Make Spalding safer by setting up Neighbourhood Watch

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Spalding and South Holland residents are being urged to set up Neighbourhood Watch groups in their streets to help beat a credit crunch surge in the number of burglaries.

The message comes from Lincolnshire Police and follows an announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that she will be holding a "burglary summit" in an attempt to get on the front foot and prevent a surge in burglary that might be expected in a time of recession.

Lincolnshire Police south division community safety administrator Sally Picker said setting up a Neighbourhood Watch group is an opportunity to improve home security, increase vigilance and foster a greater community spirit.

She said: "Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Group is the perfect way to protect your community from criminals.

"The activities of NHW groups reduce the opportunities for acquisitive crime and reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

"The co-ordinator also gets regular crime intelligence reports from the police to pass on to other members.

"And the groups also create a real sense of community, where mutual co-operation and communication can thrive.

"Basically it's an opportunity for communities to be proactive and to work with the police to help themselves."

Anyone interested in setting up a group can call Sally Picker on 01476 403331.