A PILOT project encouraging more people to get involved in crime prevention has resulted in 55 new Homewatch schemes being set up in Leigh.
The police got funding in April 2000 to try to increase the number of schemes in Wigan's Coalfield Challenge area of Leigh - Golborne and Platt Bridge.
Project co-ordinators targeted invidual residents with a questionnaire about Homewatch and there was a letter campaign plus open evenings at Leigh Police HQ.
The resulting new schemes cover more than 1,000 homes -- an increase of 30 per cent - and many Homewatch co-ordinators took up the chance to do a new NVQ course.
The pilot project was such a success that it might spread to other areas including Bolton. Homewatch Administrator and pilot project leader Henry wood said: "While the original objectives of the project did not include reducing crime there was a fall in the number of burglaries which took place. Although we cannot say whether this was directly due to the project we are very pleased."
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