Not in My Neighbourhood Week
October 15 to 21 2007
This month sees the launch of the first-ever Not In My Neighbourhood Week,
a government initiative that aims to show residents how they can make their communities safer and help keep crime down.
Wandsworth Council, the police and a range of other organisations and community groups are already working together to tackle anti-social behaviour, robbery, burglary, drug use and other crimes. Taking just a few simple precautions yourself and being alert can cut your chances of becoming a victim of crime even further.
Not In My Neighbourhood Week coincides with the 25th anniversary of Neighbourhood Watch, which has become one of the most effective ways of creating closer communities and cutting crime. As well as a proven ability to reduce the number of burglaries, neighbourhood watches bring local people together and give them a real sense that they can tackle their own problems and improve their lives. Watches help people feel safer because neighbours keep an eye on each other's homes and elderly and vulnerable people are not isolated. The borough has an impressive record of community involvement with more than 470 active Neighbourhood Watches and new watches being launched all the time.
Members are given vital tips on how to keep their house and belongings safe and grants are available from the council to improve security in the watch area. Watch members may even get a discount on their house insurance. Watches can be set up with as few as half a dozen houses, but you will need a co-ordinator. Support is given, but it is very much a community-led scheme. If you'd like to set up a Neighbourhood Watch in your area, you can find out more by calling (020) 8871 7696. Of course, there are lots of other ways that you can protect your property and help to keep your neighbourhood safer too. Be wary of bogus callers, especially if you are elderly, and always ask for ID. If in doubt, don't let them in. Also be careful about who gains access to the data on your computer.
If you're going to be away from your home for a while, ask a neighbour to keep an eye on it, and offer to do the same for them. Inform the police about any suspicious activity. Problems such as graffiti and nuisance neighbours should be reported to the council. And finally be alert and look out for the people around you. A friendly, close-knit and vigilant community is more likely to be a safe one.
Getting involved
Pauline Griffiths set up the Cobham Close Neighbourhood Watch in Battersea more than 20 years ago and says the key to a successful watch is teamwork.
When the Neighbourhood Watch scheme started they asked for volunteers and because I’m a community-minded person I put myself forward,she said.
Pauline says crime has increased and it can be difficult to persuade people to commit their time to the watch, but despite that, the scheme really has worked in her neighbourhood.
We have meetings with the police every three months, which are open to everybody, and I’ll pass on information to people who couldn’t come. People know they can come to me as a point of contact and I make myself known to new residents.
The police are very good and very hands-on. We do get little gangs of youths, but the police are keeping an eye on that.
We also work together to stop kids misbehaving. That’s what it’s all about - togetherness. Everybody watches out for everybody else and we work as a team.
Top Ten Tips for Keeping Safe
- Join or set up a neighbourhood watch.
- Always check your doors and windows are locked before going out.
- Keep your car and house keys in a safe place away from your front door or window.
- Always lock your front door using two locks – a mortice and an automatic deadlatch.
- Put your postcode on all your possessions using an ultra-violet marker pen.
- Always make your home look lived in even when you are not there.
- Never let your debit /credit card out of your sight.
- Always shred all unwanted documents that contain personal information.
- Avoid drawing large amounts of money out of the bank.
- Don’t leave anything on display in your car – lock things away in the boot.