Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Set Up

I have been accredited and appointed as the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme co-ordinator for an innovative new Neighbourhood Watch scheme which has just been set up covering about 100 houses in the Bangor West area. The essence of the scheme is that neighbours will look out for each other keep an eye on each others property and keep a watch for any unusual activity in the area. The scheme has the full and active support of PSNI.

At the recent inauguration of the scheme I told those present, I had been approached by a number of local residents about how to improve security in our homes. The outcome was that I raised this with our local community beat officer who suggested the establishment of Neighbourhood Watch.

At the meeting the Crime Prevention Officer for Bangor outlined the practical steps which people could take to improve security in their homes. She said that Neighbourhood Watch involved local people in looking out for each other and reporting any unusual activity in the area to the scheme co-ordinator or direct to the PSNI. It was definitely not a “vigilante” scheme and would operate on the basis of close co-operation between local people and the Police.

I was delighted with the number of local residents who attended the meeting, and I hope to set up a small committee to oversee the scheme and issue regular news sheets in conjunction with PSNI. While there could never be absolute guarantees about security I am sure that with the co-operation of all concerned the Neighbourhood Watch scheme would hopefully help to prevent crime and make the area a safer one.