Getting Involved

It takes many different people, working together to successfully build Neighbourhood Watch and promote its philosophy.

The simplest and easiest way to promote the Neighbourhood Watch philosophy is as a Participant.

Not everyone in a street or a local community may wish to formally join a NHW group or get actively involved in NHW activities.  The NHW program is still accessible by simply getting to know your neighbours, looking out for each other, reporting suspicious activity to police and subscribing to

By following a few simple steps, everyone can promote the Neighbourhood Watch philosophy –

Observe

Neighbours should know what is normal in their neighbourhood and what is out of the ordinary.  Neighbourhood Watch does not want you to spy on your neighbour.  We want you to be concerned for the safety of your neighbourhood.  Spend time out in your community and become familiar with your local environment.

Acknowledge

Communication is the key – knowing who your neighbours are and acknowledging them.  Waving and saying hello can deter an outsider, as well as signifying that you are communicating and watching out for one another.  Good neighbours also acknowledge those people they don’t know.  Thus letting potential intruders know that they have been seen and observed potentially reducing the opportunity for crime to occur.

Report

Report suspicious activity to Police.  Police can not respond to community problems if they are not made aware of them.  If your instinct is telling you something doesn't feel right – it probably isn't.

Share

Knowledge is a powerful positive tool and helps prevent crime.  Sharing information with Police, your coordiinator and your neighbours helps build awareness and connects a neighbourhood.  Crime prevention is everyone's business and everyone has the potential to be a key in building a safer neighbourhood.

 

Join as an Active Volunteer

An active volunteer is someone who is actively involved in the local community, encouraging effective community relations and promoting crime prevention initiatives through activities or projects, while working within the NHW Guidelines.

To be an active volunteer a person can join an existing NHW group, or if one does not exist, start a new one.  To find out if a group exists in your local community contact your local Neighbourhood watch field officer, (Bob Lloyd, 01452 75 20 86 for Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury)

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All new coordinators  must have a Police record check completed.  Police checks will be coordinated through the NHW field officer .