An initiative is launching this week to encourage home owners to help with crime prevention.
National Neighbourhood Watch Week is taking place this week (15-23 June) and sees the launch of the Safer Homes scheme in County Durham. The programme is being delivered in Neighbourhood Watch areas around Bishop Auckland and some of its surrounding villages.
14 coordinators have received training and are providing crime prevention advice to people in their local neighbourhood. They will have with basic alarms, security marking and other useful security devices and will be equipped with ‘holiday kits’ which homeowners can borrow if they are away from home for any reason.
Volunteers can also refer a householder to the County Durham Handy Person Scheme if a professional is needed to install key safes, doors and window locks. The initiative is being delivered by Durham Constabulary and Durham County Council as part of the Safe Durham Partnership. The project is also becoming available to other areas across the county as more volunteers come forward.
Cllr Lucy Hovvels, portfolio holder for Safer and Healthier Communities, said: “It is no surprise that a higher proportion of people across our county are signing up to Neighbourhood Watch than in any other part of the country and it is initiatives like this that encourage them to do so.”
Deputy chief constable with Durham Constabulary, Michael Banks, said: “The Safer Homes scheme is yet another example of how our Neighbourhood Watch volunteers are delivering activities that people in our communities really value. We want people to be safe and feel safe.”
To become a Safer Homes volunteer and start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme- contact the police on the non-emergency number 101 or email Durham County Council on: safer.communities@durham.gov.uk
