Neighbourhood Watch

National Neighbourhood Watch Week (NNWW) replaces the previously successful Not In My Neighbourhood Week in 2011 as part of 'The Big Society' campaign. Running from Saturday 18 to Saturday 25 June it gave all of us involved in Neighbourhood Watch a great platform to promote this nationally celebrated and locally invaluable scheme. The week's big event was the London Neighbourhood Watch Conference.

London Neighbourhood Watch Conference 2011 

On Tuesday 21 June Wandsworth Community Safety Trust (WCST) and the Community Safety team welcomed colleagues from across London to the 2011 London Neighbourhood Watch Conference. The event, held at the Pump House in Battersea Park, was a key part of National Neighbourhood Watch Week with the purpose to discuss how Neighbourhood Watch is and will continue to be at the heart of The Big Society.

On a gloriously sunny afternoon, amidst the charming surroundings of the Battersea Park Pump House, the conference began with a networking lunch and the opportunity for delegates to learn about all the valuable ongoing work being carried out by the Wandsworth Neighbourhood Watch community and all of its partners.

In the true spirit of partnership working, delegates - including practitioners and volunteers from across London - were able to meet and share knowledge and experience with officers from Wandsworth Council's Community Safety, Trading Standards, Licensing and Parks Police teams, as well as partners in Wandsworth Police and Wandsworth Fire Service.

The keynote speech was given by Baroness Angela Browning, Minister for Crime Prevention & Anti-social Behaviour Reduction, who outlined the government's commitment to Neighbourhood Watch. She highlighted how Neighbourhood Watch, through its volunteering and activism, has been a key part of the community for decades, keeping neighbourhoods safe and binding communities together.

The day also included presentations on all aspects of Neighbourhood Watch and community partnerships from: Cllr James Cousins from Wandsworth Council; Tim Chidgey, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade; Marilyn Barratt, Community Safety Officer for Operation Liberal, the national police task group tackling distraction burglary in England and Wales; and Superintendant Stuart Dark from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

The day's final speaker was Jim Maddan, chairman of both the London Neighbourhood Watch Association and the national Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network who spoke about the future of Neighbourhood Watch and the launch of the new OurWatch website. To see photos of the day follow us on Facebook at Safer Wandsworth.