Neighbourhood Watch Week

14 - 20 June 2010

Neighbourhood Watch Week kicks off on Monday 14 June and Kent Police are encouraging local communities not already involved to set up a scheme to help prevent crime and protect vulnerable and elderly people.

The annual event will focus on developing safer communities with a series of local displays in town centres, supermarkets and village meetings.
In Maidstone, information will also be posted on digital notice boards to raise awareness of the week.

Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator PC Mick Wright said: 'Neighbourhood Watch Week is an ideal opportunity to promote the links between Neighbourhood Watch and Neighbourhood Policing, as well as the role of volunteers in promoting community safety.

'This year, the week will focus on encouraging people to work together to make their local area a safer place to live as well as support the growth and expansion of Neighbourhood Watch schemes.'

'Neighbourhood Watch is a valuable scheme providing home security and other crime prevention advice. Kent Police works closely with watch members to help communities prevent crime by gathering information, which officers can use to tackle local issues. We encourage people to join, as it has been shown that people in a scheme are 10 times less likely to become a victim of crime.'

Neighbourhood Watch has operated in Kent since 1984. There are 6,590 watches in the county, including Farm Watch and Horse Watch, which embrace around 325,000 households.

Kent Police has 10 police staff dedicated to Neighbourhood Watch, who work as watch liaison officers (WLOs) as well as a county-wide liaison officer.
Neighbourhood Watch volunteer teams also work in police stations and help create and send messages as well as problem solving local Neighbourhood Watch issues.

To become a Kent NhW coordinator, please contact PC Mick Wright, County Watch Liaison Officer, on 01622 654143 or visit the Neighbourhood Watch website.

For further information contact Kent Police.

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