Warwickshire Police Supports New Neighbourhood Watch ‘Safety in Neighbours’ Campaign
In partnership with the Home Office, Neighbourhood Watch have this week launched their new ‘Safety in Neighbours’ campaign which seeks to encourage communities to work together to keep their homes and neighbourhoods safe.
It comes following the easing of lockdown restrictions, with more people being out and about, and is set to provide practical tools along with crime prevention advice to both Neighbourhood Watch members, and non-members alike, to help prevent burglary.
The campaign highlights how life is safer when you know your neighbours and if more people are keeping an eye out for unusual behaviour or activity in their street, more burglaries can be prevented.
In Warwickshire alone there are an estimated 1,875 Neighbourhood Watch Schemes with memberships covering 22,000 households. Neighbourhood Watch members believe that everyone has a right to feel safe where they live, and they promote that right by building strong, friendly, active communities where crime and anti-social behaviour are less likely to happen.
Chief Superintendent for Local Policing at Warwickshire Police Ben Smith said: “We know the impacts home burglaries can have on local communities, and every burglary is one too many, which is why we will be supporting the ‘Safety in Neighbours’ campaign over the coming weeks.
“During the last financial year (April 2019 to March 2020) we saw a 20% drop in house burglaries in Warwickshire compared to the previous year which was a fantastic result but we are keen to continue to reduce this even further.
“The only way we will achieve this is by working closely with our communities and Neighbourhood Watch groups, as we rely on the information we receive from local residents to help us build a picture of what is happening in your area.
“I would therefore encourage everyone to not only share the crime prevention advice and tools this campaign is launching with their family, friends and neighbours to help prevent burglaries, but I would also urge the public to report any concerns they may have or suspicious activity they may have seen to us by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.”
Warwickshire Neighbourhood Watch Association Chair Chris Cade said: “I am delighted to acknowledge the support and commitment from Warwickshire police to this campaign. More than ever we need to work together to protect our communities from harm.
“I’m sure all Neighbourhood Watch colleagues together with members of the general public, share a feeling of revulsion at the thought of being burgled.
“I would therefore encourage anyone who is interested to either start, or join, their local Neighbourhood Watch group. We really are stronger together.”
For more information about the Neighbourhood Watch scheme and the ‘Safety in Neighbours’ campaign, click here.
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Issued: LK, Corporate Communications