A NEW association of neighbourhood watch groups has been launched in order to help police fight crime in Ryedale.

At an inaugural meeting held at Scarborough’s Eastfield Police Station last week, a unanimous decision was taken to launch a new organisation to be known as Ryedale, Scarborough, Whitby and Filey (RSWF) neighbourhood watch association, incorporating Rural Watch.

The nine “area lead” neighbourhood watch co-ordinators will each having voting rights within the new association.

Terry Wallis, who accepted the role of the association’s chairman, said: “The establishment of this new association is against a background of heavy demands being made upon our police service resources, and the potential that in common with many other police services, we may face potential declines in officer numbers.

“In any case, with the advent of Citizens in Policing, there is becoming an increasing trend towards more emphasis upon support from within communities to support the police in their fight against crime.

“Hence, in this part of North Yorkshire we have been reviewing how best our area lead neighbourhood watch co-ordinators could come together in order to become more effective.

“The focus of the new association is to be upon the need for consolidation to support North Yorkshire Police in times of limited police officer resources against ever increasing demands being made upon them, bearing in mind that our county is the largest in England.”

He said the association will facilitate a two-way messaging service between their co-ordinators and police, and also provide literature such as brochures, street signs and window stickers to the community.

Mr Wallis said: “Neighbourhood Watch is the UK’s largest voluntary movement, and in partnership with the police, our shared aim is to prevent and reduce crime and to keep people safe in their communities.

“With the substantial increase in cybercrime, child exploitation and the continued threats of terrorism in our society, Neighbourhood Watch has had to move with the times to extend its responsibilities to help combat all of these issues – and more.”