- A reduction in the fear of crime
- Improved links to the Police, Council and other partners like the Fire Services
- Free, impartial advice about crime prevention measures
- A better quality of life
- Security discounts
- Reductions in insurance premiums
- Better community spirit
- Free post-coding equipment loan
- Grants may be available for improvements to communal security
- Improved community safety
How can being a Neighbourhood Watch member reduce my insurance premium?
Neighbourhood Watch members are encouraged to improve their domestic security arrangements in line with relevant British Standards, to mark or photograph valuables with their postcode and be active members of their watch. Insurers recognise these measures as valuable tools in the fight against crime and improving community safety and most offer discounts on premiums.
As a responsible Watch member you may also qualify for cheaper vehicle and buildings insurance.
Some insurance companies will also carry out a security survey of your home and offer good discounts if you fit the recommended security devices.
How do I join a Neighbourhood Watch?
If you are unsure whether or not you live in a Neighbourhood Watch area, contact the Council Community Safety Office on (020) 8871 7696. They will be able to advise you.
If you are not in a Neighbourhood Watch area, then you need to start a new Neighbourhood Watch.
What do I need to do to start a new Watch?
Neighbourhood Watch is about working with your neighbours to prevent crime and improve community safety, so start off by talking to people who live in your local area. If a group of you is interested in being involved in Neighbourhood Watch (or even if they are not sure what it's about but would like to find out more) then contact the Council. They will organise a formal canvass of residents in your local area to establish the number of people interested in setting up a Watch. Once this is done and if there is a satisfactory response, they'll organise a launch meeting. The meeting needs to be attended by a representative number of residents, so the size of the group will depend on the number of people living in your area.
To set up a new Neighbourhood Watch please contact:
Community Safety Division
Technical Services Department
Unit 2F Tadmore House, Frogmore Complex
Dormay Street
London
SW18 1EY
Tel: (020) 8871 7696
Email: dbowden@wandsworth.gov.uk
How long does it take to set up a Watch?
It's normally possible to get a new Watch set up within 8 weeks of an initial enquiry, although it has been achieved more quickly than that.
What happens at a Neighbourhood Watch launch meeting?
Neighbourhood Watch launch (introductory) meetings are organised and co-ordinated by the Council's Community Safety Division and your local Community Police officer (who will also attend the meeting). The meeting is used:
- To explain what Neighbourhood Watch is and how it works. Everybody attending the meeting is given information explaining what Neighbourhood Watch is all about and giving useful contact and community safety information.
- To appoint a Watch co-ordinator and several deputy co-ordinators. Each Watch needs at least one Co-ordinator and at least one deputy.
- To help the group to identify particular issues or activities to focus on in their Watch. Each Neighbourhood Watch neighbourhood is different, so the focus is on trying to work out the best way to address specific issues for your areas. For example, one area may choose to look at what they can do to reduce vehicle crime; another might focus on preventing burglary.
- To give community safety advice.
What does becoming a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator involve?
Watch Co-ordinators are responsible for:
- Organising Watch activities
- Distributing information
- Giving information from the Police, Council and other partners to Watch members
- Encouraging members to pass their concerns about crime to the Police
- Organising events on behalf of the Watch (with Deputies or helpers). A Watch Co-ordinator is the contact point between the community and the Police and Council. If the Police or Council needs to communicate information to a Watch, they will do this through the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.
A Watch Co-ordinator needs to be familiar with the Watch area, to know the Watch members, and be a good communicator.
The amount of time required to be a Co-ordinator varies, but it need not exceed an hour per month (on average). It's up to you how much time you choose to put in. Some co-ordinators give far more time than others. You do what you can within the constraints of your normal life.
- Representing their Watch at Neighbourhood Watch seminars
What does a Deputy Co-ordinator/Helper do?
Deputies or Helpers assist the Co-ordinators with the ongoing running of the Watch. Helpers sometimes volunteer because they can help with a particular activity, such as fitting locks or publishing a newsletter. Setting up a Watch is all about working together, so when you establish who can do what you are starting to build on your strengths.
What happens once a new Watch has been set up?
- Each Watch member is given a Neighbourhood Watch sticker to display in their window.
- Community Safety Division will put up signs to show that a Neighbourhood Watch covers the area. Community Safety will liaise with the Watch Co-ordinator to work out the best place to locate the signs and to organise to put them up.
- What you decide to do after that depends on what you have identified as a priority in your local area. The Police and the Community Safety unit can advise you on what you can do to address specific problems.
- You can also use the local knowledge in your Watch to start a register of trustworthy local tradespersons. This is useful to the whole community and can be of great help in protecting the more vulnerable members of the Watch.
- Your Watch will be invited to participate in the borough-wide e-mail messaging system about crime, crime prevention measures and local events.
- Methods of publicising and promoting the activities of your Watch can also vary - for example you might use a mail drop, set up a meeting, or even set up a temporary community safety 'stall' on your street. Here, you can show your neighbours how to mark or photograph their property, demonstrate the correct types of door and window lock or distribute a whole range of crime prevention literature.
- Many Watch groups arrange informal social gatherings to promote community spirit and neighbourliness, often in members' gardens or communal areas.
What support is available to existing Watches?
Once you have set up a registered Neighbourhood Watch we will provide:
- Neighbourhood Watch members packs (request a pack)
- Neighbourhood Watch street signs (maximum 2 per Watch)
- Access to the e-mail messaging system
- Neighbourhood Watch grant applications
- Seminars and training for Co-ordinators and Members
You can apply for any of the above by emailing a request or downloading an application form from this web site. If you would prefer to make your request by phone or in writing, please contact:
Denys Bowden
Crime Prevention Services Officer, Community Safety Division, Technical Services Department, Unit 2F Tadmore House, Frogmore Complex, Dormay Street, Wandsworth, London SW18 1EY
Tel: (020) 8871 7696
Fax: (020) 8871 6537
How big is a typical Neighbourhood Watch?
There is no such thing as a typical watch but experience has shown that 'small is beautiful'. Too big and a Watch can soon become unmanageable for the co-ordinator(s). The size of the group is usually dictated by the layout of the street or estate you live in. A Watch could vary in size from between half a dozen and 50 members, although there are some much larger Watches. If a Watch looks like exceeding 50 households, the Police and Council may advise it to split into 2 smaller groups, using road junctions or breaks in the building line as a guide. Most Watches need a co-ordinator and at least one or two deputies/helpers, regardless of the numbers of members. Obviously, in bigger Watches more deputies/helpers can mean a more even spread of the (chosen) workload.
Why do I need Neighbourhood Watch?
Active Neighbourhood Watch is a proven deterrent against crime and improves community safety. It can prevent local crime and nuisance problems and help residents to tackle them in partnership with the Police and the Council. If you have got an insurance policy for anything, why have you got it? The answer for Neighbourhood Watch is the same - 'Just in case'.
Will I have to patrol the streets?
The answer is no, you are definitely not required to be a vigilante. However, Neighbourhood Watch members are asked to be vigilant and keep their eyes open when out 'walking the dog,' collecting children or going about their normal daily business. Any information about suspicious activities, vehicles or people should be reported.
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