TORY COUNCIL FAILS TO DELIVER ON NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

12.00.00am GMT Mon 31st Jan 2005

Despite accepting 50 per cent funding from the Metropolitan Police, the Conservative Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Colin Smith, acknowledged* that the Council has failed to maintain Neighbourhood Watch services.

'Watchword', once depended on by Neighbourhood Watch local co-ordinators, has not been sent to its volunteer workforce since last September.

"Under this Conservative Council, 'low-level' and anti-social crime has reached an all-time high. There is more reason than ever to use local knowledge and action to keep local crime and vandalism in check. But this Council has seen fit to stop the very publication that local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators depended on to keep informed," said Jef Foulger, PPC for Beckenham Liberal Democrats.

Neighbourhood Watch, which was once under the umbrella of the Metropolitan Police, led by a police officer, is now run by the Council.

"Bromley Council has short-changed Neighbourhood Watch volunteers," said Denise Payton, Lib Dem councillor for Clock House. "With just a part-time co-ordinator employed to run the whole operation across the Borough of Bromley, and no back-up to cover leave or sickness, how could it fail to fail?"

Note to the Editor:

• ref. Council Questions 24 January 2005: asked by Cllr Denise Payton of Cllr Colin Smith, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety.

· 'Watchword' was available printed and email communication - serving all the needs of co-ordinators, those who have access to pc and enjoy the speed of communication, and those who don't. Neither have been issued since last September.

· Neighbourhood Watch local co-ordinators have not had any communication at all for so long, several have reported that 'they thought that Neighbourhood Watch has stopped altogether'.