Neighbourhood Watch steps up a gear in the Fens with improved communication

Cambridgeshire Police have launched a system to enable Neighbourhood Watch to become even more active in making communities safer.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Sir Graham Bright, has set up Neighbourhood Alert which allows messages to be targeted at street level to subscribers by email.

Police say the scheme allows Neighbourhood Watch and the police to talk directly to the people they need to, when they need to.

The combined communication and administration system provides a greatly enhanced service to Neighbourhood Watch coordinators, enabling them to administrate themselves, saving police staff time.

The Neighbourhood Alert platform will be used to re-launch eCops, a messaging service that allows local officers direct contact with the public who have signed up to receive alerts.

Free to sign up, members of the public can register according to their interests, reducing information overload and ensuring that they receive targeted messages focused on their own interests.

Messages can include crime prevention advice, details of incidents and appeals for help in reducing crime.

Sir Graham said: “I want new and innovative ways to free up police time and this system does just that by reducing time spent on administration.”