This category celebrates the innovative way a volunteer brings communities together, and encourages more people to join together and engage with Neighbourhood Watch in their communities. This might be a coordinator who has overcome challenges or used unique and innovative ways to encourage others to join Neighbourhood Watch, perhaps those who traditionally might not have joined. 

Our winner: Graham Mallett 

Graham’s nomination
Under Graham's leadership, the system has been transformed into a proactive gateway for building safer, better-informed communities. Free to join, Dorset Alert delivers timely, credible information that empowers residents to take preventative action and stay alert to emerging risks. Graham has expertly championed the principle that forewarned is forearmed, showing how advanced warning supports preparedness, reduces fear of crime, and fosters collaboration between residents and the police.  

 Graham's project had clear and measurable aims:  

  • Establish and grow new and existing Neighbourhood Watch groups. 
  • Increase Dorset Alert subscribers by 15% within six months. 
  • Strengthen public visibility of local safety awareness using branded signage that deters criminal activity. 
  • Incorporate QR codes into window stickers, enabling residents to easily promote sign-ups to neighbours and visitors. 
  • Equip Watch coordinators with practical resources and official recognition to reflect their vital community role. 
  • Collaborate with Dorset Police’s Resilient Community Coordinators to align with national best practices in community safety. 
  • Raise awareness of the need to report all suspicious activity even when police attendance isn’t immediate to support intelligence-led policing. 
  • Provide accessible guidance through online platforms like My Safer Dorset and My Safer Bournemouth to help residents navigate a wide range of local safety concerns. 
  • Promote the ‘Stay Safe’ campaign, offering simple, effective crime prevention advice in both print and digital formats.  

This multi-pronged approach has built not only stronger Watch groups but also more resilient, connected communities. Through his tireless work, Graham has shown how digital tools, and grassroots involvement can meaningfully reduce crime risk, increase public confidence in policing, and ensure crime reporting and awareness are woven into the fabric of daily life.  

Graham Mallett’s strategic vision, operational excellence, and dedication to public service make him an outstanding candidate for recognition.