Orihuela Costa ‘Vecinos Colaborando’ Association (Neighbourhood Watch), held a meeting with the Security Councillor, Monica Pastor, and Local Police officers, to coordinate actions with the sole aim of improving security in the area.

The Association was created in 2000, bringing together volunteers from different urbanisations but because of COVID 19 it was not held for a number of years.

However, it has now resumed its activity and is once again in direct communication with the local police.

The association currently has around a hundred members, with Chris Stimpson, Paul Kelly and Graham Jones, responsible for monitoring their communities and alerting them to suspicious situations.

Councillor Mónica Pastor said that ‘Vecinos Colabo-rando’ does a great and once again “we have agreed to hold a monthly meeting to exchange concerns and present a summary of the actions that have been and that need to be taken”.

As well as a direct communication channel between the association and the police, it was agreed that awareness-raising and information campaigns will be carried out among neighbours.

In the association there are volunteers living in different urbanisations who communicate, by email or phone, with the Local Police, if they perceive any anomalous situation that raises suspicions that a crime is being committed, or that they think it may be committed.

Both the association and the councillor recognise the importance of this collaboration and citizen participation which, by way of prevention, is aimed at creating a safe environment. The premise of this association is that if it affects my street or my neighbour, then it affects me.