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Neighborhood Watch Program - Getting Started

 

Organizing Your Neighborhood Watch

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There is no single right way to organize a NW group. Depending on local law enforcement and their requirements, there might not be a lot of choice. No matter how your NW is set-up, the organizational structure must take into account the needs of the community and law enforcement. A traditional NW group will include a law enforcement officer or liaison to the group, an area coordinator who lives in the community, block captains spread throughout the community, and watch members. One of the final steps in forming and organizing a Neighborhood Watch is the designation of leadership. These individuals will be responsible for the planning and coordinating activities. Watch leaders may be formal leaders elected by their peers or informal leaders who are simply the first to volunteer! As a Watch becomes more advanced, the members may form an advisory or executive board to make decisions for a larger area. It doesn’t matter how your Watch group is set-up, as long as your community members are excited and effectively addressing the identified problems.

 

  • Law Enforcement Liaison - Traditionally, designated sworn officers or their non-sworn public service counterparts are assigned as liaisons or coordinators for Neighborhood Watch. Often these individuals are selected because of their previous crime prevention experience or training. Some Watch officers and coordinators are chosen because of their desire to reach out and work with the community, while others are selected because of their communication skills or abilities to plan, organize and mobilize others.

  • Block Captain - Block captains are recommended for every 10-15 houses, and they should be directly involved with their immediate neighbors.

  • Neighborhood Watch Coordinator - The Coordinator’s job is crucial to the success of your program. This may be just the right job for a retiree or other individual who has extra time at home.

  • Citizens’ Advisory Board - Some law enforcement agencies and cities running large neighborhood watch groups have arranged for a group of citizens to oversee the groups in a certain area. This is a good idea if the neighborhood watch plans on fundraising or if the number of groups is too overwhelming for the law enforcement liaison.

  • Neighborhood Watch Members - In some neighborhoods, the need for a proactive neighborhood watch program will be evident because of the well documented crimes or the acknowledged disorder that occurs in the community. In these neighborhoods, residents are usually ready and willing to mobilize and participate in the NW program.

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Getting Started - How to Start a Neighborhood Watch Group in 5 Easy Steps

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  1. Recruit and Organize as many neighbors as possible - It is wonderful that you are taking the steps to start a Neighborhood Watch group in your neighborhood. The first step is talking to your fellow neighbors about starting a group.

  2. Contact your local law enforcement agency and schedule a meeting - The next step is contacting your local law enforcement agency. Invite them to meet with your group at a time and place convenient for your Watch Group. It is essential for your group to work in collaboration with law enforcement because Neighborhood Watch is a cooperative effort.

  3. Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan - If law enforcement is unavailable to come to the first meeting you might want to have a meeting to discuss the concerns and issues in the neighborhood. Your group should create a plan on how to work towards lessening the impact of the top 3 concerns of neighbors.

  4. Create a communication plan - It is important to decide what type of communication will work for your watch group - meetings or social media or both.

  5. Take Action: Hold Meetings and Events - Neighborhood Watch Toolkit has a number of wonderful training topics and meeting ideas that can be useful to your group.

 

What are some of the benefits of starting a Neighborhood Watch Group?

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  • Partnerships with Law Enforcement and your Neighbors

  • Reduction in Crime

  • A More Secure and Better Prepared Hometown

  • A More United Community

  • Improved Communications

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Tips to Having a Productive Neighborhood Watch Meeting

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  1. Invite a law enforcement officer to Participate in a Q & A Session, Contact us, and we’ll help you.  

  2. Create a Citizen’s Patrol Team

  3. Invite a Home Security Specialist

  4. Discuss Common Home Security Concerns

  5. Discuss Specific Neighborhood Security Concerns

  6. Discuss Ways to Keep Children Safer

  7. Discuss Ways to Keep Elderly Residents Safe

  8. Discuss False Alarms and Home Security Maintenance

  9. Discuss Deterrents

  10. Discuss Alarm Registration and Monitoring

  11. Discuss Common Home Security Myths

  12. Discuss Negotiating a Group Discount on Home Security

  13. Discuss Common Sense Home Security Tips

  14. Discuss How Online Safety Relates to Home Security

  15. Discuss signage for your neighborhood

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Would you like to start a neighborhood watch program on your street?  We will help you…

Please gather a list of at least 8 individuals in your neighborhood that would commit to working

towards your neighborhood watch and let’s schedule a meeting to help you get started. 

Register/Start a Neighborhood Watch

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