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Neighbourhood Watch website launched during Neighbourhood Watch Week
Doorstep crime, anti-social behaviour and engaging young people are the key areas of focus for the second national Neighbourhood Watch Week. This week Vernon Coaker launched a brand new Neighbourhood Watch website and a volunteers' toolkit, jointly funded by the Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The toolkit is designed to provide support, training and guidance for around four million UK households that are members of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"I have seen first hand that impressive results follow when local people join together with the police and other partners to fight crime. The Neighbourhood Watch movement plays an absolutely crucial role in strengthening these local crime fighting partnerships and I am delighted to offer my support as the week of action gets underway.
"Whilst Neighbourhood Watch is thriving in some communities, I want the website and online toolkit to help Neighbourhood Watch members make their neighbourhoods feel safer everywhere. Everyone involved deserves congratulations and I look forward to seeing positive results over the next 12 months."
ACPO lead on Neighbourhood Watch Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said: "Neighbourhood and Home Watch remains the largest voluntary organisation in the country. It has a major role to play in reducing crime, fear of crime and bringing communities closer together.
"Neighbourhood Watch week offers an ideal opportunity to highlight the good work done by Neighbourhood Watch and to encourage others to get involved in a practical way that will make a difference to their local community."
The Chair of the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network, Marion Lewis, said: "Millions of households are part of Neighbourhood and Home Watch. Schemes exist in cities, towns, and villages across the country, and we know that three-quarters of people who are not members would join a scheme if there was one where they lived. We want to see Neighbourhood Watch spread to new places and involve new people. Neighbourhood Watch Week provides us with the opportunity to highlight the benefits and remind people about the impact they can have on the safety of their own street when they come together as neighbours. Further information can now be found on the new national website : http://www.mynhw.co.uk."
As part of Neighbourhood Watch Week, which runs from 16-20 June, local and regional meetings and events are taking place across England and Wales. The events are designed to involve local people in the movement's aims and to provide advice and guidance on specific local issues.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Regional event details follow below:
* Blaenavon, North West Wales: Friday 20 June, 10am-3pm: A multiple display with local police, Citizen's Advice Bureau and Trading Standards. Contact Keith Sweetzer at keith.r.s@ic24.net for more information.
* East Kent, Thanet: training sessions and workshops by Neighbourhood Policing teams and community groups on beating doorstep crime. Contact Watch Liaison Officer Terry McCormick on 01843 222 214 for more information.
* Ashford, Kent: 16-20 June: Daily presentations to different Senior Citizen Groups on Nominated Neighbour and Help the Aged Handy Van schemes.
* Dover, Kent: a multi-cultural day has been organised as part of the Talk To Us Campaign.
2. The Neighbourhood Watch website can be found at http://www.mynhw.co.uk/.
