Neighbourhood Watch continues to have an increasingly important role in the prevention and detection of burglaries, says South Worcestershire's top detective.

"Daily, 10,000-plus Neighbourhood Watch members play a key part in the fight against crime by watching over their own homes and those of their neighbours; this cannot be under-estimated in terms of both deterrent and detection," said Det. Ch, Insp. Graham Smith.

"While NW groups are generally considered as being mainly a deterrent, with their well-promoted and 'sign-posted' activities, members periodically provide us with early information based on their suspicions that lead to actual arrests and convictions.

Det. Ch. Inspector Smith was speaking following the Divisional launch yesterday (28th April) of Operation Protect', an initiative focusing on helping people protect their homes and property from hieves looking for easy targets.

The 'Operation Protect' initiative is part of a wider, long-running West Mercia Constabulary 'Safe & Secure' campaign aimed at increasing home security and reducing the fear of crime, as well as tackling anti-social behaviour and vehicle-related crime.

One of South Worcestershire's NW successes resulted in the arrest - involving a police pursuit - and conviction of a persistent burglar who was highly active in the southern part of the Division and the neighbouring northern section of Gloucestershire. This success came after a Beckford member recognised a vehicle identified in a NW bulletin.

Not as dramatic - and not a burglary - but almost equally close to home was the surveillance work of a St Johns, Worcester NW co-ordinator who identified and recorded on a street CCTV system an early hours' milk thief.  

Adrian Symonds, Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for South Worcestershire's 1,800-plus schemes, said: "NW brings together responsible members of local communities - in partnership with the police and other agencies - to reduce and deter crime.

"It is the co-operative effort of our Neighbourhood Watch members that is so mportant. Obviously our society cannot afford to have a police officer stationed on every street corner 24 hours a day. Consequently, much of the work done by police has to be responsive - they are not usually called until after the event.

"This is where Neighbourhood Watch comes in as members are usually in a better position than police to notice unusual activity. Even the Local Policing Officer is unlikely to spot the stranger in the street, but local people will, especially in one of the more active and established NW areas."

While police gratefully respond to the flow of information from NW members, there is an equally important conduit where members receive key messages from the police via local co-ordinators, primarily to: jog people's memories and appealing for witnesses let everyone know that it is advisable to review security and remain vigilant.

Mr Symonds said that, increasingly, Neighbourhood Watch is also undertaking 'crime reduction' measures, such as holding property-marking events – for members and non-members - when crime reduction advice is also distributed. In this way, NW further tends to avert crimes - greatly adding to the effectiveness of the police and the organisation.

"The SmartWater identification and marking system is a prime example of this. While the district NW associations are undertaking the sales/money handling, the street schemes are, in many cases, canvassing their members  to see if they would like to buy it.

"Since the Wychavon and Malvern Hills schemes began in the middle of last year and the Worcester scheme was launched in January 2009, 2,000 packs have been sold."