A Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is a partnership between communities and the police. It is a partnership to prevent or reduce the opportunities for crime and increase the likelihood of catching criminals.

Schemes are likely to be organised and do things differently from area to area. The police recognise this and so hold regular meetings of Watch Scheme Co-ordinators to share information.

Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary crime prevention group in the country with over 10 million members.

Neighbourhood Watch started in the UK in 1982 in Mollington in Cheshire where residents found that since the start of the scheme the level of crime substantially reduced.

To find out more about neighbourhood watch in Cambridgeshire visit the county website