Nottinghamshire Police are asking people living in Carlton, Nottinghamshire, to sign up for a volunteer patrol scheme called Street Watch. The initiative involves neighbours walking their local areas in pairs to discourage anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. The recruitment publicity on 3 February 2026 follows the scheme’s launch in January 2026 and aims to put more friendly, visible faces on the street to support regular officers.
Volunteers must be over 18 and will undergo security vetting before they can start. Once trained, they are asked to commit a minimum of two hours a month to walking their neighbourhood while wearing high-visibility vests. Volunteers do not have police powers and are instructed to observe and report incidents to officers rather than intervene in arguments or dangerous situations.
Inspector Steven King from the Gedling neighbourhood policing team said the aim is for neighbours to show they care about public spaces. The scheme is supported by Gary Godden, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, whose Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029 prioritises community-led safety initiatives.
The push for more volunteers comes as Gedling Borough Council prepares to start the £20 million Greater Carlton regeneration programme, with delivery scheduled to begin in April 2026. Local leaders have said they want to ensure the town feels secure as works get under way around Carlton Square and in surrounding residential areas.
Beyond helping to reduce crime, council and policing partners say Street Watch volunteers can also support local emergency-planning work — for example carrying out welfare checks during floods — as part of a wider effort to boost community resilience as the area undergoes change.
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