Cranham and Upminster launched Street Watch this Saturday 13th June 2015.

Dame Angela Watkinson said:

I am delighted that the Street Watch project is on the starting blocks. Many thanks to the first volunteers who are making this possible and hopefully encouraging others to join the scheme. Having familiar faces in the neighbourhood will help to make people feel secure while providing extra eyes and ears for our police.

Sergeant Kenneth McNish and  PC Belinda Rooney of the Cranham Neighbourhood Policing Team have been the prime movers in getting this new initiative up and running.This scheme is being piloted in Cranham and Upminster with the intention to go Borough wide in the near future:

The idea is that trained and vetted members of the community will patrol the streets of their neighbourhood wearing high visibility vests and become extra eyes and ears for the police and Neighbourhood Watch.

Sergeant McNish said that the aims of Street watch are -

to prevent crime by increasing visibility and maintaining a caring and cohesive community

to assist the police by promoting effective communication and prompt reporting of activity

to increase feelings of safety by promoting a sense of security and community spirit

He appealed to residents that If they see members of the public wearing high vis jackets with the emblem Street Watch patrolling in Cranham and Upminster please say hello and consider getting involved themselves. The benefits of involvement are:

To help your community by patrolling (with another volunteer for only two hours per month)To meet new friends within your neighbourhood and help build stronger sense of community cohesion

To get to know your community and local area better

To take part in local social events

To keep fit and healthy

To be a visible and re-assuring presence to their community.

Volunteers can patrol on any date at any time that suits them and can book patrols and exchange information online via a dedicated website.

If you would like to become involved please contact either Kenneth or Belinda on 020 8721 2578 or cranham.snt@met.police.uk