Blendon Woods Civic Association - How To Work With Your Neighborhood To Fight Crime
How To Work With Your Neighborhood To Fight Crime in Blendon Woods Civic Association. Page added on October 21, 2009.
How To Work With Your Neighborhood To Fight Crime
An effective way to prevent crime
is to work with your neighbors. Statistics show that meeting as a
neighborhood block watch or merely having a chapter does very little to
bring down crime rates. However,
an effective block watch in which people work together to proactively
clean up neighborhoods and work with police community liaison officers
does makes a difference.
is to work with your neighbors. Statistics show that meeting as a
neighborhood block watch or merely having a chapter does very little to
bring down crime rates. However,
an effective block watch in which people work together to proactively
clean up neighborhoods and work with police community liaison officers
does makes a difference.
Below is a list from the National Crime Prevention Council of practical things that can be done in your neighborhood to reduce the risk of criminal activity, drugs and violence.
- Work with public agencies and other organizations
(neighborhood-based or community-wide) on solving common problems.
Don’t be shy about letting them know what your community needs. - Make sure that all the youth in the neighborhood have positive ways
to spend their spare time, through organized recreation, tutoring
programs, part-time work and volunteer opportunities. - Set up a Neighborhood Watch or a community patrol working with police. Make sure your streets and homes are well lit.
- Build a partnership with police focused on solving problems instead
of reacting to crises. Make it possible for neighbors to report
suspicious activity or crimes without fear of retaliation. - Take advantage of “safety in numbers.” Hold rallies, marches and
other group activities to show you’re determined to drive out crime and
drugs. - Clean up the neighborhood! Involve everyone including teens,
children and senior citizens. Graffiti, litter, abandoned cars and
run-down buildings tell criminals that you don’t care about where you
live or care about your neighbors. Call 3-1-1 or the appropriate city
department to ask for assistance. - Ask local officials for ways to get criminals out of your building
or neighborhood. This includes reinforcing anti-noise laws, housing
codes, health and fire codes, anti-nuisance laws and drug-free clauses
in rental leases. - Form a Court Watch to help support victims and witnesses and to see that criminals get fairly punished.
- Work with schools and recreation facilities to establish drug-free, gun-free zones.
For more information or to start a Neighborhood Block Watch in your community, contact the Strategic Response Bureau at 614-645-4610 for the name of your precinct’s liaison officer.
Michael S. Brown
Office of Mayor Michael B. Coleman
Urban Ventures Coordinator
614-645-6428