North Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch Association
(NY NHWA)
After a gap of many years members of the district NHW associations in the county of North Yorkshire have joined together to form The North Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch Association – in future to be known as the NY NHWA. Its aim is to provide advice and support to the NW schemes already operating in the county, to be a link between them by relaying information, create greater cohesion across the huge land area the county covers and to develop further the Neighbourhood Watch movement within its 8 districts.
Many schemes and smaller associations had complained of feeling isolated, with little or no information reaching them from London. In some districts the distances between villages is quite considerable and there was no central area of contact. Eventually an email network system was set up which went some way towards addressing these issues, but it was generally felt that there would be greater development and better support given by establishing a county association.
Partnership Agreement
Between
North Yorkshire Police (NYP)
North Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch Association (NY NHWA)
North Yorkshire Police Authority (NYPA)
Effective Date of Agreement
This agreement is subject to an annual review by the partners and applies to the level of commitment provided by each of them to each other.
SIGNATORIES
NY Police Name Position Signature Date
NY Police Authority Name Position Signature Date
NY Neighbourhood Watch Association. Name Position Signature Date
Purpose:
To define the joint service, provided by the Police, Police Authority and North Yorkshire Neighbourhood Watch Association, to all Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in North Yorkshire.
North Yorkshire Police will:
· Designate a Force Level representative who will attend county and regional meetings.
· Ensure the continued strategic development of Watches by maintaining Force wide meetings with identified staff and members of the NHWA
· Maintain an accurate database in respect of watch Co-ordinators for use by Police, Partners and the NHWA.
· NHWA membership Officials to effect notified changes to co-ordinators details in their database.
· Ensure Safer Neighbourhood staff are adequately trained and informed to support NHW schemes
· Jointly with Neighbourhood Watch deliver induction to PC’s, PCSO’s and Specials.
· Jointly with Neighbourhood Watch deliver initial and update training to NHW Coordinators
· Continue to review and update communication systems between Police and Watch schemes
· Provide annual Watch awards alongside existing internal police awards.
· Register Neighbourhood Schemes to enable them to receive H.O. Public Liability Insurance.
· Provide crime reduction literature, neighbourhood newsletters and events
· Provide a named dedicated contact with each watch scheme who will agree with its members the frequency of meetings and updates as appropriate to that scheme.
· Provide information that will involve watches with local problem-solving at neighbourhood level.
· Provide feedback to co-ordinators on actionable intelligence passed via watch members
· Promote the use of Crimestoppers
· Carry out vetting of Neighbourhood Watch volunteers, as requested or deemed necessary
· Assist NY NHWA to submit funding bids for running costs and other initiatives
North Yorkshire Police Authority will:
· Oversee the North Yorkshire Police role and its development of NHW and the partnership agreement.
· Join the annual review of the partnership and contribute to embracing an annual incremental improvement plan.
NY NHWA will:
· Have a clear policy statement of how it will support the police to prevent and reduce crime, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour and improve the quality of life for local residents and ensure a safe environment for visitors to North Yorkshire
· Assist in crime reduction and minimise the opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour
· Provide reassurance to local residents and reduce the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour
· Inform the NHWA Membership Officials of any changes to co-ordinators or Scheme details that could disrupt communication or the workings of a scheme
· Encourage neighbourliness and closer communities, involving all age groups, especially the elderly, disabled or vulnerable
· Jointly with Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs), deliver induction to PCs, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Special Constables.
· Jointly with Police SNTs deliver initial and up-to-date training to NHW Coordinators
· Develop and maintain accurate Neighbourhood Watch records, enabling the efficient servicing of schemes within N.Yorks
· Maintain a county/force wide neighbourhood watch association to share and disseminate best practice and co-ordinate activity
· Work in partnership and support the Police in their efforts to create safer communities across North Yorkshire by promoting and assisting in the set up of as many NHW schemes as possible. These should be prioritised in the areas of greatest need, including engaging with minority and hard to engage communities, which are currently under-represented within the Watch movement
· Identify issues of local concern
· Become involved in regular community problem solving, agreeing which problems to target and what actions to take by working in Partnership with North Yorkshire Police
· Disseminate information from the Police to all District Associations as quickly as possible after receipt
· Encourage all Watch Scheme members to record accurately and report quickly any suspicious incidents or any crime in progress
· Encourage households within the scheme to have their property suitably marked and safely recorded either via NYP-held database or other means.
· Get involved in crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour prevention initiatives in partnership with NYP
· Encourage the use of Crimestoppers by neighbours, who are reluctant to contact local police to report criminal activity Encourage the establishment of No Cold Calling Zones with the assistance of NY Trading Standards.
· Monitor and report on anti-social behaviour
· Arrange meetings as requested to discuss local concerns and develop innovative solutions in partnership with District Associations and North Yorkshire Police and/or the Safer Communities Partnerships or local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs).
· Link into and work with other Watch movements and wider voluntary, public sector and private sector bodies, i.e. NYCC, CDRPs or Safer Communities Partnerships.
Dated: September 2009