What is Rural Watch Scotland?
‘Rural Watch Scotland’ is an extension of the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland movement and a product of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) aimed specifically at the rural community of Scotland and aims to bring all the benefits of Neighbourhood Watch to your community irrespective of its location, size or demographics.
Rural Watch was launched at the Royal Highland Show 2017
The objectives of Rural Watch Scotland mirror that of Neighbourhood Watch, namely to:
- Reduce crime and the fear of crime by providing the right information, to the right people, at the right time.
- Encourage people to think about safety and security for themselves, their neighbours and their community.
- Improve community cohesion and well-being by supporting communities to develop ‘their watch, their way’.
- Work in partnership with national and local service providers to develop more resilient communities that are better prepared against threats, intentional or unintentional, such as crime or extreme weather.
- The experience of Neighbourhood Watch throughout Scotland and elsewhere across the world is that members of Rural Watch Scotland will be less likely than non-members in the rural community to be a victim of crime.
The aim of this new area of our website is to provide easy access to the latest news and information about Rural Watch and rural issues.
For those wishing to register for ALERTs or JOIN US through Rural Watch Scotland it has its own landing page.
The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC)
Providing strategic focus, SPARC co-ordinates a committed and sustained approach including crime prevention advice to those living, working and enjoying Scotland’s rural communities and environments, drives and supports intelligence gathering plus enforcement activity, all underpinned through empowering communities to ensure these areas are safe places to live, work and visit.
VISION: Regardless of geographical location, rural communities feel safe.
AIM: Protecting rural communities with a focus on prevention, intelligence, enforcement and reassurance.
OBJECTIVES:
- Develop resilient rural communities through effective partnerships utilising holistic, innovative and specialist techniques.
- Ensure we listen, are visible and understand local and national concerns relating to rural crime.
- Harness the contribution, expertise and knowledge of individuals, communities and relevant partner organisations in public, private and third sector to reduce vulnerabilities.
- Promote and improve rural community cohesion where people feel safer regardless of location.
- In order to achieve these objectives we will strive to change perception, educate and raise the profile of rural crime plus enhance public engagement to convey confidence that any crime-related issues affecting them are taken seriously, acted upon and understood.
Rural Crime Strategy
In early 2025 a new SPARC strategy will launch detailing the partnerships plans for the years ahead in keeping rural communities safe.