Neighbourhood Watch Roles

The following lists the basic tasks which Coordinators, at various points in the NHW network, are asked to address. As with any voluntary undertaking, while there is a minimum which is required if the system is to function at all, no-one should feel under any pressure to do more than this. However, many co-ordinators want, and are able, to do more so some some additional possibilities are listed below the basic roles to illustrate what else could be done if desired.

Quick Links:
Scheme coodinator's (SC) role
Area coodinator's (AC) role
Section coodinator's (SnC) role
District coodinator's (DC) role
Scheme coodinator's additional possibilities
Area coodinator's additional possibilities
Section coodinator's additional possibilities
District coodinator's additional possibilities

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The Scheme Co-ordinator (SC) is the foundation of the NHW network and acts as the focal point for the 12 -15 households in the Scheme. The basic tasks asked of them are as follows:-

• Keep an up-to-date list of their members contact details and inform their Area Co-ordinator (AC) and/or Police NHW Liaison Officer (NWLO) of any changes
• Pass on information e.g. NHW Newsletters and warnings about crime to their members
• Pass on any ideas, comments or concerns from their members to their AC or NWLO
• Register as a member of the W&SNHW Association (where there is no AC to represent the Scheme) to facilitate communication and obtain Public Liability Insurance cover for Scheme members

The Area Co-ordinator (AC) is the next level in the NHW network and acts as the focal point for around 8 to 10 Schemes. Their existence really makes a difference in the ability of the Police and the NHW Association to communicate efficiently with all NHW members. Without them, County-wide NHW communications would have to go direct to all 4500 or so Scheme Co-ordinators (SCs). The basic tasks asked of ACs are as follows:-

• Keep an up-to-date list of their SC’s contact details and inform their Section Co-ordinator (SnC) and/or Police NHW Liaison Officer (NWLO) of any changes
• Pass on information e.g. NHW Newsletters and warnings about crime to their SCs
• Pass on any ideas, comments or concerns from their SCs to their SnC or NWLO
• Register as a member of the W&SNHW Association to facilitate communication and obtain Public Liability Insurance cover for Scheme members when on NHW business

These tasks will be facilitated by the ACs attendance at meetings organised by the SnC.

The Section Co-ordinator (SnC) acts as the focal point for around 15 -20 NHW Areas across, for example, a market town and its surrounding villages. This is a new post in the NHW organisation introduced with the formation of the W&SNHW Association and as such SnCs may be elected to or invited onto the Association Committee or its sub-groups. The basic tasks asked of SnCs are as follows:-

• Keep an up-to-date list of their Area Coordinators’ (AC’s) contact details and inform their District Co-ordinator (DC) and/or Police NHW Liaison Officer (NWLO) of any changes
• Pass on information e.g. NHW Newsletters and warnings about crime to their ACs
• Pass on any ideas, comments or concerns from their ACs to their DC or NWLO
• Take an active interest in W&SNHW Association matters
• Arrange regular meetings for Area Co-ordinators with Police and/or NWLO in attendance

These tasks will benefit from the SnCs attendance at meetings organised by the DC.

The District Co-ordinator (DC) acts as the focal point for around some 4 - 6 NHW Sections in an area aligned with those of District Councils. Like the Section Co-ordinator, this is also a new post in the NHW organisation introduced with the formation of the W&SNHW Association and as such DCs need to be prepared to be elected to or invited onto the Association Committee and its sub-groups. The basic tasks asked of DCs are as follows:-

• Keep an up-to-date list of their Section Co-ordinators’ (SnC’s) contact details and inform the Association Committee and Police NHW Liaison Officer (LO) of any changes
• Pass on information e.g. NHW Newsletters and warnings about crime to their SnCs
• Pass on any ideas, comments or concerns from their SnCs to the Association Committee and/or NWLO
• Play an active part in W&SNHW Association matters.

Additional Possibilities

Ideas for other tasks - to be undertaken at the volunteer’s discretion - include:

Scheme Co-ordinator Additional Possibilities:-

• Welcome new neighbours and offer them an opportunity to join the Scheme (NHW Welcome Packs are available from the NWLO)
• Encourage more households to join the Scheme or set up one of their own
• Maintain the Scheme’s NHW signs
• Maintain regular contact with members to find out about their concerns etc
• Keep members interested and informed for example by generating and distributing a local newsletter and other publications. The Police/NWLO will help by providing relevant information.
• Ensure that all members have current NHW and crime prevention literature
• Develop an effective means of internal communication for gathering and disseminating information, ideally using a cascade system based on telephone or personal contact (NB. E-mail can be used without the need for a cascade approach).
• Maintain contact with local police officers and the NHW Liaison Officer, passing on any information they receive to the police as soon as possible. Encourage others to record details of and report incidents/suspicious events.
• Set up ‘Call a Friend’ schemes (groups of local neighbours who keep a particular eye out for a vulnerable household)
• Look after neighbours, especially the vulnerable Encourage members to secure their homes effectively against burglary and theft
• Encourage neighbours to let others know when they are away and advise about how to make homes look lived-in at all times
• Encourage members to note the serial numbers of their electrical items and security mark their property using the post-coding system. Kits are available from NWLOs.
• Monitor and evaluate the Scheme’s achievements and reporting these back to the community.

Area Co-ordinator Additional Possibilities:-

• Arrange regular meetings of their Scheme Co-ordinators
• Help to find new or replacement Scheme Co-ordinators
• Keep abreast of local crime, filter information and pass it to the Police
• Provide support to help their Scheme Co-ordinators develop & implement their ideas
• Attend meetings for ACs arranged by the Section Co-ordinator
• Liase with neighbouring Area Co-ordinators e.g. by attending the Section Co-ordinator’s meetings
• Develop an effective means of communication for gathering and disseminating information to SCs, ideally using a cascade system based on telephone or personal contact (NB. E-mail can be used without the need for a cascade approach).
• Represent Schemes at e.g. local Police forums/briefings and in the Association

Section Co-ordinator Additional Possibilities:-

• Liase with Police Section management (e.g. Inspector at local Police Station) and NWLOs
• Help to find new or replacement Area Co-ordinators
• Help to find new or replacement Area Co-ordinators
• Identify/report/develop initiatives to tackle Section-wide problems .
• Provide support to help their Area Co-ordinators develop & implement their ideas
• Represent NHW on the local Community Safety Partnership, Community Safety Area Groups or Crime Prevention Forum, Local council groups etc as appropriate.
• Monitor the effectiveness of NHW in their Section
• Promote and develop interest and enthusiasm for NHW within the Section (e.g. through identifying/arranging/ implementing appropriate briefings/visits/training)

Opportunities will occur for SnCs to attend NHW Regional Association meetings and training sessions.

District Co-ordinator Additional Possibilities:-

• Inform Sections about crime patterns across the District
• Represent the District/Association on Crime and Disorder and Community Safety Partnerships
• Promote and develop interest and enthusiasm for NHW within the District (e.g. through identifying/arranging/ implementing appropriate briefings/visits/training)
• Liaison with Divisional police senior management (e.g Community Safety Inspector)
• Liaison with local authority officials, and other key agencies and individuals at District level;
• Arrange regular meetings for SnCs with Police and/or NWLO in attendance
• Help to find new or replacement Section Co-ordinators
• Provide support, information and advice to Section Co-ordinators
• Promote and encourage participation in County-wide crime prevention initiatives
• Act as the key link between the County Association and local Schemes via SnCs and ACs
• Promote and develop interest and enthusiasm for NHW within the District (e.g. through identifying/arranging/ implementing appropriate briefings/visits/training)
• Monitor the effectiveness of NHW in their District