Latest News
April 2013 - The Neighbourhood and
Home Watch Network (NHWN) is pleased to announce that they have
secured free Public Liability Insurance for all
Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch schemes ... follow this link for
more information >
Newsletters
Neighbourhood & Home Watch
Newsletter - Dorchester Edition Summer 2013 (356kb PDF)
>
Neighbourhood & Home Watch
Newsletter - Sherborne Edition Summer 2013 (348kb PDF) >
Home Watch (larger schemes may be known as Neighbourhood Watch)
was first introduced to Dorset in 1983 when the first Home Watch
Scheme was set up.
Although Dorset is still one of the safest places in which
to live with one of the lowest crime rates in the country, Dorset
Police are committed to reducing it even further, but it needs the
support of the community. Home Watch provides an important
way for people to play their part in making Dorset Safer and making
Dorset Feel Safer.
There are four main objectives:
- To Prevent Crime
By
improving security, increasing vigilance and protecting the most
vulnerable members of the community by encouraging a caring
community spirit.
- To help with the detection of
criminals
By promoting effective communication.
- To reduce the undue fear of
crime
By providing accurate information about risks, supporting victims,
promoting a sense of security and a caring community.
- To improve Police – Community
relations
By fostering regular contact and
liaison.
Why Join a Home Watch Scheme
Home Watch schemes play a vital part in
preventing crime, and statistics show that you are less likely to
be burgled if you belong to an active Watch scheme.
By joining your local Home Watch scheme you
can feel more secure knowing that you and your neighbours are
keeping an eye on each other’s property.
- Getting together with your neighbours
can prevent crime and well-run schemes have a big impact on
reducing the opportunities for crime.
- Home Watch can play a big part in
reassuring those who live in fear of crime.
- Home Watch can rekindle community
spirit and is a great way to get to know your
neighbours.
How Can I Find Out More About Home Watch in my
Area?
To find out more about setting up a Home
Watch scheme in your area, please:
Association of Dorset Watches (ADW)
The ADW is an elected group
of Home Watch Co-ordinators that represent all Home and
Neighbourhood Watch schemes within the Dorset Police Force area. A
representative of the ADW sits on the South
West Region Neighbourhood Watch Forum, which links into the
national representative body, the Neighbourhood and
Home Watch Network, please follow this link to
access their website at www.ourwatch.org.uk. Through
this link you can gain access to the Training Toolkit (click on the
Get Involved tab), which takes you through all the steps of
setting up and maintaining a successful scheme, as well as
providing other useful advice including personal safety and vehicle
security.
A recent initiative undertaken by the
ADW is
their highly successful conference, which took place at Force
Headquarters, Winfrith..
In March 2009, Dorset Police and the ADW approved a Service
Level Agreement (SLA), which is designed to add clarity to the
level of support that each partner can expect from the other and
reinforces the Dorset Police Watch Policy - View Dorset Police Watch Policy P01-2003
by following this link (252kb PDF) >. The
SLA was reviewed
in January 2012 and a new document drafted . The Service Level
Agreement document can be downloaded by following this link
(44kb PDF) >
Download
Association of Dorset Watches
'Keep Safe' Spring 2013 Newsletter (228kb PDF) >
(Please note: This is a ADW publication and
Dorset Police is not responsible for the content)
Public Liability Insurance
The Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (NHWN) is pleased to
announce that they have secured free Public
Liability Insurance for all Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch
schemes across England and Wales to enable volunteers to carry out
their roles without fear of personal loss. The policy
will start on the 1 April 2013 and will run until the 31 March
2014.
Dorset Police is advised that the policy covers any scheme
registered with an Authority recognised or verified by the
Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network. This includes the
police service, the local authority or constituted NHW
Associations.
We are further advised that there is no
requirement for each police force or Neighbourhood/Home Watch
Association to register with the policy holder (NHWN) or the
broker (Towergate Insurance) as per previous years. In the
event of a claim it will be for the Scheme or Association to
evidence how they are recognised as a NHW Scheme or Association
in line with local policies and procedures or within their
constitution.
What is covered?
- If any of your activities cause injury to third parties or
damage to third party property the insurer will cover claims
arising for up to £5 million per claim occurring during the insured
period.
- The insurance applies for activities which are undertaken with
your full knowledge, authority and under your control in line with
good practice procedures and adhering to all relevant local
policies and practices.
- The erection and maintenance of signs and posters, including
whilst erecting, is covered providing that the lower edge of the
sign is not less than 2.1 metres above the footway.
- Street parties are covered provided they are not prohibited by
any exclusion criteria.
- The cover also includes other wider Watches and Junior
NHW if
incorporated into a NHW Scheme or Association
and local policies and practices are adhered to.
- There is no age restriction (upper or lower) placed on the
cover.
For more details about what is covered and
what is not covered by the policy, please download the
PLI Policy
Summary (288kb PDF) >
General questions are addressed in the
PLI
Frequently Asked Questions document, which you can view here
on the NHWN website
>