Neighbourhood Watch

Be part of the biggest voluntary movement in the UK!

Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators are committed to working alongside their neighbours to help make the places where they live and work safer, friendlier, vibrant and more resilient. Neighbourhood Watch membership includes supporting the Neighbourhood Watch values, which include: neighbourly, community-focused, inclusive, proactive, trusted and collaborative.

The Neighbourhood Network is the local support of Neighbourhood Watch, so by being a registered member of the Neighbourhood Network, you can benefit from local support and knowledge.

By becoming a member you will take the first step to make your area a stronger and safer place to be. All members will receive access to crime prevention information, one-to-one support to run your local scheme, bi-weekly Neighbourhood Network newsletters, the opportunity to attend and nominate people for the Neighbourhood Network Awards event, free Neighbourhood Watch resources, support in creating and printing their own neighbourhood newsletters, introduction to their local police and council teams, advice and guidance on funding, and support in tackling important issues affecting their community.

Many schemes start very small and then grow once residents see what it’s all about. Some groups have regular meetings whereas others just chat to neighbours to alert them of any issues. Some groups manage community Facebook and Twitter accounts sharing key information online. Other groups create newsletters to let their members know about area issues, whereas some communicate to their members via email or WhatsApp. The main thing is to make a start and know that the Neighbourhood Network is here to assist.

We have listed below a step-by-step guide to forming a Neighbourhood Watch Group/Neighbourhood Network:

Identify an area to set up a scheme

This can be any size, but it is best to start with no more than 30 households.

Find out who is interested

Speak to your neighbours and find out if they are interested in starting a scheme. To do this you can distribute a small questionnaire, visit your neighbours or chat to them in the street when you see them.

Set up a system to communicate with your group members

The main aim of setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Group/Neighbourhood Network is to share information and deal with issues within your Neighbourhood. Consider how you will keep group members informed and how, as a group you will deal with any issues.

Join the Neighbourhood Network (Hull support for Neighbourhood Watch)

Once you have decided you would like to go ahead in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Group, get in touch with the Neighbourhood Network by e-mailing office@nnetwork.org.uk or by calling 01482 826061, for more information visit www.nnetwork.org.uk

Once registered with the Neighbourhood Network, they will introduce you to your local policing team and supply contact details for your area council team, so you can contact them directly with issues concerning you in your neighbourhood. The Neighbourhood Network can also offer advice, help with the supply of Neighbourhood Watch signs and stickers and introduce you to representatives from other local organisations that can help strengthen your group and help you make a difference in your community.

To apply for Neighbourhood Watch signs on your street, complete the form and email this to the Neighbourhood Network team who will seek approval from Hull City Council for your street signs and supply these free of charge.

Register your group on the ‘our watch’ website

We advise all groups to also register on the national Neighbourhood Watch website, www.ourwatch.org.uk this allows your group to use the Neighbourhood Watch brand logo, utilise the national resources and be mapped on the national database. The Neighbourhood Network can help and support new groups in doing this.

The Neighbourhood Network team who are always happy to help in any way they can!