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 job includes:
- keeping a volunteer list
- providing advice, guidance and support
- regularly speaking with the local policing team
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Groups patrol in a minimum group of two and register them on a forum.
The local policing team also look at the forum before the patrols take place, to know where the group is going.
As a Street Watch member, you will patrol your local area for at least two hours every month, at times which suit you. You will patrol in 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 street watch jacket. Your local street watch 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. 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 policing team, but do not get involved. If you want to find out more about StreetWatch, please contact your local neighbourhood policing team or download our short leaflet below.
