This year the well-known crime prevention
movement, Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch, is celebrating 30 years of
keeping communities safe by being the eyes and ears on people’s streets
and in their neighbourhoods.
As part of National Volunteering Week, taking place this week, the
Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network publicly thanked its current and
past members for all of the time, effort and commitment which they have
contributed as part of one of the largest voluntary movements in the UK.Neighbourhood Watch (also known as Home Watch in some areas) consists of approximately 170,000 volunteer coordinators covering around 3.8 million households. A conservative estimate of the monetary value of the coordinators’ time over the last 30 years is over £26.5 billion*.
By working with the police and a variety of other organisations such as Victim Support, Crimestoppers, Trading Standards and the Master Locksmiths Association to name just a few, the movement has helped the police catch thousands of criminals, along with preventing many more crimes from ever taking place.
Jim Maddan, the chairman for the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (England and Wales), said: “The movement could not survive without its huge loyal base of volunteers who work endlessly in their own time and at their own expense to undertake their varied roles. Some coordinators have been volunteering with the movement since its inception in their area and have seen how it has evolved over the 30 years.
“Many members have been recognised for their commitment and the impact they have had in keeping their communities safe, with some being awarded OBEs and MBEs for their work. Millions of others quietly carry on in their roles and are our unsung heroes and should be celebrated by the nation.”
Mr Rob Beckley, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) portfolio holder for Citizens in Policing, said: "I would like to personally like to thank all members of the movement for the hard work and commitment they have shown to their communities and would like to emphasise that we as a Police service are very proud to have been, and to continue to be, an active and supportive partner."
Dr Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive of Volunteering England, said:
“This is a great year for volunteering and we are joining with the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network to celebrate the vital role volunteers play in helping to make our communities better places to live and work. Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) celebrations will be going on all around the country, which is a brilliant opportunity to say thank you to all those who give their time to benefit others and to encourage others to get involved.”
The movement is also preparing to celebrate its annual National Neighbourhood and Home Watch campaign week which celebrates the organisation’s successes and which will take place between 16 and 24 June 2012.
Jim Maddan continues to say that: “By raising the profile of the movement and celebrating our achievements over the last 30 years, it is hoped that the Network will trigger even more positive action within local neighbourhoods, enabling communities to take responsibility and make a real difference.”
To find out what else is happening across England and Wales during National Neighbourhood and Home Watch Week, please visit www.ourwatch.org.uk.
(*Based on 170,000 coordinators volunteering 10 hours per week over 48 weeks of the year for 30 years with a value of £10.85 per hour including on-costs.)
