Google Groups for Neighbourhood Watch

[David Barnes, Midland Park Community Association]

Back in the 80's we had  "Flock of Seagulls" and Neighbourhood Watch, their signs have faded and so has there program. 

There was a time when it was easy to gather the neighbours to talk about community safety and security, but with volunteer overload it's hard to get residents involved. Recently I google searched "neighbourhood watch" and found others were using this tool as an on-line version of the old program and so duplicated it for our neighbourhood. 

We now have 35 members including our City Councillor and the Local police department who stated " I believe this is the way of the future.  It is the modern day Neighbourhood Watch.  When we speak of Community Mobilization, this is the final step - communities organizing, with the Police as a resource, rather than the other way around"

We started to track incidents and details of events where available, there is still hesitation for residents to report theft as they are embarrassed, blame them selves or feel nothing will come of it, but if it's not reported then it never happened.

Our next step is to create a post card to attract new members, this will be handed out to the dog walkers and those that frequently stroll through the neighbourhood and maybe update the Neighbourhood Watch signs to reflect that the program is now community association managed.

I am looking for suggestions and best practices in this area if you can share, looking forward to a summit in March.

Dave Barnes

Midland Park Community Association

[sta...@sympatico.ca]

[sta...@sympatico.ca]

On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 4:30:17 PM UTC-5, David Barnes, Midland Park Community Association wrote:

Jan 29/17
Hello Dave
I was given you name by Const. James McKrell and it was suggested I contact you. I am the Neighbourhood Watch person in the Birch Cliff Area. I plan on attending Monday nights meeting at the McGregor Library at 7pm...however I went online and see that the Library is closed, can you give me some direction as to access.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sally Talbot - cell - 416-525-3652