How to Organize a Community Watch Program

A well-run community watch program in your neighborhood can be far more effective than any police force in both stopping crime and maintaining privacy. Uniting a community under a common goal can turn neighbors into friends, making the area warmer and safer for everyone. Such a coalition can, however, test the line between healthy vigilance and improper suspicion of neighbors to the point of disregarding a sense of privacy. If you're concerned, organize a neighborhood watch program that protects the neighborhood without encroaching on anyone's privacy.

Things You'll Need

• Neighbors willing to volunteer
• Contact with your local police department
• Regular communications, such as fliers or a newsletter

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Instructions

Organize a Community Watch Program

• 1

  Visit the official Neighborhood Watch website (see Resources) to get ideas for how to organize your own neighborhood's program.

• 2

  Contact local law enforcement to register your community watch program and to set a meeting with a police or sheriff representative.

• 3

  Discuss the concerns specific to your community at your meetings. Select an overall coordinator (and several neighborhood-specific chairs, if applicable) and establish a phone tree, along with a plan of action in case of incident.

• 4

  Remain tenacious. Hold regular meetings and maintain training, focusing on new recruitment whenever possible.

• 5

  Invite your neighbors to a meeting about crime problems and see if there is sufficient interest in organizing a watch.

Maintain Privacy in Your Neighborhood With a Community Watch Program

• 6

  Make your goals of both safety and privacy known as soon as possible. Bring them up in local meetings and discuss them with the police liaison. A community watch program itself can turn into a type of privacy violation. Identify boundaries in clear terms, and explain exactly what you feel would be a violation of your privacy, thereby avoiding misunderstanding.

• 7

  Put forth a concerted effort to incorporate privacy maintenance into your training. Learn to identify and confront suspicious people and behavior.

• 8

  Inform neighbors if you are going to host a party or event so good-natured suspicion does not lead to a visit from the police.