Home Watch Co-ordinator

The Head Co-ordinator is the most important person in any scheme, since it is his or her task to manage its activities and make it run as efficiently and effectively as possible.

You do not need any particular qualification but you must have the enthusiasm that is required for making a practical contributions towards the overall improvement in the community’s safety. You will need to have a good communication and interpersonal skills; and the flexibility to be able to give up some of your free time for this voluntary work.

Your main responsibilities would be:

• receive and distribute to scheme members
• to act as spokesperson for the group
• to be the contact between the police and Home Watch group
• to receive information from members. Any relevant information could then be forwarded to the police.
• To organise Home Watch meetings, as and when necessary
• To recruit new members and inform new tenants
• To maintain an up-to-date master list of all members.

 

Deputy/Additional Co-ordinators

To ensure that the scheme is successful it's prudent to have at least one Deputy Co-ordinator. If the scheme is larger than 20 properties an additional Co-ordinator will be required for every 10-20 properties (this varies due to local conditions i.e. distances between properties).

The duties of the additional co-ordinators are to support the Head Co-ordinator and disseminate messages.

Many schemes form a committee to assist the Head Co-ordinator in their work. Some additional areas of this work may include:-

• Distributing crime prevention material
• Producing newsletters/bulletins
• Taking part in initiatives to reduce the fear of crime
• Contacting councils about local crimes and funding issues
• Responding to police requests for help
• Contacting newcomers to the neighbourhood
• Keeping account of scheme funds
• Representing the scheme at area meetings.

Once having started a Home Watch Scheme, it becomes important to maintain the enthusiasm and effectiveness of the scheme. The goal is to create an environment where people care not only about their property but also their neighbours’ property, and where community spirit flourishes.

Active Home Watch groups can hold parties, arrange general gatherings and social outings. In addition, members of Home Watch schemes can work together to find solutions to local problems not necessarily connected with crime to the benefit of all concerned.

If you wish, the local police will gladly visit your Home Watch group to talk over any topic which concerns you, it could be about child safety, personal safety tips, vehicle protection, home security or any other topics of interest to your group.

 

The role of an individual member

There are many things individual members of Home Watch can do to reduce crime and fear of crime within their community:

Review your home security:
 Identify ‘weak’ points.  Get advice and then take action to remedy the situation. For advice ensuring that your property is secure you can speak to a crime prevention officer by calling 0845 456 4567.

Protect your possessions:
 Mark valuable property with your postcode and house number so that
 it becomes worthless to a criminal. Speak to your local Safer Neighbourhood Team about property marking.

Get to know the people around you:
 So that you will notice anyone or anything suspicious.  If you do see something, record as many details about the incident as possible and then report it promptly to the police.

Learn about the local crime problems:
 So that you can be alert to the risks.  Information might be
 circulated in a Home Watch newsletter or parish magazine, so be sure to read them.

Arrange for someone to look after your home when you are away:
 That could include turning on lights and closing curtains.

Display a Home Watch window sticker:
 It shows that local people are working together against crime and publicises to unwelcome visitors that you live in a Home Watch area.

Support your Co-ordinator:
 In promoting local projects and other activities that aim to prevent crime or strengthen the scheme.

None of these measures are very demanding.  They are not restricted to only members of Home Watch.  Nevertheless, Home Watch helps to get people working together and makes their actions more effective.