Shropshire Neighbourhood Watch volunteers in decline
Neighbourhood Watch Schemes across Shropshire are under review following a "worrying" decline in volunteers, a police chief said.
Immediate action is needed to revitalise the network, said Bill Longmore, Police Crime Commissioner for West Mercia Police.
His deputy Barrie Sheldon told the Shropshire Star: "It wasn't so long ago there were 9,000 people involved and now there are 2,600, so we need to work out where those 6,000 have gone."
Mr Longmore added: "This is a vitally important part of community policing. It is now under review and we are creating a strategy to build it up again, modernise it with new ideas and an inject some new blood into it."
Connie Baines, a Bridgnorth Town Councillor and former police officer who was awarded an MBE for her work on crime prevention, said schemes had hit a low.
She said: "I have been involved in the scheme for 30 years but we're losing hundreds of volunteers because people have forgotten about it.
"People do have a lot of information. It's quite worrying that the schemes are in a decline because with the darker nights coming we need to be keeping an eye out for our neighbours."
Mrs Baines has set up a meeting on November 14 between 7pm and 8.30pm for anyone interested in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Bridgnorth. It will be held in the annex next to College House on St Leonards Close, Bridgnorth.
Leaders of farm watch and pub watch schemes in Shropshire have also raised concerns.
John McGuiness, vice chairman of the North Shropshire Neighbourhood and Farm Watch Association said: "We don't get many people sign up. There seems to be a reluctance for people to join. They moan and groan about what's going on but don't do anything.
"People are so complacent because they know the area is a low crime area, but when we do have problems, we have problems," he added.
Helen Cork Shropshire, county adviser for the National Farmers' Union, said Farm Watch groups have an important role to play.
She said: "The NFU regularly meets senior officers of West Mercia Police to discuss rural crime and to look at ways the farming community can help to deter thieves."
However, membership of Pubwatch schemes appears to be holding up.
Trevor Pepper, national Pubwatch committee member for the West Midlands, said: "Pubwatch is active in Shropshire, there is quite a few schemes, particularly in Shrewsbury and south Shropshire. Membership is relatively steady but with the recession people tend to concentrate on their business which is very understandable.
In Market Drayton a new scheme has been launched this week and eight premises have signed up.
Constable Mick Sturland from the town's Safer Neighbourhood Team said he hoped more would soon follow.
