§ 19. Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are in operation; and what measures his Department uses to monitor their effectiveness.
§ 53. Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are now in operation; and what further increase in their numbers he expects.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThere are over 28,500 schemes in existence in England and Wales, more than three times as many as this time last year, and police reports suggest that numbers will continue to rise in the foreseeable future.
Steps are being taken to monitor the progress of a number of schemes and preliminary indications suggest that, where they are carefully designed and introduced, crime is reduced. The Home Office has commissioned research on the effectiveness of neighbourhood watch in the Metropolitan police district, the results of which are expected later in the year. Further research has also been commissioned. The results of this work will provide useful lessons in developing neighbourhood watch.