Neighborhood Watch
Spying for Safety
Do you consider yourself a spy? Me? Yes, I already started a long time ago.
It started when I became a member of one of the school organizations way back the mid-80s, the Youth Community Service Club (YCSC).
YCSC officers and members will always immerse in a particular barangay or county and initiate a cleanup drive and introducing the Neighborhood Watch.
What really is the Neighborhood Watch?
It started during the period of Colonial America. These group of concerned people will always watch for vandalism acts or some petty crimes happening in the neighborhood. They are not a vigilante group bacause they always ask the help of local authorities (sheriff and police officers) in solving the crime. In 1960s, the rage of the people in Queens, New York catapulted when some witnesses didn't report the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese. The implementation of neighborhood watch came into a full scale.
Countries who have effective neighborhood watch groups are the United Kingdom (Neighborhood Watch), Canada ( Block Parent Program), Russia (Concerned People's Druzhina), Norway(Natteravnene), Australia and New Zealand (Neighborhood Support). Other organizations include: Crimestoppers, Guardian Angels, Citizen Observer, No-go Area, etc.
Here in the Philippines, concerned citizens are tying up with the police authorities in order to lessen if not stop the crimes or domestic violence happening in every community. Even if you have a very high fences around your house or residence, burglars can still rob your home with valuables. More secured subdivision communities employ security guards for safety. Children are not really safe inside homes if there are kidnap for ransom syndicates lurking outside the houses of rich families in the country.
With the prevailing crimes in the country, it is our duty to watch ourselves,our families' safety including our neighbors.
Are you ready to be a spy?
The Birth of Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) responded, creating the National Neighborhood Watch Program in 1972 to assist citizens and law enforcement.
In 2002, the NSA in partnership with USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps and the U.S. Department of Justice launched USAonWatch®, the face of the revitalized National Neighborhood Watch initiative, which represents the expanded role of watch programs beyond their traditional crime prevention role to help neighborhoods focus on disaster preparedness, emergency response and so much more.
USAonWatch® empowers citizens to become active in community efforts through participation in Neighborhood Watch groups. The goal of this site is to provide information, technical support and resources to local law enforcement agencies and citizens.
Source: USAonWatch.org