§ Mr. Roweasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest information he has about the effect of neighbourhood watch schemes in Chatham.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThere are currently 32 neighbourhood watch schemes in Chatham, covering some 5,250 households. One of the first schemes in Kent was introduced in 1984 at Chatham's Davis estate, covering some 1,250 households. Since its introduction there has been a 57 per cent. reduction in all reported crime including a 58 per cent. reduction in burglaries. Many of the other schemes now active in Chatham have been initiated by local communities following the success of the pioneering scheme at the Davis estate.
§ Mr. Lawlerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the effect of neighbourhood watch schemes in the Bradford area.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThere are now some 45 neighbourhood watch schemes in the Bradford area and there are some encouraging signs of success. For example, in the Wycke area, particularly notable for the close involvement of special constables in neighbourhood watch, there were four burglaries in the first nine months of 1986 compared with 24 in the same period of 1985. Auto crime has also shown a downward trend. Thefts of motor vehicles are down by 41 per cent. and thefts from motor vehicles are down by 11 per cent.