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Nice photo showing Street Watch volunteers working with police in Olton, Solihull.

Street Watch is a voluntary scheme that empowers local communities to make a real difference.

Officers from the Olton neighbourhood policing team are inviting members of the community to join them in tackling low level crime by joining their local Street Watch.

Street Watch is open to people who want to work in partnership with the police and take a more active role in making their communities safer.

Members can work with officers to tackle anti-social behaviour and take part in visible, reassuring patrols in their neighbourhoods.

PCSO Riccardo Gambino said: "The community spirit already shown by Olton residents is great, and it continues to flourish. A local neighbourhood watch scheme started with a humble 11 volunteers; it is now over 500 members strong.

"Recently it seemed that the whole community came together for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It is this kind of spirit that we are looking to tap into to and make Olton even safer."

While Street Watch members have no specific police powers they will be able to work with officers to tackle the issues that matter most to the public.

PCSO Gambino added "Street Watch could be summed up as an extended, mobile Neighbourhood Watch. We regularly meet with the public to listen to their concerns. This will allow them to take their involvement one step further.

"The public feedback when they have joined us for community speedwatch operations has been really positive and we'd encourage as many people as possible to get involved."

Those who are not able to join the scheme can still influence the work carried out by their local policing team by letting them know about the issues affecting them.