Set Up a Group
Neighbourhood Watch is first and foremost about good neighbourliness. It helps to foster good community spirit in addition to improving the safety of the area in which you live. Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Group is quite straightforward.
Before approaching your neighbours the first thing to do is decide on the size of area you wish to target. Depending on where you live this could be a single close, a row of houses, a whole street or more. You can always expand the size of group later if you wish.
Next, contact the Association or your local Community Safety Officer at the nearest Police Office, in order to receive an explanatory pack plus questionnaires which you can distribute to your neighbours. All the information you need will be in the pack. The simple questionnaires will let you know if people are keen to set up a group, and they usually are! With a majority in favour you can then register your group and will be sent free leaflets, window stickers etc, to give out to your members.
At this point you can hold your first meeting to select a coordinator for the group. Assistant coordinators can also be appointed, especially if the group is large.
If you live within the Central and West areas of Glasgow you will be invited to attend our regular meetings. You can also keep up-to-date with crime prevention tips on this website.
You will be given guidelines, but how you run your group is up to you. Keep in touch with members personally, by email or by newsletter eg. to let them know if you hear of a problem in the area. If you wish you can have fun organising social events such as barbeques or quiz nights, although that is by no means necessary. It is a good idea to have a meeting at least once a year.
Being in a group is a great way to get to know the neighbours. It makes it easier to look out for each other, and to keep an eye on one another's property when the house is empty during working hours or holidays.
You may also get a discount on home insurance if you are in a neighbourhood watch group.
If you would like to know more, just
send us an email and we will be glad to help.