Cumbria Neighbourhood
Watch Association
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Charity No - 1092522
Company No. 05854713
"The vision of CNWA is that Cumbria will be a safer and stronger place to live, work and visit" In an emergency always dial 999.
CNWA News
A Few Words from the Chair
Dr John Perkins
I was delighted to be elected as Chair of the Association and look forward to meeting as many members as possible over the coming months and talking with you about how the Association can support you and the invaluable work you all do on behalf of your communities.
Although I have only been an Area Co-ordinator for a little over a year I have quickly recognised the value of NHW, not just in reporting unwelcome white vans and dodgy fish salesmen, but in encouraging neighbourliness and community activity and in providing a helpful and supportive infrastructure through which people, particularly the more vulnerable in society, can feel safer and more secure at home and when going about their lawful business.
I know that NHW in Cumbria is strongly supported by the Constabulary and by the County and District Councils, and they in turn recognise the role that NHW plays in supporting their work in promoting Safer and Stronger communities. It would be good also to think that nationally the Home Office would make that recognition rather than paying lip service to it. The Casey report for example mentions NHW only briefly and then to say it is in decline, which is certainly not the case in Cumbria. It also talks about ‘Crime Watch’ presumably to confuse the unwary. The Home Office Crime and Disorder Web Site has a page of links to relevant organisations but doesn’t include a link to Neighbourhood Watch – the biggest voluntary organisation in the country!
Apart from being the Chair of the Cumbria NWA I also represent the North West in the National NH&HW Network and will certainly make our views about the need for greater national support for NHW as strongly as I can.
The Board were delighted that David Farmer was appointed as Special Project Manager within Cumbria County Council to look with the Association and its partners at how we can best develop our role going forward. His ideas are presented cogently in his article and I would urge you to provide your ideas and comments to David or to me. As he says in his article you are Neighbourhood Watch.
Dr John Perkins