THIS week is National Neighbourhood Watch Week and the county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, has praised to all its members in Essex and thanked them for their for their sterling work.

Mr Hirst said: "Neighbourhood Watch do a very important job in communities throughout Essex. Working with the police they help provide intelligence to officers, support the elderly and vulnerable and go out of their way to make their local area safer.

"Just knowing that Neighbourhood Watch are active in an area can play a large part in preventing crime for happening in the first place.

"The volunteers make a significant contribution towards creating safe and secure communities and have risen to the challenges placed on them during the pandemic, changing the way they are delivering messages and supporting our emergency services by distributing vital crime prevention and safety information. On behalf of the people of Essex, I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who do so much to help keep people safe."

Essex County Neighbourhood Watch Association works to advise residents on how to keep safe, as well as sharing information on crimes in their local area.

The organisation – which has 140,000 members in Essex – has had to adapt some of the ways it works this year, in line with other organisations and businesses following government guidance against Covid-19.

The PFCC contributes £15,000 a year to the Association from its Community Safety Fund which allows the 14 district groups to run projects in their communities.

Clive Stewart, chairman and secretary of Essex County Neighbourhood Watch Association, said: "I am delighted by the ongoing support from the PFCC, especially in these difficult times. Everywhere they go, they mention Neighbourhood Watch and that is important. We really appreciate them.

"They are very, very supportive. I cannot praise them enough."

You can find more details about Neighbourhood Watch in Essex via this link. go to www.essexnwa.co.uk

Essex Police also has information available here.