StreetWatch groups are made up of volunteers from local communities. They carry out street patrols, but have no police powers.
StreetWatch is about local residents promoting good citizenship and supporting a better neighbourhood by patrolling their own streets. They provide visible reassurance and appropriately engage in local issues that matter most to your community.
The groups are managed by a coordinator, who is part of the group. Their role includes:
- Welcoming new members to the group and showing what to do
- providing advice, guidance and support
- regularly speaking with the local Policing team
Groups patrol in a minimum group of two and register them on the portal.
As a StreetWatch member, you will patrol your local area for at least two hours every month, at times which suit you. You will patrol with a minimum of two members, talk to people you meet and encourage them to take an active interest in keeping your area safe.
So your neighbours know what you are there for, you will wear a high visibility StreetWatch jacket. Your local StreetWatch co-ordinator will give you day to day support, so you know what to look out for and you will also have support from your local police team.
It is a programme that has worked elsewhere in the country and is now established in the West Midlands. If the group sees suspicious activity, they report it to the police but do not get involved. If you want to find out more about StreetWatch, please contact streetwatch@westmidlands.police.uk
