Inside Neighbourhood Alert: Rebuilding Trust

Описание: Mike Douglas, founder of Visav and the force behind the Neighbourhood Alert system, joins Policing TV to discuss how an idea born in a local neighbourhood watch group grew into one of the most important community engagement platforms in UK policing.

With over 1.5 million users and 38 police forces on board, Mike explains how the system empowers local teams, builds public trust, and why two-way communication—not broadcast—is the future. He also shares survey insights, future plans, and a compelling call for national leadership.

We are pleased to also announce that VISAV has launched the prestigious National Community Engagement Awards..its not too late to enter !

In recognition of the tremendous work police officers and staff undertake daily to protect us all and make our communities safer, VISAV has launched new national awards, aligned with the National Community Engagement Conference taking place on 3rd and 4th March 2026 in Hull. 

Over the 18 years VISAV has worked with UK police forces to deliver effective community engagement through the Neighbourhood Alert digital platform, the UK-owned company has celebrated key achievements along the way, but the new awards are set to be the biggest yet. 

Mike Douglas, founder and Product Director of VISAV, said:

“It is an absolute honour and privilege to work with our police forces, and even after two decades, I am still amazed at the commitment and tenacity of officers who go into the unknown and put their lives at risk every day and still go above and beyond.  These new awards are for unsung heroes who may not be undertaking headline-grabbing actions but who consistently put communities at the heart of everything they do. 

We know that quality of life and feeling safe in their homes matters to our registered members as they tell us through the survey tool. Low-level but high-frequency crime and ASB plagues communities and can sometimes be more challenging to police and their partners. These awards are for the officers, staff and volunteers who go the extra mile to build public trust and confidence and tackle community tensions and problems in a practical and empathic way.”

Kate Algate, Strategic Director at VISAV, who is managing the new awards, urges police officers, staff and volunteers to step forward and either nominate themselves or their colleagues to raise awareness of the good work they do, and to take a moment to reflect and recognise how their work positively impacts the communities they serve. 

More information on how to submit your nomination can be found on the website

Key Takeaways
Neighborhood Alert grew from replacing handwritten slips with email and text.
A local Sherwood pilot is now used by 38 forces and 1.5m+ people.
Volunteer administrators are essential to keeping the database accurate.
Strong data hygiene and automation stop churn and dead contacts.
Alert is a two-way system, not just a broadcast tool.
It reconnects residents with their neighbourhood policing teams.
A huge annual survey tracks trust, confidence and local concerns.
Acting on survey feedback is the biggest driver of public trust.
Face-to-face “patrolling with a purpose” further boosts confidence.
Mike wants national backing so Alert becomes a fully UK-wide, trusted system.

Sound Bites
"It's not a broadcast system—it's a conversation."
"Over 1.5 million users, but the real reach? 15 million."
"Surveys are the #1 way to build trust in policing."
"There’s money to be made from misinformation—we need a trusted alternative."
"This is bigger than Visav. It’s bigger than any one force."

Chapters
00:00 – How Neighbourhood Alert Was Born
02:30 – Building the System With Police & Public
06:00 – Why Human Moderators Still Matter
08:40 – Surveys That Drive Real-World Change
17:00 – The Future: AI, Misinformation & National Leadership


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