Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch: Safer and Stronger Communities

Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary crime prevention group in the country. It is based on the idea of communities coming together to help reduce crime and increase community cohesion.

Neighbourhood Watch - 1982 to today

Benefits of Neighbourhood Watch

People join Neighbourhood Watch for many different reasons, whether it is to improve personal safety and security around their home, or to become part of a group and meet new people. Neighbourhood Watch also brings communities together that share a sense of responsibility for where they live. It is widely regarded that being part of Neighbourhood Watch can:

  • Reduce / prevent local crime and disorder
  • Reduce fear of crime
  • Address issues relating to anti social behaviour
  • Create safer neighbourhoods
  • Build community spirit and cohesion
  • Reassure members of the public
  • Enhance partnership working with other community groups
  • Assist in the detection and apprehension of criminals through members providing information to the police
  • Improve quality of life and the local environment

 

How does Neighbourhood Watch work?

Neighbourhood Watch schemes vary in size and geographical area.  Some schemes may consist of only a few houses covering a street or cul-de-sac, whilst others may extend to an entire estate.

Some residents meet on a regular basis either every couple of weeks or every month to discuss ways in which they can tackle low level problems relevant to their area. However, some Neighbourhood Watch schemes exist via closed social media groups, making use of technology to communicate and share information. 

Neighbourhood Watch groups are not expected to act as vigilante groups patrolling the streets, but are encouraged to be attentive towards any suspicious behaviour, and report information to the police. Neighbourhood Watch Schemes often run campaigns promoting crime prevention advice as well as ways to bid for funding to help the community.

 

Where can I find more information?

Click here for more information on setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in your area.

 

Contact Information

Email [email protected] or ring 101 and ask to speak to your Force Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.

 

Neighbourhood Watch External Links

Our Watch: www.ourwatch.org.uk 
The official website of the National Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network (England & Wales).
This website holds resources and newsletters from the National Network. Please note that information on a local level will come from your West Yorkshire Police contact so it is important to get in touch with your Force Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator to register your scheme at: [email protected]

Community alert

Community Alert is an information broadcast alert specific to an area of interest to you, such as home or work. You will receive updates into what police activity there has been in your chosen areas. This is separate to Neighbourhood Watch and can be accessed by members and non members of the scheme by following the link below.

Sign up to the Police and Partner agencies new community alert system at :  www.wypcommunityalert.co.uk

 

Neighbourhood Watch Week 

Neighbourhood Watch Week 2023 runs from 3rd to the 9th of June

Neighbourhood Watch Week is a time of celebration and connection. We celebrate our togetherness and how for over 40 years, we have been making better places to live - together.

The theme this year is Making This a Better Place to Live and focuses on:

Follow the links to find out more and for more details of how to get involved.

 

Celebrating Neighbourhood Watch Week 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Neighbourhood Watch Week in 2020 saw a different approach to the celebrations. 2020 was unprecedented in terms of how we have all had to re-think and adapt to new ways of working and socialising.

The 2020 Neighbourhood Watch Week theme was all about togetherness and neighbourliness.

We started the week with a video from Assistant Chief Constable Hankinson (see video below).

So see what we have been doing in the other videos below. 

Please follow the links to look at what we have on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WYPCrimePrevention and Twitter https://twitter.com/WYP_CPO where you can leave posts and messages about your experiences with Neighbourhood Watch, or just to leave a message to someone in your community that has stood out to you in recent times.

 

Neighbourhood Watch Week 2020 Videos

Here you will see the videos made by member of the Police and Neighbourhood Watch volunteers, as well as thank you messages and people explaining what Neighbourhood Watch means to them.

Page last reviewed December 2023

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