Crime Prevention Research Review
Does Neighbourhood Watch Reduce Crime?
Considering such large investments of resources and community involvement in the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, it is important to ask whether it is effective in reducing crime. Therefore, this report reviewed all available studies evaluating the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch programmes in reducing crime. The publication summarises the findings of this review and discusses policy implications.
Title: Does Neighbourhood Watch Reduce Crime?
Author: Katy Holloway, Trevor Bennett and David P. Farrington
Number of pages: 46
Date published: 2008
Availability: Download full report 
PDF 851Kb
Summary of findings
Some evaluations showed that Neighbourhood Watch was associated with a reduction in crime, others showed that it was associated with an increase in crime, while others provided uncertain results.
The strongest finding of this review relates to the mean effect size estimate produced by the meta-analysis. This indicated that, across all eligible studies combined, Neighbourhood Watch was associated with a reduction in crime. It is not immediately clear why Neighbourhood Watch is associated with a reduction in crime; however, it is possible that the reductions were associated with some of the essential features of the Neighbourhood Watch programmes as discussed earlier. Neighbourhood Watch might serve to increase surveillance, reduce opportunities, and enhance informal social control. Unfortunately, this kind of information is not provided in the majority of evaluations and the precise reasons for the reduction cannot be determined.
Neighbourhood Watch has often been described as one of the most widespread methods of reducing crime. It is supported by the UK and United States governments and is popular among the public and the police (Sims, 2001). The current review provides some evidence that Neighbourhood Watch can be effective in reducing crime; however, the results of evaluations are mixed and show that some programmes work well while others appear to work less well or not at all. There are several possible reasons for this and the review discusses each in turn.
Getting a copy
Download full report PDF 851Kb
Last update: Wednesday, September 17, 2008