§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to chief constables about the advice given by them to crime watch or anti-crime organisations being run in certain towns by private citizens in respect of the degree of force used in making arrests of people whom they consider have committed a criminal offence.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Home Office crime prevention unit in collaboration with the Home Office crime prevention centre, Stafford, has issued guidance to police forces on the introduction of neighbourhood watch schemes. This stresses co-operation to prevent crime and speedy reporting of suspicious activities to the police and discourages vigilante style direct action.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to launch any publicity campaigns encouraging private citizens to establish their own crime watch or anti-crime organisations to assist police officers in those constabularies where police manning levels are understaffed.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Home Office crime prevention publicity campaign, which was launched in October 1984 in London and the Midlands, featured neighbourhood watch and we are providing all forces with publicity material they can use in support of such schemes.