A new scheme has been launched in Northamptonshire to encourage neighbours to help fight crime across the county.

The Northamptonshire Neighbourhood Watch Association has been awarded a £9,460 grant from the Making Northamptonshire Safer Community Fund – managed by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation – to build group visibility and reduce crime countywide.

The initiative, called Operation Target, is a partnership between Neighbourhood Watch and Northamptonshire Police, to develop crime prevention, reporting and awareness across the county.

“The grant is a real boost for our ambitious plans for Operation Target to build the visibility and membership of Neighbourhood Watch in crime hotspots. It is also about strengthening and developing deeper partnerships with our Police and the OPCC to achieve this work.”

Nick King, chair of NNWA

The project began in January and will work across a number of districts in the county. Neighbourhood Watch groups will be encouraged to build their visibility and membership, and to strengthen the resolve to reduce crime and increase vigilance.

“We work closely with Neighbourhood Watch and this initiative will allow us to strengthen that relationship while at the same time as increasing the awareness of crime prevention advice with our many different communities."

“The core functions of neighbourhood policing is community engagement, visibility, accessibility, problem-solving and partnership working, so this scheme fully supports the work we do while increasing our reach.”

“It is my hope this work, alongside our new Neighbourhood Alert system will mean we are able to effectively communicate with more people across Northamptonshire.”

Chief Inspector Lara Alexander-Lloyd from Northamptonshire Police

The project will work across a number of districts in the county and encourage Neighbourhood Watch groups to build their visibility and increase vigilance.

If you live in Northamptonshire and want to hear directly from your local police officers on the Neighbourhood Alert system or to join Neighbourhood Watch click here.