Fold Housing Association come on board with Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
20 Apr 2009
The Police Service, working in conjunction with Fold Housing Association, are pleased to announce that six schemes for older people within the Fold Housing portfolio have come on board with a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
The schemes will increase awareness of crime prevention among residents living within the Fold developments. It will also allow local officers within each area to give specific crime prevention advice.
Speaking at the launch event Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “Policing is most effective when the police and community work together and we are delighted that Fold Housing Association has come on board the Neighbourhood Watch initiative. Our Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is one of the most successful crime prevention initiatives.
“Crime within Northern Ireland is at its lowest in five years and we want it to stay that way. By working together, we can help reduce crime and the fear of crime.
“I want to reassure all members of the public that the Police Service, working in partnership with other agencies, will do our utmost to keep each and every person within our society safe.
“Everyone involved in Neighbourhood Watch schemes plays a vital role in making their neighbourhood a safer, more friendly, pleasant place to live.
“Neighbourhood Watch facilitates a problem solving approach to tackling local, community issues. When you belong to a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, you are given advice on a range of issues including personal safety and how to protect your property.
“One of the most important things that the public can do is report anything unusual or suspicious no matter how minor it may seem as this may help the police solve or prevent crime."
John McLean, Chief Executive of Fold Housing Association, welcomes the initiative and said: “The welfare and security of our tenants is our prime concern. We want to ensure they continue to feel safe and secure in our Folds. In consultation with our tenants we have taken steps to increase security and awareness in relation to criminal activity, and we particularly welcome today’s announcement by the Police Service. In the weeks ahead we will roll-out the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme making Fold an even more secure place to live.”
Paul Goggins MP said: “Neighbourhood Watch schemes play an important role in making people feel safer in their homes, their neighbourhoods, and their communities. This extension to Fold Housing will help all residents, including the vulnerable and the elderly, feel safer in their communities.
“Neighbourhood Watch is just one of many important initiatives to help reduce the fear of crime. Today also sees the launch of a new Newsletter - Safety Matters - that will be delivered to every home in Northern Ireland over the next few weeks. This will help to keep residents better informed about the action being taken to cut crime and make their area safer.”
Welcoming the joint project, Vice Chairman of the Policing Board Barry Gilligan said: “Neighbourhood Watch is a long way from the image of people peeking through the net curtains to see what is going on outside their house. The schemes are organised by vibrant groups across all sorts of rural and urban communities with the sole aim of helping keep communities safer.
“Research carried out by the Board, the PSNI and the NIO’s Community Safety Unit shows that people tend to feel more confident in their communities when Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are in place and are more likely to look out for suspicious activity in their community.
“The Policing Board is delighted that Fold are getting involved with Neighbourhood Watch and no doubt tenants will feel the benefit of this simple but effective scheme.”
