Memorandum of Understanding

A Memorandum of Understanding between Warwickshire Neighbourhood Watch Association (WNWA) and Warwickshire Police Authority was signed at the Police Authority meeting of 28th June by Brian Lowe, chair of WNWA, and Ian Francis, chair of WPA.

It expresses a convergence of will between the parties and indicates intended common lines of action.

Neighbourhood Watch is a resource that is highly valued by its partners for its work with the community in:

* Cutting crime, the opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour.

* Providing reassurance to local residents and reducing the fear of crime and ant-social behaviour.

* Encouraging neighbourliness and closer communities.

* Improving the quality of life for local residents and tenants.

Neighbourhood Watch works closely with partner agencies on campaigns such as setting up new schemes in crime “hot spot” areas, and crime prevention action days, an example of which being the “meeting and greeting” of office workers parking their cars in the morning, to warn them about the risks of leaving valuables on show.

In the last 12 months over 1,000 crime alerts and good news messages have been sent by the police to Neighbourhood Watch, which they have then passed on to their scheme members.

Brian Lowe said: “Such an agreement has been a long-standing aim of Warwickshire’s Neighbourhood Watch Association and we are delighted to be realising it at last.

“The willingness of Warwickshire Police Authority to enter into the agreement demonstrates the high regard in which the Association is held.”

Ian Francis said “We welcome this joint understanding and look forward to working closely with Warwickshire Neighbourhood Watch Association in the future.”

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between WNWA and WPA follows a similar event on the 14th May when six representatives from WNWA met with officers from Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire County Council at Shire Hall to jointly sign a Memorandum of Understanding.