Dear residents,

Neighbourhood Watch has come a long way from the days of door-to-door updates and printed newsletters. In today’s fast-moving world, staying connected and informed is more important than ever, and technology has made it easier for us to look out for each other.

Many communities, now use WhatsApp groups or other social media platforms to share updates, report suspicious activity, and keep each other informed in real time. This modern approach allows residents to stay vigilant, coordinate quickly, and foster a stronger sense of community—all from the convenience of their phones.

By joining a group, you can:

Receive instant alerts about local incidents

Share information on security concerns

Support and connect with your neighbours

Although, be aware! It's important that if you do set up or join a group, set the ground rules and stick to the original plan of Neighbourhood Watch! It's easy to get carried away and circulate none relevant messages, such as dog mess, litter, cars parking precariously or even just general chit chat. 

Don't forget to contact the police! In some cases, messages regarding suspicious activity have just remained on group chats. If something suspicious is happening in your area that is raising concern among the group, someone on the chat must contact the police immediately and let the group know that the police have been informed!

Example;

(Resident 1) “Did anyone else have the strange man knocking on the door asking about checking the water meter?”

(Resident 2) “Yes, he came to my door and wanted to come in, however was very reluctant to show any identification.”

(Resident 3) “ I was walking the dog and saw him park on the next street over. He got out of a tatty old Corsa with number plate R6***DA, I took a photo.”

(Resident 4) " I've just seen him go into Edith's house, the elderly lady on the corner"."

(Resident 1) “I'm going to call the police, I don't think this is right.”

Not everyone is on social media or has access to the internet for various reasons, so keep an eye on the more vulnerable residents who may not be included on group chats.

If you’d like to be part of a Neighbourhood Watch social media group, speak to the residents in your area.