Neighbourhood Watch

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Neighbourhood Watch

Many people are helping to reduce crime, recognising that crime prevention is not just the responsibility of the Police. It is now accepted that crime prevention strategies are more successful when they involve everybody.

A Neighbourhood Watch scheme is a popular way for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved. It brings groups of local people together to address local crime issues and current problems. This usually begins with small groups sharing crime prevention advice and activities, keeping an eye on each others properties, improving home security and building two-way communication with the police. It can be as big or as small as you wish, covering a whole scheme, a rural area, or just one street. 

It is not 

• A substitute for the Police
• A playground for nosy parkers
• A vigilante scheme.

It is

• A method of close liaison between households and the Police, and local Authorities
• A means of fostering community spirit
• A way of improving your environment

The benefits of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme include

• An opportunity to bring the community together
• An increased awareness of crime and how to combat it
• A link between the community and the Police
• A possible reduction in home insurance costs, and, most importantly
• A reduction in the fear of crime.

Very often the fear of crime is much greater than the actual risks faced. 

There are now approximately 160,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the UK, covering 10,000,000 households, and statistics show that houses in active Neighbourhood Watch schemes have a 1 in 344 chance of being broken into, compared with the national average of 1 in 35.

Neighbourhood Watches are all  about people looking after each other and caring for each other – not snooping, and you can be assured that you will have our full support and assistance should you wish to set up a scheme.

For further information, contact your Community Safety Officer at Aviemore Police Station.

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