Olympic friendly greetings 'keeps crime down' (From Kingston Guardian)

Olympic friendly greetings 'keeps crime down'

7:00am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News By Christine Fleming

Getting out on the street and saying hello to neighbours has helped keep crime down in Canbury this summer, according to residents.

A meet and greet programme run by neighbours along with the area’s safer neighbourhood team has seen residents making an effort to say hello to everyone they see walking down their street.

Not only do residents know who is wandering around the neighbourhood but they are making new friends in the process.

Nicola Duffey, chair of Canbury ward panel, said the meet and greet scheme had been a great success so far.

She said: “It is going good at the moment and remarkably crime, especially in Canbury seems to be relatively low, which is lovely as everyone was concerned with the Olympics and the police being busy.

“Everyone is being more aware and this campaign has made them more aware and careful when they leave their house, which is fantastic.”

Mrs Duffey said the success of meet and greet was down to engaging with neighbours to take an interest in what is going on down their street.

She said the neighbourhood watch had been a key part in this scheme as it meant people could easily be contacted via email to be alerted to possible things to look out for.

To set up a meet and greet scheme in your area contact your safer neighbourhood team.