Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) is one of the biggest and most successful crime prevention initiatives ever, supported by millions of people around the country.
Behind it lies a simple idea, and a central shared value - getting together with your neighbours to take action can cut local crime.
This page tells you more about neighbourhood watch in Farnham, but the key features of all schemes are:
- Houses within a road join forces to keep an eye out for each other in the interests of neighbourliness and crime prevention.
- A Co-ordinator is appointed and acts as a contact between the group, the police and the NHW organisation.
- Neighbourhood Watch signs are put up on lampposts, or other suitable street furniture, where they can be easily seen by anyone approaching.
- A small one-off payment from each dwelling within the group is required to cover the cost of supplying and erecting the signs.
- Public Liability insurance is provided free of charge by the National Neighbourhood Watch Organisation.
About Farnham Neighbourhood Watch
Surrey is the safest County in the country and Waverley is the safest Borough within Surrrey. However, there will always be the occasional crime and for this reason we need to link the community with the police.
After all, you and your neighbours are the ones who are most aware of what is going on in your area. By co-operating with each other and the police, you could help to prevent many crimes from happening in the first place, thus making your community a safer and more crime-free area in which to live.
Neighbourhood Watch is not just about reducing burglary figures - it's about creating communities who care.
- It brings local people together and can make a real contribution to improving their lives.
- The activity of Watch members can foster a new community spirit and a belief in the community's ability to tackle problems.
- You will become more aware of the risk of crime and thus become more vigilant, with the added security of knowing that your neighbours are also keeping an eye on your property.
- You will become familiar with crime prevention ideas, which will help keep your home and belongings safe.
- And the extra security which belonging to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme offers might even mean that you can get a premium discount from your insurance company
Setting up a scheme in your area
If you're serious about getting involved in Neighbourhood Watch you will want to find out about how a scheme operates.
For help and advice on how to set up a new scheme and also to establish whether there is an existing scheme in your road or area, contact the Farnham Neighbourhood Watch Manager.
Speak to your neighbours and find out the level of interest and then set up a preliminary meeting to exchange ideas and suggestions. If you wish, you can invite the Waverley Crime Reduction Adviser, Farnham Neighbourhood Watch Manager or your Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO) to attend and give a brief talk.
Do not be too disappointed if not everyone is interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch. Although 100% participation is desirable, it is not a prerequisite of a successful scheme.
If your neighbours agree to form a Watch, the Neighbourhood Watch Manager will register you as an official scheme and supply you with window stickers and crime prevention literature for circulation.
NHW schemes can be as large or small as you want. They can cover all of the households on an estate or just half a dozen houses in a cul-de-sac. It depends on the area and what people living there want. A scheme is generally led by a volunteer co-ordinator whose job is to get people working together and make sure things get done.
The most important thing to remember is that NHW schemes can actually target crime problems and take action to prevent them. Schemes keep in close touch with the local police to share information and advice.
What Neighbourhood Watch schemes can do
Most crime is opportunist, committed on the spur of the moment, or when a car or house is left unlocked. This means there is enormous scope for reducing chances for criminals.
Neighbourhood Watch Schemes can identify the types of crime that are of particular concern to and most affect their group and then take action to prevent them.
Traditional Neighbourhood Watch activity has focused on the immediate vicinity of homes. However, more and more schemes are now broadening their range of work.
Local problems such as vandalism and graffiti are well within the scope of a well-organised Neighbourhood Watch scheme. They can take action such as fitting more secure door and window locks in vulnerable homes. · They can also lobby the local authority, for example, to improve street lighting or step up the security of a communal entrance.
Reporting an incident
Contact the local police on 0845 125 2222 (Only dial 999 when you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police, such as a crime in progress, or if someone is in immediate danger).
Tell them if you are a Member of Neighbourhood Watch and, after giving your information, ask for an ICAD number (a 7 figure reference number beginning with 'P'). By doing so, you can trace any action taken. Remember to provide as many details regarding the location, street and town of the incident, and if possible provide a postcode - calls are dealt with via a central switchboard and the operator may not be as familiar with Farnham as you are.
If you wish to report suspicious behaviour or a crime, please contact the Police on 0845 125 2222.
Contact details
Richard Terry (Farnham Neighbourhood Watch Manager)
Farnham Police Station, Longbridge, Farnham, GU9 7QA
Tel: 01483 630011
Email: 11874@surrey.police.uk
John Robini (Waverley Crime Reduction Adviser)
Farnham Police Station, Longbridge, Farnham, GU9 7QA
Tel: 01483 631623
Email: 10377@surrey.police.uk
