It could be considered that NHW has its roots in the early laws and customs of England. To quote the dictionary of British History, "Failure to raise or to participate in the hue and cry was a punishable offence in a statute of 1275, and the custom survives in the obligation to assist the police in apprehending a suspected criminal".

Coming forward in time a little, a scheme called Home Alert formed in Oakland California in 1967 is credited with being the more modern interpretation of the partnership between the police and the community. The idea was said to have been brought back to this country by a group of police officers that had visited the USA in 1982 and in the same year a group was formed in Mollington Cheshire. There is now an estimated 10 million members throughout the UK belonging to 155,00 schemes and there are currently 4,600 Watches throughout Essex. During the 1980s Neighbourhood Watch grew to an extent where it had established itself countrywide and is now the largest voluntary organisation in the UK.

In 1995 The National Neighbourhood Watch Association was formed to promote, support and represent the Neighbourhood Watch movement. Its mission statement is: "To make Neighbourhood Watch a Centre of Excellence for Community Safety". The Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Police Federation, the Superintendents' Association and the Local Government Association support it. It is sponsored by many large public companies and is in partnership with BBC Local Radio.
Please visit their site at http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbourhoodwatch

The Colchester office of Hill House Hammond are the sponsors for the Colchester Borough scheme and offer substantial cash back vouchers on insurance to all members together with other benefits. For details please visit their site at http://www.hhh.co.uk/

The Community Safety Department of Essex Police has been working in partnership with Neighbourhood Watch for the past few years, assisting in the foundation of a County Association.

The Association has proved to be invaluable in restructuring Watches throughout the County, and as a support and source of assistance.

The Association consists of nine representatives who are drawn from each of the divisions, plus an elected Chair who meets with the Chief Constable on a regular basis. The Chairman also sits on the National Neighbourhood Watch Association. There is therefore, a means of passing communications from the top down and vice versa.

The Community Safety Department has provided much assistance to the Association in several areas of work. The message in a bottle scheme, aimed at the elderly and vulnerable was launched recently, and a Countywide NHW web site was launched in April 2001. This will link members to each other and permit the rapid exchange of information.

Colchester Borough Neighbourhood Watch was restructured in January 2001. A tier structure, constitution, rules and regulations together with aims and objectives were all formulated and put in place. Fresh literature for co-ordinators including starter packs, introductory letters for new members and operational guidelines were also implemented. Co-ordinators are encouraged to produce newsletters and to disseminate information quickly.

We welcome any enquiries and will give support in helping to call a meeting in any area within the Borough and its environs for prospective new schemes. Assistance from representatives of the Borough Committee, the police, crime reduction and community safety will be given if required.