Our supporters
These companies and organisations are supporters of Neighbourhood and Home Watch in England and Wales.
UK Home Office
The Home Office has provided funding to support our central office and staff since May 2010 as well as the development of our new website and brand repositioning. We work with them on a strategic level, holding regular meetings to discuss issues of importance in government and to our members.
Towergate Insurance
Towergate Insurance is part of the Towergate Group – Europe’s largest independently-owned insurance intermediary. The Group employs over 4,000 staff across 100 UK offices and manages premiums worth around £1.5 billion. Towergate Insurance is passionate about their subject and keen to provide a personal touch. NHWN's goal to build secure and confident communities is aligned to the Towergate Insurance philosophy ‘to insure and help protect all who make up our community’. In 2011 Towergate Insurance sponsored the round yellow Neighbourhood Watch and triangular red Home Watch window stickers with which many people, members and the general public alike, are familiar.
Avocet Hardware
Historically, Avocet Hardware defined the way that locks, handles and other hardware for the replacement window and door market are sold in the UK. Today the company has its eyes firmly on redefining home security – and specifically the safety of uPVC and other double glazed doors.
Avocet’s ABS Snap Secure lock has been designed to stop thieves in their tracks by preventing lock snapping. This form of forced entry is growing in popularity amongst burglars thanks to the ease with which it can be carried out.
In fact it takes just a matter of seconds and nothing more complicated than some simple DIY tools for the Euro cylinder lock that is fitted as standard on all uPVC and double glazed doors to be snapped.
In contrast the ABS Snap Secure lock features a patented system that guarantees against lock snapping. It is one of the first locks of its type to be accredited to the new British Standard TS007 (three stars), is the only retro-fit euro cylinder that has passed the new SS312 Sold Secure Diamond standard, and is approved by Secured by Design.
Proof of the lock’s effectiveness can be seen in Leeds, West Yorkshire, where the city council has now fitted more than 10,000 ABS Snap Secure locks in homes in East Leeds. This, alongside other police initiatives, resulted in a 36 per cent drop in burglary rate in the year to October 2012.
“Crime prevention is the number one aim of Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch and we feel we have a product that can effectively combat this form of crime and hopefully save people a great deal of money and heartache in the long-run,” said Michael Tuck, managing director of Avocet Hardware.
For additional information on the Avocet’s ABS Snap Secure lock visit www.homesecurityandsafety.co.uk or call 01484 725725.
Western Power Distribution
Western Power Distribution (WPD) is the electricity distributor providing power to 7.7 million customers across the Midlands, the South West and South Wales.
Metal theft is a nationwide problem but it has escalated in the last few years. With almost 269,000 substations and 220,000 kilometres of overhead lines and underground cables, WPD is having to deal with an increasing amount of metal theft from their network, which is not only dangerous but also causes disruption and inconvenience for their customers.
It affects their substations – but even overhead and underground lines have become targets, which is hard to believe when you consider the extremely high voltages involved.
It’s lethal and the thieves are dicing with death for very small reward. They’re also putting at risk the lives of WPD engineers who have to repair and replace infrastructure that may have been left in an unsafe condition. Similarly, other innocent people could become victims.
It’s also incredibly inconvenient for customers – especially those who rely on electricity for things like dialysis machines – for often when thefts occur power supplies are disrupted.
In order to combat metal thefts, Western Power has stepped up their security with CCTV, anti-vandal paint, Smart Water and intruder alarms, and they’re working closely with the police at a local and national level. They’ve also recently issued a booklet which identifies all their cables and which is designed to help police and scrap dealers. They’re also using a range of media including television, radio and newspapers to deal proactively with this issue.
Safety is WPD's number one priority and they are working with Neighbourhood Watch to make people aware of the dangers that can occur when the electricity network is tampered with.
