Neighbourhood Watch

Getting together with your neighbours to take action can make a big difference to crime in your area.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes can:

• cut crime and the opportunities for crime - most crime is committed on the spur of the moment or when a car or house is left unlocked
• help and reassure those who live in the area
• encourage neighbourliness and closer communities.

Many local neighbourhood watch schemes also include Street Watch - which might include providing transport or escort services for elderly people, to walking a specific route regularly, keeping an eye out for trouble and reporting it to the police.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes are not run by the police, but they work in co-operation with the police and other local agencies.

For more information, contact Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood Watch or the National Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Neighbourhood wardens scheme

The neighbourhood wardens scheme was developed to promote a safer, more caring environment. Areas with relatively high street crime have been targeted. Their job is to help the residents feel safer when they're out and about in the neighbourhood.

The wardens also work with residents, businesses and traders to give them an increased awareness of the area and advise them on measures that they need to take to avoid being victims of street crime.

The areas serviced by the Neighbourhood Wardens are: Whitechapel Market, Petticoat Lane Market, Banglatown restaurant area, Whitechapel High Street, Commercial Street, Bethnal Green Road and Vallance Road.

The wardens help in the following ways:

• Patrolling.
• Developing relationships with local businesses and market traders.
• Providing information to the Police when any suspicious activity is witnessed or reported.

Schemes provide services between 9am and 11pm, 7 days a week.

4 Ashington House
Barnsley Street
London E2 5RD

Tel: 020 7247 9881

Download the Tower Hamlets Partnership safer neighbourhoods problem solving toolkit (PDF 292kb)