Staffordshire Police

There are more than 4,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Staffordshire.  Although every scheme has the same aims, each one is unique, co-ordinated by local residents and supported by Staffordshire Police.   A scheme can be large or small, a whole village or estate or just half a dozen households.

Aims of Staffordshire Police Neighbourhood Watch:

• to prevent crime by improving security, increasing vigilance, creating and maintaining a caring community and reducing opportunities for crime by increasing crime prevention awareness
• to assist the police in detecting crime by promoting effective communication and prompt reporting of suspicious and criminal activity
• to reduce undue fear of crime by providing accurate information about risks and by promoting a sense of security and community spirit, particularly among the more vulnerable members of the community
• to improve police/community liaison by providing effective communication channels, and by members informing the police of incidents when they occur.

The benefits of belonging to a scheme are:

• improved communication between police and public so that officers can deal with local problems
• research suggests criminals can be deterred from entering an area if they know residents are vigilant and have taken steps to safeguard their property
• members can get practical crime prevention advice from both the police and their co-ordinators 
• many insurance companies offer reduced premiums to Neighbourhood Watch members
• fosters a community spirit and can give peace of mind.
  Neighbourhood Watch in Staffordshire.