An agreement between Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Police Authority and Hertfordshire Neighbourhood Watch

Glossary of terms used:

Area Co-ordinator (ACo):
Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) organiser of multiple local groups/area/electoral wards from amongst whom the CCo (see below) is elected.

Best Value Review – Preventing Crime:
A review in 2002, which recommended, among other things, that the Constabulary should increase support for NHW to regenerate schemes in the county.

Community Co-ordinator (CCo):
A representative of district/borough Watch schemes; one for each of the 10 district and borough council areas in the county, attending HertsWatch and CDRP meetings.

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP):
Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, each administrative district and borough within a county is required to have a CDRP. There are ten in Hertfordshire.  Each has a Responsible Authorities Group (RAG) made up of representatives of the Constabulary, Police Authority, district or borough council, county council and Primary Care Trust, which is responsible to improving community safety.  A wide range of other agencies contribute to the wider Community Safety Partnership.

HertsWatch:
A committee at county level made up of one representative (Community Co-ordinator) from Community Watch Schemes from each district as mentioned above.   Attendees also include representatives of the Police and the Police Authority

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
An officer with limited Police powers, in a role designed to provide a reassuring visual presence on the streets

Watch Liaison Officer (WLO):
Police employees whose role is to support, promote and facilitate new and existing Watch schemes. There will be one for each district

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to:

• Act as an agreement between HertsWatch, Hertfordshire Police Authority and Hertfordshire Constabulary regarding the minimum standards of service each may expect. 
• Commit all parties to reducing crime and the fear of crime within our communities
• Form a framework within which community watches can interact with the Police and other partner agencies
• Form a framework within which Hertfordshire Constabulary can fully support HertsWatch and the various community watches in their activities 
• Form the basis for sharing and spreading best practice to Neighbourhood Watch and other watch schemes county-wide and working towards consistency of service and improvement of performance at all levels

1.   Police commitments to Neighbourhood Watch and other community watches at Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area level

• The Police will support HertsWatch meetings, providing both a secretariat and senior uniformed Officer presence

• Police Authority representatives to attend and support HertsWatch meetings

• Each CDRP area to have a dedicated Watch Liaison Officer (WLO), employed, trained and sufficiently resourced by the Constabulary

• WLOs to organise Area Neighbourhood Watch meetings in conjunction with the CCo

• Neighbourhood Officers and/or PCSOs to attend Area Neighbourhood Watch meetings whenever work commitments allow.

• The Police will endeavour provide information/communication systems and where necessary,  training for Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators and others to facilitate the dissemination of information on crime trends and crime prevention advice to and from Watches

• Neighbourhood Officers and PCSOs to forge and maintain links with Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators and other community watches through Area Co-ordinators and, where applicable, Locality Teams/local panels

• The Police will provide guidance on all aspects of running NHW schemes and how to contact the Constabulary with information via the WLO

• The Police will hold Steering Group meetings, involving local WLO, CCo and Community Inspectors, initially monthly, with a view to ultimately taking place quarterly.  These Steering Groups will aim to identify local priority areas, crime hotspots and other hard-to-reach areas and groups

• The Neighbourhood Inspector will ensure the delivery of commitments to NHW at District level

2.  HertsWatch commitments to the Police at CDRP area level

a)  Each of the 10 district or borough Neighbourhood Watches and other community watches to nominate and formally select a Community Co-ordinator and a deputy.  This will usually take place annually via Area Co-ordinators unless a longer tenure is agreed.  Selection will take place according to rules in a local Constitution

b) Community Co-ordinators to attend HertsWatch meetings, or arrange for the nominated deputy to attend.

c) HertsWatch to be chaired by a Community Co-ordinator elected by members of HertsWatch. Members will also elect a Vice-Chairman.

d) HertsWatch will:

• support district conferences
• Develop best practice for schemes across the county
• Identify funding needs and monitor budget expenditure
• Assist Police with the development of Policy where appropriate

e) Community Co-ordinators to forge and maintain close links with WLO, local area CDRP, and local Police Authority members.

3. Police commitments to wider Neighbourhood Watch

• The Police will provide relevant, timely information to Co-ordinators and scheme members, using a variety of appropriate means.

• WLOs and other Police staff to give timely feedback in relation to information and intelligence provided by Neighbourhood Watch and community watch members

• WLOs to assist with the organisation of and attend all NHW start-up meetings. 

• Control Room staff to recognise the value of Neighbourhood Watch  and other community watches and clearly identify intelligence and reports of crime as originating from such sources; WLOs to monitor and provide feedback and/or letters of thanks to NHW members when appropriate

• WLOs to maintain existing NHW schemes and develop new watches

• The Police will work with Partner Agencies to identify methods to gauge the effectiveness of NHW and other community watch schemes

• WLOs to receive the necessary training to enable them to perform effectively and be given sufficient resources to be effective in their post.
  

4.  Wider Neighbourhood Watch Commitments to the Police

• Scheme members to be alert, “notice the unusual” and respond to anything considered suspicious by contacting the police or making a note of details for future reference

• Scheme members who wish to become involved in volunteer work on behalf of Neighbourhood Watch, such as preparing Starter Packs, delivering leaflets, undertaking administrative tasks etc. to make themselves known to their Watch Liaison Officer or Community Co-ordinator

• Scheme members with information or intelligence to call the Police using the appropriate number,
• e.g. 999 for emergencies,
• 0845 33 00 222 for non-emergencies,
• 0800 555 111 for Crimestoppers
• or direct to Watch Liaison Officer,

They will identify themselves as a Neighbourhood Watch member or Co-ordinator as appropriate.

• Police commitments to NHW members working in Police premises

• WLOs to identify, in liaison with CCo and line management, appropriate tasks to be undertaken by NHW members.

• All NHW members to be treated with courtesy and respect by all police personnel

• WLOs to be responsible for NHW members and facilitate the recruitment of NHW members when required

• NHW members to be provided with working space and facilities within Police premises whenever possible

• Police Vetting Unit manager to organise vetting of and provide identity cards for NHW members as appropriate

• Consideration to be given as to whether the work being done by NHW members falls outside the remit of NHW and may be appropriate to the Community Volunteers Project

• NHW members commitment to the Police when working in police premises

• NHW members to agree to complete a vetting form prior to being issued with identity cards.   Identity cards to be worn on display at all times while within the premises.

• During normal hours, NHW members to enter Police premises via the main entrance and make themselves known to the front desk officer

• NHW members to remain, as far as possible, within agreed working areas

• NHW members will not read or attempt to otherwise access materials beyond the remit of their role
  

• Agreement

• All parties will endeavour to abide by the wording and spirit of this Memorandum of Understanding

• Grievances over adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding will be raised at HertsWatch meetings, or directly to the HertsWatch Chairperson who may take the matter to the appropriate police level for action.

• All parties may put forward suggestions for amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding. Such amendments to be discussed at a HertsWatch meeting before being formally accepted or rejected. 

• The Memorandum of Understanding to be reviewed at three year intervals

Neighbourhood Watch Purpose Statement