* Grahame Stehle is the district co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Watch in Colchester and works with 94 co-ordinators to support a membership of 4,000 people. He is a volunteer, as are all the co-ordinators.

NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch helps reduce crime in the community and works with the police and other organisations in Colchester to make this happen.

As co-ordinators, we advise members of crimes that have occurred in their community and, if necessary, encourage them to take additional precautions.

We accompany crime reports with relevant and additional information about crime prevention.

Crime prevention advice ranges from very simple procedures, like shutting and locking doors and windows and hiding the keys, to knowing how to spot fraud and prevent one’s personal details being used to steal money and property.

We have a website which is a repository of Crime Prevention Advice and the link is www.colchesternhw.org.uk.

The site is free to use and its construction was funded by Colchester Council.

The benefits of membership are tangible and worth having.

NhW and Crimestoppers street signs, together with stickers in windows, deter burglars and discourage drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Members know how to report a crime and suspicions can be reported online direct to Essex Police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Insurance companies offer a small discount on home contents insurance.

Additionally, security products like shed and window alarms are sometimes available from our stock.

Above all, members know that other members are looking out for them.

Members are not spies nor snitches, but genuinely concerned for others in the community.

Gazette:

Crime-fighter - chief inspector Rob Huddleston

My job is to help community-minded people to start schemes in their community and then to build the membership.

Our website allows residents of Colchester to join Neighbourhood Watch and to make enquiries about how to start a scheme in their road, estate or village.

The role of co-ordinator is not onerous and takes about 20 minutes a week.

Of course, there is the background task of building the membership and I provide posters, leaflets, window stickers, membership guides and street signs, all of which encourage people to join.

The Home Office and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex fund Neighbourhood Watch.

Neighbourhood Watch helps reduce crime in the community and works with the police and other organisations in Colchester to make this happen.

We work with The Safer Colchester Partnership, Crimestoppers, Essex Fire and Rescue, Community Agents Essex, The Youth Enquiry Service, Community 360 and others.

Our common goal is to reduce crime and create better and more caring communities.

Chief Inspector Rob Huddleston, district commander for Colchester, said: “Neighbourhood Watch makes communities safer and I thoroughly recommend joining.

“Not only does it provide access to regular updates on crime in your area, but Grahame also provides crime prevention advice, details of crime reduction initiatives and the visible signs do deter criminals.”

Assistant chief constable Rachel Nolan also recently thanked members for supporting Essex Police and for their contribution in keeping the county a safe place to live.

She said: “We really appreciate the work of the Neighbourhood Watch, its values and the commitment, dedication and support of all their coordinators and members, in volunteering for their community.”