Nobody thinks they will become a victim of crime until it happens. Feelings can range from anger to frustration to embarrassment or hopelessness. With all this going on it can feel overwhelming to know what to do next. Help and support are available.

In this section, we explore what to do if you become a victim of crime, how to report it, and where to find out more information. We also look at reducing risk within communities.

REDUCING RISK WITHIN COMMUNITIES

At Neighbourhood Watch we like to provide you with information about reducing the opportunity for crime to happen, but how about if we could look at the causes that would reduce the possibility of people committing or becoming the victim of the crime in the first place.

For example, it is a well-known fact that by reducing the risk to individuals, we can make them more resilient.  Tackling youth isolation is very important, as a young individual who feels isolated from family or friends, is more vulnerable to the influence of criminal gangs and radical groups who offer friendship and acceptance, leading them to be coerced or forced to work for them.

In a similar way, older people are at risk of becoming a victim of crime, again through loneliness and isolation.  Doorstep scammers and telephone scammers are particularly unscrupulous when it comes to their victims as they know they are more susceptible to their charms!

In this section, we introduce you to our information on reducing risk and hope that you will also look at our campaign about tackling isolation and loneliness - The Calling Tree.