Neighbourhood Watch
What is Neighbourhood Watch?
It is a way of helping your street, village or area prevent crime and vandalism.
There is a sign on the lamp-post in our street, does that mean we have a scheme?
Not necessarily. The sign alone is not enough, members of the community must be actively involved for Neighbourhood Watch to truly exist. Many signs remain in place long after a scheme has become dormant.
Who can take part?
YOU can! Any member of the community can join Neighbourhood Watch if they are aware and neighbourly.
What do you need to do?
Be alert to suspicious incidents, vehicles or people in the street, and quickly tell the Police or Community Liaison Officer what you have seen. Help prevent crime by protecting your home – security postcode your valuables and if you need to, improve the security of your house with window locks and good door locks and chains. The Crime Prevention Officer will offer help and advice.
What do you get from the Police?
As a member of Neighbourhood Watch you will receive window/door stickers and a security booklet, also available is a free UV postcode marker pen.
Each Neighbourhood Watch Scheme has a designated officer who will contact the scheme as often as is possible. Urgent information will be passed to your scheme by telephone, email or SMS text messaging thorough our Voice Connect System.
What will happen as your Scheme develops?
Criminals will avoid your area if they know activities will be reported promptly. Your neighbours should get to know each other better and most importantly your community will feel safer and more secure.
Many home insurance companies offer discounts to active scheme members, however, claiming to be part of and active scheme where the police have no record of active membership may invalidate your insurance, so please do take the time to register.
For more information please contact:
Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer, FREEPOST, Darlington Police Office, 6 St Cuthberts Way, Darlington, DL1 5LB
louise.buckley@durham.pnn.police.uk
01325 346832
Our Watch website [external link]
Voice Connect
Voice Connect is another tool utilised by Neighbourhood Watch members. It is a free recorded voice messaging service which upon enrolment members can receive updates regarding issues in their area on a regular basis. It allows the police to send out area-specific information, quickly and efficiently.
If you would like to become a member of Neighbourhood Watch and receive Voice Connect messages fill in the enrolment form [word document] and return to:
PCSO Louise Buckley, Community Liaison Officer, Central House Annex, Gladstone Street, Darlington, DL3 6JX.
Or email: louise.buckley@durham.pnn.police.uk
For more information call: 01325 346832