RESIDENTS across Bromsgrove district are being urged to sign up to their West Mercia Neighbourhood Watch in a bid to cut crime and protect their properties.
Organisers say the more eyes and ears signed up, the more effective the scheme and many Neighbourhood Watches now have their own Facebook pages to make it even easier to share information.
Plans are afoot to relaunch Neighbourhood Watch later in the year and the charity is backed by West Mercia Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.
Members of the scheme were recently at the town’s Police and Fire Open Day to promote the schemes and encourage more people to join.
Craig Cox, Chair of West Mercia Neighbourhood Watch, said: “Neighbourhood Watch is helping to connect and empower people to improve the places they live in, bringing together different community groups, business and public services to help enrich people’s lives and create a better society for everyone.
“West Mercia Neighbourhood Watch is not working alone, we are part of the national charity, Neighbourhood Watch Network, and we are working with other associations in the Midlands and across England and Wales to share information, intelligence and best practices.“
Neighbourhood Watches which operate across the country provide a picture of crime in each local area, conduct ‘fear of crime’ surveys and target specific crimes impacting on those areas.
They also identify opportunities for crime, form action plans to tackle the problems and block or reduce those shortfalls.
Visit www.westmercianw.org.uk or www.ourwatch.org.uk for more on Neighbourhood Watch and to register.
