Redbridge residents have brought their Neighbourhood Watch into the 21st century and are using a messaging app to report and tackle crime in their area.

Residents are carrying out daily walking patrols and using the messaging app WhatsApp to help each other monitor and report crimes to the police.

So far, areas covered include the Woods Estate in Clayhall, around Gearies Children’s Centre in Gants Hill and the area around St Augustin’s Primary School also in Gants Hill.

The emphasis is on reporting crimes, not engaging with the criminals responsible.

The aim is to keep residents safe, support police officers to do their job and build up a sense of community responsibility to deter criminals.

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Thousands of messages are shared on the groups every week.

The schemes have proved both popular and effective. The program on the Woods Estate, known as WE COLLECTIVE, began in November 2017 and has so far operated with no need for outside funding.

Councillor Karen Packer, who also lives in the area, supported residents in their launch of the scheme.

She says it has made a genuine difference to those living in the area.

She said: “I got a call from a resident, inviting me to a meeting. They also invited the local PCSO and it sort of snowballed from there.

“The residents rightly said the community had broken down over the years. I couldn’t get car insurance for my husband and daughter because of high car theft rates.

“Now, this has turned into something so wonderful. The residents are very committed. Crime has gone down.”

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Nasser Khan, a resident involved in the scheme, explained the community came up with the idea for the Woods Estate scheme after a spate of burglaries near their homes.

He said: “Everyone’s feeling the same, everyone’s feeling scared. The police, the council, everyone was disconnected. Our voices were not being heard and we decided, instead of making noise and demanding things of the police, we decided to do something about it.

“We’ve empowered everyone. It’s a totally decentralised structure and everyone has something to contribute. Every contribution is valuable. Working together we can make a massive difference.

“It’s about taking responsibility of our area. We have a vested interest; we live here, we work here, our children are growing up here. So, we showed initiative and we do as much as possible.”

Mr Khan said he blames a lack of community awareness and cohesion for high crime rates. He said, in order to tackle this, people need to get to know their neighbours, work together and act as the eyes and ears of the police.

He said: “Services are being retracted and everyone’s cocooning. They think ‘as long as it’s not me,’ but a lack of community enables criminals. Most crimes are opportunistic. We need to build the community up and spread awareness.”