The Neighborhood Watch Program was organized in hopes of lowering the exponentially high crime rate across the nation. The Department of Justice enlisted the help of average citizens to work together with the city police department to aid citizens in their community. Since its start, the Neighborhood Watch has become one of the most effective instruments of fighting crime in our communities.
Having neighbors watching out for each other turned out to be a great crime prevention tool. Neighbors know more about what is going on in their own communities than police officers would, and can quickly spot who does and does not belong. Neighbors are also in the best position to report when violations do happen, and will want to continue to keep the environment safe for children and family members.
Because of its effectiveness, Neighborhood Watch Programs have continued to be a popular choice. It is free and easy to start if there isn’t one already set up in your neighborhood. With a few, quick, simple steps you can start a Neighborhood Watch Program and start fighting crime in your community.
First, start by talking to your neighbors. See if they are interested in the program. If they are interested you can contact your city police department, who will refer you to the officers in charge of Neighborhood Watch Programs.
Most police departments have a Community Relations Officer (CRO) or Police Service Officer (PSO) that deal directly with community safety. These officers will be able to help you with details that you may need, and discuss specific crimes and disorder problems you will need to inform your neighbors about. Once you have all the information you need, you are ready to start and set up your first neighborhood meeting.
At this first meeting you will be able to compile a membership list that contains names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of all involved. You will also be able to develop an area map with the home addresses, and decide how far you want the neighborhood boundaries to be. It may be a good idea to start collecting money for Neighborhood Watch signs so they can be posted.
You will also be able to organize your objectives as a group to split up your responsibilities among the group members. One member may volunteer to be a spokesperson, while another may be assigned from the group to organize crime prevention activities. It is important to work closely with the police department when deciding on your objectives.
While you don’t necessarily need frequent meetings after things are organized, it is a good idea to have everyone in Neighborhood Watch meet at least once a year. You should continue to update and distribute information on any problems in the area. The main point with keeping a Neighborhood Watch group active is to have frequent communication with the members, and keep them interested in maintaining the safety of their homes.
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