Staffordshire Police

I want to start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in my area. How do I go about it?

Every Local Policing Team has a Neighbourhood Watch manager. In the first instance, contact him/her by ringing 101. He/she will talk you through it, often by making a home visit.

Can you send me something in the post telling me how to set up a scheme?

There is some literature produced by the Home Office which gives details about Neighbourhood Watch, but it is better to talk it through with your local Neighbourhood Watch manager.

Is there a cost to setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme?

Staffordshire Police will help you at no cost.  This includes sending warning and appeal messages via the Online Watch Link (OWL) system.  Similarly, the literature and window stickers produced by the Home Office are free.  However, groups wanting to put up street signs would have to purchase them at their own expense.  These are not very expensive. Usually, individual members only have to contribute a couple of pounds. There is a benefit to this in that it gives individual members a sense of ownership. Since they have made a financial contribution to the scheme, there is more of a feeling that it belongs to them.

How do we go about putting up Neighbourhood Watch signs?

The local authority has to give its permission for any signs to be displayed in the streets within its area. Permission will only be granted by the local authority to official schemes. Contact your local Neighbourhood Watch manager. He/she will provide you with an application form and a list of the conditions that you need to follow. Send the completed form to your Neighbourhood Watch manager who will countersign it and forward it to your local authority.

Can I have a list of Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators?

No. Data protection legislation protects co-ordinators’ identities and they can not be disclosed without their permission.

How do I contact my local co-ordinator?

Contact your Neighbourhood Watch manager and provide him/her with your details. He/she will then ask the co-ordinator to contact you.

Do we have to have meetings?

No. Each Neighbourhood Watch scheme has to decide how it wishes to run itself. There is no obligation on any scheme to hold meetings. Whilst on the one hand many schemes have no meetings, on the other hand there are others that are run on much more formal lines with a committee, executive officers and regular meetings that are minuted. However, meetings, even informal gatherings, do help to keep a scheme together.

Will my insurance company reduce my insurance premium if I am a member of Neighbourhood Watch?

Many insurance companies will reduce your premium – by about five or 10 per cent.

My local authority requires there to be public liability insurance covering the display of street signs. How do I get this insurance?

There is no need for Neighbourhood Watch groups to purchase this insurance. It is provided free of charge by the Home Office.

How much of my time will it take up?

How much time you devote to your Neighbourhood Watch scheme is really up to you. You may only have enough spare time to pass on messages to your neighbours or you may be in a position to attend meetings or get involved with recruiting new members. You decide.