Objective
Neighbourhood Watch is a community crime prevention program uniting neighbours to reduce crime.

History
Neighbourhood Watch began in Seattle, Washington in the early 1970’s.  The community was asked to be the eyes and the ears for the police as they could not be everywhere all the time The program has spread to many countries all over the world, under various names and logos.

How it works

Awareness:
Everyday the Neighbourhood Watch office receives information about crime that has happened from each police division. Volunteers phone this information to each Neighbourhood Watch program, when a crime occurs in their area. By giving information such as the time, date, location, method of entry and suspect description, the neighbourhood can become more aware of patterns of crime and be on the lookout for anyone suspicious.

Education:
Learn about personal security, home security, what is suspicious, and latest trends in crime.

Communication:
The Neighbourhood Watch network is very important. By communicating information about crime prevention tips on a regular basis, everyone benefits.

Getting to know your neighbours:
If you know your neighbours, you can recognize strangers and know when something is unusual or suspicious. You can keep an eye on each other’s home and pick up each other’s mail and newspapers when on holiday.

Maintenance:
It is difficult to keep the enthusiasm, especially if crime has decreased. People think that the problem is solved, and the Neighbourhood Watch program can become dormant. It is very important to try to have regular meetings and newsletters to keep the interest up.

Working Together:
By working together, the community and the police, crime is reduced and your neighbourhood becomes a much

If you are interested in organizing a Neighbourhood Watch program in your community then please review the following attachments for information:

Neighbourhood Watch package for houses
Neighbourhood Watch package for multi-unit residences