How to Start a Neighbourhood Watch Program

If you are concerned about crime in your neighbourhood and wish to implement a NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program in your area, you must first contact the Police Services Community Relations or Crime Prevention Bureau. If there is a program already organized in your area, you will be referred to the local program representative who will assist you in getting involved.

  1. If there is not a program ongoing in your area, you should follow these steps:
  2. Canvass your neighbourhood to determine how many of your neighbours are as concerned as you, and those who are interested in participating in the program. This may be done by contacting them in person, or distributing brochures and questionnaires, usually available from your local Police Services.
  3. After this has been completed and you are confident you have neighbours interested in participating, arrange for a meeting place large enough to hold your group.
  4. Contact the Police Liaison to arrange a mutually agreeable date and time for the meeting. Flyers and letters may then be prepared and distributed. Enlist the aid of a few of your neighbours in distributing these.
  5. Supply the Police Liaison with a map outlining your desired NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH boundaries, this will include dividing your area into coverage blocks.

At the meeting, the Police Liaison will explain the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH concept, Home Security Audit, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and the method of reporting incidents to the Police Services. The purpose of the meeting will not only be to convey this information to your neighbours, but also to identify Block Captains and Assistants for those Blocks not having a volunteer. One volunteer on each block will ensure at least one candidate for Block Captain or Assistant. Once the above steps are completed, check with the local Police Service or local representative of Neighbourhood Watch in your area as to the requirements needed for recognition of the Neighbourhood Watch program. Neighbourhood Watch is different in each community, in some the Police Services Liaison will require complete residents list and in others, the names of the Watch Coordinator and Block Captains are sufficient.