Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch aiming to widen its net

A seemingly innocuous van is driven down a street and pulls up outside a house.  Out of it step 2 men. Nothing particularly strange in that, but they then shiftily begin to look around and scan the scene before disappearing to the back of a property.

Minutes later, they reappear before driving off – thinking they’ve drawn no attention to themselves.

But what they don’t realise is that they’ve been watched every step of the way.

Suspecting they could be up to no good, someone – already warned to beware of suspicious vehicles in their area – has taken a note of the registration number and descriptions of the pair.

They discover their neighbour’s house has been broken into. Now police are on the suspects’ trail. Thanks to one person’s vigilance, they have a head start on catching them.

This is just one type of scenario where Neighbourhood Watch comes into its own.

In Cumbria, there are 3,000 such sets of watchful eyes who are members of the organisation – providing often critical information to help bring criminals to justice.

And with as many people as that against them, crooks in the county can never be sure who’s taking note as they go about their illegal work.

More than 40 crimes in Cumbria were solved last year thanks to the work of Neighbourhood Watch with police receiving more than 800 calls from its members. Countless more offences were prevented because of measures they have taken to protect themselves and make their areas safer places to live.

The success of the movement and plans for the future will fall under the spotlight at Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch Association’s (CNWA) annual general meeting on Saturday.

Among those who will mark the organisation’s contribution there are Cumbria’s Chief Constable, Craig Mackey, and Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison.

Dr John Perkins is chairman of the association, the charity that represents watch members at the heart of the movement’s work.

He insists those involved are not so-called curtain twitchers – as stereotype would have many of them – but people who want to help their communities.

“One of the things people nationally are trying to do is reposition Neighbourhood Watch as a genuine community-based grassroots movement about people getting together and making their communities nicer, more pleasant places to live,” Dr Perkins said.

“We’re not the police. They have their role. Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are getting much more involved with the movement and have a role to play.

“We’re just people trying, where we can, to support police in their efforts. The police, through their work are trying to support us as well in trying to make Cumbria a safer, stronger place to live and work.

“There is an image of curtain-twitching and we need to get rid of that. We’re not a bunch of nosey-parkers.”

Neighbourhood Watch encompasses villages and estates across Cumbria – and increasing numbers in every imaginable place are being urged to join up.

It comes in various guises – from the one covering people’s homes to specialist schemes such as Farm Watch.

Among one of its keys in helping fight crime is the Voice Connect scheme, through which messages – including warnings of potential crime risks in an area or issuing pleas for vigilance – can be relayed from police to members.

Members, by raising issues from their area, can also help influence policing priorities.

Dr Perkins, who also represents Cumbria on the regional Neighbourhood Watch forum and sits on a national network, has been involved with the organisation for about two years and is the scheme coordinator for his home village of Gamblesby in the Eden valley.

He said: “We had a couple of burglaries in Gamblesby and people said we should set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. I said I’d get it organised.

“Paul Caine, who was a development officer at that time, said the board were looking for people and asked if I’d be interested.

“I went along to the meeting and found virtually everybody had resigned. Suddenly, there were a group of people thinking ‘what do we do? Do we try and get this moving forward again?’”

They have managed that and, appropriately, the theme of Saturday’s AGM – at which about 100 delegates are expected at the University of Cumbria’s Newton Rigg campus, near Penrith – is “moving forward”.

The chief constable, who will speak there, is in no doubt about the importance of Neighbourhood Watch – thanking all those involved – and has encouraged people to join their nearest scheme.

Mr Mackey said: “Neighbourhood Watch is about bringing people together to help improve quality of life for communities.

“We have a number of Neighbourhood Watch teams that provide us with invaluable experience and knowledge of their areas. There can never be enough volunteers.

“By taking an interest in the issues that matter most to you, your neighbours are playing an active part in decision-making, we can work together to agree priorities and find the best solutions for the community.”

Dr Perkins is also adamant that the work done by its volunteers has a positive impact.

“Neighbourhood Watch does make a difference,” he said. “There’s research which says it reduces crime and disorder. Messages from neighbourhoods have resulted in arrests.

“The other thing is perception and fear of crime.

“People may be more secure, but do they feel more secure? That is a big issue Neighbourhood Watch can help with.”

West Cumbria is one of the key areas being targeted to establish more watch schemes. Nationally, efforts are being made to get more younger people involved.

As well as crime-fighting, Neighbourhood Watch is also becoming more involved with firefighters and crime and disorder reduction partnerships on wider community safety work.

David Farmer, a former chief Crown prosecutor for Cumbria, was employed by CNWA and Cumbria County Council for a year to examine the work of Neighbourhood Watch and is now a volunteer board member.

He is positive about the role the organisation can continue to play in future.

As well as strengthening the strong connections between watch members and neighbourhood policing teams, Mr Farmer believes the work can be expanded further.

“A really good example is the increasingly strong link with the fire service and Neighbourhood Watch,” he added.

“Neighbourhood Watch is about working with volunteers in the community.

“You know of a 90-year-old lady next door and keep on her property and that is as much keeping an eye in fire and rescue terms.”

Other speakers at Saturday’s AGM will be county council chairman Roger Bingham, High Sheriff Susan Thornely, county council official Lorraine Smyth

Anyone who spots a crime in action should call police by dialing 999. Call 0845 3300247 to advise police about a past crime or suspicious activity. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.

For more information on CNWA, go to www.cumbria-nhw.org