Information on Loughborough

Neighbourhood Watch success in Loughborough

Posted on 29/04/2009

police,constabulary,leicestershire police Neighbourhood Watch success in Loughborough

Members of the Leicestershire North Neighbourhood Watch Association, which is based in Loughborough, are being presented with an award in recognition of their contribution to neighbourhood policing.

The award will be presented to the three Community Volunteers who coordinate the 916 schemes across Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, Birstall and Syston.  They will be presented with a certificate and a cheque for £150 by the Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, and the Patron, Baroness Byford, at the Annual General Meeting of the Leicestershire and Rutland Neighbourhood Watch Association on Thursday 30th April 2009. 

It is only the second year the awards have been run and they're designed to recognise the contribution neighbourhood watch volunteers make towards neighbourhood policing and the local community.  There are a number of categories.

Jim Plowman has worked in the Loughborough office for seven years.  He works alongside Andy and Alison Hartshorn who have been running it with him for nearly four years.  Jim said; "When we found out we were going to be presented with the award we were absolutely over the moon.  It is wonderful to be recognised for the contribution that we make and to know that we are doing the right thing.  We all give up our time very willingly because we enjoy getting people involved in the fight against crime and generating community spirit."

The North Area Partnership Manager, Chris Woodward, nominated Jim, Alison and Andy.  He said; " They have all shown a tireless commitment to Neighbourhood Watch; they have been responsible for promoting the use of a DNA property marking system by hundreds of households through their NHW groups and to do this have attended countless community events mainly at weekends in order to support the local police teams."

Alison Hartshorn said; "Being part of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme makes a big difference.  It gets local communities together to talk and share information.  Members look out for each other and it really helps to develop a community spirit and the great thing is that it is free."

Neighbourhood Watch works by developing close links between residents in a neighbourhood and the local police. It aims to help people protect themselves and their properties and to reduce the fear of crime by means of improved home security, greater vigilance, accurate reporting of suspicious incidents to the police and by fostering a community spirit.  Getting together with your neighbours to take action can cut local crime. The aim is help people protect their properties, to reduce the fear of crime and improve their local environment by:

  • Improving home security
  • Increasing vigilance.
  • Creating a community spirit
  • Improving the local environment

Crime reports are prepared by the local offices and passed to Beat Managers twice a week and they in turn pass on the details to relevant co-ordinators.  The NHW offices also provide advice and support to members and co-ordinators, free Home Office leaflets, and security devices (these are sold at discounted prices).

Anyone wishing to start a NHW scheme or wanting further information can visit or contact the NHW Offices between 9am and noon on Mondays and Thursdays (an answer phone is available outside of these hours).

Loughborough, Tel:  0116 222 2222 ext 2542, e-mail: nhw@btconnect.com.

Coalville, Tel:  0116 222 2222 ext 3079, e-mail: nhw.coalville@leicestershire.pnn.police.com