COMMUNITY-spirited householders can keep up to date on crime and disorder in Droitwich thanks to an innovative new scheme.

The town's Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators now have access to a telephone message system which will be refreshed every week.

It will feature the latest crime incidents and figures in Droitwich.

Each co-ordinator is being placed on a voicemail system so police can put out messages to alert residents of serious incidents.

Town beat manager PC Alun Jones has been overseeing the scheme since April.

Droitwich town has 109 Neighbourhood Watch schemes, while the rural beat has 87, and there is also a farm watch.

Each group has recently been asked to re-register and police are setting up the post of a link co-ordinator to manage the system.

Community

PC Jones hopes the initiative will help co-ordinators fulfil their important role in the community.

"When I started my role, the scheme needed a complete overhaul and we've had to work on re-registration and definition of co-ordinators' areas," he said.

"I'm committed to making sure everyone involved is fully briefed.

"I can't expect co-ordinators to work productively if they don't have this information.

"I believe the concept of Neighbourhood Watch is our best method of grassroots crime prevention and detection."

Neighbourhood Watch groups are set up in the community and supported by police.

If anyone is interested in setting up a scheme, they can contact PC Martin Tucker on 01905 723888.