RESIDENTS are being urged to help the community by getting involved in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. A team of co-ordinators have been visiting Royston to encourage people to become active in a bid to reduce crime. Royston Police Community Support Offic

RESIDENTS are being urged to help the community by getting involved in a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

A team of co-ordinators have been visiting Royston to encourage people to become active in a bid to reduce crime.

Royston Police Community Support Officer Penny Tomsett said: "We could have done with more residents coming out and meeting with us. The relationship between the police, the Neighbourhood Watch team and the public is really important.

"For some reason residents find it hard to talk to us. But this is what the visits have been about. If they have a problem they need to make contact."

PCSO Tomsett also said how she would like to see more youngsters involved in the scheme.

"Ideally we would like to get more youngsters helping out. They are just as aware of what's going on as anyone else. It's their community, too," she said.

The team of co-ordinators includes members of the North Herts Crime Prevention Panel, that offer support to neighbourhood watch schemes.

Panel member Geoff Curtis said: "From the people we have seen, it has been quite good feedback. We have been telling them about the neighbourhood and what they can be doing to make it safer.

"The facts suggest that crime does go down significantly when there is a Watch present."

During four visits to Beldam Avenue, Layston Park, Princes Mews and Green Drift the team issued residents with personal alarms, safety chains, leaflets and gave domestic security advice.

PCSO Tomsett added: "Neighbourhood Watch is a good thing. It can help bring a community together, but for it to be a success people need to be part of it.