From protecting allotments and farms to safeguarding our heritage – there’s a Watch scheme for you

Alongside Neighbourhood Watch, did you know we run our own Watch schemes, under the umbrella of Essex Watch?

Each scheme is individually tailored and operates slightly differently.

Some schemes are run on a countywide basis, such as Heritage Watch, Dog Watch, Caravan Watch and Marine Watch.

Farm & Rural Watch operates on a district basis while Allotment Watch and Business Watch are even more localised.

There’s also a new Essex Horse Rider Volunteer Scheme which encourages riders to report suspicious activity in the countryside and keep an eye on nearby historical sites.

Essex Watch liaison officer (EWLO) Paul Harris explains:

“The basic aims of all Essex Watch schemes are to encourage members to be vigilant, work together where appropriate, report suspicious activity and improve members’ crime prevention & security knowledge.”

Paul and his EWLO colleagues Kevin Blake and Terry Fowles promote our various Watch schemes and recruit members at various events around the county. They liaise with the members, Essex Police and other partner agencies to encourage them all to work together with the ultimate aim of keeping people’s property and animals safe.  

Paul says:

“We support our Watch schemes with regular, weekly tailored crime updates and provide appropriate crime prevention and other useful advice, where necessary. Sometimes we’ll organise or attend scheme meetings too.”

Find out more about our Watch schemes and join up!

At Essex Police, we value difference, and know that we’re strongest when we all work together.

If you share our values and want to protect and serve our communities, why not join us?

If you think you could protect and serve the people of Essex, either as a police officer, member of staff or volunteer, why not see if you fit the bill?

Find out more by visiting our careers page.