Research revealed that only 46 per cent of people would trust their neighbours enough to call on them in an emergency. This is despite signs that most Brits would welcome a return to the days of close knit communities, with nine out of ten people believing that stronger neighbourhoods help cut crime or support people in times of trouble.
However, in reality, most people are resigned to the fact that communities are fragmenting, for a variety of reasons. More than 60 per cent blame the pressures of family life and work, while four out of ten deliberately keep their distance to avoid getting too involved in their neighbours' affairs. One in five despise those living near them to such an extent that they describe them as the 'neighbours from hell'
Phil Loney, Managing Director, Lloyds TSB Insurance, said: "None of us will ever live on Ramsey Street, but surprisingly, very few of us are willing to make the most of the neighbours we do have. We should all have alarms, locks and insurance for our homes, but we do seem to be neglecting the simplest security technique - a quick hello to the people next door."
You should remember that being a good neighbour is a two-way street. If you are looking out for them they will be looking out for you. Being a good neighbour means being a considerate neighbour. So it makes sense to be considerate to your neighbour as with their help you can significantly reduce your risk from crime and disorder - and you could gain some good friends.
Every year National Neighbourhood Watch Association runs a national good neighbour day which is part of Neighbourhood Watch week. Good Neighbour Day aims to encourage people to think about their neighbours and realise the benefits of being a good one. It is also suggested that people try and do at least one good deed for their neighbour on Good Neighbour Day. This could be trimming back an overgrown hedge that is blocking their light or encroaching on their garden, asking your neighbour over for a cup of coffee, or offering to keep an eye on your neighbour’s house while they are on holiday.
Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
If you do not have a scheme in your area - and there are 160,000 Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch schemes in the UK - you can consider starting one. Here is a brief checklist on how to do it:
- Ask your neighbours if they want to be involved in a NW scheme. This might be via a questionnaire or a public meeting. If your neighbours agree then contact your local police station who will help you set up the scheme.
- Set your aims and objectives - Decide what issues you want your Neighbourhood Watch to tackle.
- Each area has different issues to address. Local problems such as vandalism and graffiti are well within the scope of a well-organised Neighbourhood Watch scheme. You can also take action such as fitting more secure door and window locks in vulnerable homes. You could also lobby the local authority, for example, to improve street lighting or step up the security of a communal entrance.
- Appoint the co-ordinator - The co-ordinator of your Neighbourhood Watch is a key part of an effective scheme. Their role would include maintaining the Neighbourhood Watch in a specific area and acting as a link between the scheme, other co-ordinators and the local police. As well as the co-ordinator there is usually a committee who meet regularly to plan which problems to target and what action to take.
- Neighbourhood Watch activities - Once you have a co-ordinator in place and have set up the Neighbourhood Watch scheme in conjunction with the police, you can start you NW activities. At first this will probably be supplying stickers and crime prevention information provided by the police to scheme members. You can also encourage members to report suspicious activity and hold regular meetings to discuss current crime issues.
- Joining NNWA - Once you have set up your NW scheme you can register to become a member of NNWA. You will then receive regular newsletters and information about NW training and events in your area. Membership of NNWA is free. To join go to the website - www.neighbourhoodwatch.net
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