OWL, the Online Watch Link, is going strong.

This new system is revolutionising the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Watch in Flintshire, developing a modern communication tool for the 21st Century.

This system allows crime alerts to be shared across the Divisional and Force borders. People are encouraged to record observations online, no matter how trivial it may seem at times, as OWL provides searchable intelligence to the police. People are able to update their own contact details from the comfort of their home computer and choose how they want to be contacted to receive messages, and even when they want to receive their messages.

Watch Coordinators are able to communicate directly with their members. A coordinator living in Deeside says “This is great news, I have been on the site already, it is really user friendly. This should help increase our contact with the police and neighbourhood watch. I am looking forward to utilising it to its fullest.”

Those without internet access are not excluded from the benefits of OWL, messages can be sent by phone, fax, text & post to coordinators, providing their contact details are registered on OWL.

Police & Neighbourhood Watch are now able to send crime alerts and messages to specific members of the public. Individual recipients can be targeted, or larger groups such as streets, wards districts or watch schemes. In the event of a national or local emergency (flooding, etc), urgent messages can be sent out at once via OWL to the public.

Gary Fenton, Managing Director of Direct Path Solutions Ltd, said: “We are delighted that one of the most active Neighbourhood Watch Associations in the UK chose to pilot OWL in North Wales. OWL has been a great success down in Hertfordshire allowing 1000’s of watch schemes to be managed online jointly by the police, NHW associations and coordinators. OWL has dramatically improved communications delivering timely and localised messages by email, phone, fax and, in urgent situations, by text message. We’re confident that OWL can become an equally indispensable tool in Flintshire to support and proliferate the good work that Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch Association have been doing.”

Inspector Darren Wareing District Inspector for Deeside said “We have a very solid structure to build upon in Deeside. The Neighbourhood watch groups are very strong and have achieved some fantastic results. This communication tool can only further enhance our capabilities in respect of supporting each other and assisting in making our community safer. I will ensure that we exploit the Owl system to its fullest potential.”

Inspector Alun Oldfield South Flintshire District Inspector states: “I am very excited at the opportunity of being able to forward valuable information to key partners and coordinators within our community to reduce the fear of crime within our neighbourhoods. I can see massive benefits in the OWL arrangement and we are keen to work with Neighbourhood Watch to reduce crime within the South Flintshire Police District.”

Inspector Paul Firth says  “I have been involved with Neighbourhood Watch since 1985 and in my opinion, from then until now, the ethos behind what it stands for hasn't changed, people helping each other. The new facility provided via OWL enables neighbours and others to better look out for one another by making the process quicker, more direct and able to ensure that the information gets to the right people. I agree with everyone else involved, this is the direction that neighbourhood watch needs to go in. It should also address one of my main objectives for all watch schemes, that of attracting more younger people to it as IT solutions are second nature to most of them.”

There have been many crime alerts go out since the launch in August. They include theft from older vehicles in the Flintshire Area, Door to door selling, Cold Callers, Telephone scams, sneak burglary, postal scams etc

This is the next step forward in Neighbourhood Watch. This is an effective way for people to communicate which is essential when it comes to successful Community Safety. This is a massive step forward, taking us into a more modern Neighbourhood Watch which will make a valuable difference to us and our members.