People living in a West Yorkshire village are fighting back against crime and anti-social behaviour with the formation of a new community group.
Last week, a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme was officially founded to tackle criminal and anti-social activity in Thornhill, following the intervention of Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Dewsbury, Mark Eastwood.
After receiving hundreds of responses from a crime and anti-social behaviour survey delivered to homes throughout the constituency, Mark worked with local people and representatives of West Yorkshire police to set up a meeting and help form the new group.
Following a response to his survey on crime and antisocial behaviour from Thornhill resident, Brian Leach, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Mark Eastwood, was able to help in setting up the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme on Wednesday evening (October 2).
“I was delighted to be able to assist people in Thornhill in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in their area” Mark said.
“I have been inundated by hundreds of responses to my survey from residents across the constituency, who are all concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour where they live.
“Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, is just one way people can help to tackle the issues in their area.
“Once I have received all the surveys back, I will respond to each one outlining both my plan and Boris Johnson’s wider plan to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
“The Prime Minister’s announcement on recruiting 20,000 extra police officers is great news and a major step forward and I will be fighting to make sure Dewsbury gets its fair share of the new officers.
“However, it is also vital we feedback the information from these surveys, so that the Government and West Yorkshire Police are able tackle the issues that residents have highlighted.”
Newly-appointed Thornhill Neighbourhood Watch Scheme co-ordinator, Brian Leach said: “On behalf of the residents who attended the meeting, I would like to thank Mark for helping to organise it with the West Yorkshire Police Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator, who provided us with the information and tools we need to help prevent instances of crime and antisocial behaviour in our area.
“Not only that, but we see the setting up the Watch as something that will pull Thornhill people together and establish a much-needed sense of pride and community spirit in our neighbourhood.”
Mark is keen to help people from any community set up similar Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and can be contacted through this website.
