THE CRIME PREVENTION PEOPLE™
Motorola and Neighbourhood Watch Beating Crime Together
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Over 155,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes and 6 million households set to benefit
A new agreement between Motorola and the National Neighbourhood Watch
Association
(NNWA) is set to improve safety and reduce crime in communities
across the UK. There are 155,000 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the UK
comprising more than 6 million households, which constitutes over 27% of UK
households.
By using the radios for the instant communication of information to other NNWA
members and, in some cases, local police officers, it is hoped that problems
such as car crime, anti-social behaviour and the threat of bogus house callers
will be anticipated and prevented.
The agreement, under which Motorola has become NNWA's 'Official
Telecommunications Sponsor and Personal Radio Partner', follows successful
trials of Motorola two-way radios by NNWA members in streets and villages across
the UK. Some are already enjoying the benefits delivered by communication
through two-way radio in the community. For example, Kent Police in
Maidstone have deployed Motorola two-way radios in crime 'hot spots'.
The two-way radios were used as part of a proactive crime education package
enabling the community and the police to work together to tackle crime.
Two-way radios were used to help reduce vehicle crime, daytime burglary, and
theft from outbuildings. The information gathered led to high profile arrests
with up to 40% reduction in crime.
Motorola will be supplying a special Neighbourhood Watch branded version of its
Talkabout licence free two-way radio, which has many new features including;
voice scrambling feature to minimise the possibility of
members' conversations being overheard and VibraCall to receive calls more
discreetly.
John Howell, NNWA Director General commented: "The use of two-way radios
has now been proven to enhance communications between the police and
Neighbourhood Watchers. This in turn helps to reduce crime and the fear of
crime. With the launch of the new Motorola Neighbourhood Watch licence
free two-way radio, we hope that more NNWA members and their communities will be
able to benefit from their use."
Ian Bayly of Motorola, said "Motorola has always served crime
fighting agencies with effective radio communication solutions. This new
relationship will further extend the use of radio into National Neighbourhood
Watch communities to help fight local crime and disorder."
"In addition to the benefit these radio bring to local crime fighting I
have noticed they also a great catalyst for joining residents into
a closer and
more caring community group. One resident observed she had made more friends in
the first 2 months of joining a scheme with radios that she had made
in the last 20 years"
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Motorola:
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated
communications and embedded electronic solutions.
About Neighbourhood Watch
The National Neighbourhood Watch Association (NNWA) is the national charity that
supports, promotes and represents Neighbourhood Watch in the UK.
The NNWA aims to make Neighbourhood Watch a centre of excellence for community
safety, by reducing crime, opportunities for crime and the fear of crime and by
enhancing good citizenship and community spirit.
For more information contact:
Motorola Ltd
Ian Bayly
Tel: +44 (0)1256 484 768
Email : ian.bayly@Motorola.com