Deputy PCC praises Neighbourhood Watch schemes
Barrie Sheldon, West Mercia Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, praised the dedicated volunteers who help to prevent crime within their local area at the Neighbourhood Watch Forum Annual General Meeting, held last month.
Around 50 Neighbourhood Watch coordinators and members from across West Mercia came together for the evening meeting at Hindlip Hall in Worcester to share ideas and plan for the future.
Mr Sheldon, said: “I recognise that Neighbourhood Watch schemes play a vital role in helping to reduce crime and keep communities safe and I was delighted to meet the inspirational volunteers who give their time to be part of this.”
The role of Neighbourhood Watch fits perfectly into the thinking behind the Police and Crime Plan, which is ‘Forward Together’. The PCCs vision is a new community spirit, with people working together in partnership to improve society and prevent crime and disorder.
There are over 9000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the West Mercia area alone, covering every type of neighbourhood. As well as Neighbourhood Watch there are other types of "Watch" schemes, including Rural Watch (that focuses on farm and equine crime), Post Office Watch and in some areas Business Watch and Allotment Watch schemes.
Mr Sheldon added: “Local people are often best placed to notice strangers and unusual goings-on within their communities and it is this that makes them invaluable as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police and other partner agencies.
“No-one should underestimate the impact and value that successfully run schemes can have in preventing and reducing crime. However, I feel having a strategic plan will really help them to focus their efforts over the next three to four years.
“I am particularly keen to work more closely with Rural Watch coordinators who will help us form the basis of a new Rural Crime Strategy, detailed in the Police and Crime Plan.”
Paul Leopold, Chairman of West Mercia Neighbourhood Watch Forum, said: “The support for Neighbourhood Watch expressed by Barrie Sheldon at our meeting was very welcome and will do much to encourage residents of West Mercia to further recognise that if we work together effectively Neighbourhood Watch can contribute in a significant way to prevent and reduce crime in the area. We live in a low crime area, but not in a no crime area and we need to be constantly vigilant to ensure that we do not become victims of the thief and the thug. The production of a strategic plan for the further development of Neighbourhood Watch in all of its various guises is clearly a good suggestion and we will be working together on that in the coming weeks.”
David Shaw, West Mercia's Chief Constable, added: "We already recognise the huge value that Neighbourhood Watch brings to our towns and villages by working with the police to help keep our communities safe.
"The Commissioner's aim to involve even more people by strengthening existing watches and starting new schemes together with the injection of fresh ideas and energy is very welcome and builds on the huge contribution that Neighbourhood Watch already makes".
