Neighbourhood Watch

South Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch Association

Neighbourhood Watch is the best known and effective example of the Police, public agencies and the community working as a close partnership to prevent crime, build safer communities and improve the quality of the life for our neighbourhoods.

In the UK today there are over 161,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in operation and over 10 million people directly benefit from these initiatives.

There are 3500 Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in South Yorkshire, which involves over 100,000 households throughout the county.

There are 1300 coordinators in Sheffield.

What does a Neighbourhood Watch scheme do?

·         Address the issues of social cohesion and community safety in their road, street and estate in order to reduce crime and fear of crime.

·         Be independent and self-reliant but use the link with the police and local authorities to improve community safety.

·         Assist the police and the community as a recognised consultative group.

·         A recognised Watch scheme will be affiliated to the SYNWA Association.

·         The scheme members will appoint from themselves an area Coordinator. They will meet formally during the year, at a time decided by the members.

·         The area Coordinator will confirm to the Watch Association the outcome of the meeting and the number of homes covered, this will enable the Association to audit the number of properties covered by each scheme.

·         Being part of the association will mean that the police and local authorities will recognise your Neighbourhood Watch as an organised body and will involve the Watch in the consultation about crime and fear of crime, road safety, public nuisance and many other issues common to their areas.

SYNWA has 10 voluntary Executive board members including the Chairman.

The Executive board is drawn from Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Barnsley currently has 1 board member, John Hallows who is also the Chairman of SYNWA.

There is 1 paid member of staff for SYNWA;

Development Officer – Stacey Hanley

Email; neighbourhood.watch@southyorks.pnn.police.uk

Tel; 0114 219 7044

To be recognised as a NHW, a scheme has to be registered with the District Association (BNWLG).

SYNWA has its own website; www.synwa.com which allows registered users to plot and share local Neighbourhood Information with other members. Training Kits, news and useful documents can also be found on the website.

South Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch is a registered charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. It is currently funded by ‘The Police Authority’ which is applied for by SYNWA year on year.

Whilst helping groups to set up Neighbourhood Watch across South Yorkshire we put them in touch with organisations that can help their various needs. eg. South Yorkshire Police and the Community Officers, PCSOs,  Local Authority liaison workers, TARAs, Housing Associations etc. working in partnership to make Sheffield and South Yorkshire a safer place to live.

We now have different schemes to suit different needs,

Schoolwatch

Allotment Watch

Park Watch

Play Watch

Rural watch

Business watch 

Please call 0114 219 7044 or email neighbourhood.watch@southyorks.pnn.police.uk for more information. Alternatively, take a look at the website; www.synwa.com