§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes there are in each South Yorkshire police division; and by what percentage the crime rate has fallen or risen since these schemes began.
§ Mr. John PattenI understand from the chief constable of South Yorkshire that the first neighbourhood watch schems in his police force area was established in June 1984 and that by the end of June 1988 the total number of schemes had increased to 718. The following table shows the number of schemes in each police division:
Division Number of neighbourhood watch schemes Doncaster 152 Barnsley 76 Rotherham 63 West Bar 44 South Sheffield 241 North Sheffield 142 718
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is considering asking the insurance companies to offer special rates to neighbourhood watch scheme members.
§ Mr. John PattenA number of insurance companies already offer discounts or other incentives to policyholders who belong to neighbourhood watch schemes and—or take certain security precautions. We welcome such initiatives; and we take the opportunity of regular contacts with the Association of British Insurers to encourage further moves of this kind.