Our watch was formed about 22 years ago. It now consists of some 190 schemes. There are some 14 neighbourhoods in Crawley, including the town centre and industrial area. Gatwick airport has its own scheme, separate to that of Crawley's. Every neighbourhood is covered -some better than others! Each neighbourhood has an area Co-ordinator who communicates with the local scheme Co-ordinators. The individual schemes vary in size from about 10 homes up to 140 homes. Each scheme has a Co-ordinator and often deputies to help with communication and distribution of information including the newsletters.

Anyone who would like to set up a scheme in their area should in the first instance contact your local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). Details are shown on the PCSO Contact Details page - please click here

BELOW ARE SHOWN THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STREET CO-ORDINATORS, AREA CO-ORDINATORS AND MEMBERS. 

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH STREET CO-ORDINATOR

 Role of the Co-ordinator

 NB:   All new potential Co-ordinators will be subject to satisfactory police record checks before appointment  

1. Have access to email and facilities to print/copy/forward messages for distribution to all scheme members (eg. information received from the Police concerning suspicious incidents/persons/ burglaries in the area)

2. To serve as a liaison person between your neighbours and the local Police

3. To encourage full participation in your scheme amongst the residents

4. To welcome new residents and introduce them into the scheme

5. Maintain contact with your local Area Co-ordinator (remember they are there for your support or to help with any queries/problems you may have)
6. To encourage all members to ring the Police and report suspicious incidents/persons which may require Police attention           

7. To circulate the NHW newsletter (e.g. twice a year)

8. Inform the Crime Prevention Co-ordinator (CPC) of any changes of email/telephone number, resignation etc.

9. Should you decide to resign from your role in the future make reasonable attempts to find a replacement co-ordinator from one of your scheme members (who has email access)

10. To organise and attend own NHW Meetings/Social Functions (not compulsory but strongly recommended to keep your scheme ‘active’ and maintain community spirit and communication amongst residents)

 Guidelines on the Initial contact with Neighbours

 1.         Make yourself known to your allocated residents as the co-ordinator for your particular      Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.           

2.          Promote interest in the scheme especially in the young and the elderly.

3.          Promote good home security.

 4.          Encourage the use of the Neighbourhood Watch window stickers by your scheme members       

An Area Co-ordinator will automatically be elected to serve as a member of the Crawley NHW committee, or subject to the discretion of the committee, appoint a named deputy to act in his/her place

 Duties:  

• Maintain regular contact with all their street co-ordinators in the neighbourhood of their responsibility, via personal visits, telephone or email (e.g. 2-3 times a year)
• Attend and assist, where possible, the Crime Prevention Co-ordinator-NHW (CPC) at new scheme set-up meetings
• Contact new street co-ordinators at three and six months after date of set-up meeting (to check they have applied for street sign, they are circulating bulletin messages to all members, they have appointed a deputy, ask if they have any problems etc. – i.e. supportive measure)
• Organise and arrange NHW area meetings for street co-ordinators/deputies once or twice a year
• Where possible, assist the committee at public promotional events. ( Crawley )
• The area co-ordinator will be expected to attend at least four committee meetings annually plus the AGM in October. ( Crawley )
• Support street co-ordinators to recruit other neighbours not in a road scheme to join
• Arrange the distribution of the NHW newsletter and Sussex Police ‘Patrol’ magazine when published, at relevant times throughout the year
• Inform the CPC of any changes taking place within their neighbourhood area of responsibility, e.g. changes of structure/personnel responsibilities. 
• Ensure that their members names, addresses, phone number and email addresses are up-to-date.  Any changes must be reported to the CPC

RESPONSIBILITIES OF NHW SCHEME MEMBERS

To ensure your Neighbourhood Watch scheme is successful and remains ‘active’ we require scheme members to fulfill the following responsibilities:  

• Look out for your Neighbours, especially the elderly and vulnerable

• Look out for your Neighbours property (especially when they go away on holiday etc.)

• Remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police (non emergency 0845 60 70 999)

• In an emergency or a crime actually taking place, dial 999

• Read all the Crime Prevention leaflets included in this pack and act upon the advice given - this will raise your awareness and help reduce the chances of you becoming a victim of crime

• Get your valuable property UV security marked so that in the event of it being recovered by the police it may be returned to you

• Encourage other residents in your road, who are not currently a part of the scheme, to join

• Support NHW and your street Co-ordinator by attending any occasional meetings

Copyright Crawley Neighbourhood Watch 2007

Last revised January 31, 2008