Misgivings& Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is the Association taking over the NHW?
A. NO! The Association's aim is to standardise the current system and improve communications.  Your details will still be held at Police HQ, and NHW liaison Officers will still work closely with all schemes.

Q. "It 'aint broke so why try to fix it?"
A. That may be very true of some areas, but not of others.  Some receive a monthly news letter, some get nothing.  Does your local Beat Officer let you know what crime is happening in your area?  Although it may seem that your scheme works fine, there are always areas for improvement, and if you think not, why not share your best practice, to make other communities as good as yours (you or your friends/family may move there one day!)

Q. How will improved communications help me - my system works fine?
A. Again, you may think your system work great, but wouldn't you like to know what others schemes know? What if a bogus caller is working his way across the county, you would like to be informed by other schemes.  The sharing of information is at the heart of NHW, so why keep it all to yourself?  New systems will not only help us to spread information, but also restrict it to the people to whom it is relevant.

Q. NHW works best as a local organisation, so why try to make it a large organisation?
A. NHW is both! You may have 10 or 20 homes in your scheme, but you are part of 4000 schemes across Wiltshire - there is no moving away from the fact that NHW IS a large organisation, but it is right to say it is also very local.  The power of NHW comes when you take local knowledge and use it where ever necessary. Unions are a classic example of smaller groups having a big voice - this is exactly what is achieved by having an association.

Q. Won't people be less likely to volunteer for NHW if there is an increase in workload?
A. There is no need to have an increased workload!  If you want to become part of the Executive Committee, then you will attend meeting and have tasks, but if you don't, you will just see benefits.  The only increased workload will be reading the increased communications, but these are relevant to you as a community and a NHW scheme!

Q. Crime is on the increase, so what difference will a County Association make?
A. Crime trends are actually on the decrease!  The County Association is trying to help the Police to reduce street crime.  However, it will be a cog in the wheel of many of the new Community Policing strategies, such as ASBOs and dispersion orders.  Many NHW schemes feel as though nothing is being done in there road or community - but with the association, they will have a bigger voice, joining with others schemes in their community, to attack problems in a unified manor.

Q. Are my details going to be sent out to companies for telemarketing campaigns?
A. NO! Apart from anything, this is against data protection laws (see our privacy policy). Your data will be used for NHW purposes ONLY.  The only thing we ask, is that you let us know if your details change, or you move away - otherwise we may still send out information to the wrong name etc!