Recognition of schemes

The latest Ourwatch Volunteer newsletter is very encouraging, promotes increased diversity to recruit people from all walks of life.

We support all community members becoming also Neighbourhood Watch members.

The Ourwatch shop is soon to sell Neighbourhood Watch street watch signs with specific guidance on the legality of putting them up. See guidance repeated below *

As far as we understand anybody can order them. But, you are advised to contact your local association prior to doing so.

Just to reiterate, our street watch signs for recognised schemes look like this, they are sponsored by Tower Hamlets Council with support from Metropolitan Police and look decidedly different from the ones you may order from the Ourwatch shop.

Tower Hamlets THNWA authorised street signs they are 400 x 600 mm large

It must be possible for people to easily find out whether a scheme is recognised or not and the only website, which enables people to check of a scheme is recognised is the Ourwatch website. Put in a post code and see if there are recognised schemes.

* Guidance for putting up street signs

Street signs are a great way of showing that your community cares about preventing crime.

Each individual scheme is responsible for deciding where to hang signs and for putting up the signs securely and maintaining them. Sign Location and Fitting Formal planning permission should not be required to fit new signs which comply with the 1992 Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations (see below).

You should, however, notify your local authority as to the location of each sign and ensure that any fixing equipment complies with their regulations. In some cases, the local police and/or your local area Association may have prior agreements with the local authority as to the type and fitting of each sign.

Generally, signs must not be illuminated, be at least 2.2 metres above street level but no higher than 3.6 metres above street level and ideally placed on concrete and steel lamp columns maintained by the local authority.

If a suitable place to fit a sign cannot be found, consideration may be given to placing in on a post, wall or fencing on private land. Written permission from the land owner is necessary before a sign can be erected in this way.

Neighbourhood Watch street signs must NOT be placed on the following:

Any road traffic sign
Any road traffic signal
A telegraph, telephone and electricity columns (unless express permission from the company has been given).

All recognised Neighbourhood Watch schemes following the above guidelines, in line with local policy, will be covered by Public Liability Insurance, free of charge.

Please note: We recommend everybody contacts their area Association before erecting any signs as there may be local variations to rules. Find their details here.