What is Neighbourhood Watch?
Neighbourhood Watch is a partnership where people come together to make their communities safer. It involves the Police, Community Safety departments in Local Authorities, other voluntary organisations and above all, individuals and families who want to make their neighbourhoods better places to live. It aims to help people protect themselves and their properties and to reduce the fear of crime by means of improved home security, greater vigilance, accurate reporting of suspicious incidents to the police and by fostering a community spirit.
More information can be found on the National Neighbourhood Watch Network website: https://OURWATCH.org.uk
Newsletters and Information
Please find below the recent uploads in 2025
miltonernest-pc.gov.uk/…/Document_2025-08-08_124725-for-pc-website.pdf
miltonernest-pc.gov.uk/…/Safer-Bedford-for-PC-website.pdf
Annual Neighbourhood Watch Report 2026
Neighbourhood Watch Annual Report – 2024 25
If you would like to view any previous material please see below.
Neighbourhood Watch Annual Report 2023 – 2024
2024 Spring Summer Milton Ernest
2023 Autumn Winter Milton Ernest
March 2024 – Coffee with a Cop
Objectives of Neighbourhood Watch?
• § To prevent crime – By improving security, increasing vigilance, creating and maintaining a caring community and reducing opportunities for crime by increasing crime prevention awareness.
• § To assist the police in detecting crime – By promoting the effective communication and the prompt reporting of suspicious and criminal activity.
• § To reduce undue fear of crime – By providing accurate information about risks and by promoting a sense of security and community spirit, particularly amongst the more vulnerable members of the village.
• § To encourage residents to use the 101 telephone number, or the online reporting facility on Bedfordshire Police website, to report crimes or suspicious activity.
Milton Ernest has an active Neighbourhood Watch team with over half the village homes involved.
Our aim is to:
• § Reduce the opportunities for crimes to occur
• § Reduce the fear of crime
• § Create a community spirit
• § Promote community safety
• § Improve the quality of life for villagers
There is no cost to join the scheme and we will give you a free introduction package of window sticker, ‘No Cold Calling’ sticker and ‘Stay Safe’ booklet and other useful leaflets.
Joining the scheme also gives you access to Beds Alert, the Police and Fire Service messaging system; which is also used by Action Fraud and other agencies.
You can get more information from your Street Coordinator, or Hazel Snowball, the Area Coordinator for the village, on 822303.
To join, please go to https://ourwatch.org.uk and click on “find your local scheme”. You can then follow the registration and joining menu.