Police blamed for neighbourhood watch team collapse (From Gazette & Herald)

Police blamed for neighbourhood watch team collapse

5:06pm Thursday 13th December 2001

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A HARPENDEN neighbourhood watch team has collapsed because of a lack of support from police, according to the group's leader.

Mr Steve Lyden-Brown, of Dalkeith Road, agrees with a survey which showed Hertfordshire to be the fourth worst constabulary in the country in last Sunday's Observer newspaper.

He said: "As a local neighbourhood watch team, we have now decided to disband our watch, since we receive so little co-operation from even officers like the community inspector - policemen whose principal responsibility, we would have thought, was to work closely with the community."

The group has been together for four years but recently members have become demoralised by lack of police assistance, he claims.

Police officers had arranged to come and give talks at their meetings but always cancelled or postponed because of staff changes.

An officer had also promised to liaise with Mr Lyden-Brown and notify him of any crimes in the area of Dalkeith Road but failed to do so.

The group co-ordinator added: "Whenever I learn about incidents of vandalism or burglaries, it's from people in the street.

"We know the police have got lots of paper work to do but we need more officers on our streets."

However, Harpenden Community Inspector Mike Hanson said he fully supported Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

He said: "Neighbourhood watch members are our eyes and ears in the local communities and are a useful source of information for us.

"Active neighbourhood watch schemes are invaluable and we fully support and encourage them.

"As such, officers from the community team willingly attend watch meetings and other residents' associations when invited."

Various measures are taken to ensure regular communication between police and watches, including dedicated liaison officers, a recorded crime telephone line and a quarterly newsletter, he claimed.

But Mr Lyden-Brown added: "It's hard work on my part to keep everyone enthusiastic.

"It's more trouble than it's worth now and I have been told that if I leave, no-one wants to take over the management.

"It is only minor things but it doesn't take many minor things like this to disillusion people."

There are more than 400 neighbourhood watch groups in the St Albans district.

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