MONMOUTH'S new Crime Prevention Officer, PC Dai Arnold, has written the following article for the Monmouthshire Beacon.
Dai will be giving crime prevention advice regularly in the paper. This week he concentrates on Neighbourhood Watch.
MONMOUTH police are particularly keen to assist in creating Neighbourhood Watch schemes in all areas, particularly rural, and invite anyone interested in the possibility of setting up a scheme in their area to contact PC Dai Arnold at Monmouth Police Station on 01600 712321.
At present there are 30 Neighbourhood Watch (NW) schemes covering various locations in Monmouth town and outlying areas.
What are they? Neighbourhood Watch schemes are a way for people in an area to get together to help prevent crime and make their neighbourhood a safer place, looking after one another.
How does it work? Groups can vary in size from the smallest cul-de-sac to whole housing estate depending on the area and what people want. They target local concerns, such as burglary, vandalism or graffiti and devise ways of dealing with them. Individual members decide how active they want to be in the scheme.
You could become a committee member or even co-ordinator of a group, or your part could be just keeping an eye on your neighbour's house while they're away.
Schemes develop close links with the police who can provide advice and information about local problems.
Well run schemes have a big impact on local crime and many insurance companies allow premium discounts on home insurance to NW members.