Neighbourhood Watch

VoL 1
Organization
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH is a program aimed at reducing crime in the community. It involves
getting to know one’s neighbours and introducing them to the concept of NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH -
that is, good neighbours working together, alert to the potential of crime and willing to look out for one
another’s interests. Neighbours working together through NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH can combat
crime in their area the most effective way; before it starts.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH provides a means of reducing the opportunity for crime to occur, through
the active participation of citizens in crime prevention. Citizens are taught how to make their homes less
inviting as a target for thieves; how to participate in Operation Identification, making their personal property
less desirable to burglars; and how to be alert to suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods.

Very few people are in a position to protect their homes and property all of the time. Vacation, business and
shopping trips, or even an evening out will leave homes unattended and vulnerable to theft. The
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program will provide a sense of security for individuals or families who
leave their homes for any length of time. The program will also help to co-ordinate the efforts of the police
and the community in tracking down criminals. Strong community involvement is encouraged because
neighbourhood unity can deter crime. Neighbours joined together do help correct situations that threatentheir
peace and safety.

The NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program is found in all areas of the country, fi’om small rural
communities to large urban centres. Membership is not restricted to single-family homes; people who live in
aparlment buildings, farms and coltages are very active in the program. Neighbourhood Watch is a flexible
program and should be adapted to suit the needs of the community in which it operates. The program
currently operates under a variety of names including Block Watch and Cottage Watch.

Endorsed by: Provided by:

~ Ministry of
the Solicitor
General
AVIVA
Ontario

What NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH is:

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1) A commitment to improve your home security

2) A commitment to be concerned about your neighboufs property as well as your own. After a~, a
watchful neighbour is the best burglar alarm!

3) A COlr~nitment to report any crime that is occurring and any suspicious activity to the police and then to
your neighbours. Talk to your neighbours; keep them abreast of current crime trends and crime prevention
techniques.

What NEIGHBOURHOO3D WATCH isn’t:

1) Neighbourhood Watch does not require you to perform any special tasks, go to a lot of meetings or take
on extra responsibilities.

2) You don’t have to patrol the neighbourhood or chase burglars. Neighbourkood Watch just involves being
alert as part of your everyday life. For example, when you go to the window to open or close the drapes,
instead of just opening or closing them and turning away, you might stop for a second and take a quick
glance around your neighbourhood to ensure that everything is as it should be.

3) Being a part ofNeighbourhood Watchdoes not require you to know your neighbou~s business. All that is
required is that you be familiar enough with your neighbours to be aware of who belongs and who doesn’t.

How to Start a
Neighbo~rhood 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.

II. If there is not a program ongoing in your area, you should follow these steps:
Canvass your neighbourhood to determine how many of your neighbours are as concemed as you,
and those who are interested in participating in the program. Tiffs may be done by contacting them
in person, or distributing brochures and questiormalres, usually available ~om your local Police
Services.

2. Alter 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. (See IlL)

3. 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.

The Police Liaison wilt assist you by supplying maps outlining your NEIGHBOURHOOD
WATCH boundaries, dividing your area into blocks (15-25 homes), and suggesting an agenda. The
Police Liaison will also prepare, and bring to the meeting, block members’ lists, brochures and
resource material.

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 At the meeting, the Police Liaison will explain the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH concept,
Operation Identification, home security 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.

Organizing
PubLic 1VIeeting
III. 1. Work with a group of volunteers or form a Steering Committee to help organize the meeting (i.e.
Police Liaison or someone who has started a NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program in
another area). Arrange for someone knowledgeable about the Neighbourhood Watch to attend the
meeting to explain the program. This can be done through you Police Liaison.

2. Plan the meeting far enough in advance so that all necessary preparation can be completed. This
time allowance will also help build enthusiasm for the meeting. Publicize the event.

3. The date of the meeting should be chosen so that it will not conflict with either local or national
events.

4. Choose a meeting place with consideration for the size of the audience. A central location is
essential. A community hall, church, library or school, are ideal locations and may be available
without cost to community groups.

5. The meeting should be titled specifically so that it will have drawing power, e.g.
"NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH - How to Make Your Neighbourhood a Better Place to Live"

Youmay require: (check with the presenter to see what they need)

a) large table at the front ofthe room

b) audio visual equipment

c) 2 tables at the entrance of the hall, with sufficient 2" x 3" self-adhesive labels for name badges.

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Neighbourhood Watch*

* The following are guidelines only. Each community should adapt these as necessary.
Each community may use different titles for each position - remember the name is not
nearly as important as the function.

The duties of NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH will offer very little change of lifestyle for the citizen
involved. Rather, they provide a means to meet your neighbour, as well as a vehicle for making your
community a safer place to live.

The Police
The Police Liaison is one of the key elements of the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program. He or she
will provide the expertise necessary for initiating the program and monitoring it. This involves developing
program guidelines, establishing target areas and supplying resource material. The Police Liagon will provide
lectures and briefings on home security, Operation Identification and other Crime Prevention programs to the
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH groups.

As well, the Liaison will establish training programs on how to identify and report criminal or suspicious
activity.

After the initiation of the program, the Police Liaison will provide guidance, feedback and other information to
the Committee, and will maintain communications with the Area Leaders and Block Captains, providing
training as required.

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The Steering Committee
The primary function of the Steering Committee, or volunteer group, is to develop the program in a designated
area and to assist in its implementation. The Committee’s duties will be to:
Act as a liaison between the community and the Police, supplying the Police Liaison with information on
types of housing, local groups or individuals willing to assist, and other data necessary to accurately divide
the community into Areas, Watches, and ultimately, Blocks;
Work closely with the Police Liaison in delegating tasks to groups or individuals, to initiate the Watch
areas, maintain them and monitor their progress;
o Provide a central depot for information and resource materials on the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
program, for distribution to members of its organization;
Arrange meetings to which a Police representative is invited, through .the Police Liaison, to assist in
explaining the program and profiling local crime;
° Maintain an open line of communication with the Area Leaders, discussing the progress of the program
in their area, new ideas and trouble spots;
6. Update information on the program from new sources and keep the Police Liaison informed of the
progress of the Watch in their area; and,
7. Communicate information from the Police Liaison to the Zone Leaders for dissemination to the
members of the Watch.

The Area Leaders

The Area Leaders will be responsible for a specific area and will serve as the contact for the Police assigned
to the Program. In some communities, the Zone Leaders themselves may also form the Steering Committee.
Their duties will include:

1. Organizing community meetings to explain the Watch to residents. Meetings are an important tool for
communication; however, frequency depends on your community and its needs. Canvas the Watch to see
what the residents feel is required

2. Helping to identify Block Captains and Assistants

3. Providing information to the Steering Committee or Police Liaison, to assist in defining the Block
boundaries

4. Attending NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH seminars or workshops which may be conducted from time
to time

5. Maintaining a liaison with the Steering Committee and/or Police Liaison to ensure an open line of
communication between them and the Watch participants

6. Monitoring the progress of the program in their zone, to ensure its success

7. Meeting with other Area Leaders in the Region to discuss the program with the aim of solving problems
and initiating new ideas consistent with the guidelines of the program

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The Block Capiains

The B lock Captain has one of the most important functions in the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
program- supervising the Watch activities of the citizens who join NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH in their
communities. The Block Captain is responsible for one city block, or similar designated territory, and he or
she is expected to:

1. Hold NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH meetings, as required by your community

2. Assist in welcoming new neighbours

3. Encourage neighbourhood participation in the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program

4. Serve as liaison between the Watch members and Area Leader

5. Channel information from the Police Services, Zone Leader or Steering Committee to the citizens

6. Attend the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH seminars or workshops, which may be conducted from
time to time

7. Inform Watch members of NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH techniques, such as how to observe

suspicious activity, what to observe, encourage use of Operation Identification, Crime Prevention
Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Target Hardening and similar crime prevention techniques

8. Provide incentive for Watch members to continue their crime prevention efforts.

Watch ~/~embers
REPORTING: The Watch Members will be instructed in the identification of criminal or suspicious
activity and the procedure to follow when reporting this activity to the police. After they contact the police
they should contact their Block Captains to inform them of the activity. If a Member notes suspicious activity
but it does not warrant a call to the police they should pass the information m to their Block Captain.

HOME SECURITY. Watch Members will receive instruction on home security, Operation Identification,
and will be encouraged to follow through on security measures.

VACATIONS: When a Watch Member goes on vacation they should inform their Block Captain or
Assistant to ensure that their house is watched.

DISCUSSIONS: The Block Meetings provide an opportunity for the Watch Members to discuss any
particular concerns they have, as well as the types of crimes being committed in their community.

Spreading the Word

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Spreading the word and making sure that it registers in all sections of the community is vital to the success of
the program.

Committee members will probably have many of their own ideas on how to get the message across, but the
following provides a general communication program plan:

Arrange and organize a strong kick-off.

Obtain or produce literature outlining the program messages for wide general distribution and also
covering specific topics involved in the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program.
o Establish liaisons with representatives of the print and electronic media, soliciting their advice and support.
It would be important to discuss the availability of bee public service time, feature programs, interviews,
editorialcomment, hotline shows, photo coverage of your organization in action, etc.
Posters placed in stores, schools and civic buildings are effective. Use of the local school students to
develop and design the poster is beneficial as it involves the young dtizens ofthe commtmity in
contributing to the establishment of the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program. Perhaps a contest
between classes or schools, or both, may be in order.
o Develop seminars for church groups, Parent organizations and service clubs, including organizations such
as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist Clubs and fi"atemal organizations.
o Persuade the major businesses, particularly shopping centres, to assist in publicizing the program. They
may be willing to place weekly advertisements connected with the program in the local media and may
also be persuaded to display exhibits of posters and pamphlets in prominent areas.
Convince local theatres to set up lobby displays and if possible, to screen spot messages.
It is strongly suggested thata slogan be developed to tie in and "sell" the project. It should be something
easily referred to, memorable, and relative to the merits of the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
program. This slogan will be the mainstay of the program, e.g. "Working Together to Prevent Crime" or
"If 1 don’t call the Police - My Neighbour Will!"

In order to run a NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH program, some funds are necessary. Several items are
an integral part of the program and are necessary to ensure the program’s success.

Some of these items are:

1. Street signs.
2. Neighbourhood Watch pamphlets.
3. Home Security pamphlets.
4. Operation Identification cards and pamphlets.
5. Window stickers.
6. Meeting Notices.
7. Meeting Letters.
8. Block Captain’s Manuals.

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Some of these items may be available to you through your local Police Services. Other costs for street signs,
manuals, etc. may have been absorbed by local municipal governments and you may wish to pursue this
course. Aviva Canada Inc. (formerly CGU Group Canada Ltd) provides window and door decals,
informational brochures, and household inventory for download from the National Neighbourhood Watch
Registry: www.neighbourhoodwatchregistry.com. Other, fraternal organizations and service groups
may also be willing to assist with printing, etc.

In order to meet costs not covered by other areas, the Block Captains can collect a voluntary contribution per
household when distributing the window stickers. All funds should be deposited into a bank account and used
to cover any costs of the program.

Other communities have billed each Neighbourhood Watch area through their Steering Committee. The
Committee is responsible for covering the costs of their area only. They may choose to run fund raising
events or charge each household a fee. How they raise the funds is totally up to them.

The following is a general list of methods, which can be effective in selling the program message. Not all
categories are required, but obviously the more means available, the more effective will be the campaign.
The cost can be very low when the program is designed for community participation (donation of time and
material).

1. BUTTONS/BADGES: A practical size is 1 3/4" in diameter, and the best effect for minimum cost is a
white background with one cotour print and design. It is suggested that the local Police Services is
mentioned on the badge.

2. PLACE MATS: Restaurant place mats can bear the program message. With donation of art work
and printing by a local finn, the place mats can be supplied free of charge (especially McDonald’s).

3. BILLBOARDS: Determine what company is using billboard space and request a donation of free time
during the campaign. Another local firm can supply the art work and the billboard company will usually
put it up free of charge.

4. BOOKMARKS: These also can bear the campaign message. They can be obtained from local
printers, and perhaps be printed on scrap material. Distribute through book stores, libraries, schools.

PAMPHLETS: Pamphlets are usually supplied free by a local department store or shopping centre.
Distribute through stores, displays, police stations, schools, etc. At present there are many such
pamphlets in existence, and merely re-copying can save the cost of artwork.
However, the new campaign slogan or logo may have to be adapted to fit such available material.

TEASER ADS: Use local newspapers to insert teaser ads. Such ads, which may be simply a form of
illustration, give some information on the proposed campaign, and encourage the reader to watch for
what is coming in the days ahead. Again such newspaper use is usually available at no cost as a
community service.

7. POSTERS: Posters can be very effective. A local firm may be more than willing to supply such
posters, particularly when a small advertisement note may be added, (e.g. Aviva Canada Inc.). The
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posters should be of an inexpensive rigid-type poster board. The best size for window display is 11 ½" X
17 ½" and a second size, of approximately 8" x 11" can be used for bank counters, store display cases,
etc.

SHOPPING BAGS: By prior arrangement, stores participating in the program can be supplied with the
campaign artwork to be printed on shopping bags. The message is not only taken into the home, but is
seen by many people in transit from the store to the home.

STUFFERS: Small 3" x6" paper sheets with the program message can be printed and left at store
checkout counters. The clerks can deposit one in each shopping bag. Such material is also effective for
inclusion in local tax bills, or monthly bulletins from local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business
Bureau, Board of Trade, etc.

10. BANNERS: Long cloth or heavy paper banners can be printed and installed across store mall areas,
civic buildings, etc. School art classes can do the paintings and install in school auditoriums or hallways.
Depending on areas involved, such banners can effectively promote the program by being hung across
main streets.

11. TRANSIT SIGNS: Use areas on buses or streetcars, taxis or tracks, inside and out to install posters,
etc.

12. RADIO: Use local radio stations and personnel to develop radio messages, interviews, and news
bulletins. Have local dignitaries or personalities give briefpromotionalmessages.

13. TELEVISION: Use local television stations, especially cable, to produce interview shows, brief film
clips, etc. Again, local personalities can be effective.

14. SLIDE PRESENTATIONS: Develop a slide presentation on the program for use in schools, displays,
stores, television, community talks, etc.

15. DISPLAYS: Basic displays can consist of a couple of covered tables with posters, with campaign
material available. School resources and a local advertising firm (free service) will provide a presentable
display for store malls, schools, etc.
Again, a slide presentation can be used, and where possible, someone should be in attendance to answer
questions.

16. DECALS (STICKERS): Decals can be very inexpensive and are usually donated by a local firm. The
cost depends primarily on the size and the material. MYLAR bonding paper is best. Get assurance
from the printer that the colours will not fade in sunlight.

17. FILMS: Films on the subject can be obtained with the rental fee or purchase cost usually being absorbed
by a local firm.

18. SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES: Can be effective in promoting the program and also soliciting co-operation
and assistance. School principals are usually very receptive to this form of communication.

19. COMMUNITY TALKS: Have speakers available for talks or speeches to local Service Clubs,
community groups, schools, etc.

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20. CHURCHES: All churches can be approached to have bulletin board messages put up, use the Sunday
pamphlet and even assure some message is given in the church service. Clergymen can also be of
benefit in committees, community talks, schools, etc.

21. "T" SHIRTS: Costs of printing on inexpensive "T" shirts can be borne by local merchants, service clubs,
etc. There is the possibility, also, of some firm using this medium in an advertising campaign.

PRESS KIT: Have all the promotional material, statistics, fact sheets, etc. in a package. With an eye-
catching, fold-over, book or envelope type cover, make the package available to the news media,
committee members, schools, businesses, etc. to assure awareness of program objectives and goals.
This is essential for any program.

The above-mentioned are basic communication methods. Other means are available and just as effective.
Determine you" capabilities and resources.

Bear in mind that most, if not all, the points mentioned can and should be obtained at no cost, from the
community. Most merchants have an advertising budget and a community relations budget available which
are, in essence, tax deductions.

Community involvement, adequately advertised can assure full co-operation from local firms. Use of service
dubs is also important. There are non-profit organizations with funds available for community programs.
Usually, city or provincial grants are also available.

The key to success is community involvement. By being allowed to participate through donation of time and
resources, everyone feels part of the community and the program. Without such participation, there is
unwillingness to accept, lack of appreciation, apathy sets in and the program will ultimately fail.

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Community awareness,
eommunication,
and participation
are the keys to
the door of success

WORKING TOGETHER
TO PREVENT CRIME

November 2004