Most of us will heard of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme – it is, after all, one of the most recognisable and long-standing community-led crime prevention initiatives.

And a new group – Gamlingay & Hatley – has been set up for Gamlingay and us in the Hatleys, with a specific Facebook page too.

Since its inception in 1982, Neighbourhood Watch has grown into a nationwide movement comprising millions of volunteers dedicated to making their streets safer and supporting their neighbours.

While the classic yellow signs are a familiar sight, the real benefits of Neighbourhood Watch extend well beyond visible deterrents – at its heart, it is about making communities safer:

• Bringing our community together.
• Neighbours looking out for one another.
• Reassuring the community.
• Reducing crime – and reducing the fear of crime.
• Better connected with the police.
• Favoured by insurance companies.
• Join NHW – it’s free… just follow the 1-2-3 steps below.
• Current Neighbourhood Watch newsletter.

You can belong – how to join

Nigel Stevenson (left), who lives in Gamlingay, is the new NHW co-ordinator for the Gamlingay and Hatley’s Neighbourhood Watch scheme – he has taken over from Sue Barrett, who retired in May after many years as the hardworking co-ordinator for NHW locally.

“As Sue always reminded us, our community is best served when we’re all members,” says Nigel.

“All I’d like you to do is to join up – that’s it!

“You don’t have to do anything other than be a member and put the free sticker in your window to show everyone you’re part of the Neighbourhood Watch.

“It’s free, really easy to join and takes about a minute:

1.  Visit the NHW website www.ourwatch.org/find-your-local-nw.
2.  Put your postcode in the search box, click on ‘search’ and a list of local NHW groups will appear – click on ‘Gamlingay & Hatley’.
3.  Scroll down to the link to join the NHW.

“Once you join, I’ll deliver your Neighbourhood Watch sticker. I hope to see you soon.”

You can contact Nigel via…

Email  gamlingay-hatley@outlook.com.
Facebook  Gamlingay & Hatley Neighbourhood Watch.

Police on side, too

Cambs police is putting community safety and local accountability at the forefront of its policing efforts:

• Residents in every neighbourhood now have named police officers dedicated to their area – for us they are…
  • PC James Lynch James.Lynch@cambs.police.uk.
  • PCSO Karen Davey Karen.Davey@cambs.police.uk.

They are the first point of contact for local policing matters, committed to building lasting relationships with residents and community groups.

If you have information you’d like to pass onto the police but don’t want to do it directly, you can email Nigel at gamlingay-hatley@outlook.com who can pass it on anonymously.

Deterring crime

Nigel continues: “The presence of an active Watch is a proven deterrent to crime, from burglary and vandalism to anti-social behaviour

• Criminals are far less likely to target areas where they know residents are vigilant, connected – and proactive.
• Numerous studies have shown that areas with active Neighbourhood Watch groups experience lower rates of crime compared to those without.

“While you are fortunate in Hatley not to suffer a great deal of crime, it’s not something you should ignore – but all crime impacts us when we’re the victims or we know the victims.”

NHW signs and wheelie bin stickers

Nigel is planning to put up Neighbourhood Watch signs around Gamlingay and Hatley, so please let him know if you have any suggestions for where you’d like to see them: gamlingay.hatley@outlook.com.

He has also ordered some wheelie bin stickers – again these are available should you want one for one of your bins: just drop him an email.

_{Post created by Peter Mann on 23rd July 2025; updated 3rd October 2025.}