The Neighbourhood Watch Network can today (November 30) announce that David Huse, OBE, who was head of the London Ambassador Volunteer Programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and former Sales Director for Heinz and Proctor and Gamble, will be the movement’s new chair.

Neighbourhood Watch is the UK’s largest voluntary crime prevention movement with 8.7 million member households* and sees tens of thousands of volunteers sharing information every week to help keep themselves and their communities safe from crime.

“I’m delighted to become chair of this incredible movement of volunteers who do so much to keep their communities safe."

“I want to build on the proven success Neighbourhood Watch has had in lowering crime and develop a wider new vision that reflects the changing face of crime in Britain today.

“My aim is to make our movement even more relevant in modern Britain and to support our members to help address those new and emerging issues.”

David Huse, OBE

At a meeting this week NWN’s Board of Trustees voted David Huse, OBE, to the position of Chair. He takes over from Lynn Farrar who has headed the movement as Chair since July 2016. Lynn will remain a member of the Board of Trustees.

David was an existing Trustee of NWN, and was selected as the new Chair earlier this year following an open trustee recruitment process.

David Huse started his career at Procter and Gamble as Sales and Marketing Director. He moved to Heinz as Sales Director before leading the London Ambassador Volunteer Programme for the Mayor. In 2015 he was CEO of Waterloo200 – the charity set up to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. He also currently works with UNICEF and Deloitte on various projects. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE for services to the voluntary and community sector in the UK.

NWN is the strategic voice for the movement and is supported by the Home Office and sponsors ERA Home Security and the Co-op Insurance.

Formerly known as the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (NHWN), NWN has now converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and changes its name to the Neighbourhood Watch Network.

In addition, four new trustees were also appointed to the NWN Board.

Joe Pearce – NWN Treasurer 

Joe has spent the last eight years at Royal Bank of Canada in London prior to which he held positions at the Financial Services Authority and for KPMG, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked in both Audit & Advisory roles.

Jessica Taplin

Jessica is currently CEO at v•inspired, the nation’s leading youth social action charity. Previously Jessica was CEO at Get Connected, the UK telephone helpline for under 25s, successfully leading its merger with Youth Net to create The Mix. Jessica also headed up Partnerships and Public Engagement at The Big Lottery Fund. In 2014 she won an ACEVO Judge’s Recognition Award for her people centred leadership.

Rachel Griffin

Rachel is CEO of Suzy Lamplugh Trust. She joined Suzy Lamplugh Trust from Victim Support where she managed projects and policy relating to domestic violence, police and crime commissioners and partnership working. Previously she was at Voice for the Child in Care, where she established the Alliance for Child-centred Care. Before going into policy and development, Rachel was a fundraiser for five years, first at the National Deaf Children’s Society and then at The Prince’s Trust.

Kirsty McHugh

Kirsty has been chief executive of ERSA since 2010, the membership body for providers of employment support, during which time she has overseen a fivefold increase in membership and a major expansion of services. Prior to ERSA, Kirsty spent nine years at Business in the Community (BITC) – the national charity dedicated to responsible business.

Recruitment of the new board members was supported by Prospectus.

• Households living in active Neighbourhood Watch areas experience 21% fewer burglaries than similar households. © Hunter and Tseloni, 2016.