Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch involves . . .

• working with others to make your community safer
• what you can do to reduce the risk of crime in your area
• knowing what to do when a crime or other emergency occurs
• reducing the opportunity for crime by making it more difficult for the would be criminal to act

There are over 8,700 neighbourhood watch (NHW) schemes across the Thames Valley. Each scheme a has a co-ordinator, who is in contact with their Regional Administrator. They act as a link between the community, the police and other agencies. Schemes can include two or three neighbours in a village or entire housing estates in large towns.

To learn more about neighbourhood watch, please visit the website http://neighbourhoodwatch.net/

What is involved?

Your first step is to contact the Regional Administrator for your area (Jeffrey Pick 01753 835504 or email jeffrey.pick@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk).  He will check if there is a scheme already running in your area and if not he will give you more information about NHW and how to start a scheme. After speaking to your neighbours and establishing that they are interested, a meeting can be arranged to start up the scheme. This initial meeting is usually held in the organiser's home or local community hall and run by the Regional Administrator assisted by the local police officer. 

Who runs the scheme?     
Neighbourhood Watch is run by volunteers in the community. The Regional Administrator will support the scheme but each community develops their scheme to suit their needs. Ideally there is a Co-ordinator who is supported by a Deputy. Their role is to distribute newsletters, pass on crime information and be a focal point for contact with the Regional Administrator, police and other agencies. It is not their role to report crime on behalf of their neighbours but ideally Co-ordinators would be made aware of any problems within their schemes by the members.

How much does it cost?

Crime prevention advice and other community safety literature are provided free of charge.

Neighbourhood Watch window sticker and newsletters are also free. The only cost involved is in the purchase of Neighbourhood Watch street signs should you decide to have them. The cost for these varies from area to area but is usually about £9. Order forms are available via your Regional Administrator.

What are the benefits of Neighbourhood Watch?

• an opportunity to bring together communities
• a reduction in home insurance costs
• an increased awareness of local crime and how to combat it
• a reduction in the fear of crime
• a link between your community and the police.

Community Messaging 

Do you want to receive free crime alerts and information from Thames Valley Police direct to your mailbox or telephone?

For several years Thames Valley Police has operated a messaging service known as Ringmaster in support of organised Watch schemes across the force such as Neighbourhood Watch, Pub Watch, Business Watch and Country Watch.

As part of our commitment to improve communications with communities across the Thames Valley we are extending this Community Messaging service to anyone living or working within Berkshire, Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire.

By joining it will allow us to send you information about crimes and crime reduction advice, appeals for witnesses, police information and meetings all specific to the neighbourhood in which you live or work. You can choose to receive this by email, fax, text or by voice message to your mobile or landline telephone.

To find out more about this free service and to sign up online visit http://www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org/