Street Watch teams want to 'give something back'

"This was the perfect opportunity to put something back into the community."

Martin Green is a volunteer with a scheme in Nottinghamshire which offers people the chance to take an active role in keeping their communities safe.

Street Watch was created to tackle low-level issues affecting neighbourhoods and involves volunteers working in pairs in their area and reporting issues they encounter, which can range from broken street lights to anti-social behaviour.

Green said he also wanted to get to know the vulnerable and elderly in the area, so he could "nip in and and make sure they are OK".

Now being rolled out county-wide after a successful pilot scheme, the project has more than 20 active groups and has recently passed more than 100 volunteers.

Green has been patrolling Basford and the Heathfield estate for a month.

He said: "We have problems around our area and rather than just do nothing, this was the perfect opportunity to put something back into the community.

"I walk around and I see issues, like drug taking and anti-social behaviour, but one of the most important things for me is to get to know the community.

"Maybe there are vulnerable people or old people that, while we are on patrol, we can nip in and and make sure they are okay, or maybe they can come to us if they need help."

Street Watch is open to those aged 18-80 and volunteers are given high-vis vests, a liaison officer and a training session which covers safety and protocols.

Those signed up are asked to do a minimum of two hours patrolling a month.

Carlos Dyer, who volunteers in Sherwood and Hyson Green, in Nottingham, said: "Basically, I wanted to make a difference in the community.

"I wanted to help them restore their trust in the police, because half the time people don't think the police are doing a very effective job.

"But this is a joint effort between the community and the police, which will help people understand that things are being done through us volunteers."

During his time with the scheme, Dyer has reported potholes, anti-social behaviour, litter and graffiti.

He said: "The feedback has been so great.

"It is mostly the community coming to us - we are not actually going to them - they are coming to us and saying 'your presence here is so good'."

Nottinghamshire PCSO Megan Tuffley, who is coordinating the scheme, said: "This is not to replace the work that police are already doing, it is not replacing any neighbourhood officers or PCSOs.

"Volunteers are asked to report things, so we have a better idea of what is happening in the community.

"They are not expected to get involved in tackling any crime, they are not expected to pick up litter.

"Community has broken down over time and we are trying to build it up again through Street Watch."

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