Sutton Veny Neighbourhood Watch Scheme

Introduction:     This Scheme, now active in a large number of villages and other communities, encourages neighbours to keep an eye open for unlawful activity in and around their houses. Membership of the scheme is free, but involves commitment to the following:

 - To have adequate door locks and window catches and to use them if the house is unoccupied.

 - Take sensible precautions to conceal the fact that the house is unoccupied, e.g. close garage door, leave lights/radio on, cancel milk and papers when away, etc.

 - Mark valuables with a marker pen (available from the Village Co-ordinator)with your postal code and house number or first two letters of its name.

Some insurance companies offer a discount on household cover for members of a Scheme.

Structure:    The village has a Village Co-ordinator who organises Street Co-ordinators, each of the latter being responsible for a handful (occasionally quite a large handful!) of houses around their own.  The duties of a Street Co-ordinator are not onerous.  He/she should be aware of who occupies each house and when they are away on holiday (a function formerly performed by the Police).  It is also useful to know who holds a key for the property.  Bi-monthly Neighbourhood Watch Newsletters also need to be circulated. 

In an ideal set-up all co-ordinators have named (and known) deputies.

Activity:       Residents who notice anything suspicious should, in an emergency, call the police on 999. 

If less urgent, telephone 0845 408 7000. (Be patient when ringing this number as there may be a delay if the operators are particularly busy.) 

Alternatively, the Street or Village Co-ordinator should be informed and appropriate action can be decided upon. 

There is a fine line between “snooping” and sensible observation, but areas with an active Neighbourhood Watch Scheme have shown a reduction in burglaries and thefts.

Any queries about the village scheme should be addressed to:

Peter Strangeways, Furrows, 101 High Street, Sutton Veny, BA12 7AW

Tel/Fax: 01985 840403     E-mail:   pstrangeways@doctors.org.uk