Neighbourhood Watch is recognised nationally as one of the most effective voluntary organisations and the best example of police and communities working in partnership to reduce crime and the fear of crime, build safer communities and improve the quality of life.

Neighbourhood Watch started in 1982 and is now the largest voluntary organisation covering 6 million households with 27% of the population belonging to Neighbourhood Watch in 160,000 schemes across the country.

It’s an idea imported from the US, where it began in the 1960’s. The first British Neighbourhood Watch was set up in the Cheshire village of Mollington in 1982 by Harold Cooper. It was an informal arrangement, simply neighbours keeping their eyes open when the area experienced a rash of burglaries. With police support it proved very successful, and soon Cooper was taking calls from all over the UK as people asked about setting up their own watches. Since then it’s gone from strength to strength, and has become official, with backing from both the police and the Home Office

As a national charity it is supported by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and sponsored nationally by a number of major commercial organisations.

The original concept of Neighbourhood Watch is still very much alive today. It involves team work with a capital T. No one co-ordinator or one group can work in isolation as they are part of the whole team. Hence the importance of supporting both Area and District Meetings.

There has been built up ,especially recently, a closer working but transparent working relationship between the Tendring Executive and other area groups with Paul Teague as the Essex Administrator. Development has been swift and positive to the advantage of the presence of the Watch throughout Tendring.

Our aims include working;

	To prevent crime by improving security, increasing vigilance, creating and maintaining a caring community and reducing opportunities for crime by increasing crime prevention awareness.
	To assist the police in detecting crime by promoting effective communication and the prompt reporting of suspicious and criminal activity.
	To reduce undue fear of crime by providing accurate information about risks and by promoting a sense of security and community spirit, particularly amongst the more vulnerable members of the community.
	To improve police/community liaison by providing effective communications through Neighbourhood Watch messaging systems which warn Co-ordinators of local crime trends which they can disseminate to their scheme members and neighbours, and by members promptly informing the police of incidents when they occur.

Tendring Neighbourhood Watch is increasingly pro-active and effective!

Many thanks for your untiring work!