How does a Neighbourhood Watch scheme work?
There is no set structure for Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) schemes. A scheme can be large, covering most of the houses on an estate, or it might involve just a few houses. It depends on the area and what the members want. A scheme is generally led by a volunteer co-ordinator, whose job it is to get residents together and ensures that things get done. As well as the co-ordinator, there may be a small committee which meets regularly to plan the activites that the scheme is going to undertake. Members will be able to let the committee (or the co-ordinator) know the issues that concern them most and suggest ways to tackle these at regular meetings. By getting a picture of local crime, for example by conducting a fear of crime survey, the committee can then form an action plan to tackle the problems. A scheme works effectively when there is a strong relationship with the local police. The co-ordinator has an important role to play in sharing information with the police about suspicious activit
