HC Deb 15 June 1989 vol 154 cc502-3W
10. Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many neighbourhood watch schemes are known to his Department; and what was the equivalent number five years ago.

Mr. John Patten

At the end of March 1989 there were 66,423 neighbourhood watch schemes in England and Wales, covering approximately 3.25 million households. This compares with 3,669 schemes in January 1985—an increase of 62,754, or 1,710 per cent. over the period.