Street Watch

Street Watch

Featured in 'The Times'

Street Watch welcomes the national feature about Street Watch in The Times (Article 15 March 2010). Street Watch takes this opportunity to respond to the article.

In early 2008, residents within the village of Four Marks were experiencing anti-social behaviour and there was a perception around a high fear of crime that was undermining communities. Local residents had got together to try and find a way of resolving the very real issues that were impacting adversely on their lives.

One resident, Mrs Sonia Brown commented:

'In my neighbourhood, we were experiencing groups of youths of various ages and on numerous occasions, being rowdy shouting, swearing, drinking and just being a nuisance to everybody around them and themselves. We as neighbours looked out for each other but very rarely approached the group and if we dared to then we would just get a lot of back chat and they would never listen and carry on regardless. In some instances eggs are being thrown at neighbours windows or climbing the lamp posts or pulling down branches from the fire trees and one occasion actually setting light to one of the Fir Trees. We would be the ones picking up the rubbish, empty bottles, syringes, cans of drink and fish and chip cartons and wrappings and general other litter. I wanted to do something that would change their behaviour and get them to show their respect in order to stop the anti social behaviour antics.

As a result of community concerns Four Marks was identified by the East Hampshire Community Safety Team as a local priority for all key partners to work on.

Eight months earlier in May 2007, Chief Inspector Philip Kedge, the East Hampshire District Commander had gone to press with an article inviting local residents to work in partnership with the police and to patrol their own open spaces as good citizens helping to provide visibility and reassurance and to help tackle anti-social behaviour. Chief Inspector Kedge had concluded that many communities had become disempowered through a disproportionate fear of crime which resulted in residents losing control of their open spaces and undesirable elements taking over. As a result of his observations he developed the foundations for a civilian community street patrol scheme.

'When some communities have particular problems, I would like to see people working more in partnership with police. Residents, working as citizens, could patrol their own communities in pairs.'

'Where communities have lost ownership of their open spaces, it is time for police and residents to work together. Communities should be empowered to help resolve some of their own community issues and to bring back that strong sense of standards and cohesion that appears to have been lost.'

Chief Inspector Philip Kedge - East Hampshire District Commander

The problems experienced within Four Marks provided the opportunity to introduce his pioneering initiative of community civilian street patrols and Chief Inspector Kedge met with the Four Marks residents to propose his concept. In January 2008, a group of eight courageous and community minded residents of Four Marks, Alton, East Hampshire, took up the challenge and formed the first East Hampshire 'Street Watch' group. The encouragement to take up the concept of civilian street patrols was just a natural step from the engagement that the residents were already trying to establish with the local youths.

Within three months the community problems had been significantly reduced and the community had found themselves to be empowered in helping tackle low level anti-social behaviour and to bring reassurance to their own communities. Street Watch members achieved this not by acting as amateur police officers but by establishing an informal friendly contact as local residents.

Sonia Brown summed up the views of the group. 'As a result of Street Watch I now know the local youths, I no longer feel intimidated by them and problems have greatly improved. I feel as if we have the support of the local police and I now no longer consider myself to be a victim.'

By working in close partnership between residents and police the scheme developed and was introduced by Chief Inspector Kedge to other areas within East Hampshire. Marilyn Hebbron, a resident of Four Marks, took on the role of Street Watch Head Coordinator to help develop the scheme.

Over the last two years Police and Street Watch have worked in partnership to develop a nationally transferable and independent model for civilian street patrols. The scheme is fully regulated through codes of conduct, risk assessments and operational guidance. The scheme is insured to operate in any village, town or city in the United Kingdom.

Street Watch has recently been endorsed by Surrey Police and announcements will be made in the next few days regarding the support of other Forces.

Chief Inspector Phil Kedge States 'Street Watch works as it presents a partnership model and approach between the community and police where residents are empowered to bring back the community values and sense of cohesion that is perhaps lacking from local neighbourhoods. Without this, anti-social behaviour can take hold and thrive, forcing people to retreat away from their open spaces. Street Watch enables residents to take a stand whilst supported by police.'

It is natural for those sceptical or cautious of the scheme to make claims of vigilantism and nothing is further from the truth. Street Watch is a fully regulated model based on the values of good citizenship and residents taking pride in their local communities. Street Watch provies a regulated model that all police and partnerships can support. It is because it is a regulated and insured model that it reduces the risks and concerns that some people may express.

Street Watch now operates as an independent organisation with its own constitution. However, Street Watch recognises that it needs the support and leadership of police to help establish schemes and to engage with communities as partners. It is hoped that the Street Watch regulated community patrol model with be supported and endorsed by all Police Forces and the Home Office nationally.