§ 52. Mr. Sayeedasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes were operative at the end of 1985; how this compares with a year previously; and if he has any indication as to the effectiveness of such schemes in preventing crime.
§ Mr. Giles ShawSome 8,000 neighbourhood watch schemes were operating in England and Wales at the end of 1985, more than double the number in existence a year earlier. As to the effectiveness of such schemes, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Hirst) on 14 January 1986, at column 547.