Neighbourhood Watch in the Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan Neighbourhood Watch Association held its Annual General Meeting in the Council Offices in Barry on October 16th. Graham Sillett from Barry was elected as Chair, Jane Wattleworth from Penarth was elected as Vice-Chair and Dr. David Ellis from Llantwit Major was elected as Treasurer. The Secretary’s post will be filled when the new administrator is appointed, following the successful bid by The Safer Vale Partnership and the Association to the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Neighbourhood Watch is the largest voluntary organisation in England and Wales with over 2.3 million members and around 90,000 street co-ordinators. Its purposes are to bring neighbours together to create strong, friendly and active communities, where crime and anti-social behaviour are less likely to happen, as well as to promote good citizenship and greater public awareness and participation in the prevention and detection of crime. In the Vale of Glamorgan there are now over 1000 members and over 60 registered individual Watches. The Association offers a range of free services. For example, it provides guidance on how to set up a Watch and advice on keeping safe in the home and community, as well as distributing free signs, window stickers and useful items, such as protective credit card wallets.
The Association is always looking for new members and, in particular, new committee members, particularly from those areas not currently represented on the committee, such as Dinas Powys, Sully, Wenvoe, Rhoose, Cowbridge and the rural Vale. If you are a current member and interested in joining the committee or you wish to know more about Neighbourhood Watch or you want to establish a new Watch, then please register on the national website https://www.ourwatch.org.uk or e-mail: VOGNW@outlook.com